Shelf Location: GRN 741.5 TEL
https://fcps.tlcdelivers.com/config=914#section=resource&resourceid=445033595¤tIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab Summary: Drama is a graphic novel that centers around Callie, a broadway-enthusiast and the head of set design for her school’s production of Moon Over Mississippi. Her job seems simple, but is complicated by love triangles, crushes whose feelings aren't reciprocated, students struggling to figure out who they are, low interest in the play, and much more drama that can’t be found anywhere but middle school. Can Callie and her friends pull off the play? Find out by reading Drama! My Recommendation: I really liked this book and read it in one sitting because it flowed so nicely and the pictures made it super easy to visualize everything that was going on. Callie is your typical middle school girl and she faces the same problems with friends and relationships that many others can relate to. I thought the illustrations were just beautiful and I loved the style that they were drawn in. I also think that this book provides great representation and you cannot help but like Callie and relate to all of the feelings that she experiences throughout the book. You feel like she could be a real person and care about what happens to her, which I think is caused by the making of a great and authentic character. Overall, I think there are very few middle schoolers who wouldn't enjoy this book.
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Shelf Location: HIS FIC LOW
https://fcps.tlcdelivers.com/config=914#section=resource&resourceid=795531399¤tIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab Summary: Number the Stars is a book of historical fiction about a girl (Annemarie Johansen) living in Denmark during Germany’s occupation during World War II. Her best friend, Ellen Rosen, is Jewish and will soon be sought out by the Nazis if something is not done to protect her and her family. With contacts in the Danish resistance, Annemarie’s frightened family protects Ellen with the ultimate goal of getting her and her family across the ocean to Sweden, where they will be as safe as the time period allows. My Recommendation: I think that this is one of the most terrific tales of bravery that I have ever read. I think it details the courage of kids, Jewish people, and people in secret resistance against Hitler during this horrific time period. Reading books like these about WWII helps one to really imagine what it was like and try to grasp the sheer number of people whose lives were displaced entirely. The novel is on the shorter side of things and completely captivates you from beginning to end as you are on the edge of your seat waiting to see if the Rosens will make it out of Denmark. Overall, I would recommend this book to regular middle school readers and people who find WWII especially fascinating. Shelf Location: HIS FIC ALC
https://fcps.tlcdelivers.com/config=914#section=resource&resourceid=2614126¤tIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab Summary: Little Women is a classic novel that tells the story of four sisters who are growing up in New England during the Civil War. They have to face all the challenges of growing up in addition to things like money being tight, sickness, and hoping for their father’s safe return from the war. Throughout the book they change as people and learn important life lessons, even if they sometimes have to come the hard way. My Recommendation: I really liked reading this classic book and would recommend it to middle school students because I think it's highly interesting that it takes place in the past but yet a lot of the things the girls deal with are things that people deal with today (worrying about loved ones away, romantic issues, trying to help the less fortunate, doing things in a social setting that you’ll regret later, etc.). I also found it really fascinating how the sister could grow up in the same house and turn out to be so different from one another. I enjoyed reading this book and think it would be a good introduction into classics for anyone. Shelf Location: REA FIC CUM
https://fcps.tlcdelivers.com/config=914#section=resource&resourceid=6548974¤tIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab Summary: A Face First is a novel about Kelley Brennan, a sixth grader who suffers tremendous burn injuries when she and her mother are in a car accident on their way home. Kelley is the victim of second and third degree burns that require many painful surgeries, dressings, and procedures to heal. Just when she seems to be making progress in her recovery, Kelley learns that she must wear a plastic face mask so that the burned skin on her face grows back smoothly. Terrified that her peers will think she looks like a freak, Kelley finds a place of silence inside herself which eventually leads her to find comfort in unexpected places. However, it's uncertain whether this will be enough for her to live her life again, especially as questions surrounding the accident arise and test her and her mother’s strong relationship. My Recommendation: After reading this book it is safe to say that it is one of my favorite books of all time. I loved the way it was written and I think the pacing of the events is very well done and shows just how traumatic accidents can be because just as you seem to go two steps forward, you have to go one step back. I also loved that the book was set in Maryland. To have injuries so severe that they make you unrecognizable screws with a person and causes your self worth to go way down. I think this book does a great job of showing Kelley’s pain and how the accident has not only affected her physical health but also her mental and emotional well being, as well as her relationships with those around her. Through it all, however, Kelley has the support of people who really love her which I think is one of the most beautiful things about the novel. Shelf Location: Electronic Resource
https://fcps.tlcdelivers.com/config=6100#section=resource&resourceid=1845924039¤tIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab Summary: Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief is the first book in a series about a twelve-year-old boy who learns that the ancient Greek Gods are actually real, and his dad happens to be Posiden, the God of the sea. Percy’s existence is especially dangerous even for a demigod, because his dad is one of the ‘Big Three’ (Zeus, Poseidon, & Hades). Upon learning who his dad is he also learns that he is being framed for theft, and if Zeus’ lightning bolt is not returned by the Summer Solstice, a full-scale war is going to break out. This first book follows him on his quest to find the bolt and return it by the deadline. My Recommendation: I think any elementary schooler who reads chapter books will enjoy this series. These books are phenomenal from the storytelling to the characters to the super interesting information about Greek Mythology. Kids with one parent, stepparents, learning disabilities, and so much more can relate to Percy’s feelings before [and after] he found out his true identity. I think readers will love the friendship between him, Annabeth, and Grover. Throughout reading the books I have also come to appreciate how Percy constantly proves himself and learns to harness his powers to be one of the most powerful heroes of the age. Shelf Location: REA FIC DRA
https://fcps.tlcdelivers.com/config=914#section=resource&resourceid=378071360¤tIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab Summary: Out of my Mind is a novel about Melody, a young girl who has cerebral palsy. She goes to Spaulding Street Elementary School where she and a bunch of other kids with disabilities are stuck in the same classroom year after year with a less than rigorous curriculum and revolving door of teachers. However, this year, with the introduction of a new teacher, immersion classes, and the help of a computer that can talk for her, things are finally looking up. What’s more is Melody is smart and ready to face the competition on her school’s Whiz Kids quiz bowl team, and prove to everyone that has ever doubted her that she is just as intelligent as everyone else. My Recommendation: I would recommend this book to others for a lot of reasons. I think that Melody is such a well-written character that in many parts of the book you can step inside her shoes and feel all her frustrations, triumphs, and emotions as if they are your own. This book is very eye opening for abled-bodied people who could not even begin to imagine what it would be like to have your brain work perfectly but your body is not able to respond at all. Out of my Mind is disarmingly honest, demands emotion from those who read it, and really makes you think about the way we treat one another. Shelf Location: HIS FIC WAT
https://fcps.tlcdelivers.com/config=6100#section=resource&resourceid=529430662¤tIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab Summary: The year is 1963, and Kizzy Ann Stamps is preparing for her first year at an integrated school. Over the summer, she receives a letter from her white teacher, who is very welcoming of the black kids that are to be in her class. Kizzy Ann continues to write letters to her teacher about everything from her previous schooling to her beloved dog, Shag. Kizzy Ann knows she has to be brave when entering spaces that were previously all white such as school or dog competitions, but can she do it? My Recommendation: I think that kids who are interested in the Civil Rights movement and like to read historical fiction books would gain a lot from reading this book. Kizzy Ann Stamps sheds light on what life was like for black kids in school and at home during a very racist time period in America’s history. I think that kids would be shocked that Kizzy Ann had to go to a separate library and she was hit with a stick at the market for telling a white boy to stop messing with her dog. I think kids will like the way this book is written in letter format and the pacing which allows Kizzy Ann to face her fears and grow as a person, even in such a scary time. Shelf Location: REA FIC HER
https://fcps.tlcdelivers.com/#section=resource&resourceid=519651759¤tIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab Summary: Buddy is the story of a boy who has always dreamed of having a dog. When his family hits a dog with their car on the way to church, Lil’ T sells his Gameboy and starts mowing lawns so his dream can finally become a reality. He names the dog Buddy and the two get along famously, until Hurricane Katrina strikes, and Lil’ T and his family are forced to leave Buddy behind. The storm ends up being worse than anyone imagined, and the reader is forced to wonder, will Lil’ T ever be reunited with his beloved dog again? My Recommendation: I would recommend this book to all elementary schoolers who love animals and like reading historical fiction.We don't usually experience the disastrous effects of hurricanes in Maryland, so I think this book is great for teaching kids about what kids in other states may experience. I also think that kids will like the main character, and admire how much he wants a dog and how hard he is willing to work to have one. Kids with younger siblings may find themselves relating to the main character of this book as well. I think the ending was also very well done and is a good lesson about being mature and dealing with things in the real world. Shelf Location: SPO FIC REY
https://fcps.tlcdelivers.com/config=914#section=resource&resourceid=1021997097¤tIndex=1&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab Summary: The first of a series of four books centered around four different characters, Ghost, details the life of a young boy with a crazy natural talent for sprinting who gets discovered by the coach of an elite middle school track team. Running track should be straightforward, but problems develop for Castle Crenshaw [Ghost] who has to face things like a rough upbringing due to his father and poverty. In order to prevail he needs to put his past behind him and change his attitude, and the reader is left wondering if Ghost is equal to the task. My Recommendation: I really recommend this whole series of books by Jason Reynolds because they are short reads that really grab hold of your attention and have you thinking about them long after you’ve put them down. The heroes of these books are middle schoolers who you cannot help but root for. They face many challenges that range from major family problems to problems with other kids at school. I think the characters of these books like the parents and coaches who do everything they can for these kids are also what makes the series so good and make them feel so much deeper than your average sports read. Shelf Location: HIS FIC HIN
https://fcps.tlcdelivers.com/?config=914#section=resource&resourceid=1009438711¤tIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab Summary: The Outsiders centers around Ponyboy, an orphan who lives with his two older brothers in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the 1960s. Pondyboy is what’s known as a greaser, someone who's part of a social class that's constantly at war with the West-Side, jet-set rich kids, the Socs. He is one of the most law-abiding of his gang, but when he is being drowned at the park by Socs for picking up their girls, his friend Johnny retaliates, and suddenly they’re wanted for murder. The story follows them as they get out of town and the readers wonder if Ponyboy will ever make it back home. My Recommendation: In my opinion, this is one of the best American books ever written for young adults. When S.E. Hinton wrote that she was troubled by the social classes at her high school and dissatisfied with the reading material that was available to kids her age. She wrote a fantastic book where you cannot help but fall in love with the characters who feel so real it hurts. Those reading can also identify with something in each of the characters and the book is not overly-wordy or hard to read, but still feels incredibly wise. The book is a must-read for everybody to remind us that we’re not all that different and where you come from does not define who you are. |
AuthorLily Reynolds- Grade 11 |