Free as a bird-

Title: Free as a Bird
Author: Gina McMurchy-Barber

In a time when being born with differences meant you were locked away, one girl shares her story with the world. Take time to read this one. It will make you see the world differently. 

A powerful and intense story about how recently our society considered some children to be worthless and expendable and a reminder that this is still the the case in many places.

(Canadian Children's Book News)

Echo- Pam Munoz Ryan

Title: Echo
Author: Pam Munoz Ryan

Yet another wonderful novel from Ms. Ryan. This explores three separate lives all connected by their love of music.

From School Library Journal

Gr 5–8—"Long before enchantment was eclipsed by doubt," a young boy named Otto lost in the woods is rescued by three sisters imprisoned there by a witch's curse. In return, he promises to help break the curse by carrying their spirits out of the forest in a mouth harp and passing the instrument along when the time is right. The narrative shifts to the 20th century, when the same mouth harp (aka harmonica) becomes the tangible thread that connects the stories of three children: Friedrich, a disfigured outcast; Mike, an impoverished orphan; and Ivy, an itinerant farmer's child. Their personal struggles are set against some of the darkest eras in human history: Friedrich, the rise of Nazi Germany; Mike, the Great Depression; Ivy, World War II. The children are linked by musical talent and the hand of fate that brings Otto's harmonica into their lives. Each recognizes something unusual about the instrument, not only its sound but its power to fill them with courage and hope. Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy are brought together by music and destiny in an emotionally triumphant conclusion at New York's Carnegie Hall. Meticulous historical detail and masterful storytelling frame the larger history, while the story of Otto and the cursed sisters honor timeless and traditional folktales. Ryan has created three contemporary characters who, through faith and perseverance, write their own happy endings, inspiring readers to believe they can do the same.—Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

Echo- Pam Munoz Ryan

Title: Echo
Author:Pam Munoz Ryan
Publisher: Scholastic Press
ISBN: 978-0439874021

From School Library Journal

Gr 5–8—"Long before enchantment was eclipsed by doubt," a young boy named Otto lost in the woods is rescued by three sisters imprisoned there by a witch's curse. In return, he promises to help break the curse by carrying their spirits out of the forest in a mouth harp and passing the instrument along when the time is right. The narrative shifts to the 20th century, when the same mouth harp (aka harmonica) becomes the tangible thread that connects the stories of three children: Friedrich, a disfigured outcast; Mike, an impoverished orphan; and Ivy, an itinerant farmer's child. Their personal struggles are set against some of the darkest eras in human history: Friedrich, the rise of Nazi Germany; Mike, the Great Depression; Ivy, World War II. The children are linked by musical talent and the hand of fate that brings Otto's harmonica into their lives. Each recognizes something unusual about the instrument, not only its sound but its power to fill them with courage and hope. Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy are brought together by music and destiny in an emotionally triumphant conclusion at New York's Carnegie Hall. Meticulous historical detail and masterful storytelling frame the larger history, while the story of Otto and the cursed sisters honor timeless and traditional folktales. Ryan has created three contemporary characters who, through faith and perseverance, write their own happy endings, inspiring readers to believe they can do the same.—Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

Review

Praise for Echo :

* "Ryan has created three contemporary characters who, through faith and perseverance, write their own happy endings, inspiring readers to believe they can do the same." -- School Library Journal, starred review

* “A grand narrative that examines the power of music to inspire beauty in a world overrun with fear and intolerance, it's worth every moment of readers' time.” -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "The book’s thematic underpinnings poignantly reveal what Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy truly have in common: not just a love of music, but resourcefulness in the face of change, and a refusal to accept injustice." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Ryan’s ingenious plotting harmonizes as sweetly as the famed mouth harp itself, and her eloquent prose breathes life and energy into likable characters whose stories are individually compelling and historically resonant." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

"A satisfyingly multilayered tale of music, self-sacrifice and redemption." -- Wall Street Journal

“After reading Pam Munoz Ryan’s enchanting new novel, you’ll never see the harmonica the same way again….Start to finish the book is a joy to read….
The music swells, the book sings.” -- New York Times

The One and Only Ivan- Katherine Applegate

Title: The One and Only Ivan
Author: Katherine Applegate


Plot:
Ivan lives his life in a cage he calls a domain. He remembers very little of the outside world because he was captured from the wild as a baby. His drawings sell in a gift store and people come from all over to see him. He lives next to an elephant Stella and with a stray dog who says he doesn't want a home. When a new elephant comes to the mall, everything changes. Ivan feels as though he needs to create a better environment for her. Can he do this?

Review:
This book is written from the perspective of Ivan and is his diary. This makes the book come to life in a way that would not have been possible in a different format. Ivan sees things from a new perspective and brings a softness to such a giant creature that often is not seen as soft. The baby elephant Ruby is a light in Ivan's life to spark something new in him. This story highlights cruelty to animals in circuses without being too graphic. The reader is quickly emotionally involved with the well being of the characters. It is no wonder this book wont the Newberry this year.

Baby- Joseph Monninger

Title:Baby
Author: Monninger, Joseph
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press, 2007
ISBN-13: 9781590785027

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Reading Level: 580 Lexile
Interest Level: 13+


Readers Annotation: Bobby helps her escape from foster homes every time, but what if that's not a great thing?

Plot:
Baby's mom disappeared years ago and no one knows where she is. At 15 she is in foster homes where she cannot become happy. She runs from each one for one reason or another. Bobby gets it and he gets her. They smoke together and run together. This is the last place they say before juvenile hall. Still, Bobby finds her and she escapes. One of the sled dogs the family has comes with her. Baby and the dog are on the run. What comes next? Luanne, a girl they are staying with pan handles and wants to fake prostitute for money and drugs. The circles they are in will not go anywhere but Baby is not sure what to do. She is just trying to survive. 

Review:
This is a sad story that has been told a few times and yet it still seems fresh and new. Baby is a character the reader hopes comes out of her hole. She is simply a girl striving to feel love. Many people feel this way at one time or another. Fifteen is a hard age because one is trying to find out who they are. When stability is gone, fifteen can be harder.

Petey- Ben Mikaelsen

Title:Petey
Author: Mikaelsen, Ben
Publisher: Perfection Learning (Reprint), 2010
ISBN-10: 160686825X

Genre: Historical Fiction/ Realistic Fiction
Reading Level: 740 Lexile
Interest Level: 10+


Readers Annotation: Petey is bed ridden but not incapable of learning. In 1920 though, he is officially diagnosed an idiot.

Plot:
Petey was born with the diagnosis of idiot in the 1920's and placed in an insane asylum where he was forgotten and not engaged. What he really had was cerebral palsy. He was cognitively very aware but his body did not work. Over the years Petey makes friends and a few people see past his physical disabilities. When he is in his 40s and is living in a home different from the hospital, a child stumbles into Petey's life. The two become friends with time because they need to unite together to fight off bullies. This story is about finding the beauty inside a person. Petey desperately needs a new wheelchair. The boy is determined to raise the thousands of dollars to get Petey one because the home will not fund it. Can he do it?

Review:
This was a great book. The reader feels for Petey because he is treated sub human. the asylums were places people went to die. Many of the residents were treated poorly and hurt by their caretakers. As time went on and people understood disabilities more, Petey was able to talk more with people although many people were still scared of him. This is a unique perspective of growing up with disabilities.

Similar Materials:
Out of My Mind- Sharon Draper

A Long Walk to Water- Linda Sue Park

Title:  A Long Walk to Water
Author: Park, Linda Sue
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 2009
ISBN-10: 0547251270

Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading Level: 720 Lexile
Interest Level: 10+


Readers Annotation: She walks eight hours every day to fetch water. He is escaping a war torn town. Their stories are different but its one country.

Plot:
This story follows two different children. Nya is in 2008 and she walks eight hours a day gathering water for her family. While walking she has a lot of time to think about life. When the seasons change, she must walk even farther. She meets people along the way. Salva is a "lost boy" of Sudan in 1985. He is slowly traveling through the country trying to find a place he can call home. The two stories collide even though they are in two different times and situations.

Review:
This book was one I will not forget for a long time. There was so much to it that I had to stop and just think about it for a bit sometimes. This is a wonderful story of how different people and times can still be connected. This is based on a true story which made it even more interesting to read. There were times I cried and times I smiled. I would recommend this to anyone at any age.

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Lost in the River of Grass- Ginny Rorby

The Book Thief- Markus Zusak

Title: The Book Thief
Author: Zusak, Markus
Publisher: Random House, 2007
ISBN-13:  9780375842207

Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading Level: 730 Lexile
Interest Level: 9+

Readers Annotation: Could books really change the world? What about books that are being burned?

Plot:
Liesel is a foster child. She is figuring out her new life in the middle of the German Nazi take over. She has created a habit of stealing. This helps the family with food and is something she does daily. One day, she steals a book and with the help of her step father, an accordion player, she learns to read. This opens her world drastically. When she begins to understand that reading opens people to knowledge, she begins to see why the books are being burned by the Nazis. Their family is hiding a Jewish man in their basement and Liesel shares the books she is stealing with him as well as her family. Will she thrive in such a sad time?

Review:
This book was powerful and shows the power of knowledge and literacy. Books on this subject have always been interesting to me but very hard to read. World War Two was a very ugly time for humanity and the torture to people was horrendous. This book takes a negative thing and spins it in a positive way giving the idea of knowledge to all kinds of people. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those interested in learning about a different part of history. Zusak did a great job engaging the reader in the story with each page.

Similar Materials:

Number the Stars- Lois Lowry
The Fault in our Stars- John Green

Witch Child- Celia Rees

Title:Witch Child
Author: Ross, Celia
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2001
ISBN-13: 9780763614218

Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading Level: 760 Lexile
Interest Level: 11+


Readers Annotation: It's the 1600's and the witch trials are in full swing. She is accused of being one. Will she make it?

Plot:
Mary is a witch. She claims the name and the pagan healing beliefs associated with it. Unfortunately, she lives in the middle of the witch trials. In a secret diary she recounts her life thus far including the brutal killing her grandmother faced simply because she was a healer. The people do not understand their life and therefore are afraid. Mary is taken in by a kind soul and protected until she ventures into the woods to find more people like herself. Now, the same person who persecuted her grandmother is after Mary. Will she make it?

Review:
This is a powerful book on a very sad time in our history. Mary is struggling with being who she is and being who the church wants her to be. There is a personal aspect of this story that is left out often when talking about the witch trials. Rees has created a character that people want to care about. She is different, but she is healing and simply because of this she is hunted. For the last 12 years this book has been enjoyed because of the intensity and quickness of the story. I could not put this book down.

Similar Materials:
Fever 1793- Laurie Halse Anderson
Other Celia Rees Books

Shug- Jenny Han

Title: Shug
Author: Han, Jennifer
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2006
ISBN-13: 9781416909422

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Reading Level: 680 Lexile
Interest Level: 9+

Readers Annotation: My name is Annemarie, but everyone calls me Shug after Shug in The Color Purple. She is beautiful and strong, like I want to be.

Plot:
Shug is a vibrant twelve year old girl who has freckles and is tall for her age. She lives with her mother, who is an alcoholic, father, who travels often, and sister who is extremely popular. As she goes through the seventh grade, the reader sees the different sides of this girl. Her family is not in a good space, and yet Shug finds happiness in the world around her. Mark is a boy she has a crush on but he does not feel the same. There is a new friend who sparks Shug's interest. There is so much to the life of a 12 year old that could be stressful.

Review:
This is a lighthearted and yet deep book about growing up. Things are not bad in Shug's life, but they are not perfect either. This book depicts real life which is why people will enjoy reading it. Shug's mother is beautiful but has a drinking problem. Her father travels often and there is infidelity between the two of them. There are problems with feeling like the ugly sister and feelings of inferiority in the family. The realness of this book could help children who are going through similar struggles.

Similar Materials:

It's Not Summer Without You- Jenny Han
The Secret Life of Girls- Francis Dowell

The Skin I'm In- Sharon Flake

Title: The Skin I'm In
Author:  Flake, Sharon
Publisher: Perfection Learning, 2007
ISBN-10: 978-0756984687

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Reading Level: 670 Lexile
Interest Level: 11+


Readers Annotation: Being different is hard. Growing up is hard. How does one become comfortable in their own skin?

Plot:
Maleeka is teased a lot at school. She is in seventh grade, smart and has homemade clothes. She has dark black skin and the other kids tease her relentlessly. When a new teacher comes to the school who clearly has money, is confident in who she is and decides to teach in an inner city school. Ms. Saunders is her name and she is a beautiful woman but she is a black woman with a big white birth mark on her face. She gave up the corporate world to teach children. Despite the birthmark, Ms. Saunders is happy in her skin. Maleeka starts to ask questions about why Ms. Saunders is teaching and how she is comfortable with herself. Can Maleeka find out how to accept herself for the smart but not wealthy girl she is?

Review:
This book looks at the pain teasing can cause as well as the strength that can come with overcoming your fears and become the best person you can be. The characters in this book are not privileged students and many of the people in their lives do not care what happens to them. There are many whose families are broken and many get made fun of. Maleeka grows into a confident person who learns that everything is not what it seems. She does gain popularity by dating a popular boy which is not consistent with the other messages in this book, but tween will relate to the feeling that loving oneself is not always easy.

Similar Materials:
Speak- Laurie Halse Anderson
Monster- Walter Dean Meyers
The Skin I'm In Discussion Guide

Bud, Not Buddy- Christopher Paul Curtis

Title: Bud, Not Buddy
Author: Curtis, Christopher Paul
Publisher: Delacorte Press, 1990
ISBN-13: 9780385323062

Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading Level: 950 Lexile
Interest Level: 9-12
Awards:
 Newbery Medal (Won, 2000)Flicker Tale Children's Book Award (Nominated, 2001)Sunshine State Young Reader's Book Award (Nominated, 2002)Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award (Nominated, 2002)Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Won, 2001)Coretta Scott King Awards (Won, 2000)Golden Kite Awards (Nominated, 1999)Land of Enchantment Book Award (Nominated, 2003)Bluegrass Award (Nominated, 2001)Volunteer State Book Award (Won, 2002)Arizona Young Reader's Award (Won, 2002)Book Sense Book of the Year (Nominated, 2000)Golden Archer Award (Wisconsin) (Nominated, 2002)School Library Journal Best Books of the Year (Won, 1999)Garden State Children's Book Awards (Nominated, 2002)Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Nominated, 2002)Young Reader's Choice Award (Won, 2002)American Library Association Notable Books for Children (Won, 2000)Maine Student Book Award (Nominated, 2001) Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (Won, 2001)Great Lakes' Great Books Award (Nominated, 2001) ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Awards (Won, 2000) Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year (Won, 1999) Prairie Pasque Award (Won, 2002) William Allen White Children's Book Award (Won, 2002) Bluebonnet Award (Nominated, 2002) Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award (Nominated, 2002) West Virginia Children's Book Award (Nominated, 2002) Nene Award (Nominated, 2002) Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Nominated, 2002) IRA Children's Book Awards (Won, 2000)

Readers Annotation: Its 1936 and Bud is a motherless boy trying to find a place to call home.

Plot:
One thing that Bud always keeps with him is a small suit case. In it is all the things that matters to him. He lost his mother at a young age and never knew who his father is. Bud decides that he is going to find his father, who is a famous singer. As he sets off with his suit case he runs into an older man who he lies to about why he is leaving Flint, Michigan. This is where the story really takes off. The two set off together on a journey to finding home. Bud learns about the prejudices of the world in 1936, about what it means to feel at home, and that family comes in all shapes and sizes.


Review:
This is a powerful book. Bud is parent-less child who just wants to feel like he belongs. The band he finds is different from the father he was hoping for but it turns out to be better. He finds a whole family as well as music. This book has been relevant for many years because it focuses on the core feeling of belonging that everyone searches for. The historical aspects are very interesting as well. There was a white man in the band so they would get booked for shows and there are certain places they steered clear of because of the racism. This book helps explain acceptance and belonging better than many.

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Holes- Louis Sachar
Walk Two Moons- Sharon Creech

Number the Stars- Lois Lowry

Title: Number the Stars
Author: Lowry, Lois
Publisher: Random House, 1989
ISBN-13: 9780440403272

Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading Level: 670 Lexile
Interest Level: 9+

Awards:
Newbery Medal, Mark Twain Award, Jane Adedams Children's Book Award, Golden Archer Award- Twice, Maine Student Award, Dorthy Canfield Fisher, Great Stone Face, Rebecca Caudill, New York State Charlotte, Sydney Taylor Award

Readers Annotation: Its 1943 and the Jewish people of Denmark are being "relocated" to concentration camps. Can they be saved?

Plot:
Annemarie Johansen is friends with a Jewish girl Ellen. They are very close but when the Nazi's take over, their friendship takes a very different turn. Annemarie now needs to make a decision. Hide her friend and try to save her from relocation to a concentration camp or let her go. Annemarie's family bands together to smuggle Ellen and her family out of the country. This book takes the reader into the world during the Nazi rule. There is a fear instilled in everyone and the humanity of everyone helping these people is clear.

Review:
This book is 23 years old and still is read by many tweens. There is a human quality to this book is one that is very rare. This book is fabulous and emotional. The bravery Annemarie and her family shows gives the generations of today a look into what it was like then. We have been in a war the last years, but nothing like the rein of the Nazis. This book talks about acceptance and the love of a person no matter who they are or how they believe.

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Lois Lowry books
Esperanza Rising- Pam Munoz Ryan

Homesick- Kate Klise

Title: Homesick
Author: Klise, Kate
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
ISBN-13: 9781250008428

Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Reading Level: 610 Lexile
Interest Level: 8-12

Readers Annotation: Mom leaves and dad just collects more and more stuff! What can I do?

Plot:
Benny has lived in a home with both of his parents his whole life. His dad has a shop, but does not sell anything from it. One day, Benny's mother reaches her breaking point. They begin to fight about a sliver of wood and his mother leaves. Dad, who has always collected things, begins collecting more and more. What can Benny do? He decides to help a friend with a radio station to try to get out of the house and hopefully help his father. Will everything go back to normal and will mom come home?

Review:
This was a fast read and one I will not forget for a long time. The insider look at hoarding was interesting and to see the child's perspective was enlightening. People see the trauma in the hoarder, but not often in the family who tries to protect the one they love. This book had some comedy mixed in with the serious topics which made it not as heavy. Many tweens could relate to this in some way because Benny did not have control of his situation.

Similar Materials:

Wonder- RJ Palacio
In the Bag- Kate Klise

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian- Sherman Alexie

Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Author: Alexie, Sherman
Publisher: Little, Brown Books, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780316013697

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Reading Level: 600 Lexile
Interest Level: 11+

Readers Annotation: What if you could break the cycle of your life and become something bigger, better and different? Would you take the step?

Plot:
Arnold has grown up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He is used to living the life of the reservation and did not know much more than that life. He was not doing well in school and throws a book at his teacher one day. During his suspension, Arnold's teacher visits him at home and convinces him that Arnold needs to leave the reservation and become more in life. From this conversation, Arnold decides to start school off the reservation. His world changes drastically as he realizes how different life off the res is. He does not fit in well in the new school and the differences bring a different perspective to his eyes on who he is.

Review:
This book was really insightful. It brings the reader into the world on the reservations. It raises questions on identity, assimilation, and the reality of the pain still caused on the reservations. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone. Alexie writes with a clear voice that anyone who has felt out of place could relate to. Arnold struggles with living in multiple worlds. Many people feel this when their home culture is different from the "normal" culture of the community.

Similar Materials:

Bud, not Buddy, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, American Born Chinese

Inside Out & Back Again- Thanhha Lai

Title: Inside Out and Back Again
Author: Lai, Thanhha
Publisher: Harper Collins, 2011
ISBN-13: 9780061962783

Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading Level: 800 Lexile
Interest Level: 9-12
Awards: Newbery Honor Award, National Book Award

Readers Annotation: Imagine your family in a war torn country in one of the worst wars of all time. The opportunity arises to leave, but you may never see your father again. Which would you choose?

Plot:
HA is ten years old when her mother takes all the children to Alabama, USA from Saigon, Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The culture shock is immediate and all the children have a different experience in America. HA feels as if she would rather be in a war torn country than the foreign place where children constantly make fun of her. The food is bland in American, there are few traditions and the people are so cold towards her. The only people she has are her family. As time goes on, the family needs to come together like never before to thrive in the new and strange environment. Will they make it?

Review:
This book is written completely in poetry. This creates an interesting way that the reader interacts with the characters. The whole book is written from HA's perspective so all the characters, scenes and actions are seen through this lens. this book gives the reader a unique look at what it feels like to be in a completely new environment where people cannot understand you or feel like you are wrong. There is something very grounding about this book and it makes one feel grateful for their live.

Similar Materials:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian- Sherman Alexie
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon- Grace Lin
Mockingbird- Kathryn ErsKine