“Umbrella Summer,” by Lisa Graff is a sensitive story about a ten-year-old girl with an obsessive worrying compulsion after her brother’s sudden, unexpected death.
It has been almost a year since Annie and her family suffered the tragic loss of Jared, Annie’s older brother. When Jared was hit in the chest while playing hockey it caused his rare heart disorder to get worse, and he died a couple days later.
Ever since then Annie has been worried about everything. She sees danger in bug bites, and walks her bike down hills to avoid what could be a deadly crash. Read the rest »
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Rating: 4.7/5 (3 votes cast)
“Inventing Elliot,” by Graham Gardner is a chilling story about a boy who ends up trapped in his school’s sickening cycle of bullying.
Elliot thought that the move to Holminster High would allow him to start all over. At Holminster he would be careful to avoid looking like a wimp. Maybe then he wouldn’t get targeted by bullies. At his old school Elliot was always scared, and the bullies knew it. Now Elliot has a chance to design a new image, a tough and impenetrable personality that will prevent him from being a target of bullying. Read the rest »
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Rating: 5.0/5 (4 votes cast)
“Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree,” by Lauren Tarshis is a touching story about an intelligent young girl who decides to start helping her schoolmates by solving their social problems.
Emma-Jean is an unusual girl known for being highly logical. This sets her apart from her fellow schoolmates because she usually doesn’t understand their jokes and queer social customs. Emma-Jean spends her time alone, studying trees, the Hindi language, and other important subjects. Read the rest »
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Rating: 4.0/5 (4 votes cast)
“Whirligig,” by Paul Fleischman is a powerful novel about the complex interactions that spring from a single tragic event.
The main character is sixteen-year-old Brent Bishop, a young man who is desperate to fit in with the other kids at his school. His life completely changes however, when his drunk driving results in an accident that takes the life of another young person, 18 year old Lea Zamora. When he is charged with drunk driving and manslaughter Brent comes to realize the full implication of his actions. As part of restitution Brent must carry out a rather unusual request that Lea’s mother makes of him. Read the rest »
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Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)
“Mascot to the Rescue,” by Peter David is a unique story about a boy whose real life appears to be linked to the escapades and adventures of a comic book character.
Josh Miller is an ordinary looking sixth grader who attends Demarest Elementary School. Little do his schoolmates realize, but Josh has an important secret. Not only is Josh a fan of the Captain Major comic books, but there is a strangely disturbing correlation between Josh’s life and the adventures of Mascot, Captain Major’s superhero sidekick. Read the rest »
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Rating: 3.5/5 (2 votes cast)
