THE NIGHT WAR by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

 

Fans of THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley will be thrilled to learn about her new release THE NIGHT WAR. In much the same vein as her earlier WWII historical fiction, this book is set in France and focuses on Miriam, a young Jewish girl.

Everyone in Miriam's Jewish neighborhood is forced to leave by the Nazis. She is separated from her family and only manages to escape with the help of a neighbor who asks her to take her small daughter and run. She promises if Miriam can save little Nora, they can reunite in Zurich which is safe from the Germans.

Miriam ends up being taken to a school run by Catholic nuns and little Nora is sent to live with a childless couple in the village. Miriam is told to use the name Marie and she is given new papers and told to pretend to be Catholic. Miriam is constantly plotting to rescue Nora and continue on to Zurich in hopes of finding her family.

Escape seems possible when Miriam visits the nearby castle where she meets a woman who employs her to help clean up her garden. When one of the nuns falls and breaks her leg, Miriam also becomes involved in a smuggling plot to help Jewish people sneak through the castle at night to reach a safe area beyond the French border. This seems to be the perfect way for Miriam to escape if she can figure out a way to free Nora.

Filled with intrigue and suspense, THE NIGHT WAR takes readers on an adventure and reveals the dangerous life for Jews during WWII. This is a must have for middle grade libraries and classrooms. 

JUST BREATHE by Cammie McGovern

 

David and Jamie meet in a hospital. David is a senior in high school hospitalized with cystic fibrosis. He spends his time wishing he was back at school where he is senior class president and one of the popular crowd.

Jamie's mother is a nurse and arranged for Jamie to volunteer for the Smile Awhile program. After her father's suicide, Jamie spiraled into a depression. Her mother wants her to keep busy and also close so volunteering at the hospital seems perfect.

Jamie is a sophomore so when she recognizes David, she is a bit star-struck. She is used to seeing him making the daily announcements in the cafeteria and hanging out with his girlfriend Sharon. Seeing him in bed needing oxygen and a feeding tube is a surprise.

Overcoming her shyness, Jamie starts stopping to visit David. They talk about school, his plans for college, and her love of old movies. She brings him movies to watch and teaches him origami. She may have a bit of a crush on him which worries her mother.

When David's condition takes a turn for the worse, he convinces Jamie that getting out of the hospital will help him feel better. Together they plan several adventures which are totally against hospital policy. One of these ill-advised adventures ends up with David returning to the hospital by ambulance. Jamie is sure she'll never see him again.

JUST BREATHE by Cammie McGovern will grab readers and hold on tight. Both David and Jamie have serious issues that might threaten to unravel the average teen, but they show courage and resilience. 

THE SURPRISING POWER OF A GOOD DUMPLING by Wai Chim

 

To be honest I was drawn to this book because of the title. I'm often a "judge a book by its cover" reader.

Anna Chiu is juggling family, school, and whatever else shows up in her life. As the oldest and well-behaved daughter in a Chinese family, she follows the rules and finds very little time to have her own life. When she isn't in school, she is home taking care of her younger siblings. Her father's life is dedicated to the restaurant that provides for the family. Unfortunately, her mother is a problem. 

Most days Anna feels like the mother. She loves her mother, but the fact that she spends most of the time hidden away in bed is beginning to take its toll. Weeks go by, sometimes even months, with her mother doing nothing. When she does step out of the bedroom, she is often maniac. She'll be fanatically cleaning and ordering everyone around. 

Anna understands that her father spends most days and nights at the restaurant. He has enough on his plate without having to worry about his wife. During a school break, Anna offers to come help at the restaurant. This gives her a chance to get away and feel useful. When her father hires a delivery boy, Anna soon finds herself with a friend. Maybe even a little more than just a friend.

Author Wai Chim takes readers into a family dealing with mental health issues. Her realistic portrayal of Chinese culture and the tendency to keep secrets, will help readers from all backgrounds better understand family structures. 

DEAR MOTHMAN by Robin Gow

 

When Noah's best friend dies in a car accident, Noah feels lost. Lewis was a trans boy and so is Noah. They loved supernatural things and were especially fascinated by cryptids. Both were convinced that the Mothman lived in the nearby woods.

Making new friends is not easy for Noah. Diagnosed with autism, he has trouble reacting to people and understanding emotions. When Noah finally connects with a small group of girls, he finds that he enjoys sitting with them at lunch and even participates in a sleepover.

Noah confides in his new friends and informs them he is trying to find the Mothman. One of the girls seems interested and offers to help Noah with his science project about the creature. Noah has been writing letters to the Mothman and leaving them outside at night in hopes of meeting him. He is pretty sure the cryptid has been reading the letters and may have even responded with drawings several times.

Author Robin Gow uses verse and letters to tell Noah's tale. Readers will learn about patience, loss, and the courage it takes to carry on.

THE LIGHTNING CIRCLE by Vikki Vansickle

 

It's 2006. Nora/Nova is seventeen and going to summer camp for the first time. She won't be a camper; she'll be a counselor. Her main goal in committing to this three-month program is to forget about him.

Nova, the name she chooses as her camp name, is uncertain about exactly what to expect. First, she meets her fellow counselors. They all seem so experienced, but it doesn't take long to warm up to them. 

When the campers begin to arrive, Nova tries hard to remember all their names and to get to know them. Some are repeats who fall right into the routine. Others are new and need a bit of encouragement. There are also a few who seem ready to rebel at every turn. 

There is crafting, swimming, hiking, and horseback riding, just to name a few of the activities. Nova realizes she is beginning to connect with the girls in her cabin, and the more that happens, the less she thinks about him. The decision to spend her summer here in the woods was a good one.

Author Vikki Vansickle creates a realistic summer camp experience in THE LIGHTNING CIRCLE. It will click with readers familiar with summer camp, and possibly encourage those who aren't, to give it a try. Written in verse with illustrations by Laura K. Watson, this is a fast read perfect for middle graders.