Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina. Candlewick, 2016. 356 pages.

Summer of 1977, NYC, hot and gritty. Son of Sam is on the loose and Nora is poor and street smart and seventeen. I love the tension of the hot-son of sam- background and I love Meg Medina's female characters. The men do not measure up though. Still, a very strong enjoyable read. Quick one too.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. Dial Books, 2015. 240 Pages

Recommended by several young patrons-- always a good sign. What's your Roller Derby Name?

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.

Zita the Space Girl by Ben Hatke. First Second, 2011.

Great Graphic for girls, strong girl character and a traditional hero tale. great info at the back too.

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch. Amulet Books, 2010, 141 pages.

Great Graphic Novel about Mirka Hirschberg, a smart and brave Orthodox Jewish girl from a big family, who rejects the womanly arts her stepmother is always trying to teach her and instead yearns to fight dragons! Let's hear it for girl heroes!

Alanna: the first adventure by Tamora Pierce. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1983, 249 pages.

First of Song of the Lioness series. A Librarian I know and respect once told me that Tamora Pierce was her favorite author. This is my first Tamora Pierce book. I loved it. Pierce is a wonderful writer-- and whisks us into another world full of high fantasy magic, medieval social structures and a believable characters in otherwise unbelievable situations. So well written. Recommend it freely. Strong Girls from a master of the genre.

In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang, First Second, 2014.

Fabulous graphic for gamer girls middle school and up. Cory Doctorow. Action, gaming gender issues, gaming economy, international issues come home. Quick Read-- wish I ordered this one.

Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen. Yearling/RH, 1998, 163pages

Edgar award winner- a Sammy Keyes mystery. Ms. I from bookclub wanted to read a mystery and i always wanted to read Sammy who does not move as well as she should.

The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex. Hyperion, 2007. 425 pages

Upper Elementary/Early Middle-- fast paced and very well written, cleverly put together this fantasy has all the right elements-- a strong orphan-ed type heroine who sets out with a good natured and misunderstood alien on a quest to save the world and her family. A long book for this age- 400 pages. Funny and well done for strong readers-- due to length, mostly.