This is the same author of Wishtree and The One and Only Ivan, so right off the bat, this book seemed like a no-brainer! Boy was I right! The main character Jackson is going through a difficult time with his family; they have fallen on hard times and his imaginary friend Crenshaw comes into his life to help him through his challenges. Come read this book to see how they manage these hard times together!

This book attracted my attention because I remember feeling nervous entering middle school and so I thought it would make for an interesting read for that reason, and also to remember how my students may be feeling as they head towards that stage in life. David, the main character in this book, dreams of becoming a TV superstar like his idol, Jon Stewart. His passion is creating TalkTime videos with his best friend Elliot and his hamster Hammy, which was his summer plan set leading into his first year of middle school. Unfortunately, when he starts school, he and his best friend have a fight, leaving David to fend for himself. Come read how David triumphantly makes a name for himself at his school, with some bumps along the way!

The name of this book grabbed my attention: what does "half a girl" really mean? By reading the back cover, I discovered it referred to being half Indian and half Jewish, and the main character's mixed heritage really heightened my interest. Sonia, the main character, is yanked out of her comfortable private school and enrolled in a public school for the first time as a sixth grader. Her changed circumstances in school and her family life make for a very interesting read! Check this book out to see how she fits in and makes new friends, when Sonia sees herself as different for the first time.

Mike, the main character, has a math learning disability, and despite this, his 'math genius' father, wants him to go to a math magnet high school. With their strained relationship, his father decides to send him to live with relatives he's never met before, to live with for the summer to help build an 'artesian screw' with his great uncle. Mike's trip leads him to meet many quirky people along the way including his own great uncle and aunt. Before long, Mike becomes involved with a community-wide project that he becomes the designated leader of, and throughout this process, he learns to value himself and others.

This is a true story of an eleven year old girl who survived the Holocaust thanks to Oskar Schindler, a sympathetic German businessman who kept his workers fed, healthy and alive. It is written in first person narrative so it's Rena's own powerful storytelling that grabs your head and heart right away! It walks you through her life story, starting from her normal everyday life which was then disrupted by the Nazis' forceful entry into her home. She then was sent to a ghetto in Krakow, Poland and then luckily became one of the nearly 1,200 Jewish men and women placed on Schindler's List. This memoir is Rena's story of survival, perseverance, and hope, and a must read for all!

The Unteachables is the label given to a class of misfits, who were removed from the rest of the school population, and placed in Room 117. Mr. Kermit, the most burned-out teacher in the school was assigned to teach them. He once was an exceptional teacher but his career was shattered by a cheating scandal. What makes this a fascinating read is that each chapter is written in a different character's perspective so you as the reader, gain a true appreciation of what they are thinking throughout the 'ups' and 'downs' of this story. The story traces their collective journey together showing their changes in attitude towards school and each other through the course of the school year! Come check out this fun read!

First person historical fiction narrative of a twelve year old boy who was moved to Alcatraz Island, a real island near the city of San Francisco, where the worst criminals are sent their sentences. Moose Flanigan, along with 23 other children live with their families because their fathers work in the prison. Moose struggles living in his new home and becoming accustomed to the new routines that come with his new setting. Check out this interesting read which provides real pictures of the Alcatraz Island and an author's note to give you a sense of which parts are real and which parts of made up in this book!

This Newbury medal winning book rightfully earned this distinction inasmuch as it gives a first person perspective of an eleven year old boy named Elijah, who lives in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves near the American border. He is famous for being the first child in town to be born free, and this honor weighs heavily on him. He is known as a 'fragile boy' and it's not until a former slave steals money from Elijah's friend, who has been saving money to buy his family's freedom, that gives Elijah the chance to prove himself! Elijah now has to track down the thief and this dangerous journey may help prove he's no fragile boy after all. Read this inspiring book to find out what happens to Elijah and to get a peek of what life was like back then.

Check out this first person narrative of Derek and how his creative imagination often gets him in trouble. However, it is this imagination that provides him with comfort as his father is away serving in Afghanistan. His father's letters provides him with the necessary guidance and support he often needs to navigate the ups and downs in his fifth grade life.

This is a short read by the well known author Andrew Clements which raises important questions about discrimination and how people may treat and/or perceive others based upon differences in skin color. A boy accuses another of stealing his brother's jacket, and then later on is forced to ask himself, would he had made this accusation if the boy was white, instead of black? It is a worthwhile read to help you recognize how YOU may inadvertently perceive and treat others.

Clay, a sixth grader, has a well earned reputation of being a troublemaker in school. The book kicks off with Clay's excitement to share his recent stunt at school with Mitch, his older brother, who is returning home after serving a thirty-day sentence in the Belden County Jail. Mitch does not want Clay to follow in his footsteps and demands more from Clay. The book shows Clay's journey to try to turn around his behavior and change his reputation; the struggles Clay experiences with trying to please his brother and still keep his friends in the process make for a very interesting read!

Mattie was forced to move in the middle of her sixth grade school year during December vacation. During this time, she meets Agnes, her next door neighbor in the apartment building she lives in and her classmate when school resumes. Agnes is unique and Mattie has never met someone as curious, smart and funny as her; she makes up the best games! When school starts, Mattie realizes that Agnes is the weird girl at school no one likes and is now conflicted how to fit in. Read this book to find out how she navigates this journey of friendship!

Louisiana never knew her parents and instead has lived with Granny her entire life. Granny believes she is cursed, and forces Louisiana to leave behind her friends and her home in Florida in the middle of the night. Louisiana finds herself in a new state, and with no knowledge of where she is going. A twist of circumstances leaves Louisiana to fend for herself, and we go on this journey with her as she is discovering who she is and deciding who she wants to be. The author Kate DiCamillo doesn't disappoint us with her introduction of different characters that Louisiana stumbled upon along her journey of discovery!

The main character Pixie Jones, is vastly different from her parents, who love the spotlight as owners of the best party-planning business in town. She on the other hand, hates to be the center of attention, and just wants to blend in with everyone else in Beachwood Middle School. However changes in circumstance, start to throw Pixie closer to the limelight than she is comfortable with, and the book shows her journey as she becomes more comfortable in her own skin. I enjoyed reading about how Pixie learned to step out of her comfort zone, and that as a result, she began to learn new things about herself along the way.

This book shows how Spirit Week can bring out the worst in people! Best friends Lily and George have been looking forward to Spirit Week all year, and then end up on opposite teams as team captains. The competition gets the best of them, and starts to interfere with their friendship. They are faced with escalating pranks by team members, and the principal threatens to take away Spirit Week due to their lack of sportsmanship. Can George and Lily find a way to save Spirit Week and their friendship?

This book traces the journey of the school year of seven 5th grade students, and each chapter is written in the specific character's perspective. They have nothing in common, and have never gotten along, until their new teacher Mr. Terupt forces them to see things differently, and find new strengths inside themselves. Their interactions with each other begins to change and then a terrible accident occurs, and these students begin to recognize the lessons he taught them along the way. It is an interesting read since there is probably at least one character you likely will identify with, and it helps make a powerful connection to this book. There are two other books in this series, and I'm excited to read them!

Twelve year old Trevor elects to do his social studies teacher's optional assignment, to come up with a plan to change the world. This book traces his journey to execute his plan: to do a good deed for three people and ask them to "pay it forward" and do something good for three others who need help. He believes that this plan could really make the world a better place; that indeed if each person pays it forward, then this movement of kindness can far extebd the small town of California he lives in. Unbeknownst to him, Trevor's simple plan does bring about change, and it extends so far beyond his wildest imaginations; a journalist discovers that Trevor is the source of random acts of kindness that are making a difference. Read this book to follow his journey and become inspired!