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.

POCKET BEAR by Katherine Applegate

 

If you are a fan of Katherine Applegate's ONE AND ONLY IVAN, you will want to get your hands on a copy of POCKET BEAR as soon as possible. It is filled with precious characters, intrigue, and wonderful storytelling.

The backstory tells readers about a WW I tradition. Many men went to battle with a soldier (pocket) bear in their uniform pocket to remind them of those at home wishing them well. Pocket Bear in the story lives in a loving home with a mother and daughter. With the help of their cat who they refer to as a Kleptocat, they take in lost and abandoned toys and stuffed animals. 

The toys are carefully cleaned and set out in a wagon along the sidewalk to be reclaimed by owners who may have accidentally lost them. If they aren't claimed, the mother and daughter make every attempt to re-home the precious, loveable toys.

An antique toy collector visits often hoping to find something valuable among the castoffs. She is particularly interested in Pocket Bear and another rare German bear named Berwon. The mother and daughter and the toys know that Picky Vicky will not offer a fair price if she offers to buy the bears, so they set out to make sure the bears remain safe and sound.

Readers will immediately be pulled into the story and the brave friends who help protect each other and their caregivers.

WAR GAMES by Alan Gratz

 

It's 1936. Evie Harris has qualified as a member of the United States Olympic gymnastics team. She's only thirteen and can't believe she will be traveling to Germany to represent her country.

Evie grew up in Oklahoma, but recently the massive dust storms have driven her family out of the only home they've ever known. They packed up and moved to California. Her parents have not been able to find jobs so Evie, her sister, and her parents have been living in their Model T Ford. Gymnastics is the one positive thing in Evie's life.

As part of the U.S. team, Evie hopes to win a gold medal so she can return to California and maybe find a place in the movie industry in Hollywood. Another competitor she knows has been working in movies and suggested Evie could do the same.

Between practices, competition, and watching others compete, Evie receives a letter that connects her with two men who offer her a chance to "win" gold that could be even better than a gold medal. She isn't sure, but as her gymnastic dreams begin to fade, she decides their offer is the only way she can return to her family with the riches they need.

Author Alan Gratz has once again created an historical novel that will take middle grade readers on an amazing adventure. Set in Hitler's Nazi Germany, WAR GAMES depicts a threatening pre-war culture that eerily resembles some of the concerning issues we see in society today. The parallels may be lost on some younger readers, but older readers, even adults, may find it disturbing and a bit unnerving. 

WOLF CLUB by James Bird

 

In WOLF CLUB readers will join a group of three misfits as they set off on a quest to find a white wolf that has caused their community to go on high alert. The three are not normally friends, but working together will help them discover their individual strengths at the same time their weaknesses fade away.

First, there's Okan, known as Raccoon. He is a target for bullies. His gimpy walk and his thrift shop clothes make him the perfect mark, especially for the rich kids. He wishes his mother didn't have to work so hard so they could spend more time together.

Next is Sarah, or Skunk. Her odor has earned her the nickname Skunk. No one knows why she smells so bad, and if anyone asks, they soon regret it. She misses her dead mother and wishes her father wasn't hidden away in his depression.

Marcus, known as Moose, has rich parents, but living in a mansion and having everything doesn't mean his parents show him the love he craves.

When Raccoon hears about the white wolf, he is determined to find it. He enlists the help of Skunk who insists the wolf can solve all her problems, and Moose who basically just comes alone without much of an invitation. What follows is an entertaining adventure. The three adventurers will learn new things about each other and themselves.

Using the backdrop of Native American culture, author James Bird weaves a tale that is sure to capture the hearts and minds of middle grade readers everywhere.