Author Archive

Beach Reads for Winter

October 25, 2012 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Humor, Middle School (6-8), Novels, Realistic, Romance, Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Just because the temperature has dropped, and you wouldn’t be caught dead outside in a swimsuit doesn’t mean you can’t still  enjoy some nice, fluffy, chick-litty reads!  So if you’ve just finished re-reading some Austen or Dickens by the fireplace, take a break and try one of these titles.

A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monaghan.  June, 2012.  9780547668529.  Gr. 7-12.

Seventeen-year-old Farrah is a math genius, a trait that earned her the humiliating nickname Digit in middle school and a fact that she hides now that she’s in high school. When Farrah uncovers a terrorist plot encoded in a popular TV show, she can no longer hide who she really is. On the run from terrorists trying to kill her, Digit embraces her gift in order to help the FBI uncover the truth. And the fact that her FBI handler John is young and attractive? That’s just a bonus. Girls will love this thin, fast-paced novel, and will root for Digit throughout.

Surviving High School by M. Doty.  September, 2012.  9780316220156.  Gr. 7-12.

Freshman Emily Kessler has one goal; to live up to her sister’s legacy.  After a tragic accident takes the life of her sister, Emily feels the pressure to be everything Sara was:  perfect.  Perfect grades, and an Olympic-bound record-breaking swimmer.  There’s just one problem in the form of Ben Kale, Branches High’s heart throb and bad boy.  The closer Emily gets to Ben, the more she realizes that she wants more than perfect grades and a swim record.  But can she convince her father/coach to back down?  And what is the real story behind Sara’s accident?  Readers will root for Emily as she comes to understand what she truly wants.

The List by Siobhan Vivian.  April, 2012.  9780545169172.  Gr. 9-12.

Every year at Mount Washington High School, The List is posted a week before Homecoming, naming the prettiest and ugliest girl in each grade.  Vivian shows how it affects each of the eight girls named on the list.  For sophomore Sarah, being named the ugliest sends her into a protest, refusing to shower or change her clothes to prove just how ugly she can get.  Another girl struggles to balance her new-found popularity with homework, and being named the prettiest junior sends another girl back to her anorexic habits.  While bullying, mean girls and popularity aren’t new topics, Vivian manages to take a fresh look at them through her very realistically portrayed characters.

This will also be my last post for awhile as I am on maternity leave!  I’m taking care of my beautiful little Annabelle, but you may see me on here from time to time!

Lindsey L.

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Anti-Bullying Awareness Month

October 11, 2012 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Bullying seems to be running rampant in our schools today.  Not only are kids verbally and physically abused, but media and social networking has made it possible to humiliate someone on a national level.  According the The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, kids who are bullied suffer from low self-esteem and depression in adulthood and are more likely to drop out of school.  They also found that kids who are identified as bullies by the age of 8 are six times more likely to have a criminal conviction by adulthood.  Clearly bullying is bad on either side of the equation.  I’m a big believer of connecting with books, so here are a few titles that have come out in the last couple months that I think would make great discussion on the ramifications of bullying.

Keep Holding On by Susan Colasanti.  June, 2012.  9780670012251.  Gr. 9-12.

All 16 year-old Noelle wants to do is keep her head down and make it to the end of the school year without being noticed, but it’s hard to do when you’re the target of bullies everyday. Forced to face ridicule during school and a neglectful mother at night, Noelle doesn’t know what to do when her crush Julian Porter starts paying attention to her. Should she take a chance and risk breaking her heart or play it safe the same as always? But when a tragedy strikes at school, Noelle learns the importance of standing up for yourself.

This is a great title to discuss bullying and the affects it has on its victims.  I think many readers will see a little of themselves in Noelle even if they’re not in her same situation.  Colasanti also does a fantastic job of character development and showing how much Noelle grows throughout the novel thanks to supportive friends and an internal desire to make her life better.  I liked the added element of the neglectful mother because it shows how kids aren’t always just bullied at school, but in their homes as well, and that there are measures kids can take to stop both kinds of bullying.

October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard by Leslea Newman.  September, 2012.  9780763658076.  Gr. 9-12.

Leslea Newman was scheduled to speak at the University of Wyoming’s Gay Awareness Week five days after Matthew Shepard’s brutal attack. These poems reflect her desire to replace hate with compassion and understanding. Each moving poem reflects the feelings or events surrounding Matthew’s attack. From the fence that held him through the night to the the people who held protestors back from his funeral, readers will never forget these powerful poems.

This is one of those books that when you finish reading it, you can’t do anything else but think about it for a while.  The poems are so powerful and I loved the way Newman told them from multiple perspectives such as the fence Matthew was tied to, the deer that stayed with him throughout the night, even the moon watching the horror unfold from above.  I think this book will bring out good discussion with students and may lead them to write poems about their experiences as well.

Lindsey L.

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Book Review: Endangered

September 27, 2012 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Mackin Picks, Multicultural, Novels, Realistic · Tagged , , , , , ,

Endangered by Eliot Schrefer. Coming out Oct. 1, 2012. 9780545165761. Grades 9-12. (ARC copy)

Sophie is spending another summer with her mother in the Congo at her bonobo sanctuary when she rescues Otto, a baby bonobo, from a poacher on the street. The two become inseparable, and when a chaotic revolution breaks out in the capital, Sophie decides to stay with Otto rather than flee to safety to the United States. After a brutal attack on the sanctuary, Sophie’s left on her own with Otto and the other bonobos desperately trying to survive in a nation ravaged by violence.

I picked this book up based on Maggie Stiefvater’s review, expecting a good read. I did not expect a powerful, emotionally packed journey, but that’s what this book delivered. I instantly connected with Sophie and Otto and their inseparable bond. Their relationship is tender and humorous and believable. It’s clear that Schrefer did his research about bonobos (he even traveled to Kinshasa to visit a bonobo sanctuary in 2011). I also loved Sophie’s interaction with the adult bonobos when she was trapped in the sanctuary. It was fascinating to see how she changed the group dynamic and hierarchy.

Schrefer also does a great job of describing the horrors of the revolution and how the people struggled to survive. That’s what makes this book so powerful. It introduces you to a world so unlike our own here in the United States. I think we take a lot of things for granted, and reading a book like this reminds us how good we have it, and how much worse life could be. I agree with Maggie Stiefvater’s opinion in her review: “It’s one of those books that makes you look at your own culture a little differently; makes your world a little stretchier.”

This book will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

**Also today is the last day to enter our Back to School Contest!  If you haven’t entered already, check it out!!**

Lindsey L.

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Book Review: The Raven Boys

September 13, 2012 · Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, High School, Mackin Picks, Magic, Novels, Paranormal, Reviews, Romance · Tagged , , ,

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. Coming out Sept. 18, 2012. 9780545424929. Grades 9-12. (ARC Copy).

Blue comes from a family of psychics, but she has no powers of her own, just the ability to boost the psychic abilities of others. So when she sees a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve, she’s told that he’s either her true love or she’ll kill him within the next year. The mystery deepens when Blue meets Gansey and his friends from the local prep school school. They are known as the Raven Boys, and Blue wants nothing to do with them until she realizes that Gansey is the spirit from the cemetery. Gansey is on his own quest to discover the ley lines and awaken a sleeping king. The five of them work together to uncover the mysteries of the ley lines, but they are unaware of the dark forces working against them.

This is one of those books that is so hard to describe, and you want to tell people to just pick it up and read it! In my opinion, this is Maggie’s best book yet. It’s the perfect blend of adventure, mystery, romance, and supernatural. I’ll have to admit, I wanted a little more romance in Scorpio Races, and that’s what Maggie delivers with this novel, but she manages to do so without making it the main focus of the plot.

Oh and the characters! Don’t get me started on the characters! Maggie shows sheer genius with her character development in The Raven Boys. Each character is drawn out, complex, and unique. She uncovers layer after layer of character development while still hinting at more being revealed in later books. Adam was my favorite character because of his struggles throughout the book. He is a scholarship student at the prep school so while he is surrounded by privilege, he himself has to work hard for every little thing. There are also domestic issues to deal he has to deal with, but I don’t want to go into too much detail. His vulnerability, yet determination won him a spot on my top ten best male characters list.

I also loved Blue. She’s feisty and sassy, but loyal and kind. Her first encounter with Gansey had me laughing out loud. She grows a lot throughout the book and comes into her own. She defies her mother for the first time in her life, and allows herself the possibility of love even when she knows it may end in tragedy. I’m glad Maggie decided to write from multiple character’s points of view. I enjoyed the shifting views because it really let you get inside the character’s heads to get to know them better.

Pick up this book and read it! You won’t be disappointed.

Also check out this amazing book trailer done by Maggie herself.  To see the making of it, check out her blog.

Lindsey L.

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Want to Live Forever?

August 30, 2012 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Middle School (6-8), Mystery, Novels, Science Fiction · Tagged , , , , , , ,

Personally, I wouldn’t want to live forever (seems like it would get kinda long), but I’ve recently read a couple books that make the possibility intriguing.  No, these aren’t vampires or werewolves or any other kind of mystical creature that lives forever.  These books explore the possibility of living forever through scientific discovery, which I found very refreshing.  Another thing I love about these books…they are both stand-alones!  I love a good series as much as the next reader, but it’s so nice to read a book that starts and finishes all in one novel once in awhile.

Origin by Jessica Khoury. 9781595145956.  Coming out September 4th, 2012.  Grades 9-12.  (ARC Copy)

Pia is one of a kind, literally. Raised deep in the Amazonian rainforest on a restricted compound, she is the creation of a team of scientist striving to create an immortal race. The night of her 17th birthday, Pia discovers a way out of the compound and decides to explore the surrounding jungle. There she meets Eio, a local village boy, who helps her uncover secrets behind the scientists’ experiments. Readers who love science fiction and mystery will be tearing through the pages from this debut novelist.

I loved the mystery of this novel.  You know something sinister is going on within the compound, but I never guessed what it was until the author revealed it.  That kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the story.  Pia was also a believable character whose growth and self-realization was, in my opinion, realistically portrayed.  The romance was a little quick, but that can easily be overlooked by all the other great elements of this story.

Revived by Cat Patrick.  9780316094627.  2012.  Grades 7-12.  (ARC Copy)

Daisy Appleby has died five times in the last fifteen years. She is brought back to life each time with Revive, a drug created by a secret government agency. After her last brush with death, Daisy and the agents who monitor her move to Omaha, Nebraska for a fresh start. There she meets siblings Audrey and Matt. When her friendship with Matt turns deeper, and she finds out Audrey’s secret, Daisy starts to question the moral implications of Revive and the true intentions of the agency who created it.

Technically Daisy isn’t immortal, but since she can overcome death, I thought it still went with the theme of the post.  This novel had a good blend of romance, mystery, action mixed with everyday teen issues.  When they move to Nebraska, Daisy allows herself to connect with peers for the first time, and doing so makes her start questioning the life she’s been given due to the Revive drug.  The romance was sweet and realistically portrayed.  I thought all of the characters were done well actually.  This is a great read for anyone looking for science fiction that feels realistic…with a little romance thrown in.

Lindsey L.

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Can’t get enough of fairytale re-tellings?

August 16, 2012 · Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, High School, Magic, Middle School (6-8), Novels, Romance · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Me neither!  As I mentioned in a previous post, I love fairytale re-tellings.  They always contain a sweet romance where love conquerors all and evil doesn’t stand a chance against the pure in heart.  I know, I know…it’s sappy and cheesy, but sometimes you need a little sap and cheese in your life!  Another aspect I love about these books is that they are almost always clean.  I work with the teen girls in my church, and at times I struggle to find titles for them that meet the standards our church has set.  Most YA fairytale re-tellings (the two featured titles included) offer a sweet, clean romance that I can wholeheartedly recommend to my girls.  While there are many fairytale re-tellings, today I’m going to focus on my two favorites that have come out so far this year.

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis.  May 2012.  9780547645704.  Gr. 7-12. (ARC Copy)

Sunday often feels overlooked as the youngest in a very large family, so when she meets an enchanted frog in the woods who enjoys listening to her stories, she returns time and time again until their friendship turns deeper.  One night, as per custom, she kisses him goodbye, but this time she is unaware that her changing feelings have turned him back into the man he was, Prince Rumbold.  Prince Rumbold is determined to find Sunday and marry her, but there’s just one problem;  Sunday’s family blames him for the death of her oldest brother, and the Prince knows Sunday would never betray her family.  He decides to hold three balls in order to woo Sunday and her family, but magic and mischief  threaten to separate them forever.

Delightful is the word that sums up this title.  It was absolutely delightful.  I loved Sunday and Prince Rumbold’s romantic storyline, but Kontis incorporates so much more.  She interweaves fairytale after fairytale including Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Jack and the Beanstalk, Red Riding Hood, and so many more.  I would recommend this title to any fairytale lover out there, and they are sure to be a happy reader!

The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors.  Coming out August 21st 2012.  Gr. 7-12.  (ARC Copy)

Emmeline Thistle has always had a special relationship with cows.  They saved her the night she was born after she was cast aside by her father because of her crippled foot, and they save her again when her entire village washes away in a flood.  Owen Oak, the dairyman’s son, discovers her half drowned and takes her home to recover.  It’s there that Emmeline learns why her people are so hated by the kingdom, and where she learns a secret about herself.  Whenever she churns butter, she turns it into chocolate, the most precious substance in all the kingdom.  Immediately, she is kidnapped and used by greedy, power-hungry people that wish to exploit her gift.  Emmeline must stay true to herself no matter the cost if she is to free her people and gain her “happily ever after.”

I wasn’t sure about this title at first.  I’m from Wisconsin and love cows as much as the next person, but magical cows?  I wasn’t sold on that story line, but Selfors wove the story so naturally that I didn’t question it once I started reading.  I loved Emmeline’s character and how she grew from a timid girl accepting that she would never be worth anything, to a strong heroine who stands up against the kingdom for her people.  (Although it bugged me a little at the end when she still didn’t think she was good enough for Owen).  Finally, Selfors narrates the book from both Emmeline’s and Owen’s point of view, and I greatly enjoyed reading their story from both sides.

And since I can’t help myself, here are a few more of my favorite fairytale re-tellings:

Dixon, Heather – Entwined (See my full review here)

George, Jessica Day – Princess of the Midnight Ball, Princess of Glass & Princess of the Silver Woods

Hale, Shannon – The Books of Bayern series (Goose Girl, Enna Burning, River Secrets & Forest Born)

McKinley, Robin – Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty & The Beast

Lindsey L.

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Spotlight on Alison Jay

August 2, 2012 · Filed under Picture Books, Primary (K-2) · Tagged ,

To say that I’m a fan of Alison Jay’s work would be an understatement.  It’s more like I squeal with joy every time I see that she’s coming out with something new.  My co-workers make fun of me, and friends at baby showers have come to expect the Alison Jay board book library from me.  I can’t help it; I think she’s a genius.  I love her work and the fun she has with it.  Every time I read a book that she has either written or illustrated, I find new things in the artwork to gush over (much to the annoyance of said co-workers and friends).  So as I was thinking about what I should blog on today, it hit me.  Why not share my love of Alison Jay with all of you?!  Here are some of my absolute favorites and below you’ll find a fuller bibliography of her books.  Enjoy!!

Let me begin with the Alison Jay baby board book library I was talking about earlier.  Whenever a family member or a friend has a baby, these three titles always make it in the gift basket.

123: A Child’s First Counting Book. (2009 board book version)

Alison Jay mixes counting with fairytales as a child dreams that she travels on a golden goose to different nursery rhyme and fairytale scenes.  Each new spread features a number starting with 1 and going to 10, and then counting back down again.  Observant readers will notice that on every spread, Jay includes multiple sets of the featured number.  For example, the number 3 features 3 little pigs, 3 teacups, 3 cupcakes, 3 cushions, etc.  Jay also leaves clues foreshadowing the next spread.

ABC: A Child’s First Alphabet Book. (2005 board book version)

This book is very similar to Jay’s counting book.  Each spread includes the upper and lower case form of the letter, and the featured object is surrounded by other objects also beginning with the same letter.  Jay also uses foreshadowing so observant readers can try to guess what will be on the next page.

Picture This… (2002 board book version)

This book differs slightly from the first two and features random objects such as a clock or a ball.  The book spans a 24 hour day, but the seasons shift throughout the book as well.  I love how each page only features one word and readers can make up their own story of what’s happening on the page.  Jay also uses foreshadowing in this book so children and adults alike will have fun trying to guess what will be featured on the next page.

Alison Jay has also written and illustrated Red, Green, Blue: A First Book of Colors (2010), and while I personally own this one, I don’t include in the baby library collection because it hasn’t come out in board book yet.  I hope that someday it will, because it is a wonderful concept book too.  Much like 123 and ABC, the book weaves through fariytales and nursery rhymes while looking at a new color every page.  One thing I love about it is that Jay includes some non-traditional colors like turquoise, gold, and silver.

Jay has also done some great books for the holiday season.

The Nutcracker (2010)

Jay brings the nutcracker to life with her whimsical illustrations as the main character Clara is whisked off to adventure with her nutcracker.  The text is an abbreviated version of the story so it makes a great read-a-loud.  This book is a must for the holidays.

Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story.  Written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Alison Jay.  (2011).

Lloyd-Jones brings the animal kingdom to life in this unique retelling of the nativity, and how not only the sheep and cows, but whales, salmon, lions, and more make their way toward the manger.  This sweet nativity story is made all the better by Jay’s beautiful illustrations.  Another must-have for Christmas.

Christmastime (November, 2012)

This one doesn’t come out until November, but I’m already excited about it.  Alison Jay takes a brother and sister through the joys of the holidays featuring Santa Claus, the North Pole, reindeer, carolers and more.  Like Picture This… Jay only features one item per page, giving readers more time to pour over her illustrations.  And in true Alison Jay fashion, she hides a reference to a Christmas song in every illustration and includes a key in the back of the book.  This book will definitely be joining my Alison Jay collection in November!

Here’s a fuller Alison Jay bibliography.

Works written and illustrated by Alison Jay:

123: A Child’s First Counting Book. (2009 board book version)

ABC: A Child’s First Alphabet Book. (2005 board book version)

Animal Parade (2011 board book version)

Christmastime (November, 2012)

The Nutcracker (2010)

Picture This… (2002 board book version)

Red, Green, Blue: A First Book of Colors (2010)

Welcome to the Zoo (2008)

Works written by other authors and illustrated by Alison Jay:

Alice in Wonderland written by Lewis Carroll.  (2006)

A Child’s First Book of Prayers written by Lois Rock.  (2002).

Cloud Spinner written by Michael Catchpool.  (2012)

I Took the Moon for a Walk written by Carolyn Curtis.  (2008)

If Kisses Were Colors written by Janet Lawler.  (2003)

Listen, Listen written by Phillis Gershator.  (2007)

Lindsey L.

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Road Trip Fiction

July 19, 2012 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Realistic · Tagged , , , , , , ,

Right now I’m on vacation in Utah and will be driving back to Minnesota tomorrow.  In honor of that cross country trip, I thought I would do a post all about road tripping titles.  Whether to give a horse its freedom, or to grieve over the loss of a loved one, these titles reflect on the great changes a road trip can make.

Finding Somewhere by Joseph Monninger.  November, 2011.  9780385907897.  Gr. 8-12.

Hattie and Delores always planned on going on a road trip out west. When Hattie finds out her favorite horse Speed is about to be put down in his old age, the friend’s road trip turns into a quest to save Speed and give him one last taste of freedom. Stealing him in the middle of the night, the girls make their way west in search of rangeland where Speed can live out his last days wild and free. But as their trip takes unexpected twists and turns, the girls must face the reasons they wanted to leave home in the first place.

In Honor by Jessi Kirby.  May, 2012.  9781442416970.  Gr. 9-12.

Three days after her brother’s funeral, Honor receives a letter he sent from the army before he died.  Included with the letter are concert tickets and a request that she tell pop star Kyra Kelly about her handsome older brother.  Honor takes the request to heart, determined to drive to California to attend the concert, but she doesn’t plan on her brother’s obnoxious and recently distant friend Rusty insisting on joining her.  The two make their way from Texas to California encountering new people and new experiences that help Honor cope with the loss of her brother.  As secrets are revealed and feelings discovered, Honor learns to accept her brother’s death and move toward a brighter future.

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson.  May, 2010.  9781416990659.  Gr. 9-12.

After Amy’s father dies in a car crash, her brother is sent to rehab and her mother takes a job in Connecticut and arranges for Amy to drive out there from California as soon as her junior year ends.  Still afraid to drive after her father’s accident, her mom has Roger, the 19-old-year son of an old family friend, drive with her.  The two quickly decide to ditch the mother’s planned itinerary in search of more adventure and spontaneous detours to places such as Yosemite and Graceland.  As with In Honor, the road trip and the people she meets help Amy come to terms with her loss.  In addition to the regular narrative, Matson also includes playlists, pictures, receipts, and menus to give the book a scrapbook type of feel.

Lindsey L.

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Book Review : Legacy of Tril: Soulbound

July 5, 2012 · Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, High School, Middle School (6-8), Novels, Reviews · Tagged , , ,

Soulbound (Legacy of Tril #1) by Heather Brewer.  9780803737235.  2012.  Gr. 7-12.

Do you ever go through a lull where the books you read are good but not great? Or you finish a book that leaves you apathetic? And then all of a sudden you read a book that totally engrosses you. A book you can’t put down until you finish and even though it ends with a tantalizing cliffhanger, you don’t even care because it was so good. I was going through such a lull when I received an ARC of Heather Brewer’s Soulbound, the first book in her Legacy of Tril series.

In the world of Tril, there are Barrons and Healers. A Barron and a Healer are bound together for life. Kaya is the daughter of two Barrons, but she is a Healer. Her parents escaped the Barron-run Zettai Council, but after an unfortunate incident, Kaya’s family is discovered and she is forced to attend the Shadow Academy. There she is bound to a Barron, the sweet but rule-following Trayton, and forced to learn the Healer arts. But in this life of rules and strict protocol, Kaya is unsatisfied with her status as a Healer, treated as being beneath Barrons. She wants to learn to protect herself and fight. She needs someone to teach her and she knows that Trayton would never break the rules that severely. So she is left with Darius, the moody and irritable weapons instructor. As Darius trains Kaya to fight, it changes the course of both their lives.

As I said before, this book totally engrossed me. It was fast-paced, and it got to the point where I couldn’t put it down until I finished. Kaya is a compelling main character. She’s forced into this society that she never wanted to be in, required to follow rules she doesn’t believe in. But amidst all that, she holds on to herself and fights to remain the person she was before coming to the Shadow Academy. Trayton and Darius make good love interests. Although I am tiring of love triangles in YA fiction, Brewer writes it well, and I found myself rooting for both Trayton and Darius at various points in the book.

I would recommend this book to any fantasy readers, and I can’t wait for the next one to come out!

Lindsey L.

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Historical Fiction for Middle and High School

June 21, 2012 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Historical, Middle School (6-8), Novels · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

As most of you know by now, I’m a big fan of historical fiction.  I love the way you can transport yourself to another time and place in history and get a feel for what it would be like to live in that era.  Here are some great titles that have come out over the past year for middle and high school.

Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine.  January, 2012.  9780399256448.  Gr. 5-8.

Twelve-year-old Marlee Nisbett is painfully shy; afraid to even speak to others besides her family. Then she meets the new girl Liz. Liz teaches her to be confident and to stand up to bullies, even the resident mean girl Sally. But one day, Liz is gone and it’s rumored that she was African-American passing for white. The governor has forbidden interracial schools, and Marlee must put her new courage to the test as she maintains a secret friendship with Liz and joins an anti-segregationist organization. Readers will experience the impact of school segregation and the strong bonds of friendship from this powerful story.

A Month of Sundays by Ruth White.  October, 2011.  9780374399122.  Gr. 6-8.

Fourteen-year-old Garnet’s mother goes to Florida to look for a job, leaving Garnet with an Aunt she’s never met. While angry at her mother’s abandonment, Garnet comes to like living with her Aunt and her family in a large house full of the latest technology, including a television. Garnet learns that Aunt June has terminal cancer and agrees to accompany her to a new church each Sunday, where she meets the handsome son of an evangelical preacher. As Garnet settles into this new life, family secrets are reveled and a shocking ending will leave her reeling and questioning everything she’s learned about God.

My Family for the War by Anne C. Voorhoeve.  February, 2012.  9780803733602.  Gr. 7-10.

Even though Ziska and her family have been Protestant for two generations, they are still persecuted for having Jewish blood in their ancestry. When Ziska’s father is imprisoned, Ziska’s mother decides to place Ziska on the kindertransport, a train that took Jewish children secretly to England where they were adopted by English families. As Ziska arrives in England and is placed with a family, her named is changed to Frances, and she begins a new life with a new family. As she spends the next seven years in England, she is faced with trials, war, and the decision of whether to stay with her new family, or return to her old one.

My Name is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson.  October, 2011.  9780761459804.  Gr. 7-10.

Set in the 1960′s, this novel looks at a Catholic Indian boarding school in Alaska. Sacred Heart School includes children who are Eskimo, Native American, and white, and each group is prejudice against the others. Luke knows he will not be able to use his real name at his new school, his Eskimo name is too hard to pronounce, and he’s forbidden to speak his native language. As he spends his next four years at Sacred Heart, Luke and the other students learn to look past their differences and work together. Based on true stories, Edwardson takes a new look at boarding schools in our country’s history.

We have done several other posts focusing on historical fiction.  So if you want even more titles than these, go to the categories section on the side bar and select historical under fiction.

Lindsey L.

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