SOMETHING LIKE HOME by Andrea Beatriz Arango

 

Laura is living with her aunt Titi Silvia. She feels sad and alone. When her aunt, who is a doctor, isn't at work at the hospital, she is sleeping and getting ready to work again. Laura has everything she needs, but she misses her mom and dad.

Laura realizes that not living with her parents is probably her fault. She keeps remembering coming home and finding them motionless in the apartment. Dailing 911 was important and necessary, but that is what led to social services coming and Laura ending up with her aunt. If only she could visit them in rehab. Then she could tell them how sorry she is. 

There are a few bright spots. There's finding a dog that Titi lets her keep. There's the idea of training the dog to be a therapy dog in hopes of taking him to visit her parents at rehab. There's also a new friend named Benson.

SOMETHING LIKE HOME by Andrea Beatriz Arango explores the world of foster care and kinship care in today's diversified family structures. Readers will cheer for Laura and perhaps shed a few tears for her as she struggles to create a place that feels like home.

THE SOMEDAY BIRDS by Sally J. Pla

 

Charlie loves his family, but they are very difficult to deal with sometimes. They don't understand Charlie's OCD, his fascination with all things birds, and his constant diet of chicken nuggets. 

Life changed when Charlie's journalist father was injured while covering the war in Afghanistan. Now Charlie, his twin brothers, older sister, and grandmother spend a lot of time in the hospital hoping that his dad will recover. Things change yet again when Gram announces that she will be taking Charlie's dad to a hospital on the other side of the country for treatment from a well-known doctor who specializes in head injuries. Charlie can't believe she is leaving the rest of them alone.

What follows is a madcap adventure as Charlie and his siblings attempt to head cross-country to visit their father. They end up traveling with a strange woman named Ludmilla. Charlie wants desperately to complete a birding list he and his dad created so he can surprise him when they eventually get to the hospital. The trip, powered by love, is full of high-jinks and chaos.

In THE SOMEDAY BIRDS author Sally J. Pla tells a story about a family in crisis in which love and determination save the day.

ENEMIES IN THE ORCHARD by Dana Vanderlugt

 

This book just arrived in my mailbox a few days ago. Wow! It is now one of my favorites for the year!

ENEMIES IN THE ORCHARD is a novel in verse by debut author Dana Vanderlugt. Set in Michigan during World War II, readers will learn about some little known history. During the war the U.S. government decided to ship some German POWs to the States to help provide relief for the labor shortage. A group of POWs were sent to a camp in Michigan where they helped in an apple orchard. 

Claire's family is missing her older brother Danny, who is off fighting in Europe. Harvesting the apples and running the orchard store is taking its toll on her father and mother without the help of her brother. A group of German soldiers comes to the orchard to help. There are benefits for both sides, but of course, putting together Americans and Germans is also cause for concern.

Claire finds herself becoming friendly with a German named Karl. Since he can speak English, he is assigned to help in the store and given more responsibilities than the other POWs. It becomes clear that some of the Germans are feeling lucky to be in the States away from the fighting while others still have a strong connection to Hitler and the German war mission.

The narration alternates between Claire and Karl. Readers are able to follow the thought processes of both sides in this war situation. Vanderlugt weaves in facts from her family's experiences in Michigan along with her fictional account of this rare view of enemies interacting. 

ENEMIES IN THE ORCHARD is a must-read for readers of all ages.

THE LOST LIBRARY by Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass

 

If you are a book lover or love to share books with readers, this book is for you. Imagine a Little Free Library pops up in your neighborhood and you aren't really certain who started it. THE LOST LIBRARY is about such a little library and the mystery surrounding it.

When Evan discovered the Little Free Library, he immediately thought about the fire that years ago destroyed the library in his town. No one was ever found responsible for the tragic event that took several lives. 

Evan selects a couple of books from the new library and takes them home. As he explores their contents, he notices some peculiar things that get him thinking more about the fire and the mysterious new library. With the help of his friend Rafe, he decides to don his investigator's cap and solve the mystery once and for all.

Two awesome authors, Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass, have joined forces to create this interesting mystery. Using multiple voices including Evan, a ghost librarian, and a cat, they weave a fascinating tale that is sure to please readers.

WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT I KNOW by Sonja K. Solter

 

When Tori tries to tell her mother about what happened with Uncle Andy on the ratty old couch in the basement, her mom doesn't believe her. How could kind, fun-loving, goofy Uncle Andy do something like that?

When teachers and friends notice something is bothering Tori, her story finds concerned listeners. She is hesitant to share the details of what happened, and she blames herself for her uncle's actions. Through a storm of conflicting emotions, Tori tries to communicate her pain and move past it. 

When more people believe Tori, it also becomes clear that she isn't the only child Uncle Andy has abused. Tori knows her life is changed forever, but she fights to move on and even help others if she can.

WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT I KNOW is a novel in verse by author Sonja K. Solter. Her straightforward, honest story will help readers understand their own situations or that of others who have lived through sexual abuse. 

THE DO MORE CLUB by Dana Kramaroff

 

Josh is the only Jewish student in his middle school. When someone spray paints swastikas all over his school, he experiences a hate he never has before. Not even Josh's friends know he is Jewish, and for a while he thinks that might be best.

The school brings in a group of counselors who specialize in handling trauma to work with the students. They focus on getting to know each other and spreading kindness instead of hate. Josh finds the courage to tell everyone he is Jewish. The result is an increase in hate-related crimes 

As Josh works through his fear and confusion, he decides to create the Do More Club. With the help of the trauma counselors, a teacher, and his friends, Josh comes up with creative ways to spread positive messages through the school. It isn't all smooth sailing, but Josh comes to appreciate friendship, family, and faith as he works to reduce the hate in his corner of the community.

Author Dana Kramaroff uses verse to tell Josh's story. This middle grade novel is great for discussion and action in a world where kindness doesn't always come first.

ACCOUNTABLE: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed by Dashka Slater

 

ACCOUNTABLE is a must-read for both teens and adults. Everyone knows the negative impacts of social media, but this book spells out the devastating consequences when the actions of a few teens changed everything in a small town.

In 2017 Charles decided to create a fake Instagram account to post memes he thought his friends would think were funny. The account was private so only a few people could follow it. As with many innocent pranks, news of Charles's posts became public and the destruction began.

The posts were mostly aimed at girls attending Albany High School in Albany, California. The memes were racist and sexist in nature and greatly offended those targeted. When the account was discovered and reported to the school administration, many missteps resulted in misunderstandings and disciplinary actions that missed the mark. As word spread throughout the community, anger built and tempers flared on both sides of the issue.

Author Dashka Slater writes bluntly and honestly about the toll these actions took on the small, tight-knit community. Students feared attacks on both sides, protests upset the workings of the school, parents and others demanded action, and eventually multiple lawsuits were filed in an attempt to seek compensatory damages. The careless actions of Charles and a few others changed the lives of numerous teens over the course of years. 

DUST by Dusti Bowling

 

Avalyn suffers from severe asthma and multiple food allergies. After nearly losing her life as a toddler, her parents made the decision to move. Now she lives in a desert town with a low incident of dust storms, but recently that has changed.

Avalyn thinks the increase in dust correlates with the arrival of a new kid named Adam. He is withdrawn and quiet and is already the target for taunts from the bullies. Whenever Avalyn comes in close contact with Adam, she has strange feelings and her asthma kicks in. She has always been able to sense the emotions of people around her, and with Adam that sensation seems to intensify.

Tired of what she calls her "helicopter" parents, Avalyn hasn't been sharing honestly with them or even her closest friends. She knows that Adam has a dangerous secret, but she doesn't know how to convince him she can be trusted. After several close calls with her asthma, she worries that she will never be able to connect with Adam enough to help him.

Author Dusti Bowling writes about health concerns many young readers can relate to in DUST. She also presents the relatable issues of friendship, isolation, and bullying. Readers will immediately connect with Avalyn as the pages turn. Perfect for middle grade collections.