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The Colors of the Rain
by Toalson, R.L. Year Published: 2018Ms. Glessner's Take:
Another wonderful novel in verse! When Paulie's father dies, his entire world turns upside down. Nothing seems to make sense anymore. Paulie and his sister go live with their Aunt Bee and slowly life starts to come together. The emotional ups and downs throughout really make this book a great read - it was truly like experiencing the world through an 11 year old's perspective. Paulie learns a lot about what family means as well as how to handle heavy emotions. An absolute must read!Book Summary From Amazon:
This historical middle grade novel written in free verse, set against the backdrop of the desegregation battles that took place in Houston, Texas, in 1972, is about a young boy and his family dealing with loss and the revelation of dark family secrets. Ten-year-old Paulie Sanders hates his name because it also belonged to his daddy-his daddy who killed a fellow white man and then crashed his car. With his mama unable to cope, Paulie and his sister, Charlie, move in with their Aunt Bee and attend a new elementary school. But it's 1972, and this new school puts them right in the middle of the Houston School District's war on desegregation. Paulie soon begins to question everything. He hears his daddy's crime was a race-related one; he killed a white man defending a black man, and when Paulie starts picking fights with a black boy at school, he must face his reasons for doing so. When dark family secrets are revealed, the way forward for everyone will change the way Paulie thinks about family forever. The Colors of the Rain is an authentic, heartbreaking portrait of loss and human connection during an era fraught with racial tension set in verse from debut author R. L. Toalson.
The Places We Sleep
by DuBois, Caroline Brooks Year Published: 2020Ms. Glessner's Take:
A beautiful novel in verse about the events of September 11, 2001. Not only does Abbey have to deal with being the new kid at a new school, she now faces her dad being sent to war. Middle school is hard enough, but with good friends by your side, you can choose to take a stand against the unkindness in the world. A quick read about choosing to be kind and standing up for who you are.Book Summary From Amazon:
It's early September 2001, and twelve-year-old Abbey is the new kid at school. Again. I worry about people speaking to me / and worry just the same / when they don't. Tennessee is her family's latest stop in a series of moves due to her dad's work in the Army, but this one might be different. Her school is far from Base, and for the first time, Abbey has found a real friend: loyal, courageous, athletic Camille. And then it's September 11. The country is under attack, and Abbey's "home" looks like it might fall apart. America has changed overnight. How are we supposed / to keep this up / with the world / crumbling / around us? Abbey's body changes, too, while her classmates argue and her family falters. Like everyone around her, she tries to make sense of her own experience as a part of the country's collective pain. With her mother grieving and her father prepping for active duty, Abbey must learn to cope on her own.
Starfish
by Fipps, Lisa Year Published: 2021Ms. Glessner's Take:
This book is definitely now one of my ALL time favorites! It is an absolute must read for anyone and everyone. If you have EVER been bullied, this book will give you hope. It's a gorgeous novel in verse that truly shows what bullying can do to a person, but it also shows how the person being bullied can shine and love themselves. I laughed, I cried; well, I wanted to cry but there were students here in the library. Please read this book!Book Summary From Amazon:
Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she's been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules--like "no making waves," "avoid eating in public," and "don't move so fast that your body jiggles." And she's found her safe space--her swimming pool--where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. It's also where she can get away from her pushy mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie's weight will motivate her to diet. Fortunately, Ellie has allies in her dad, her therapist, and her new neighbor, Catalina, who loves Ellie for who she is. With this support buoying her, Ellie might finally be able to cast aside the Fat Girl Rules and starfish in real life--by unapologetically being her own fabulous self.
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears
by Mejia, Tehlor Kay Year Published: 2020Ms. Glessner's Take:
If you love Rick Riordan, this book is for you! Another fantastical adventure, this time dealing with the old folktale of La Llorona (The Crying Woman). Paola loves and trusts science, but when her best friend mysteriously goes missing, she just might have to start believing in the unbelievable. Add in a guy best friend who has a magical house slipper and you know it's going to get interesting!Book Summary From Amazon:
Space-obsessed 12-year-old Paola Santiago and her two best friends, Emma and Dante, know the rule: Stay away from the river. It’s all they’ve heard since a schoolmate of theirs drowned a year ago. Pao is embarrassed to admit that she has been told to stay away for even longer than that, because her mother is constantly warning her about La Llorona, the wailing ghost woman who wanders the banks of the Gila at night, looking for young people to drag into its murky depths. Hating her mother’s humiliating superstitions and knowing that she and her friends would never venture into the water, Pao organizes a meet-up to test out her new telescope near the Gila, since it’s the best stargazing spot. But when Emma never arrives and Pao sees a shadowy figure in the reeds, it seems like maybe her mom was right. . . . Pao has always relied on hard science to make sense of the world, but to find her friend she will have to enter the world of her nightmares, which includes unnatural mist, mind-bending monsters, and relentless spirits controlled by a terrifying force that defies both logic and legend.
Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier
by Ottaviani, Jim & Wicks, Maris Year Published: 2020Ms. Glessner's Take:
This was a great read about how hard women worked to be recognized in NASA's program. I loved the graphic novel format, though sometimes it was difficult to follow. I really enjoyed the explanations and descriptions of what it's like in a space craft. This book is a good choice for anyone who wants to know a little more about the space program's history without being bogged down by too much information - this had the perfect amount of information and storyline!Book Summary From Amazon:
The U.S. may have put the first man on the moon, but it was the Soviet space program that made Valentina Tereshkova the first woman in space. It took years to catch up, but soon NASA’s first female astronauts were racing past milestones of their own. The trail-blazing women of Group 9, NASA’s first mixed gender class, had the challenging task of convincing the powers that be that a woman’s place is in space, but they discovered that NASA had plenty to learn about how to make space travel possible for everyone.
The Turnover
by Lupica, Mike Year Published: 2020Ms. Glessner's Take:
Do you love basketball? I mean, really LOVE basketball? If so, this is the book for you! This is a really great story about family, forgiveness and defining right and wrong, all centered around basketball loving Lucas and his Gramps. A must read for any basketball fan, but also for anyone looking for their next good read!Book Summary From Amazon:
Gramps is Lucas’s hero, which is second only to the fact that he is also Lucas’s basketball coach. Gramps coached the team to victory in the championships last year, and when he decides to come out of retirement to coach another season, Lucas is thrilled. This season will absolutely be the greatest yet. So when his English teacher challenges the class to write a biography of the person they most admire, Lucas can’t think of anyone he’d rather write about. Except...Gramps is being cagey. He avoids every question Lucas asks, and gets angry every time Lucas brings up his past as a hotshot basketball player. Lucas can’t help but wonder--is there something Gramps is trying to hide? And if there is, will Lucas be prepared to face the truth about the man he thought he knew? With basketball championships fast approaching, time is running out for Lucas to decide.
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Efren Divided
by Ernesto Cisneros Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
This book is a must read. Very timely with what's happening in our world today and really provides a different side of the story. This is a book you will love and what's even better, it gets you thinking and questioning without you realizing! Definitely check this book out!Book Summary From Amazon:
Efrén Nava’s Amá is his Superwoman—or Soperwoman, named after the delicious Mexican sopes his mother often prepares. Both Amá and Apá work hard all day to provide for the family, making sure Efrén and his younger siblings Max and Mía feel safe and loved. But Efrén worries about his parents; although he’s American-born, his parents are undocumented. His worst nightmare comes true one day when Amá doesn’t return from work and is deported across the border to Tijuana, México. Now more than ever, Efrén must channel his inner Soperboy to help take care of and try to reunite his family.
Focused
by Alyson Gerber Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
A great story about ADHD and what it's like to not just live with it, but to go to middle school and deal with friends. Very eye opening and something I think everyone should read. I learned a lot and it was just a great story!Book Summary From Amazon:
Clea can't control her thoughts. She knows she has to do her homework . . . but she gets distracted. She knows she can't just say whatever thought comes into her head . . . but sometimes she can't help herself. She know she needs to focus . . . but how can she do that when the people around her are always chewing gum loudly or making other annoying noises? It's starting to be a problem--not just in school, but when Clea's playing chess or just hanging out with her best friend. Other kids are starting to notice. When Clea fails one too many tests, her parents take her to be tested, and she finds out that she has ADHD, which means her attention is all over the place instead of where it needs to be. Clea knows life can't continue the way it's been going. She's just not sure how you can fix a problem that's all in your head. But that's what she's going to have to do, to find a way to focus.
Shine!
by J.J. Grabenstein & Chris Grabenstein Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Not only is this a fabulous book, it was a quick and easy read! I loved the idea of a schoolwide challenge that included all students! Be sure to check this book out!Book Summary From Amazon:
"Who do you want to be?" asks Mr. Van Deusen. "And not when you grow up. Right here, right now." Shine on! might be the catchphrase of twelve-year-old Piper's hero--astronaut, astronomer, and television host Nellie Dumont Frisse--but Piper knows the truth: some people are born to shine, and she's just not one of them. That fact has never been clearer than now, since her dad's new job has landed them both at Chumley Prep, a posh private school where everyone seems to be the best at something and where Piper definitely doesn't fit in. Bursting with humor, heart, science, possibilities, and big questions, Shine! is a story about finding your place in the universe--a story about figuring out who you are and who you want to be.
Race to the Sun
by Rebecca Roanhorse Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
This book is "presented by Rick Riordan" - so if you love the "Percy Jackson" series, you'll LOVE this! A different spin on the hero story featuring Southwest Native American mythology, this book is action packed and just an all around great book! Definitely check it out!Book Summary From Amazon:
Lately, seventh grader Nizhoni Begay has been able to detect monsters, like that man in the fancy suit who was in the bleachers at her basketball game. Turns out he's Mr. Charles, her dad's new boss at the oil and gas company, and he's alarmingly interested in Nizhoni and her brother, Mac, their Navajo heritage, and the legend of the Hero Twins. Nizhoni knows he's a threat, but her father won't believe her. When Dad disappears the next day, leaving behind a message that says "Run!", the siblings and Nizhoni's best friend, Davery, are thrust into a rescue mission that can only be accomplished with the help of Diné Holy People, all disguised as quirky characters. Their aid will come at a price: the kids must pass a series of trials in which it seems like nature itself is out to kill them. If Nizhoni, Mac, and Davery can reach the House of the Sun, they will be outfitted with what they need to defeat the ancient monsters Mr. Charles has unleashed. But it will take more than weapons for Nizhoni to become the hero she was destined to be . . .Timeless themes such as the importance of family and respect for the land resonate in this funny, fast-paced, and exciting quest adventure set in the American Southwest.
Ghost Squad
by Claribel Ortega Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
If you are looking for a fairly scary ghost story, this is the book for you! While everyone knows Ms. G doesn't do scary, I did make it through this book. It reminded me of "Coco" with how the main character could see her dead relatives. A great read that is now available in the NEMS Library!Book Summary From Amazon:
Coco meets Stranger Things with a hint of Ghostbusters in this action-packed supernatural fantasy. For Lucely Luna, ghosts are more than just the family business. Shortly before Halloween, Lucely and her best friend, Syd, cast a spell that accidentally awakens malicious spirits, wreaking havoc throughout St. Augustine. Together, they must join forces with Syd's witch grandmother, Babette, and her tubby tabby, Chunk, to fight the haunting head-on and reverse the curse to save the town and Lucely's firefly spirits before it's too late. With the family dynamics of Coco and action-packed adventure of Ghostbusters, Claribel A. Ortega delivers both a thrillingly spooky and delightfully sweet debut novel.
My Jasper June
by Laurel Snyder Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
An all around great book for middle school students. The characters are great and very relatable. The situations they encounter are also real and will definitely make an impact on anyone who reads this book!Book Summary From Amazon:
The school year is over, and it is summer in Atlanta. The sky is blue, the sun is blazing, and the days brim with possibility. But Leah feels. . . lost. She has been this way since one terrible afternoon a year ago, when everything changed. Since that day, her parents have become distant, her friends have fallen away, and Leah’s been adrift and alone. Then she meets Jasper, a girl unlike anyone she has ever known. There’s something mysterious about Jasper, almost magical. And Jasper, Leah discovers, is also lost. Together, the two girls carve out a place for themselves, a hideaway in the overgrown spaces of Atlanta, away from their parents and their hardships, somewhere only they can find. But as the days of this magical June start to draw to a close, and the darker realities of their lives intrude once more, Leah and Jasper have to decide how real their friendship is, and whether it can be enough to save them both.
Lalani of the Distant Sea
by Erin Entrada Kelly Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
An absolutely beautifully written book on the topic of Filipino mythology. If you enjoy the movie "Moana," you'll enjoy this book. (I feel that I have the authority to compare this to "Moana" because my 2 year old has watched that movie almost EVERY day since March. I'm VERY familiar with the story! Also, Amazon did the same thing!) Worth reading for sure!Book Summary From Amazon:
Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly’s debut fantasy novel is a gorgeous, literary adventure about bravery, friendship, self-reliance, and the choice between accepting fate or forging your own path. When Lalani Sarita’s mother falls ill with an incurable disease, Lalani embarks on a dangerous journey across the sea in the hope of safeguarding her own future. Inspired by Filipino folklore, this engrossing fantasy is for readers who loved Grace Lin’s Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Disney’s Moana.
The First Conspiracy
by Brad Meltzer Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
If you love history, George Washington and the Revolutionary War, this is the book for you. I admit that it was not a favorite of mine and I didn't really make it past about page 25. However, I learned A LOT in those 25 pages. Good stuff - while it may not be Ms. G's favorite, it's worth checking out!Book Summary From Amazon:
1776. The early days of the Revolutionary War. It supposedly began with Thomas Hickey, a private in the Continental Army, and New York governor William Tryon. In an astonishing power grab, they plotted to kill Hickey's boss: a man by the name of George Washington. In the end, Hickey was caught, brought to trial, and found guilty. It would seem he became the first person in the new nation to be executed for treason. But to this day, nobody knows for sure if this story is true. In The First Conspiracy, Brad Meltzer sheds light on the close-kept secrets and compelling details surrounding this story and exposes the history of how the assassination plot catalyzed the creation of the CIA and FBI. This page-turning investigation offers young readers an in-depth look at the facts and remaining questions that surround this contested historical event.
Nature's Ninja: Animals with Spectacular Skills
by Rebecca L. Johnson Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
If you love animals and ninjas - this is the book for you! A very cool look at some of nature's neatest animals and how they can be compared to the ninja ways. A must read!Book Summary From Amazon:
Did you know that some animals have natural ninja-like talents? In this book, you'll learn all about them, including geckos, sea urchins, bombardier beetles, and more. For example, geckos can grip almost any surface¨Dincluding walls and ceilings¨Dwith their amazing toes. And when collector urchins are attacked, they release tiny, sharp objects that bear a striking resemblance to throwing stars. You will also meet the scientists who are studying these animals' amazing abilities.
96 Miles
by J. L. Esplin Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
What a great book! The beginning was a little slow, but so worth it! The last 100 pages of this book make it worth reading! And who doesn't love a book with brothers as main characters?Book Summary From Amazon:
21 days without power. 2 brothers on a desperate trek. 72 hours before time runs out... The Lockwood brothers are supposed to be able to survive anything. Their dad, a hardcore believer in self-reliance, has stockpiled enough food and water at their isolated Nevada home to last for months. But when they are robbed of all their supplies during a massive blackout while their dad is out of town, John and Stew must walk 96 miles in the stark desert sun to get help. Along the way, they’re forced to question their dad’s insistence on self-reliance and ask just what it is that we owe to our neighbors, our kin, and to ourselves. From talented newcomer J. L. Esplin comes this story of survival and determination as two young brothers confront the unpredictability of human nature in the face of desperate circumstances.
All the Greys on Greene Street
by Laura Tucker Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I wanted to like this one, I really did. The beginning was difficult to get through, very cryptic. It was hard to figure out exactly what was going on. There seemed to be too much to the story rather than just one thing to focus on. I will say I enjoyed the fact that it provided insight into depression - it was very eye opening to read about someone with depression. Worth a read, but I wouldn't make it my first choice.Book Summary From Amazon:
SoHo, 1981. Twelve-year-old Olympia is an artist--and in her neighborhood, that's normal. Her dad and his business partner Apollo bring antique paintings back to life, while her mother makes intricate sculptures in a corner of their loft, leaving Ollie to roam the streets of New York with her best friends Richard and Alex, drawing everything that catches her eye. Then everything falls apart. Ollie's dad disappears in the middle of the night, leaving her only a cryptic note and instructions to destroy it. Her mom has gone to bed, and she's not getting up. Apollo is hiding something, Alex is acting strange, and Richard has questions about the mysterious stranger he saw outside. And someone keeps calling, looking for a missing piece of art. . . Olympia knows her dad is the key--but first, she has to find him, and time is running out.
Nightbooks
by J. A. White Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
A really great, scary story! I think so many of our students will love this book! A different sort of scary story that I don't think has been written before!Book Summary From Amazon:
Alex’s original hair-raising tales are the only thing keeping the witch Natacha happy, but soon he’ll run out of pages to read from and be trapped forever. He’s loved scary stories his whole life, and he knows most don’t have a happily ever after. Now that Alex is trapped in a true terrifying tale, he’s desperate for a different ending—and a way out of this twisted place. This modern spin on the Scheherazade story is perfect for fans of Coraline and A Tale Dark and Grimm. With interwoven tips on writing with suspense, adding in plot twists, hooks, interior logic, and dealing with writer’s block, this is the ideal book for budding writers and all readers of delightfully just-dark-enough tales.
A Flicker of Courage
by Deb Caletti Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Personally, this book was not for me. However, I think a lot of our NEMS students will love it! It's definitely one to check out - now available in the NEMS Library!Book Summary From Amazon:
The story takes place in a world much like ours, but at the same time not at all like ours, in which Vlad Luxor--a capricious, vain, infantile tyrant--rules over a town with an iron fist. He's an emperor with no clothes, but woe is the person who points that out--they could wind up turned into a squirrel or lizard or who knows what! For in this world, the evil leader also has magic, which he uses to punish anyone who speaks out against him. But in every classic tale with a despicable villain, there must also be a truly noble hero--in this case, four of them! Henry, Apollo, Pirate Girl, and JoJo must be their most brave and clever to break the spell Vlad Luxor has cast on Apollo's brother, Rocco. For we can't have Rocco remain a naked lizard for the rest of his life, now can we?
The Light in Hidden Places
by Sharon Cameron Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
This book was just amazing. I know I use that word a ton when describing books, but honestly - just that good. I found it extremely relatable to today's world. This book did a great job of really making me feel all of the main character's anxiety and fear. A must read!Book Summary From Amazon:
One knock at the door, and Stefania has a choice to make... It is 1943, and for four years, sixteen-year-old Stefania has been working for the Diamant family in their grocery store in Przemsyl, Poland, singing her way into their lives and hearts. She has even made a promise to one of their sons, Izio -- a betrothal they must keep secret since she is Catholic and the Diamants are Jewish. But everything changes when the German army invades Przemsyl. The Diamants are forced into the ghetto, and Stefania is alone in an occupied city, the only one left to care for Helena, her six-year-old sister. And then comes the knock at the door. Izio's brother Max has jumped from the train headed to a death camp. Stefania and Helena make the extraordinary decision to hide Max, and eventually twelve more Jews. Then they must wait, every day, for the next knock at the door, the one that will mean death. When the knock finally comes, it is two Nazi officers, requisitioning Stefania's house for the German army.With two Nazis below, thirteen hidden Jews above, and a little sister by her side, Stefania has one more excruciating choice to make.
The Hero Next Door
by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich (Editor) Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
A wonderful collection of diverse stories from very diverse authors. This was not one of my favorite reads this summer, but I did enjoy several of the stories. I could see this being good for quick reads in our library that will spark lots of great discussion!Book Summary From Amazon:
Not all heroes wear capes. Some heroes teach martial arts. Others talk to ghosts. A few are inventors or soccer players. They're also sisters, neighbors, and friends. Because heroes come in many shapes and sizes. But they all have one thing in common: they make the world a better place. Published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books, this vibrant anthology features thirteen acclaimed authors whose powerful and diverse voices show how small acts of kindness can save the day. So pay attention, because a hero could be right beside you. Or maybe the hero is you.
Survivor Girl
by Erin Teagan Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
This book was everything that "Wildfire" by Rodman Philbrick was not - a great plot, great character development and lots of story. While I enjoyed it, it ended up being on the complete opposite end of the spectrum - it was too long, too much story and too many great characters. A really good read and encourages challenging your preconceived notions about reality television and dealing with tough situations.Book Summary From Amazon:
12-year-old Ali adores her reality-show celebrity father, Survivor Guy, and hopes to follow in his footsteps. But when he invites her on location, Ali is sure she won’t survive one episode . . . until she learns the truth: The show isn't just her dad and a camera. It’s a huge crew and set, with stunt doubles! When a wildfire strikes and Ali and two other kids miss the last rescue helicopter, suddenly, the fight for survival is real. Will she find the self-confidence she needs so they can work together and get out of the wilderness alive? STEM themes and plot strands about body image and divorce are subtly woven into this page-turning tale.
The Only Black Girls in Town
by Brandy Colbert Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Guys - this book was another awesome read! A very interesting perspective about the color of skin and how that affects our various relationships and our perception of ourselves. A perfect middle school novel that I plan on recommending to anyone and everyone!Book Summary From Amazon:
Beach-loving surfer Alberta has been the only black girl in town for years. Alberta's best friend, Laramie, is the closest thing she has to a sister, but there are some things even Laramie can't understand. When the bed and breakfast across the street finds new owners, Alberta is ecstatic to learn the family is black-and they have a 12-year-old daughter just like her. Alberta is positive she and the new girl, Edie, will be fast friends. But while Alberta loves being a California girl, Edie misses her native Brooklyn and finds it hard to adapt to small-town living. When the girls discover a box of old journals in Edie's attic, they team up to figure out exactly who's behind them and why they got left behind. Soon they discover shocking and painful secrets of the past and learn that nothing is quite what it seems.
All the Impossible Things
by Lindsay Lackey Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I could not have loved this book more! It was a long read, but absolute perfection! A very insightful look at what kids go through when involved with the foster care system. Definitely getting this book for the NEMS Library collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
Red’s inexplicable power over the wind comes from her mother. Whenever Ruby “Red” Byrd is scared or angry, the wind picks up. And being placed in foster care, moving from family to family, tends to keep her skies stormy. Red knows she has to learn to control it, but can’t figure out how. This time, the wind blows Red into the home of the Grooves, a quirky couple who run a petting zoo, complete with a dancing donkey and a giant tortoise. With their own curious gifts, Celine and Jackson Groove seem to fit like a puzzle piece into Red’s heart. But just when Red starts to settle into her new life, a fresh storm rolls in, one she knows all too well: her mother. For so long, Red has longed to have her mom back in her life, and she’s quickly swept up in the vortex of her mother’s chaos. Now Red must discover the possible in the impossible if she wants to overcome her own tornadoes and find the family she needs.
Things Seen From Above
by Shelley Pearsall Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
This book is definitely in my top 5 of books I've read this summer. Absolutely fantastic. I love the growth in the characters as well as the lessons that can be learned from this great story. This was another book that got me thinking about how to better serve our students and I've got some ideas to share for the coming school year! A must read!Book Summary From Amazon:
April is looking for an escape from the sixth-grade lunch hour, which has become a social-scene nightmare, so she signs up to be a "buddy bench monitor" for the fourth graders' recess. Joey Byrd is a boy on the fringes, who wanders the playground alone, dragging his foot through the dirt. But over time, April realizes that Joey isn't just making random circles. When you look at his designs from above, a story emerges... Joey's "bird's eye" drawings reveal what he observes and thinks about every day. Told in alternating viewpoints--April's in text and Joey's mostly in art--the story gives the "whole picture" of what happens as these two outsiders find their rightful places.
Revenge of the Red Club
by Kim Harrington Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I love a book that really makes me think and this book does just that! I think this would be a GREAT book club book and I can't wait to have conversations with my students who read this book! It gave me lots to think about when it comes to our school and how I can be an even better librarian and supporter of all our students!Book Summary From Amazon:
Riley Dunne loves being a member of the Red Club. It’s more than a group of girls supporting each other through Aunt Flo’s ups and downs; it’s a Hawking Middle School tradition. The club’s secret locker has an emergency stash of supplies, and the girls are always willing to lend an ear, a shoulder, or an old pair of sweatpants. But when the school administration shuts the Red Club down because of complaints, the girls are stunned. Who would do that to them? The girls’ shock quickly turns into anger, and then they decide to get even. But wallpapering the gym with maxi pads and making tampon crafts in art class won’t bring their club back. Only Riley can do that. Using the skills she has cultivated as her school paper’s top investigative reporter (okay, only investigative reporter), she digs for the truth about who shut the club down and why. All the while dealing with friendship drama, a new and ridiculous dress code, and a support group that is now more focused on fighting with each other than fighting back. Can she save the Red Club before this rebellion turns into a full-scale war?
Awesome Dog 5000
by Justin Dean Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I know which students will LOVE this book and I'm excited to share it with y'all! If you like crazy, easy to read stories with robot dogs, evil geniuses, humor and a main character just like you - this is the book for you! A light read with silly drawings throughout, this book even has a fun challenge at the end!Book Summary From Amazon:
Marty, Ralph, and Skyler might make the ultimate secret combo when battling alien-slime ninjas in their favorite video game, but in real life they're just regular kids. That is, until the three best friends discover Awesome Dog 5000, a robotic dog with very real power-ups. Awesome Dog can "bark" a sonic boom, "walk" at speeds over three hundred miles per hour, and "fetch" with an atomic cannon. Life for Marty, Ralph, and Skyler just got a major turbo-boost! Attention, readers! AWESOME DOG 5000 is a wild action-comedy told through a mix of text and black-and-white illustrations, with a mystery to solve at the end. Can you handle the awesomeness?
Hollow Dolls
by MarcyKate Connolly Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Avery interesting fantasy book. I haven't read her other books, but I did enjoy this book despite not having any background knowledge. Worth reading if you are into fantasy, but not my favorite book I've read this summer.Book Summary From Amazon:
Simone is a mind-reader. She knows a great many things, but she can't seem to remember anything about her past. So when she gets the chance to search for her family, she sets off to finally find her home. When she stumbles across a man with two minds inside him¨Dthe real one, shoved deep down, and one of a body walker, someone who can take over a person's body against their will¨DSimone is even more eager to leave her old life behind. As Simone dives deeper into her history, she learns truths she never could have imagined. But as those she loves start disappearing around her, Simone knows only she can stop the evil, before it's too late.
Black Canary, Ignite
by Meg Cabot Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Another great graphic novel! I'm more a Marvel fan than DC, but this was a good read! I look forward to seeing if this becomes a series - I'll be adding them to the NEMS Library collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
Thirteen-year-old Dinah Lance knows exactly what she wants, who she is, and where she's going. First, she'll win the battle of the bands with her two best friends, then she'll join the Gotham City Junior Police Academy so she can solve crimes just like her dad. Who knows, her rock-star group of friends may even save the world, but first they'll need to agree on a band name. When a mysterious figure keeps getting in the way of Dinah's goals and threatens her friends and family, she'll learn more about herself, her mother's secret past, and navigating the various power chords of life.
The Ghost in Apartment 2R
by Denis Markell Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
We all know Ms. G DOES NOT like scary books. This book is about a haunted room in a NYC apartment. I like this book - the right amount of scary with great, diverse characters! There are some great stories from different cultures about their versions of the supernatural. Definitely a must add to the NEMS Library collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
It stinks that Danny's older brother moved out and went to college. But you know what's worse? He left behind an angry ghost in his room! With the help of his friends Nat and Gus, Danny interviews everyone his Brooklyn neighborhood to find out about spirits. Is it an Arabian ghoul? A Korean gwishin? A Polish haunting? Maybe the answer lies with Danny's own bubbe and her tales of a dybbuk, a Jewish mythological ghost. Regardless of its origins, what does the spirit truly want? And can Danny manage to bring the phantom to rest?
When You Know What I Know
by Sonja Solter Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
A wonderful novel in verse that deals with a very serious subject. I wasn't sure about this book as far as the topic was concerned, but I think that the author handled it fantastically and in such a way that anyone can read this book. It will definitely open doors for discussion and I think this would be a fabulous addition to our NEMS Library collection.Book Summary From Amazon:
One day after school, on the couch in the basement, Tori's uncle did something bad. Afterward, Tori tells her mom. Even though telling was a brave thing to do, her mom still doesn't believe her at first. Her grandma still takes his side. And Tori doesn't want anyone else -- even her best friend -- to know what happened. Now Tori finds herself battling mixed emotions -- anger, shame, and sadness -- as she deals with the trauma. But with the help of her mom, her little sister, her best friend, and others, can Tori find a way to have the last word?
Guest
by Mary Downing Hahn Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
The "changeling" storyline is VERY popular right now in YA literature. A changeling is a fairy baby (usually ugly) that is exchanged with a beautiful human child. With that knowledge, I wasn't quite sure I would enjoy reading this book; boy was I surprised! This book was full of Irish folklore and fairy tales. It was easy to read and I became very invested in the characters. I tend to stay away from this author's books because they generally are scary - this one was not at all. Full of suspense and exciting action - a definite must read!Book Summary From Amazon:
When her adorable baby brother is replaced by an ugly, ill-tempered changeling, Mollie is determined to find the so-called Kinde Folke who took baby Thomas, return the changeling she calls Guest, and make them give Thomas back. Natural and magical obstacles and her own reckless temperament make her journey arduous and full of dangers, and a plot rich in surprises and twists makes this book a must-read for Mary Downing Hahn’s fans.
Things You Can't Say
by Jenn Bishop Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
What a read. Drew's father committed suicide and 3 years later, Drew is still angry. When an old friend of his mom's visits, Drew begins to question what he thought was true. Y'all - this book was amazing. I related to Drew in so many ways - suicide is such a difficult subject. I can't say this enough - read this book! I'll look into adding it to the NEMS Library collection asap!Book Summary From Amazon:
Nothing is going right this summer for Drew. And after losing his dad unexpectedly three years ago, Drew knows a lot about things not going right. First, it’s the new girl Audrey taking over everything at the library, Drew’s sacred space. Then it’s his best friend, Filipe, pulling away from him. But most upsetting has to be the mysterious man who is suddenly staying with Drew’s family. An old friend of Mom’s? Drew isn’t buying that. With an unlikely ally in Audrey, he’s determined to get to the bottom of who this man really is. The thing is, there are some fears—like what if the person you thought was your dad actually wasn’t—that you can’t speak out loud, not to anyone. At least that’s what Drew thinks. But then again, first impressions can be deceiving.
Nazi Saboteurs: Hitler's Secret Attack on America
by Samantha Seiple Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I was very excited to read this book! I have always enjoyed learning about WWII and this is one thing I hadn't learned yet! Very interesting read! Worth checking out from the NEMS Library collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
In 1942, amid a growing German threat, Nazi agents infiltrated the United States in hopes of destroying American infrastructure and sowing panic throughout the nation. Nazi Saboteurs tells the nail-biting tale of this daring plot, buried in history, for young readers for the first time. Black-and-white historical photos throughout paint a picture of a nation on edge, the FBI caught unawares, and the incredible capture of eight dangerous criminals. A thrilling historical narrative for WWII buffs, reluctant readers, and adventure junkies.
Standing Up Against Hate: How Black Women in the Army Helped Change the Course of WWII
by Mary Cronk Farrell Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I wanted more from this book. I don't know if I misunderstood the title, but while I loved the small stories and that many women were from South Carolina, but this book fell flat for me. It definitely is a great addition to our NEMS Library collection as the integration of black women in the armed forces was a monumental endeavor. Many strong women are represented and I definitely want to learn more about this time period, specifically with integration. Be sure to check this book out as soon as you can!Book Summary From Amazon:
Standing Up Against Hate tells the stories of the African American women who enlisted in the newly formed Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in World War II. They quickly discovered that they faced as many obstacles in the armed forces as they did in everyday life. However, they refused to back down. They interrupted careers and left family, friends, and loved ones to venture into unknown and sometimes dangerous territory. They survived racial prejudice and discrimination with dignity, succeeded in jobs women had never worked before, and made crucial contributions to the military war effort. The book centers around Charity Adams, who commanded the only black WAAC battalion sent overseas and became the highest ranking African American woman in the military by the end of the war. Along with Adams’s story are those of other black women who played a crucial role in integrating the armed forces. Their tales are both inspiring and heart-wrenching. The book includes a timeline, bibliography, and index.
My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich
by Ibi Zoboi Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Read the book summary below first - that's what made me want to read this book. The title caught my eye and then the description made this book move to the top of my "want to read" list. ***But then... I started reading. I wanted to like the book, but the main character was just too... weird? I don't even know if that's the right word. I just couldn't relate to her and honestly, I kept trying to like her as I kept reading, but it just wasn't happening.** Please know that not everyone likes the same kinds of books or characters. For some of you, this book may be the best thing you've ever read and that's fantastic! Please try it out - I want to know if Ebony Grace grows at all as a character!Book Summary From Amazon:
Twelve-year-old Ebony-Grace Norfleet has lived with her beloved grandfather Jeremiah in Huntsville, Alabama ever since she was little. As one of the first black engineers to integrate NASA, Jeremiah has nurtured Ebony-Grace’s love for all things outer space and science fiction—especially Star Wars and Star Trek. But in the summer of 1984, when trouble arises with Jeremiah, it’s decided she’ll spend a few weeks with her father in Harlem. Harlem is an exciting and terrifying place for a sheltered girl from Hunstville, and Ebony-Grace’s first instinct is to retreat into her imagination. But soon 126th Street begins to reveal that it has more in common with her beloved sci-fi adventures than she ever thought possible, and by summer's end, Ebony-Grace discovers that Harlem has a place for a girl whose eyes are always on the stars.
You are Eating Plastic Every Day
by Danielle Smith-Llera Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I was SO interested in this because let's face it - who knows what is in our food??? I wanted to learn something new and be able to share. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't interesting enough for me. That's not to say it didn't have some VERY good information. What I did read was very informative and has definitely made me think twice about how much plastic I'm using in my daily life. The book still has a lot of redeeming qualities and is worth reading for sure, it's just not one of my top favorites I've read this summer!Book Summary From Amazon:
Scientists have recently started studying plastic pollution and our food supply. And, make no mistake, you are eating microscopic pieces of plastic everyday. What does it mean for our health? And what can you do about it? Students will get practical tips on how they can get involved and become part of the solution.
From the Desk of Zoe Washington
by Janae Marks Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Overall, a great book. I loved the story and the characters. The plot started out fantastic and I was so curious to see what how Zoe would face the various challenges. I was not a fan of how quickly and nicely the book wrapped up. The ending left me very unfulfilled, especially with how relatable the topic is to what is happening in the world today. Still, a great read and definitely something to be added to our NEMS Library collection.Book Summary From Amazon:
Zoe Washington isn’t sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she’s never met, hadn’t heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who’s been in prison for a terrible crime? A crime he says he never committed. Could Marcus really be innocent? Zoe is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation from the rest of her family. Everyone else thinks Zoe’s worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship and proving to her parents that she’s worthy of auditioning for Food Network’s Kids Bake Challenge. But with bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus’s conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe Zoe doesn’t know how to balance. The only thing she knows to be true: Everyone lies.
To Night Owl From Dogfish
by Holly Goldberg Sloan Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I enjoyed this book WAY more than I thought I would. I definitely judged this book by its cover and title. The story was fantastic, very fast paced. The characters are lovable, the format is easy to read and there were SO MANY TWISTS!!!!!!!!! Perhaps a little unbelievable when it comes to the twists, but you're rooting for the characters and the story so much that you are willing to suspend reality for just a moment. Definitely a great book that will be joining the NEMS Library collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
Avery Bloom, who's bookish, intense, and afraid of many things, particularly deep water, lives in New York City. Bett Devlin, who's fearless, outgoing, and loves all animals as well as the ocean, lives in California. What they have in common is that they are both twelve years old, and are both being raised by single, gay dads. When their dads fall in love, Bett and Avery are sent, against their will, to the same sleepaway camp. Their dads hope that they will find common ground and become friends--and possibly, one day, even sisters. But things soon go off the rails for the girls (and for their dads too), and they find themselves on a summer adventure that neither of them could have predicted. Now that they can't imagine life without each other, will the two girls (who sometimes call themselves Night Owl and Dogfish) figure out a way to be a family?
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
What a timely read. I actually checked this book out from the library before any of the events around our nation started and so I'm really excited to dive into this book. I hope to learn a lot and do some self reflecting :) I started reading the morning of June 4th and I can't wait to keep reading!**June 10th update - still reading. It's a good read, just heavy with everything going on right now. I'm still enjoying learning as I read! I'll keep y'all updated!**
Book Summary From Amazon:
This is NOT a history book.
This is a book about the here and now.
A book to help us better understand why we are where we are.
A book about race.
The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited. Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas--and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.
When Stars Are Scattered
by Victoria Jamieson Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I absolutely LOVED this book. A fabulous graphic novel about Somalian refugees. This will definitely be joining the NEMS Library collection. I learned so much from this book and definitely was able to widen my perspective about refugees and their lives. A must read!Book Summary From Amazon:
Heartbreak and hope exist together in this remarkable graphic novel about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a Somali refugee to the Newbery Honor-winning creator of Roller Girl. Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day. Heartbreak, hope, and gentle humor exist together in this graphic novel about a childhood spent waiting, and a young man who is able to create a sense of family and home in the most difficult of settings. It's an intimate, important, unforgettable look at the day-to-day life of a refugee, as told to New York Times Bestselling author/artist Victoria Jamieson by Omar Mohamed, the Somali man who lived the story.
The World Ends in April
by Stacy McAnulty Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I finally finished this book late on June 3rd. A good read - again, I loved that the main character's best friend is visually impaired (representation!) and that her grandfather is a doomsday prepper. Eleanor's obsession with the asteroid hitting earth and the world ending is fascinating. She uses this major event to navigate the crazy world of middle school. Overall, a good book. One I plan on adding to the NEMS Library collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
Every day in middle school can feel like the end of the world. Eleanor Dross knows a thing or two about the end of the world, thanks to a survivalist grandfather who stockpiles freeze-dried food and supplies--just in case. So when she reads about a Harvard scientist's prediction that an asteroid will strike Earth in April, Eleanor knows her family will be prepared. Her classmates? They're on their own! Eleanor has just one friend she wants to keep safe: Mack. They've been best friends since kindergarten, even though he's more of a smiley emoji and she's more of an eye-roll emoji. They'll survive the end of the world together . . . if Mack doesn't go away to a special school for the blind. But it's hard to keep quiet about a life-destroying asteroid--especially at a crowded lunch table--and soon Eleanor is the president of the (secret) End of the World Club. It turns out that prepping for TEOTWAWKI (the End of the World as We Know It) is actually kind of fun. But you can't really prepare for everything life drops on you. And one way or another, Eleanor's world is about to change.
Other Words for Home
by Jasmine Warga Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book but I enjoyed it a lot! While I still need to learn more about the Syrian refugee situation, this book definitely opened my eyes to a different point of view. Worth a read - you'll be able to find it in the NEMS Library collection soon! Maybe I am learning to love novels in verse!Book Summary From Amazon:
Jude never thought she’d be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives. At first, everything in America seems too fast and too loud. The American movies that Jude has always loved haven’t quite prepared her for starting school in the US—and her new label of “Middle Eastern,” an identity she’s never known before. But this life also brings unexpected surprises—there are new friends, a whole new family, and a school musical that Jude might just try out for. Maybe America, too, is a place where Jude can be seen as she really is.
Some Places More Than Others
by Renee Watson Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
A short, quick read that was extremely enjoyable. A great story about healing, love, family and knowing your story. Another one that will be added to the NEMS Library collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
All Amara wants for her birthday is to visit her father's family in New York City--Harlem, to be exact. She can't wait to finally meet her Grandpa Earl and cousins in person, and to stay in the brownstone where her father grew up. Maybe this will help her understand her family--and herself--in new way. But New York City is not exactly what Amara thought it would be. It's crowded, with confusing subways, suffocating sidewalks, and her father is too busy with work to spend time with her and too angry to spend time with Grandpa Earl. As she explores, asks questions, and learns more and more about Harlem and about her father and his family history, she realizes how, in some ways more than others, she connects with him, her home, and her family.
White Bird: A Wonder Story
by R. J. Palacio Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Y'all - this graphic novel is fantastic. An absolute must read. I think I finished it in about 30 minutes because it was just that good. I will always encourage my students to read graphic novels and this one is at the top of my list. Definitely will become part of the NEMS Library!!!Book Summary From Amazon:
In R. J. Palacio's bestselling collection of stories Auggie & Me, which expands on characters in Wonder, readers were introduced to Julian's grandmother, Grandmère. Here, Palacio makes her graphic novel debut with Grandmère's heartrending story: how she, a young Jewish girl, was hidden by a family in a Nazi-occupied French village during World War II; how the boy she and her classmates once shunned became her savior and best friend. Sara's harrowing experience movingly demonstrates the power of kindness to change hearts, build bridges, and even save lives. As Grandmère tells Julian, "It always takes courage to be kind, but in those days, such kindness could cost you everything." With poignant symbolism and gorgeous artwork that brings Sara's story out of the past and cements it firmly in this moment in history, White Bird is sure to captivate anyone who was moved by the book Wonder or the blockbuster movie adaptation and its message.
Mostly the Honest Truth
by Jody J. Little Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Finished this Tuesday, May 26. I was very intrigued and was able to read it quickly. Jane is a strong and interesting character who has to spend 12 days at Three Boulders, which is like a really weird looking summer camp. In her 12 days at Three Boulders, Jane learns a lot about love, family and friendship - a very good book that deals with a difficult subject matter (alcoholism in loved ones) in a wonderful way. I think this would make a good addition to the NEMS Library.Book Summary From Amazon:
After Pop is sent back to rehab, Jane Pengilly arrives at her newest foster home determined to stick to the straight and narrow and get back to her beloved dad as soon as she can. It’s not the first time they’ve been apart, but Jane’s determined it will be the last. Twelve days out in the boonies of Three Boulders makes Jane miss Pop more than ever. But as the days go by, she realizes that family is more than who you’re related to—and that a home can be found in the unlikeliest of places.
This Promise of Change: One Girl's Story in the Fight for School Equality
by Jo Ann Allen Boyce Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
A novel in verse - of which I generally am NOT fan. However, this book was fabulous! An absolute MUST read - it's THAT good. We are familiar with the stories of the Little Rock 9 and Ruby Bridges, but this is about the Clinton 12 in Tennessee. Wonderfully written and very timely for much of what is happening today. Definitely adding this one to the NEMS Library collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
In 1956, one year before federal troops escorted the Little Rock 9 into Central High School, fourteen year old Jo Ann Allen was one of twelve African-American students who broke the color barrier and integrated Clinton High School in Tennessee. At first things went smoothly for the Clinton 12, but then outside agitators interfered, pitting the townspeople against one another. Uneasiness turned into anger, and even the Clinton Twelve themselves wondered if the easier thing to do would be to go back to their old school. Jo Ann--clear-eyed, practical, tolerant, and popular among both black and white students---found herself called on as the spokesperson of the group. But what about just being a regular teen? This is the heartbreaking and relatable story of her four months thrust into the national spotlight and as a trailblazer in history. Based on original research and interviews and featuring backmatter with archival materials and notes from the authors on the co-writing process.
Each Tiny Spark
by Pablo Cartaya Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
From a librarian perspective, this is a great book. Personally, not one of my favorites. (I seem to read one really fabulous book and then usually the book right after just doesn't seem to hit the mark. I feel bad for those books, if that's possible. haha!) This book has a lot of great subjects that are perfect for middle school and I love the characters that are represented. This will be in the NEMS Library collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
Emilia Torres has a wandering mind. It's hard for her to follow along at school, and sometimes she forgets to do what her mom or abuela asks. But she remembers what matters: a time when her family was whole and home made sense. When Dad returns from deployment, Emilia expects that her life will get back to normal. Instead, it unravels. Dad shuts himself in the back stall of their family's auto shop to work on an old car. Emilia peeks in on him daily, mesmerized by his welder. One day, Dad calls Emilia over. Then, he teaches her how to weld. And over time, flickers of her old dad reappear. But as Emilia finds a way to repair the relationship with her father at home, her community ruptures with some of her classmates, like her best friend, Gus, at the center of the conflict. Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya is a tender story about asking big questions and being brave enough to reckon with the answers.
Roll With It
by Jamie Sumner Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ellie is one of my favorite characters and the story is just so fantastic. I will sing this book's praises from the rooftops to anyone who will listen!! This is DEFINITELY becoming part of the NEMS Library collection and easily one of my favorite books!Book Summary From Amazon:
Ellie’s a girl who tells it like it is. That surprises some people, who see a kid in a wheelchair and think she’s going to be all sunshine and cuddles. The thing is, Ellie has big dreams: She might be eating Stouffer’s for dinner, but one day she’s going to be a professional baker. If she’s not writing fan letters to her favorite celebrity chefs, she’s practicing recipes on her well-meaning, if overworked, mother. But when Ellie and her mom move so they can help take care of her ailing grandpa, Ellie has to start all over again in a new town at a new school. Except she’s not just the new kid—she’s the new kid in the wheelchair who lives in the trailer park on the wrong side of town. It all feels like one challenge too many, until Ellie starts to make her first-ever friends. Now she just has to convince her mom that this town might just be the best thing that ever happened to them!
Pay Attention, Carter Jones
by Gary D. Schmidt Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I really did enjoy this book. I would describe it as a Mary Poppins for boys book. That is an EXTREMELY basic way to summarize the book - there is so much more going on under the surface. A good read and a possible title for the NEMS Library!Book Summary From Amazon:
Carter Jones is astonished early one morning when he finds a real English butler, bowler hat and all, on the doorstep - one who stays to help the Jones family, which is a little bit broken. In addition to figuring out middle school, Carter has to adjust to the unwelcome presence of this new know-it-all adult in his life and navigate the butler's notions of decorum. And ultimately, when his burden of grief and anger from the past can no longer be ignored, Carter learns that a burden becomes lighter when it is shared. Sparkling with humor, this insightful and compassionate story will resonate with readers who have confronted secrets of their own.
Cast Away: Poems for Our Time
by Naomi Shihab Nye Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I have been trying to be open minded about the poetry books I'm taking the time to read - sadly, this one made me remember why I usually avoid them. I loved the premise - a bunch of poems about our cast offs, our "trash." It started strong - do you ever really think about how much you throw away? What you throw away? Where it goes? Sadly, that's where it stopped. Just questions and some poems that I found very blah in comparison to the subject matter. I truly wanted to like this book and poems, but it just was difficult to read.Book Summary From Amazon:
“How much have you thrown away in your lifetime already? Do you ever think about it? Where does this plethora of leavings come from? How long does it take you, even one little you, to fill the can by your desk?”¨DNaomi Shihab Nye; National Book Award Finalist, Young People’s Poet Laureate, and devoted trash-picker-upper Naomi Shihab Nye explores these questions and more in this original collection of poetry that features more than eighty new poems. “I couldn’t save the world, but I could pick up trash,” she says in her introduction to this stunning volume. With poems about food wrappers, lost mittens, plastic straws, refugee children, trashy talk, the environment, connection, community, responsibility to the planet, politics, immigration, time, junk mail, trash collectors, garbage trucks, all that we carry and all that we discard, this is a rich, engaging, moving, and sometimes humorous collection for readers ages twelve to adult.
The Moon Within
by Aida Salazar Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I don't really even know where to start with this book. It tackled three great topics but in a very superficial way. I was not impressed AT all with this book. I don't see this being something that fits NEMS but if you'd like to check it out at the public library and let me know what you think, please do :)Book Summary From Amazon:
Celi Rivera's life swirls with questions. About her changing body. Her first attraction to a boy. And her best friend's exploration of what it means to be genderfluid. But most of all, her mother's insistence she have a moon ceremony when her first period arrives. It's an ancestral Mexica ritual that Mima and her community have reclaimed, but Celi promises she will NOT be participating. Can she find the power within herself to take a stand for who she wants to be?
Almost American Girl
by Robin Ha Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
A fabulous graphic novel that brings on a new perspective of what it means to be "the new kid." Definitely worth reading and I will probably add this to the NEMS Library.Book Summary From Amazon:
For as long as she can remember, it’s been Robin and her mom against the world. Growing up as the only child of a single mother in Seoul, Korea, wasn’t always easy, but it has bonded them fiercely together. So when a vacation to visit friends in Huntsville, Alabama, unexpectedly becomes a permanent relocation—following her mother’s announcement that she’s getting married—Robin is devastated. Overnight, her life changes. She is dropped into a new school where she doesn’t understand the language and struggles to keep up. She is completely cut off from her friends in Seoul and has no access to her beloved comics. At home, she doesn’t fit in with her new stepfamily, and worst of all, she is furious with the one person she is closest to—her mother. Then one day Robin’s mother enrolls her in a local comic drawing class, which opens the window to a future Robin could never have imagined.
Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z
by Irene Latham & Charles Waters Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Read this in about an hour - pretty good :) I'm not a poetry fan, but this introduced me to many different types that I hadn't even heard before! It also had some cool backstories and prompts - I think I'm going to order this for the NEMS Library and utilize it within the library or even the morning news show!Book Summary From Amazon:
How can we make the world a better place? This inspiring resource for middle-grade readers is organized as a dictionary; each entry presents a word related to creating a better world, such as ally, empathy, or respect. For each word, there is a poem, a quote from an inspiring person, a personal anecdote from the authors, and a "try it" prompt for an activity. This second poetic collaboration from Irene Latham and Charles Waters builds upon themes of diversity and inclusiveness from their previous book Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship. Illustrations from Iranian-British artist Mehrdokht Amini offer readers a rich visual experience.
Parked
by Danielle Svetcov Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Finished this one late Wednesday, May 20th. A good book (like I said, "The Blackbird Girls" was going to be a tough act to follow), but it hasn't been one of my favorites. I did like the style of writing, going back and forth between Cal and Jeanne Anne's perspectives only, and I did want to know more. It's probably going to get added to the NEMS Library :)Book Summary From Amazon:
Jeanne Ann is smart, stubborn, living in an orange van, and determined to find a permanent address before the start of seventh grade. Cal is tall, sensitive, living in a humongous house across the street, and determined to save her. Jeanne Ann is roughly as enthusiastic about his help as she is about living in a van. As the two form a tentative friendship that grows deeper over alternating chapters, they're buoyed by a cast of complex, oddball characters, who let them down, lift them up, and leave you cheering. Debut novelist Danielle Svetcov shines a light on a big problem without a ready answer, nailing heartbreak and hope, and pulling it off with a humor and warmth that make the funny parts of Jeanne Ann and Cal's story cathartic and the difficult parts all the more moving.
The Blackbird Girls
by Anne Blankman Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Finished this in less than 24 hours - and yes, it's THAT GOOD!!! A story about 3 girls - 2 during the disaster of Chernobyl and 1 during WWII - and the meaning of love and friendship. While that may sound "lame," believe me, this book is anything but lame. I am blown away at just how wonderful I found this book. Definitely becoming part of the NEMS Library collection and I will encourage anyone and everyone to read this book!!!Book Summary From Amazon:
On a spring morning, neighbors Valentina Kaplan and Oksana Savchenko wake up to an angry red sky. A reactor at the nuclear power plant where their fathers work--Chernobyl--has exploded. Before they know it, the two girls, who've always been enemies, find themselves on a train bound for Leningrad to stay with Valentina's estranged grandmother, Rita Grigorievna. In their new lives in Leningrad, they begin to learn what it means to trust another person. Oksana must face the lies her parents told her all her life. Valentina must keep her grandmother's secret, one that could put all their lives in danger. And both of them discover something they've wished for: a best friend. But how far would you go to save your best friend's life? Would you risk your own? Told in alternating perspectives among three girls--Valentina and Oksana in 1986 and Rifka in 1941--this story shows that hatred, intolerance, and oppression are no match for the power of true friendship.
Young Captain Nemo
by Jason Henderson Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Just finished and I'm at a loss for words. Definitely a great book and a great read. The story and characters are relatable and adventurous. It sounds like it's going to be a series, which would be really neat! When I say adventurous, I mean that there is adventure on almost every page. This is a very fast paced story about the descendants of THE Captain Nemo (of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea fame). Worth a read for sure!Book Summary From Amazon:
Gabriel Nemo is not your typical 12-year-old. A descendant of the famous Captain Nemo, he spent the first years of his life living in obscurity, isolated in his parents’ peaceful underwater research lab. But with his older sister off following in their ancestor’s footsteps, sinking whalers and running away from vengeful navies, Gabriel decides it’s time to forge his own path, and use his Nemotech legacy for good. Armed only with his wits, his friends, and his Nemotech submarine, Gabriel embarks on a series of daring rescues and exciting undersea battles. But when Gabriel’s sister suddenly appears with proof of previously undiscovered sea creatures¨Dgiant beasts inhabiting wrecked war planes and ships¨DGabriel and his new friends must face their biggest and most dangerous mission ever!
Dragon Pearl
by Yoon Ha Lee Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Overall, a pretty interesting book. You don't have to be familiar with Korean mythology or lore to follow along. If you love Percy Jackson, this is another great book to read!Book Summary From Amazon:
Rick Riordan Presents Yoon Ha Lee's space opera about thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. But you'd never know it by looking at her. To keep the family safe, Min's mother insists that none of them use any fox-magic, such as Charm or shape-shifting. They must appear human at all times. Min feels hemmed in by the household rules and resents the endless chores, the cousins who crowd her, and the aunties who judge her. She would like nothing more than to escape Jinju, her neglected, dust-ridden, and impoverished planet. She's counting the days until she can follow her older brother, Jun, into the Space Forces and see more of the Thousand Worlds. When word arrives that Jun is suspected of leaving his post to go in search of the Dragon Pearl, Min knows that something is wrong. Jun would never desert his battle cruiser, even for a mystical object rumored to have tremendous power. She decides to run away to find him and clear his name. Min's quest will have her meeting gamblers, pirates, and vengeful ghosts. It will involve deception, lies, and sabotage. She will be forced to use more fox-magic than ever before, and to rely on all of her cleverness and bravery. The outcome may not be what she had hoped, but it has the potential to exceed her wildest dreams. This sci-fi adventure with the underpinnings of Korean mythology will transport you to a world far beyond your imagination.
Give and Take
by Elly Swartz Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Y'all - I can't love this book more! Definitely worth a read! I don't even think I can do it justice other than it will become part of the NEMS Library collection and I will encourage everyone to read this book!Book Summary From Amazon:
Family has always been important to twelve-year-old Maggie: a trapshooter, she is coached by her dad and cheered on by her mom. But her grandmother's recent death leaves a giant hole in Maggie's life, one which she begins to fill with an assortment of things: candy wrappers, pieces of tassel from Nana's favorite scarf, milk cartons, sticks . . . all stuffed in cardboard boxes under her bed. Then her parents decide to take in a foster infant. But anxiety over the new baby's departure only worsens Maggie's hoarding, and soon she finds herself taking and taking until she spirals out of control. Ultimately, with some help from family, friends, and experts, Maggie learns that sometimes love means letting go.
Mighty Moe: The True Story of a Thirteen Year Old Women's Running Revolutionary
by Rachel Swaby Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
If you love running and female empowerment, this is the book for you. Personally, not my favorite book I've read. It has a lot of great information, especially about women in running. I'll be adding this one to the NEMS Library!Book Summary From Amazon:
In 1967, a 13-year-old girl named Maureen Wilton set the women's world marathon record, running 26.2 miles in 3:15:23. Nicknamed “Little Mo” by her track teammates, Wilton was already a headline-making athlete. But her accomplishment was greeted with controversy and misogynistic accusations of cheating. Wilton receded into the background, left the sport, and kept her achievement secret. This is the story of what happened and how Maureen found her way back to the sport decades later as the mother of a young runner herself.
The Line Tender
by Kate Allen Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
With a book cover filled with sharks and sea creatures, I definitely was drawn in to starting this book. I don't usually cry when I read books, but I sure did with this one. I could see this being more appealing to 8th grade students more so than 6th graders, but an absolutely fantastic read. Lots of awesome shark pictures are included as well, so if you like sharks, you just might enjoy this book!Book Summary From Amazon:
Wherever the sharks led, Lucy Everhart's marine-biologist mother was sure to follow. In fact, she was on a boat far off the coast of Massachusetts, collecting shark data when she died suddenly. Lucy was seven. Since then Lucy and her father have kept their heads above water - thanks in large part to a few close friends and neighbors. But June of her 12th summer brings more than the end of school and a heat wave to sleepy Rockport. On one steamy day, the tide brings a great white - and then another tragedy, cutting short a friendship everyone insists was "meaningful" but no one can tell Lucy what it all meant. To survive the fresh wave of grief, Lucy must grab the line that connects her depressed father, a stubborn fisherman, and a curious old widower to her mother's unfinished research on the Great White's return to Cape Cod. If Lucy can find a way to help this unlikely quartet follow the sharks her mother loved, she'll finally be able to look beyond what she's lost and toward what's left to be discovered.
The Whispers
by Greg Howard Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Where to even start - this book has everything! I laughed, cried, was scared... I experienced it all. After Riley's mother goes missing, Riley seems to hold the key to her disappearance. Focused on "The Whispers," Riley takes a journey into the dark woods to ask the mysterious creatures to help him find his mother. An incredible book all about love, grief, perspective and healing.Book Summary From Amazon:
Eleven-year-old Riley believes in the whispers, magical fairies that will grant you wishes if you leave them tributes. Riley has a lot of wishes. He wishes bullies at school would stop picking on him. He wishes Dylan, his eighth-grade crush, liked him, and Riley wishes he would stop wetting the bed. But most of all, Riley wishes for his mom to come back home. She disappeared a few months ago, and Riley is determined to crack the case. He even meets with a detective, Frank, to go over his witness statement time and time again. Frustrated with the lack of progress in the investigation, Riley decides to take matters into his own hands. So he goes on a camping trip with his friend Gary to find the whispers and ask them to bring his mom back home. But Riley doesn't realize the trip will shake the foundation of everything he believes in forever.
Infinite Hope: A Black Artist's Journey from World War II to Peace
by Ashley Brian Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I enjoyed this book as it was a totally different viewpoint of WWII than I've ever read before. Told from an aspiring African American artist's point of view, this book is filled with personal drawings and stories. Definitely a needed addition to the NEMS Library, not just because of the fabulous art but also because it's an amazing story that we can feature during Black History Month.Book Summary From Amazon:
In May of 1942, at the age of eighteen, Ashley Bryan was drafted to fight in World War II. For the next three years, he would face the horrors of war as a black soldier in a segregated army. He endured the terrible lies white officers told about the black soldiers to isolate them from anyone who showed kindness—including each other. He received worse treatment than even Nazi POWs. He was assigned the grimmest, most horrific tasks, like burying fallen soldiers…but was told to remove the black soldiers first because the media didn’t want them in their newsreels. And he waited and wanted so desperately to go home, watching every white soldier get safe passage back to the United States before black soldiers were even a thought. For the next forty years, Ashley would keep his time in the war a secret. But now, he tells his story. The story of the kind people who supported him. The story of the bright moments that guided him through the dark. And the story of his passion for art that would save him time and time again. Filled with never-before-seen artwork and handwritten letters and diary entries, this illuminating and moving memoir by Newbery Honor–winning illustrator Ashley Bryan is both a lesson in history and a testament to hope.
Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship"
by Deborah Heiligman Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Another non-fiction book that I normally wouldn't pick up to read but I did. It's incredible. World War II has always been a favorite subject to learn about for me so this was right up my alley. It turned out I couldn't put this one down and finished it in about a day! I learned so much and I think with nonfiction that it's so important to not realize you're learning when reading, if that makes sense. I highly recommend this book and it will be added to our NEMS Library collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
From award-winning author Deborah Heiligman comes Torpedoed, a true account of the attack and sinking of the passenger ship SS City of Benares, which was evacuating children from England during WWII. Amid the constant rain of German bombs and the escalating violence of World War II, British parents by the thousands chose to send their children out of the country: the wealthy, independently; the poor, through a government relocation program called CORB. In September 1940, passenger liner SS City of Benares set sail for Canada with one hundred children on board. When the war ships escorting the Benares departed, a German submarine torpedoed what became known as the Children's Ship. Out of tragedy, ordinary people became heroes. This is their story.
The Misfits Club
by Kieran Crowley Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
What started off SUPER slow suddenly turned into an absolute page turner! I really didn't think I'd like it, as it's not what I usually pick up, but like I said, a page turner! Definitely will be adding this to the NEMS Library!Book Summary From Amazon:
Nothing exciting ever happens in the small town of Newpark where Brian, Hannah, and twins Chris and Sam live. And when they start their summer vacation, they know it’s the end of an era. The Misfits Club, a club they started when they were 8 years old, is disbanding and they still haven’t managed to solve any real mysteries. But when they persuade new club member Amelia to go and investigate a spooky old house, they unexpectedly discover some stolen goods. Could this be their chance for one last adventure? One thing is for sure though: Newpark is decidedly more exciting now.
Born to Fly: The First Women's Air Race Across America
by Steve Sheinkin Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
A great example of a book that is so interesting that you don't even realize you're learning new information! I am familiar with Amelia Earhart, but didn't realize there were SO many other female pilots around the same time! I didn't know there was an all female air race! It was a great read and again, I learned a lot without realizing that I was learning. It was a lot of back and forth between the different women pilots, which was hard to follow at first, but then it was very much like a reality show where the story switches between the characters. A great book and one that will be added to the NEMS Library collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
Just nine years after American women finally got the right to vote, a group of trailblazers soared to new heights in the 1929 Air Derby, the first women's air race across the U.S. Follow the incredible lives of legend Amelia Earhart, who has captivated generations; Marvel Crosson, who built a plane before she even learned how to fly; Louise Thaden, who shattered jaw-dropping altitude records; and Elinor Smith, who at age 17 made headlines when she flew under the Brooklyn Bridge. These awe-inspiring stories culminate in a suspenseful, nail-biting rate across the country that brings to life the glory and grit of the dangerous and thrilling early days of flying, expertly told by the master of nonfiction history for young listeners and readers, National Book Award finalist Steve Sheinkin.
Showtime at the Apollo: The Epic Tale of Harlem's Legendary Theater
by Ted Fox Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Another graphic novel and very interesting. I know about the Apollo Theater, but this was really in-depth and absolutely fascinating. Definitely more of a high school level graphic novel (which I know makes it more appealing to y'all!) and a great read however there are some downsides. It was difficult to follow as far as where to read next - I probably read some of the boxes out of order because I wasn't sure of the flow. It also is BIG. I love big books (and I cannot lie!) but as far as graphic novels go, this was overwhelming at times. There is SO much information but you want to read all of it because it's that good. While I may not purchase this for the NEMS Library, it's definitely worth trying to check out from the public library!Book Summary From Amazon:
Writer Ted Fox and artist James Otis Smith bring to life Harlem’s legendary theater in this celebrated graphic novel adaptation of Fox’s definitive, critically acclaimed history of the Apollo—now available in paperback. Since its inception as an African-American theater in 1934, the Apollo and the thousands of legendary entertainers who have performed there led the way in swing, bebop, rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, soul, funk, and hip hop–along with the latest in dance and comedy. Today, the Apollo enjoys an almost mythical status. With its breathtaking art, Showtime at the Apollo illuminates the theater’s significance in music history, African-American history, and urban culture.
Red Menace
by Lois Ruby Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Loved this book. It takes place during one of my favorite periods in American history - the early 1950s. Communism is on the rise and people are suspicious after the end of WWII. Again, I say that I loved this book. However, I have a ton of background knowledge of this time period and this book doesn't really take the time to explain a lot of the main historical figures nor what's happening. I didn't have trouble following along, but if you don't have prior knowledge of this time period, it could be boring or seem confusing.Book Summary From Amazon:
If thirteen-year-old Marty Rafner had his way, he'd spend the summer of 1953 warming the bench for his baseball team, listening to Yankees games on the radio, and avoiding preparations for his bar mitzvah. Instead, he has to deal with FBI agents staking out his house because his parents¨Dprofessors at the local college¨Dare suspected communist sympathizers. Marty knows what happens to communists, or Reds, as his friends call them: They lose their jobs, get deported...or worse. Two people he's actually met, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, have been convicted of being communist spies, and they're slated to be executed in two months. Marty just wants everything to go back to normal, but that's impossible thanks to the rumors that his parents are traitors. As his friends and teammates turn on him and federal agents track his every move, Marty isn't sure what to believe. Is his family really part of a Red Menace working against the United States? And even if they're simply patriotic Americans who refuse to be bullied by the government, what will it cost them? As the countdown to the Rosenbergs' execution date continues, it may be up to Marty to make sure his family survives.
The Forgotten Girl
by India Hill Brown Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Y'all know Ms. Glessner is NOT into scary books. Not at all. This was decently scary (for me) and I made sure to only read it during daylight. The subject matter was pretty neat and the author is from South Carolina! Another light and quick read!Book Summary From Amazon:
A spooky, original ghost story with fantastic characters, chilling scenes - and a timely and important storyline about reclaiming an abandoned segregated cemetery. "Do you know what it feels like to be forgotten?" On a cold winter night, Iris and her best friend, Daniel, sneak into a clearing in the woods to play in the freshly fallen snow. There, Iris carefully makes a perfect snow angel - only to find the crumbling gravestone of a young girl, Avery Moore, right beneath her. Immediately, strange things start to happen to Iris: She begins having vivid nightmares. She wakes up to find her bedroom window wide open, letting in the snow. She thinks she sees the shadow of a girl lurking in the woods. And she feels the pull of the abandoned grave, calling her back to the clearing.... Obsessed with figuring out what's going on, Iris and Daniel start to research the area for a school project. They discover that Avery's grave is actually part of a neglected and forgotten Black cemetery, dating back to a time when White and Black people were kept separate in life - and in death. As Iris and Daniel learn more about their town's past, they become determined to restore Avery's grave and finally have proper respect paid to Avery and the others buried there. But they have awakened a jealous and demanding ghost, one that's not satisfied with their plans for getting recognition. One that is searching for a best friend forever - no matter what the cost. The Forgotten Girl is both a spooky original ghost story and a timely and important storyline about reclaiming an abandoned segregated cemetery.
The Bridge Home
by Padma Venkatraman Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I will admit to not completely finishing this book. The story was great and I wanted to know how the characters and story ended up, but there were too many cultural references that I didn't understand or had to keep flipping to the glossary. I love learning new things and reading about different cultures, but this was just too far off for me. I was told that it was a fabulous book and so I will be giving it another chance. I'll keep you updated!Book Summary From Amazon:
Four determined homeless children make a life for themselves in Padma Venkatraman's stirring middle-grade debut. Life is harsh in Chennai's teeming streets, so when runaway sisters Viji and Rukku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly, 11-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter - and friendship - on an abandoned bridge. With two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, the group forms a family of sorts. And while making a living scavenging the city's trash heaps is the pits, the kids find plenty to laugh about and take pride in, too. After all, they are now the bosses of themselves and no longer dependent on untrustworthy adults. But when illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or to keep holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom.
Disaster Strikes!: The Most Dangerous Space Missions of All Time
by Jeffrey Kluger Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I grew up with a little brother who LOVED space as well as a grandfather who actually worked at NASA - this book definitely caught my interest. I already knew lots about several of the historical figures mentioned in the stories, but again, I was already familiar with many of the stories. I think this book fits in well with our STEAM curriculum and is great for a quick read in a classroom or library lesson. I will add this to the NEMS Library collection for sure!Book Summary From Amazon:
There are so many amazing, daring, and exciting missions to outer space that have succeeded. But for every success, there are mistakes, surprises, and flat-out failures that happen along the way. In this collection, best-selling author and award-winning journalist Jeffrey Kluger recounts 12 such disasters, telling the stories of the astronauts and the cosmonauts, the trials and the errors, the missions and the misses. With stories of missions run by both Americans and Russians during the height of the space race, this book delves into the mishaps and the tragedies, small and large, that led humankind to the moon and beyond.
Wildfire
by Rodman Philbrick Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
If you like a quick read and adventure, this is the book for you. I got through it, but it was not my kind of book. Everything seemed to happen too quickly without much character or story development. That doesn't mean it's a terrible book, it just isn't the book for me. I'll probably add it to the NEMS Library collection because I think lots of our students would love it!Book Summary From Amazon:
The smell of smoke. A layer of stinky fog dims the sky. Except along the horizon, which is suddenly flickering orange above the treetops. Wildfire, moving fast. Heading in our direction. Birds, deer, squirrels, and raccoons explode from the surrounding forest, racing to stay ahead of the flames. The message couldn’t be clearer. Run. If you want to live, run. Rodman Philbrick pulls listeners through a nightmare that has become much too real in the US. In 2017-2018, wildfires broke out in all 50 states. During the 2018 California Camp Fire, CNN reported that at its fastest, flames “spread at more than a football field a second, or around 80 football fields per minute.” Wildfire. Will it be fact or fiction in your own life some day? For now, join Sam and his friend, Delphy, as they face dangers that have shaken the lives of so many people across our world - with no end in sight.
Free Lunch
by Rex Ogle Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Fabulous! Definitely one joining the NEMS Library collection! A first hand look at what some middle schoolers experience as they enter 6th grade. It will definitely open your eyes and give you lots to think about!Book Summary From Amazon:
Free Lunch is the story of Rex Ogle’s first semester in sixth grade. Rex and his baby brother often went hungry, wore secondhand clothes, and were short of school supplies, and Rex was on his school’s free lunch program. Grounded in the immediacy of physical hunger and the humiliation of having to announce it every day in the school lunch line, Rex’s is a compelling story of a more profound hunger—that of a child for his parents’ love and care. Compulsively readable, beautifully crafted, and authentically told with the voice and point of view of a 6th-grade kid, Free Lunch is a remarkable debut by a gifted storyteller.
The Next Great Paulie Fink
by Ali Benjamin Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
A long book, but SO good! Not at all what I thought it would be - I'm not sure what I thought, but I wasn't really racing to read it. Instead, it was quite the adventure! Wonderful characters and a great story all around!Book Summary From Amazon:
When Caitlyn Breen enters the tiny Mitchell School in rural Mitchell, Vermont, she is a complete outsider: the seventh grade has just 10 other kids, and they've known each other since kindergarten. Her classmates are in for a shock of their own: Paulie Fink - the class clown, oddball, troublemaker, and evil genius - is gone this year. As stories of Paulie's high jinks unfold, his legend builds, until they realize there's only one way to fill the Paulie-sized hole in their class. They'll find their next great Paulie Fink through a reality-show-style competition, to be judged by the only objective person around: Caitlyn, who never even met Paulie Fink. Who was this kid, anyway - prankster, performance artist, philosopher, or fool? Caitlyn's quest to understand Paulie is about to teach her more about herself than she ever imagined. Told via multiple voices, interviews, and other documents, The Next Great Paulie Fink is a lighthearted yet surprisingly touching exploration of how we build up and tear down our own myths...about others, our communities, and ourselves.
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
by Kwame Mbalia Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I can't recommend this book enough!!! Finally some representation on Afrian folklore in the style of Percy Jackson! There is so much awesome in this book - another great addition to the NEMS Library!Book Summary From Amazon:
Seventh grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he's going to spend on his grandparents' farm in Alabama, where he's being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie's notebook. Tristan chases after it - is that a doll? - and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature's hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American folk heroes John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?
The Tornado
by Jake Burt Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Another great book with middle school issues and perspectives. I love that the main character is a different sort of main character - not what one would expect. This book will be joining the NEMS Library collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
Bell Kirby is an expert at systems, whether he’s designing the world’s most elaborate habitat for his pet chinchilla, re-creating Leonardo da Vinci’s greatest inventions in his garage, or avoiding Parker Hellickson, the most diabolical bully Village Green Elementary has ever seen. Since third grade, Parker has tormented Bell, who’s spent two long years devising a finely tuned system that keeps him out of Parker’s way. Sure, it means that Bell can’t get a drink when he wants to, can’t play with his best friend on the playground, and can’t tell his parents about his day, but at least he’s safe. Until Daelynn Gower touches down in his classroom like a tornado. Bell’s not sure why the new girl, with her rainbow hair, wild clothes, and strange habits, is drawn to him, but he knows one thing--she means trouble. It’s bad enough that she disrupts Bell’s secret system, but when Daelynn becomes the bully’s new target, Bell is forced to make an impossible decision: Finally stand up to Parker. Or join him.
Right as Rain
by Lindsey Stoddard Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
From the start, this book drew me in! What did the main character do? How did Guthrie die?? I love how it goes back and forth between the present and past. I definitely think NEMS students will love this book!Book Summary From Amazon:
It’s been almost a year since Rain’s brother Guthrie died, and her parents still don’t know it was all Rain’s fault. In fact, no one does—Rain buried her secret deep, no matter how heavy it weighs on her heart. So when her mom suggests moving the family from Vermont to New York City, Rain agrees. But life in the big city is different. She’s never seen so many people in one place—or felt more like an outsider. With her parents fighting more than ever and the anniversary of Guthrie’s death approaching, Rain is determined to keep her big secret close to her heart. But even she knows that when you bury things deep, they grow up twice as tall.
Child of the Dream: A Memoir of 1963
by Sharon Robinson Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
This book is about the daughter of Jackie Robinson and is told from her perspective in 1963. While the story of segregation is not new, this book does a fabulous job of talking about it from a middle school perspective. This is a perfect book club title and will be featured in February for Black History Month as well as in March for Women's History Month.Book Summary From Amazon:
In January of 1963, Sharon Robinson turned 13 the night before George Wallace declared on national television "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever" in his inauguration for governor of Alabama. That was the start of a year that would become one of the most pivotal years in the history of America. As the daughter of Jackie Robinson, Sharon had incredible access to some of the most important events of the era, including her family hosting several fundraisers for Martin Luther King Jr. at their home in Connecticut, other Civil Rights heroes of the day calling Jackie Robinson for advice and support, and even attending the March on Washington for Freedom and Jobs. But Sharon was also dealing with her own personal problems like going through puberty, being one of the only black children in her wealthy Connecticut neighborhood, and figuring out her own role in the fight for equality. This memoir follows Sharon as she goes through that incredible year of her life.
Maybe He Just Likes You
by Barbara Dee Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
At first, I was not at all interested in this book. However, I could see where middle school girls would LOVE it. As the story progressed, it got better and I definitely think it's got some great subject matter that is relevant to middle schoolers. This would be a great book for a book club!Book Summary From Amazon:
For seventh-grader Mila, it starts with some boys giving her an unwanted hug on the school blacktop. A few days later, at recess, one of the boys (and fellow trumpet player), Callum, tells Mila it's his birthday, and asks her for a "birthday hug." He's just being friendly, isn't he? And how can she say no? But Callum's hug lasts a few seconds too long, and feels...weird. According to her friend, Zara, Mila is being immature and overreacting. Doesn't she know what flirting looks like? But the boys don't leave Mila alone. On the bus. In the halls. During band practice - the one place Mila could always escape. It doesn't feel like flirting - so what is it? Thanks to a chance meeting, Mila begins to find solace in a new place: karate class. Slowly, with the help of a fellow classmate, Mila learns how to stand her ground and how to respect others - and herself. From the author of Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal, and Star-Crossed comes this timely story of a middle school girl standing up and finding her voice.
Rising Water: The Story of the Thai Cave Rescue
by Marc Aronson Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! I do not usually enjoy non-fiction and I couldn't put this book down!!! I think I read it in half a day, it was that good! Very edge of your seat action, even though you know the outcome. I will be ordering this book for the library and I hope y'all enjoy it!!Book Summary From Amazon:
On June 23, 2018, 12 members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach were exploring the Tham Luang cave complex in northern Thailand when disaster struck. A rainy season downpour flooded the tunnels, trapping them as they took shelter on a shelf of the dark cave. Eight days of searching yielded no signs of life, but on July 2, they were discovered by two British divers. The boys and their coach were eventually rescued in an international operation that took three days. What could have been a terrible tragedy became an amazing story of survival. Award-winning author Marc Aronson brings us the backstory behind how this astounding rescue took place. Rising Water highlights the creative thinking and technology that made a successful mission possible by examining the physical, environmental, and psychological factors surrounding the rescue. From the brave Thai Navy SEAL who lost his life while placing oxygen tanks along the passageways of the cave to the British divers that ultimately swam the boys to safety to the bravery of the boys and their coach, this is the breathtaking rescue that captivated the entire world.
Queen of the Sea
by Dylan Meconis Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
This was a great graphic novel, however, in the spirit of graphic novels, it had a LOT of words. The subject isn't really one that I feel my students would know much about, though I love medieval history. I think it's a great read, but long and feels a little more high school than middle school.Book Summary From Amazon:
When her sister seizes the throne, Queen Eleanor of Albion is banished to a tiny island off the coast of her kingdom, where the nuns of the convent spend their days peacefully praying, sewing, and gardening. But the island is also home to Margaret, a mysterious young orphan girl whose life is upturned when the cold, regal stranger arrives. As Margaret grows closer to Eleanor, she grapples with the revelation of the island’s sinister true purpose as well as the truth of her own past. When Eleanor’s life is threatened, Margaret is faced with a perilous choice between helping Eleanor and protecting herself and her Island family. In a graphic novel of fictionalized history, Dylan Meconis paints Margaret’s world in soft greens, grays, and reds, transporting readers to a quiet, windswept island at the heart of a treasonous royal plot.
The First Dinosaur: How Science Solved the Greatest Mystery On Earth
by Ian Lendler Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
I was SO excited to read this book. Who doesn't love dinosaurs??? Well, sadly, this was way more history and science than dinosaurs. While it was interesting, it was very disappointing. The information was good to learn and I'd definitely add it to the NEMS Library, but it's not a light read about dinosaurs. It's more about the people who helped get paleontology started as a science. I learned a lot, but don't really recommend for someone who wants to get some quick facts about dinosaurs.Book Summary From Amazon:
Dinosaurs existed. That’s a fact we accept today. But not so long ago, the concept that these giant creatures could have roamed Earth millions of years before humans was unfathomable. People thought what we know as dinosaur bones were the bones of giant humans. Of large elephants. Of angels, even. So, how did we get from angel wings to the T-Rex? The First Dinosaur tells the story of the idea of dinosaurs, and the chain of fossil discoveries and advances in science that led to that idea. Be prepared to meet eccentric men and overlooked women who uncovered the pieces to a puzzle so much bigger than themselves, a puzzle far stranger and more spectacular than they could have ever imagined.
Monstrous: The Lore, Gore and Science Behind Your Favorite Monsters
by Carlyn Beccia Year Published:Ms. Glessner's Take:
Very awesome pictures and information presented in a different way that also includes the actual science behind each subject. Not a book you have to read from start to finish, but rather one that you could pick our your favorite monsters and learn specifically about that one. Not sure I'll purchase this for the library, but lots of good information and a good read!Book Summary From Amazon:
Could Dr. Frankenstein's machine ever animate a body? Why should vampires drink from veins and not arteries? What body parts are best for zombies to eat? (It's not brains.) This fascinating encyclopedia of monsters delves into the history and science behind eight legendary creatures, from Bigfoot and the kraken to zombies and more. Find out each monster's origin story and the real-world history that informed it, and then explore the science of each creature in fun and surprising ways. Tips and infographics¨Dincluding monster anatomy, how to survive a vampire attack, and real-life giant creatures of the deep sea¨Dmake this a highly visual and fun-to-browse book.
Rocket to the Moon
by Don Brown Year Published: Graphic NovelMs. Glessner's Take:
This book was fascinating! I love space so this was a quick read! Another graphic novel that I would definitely add to our collection!Book Summary From Amazon:
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong took “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” when the Apollo 11 landed on the moon. But it wasn’t just one man who got us to the moon. Rocket to the Moon! explores the people and technology that made the moon landing possible. Instead of examining one person’s life, it focuses on the moon landing itself, showing the events leading up to it and how it changed the world. The book takes readers through the history of rocket building: from ancient Chinese rockets, to “bombs bursting in air” during the War of 1812, to Russia’s Sputnik program, to the moon landing. Beautifully illustrated and well-researched, this book is the perfect resource for curious readers and tomorrow’s scientists. It includes a timeline of space travel, a bibliography, and an index.
Cub
by Cynthia Copeland Year Published: Graphic NovelMs. Glessner's Take:
This was a fantastic book! Although it was set in the 1970's, I completely forgot that as I was reading! I think this book would lead to a lot of great discussions and definitely showcases female empowerment! As popular as graphic novels are at NEMS, this is a definite purchase and must read!
Book Summary From Amazon:
Twelve-year-old Cindy has just dipped a toe into seventh-grade drama—with its complicated friendships, bullies, and cute boys—when she earns an internship as a cub reporter at a local newspaper in the early 1970s. A (rare) young female reporter takes Cindy under her wing, and Cindy soon learns not only how to write a lede, but also how to respectfully question authority, how to assert herself in a world run by men, and—as the Watergate scandal unfolds—how brave reporting and writing can topple a corrupt world leader. Searching for her own scoops, Cindy doesn’t always get it right, on paper or in real life. But whether she’s writing features about ghost hunters, falling off her bicycle and into her first crush, or navigating shifting friendships, Cindy grows wiser and more confident through every awkward and hilarious mistake.
Go With the Flow
by Lily Williams & Karen Schneemann Year Published: Graphic NovelMs. Glessner's Take:
I absolutely LOVED this graphic novel!! It is slightly more high school, but overall, it was perfection. An interesting topic and definitely one that should be added to school libraries!
Book Summary From Amazon:
Good friends help you go with the flow.
Best friends help you start a revolution.
Sophomores Abby, Brit, Christine, and Sasha are fed up. Hazelton High never has enough tampons. Or pads. Or adults who will listen.
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