Published by Random House Books for Young Readers, 2018. 

Lucy Callahan is lightning girl, meaning she was actually struck by lightning.  Thankfully, she doesn't remember it, but her life has never been the same since. After the accident, Lucy discovered she'd magically acquired super powered math skills. At only 12 years old, she's ready to go to college, but her grandmother insists she goes to middle school for at least one year. 

Unsure what she can learn in 7th grade, Lucy embarks on a journey at a new school after being homeschooled.  At home, Lucy can be herself and not worry about what other people will think about her genius brain or her quirky routines. But is Lucy wrong? Can there actually be something to making friends and going to school just like everyone else?

This book is a funny look about friendship and accepting ourselves and others no matter our differences. Recommended for grades 4-8. 

Resources

• "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" Educator's Guide

• Building Empathy with Books Guide

Published by Random House Books for Young Readers, 2019.

Eleanor has prepared for the  end of the world nearly all her life, thanks to her prepper grandfather who loves to take her and her little brother on drills where they hide in a bunker and eat MREs. On day, Eleanor discovers the website of a Harvard scientist's who predicts that an asteroid will strike Earth in April. Eleanor is sure her family will be safe, thanks to her grandfather, but everyone else is on their own. Well, except maybe Mack. 

Mack is Eleanor's one and only friend. But when he starts talking about going to a special school for the blind, Eleanor fears that she will lose her best friends forever. But if the end of the world comes, how can Mack go away? 

Being the only person at her school that knows about the end of the world, TEOTWAWKI (the End of the World as We Know It), is more difficult than most people realize, and soon Eleanor is the president of the secret End of the World Club at her school. But is the world really going to end, or does Eleanor just hope it does so Mack won't leave? 

This is a humorous novel about a girl making friends and learning that not everything you see or read on the internet is true. A great book that will have you laughing out loud but with a great message of discerning credible information and checking resources. Recommended for grades 4-8. 

Resources

• Author Presentation Videos (40 min)

• 5 Essential Media Literacy Questions for Kids (Common Sense Media)

• Teaching About News Literacy