Book group books

Flake, S. (1998) The Skin I’m In. New York: Hyperion.
Thirteen year old Maleeka Madison is uncomfortable in her own skin. She suffers from low self-esteem because her skin is extremely dark. She meets a new teacher, Miss Saunders, who suffers from a rare skin condition that leaves her face severely blotched. Miss Saunders and Maleeka clash at first, but eventually they learn to trust one another and through her relationship with Miss Saunders Maleeka discovers friendship, love, and herself.

Jimenez, F. (1997). The Circuit. New York: Scholastic.
The story of a migrant farm working family that travels the circuit of picking cotton, strawberries, and topping carrots year after year. They move from one labor camp to the next never finding a feeling of permanence and living in abject poverty. The family never loses its faith in one another and hope for a better life. Through backbreaking work, and love for one another, the family endures.

Lord, C. (2006). Rules. New York: Scholastic.
Catherine is twelve years old and wants a normal life. This is nearly impossible because Catherine has a younger brother, David, with autism. David often embarrasses Catherine in front if her friends and she is often left alone to “watch” David while her parents work. She meets two people during the summer of her twelfth year, Jason a boy with physical disabilities, and Kristi a girl her age that moves in next door. That summer Catherine discovers true friendship, and learns to stand up for what is right. She also finds out a little about herself and her feelings for her brother.

Myers, W.D. (1999). Monster. New York: HarperCollins.
Written in the form of a screenplay, sixteen year old Steve Harmon is on trial for being an accomplice in the murder of a store owner. It is a story of one young mans life and how it was turned upside down by being at the wrong place at the wrong time and making poor choices. Steve discovers some things about himself and his relationships with his family and friends as he awaits the decision of the jury behind bars.

Temple, F. (1993). Grab Hands and Run. New York: HarperCollins.
Twelve year old Felipe’s father has disappeared. In El Salvador, when people disappear, they do not return. Felipe remembers his father telling his mother,” If they come for me, you and the children grab hands and run. Go north all the way to Canada.” So Felipe, his sister, and mother flee north. The journey is long, hard, and fraught with danger. Felipe and his family never lose hope and courageously work together to gain their freedom.