| The Year I Flew Away by Marie ArnoldWhat it's about: Tired of dealing with confusing English and mean kids, 10-year-old Haitian immigrant Gabrielle strikes a deal with a witch who promises to help her fit in as a perfect American -- but at what cost?
Read it for: a vivid setting (New York City in 1985) and an enchanting blend of fantasy and reality.
You might also like: Kelly Yang's Front Desk, another historical fiction book about an immigrant girl adjusting to her new home. |
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| One Jar of Magic by Corey Ann HayduWelcome to: Belling Bright, where 12-year-old Rose can finally join her family in the town's annual magic-capturing day, when they collect the magic they use all year.
What happens: Although Rose expects to be a natural, just like her famously skilled dad, she captures only one tiny jar of magic -- along with her dad's scorn.
Why you might like it: You'll feel for Rose as she reconsiders the importance of magic and realizes some tough truths about her family. |
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| Hello, Earth! Poems to Our Planet by Joyce Sidman; ; illustrated by Miren Asiain Lora What it is: poems about the planet we call home, each one rooted in curiosity -- such as asking Earth what it's like to "feel the cool sweep of the moon” -- and overflowing with wonder.
Read it for: free-flowing, easy-to-read poems about all kinds of ecosystems, plus zoomed-out illustrations packed with quirky details (try to find the tiny people and animals on every page!). |
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| Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids by Cynthia Leitich Smith, editorWhat it's about: At the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, Native kids from different nations across North America come together to connect, dance, laugh, and remember.
How it's told: Each chapter is a new story from a different Native author, with a shared setting and overlapping characters to link them all together.
What happens: cousins unite, frenemies clash, a kid meets his biological brother, another kid survives a wild road trip with his elders, and a rez dog observes the humans. |
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| Stepping Stones by Lucy KnisleyWhat it’s about: As if it wasn’t bad enough that Jen and her mom moved from the city to Peapod Farm (where Jen is stuck with a whole mess of new chores), Jen also has to put up with her mom’s insensitive boyfriend and his too-perfect daughter Andy. Don’t miss: the scribbly pages from Jen’s notebook, where she pours out her feelings as they change.
For fans of: the realistic graphic novels of Victoria Jamieson, Svetlana Chmakova, and Vera Brosgol. |
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| A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Joy McCulloughStarring: robotics programmer Sutton and fantasy writer Luis, two kids who don't have much in common until their single parents start dating each other.
What happens: Accidentally separated from their parents on a group hike, Sutton and Luis will have to figure out how to turn their differences into strengths if they want to make it back to safety.
Read it for: an authentic, upbeat look at family change, as well as characters you'll want to root for. |
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| Two Naomis by Olugbemisola Rhuday-PerkovichWhat it's about: When Naomi Marie's mom and Naomi Edith's dad get serious about dating, both parents hope that the girls will become friends. However, neither Naomi is eager for things to change. Will a shared project in a game coding class be the nudge they need?
Why you might like it: This smart and sweet story offers realistic problems and relatable characters.
Try this next: To Night Owl from Dogfish, by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer.
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| The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca SteadWhat it's about: Twelve-year-old Bea looks back on the last few years of her life, describing her parents’ divorce, her dad’s marriage to his boyfriend Jesse, her hope of bonding with new stepsister Sonia, and some stuff she’s not proud of.
Why you might like it: Bea’s messy feelings -- excitement, anger, embarrassment, stress -- are so believable that you’ll feel like she’s a real person you know. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
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