Clean Get Away by NIc Stone, Crown Books for Young Readers, 2020, 240 pages.

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), 2020, 261 pages.

 

The Friendship War by Andrew Clements. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2019. 208 pages.

Gooseberry Park by Cynthia Rylant, HMH Books for Young Readers, 2007,144 pages

In The Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall III, Amulet Books, 2015, 165 pages

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Dial Books, 2017, 400 pages

George's Marvelous Medicine by Roahld Dahl. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2002, 90 pages.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery, Tundra Books, 2000.

Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan. Harper Collins, 2005, 195 pages.

I adored this book. a strong young girl living in Africa loses her family and everything she knows and loves. She is sent off to England to live a lie with strangers- carrying secrets and sorrow. But she is strong and kind and her desire to return to Africa shapes her decisions. A lot more too. loved it. Deserves every accolade it receives.

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai. Harper, 2011, 262 pages.

Beautiful, lyrical, powerful. A young girl arrives in Alabama from War ravaged Vietnam. Recommended by a lovely young patron with a good eye for story. Recommend, Recommend, Recommend for everyone.

Half Magic by Edward Eager. Harcourt Brace, 1954, 182 pages.

On my "classics I have to read" list. Fun and clever for 3rd and 4th graders and families.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Harper Collins, 2008, 3007 Pages.

Bod, (Nobody) Owens's entire family is killed when he is a baby. But while the killer searches in vain to complete the job, Baby Nobody wanders into a graveyard where the folk who live there raise him as their own. There is lots for a living boy raised in a graveyard to learn. I listened to the audio book-- one of the very best-- read by Gaiman himself. The story told as the author intended. FABULOUS on every level.

Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda. Scholastic, 1993. 151 pages

Fabulous Fantasy series-- middle grade readers-- Rodda weaves a mesmerizing and exciting tale of high fantasy-- kids will identify with young rowan, the smallest of his clan who often lacks confidence and feels different from the rest. Great character development too.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. Houghton Mifflin, 1989, 1397 pages.

Holocaust tale for younger children. Told from the point of view of a Danish girl who learns her Jewish Friend must go into hiding and then escape to neutral Sweden. They are aided by members of her own family, in the Resistance to Nazi occupied Denmark. Annmarie learns alot in a few days. coming of age-ish. A modern Classic.

Freckle Juice by Judy Blume. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1971. 57 Pages.

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd. David Fickling Books, 2007. 322 pages.

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012. 312 pages

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea. Delacorte Press.2010, 268 pages.

I was so disappointed with this-- I liked the first half of the book-- the classroom, the kids, the types, the issues, the new teacher who is not easy to fool, etc. I did notice though that it is not written in an authentic voice of kids-- not like Sharon Draper or Judy Blume or Rita Garcia Williams-- but i still did like it alot. Then,-- the accident--and it becomes very heavy handed cautionary tale-- Play Nice or someone you love might have a terrible accident .   I wanted to love it but was disappointed instead. Am interested to find out what the kids think of it.  

The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl. Puffin Books, 2009. 63 pages

Recommended to me years ago by an excited 3rd grader who loved funny books, I have been recommending it myself, but only read it now. Great book for many kids-- especially as a first chapter book-- slim and sprinkled with illustrations, it is funny and full of themes kids can identify with- family, emotions, underdogs, justice, animals, magic, etc. And it is VERY British-- think EB White, Dick King-Smith, LeGuin's CatWings. An oldie but goodie, i will be recommending with renewed vigor.

LIncoln and His Boys by Rosemary Wells. Candlewick Press, 2009. 96 pages.

A lovely little book by Rosemary Wells. Based on an actual letter written to Lincoln by one of his sons, the story is diary like, told in alternating voices over a span of just a few years, we get an insiders view of Lincoln and the family life told from the boys as he is running for office, arriving in DC and then again near the end of the war. A lot happens to the country and to this family in this very short time. An intimate and moving view of the man not widely known but well documented. Reminiscent in style and fell of Kate DiCamillo's work,  Lincoln and His Boys is slim, but rich and deep.