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Historical Fiction, Independent Reading

Brave Like My Brother by Marc Tyler Nobleman

Michelle

Grade 2

brave like my brother

It is 1942 during World War II. Joe is a soldier in the war, and he and his 10-year-old brother Charlie are writing letters to each other to keep in touch. Joe tells Charlie all about what it’s like to be a soldier, and Charlie knows that his brother is brave. However, when Joe is sent on a secret mission, Charlie learns just how brave his brother really is. Can Charlie be brave and fight his own bullies at home without his brother by his side? Read Brave Like My Brother by Marc Tyler Nobleman to find out.

Middle Grade Fiction

Confessions of a Closet Catholic by Sarah Darer Littman

Michelle

Grades 3-6

closet catholic

Justine Silver is Jewish, and her best friend Mary Catherine McAllister, is Catholic. One day, Justine decides to become Catholic like Mary Catherine. Instead of giving up chocolate for Lent like her friend, Justine gives up being Jewish. She confesses all of her sins to Father Ted, the stuffed bear in her closet, which she has turned into a confessional. When Justine’s grandmother suffers a stroke, she begins to question her decision to give up her Jewish faith. What will she ultimately decide?

Bilingual, Independent Reading

The Case of the Three Kings by Adilis Vicente

Michelle

Grades 2-3

case of the three kings

This is book two of The Flaca Files, and Detective Flaca is at it again! This time, Flaca is happy to receive all the tools that she needs for her case as Christmas gifts, but she is not happy that she also received plane tickets to Puerto Rico. She has a case to solve! However, she and her sister head to Puerto Rico anyway, to stay with their grandmother. There, she is faced with another case, the Case of the Three Kings. Three Kings Day is celebrated on January 6th, and involves three men who come around to leave gifts for children. This sounds suspicious to Flaca, so she decides to investigate. This bilingual book is great for young readers!

Bilingual, Independent Reading, Series

The Missing Chancleta and Other Top-Secret Cases by Adilis Vicente

Michelle

Grades 2-3

missing chancleta

This bilingual book is perfect for young readers! The story follows Flaca, whose chancleta, or flip flop, has gone missing. She is on a mission to find it ASAP! She suspects her family members are involved, and, armed with her notebook and magnifying glass, proceeds to interview each of them and get to the bottom of this. Included are other interwoven stories of her other cases, and readers have the pleasure of reading the book in both English and Spanish!

YA Fiction

Immaculate by Katelyn Detweiler

Michelle

Grades 9-12

immaculate

Seventeen-year-old Mina is at the top of her class, has a great boyfriend and is a fierce problem solver. She’s also a virgin and pregnant, and fears that this is one problem that she can’t figure out. She hasn’t had sex with her boyfriend, but no one believes her claims of virginity. What’s more, her boyfriend believes that she cheated on him, and she has no way of proving otherwise. Mina is labeled a liar and a fraud by most, but there are some people who are on her side and believe that her unborn baby is a true miracle.

Mystery, Series, YA Fiction

Hold Me Like a Breath by Tiffany Schmidt

Michelle

Grades 9-12

hold me like a breath

The first book in the Once Upon a Crime Family series, this story about organized crime is a must read! Penelope Landlow is the daughter of one of the three crime families who buy and sell body parts and control the black market for organ transplants. She feels safe within the walls of her own home, but she knows that no one in this business is safe forever. She is suddenly caught in between two of the families who are fighting for control over one another, and doesn’t know what to do to stop it.

Romance, YA Fiction

Snowbirds by Crissa-Jean Chapelle

Michelle

snowbirdsGrades 9-12

Every year, Alice goes to visit her best friend Lucy in Florida, and travels along with a throng of other Amish people to spend the winter in the south. This year is different, however, because Alice is in the middle of her Rumspringa, which is a period in every Amish young person’s life when they experience forbidden temptations and decide whether or not they will continue to adopt the Amish lifestyle. Lucy is part of a different sect, and struggles to keep up with Alice as she bounces around from party to party, living it up. Then one day, Alice vanishes, and Lucy blames herself for not keeping a closer watch on her friend instead of making out with the adorable Faron, who was shunned by his family and community. Will Lucy be able to find Alice before it’s too late?

Romance, YA Fiction

Even If the Sky Falls by Mia Garcia

Michelle

Grades 9-12

sky falls

Julie’s life is a mess, so she heads to New Orleans with her youth group to rebuild houses and get her mind off of everything. The trip seems like more trouble than it’s worth, though, because she can’t escape her overbearing team leader and project participants. She decides to ditch it all, and heads to Mardi Gras, where she meets a cute guy named Miles. Together they explore New Orleans, and her life is looking better than ever. Suddenly a hurricane takes an unexpected turn for the worse, and Julie is once again facing turmoil. Will things ever change?