The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis

Grades 5+
Historical Fiction

Deza has a close and loving family-even though it's the middle of the Great Depression, where there is no work, no money and not enough food.  When Deza's father leaves to find a job, the rest of the family must stick together to face extreme poverty with courage, wits, and even humor.



Author website: http://www.nobodybutcurtis.com/

Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle

Grades 4+
Novels in verse

After his mother was sent to jail, Tony is forced to live with an uncle he barely knows in Nevada.  Find out how a mountain home, an amazing search and rescue dog named Gabe, a Mountain School, and a Cowboy Church show Tony just what it means to be loved.


Author website: www.margaritaengle.com/‎

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Grades 5+
Fiction

Jack is put in a boarding school in Maine after the death of his mother and deployment of his father.  He finds friendship with Early, a very different kind of boy.  They embark on a camping adventure with exciting twists and turns that will keep you guessing.



Author website: www.clarevanderpool.com/‎

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson

Grades 3+
Nonfiction

Nelson Mandela was sent to jail in South Africa in 1964 for speaking out against laws that kept people apart based on their skin color.  He was held there for twenty-seven years.  Mandela continued his protest, even in prison, and became one of the most famous world leaders of our time.





Author website: https://www.kadirnelson.com/‎

Odessa Again by Dana Reinhardt

Grades 3+
Fantasy

Odessa discovers that she has the ability to go back in time to re-do the previous day.  This comes in handy as she goes back again and again to fix all sorts of small problems.  However, she finds that time is running out, and she has no idea how to solve her biggest problem....her father is getting remarried!


Author website: danareinhardt.net/‎

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Grades 5+
Fantasy

What's in a name?  Young Rump is convinced his name is incomplete and sets out to discover his true name and destiny.  Find out the real story of Rumpelstiltskin.



Author website: lieslshurtliff.com/

Wild Born (Spirit Animals book 1) by Brandon Mull

Grades 3+
Fantasy

Love a good fantasy?  Eager for some adventure? Join four twelve- year-olds from very different backgrounds who learn their destiny is more than they imagined.  Each one has a spirit animal they must work with to help save the world from dark forces.

Author website: http://brandonmull.com/site/