Meet sisters Viji and Rukku, two runaways trying to survive in a big Indian city with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. This book was the Middle Grades choice for the Global Read Aloud (www.theglobalreadaloud.com) and what an amazing book it is! I read it with my grade 6s and we loved it! Heartbreaking yet full of hope, we loved these two sisters and were captivated by their journey.

Such a great Canadian story by this brilliant Canadian author. This intricately woven story of a family curse and two young girls trying to break it, to save themselves from certain death, had me hooked from the first page. Set in the 1970s in Newfoundland, this book captivates readers as we get a small glimpse into the Newfoundland life. I'll be checking out her other books for sure.

I have started to read more dystopian novels recently and I really enjoyed this one. Society has been reduced to 500 words and apprentice Letta and her master are the only ones allowed to read and use more words. When her master disappears she becomes the Wordsmith and discovers things aren't as they should be.

Wow, wow, and wow! This remarkable journey of self-forgiveness and self-healing is a beauty. Young Norah and her father head to the canyon to climb and hike, like they have done so many times before. The reader quickly becomes aware of a deep grief they both hold and as the story progresses the reader discovers an unfathomable loss and tragedy they have lived through. Early on in their hike a natural disaster occurs, separating Norah and her father. Norah must fight through her pain, her memories,and her fear to save herself and find her father. As she endures nature's elements, with no water and supplies, she also must come to terms with her inner demons and trauma, to be able to overcome what she faces in the canyon. One thing that Norah says that stuck out to me, being a trauma survivor myself, was that we must not focus on our post-traumatic stress but rather our post-traumatic growth. This book is divine is so many ways and I cannot wait to share it with my students.

A wonderful book for upper-elementary-aged kids. Full of adventure and mystery, this great story hooks readers from the beginning. Corinne lives with her father on a small Caribbean island where she has unintentionally awoken the Jumbies in the forest near her town. Now she must fight to keep her island safe and figure out her connection to these creatures. Even better, it’s the first in the series.

I have seen this on many pages and lists of books to read so I thought I should check it out. Such a brilliant book! Things are changing in Bea's life and the one thing that regularly comforts her is her list of things that will not change, that both she and her parents wrote. As she navigates big changes in her life, unkind friends, and guilt over the past, she does so with humour, self reflection, and some help from the people who love her. A brilliantly told story.

Wow, wow, wow!! This book is a must have in all schools and homes with teens and pre-teens. A stunning graphic novel about depression and anxiety and how this lovely character worked to overcome these feelings.

The Last Cuentista has received much acclaim in recent months and it is deserving of all of it. I will admit when I heard that it was science-fiction (not my genre of choice) I wasn’t as excited to read it, but it is phenomenal. Petra and her family are some of the chosen ones to go to a new planet before earth is destroyed. She and her family are put to sleep for the long voyage and when Petra wakes up she discovers she is the only one with memories of earth and the stories of her home and family. The message of the power of story in our lives is weaved masterfully through this story as we learn the new truths of Petra’s life on this new planet. 

This powerful and beautifully written novel-in-verse is worth the read. Etan has suffered a recent loss and due to the stress of it and not knowing how to cope, he stops speaking. One day he is sent on a grocery delivery to the home of a girl from school, who no longer goes to school because of extreme eczema and kids calling her “creature”. They become friends and discover each other’s fears and their passions. Etan desperately wants to help Malia and believes he might have the solution to her eczema. This story takes place during the weeks leading up to the San Francisco earthquake in October 1989. As Etan and his town feel the tremors leading up to the big earthquake, Etan also feels the metaphorical tremors of change that are coming in his life. A fantastic book about friendship, family and love that kids grade 5+ would enjoy.