This books shares the important story of a Mexican family where the parents are undocumented in the US. Efren comes home from school one day to discover his mom has been deported back to Mexico. He then has to become the primary caregiver of his younger siblings as his dad takes on extra jobs to make money to try bring his wife back. The sad part is that this story is common all over the states and families are fighting to be reunited. Efren is a character you instantly connect to and root for throughout the story.

Junie dreads taking the bus to school because her bully is on the bus too and he says racial slurs to her everyday because she is Korean. The bullying and a dispute with friends takes its toll on her causing her to wonder if it would be easier to not be here. Thankfully she gets the help she needs and as a result of her parents not wanting to leave her alone she starts to spend time with her Grampa. Together they share their stories and Grampa shares stories about his life during the Korean War. Hearing his stories I realised I know very little about this war so his stories were fascinating to me. Through her time with her grandparents Junie discovers things about herself and how to deal with her problems. I couldn’t put this book down- Junie is an incredibly engaging character and this story is rich with history and the love of family.

This recent release is a winner. Zoe is a beautifully rich character who the reader can easily connect with. Her determination for justice, and her love for her family and friends makes this an amazing story.

This book is another one of those books that really packs a punch. Della (short for Delicious) is 10 and in grade 4 and has experienced more horrors in her life than many adults. Her mom is a meth addict who blew up a hotel room and is now in jail, and up until the beginning of this story, she and her older sister, Suki, have lived with her mom’s boyfriend, who is away most weekdays but home on weekends and he is abusive to them, for the past 5 years. They have now been placed into a foster home after a harrowing escape from the boyfriend’s house. Della and Suki are used to taking care of themselves and find the adjustment into care difficult because they aren’t accustomed to people caring for them. Della is full of spunk and doesn’t take garbage from anyone. Told in the first person, Della tells their story with heart and honesty, and she has promised Suki that in telling their story, she won’t swear so she replaces all the swears she used in the actual situations with “snow” (or snowflake or snowman). This adds some humor to an otherwise tragic story of abuse and healing. One of the best reads of the year.

Really enjoyed this novel for multilple reasons:
1. Male protagonist in a love story.
2. The message that being smart and nerdy is cool.
3. The details this story provided about the lives and expectations many Korean-American kids live and face.
4. The message about the importance of friends and family.

Another must-read novel! This was the second middle-grade novel option in the Global Read Aloud this year. I have read this book to groups of grade 4s two years in a row and both years they have loved it. Mia is a beautiful character full of hope and grit. Mia and her family, recent immigrants to the US from China, have undertaken the management of a motel in California, with great hopes for success and prosperity in their future. They soon discover the owner's promises of a wonderful life were false. Even so, her family sticks together through tough times, with the help of some of the motel "monthlies", a good sense of humour and perseverance we should all wish for.

A great MG novel on a the very important topics of trauma, anxiety and depression in teens. While serious in its topic there are hilarious family moments as Audrey’s family seeks to find their way in a very difficult time for her and them.

This is a book that has stuck with me since I first read it two years ago. I so love this story, but wow did I cry at the end. To quote Oprah, I "ugly cried". From Ant to Eagle is the amazing story of two brothers and how their relationship evolves around the cancer diagnosis of one of them. I read this book to a group of grade 4/5/6 students and while I read it, they were enthralled. The collective experience of this story stayed with us for quite some time after.

Argentinian teen, Camila, desperately wants to play high-level fútbol like her older brother, but her dad would be angry if he discovered her talent because she’s a girl and because it seems an improper thing for her to do. Between falling in love, keeping secrets from her parents, and trying to be a strong student and daughter, Camila must believe in herself and stand up for what she wants, despite many obstacles, to pursue her dreams.