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"My anger was strong enough to lift me to my feet and, one raised foot at a time, push me higher into the storm. I kept going. The storm was fierce, but so was I." ~ from Dan Gemeinhart's The Honest Truth
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| Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David AndersonLoving their gifted teacher, three boys are dismayed when the teacher falls ill and leaves for the rest of the school year, a situation that compels them to share their stories while cutting class and journeying across town together on a fateful day.
If you love stories about great student-teacher relationships, you'll also like Saving Mr. Terupt by Robert W. Buyea and The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg. |
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| Inspector Flytrap by Tom Angleberger; illustrated by Cece BellHoping to become the greatest detective that ever grew, Inspector Flytrap, a Venus Flytrap, and his assistant, Nina the Goat, investigate "big deal" mysteries at an art museum, a cookie shop, and a garden.
This cartoon-filled chapter book will make you laugh until you snort, making it perfect for fans of Bruce Hale's Big Bad Detective Agency or Dav Pilkey's The Adventures of Captain Underpants. |
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| Serafina and the Twisted Staff by Robert BeattyIn 1899, when an evil threatens all the humans and animals of the Blue Ridge Mountains, twelve-year-old Serafina, rat catcher for the Biltmore estate and the daughter of a shapeshifting mountain lion, must search deep inside herself and embrace the destiny that awaits her.
If you haven't read Serafina's first adventure, be sure to check out Serafina and the Black Cloak before you dive into this sequel. Looking for something similar? Try Coraline by Neil Gaiman. |
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| Towers Falling by Jewell Parker RhodesWhile learning about September 11th, fifth grader Dèja (born after the attacks) realizes how much the events still color her world.
Curious readers looking for another sensitive but honest look at 9/11 may also want to pick up Nora Raleigh Baskin's Nine, Ten or Somewhere Among by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu. |
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| Dara Palmer's Major Drama by Emma ShevahDara Palmer dreams of being an actress, but when she does not get a part in the school play she wonders if it is because of her different looks as an adopted girl from Cambodia, so Dara becomes determined not to let prejudice stop her from being in the spotlight.
If you like this, you may want to read Shevah's other title, Dream On, Amber. Or if you want something similar, try Eleven by Lauren Myracle. |
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| The Honest Truth by Dan GemeinhartA boy named Mark, tired of being sick with cancer, conceives a plan to climb Mount Rainier, and runs away from home with his dog, Beau. Nothing will be easy, and only his best friend, Jessie, suspects where he is heading.
If your favorite part of this book is the adventure, read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. If your favorite part is his dog, Beau, read Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. |
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| Survival at 40 Below by Debbie S. MillerAs temperatures drop and the snow deepens, the animals that make the tundra home must ready themselves for survival during the long arctic winter.
Learn more about arctic animals and their habitat by reading Arctic Lights, Arctic Nights by Debbie S. Miller and Frozen Wild by Jim Arnosky. |
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| Finding Someplace by Denise Lewis PatrickThe weekend she turns thirteen, aspiring clothing designer Teresa "Reesie" Boone is separated from her family by Hurricane Katrina but, during the horrific storm and its aftermath, begins to find strength in herself.
Similar to Julie T. Lamana's Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere, this intense tale about a real-life disaster will grab readers who enjoy sad yet hopeful stories. |
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| Nuts to You by Lynne Rae PerkinsAfter surviving being carried off by a hawk, a young squirrel resolves to find his way home, as his best friends begin their search for him.
Fans of this one may also enjoy Rakkety Tam by Brian Jacques or the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. |
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