Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
Obsessed with homonyms, prime number, and routines, Rose Howard knows she is a bit different from other students in her school. Though Rose struggles with change due to high-functioning Autism, she is excited when her father finds a dog during a rain storm. When Rain gets lost, Rose must overcome her anxieties and try new things to find her beloved pet. Recommended for Grades 4-6
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm
Ellie’s grandfather is a scientist who has figured out how to turn back time. When he shows up at her house as a thirteen-year-old, Ellie gets to know him in a new way. He helps Ellie become more interested in science and scientists like Marie Curie and Jonas Salk. Having a teenage grandfather isn’t all fun, though. Ellie’s mom is often frustrated with her teenager dad and going to school with her grandfather is complicated. Has his science experiment gone too far? Recommended for grades 5-7
Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan
A prophecy, a curse, and a magical harmonica unite the tales of Otto, Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy across time and continents. As each child faces trials, they find courage through the music they create and survive some of history’s most difficult times. But, will their songs be enough to break the witches’ curse? Recommended for Grades 5-8
Saving Baby Doe by Danette Vigilante
When friends Lionel and Anisa rescue a baby abandoned in a Porta-Potty at a construction site, they don’t realize what they are getting themselves into. Instead of congratulations and support, they face suspicion and challenges for doing the right thing. Doctors, the police, and even Anisa’s mother believe that the teens are the baby’s parents. Then, there’s the question of how to make sure that Baby Doe has a stable family instead of troubled ones like their own. As they help Baby Doe have a brighter future, they face their own family issues and drama. Recommended for Grades 5-8
The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
After his mother dies, Matt receives an unexpected job offer -- to assist the funeral director who buried his mother. Though helping other grieving families lets him process his own feelings, with his mother gone and his father drinking too much, Matt’s feeling like he’s in over his head. That is, until he meets Lovey. She’s strong and smart and has overcome the obstacles in her way. Recommended for Grades 7 and Up
This Star Won't Go Out by Esther Grace Earl and Others
Entries from her diary and essays from family and friends introduce the reader to Esther Earl, a 16-year-old Nerdfighter who faced, and ultimately died from, thyroid cancer. Fans of The Fault in Our Stars will note that the novel was dedicated to Earl. A foreword by John Green introduces the book. Recommended for Grades 7 and Up
March Book 2 by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell
In this much-anticipated second volume of his graphic novel memoir, Congressman John Lewis continues to tell his personal story of struggle during the Civil Rights Movement. Recommended for Grades 8 and Up
The Harlem Hellfighters by Max Brooks
The 369th Infantry Division fought bravely in WWI. Though they faced some of the toughest battles of the war, they never lost a soldier. This fictionalized graphic novel account tells the story of this African American unit, known by the Germans as the Harlem Hellfighters, their heroism and the discrimination they faced at the hands of the people and government they fought to save. Graphic images of war may deter some readers. Recommended for Grades 10 and Up
Hitler's Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields by Wendy Lower
Though it is not often mentioned in the history of WWII, women played a significant role in Hitler’s administration in Germany -- not just as supporting figures for their fathers, husbands, and brothers, but as active workers in Nazi programs, including concentration camps. This nonfiction book tells about the 500,000 German women who worked in Nazi killing fields, their motivations and their lives. Recommended for Grades 10 and Up
