Read these two AMAZING novels in one day, written by the fabulous Kwame Alexander. These verse novels are great for any Middle Grades reader. They would also be perfect for the reluctant readers in your life. Love, love, love these!

A beautiful autobiography novel-in-verse by the amazing author Jacqueline Woodson.

Just finished this graphic novel and really enjoyed it. I love historical fiction and this was right up my alley. A graphic novel about a young Jewish girl living in France during WWII and she tells the story through the lense of her camera.

Thomas King’s amazing short story has now been made into Graphic Novel format. This is the story of a young boy and his mom trying to go visit his sister in Salt Lake City, from the Blackfoot reserve north of the Canadian border at Coutts. When he and his mom try to cross they are stopped because his mom insists they are Blackfoot and will not say that she is Canadian. Unless she declares herself American or Canadian, she is unable to cross into the US or return to Canada. A beautiful story about identity, perseverance and sticking to your beliefs.

I never went to camp as a kid, by choice, but perhaps if there had been a camp like this when I was growing up I would have. What an amazing camp!
Olive and Willow are headed to camp together and this is Willow’s first time. Willow expects Olive to do everything with her and to choose the same activities as her. When Olive decides to do other things with other campers, Willow gets quite upset. Both girls are hurt and wonder if their friendship will last the summer.

I love Marie Lu’s books and I love that this format of her stories makes her books accessible to more readers.

Just finished this beautiful novel tonight. What a beauty this book is! Set in the months post-9/11 middle-grade student Shirli is set to star in her school's musical, Fidler on the Roof. She remembers that her Zayde might have some set pieces for the play and in her search of this attic discovers an old violin. Shirli's learning and becoming her character in the musical is seamlessly interweaved with her discoveries of the story of her grand-father's past.

Aside from the title (fun fact about me- I hate caterpillars) this is a beautiful story. Two children are left with with grandparents, who they barely know, for the summer and they start to rebuild their relationship and get to know one another better. A true feel good story about family.

I really enjoyed New Kid and absolutely LOVED this companion book. So many great lessons and points to ponder about our roles and actions as teachers and role models in these young adults' lives.