The Exact Location of Home

Realistic fiction that helps one understand circumstances that just crumble without the ability to get out from under them.  I'm not normally a very political person, but this one makes me think of the politicians that speak against welfare...saying the "poor" have the ability to get a job and do better for themselves.  It makes me think of the people in the same room I'm in and what is really going on with them at home.  Don't judge before you know!

wishtree

I'm calling this one realistic fiction even though it's written from the point of view of a tree.  Realistic because what is happening to the humans is real.  How many times does fear cause you to make bad decisions?  In here, the fear of someone that is different, the fear of controversy, the fear of not being accepted.  The more I read the more I realize there are so many things I don't know, have not had to face and truly don't understand.

Olive's Ocean

A girl "grows" one summer as she figures out who she is, deals with typical teenage issues and finds her way within relationships.

Dragon Was Terrible

To get a dragon to be nice and young boy uses a story and reverse psychology.

88 Instruments

A boy has a hard time deciding which instrument to start learning. He decides to start with the...

Nanette's Baguette

A rhyming story where no one seems to have will power.

What was I Scared of?

What are you scared of?  Nothing? or is there something that really scares you. Perhaps they are just as scared of you!

Radiant Child

Award winning picture book biography about the life of artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea

A simple graphic novel about to unlikely friends that have a huge imagination.

Soar

Realistic fiction about a boy that perseveres through abandonment, illness and a town that cheats to win.  Follow this boy's heart as he helps a town heal from great loss and shame.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

The 2017 Newbery winner and now a 2017-2018 Bluebonnet Nominee is definitely one to read.  A high fantasy about a township with leaders that want to "imprison" their citizens with fear of leaving.  Annually they have made up a ritual of sacrificing the newest born child to a scary and evil witch.  You learn, in reality, the witch is just a kind 500 year old sole that wants what's best for these abandoned babies.

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

The past Bluebonnet and now a movie, is a realistic fiction about one summer when a really large boy comes to town as a one-act side-show.  There is awe, new friendships, baptisms, death and more in this coming of age story.

Just Ella

A delightful upper middle grade book about what happens after Cinderella is chosen for Prince Charming's wife and how Cinderella really was able to get to the ball without magic.

Fish

A wordless picture book about fishing with a surprise ending.

Dylan the Villain

 Dylan strives to be the best villain in school...until he meets the girl with blue hair.  A dylan-friendly competition has begun.

Egg

Few words and clear, crisp illustrations tell the story of 4 eggs that hatch...with one big surprise and a switched at birth story.

Steamboat School

Historical fiction on how we should not take our education for granted. 

School's First Day of School

Written from the perspective of the school...on the first day of school.

Hank's Big Day

The story of a bug's day and time with his Human friend.

Gaston

Puppies, switched at birth, figure out which family they "belong" to.

The Grumpy Pets

Finding the perfect pet means knowing who you are.  Pets and owners often resemble each other.

Billy's Booger

It's ok to be different.  This kid does not fit the "mold" that makes the expected student and it frustrates the adults in his life...but his creativity finds the perfect spot in writing his first book.

The Last Kids on Earth

After the Monster Apocalypse there are few survivors.  In this humorous, yet heroic-like adventure, 4 survivors and former classmates find each other to fight for survival amongst the monsters and zombies that have taken over the world...or at least their town.

Some Kind of Courage

Set in 1890, a boy struggles after loosing his mom, sister and dad...then his beloved horse.  His fight for survival during his quest to retrieve his horse makes for a book hard to put down.

Lola Levine: Drama Queen

A fun transitional chapter book with a spunky character full of drama and life.   Even with her spunk, stage fright brings her down until her grandmother saves the day.

Captain Jack and the Pirates

Kids that actually use their imagination for adventure instead of staring at a screen.  Fun had by all!

Beauty and the Beast

This retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast will be a great addition to our library. 

Wolf in the Snow

First a young wolf gets lost, then the young girl who tries to save him gets lost.  A story told in pictures.

A Unicorn Named Sparkle

You don't always get what you want...but sometimes the unexpected is even better!

Maybe a Fox

A young girl seeks answers after her sister disappears.  A baby fox is filled with her spirit and seeks the girl to help her find the answers she is looking for.

Little Cat's Luck

A novel written in verse about a new mommy kitty seeking a safe place to have her kittens.  She travels outside by herself for the first time, finds refuge in a mean dog's house and then struggles to get back home with her human family.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Set in the 1830's, a young girl has to travel alone on a ship across the Atlantic from Europe to the America's to catch up with her family.  The boat ride is anything but conventional, and the young girl has to find her way with a harsh captain and untrusting crew on the 2 month voyage.

Time for Andrew

A must read!  This Bluebonnet Award Winner is book I had a hard time putting down.  Drew, a boy from present times, has to spend the summer with his aunt in an old family house.  He meets up with and changes places with Andrew, a ghost from his family's past.  Their meeting changes both boys' lives...for the better.

In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse

This book makes me want to travel to Nebraska and Wyoming and walk in the same footsteps as the grandfather and Jimmy did that summer.  The half Lakota/half white boy struggles with bullies at school until his grandfather takes him on a journey of the footsteps of Crazy Horse and retells the legendary stories of over 130 years ago...the beginning of the end to the freedom of the Lakota and other tribes.

Raymie Nightingale

Summer months find three girls, all fatherless, in a quest each of their own.  Raymie just lost her father, to a dental hygienist, thinks if she can just win the local beauty contest then he'll return.  Her two new friends find themselves on an odd journey that leads them to a deep friendship.

Upside-Down Magic

In a town where kids going to an "ordinary" school until 5th grade, then transfer to a school of magic, you find the third child of the headmaster of the most prestigious magically school not quite up to par in getting in to her own father's school...because her magic is "wonky".  Another book about owning your true identity.

Unidentified Suburban Ojects

At first you feel as though this book is about a middle school genius who is concerned with finding out about her family's Korean ancestry, then there is a huge twist with who she really is.  It's also about figuring out your identity and accepting it and friendship.

Fever 1793

Historical Fiction novel based on the epidemic of Yellow Fever in Philadelphia in the summer of 1793. Written from a young teen girl's perspective of growing up, survival and hardship.

The Whipping Boy

A Newbery winner by Sid Fleischman about a prince that is a brat and his whipping boy that takes all the "heat" for his mischievous ways.   They soon find themselves in opposite positions and learn compassion from stepping into each other's roles.

The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island

 A realistic fiction about a family that goes on their traditional summer vacation to their beach house, but they find that not all is the same.  The four boys look for their traditional activities but are disappointed by events and people that get in the way.

The Great Shelby Holmes

 A detective mystery book with a main character that is advanced for her age, 9 going into middle school, and has issues with making friends.  Yet, when an 11 year old moves in, he is looking for new friends and Shelby allows him to tag along on her case.  By the end, you have had a fun kid detective adventure and learned that friendship comes in all shapes and sizes.

Towers Falling

Written as recent historical fiction from a 5th grader's point of view that had never heard of the 9/11 event even though she's lived within viewing of the site her entire life.  In school, the curriculum has been updated to include 9/11 and the teachers come at it gracefully, without direct teaching.  Deja has to get the facts from her friends and Googling it.  She is in for a shock and surprised out the tragedy directly relates to her family.

George

A middle grade novel about a boy that identifies as a girl.  In their 4th grade play of Charlotte's Web, she really wants to play the role of Charlotte, but is not even allowed to find out.  In this book, you find a young 4th grader trying to figure out who they are and let other know.  I find I am not sure if this book belongs in my library collection, not because of the issue of transgender, but because of other discussions relating to male genitalia.  

Sting

A group of 4 tweens live along in the lap of luxury until their money is stolen, their stuff is stolen and left with nothing.  They have to resolve to be jewel thieves, like their parents, to regain their status.  They struggle to deal with breaking the law, but know they don't want to live in "the system."

The Wild Robot

A Robot that is designed to be a home worker is stranded on a remote island.  She learns to survive in the wild along side the animals and even adopts a baby gosling to raise.  

The Iron Trial

The Magisterium is a "school" for students with magical potential.  Callum does not want to be excepted...but is and even finds out who is family really is... not the best news.  

Hour of the Bees

A young girl and her family spend the summer with the dying grandfather on his ranch in New Mexico that she has never met.  The summer brings together a family as they get ready to sell the family ranch and prepare for the death of a loved one.