DOG DRIVEN by Terry Lynn Johnson

Fourteen year old McKenna has been dogsledding since she could walk. Her mother was a champion racer, and McKenna is following in her footsteps. The Great Superior Mail Run race will be the longest race McKenna has ever entered, but there's another reason she wants to win this one. Emma, McKenna's little sister, is providing the motivation for McKenna to enter and win this race. Emma was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a degenerative condition that destroys the retina eventually resulting in blindness. 

The Great Superior Mail Run race pays tribute to the mail couriers who used to deliver mail by dogsled back in the 1800s. The race will follow one of the routes used by the original mail couriers, and as an additional challenge, each of the modern-day dogsled racers must carry a bag of letters across the finish line. The letters McKenna will be carrying have been written by the students in Emma's class. Emma's letter is particularly special as she wrote it to the Foundation for Fighting Blindness asking for research to fight Stargardt disease.

As McKenna prepares for the race, she hides a secret. For some time now, her own vision has been deteriorating. Recent changes in her sight have her convinced that she also has Stargardt disease. Winning the race could help her sister, and it could also show her parents that she can be independent even though her vision is compromised. But, it is soon clear to McKenna that running her dogs and keeping her condition a secret may be more of a challenge than she bargained for.

DOG DRIVEN by Terry Lynn Johnson has just the right combination of action, emotion, and history to appeal to middle grade readers and up. This Junior Library Guild Selection book is a fast-paced, must-read. I hope to read more about McKenna Barney and her future adventures.

WHITE BIRD by R.J. Palacio

R.J. Palacio is the author of the well-known book WONDER. In her graphic novel debut, she continues the story of Julian, a character many will remember as the bully who torments Auggie Pullman. WHITE BIRD sheds new light on Julian and lets readers know that his outlook on life and his understanding of his role as a human being has changed.

Julian has a school project that requires a report about a person he knows. He decides to ask his grandmother to share the story of her experience as a young, Jewish girl during WW II. Through a Facetime communication, Julian's grandmother remembers her childhood and the years she spent hiding from the Nazis in wartime France.

A major focus of Sara's story is the young boy, who despite being crippled by polio, risks his life to help her survive and avoid capture during the Holocaust. She learns to value kindness and sacrifice while hiding in a barn on the his family's property. Her story also explains the significance of the name Julian that she later gave her own son, and that he in turn passed on to her grandson. 

Before hearing his grandmother's story, Julian admits that he regrets his past actions toward Auggie, and after learning about her experiences, Julian recognizes that kindness can have an even more important impact than he imagined.

WHITE BIRD should be placed proudly on bookshelves next to memorable books such as THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL, NIGHT, and NUMBER THE STARS. R.J. Palacio illustrates that understanding the role of kindness in history must serve as an example to humanity today.

SICK KIDS IN LOVE by Hannah Moskowitz

SPOILER ALERT: (Right on the front of the dust jacket) "They don't die in this one."

Isabel is a junior in high school. At around the age of 8, she was diagnosed with RA - rheumatoid arthritis. With the help of routine infusions, she lives a fairly normal life. Pain is a familiar part of that life, but having a doctor for a father means she is given the advantage of the latest treatment options.

On thing Isabel has decided is that dating is not for her. She believes it is easier, safer, and just plan better that way. It has never even been an issue until the day she meets Sasha. Isabel is sitting in the hospital as her medication dips through the IV into her arm when a pale, yet handsome, young man enters. He is soon hooked up to a similar IV and conversation begins.

Sasha was sick the moment he was born. When it was discovered that he suffered from Gaucher disease, his life became a battle to keep things on an even keel. Fortunately, his version of the disease is the one that allows its victims to live a normal span, but that doesn't mean there aren't complications along the way. 

Long story short, Isabel and Sasha connect again at the hospital and quickly become friends. Their friendship isn't exactly focused on their individual illnesses, but their health issues provide a common ground that neither of them can ignore. Now Isabel must decide if it is time to end her pact to never date. Sasha makes it very tempting to just jump right into a relationship, but relationships are always easy, safe, or better.

SICK KIDS IN LOVE by Hannah Moskowitz is a refreshing tale of two teens exploring what it means to take a chance with love and all the ups and downs of a romantic relationship. Moskowitz crafts realistic characters and true to life situations that are captivating and inspiring.

ON THE HORIZON by Lois Lowry

I'm so glad I heard Lois Lowry chatting about this book on her Facebook a few weeks ago. After listening, I immediately ordered a copy.

ON THE HORIZON is written in a series of poems and reflects on Lois Lowry's memories of living in Honolulu at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It wasn't until later that she realized she and her grandmother were on the beach at the time the USS Arizona passed on the horizon. Not long after that, the great ship lay on the bottom of Pearl Harbor along with most of her crew.

Lowry recounts her memories, and she also shares events as they may have been experienced by some of the sailors on the USS Arizona. She also explains what the days that followed may have been like for the crew of the Enola Gay as they released the bomb on Hiroshima, and the terror of the Japanese who witnessed the explosion of the bomb, many losing their lives instantly or painfully years later. 

Lowry spent some of her childhood in Tokyo where she learned even more about the war and those who survived. Much later in life her path even crossed that of an individual she realized she knew from her early years in Tokyo. Shared memories of Lowry riding her green bicycle add tender moments to this heartfelt story.

Although ON THE HORIZON is less that 100 pages, it is packed with history and emotion only an author like Lois Lowry can express. Fans of Lowry's or those who simply appreciate a beautiful nod to history are sure to be touched by this book.

DEAR SWEET PEA by Julie Murphy

Most readers know Julie Murphy as the author of PUDDIN' and DUMPLIN' (a Netflix film). DEAR SWEET PEA is her first middle grade novel. It would be a good fit for any reader fifth grade and up.

Sweet Pea is adjusting to a lot. Her parents recently divorced, and she is now living between two houses on the same street. Her therapist mother decided the best thing for Sweet Pea was to have both her parents living in almost identical houses separated only by Miss Flora Mae, the neighborhood eccentric.

Another change Sweet Pea is still trying to come to terms with is the loss of her former friend, Kiera. Always best friends, Kiera and Sweet Pea went their separate ways when Kiera chose to hang out with a group of older girls, leaving Sweet Pea behind. Kiera didn't just move on to different friends; she also became a mean girl. Sweet Pea struggles to ignore Kiera's snide remarks about her weight and her parents' divorce. Little does she know, Kiera is dealing with struggles of her own. Oscar, Sweet Pea's true best friend, is also acting a bit weird lately. 

Fortunately, Miss Flora Mae offers Sweet Pea a distraction when she asks Sweet Pea to gather her mail and water her plants while she is off helping her ailing sister. Sweet Pea has always been fascinated by Miss Flora Mae I, an advice column in the local newspaper. Having written many letters to Miss Flora Mae, Sweet Pea relishes the opportunity to sneak peeks at the letters she's been asked to forward on to the old columnist. She even tries her hand at answering a few and slipping them into the return delivery to the newspaper's editor. Seeing her advice letters printed is certainly a thrill.

DEAR SWEET PEA takes a look at friendship, family struggles, and secrets. Sweet Pea learns that dealing with relationships means being open, caring, and trustworthy. There's a little something for everyone in Julie Murphy's debut middle grade book. 

A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER by Holly Jackson

When Pip submits the idea for her senior Capstone project, she never dreamed it would turn so many lives upside-down. Ever since the disappearance and supposed death of Andie Bell, Pip has wondered about the tragedy that upset the small town of Fairview.

The subject of Pip's project is given the required approval, however, she is warned that she is not permitted to contact the families of the victim or the accused murderer. Well, Pip has never been one for following directions. She decides to start her inquiry by interviewing the brother of Sal Singh who was accused of Andie's murder and later committed suicide in the woods near her home. 

Sal's brother Ravi at first rejects Pip's questions, but finally decides to help her in her quest to convince everyone of Sal's innocence. Together they uncover unexpected information about Andie's friends and family and about teachers and community members who have knowledge the police never learned. As Pip gets closer to the truth, her safety and that of her family and Ravi are threatened by someone who knows a lot more than they are willing to admit. 

A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER is Holly Jackson's debut novel. Her detailed plot, complete with plenty of twists and turns, is sure to please readers looking for a challenging mystery. Pip and Ravi make a great team that will have readers rooting for them as they seek the answers that will clear Sal and determine exactly what happened to Andie Bell.

DRAGON HOOPS by Gene Luen Yang

I've been a fan of Gene Luen Yang since I met him and heard him discuss his Boxers and Saints graphic novels. I'm glad I ordered a copy of DRAGON HOOPS and can't wait to share it with others.

Gene tells the story of the championship basketball team at the high school where he taught for seventeen years. Not a sports fan himself, he shares his discovery of why sports make such an impact on the lives of others. Throughout the story he interviews players and coaches and makes decisions about who to include and highlight in the book and who should take a backseat or possibly even be excluded. Along the way he also makes some personal discoveries that lead him to make his own life-changing decision.

The graphic format is crisp and exciting. The play-by-play action comes to life on the pages and had me turning pages rapidly to find out the outcome of important plays and games. The inclusion of historical facts about the origins of the game of basketball and its evolution for both men's and women's teams was a fascinating element of the book as well. 

I highly recommend DRAGON HOOPS. Both young and old will appreciate this book and be excited to share it with friends and family.