SAFE HARBOR by Padma Venkatraman

 

Moving from India to the United States so her mother can follow her dream with a new job at a university, means Geetha is leaving everyone behind. It is difficult getting used to a new school, and her second-hand clothes and accent make her a target for the mean girls. 

Geetha is thrilled to have the beach so close to where they live. It is her favorite place especially when she meets a boy named Miquel. They rescue a harp seal pup and are welcomed at the marine sanctuary where they take the injured animal.

Working to rehabilitate the baby seal, Geetha recognizes that she can also make a difference by collecting trash along the beach. Her environmental efforts become a way to make friends as well as help protect nature.

Author Padma Venkatraman uses her unique verse-style storytelling to share Geetha's story. She brings together nature, music, and friendship to help Geetha find ways to become comfortable in her new surroundings.

ABBY, TRIED AND TRUE by Donna Gephart

 

I'm so glad I ran across this book. Author Donna Gephart writes with such hope and passion as she shares Abby's experiences. It grabbed my attention immediately, and I couldn't stop reading.

When Abby's best friend moves over 2500 miles away to Israel, she is sure that it is a worst thing ever. However, when her brother returns from summer camp to the news that he has testicular cancer, Abby realizes some things are even worse.

Cat was not only Abby's best friend but also her voice on many occasions. Abby knows finding new friends when school starts will be a challenge. Fortunately, she meets Conrad, the new neighbor who moves into Cat's house with his mom. They immediately hit it off. Walking to and from school with Conrad becomes the best part of Abby's day. He also understands Abby's fears about her brother and whether or not he will beat his cancer diagnosis.

ABBY, TRIED AND TRUE needs to be in every classroom library.

THE PECAN SHELLER by Lupe Ruiz-Flores

 

It's 1937 in Texas. Petra lives with her stepmother and two younger siblings. She is studying hard so she can keep the promise she made to her father. Her goal is to graduate high school and become a writer who travels the world. However, since her father's death, it has become harder and harder for the family to survive. 

Petra's stepmother works at the nearby pecan shelling factory. The money she makes isn't enough to pay the rent and feed and clothe the children. She tells Petra she will have to quit school to work alongside the women shelling pecans. The work is difficult, and the conditions are horrible. Even with Petra's pay, there still never seems to be enough money.

The factory is filled with dust from the pecans. The workers are constantly coughing, and many develop tuberculosis. When the boss announces that wages will be cut yet again, Petra and the workers decide it is time for action. They go on strike. While picketing, Petra and several others are arrested and spend the night in jail. Forming a union becomes the objective.

THE PECAN SHELLER is a work of historical fiction highlighting the early formation of unions in Texas. Author Lupe Ruiz-Flores paints a clear picture of harsh working conditions and greedy factory owners. Petra becomes an example of women fighting for their rights in the workplace in the early 20th century.

THE POETRY OF CAR MECHANICS by Heidi E.Y. Stemple

 

Dylan works with his grandfather repairing cars. He is fascinated by his ability to add this and tighten that and fix what is broken. Unfortunately, fixing his mother has been impossible. Her wild emotional shifts seem uncontrollable. 

Sometimes his mother is living there with Dylan and his grandfather, but with only a moment's notice, she packs up and takes off. Usually, she takes (steals) money and usually a car so she can head off to wherever. She doesn't seem to miss Dylan, but maybe he's better off where he is.

School is difficult for Dylan. He is bullied from the bus ride in the morning until the very end of the day. No one seems to notice, so he tries to make the best of it. As soon as he can, he heads off to the woods to follow the one thing he cares about - birds. On one of his adventures, he comes across a wounded hawk. This leads him to a bird sanctuary where he finds help for the injured animal and maybe the help he has been searching for himself.

Author Heidi E.Y. Stemple uses verse to tell Dylan's story. Just as he states, poetry is a perfect vehicle to express his complex thoughts and feelings. Covering topics related to mental health, bullying, and animal rescue, THE POETRY OF CAR MECHANICS will captivate teen readers.

HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE by Dusti Bowling

 

Canyon Cress wants to be seen and recognized by his dad. Canyon is sure that his dad will finally focus on him if he can just qualify for and win the Junior Bull Riding World Championship. 

Canyon spends almost every waking moment practicing and preparing for the competition in Las Vegas. He has to stay in third place to qualify. Being up against his best friend Tate makes it difficult, but they have always planned to qualify and head to the championship together.

His grandmother and his little sister Josie are worried about Canyon who seems to keep getting hurt. He ends up in the hospital after his ride on Wonderstruck. A serious concussion threatens to sideline him permanently. He knows having had previous concussions means just one more bad knock on the head could end his riding career, and maybe even his life.

Bull riding is in his blood from his dad who was one of the best until the car accident that ended his riding and killed Shy, his wife and Canyon's mom. Since then, Canyon has watched his father struggle with alcohol abuse and frequent unemployment. 

When he's not bull riding, Canyon plays the fiddle. This he inherited from his mother who played violin in the symphony. He would also like to make her, his grandmother, and little sister proud by competing on American Superstar. Playing fiddle on TV and maybe winning that competition might mean even more to Canyon and make his father just as proud as being a winning bull rider, but doing both seems impossible.

Author Dusti Bowling introduces readers to Canyon Cress who lives on the dangerous side of bull riding at the same time as he lives to create beautiful music in honor of his mother. Making choices in life is never easy, and Canyon must decide which direction is best for him.

THREE BLUE HEARTS by Lynne Kelly

 

If you are a fan of Lynne Kelly's SONG FOR A WHALE, you will want to get your hands on THREE BLUE HEARTS. Once again Kelly focuses on an ocean creature and a human character trying to find his place in the world around him.

Max is headed to a small island for the summer. His mother is going there to do research, and Max is hoping to escape his politician father and the bullies who have taunted him all school year. As part of changing scenery for the summer, Max decides to try out a new name. As he meets his soon-to-be new friends, he introduces himself as Milo. No one knows the difference, and all accept him in the island community.

One morning while walking along the beach, Max discovers a helpless octopus. He rescues it and takes it to the local vet clinic. They make a home for the octopus that Max names Ursula. What follows is a truly educational and entertaining story about the talents of octopuses and Max's hard work making human and animal friends.

Readers will love Lynne Kelly's heartwarming story from start to finish. They will bond with Max and be fascinated with Ursula. This one is perfect for middle grade readers or anyone who loves animals and learning more about them.

JUST JAIME by Terri Libenson

 

It's the last day of seventh grade! It should be exciting and special, but Jaime is struggling. Her BFF Maya suddenly started hanging out with other girls who pick on Jaime. They criticize her clothes and the activities she likes. She is hoping to confront Maya today to find out why she ended their friendship.

First, Jaime tries to talk to Maya on the bus, but it's noisy and too many people are interrupting. Then she tries at their lockers, but Maya's new friends distract her. Jaime thinks maybe homeroom would work and then she tries during lunch. She just isn't having any luck.

As the day goes by, Jaime hangs out with a couple of her guy friends who invite her to join them and some other friends. They make her feel comfortable, so maybe she should just forget about Maya. Will anything happen to convince Maya that they should renew their friendship, or she too committed to her new friendship with the mean girls? 

JUST JAIME by Terri Libenson is a graphic novel that highlights friendship trials and tribulations. It would be a perfect classroom read with plenty of opportunities for discussion. There are also a number of other books in the series.