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.