Crossing the Wire

Crossing the Wire by will Hobbs JP HOB—Victor Flores is only 15 when falling crop prices threaten his family with starvation. He heads north to attempt to “cross the wire” from Mexico into the United States so he can find work and send money home.  In Victor’s journey he must face danger, freezing cold, scorching heat, hunger and dead ends.

The Dream Jar

The Dream Jar by Lindan Lee Johnson E JOH—This is the perfect book to get your littlest friend to dream some wonderful dreams. Who doesn’t want to dream a “dreamy dream” every night? Sometimes you need a dream jar to fill up with happy thoughts to help you have magical dreams and not worry about sea monsters. This book offers beautiful, wistful illustrations that put you on a sweet path to dreamland. You may even want to make your own dream jar, just like the book.

After Ever After

After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick J PLAYAWAY F SON—(The follow-up to Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie.) Eight years after his diagnosis, Jeff Alper is now cancer-free, and he and his best friend Tad, a fellow eighth-grader and cancer survivor, push each other to be better people. Despite dealing with memory issues and a limp, and not having his older brother Steven around for support, Jeff shows his incredible strength as he faces difficult new challenges and loss head-on.

Cirque Du Freak

Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan J SHA—Darren Shan has always been fascinated by spiders so when he and his friend Steve “Leopard” win tickets to the Cirque du Freak and see the very deadly spider Madame Octa performing, he decides he must have her. After a great catastrophe, Darren makes a deal with Madame Octa’s owner in order to save someone’s life. The only problem is he made a deal to become a vampire’s assistant!

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume JP BLU—If you’ve ever had a younger brother or sister, you will enjoy this story of Peter and his demanding two-year-old brother, Fudge, and the ever increasing trouble he makes and becomes for his brother.

Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock

Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock retold by Eric A. Kimmel E 398.2 KIM—Anansi the Spider uses a strange moss-covered rock to trick all the other forest animals into giving him whatever he wants until the day Bush Deer decides to teach him a lesson.

The Amazing Life of Birds: (the Twenty-day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leech)

The Amazing Life of Birds: (the Twenty-day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leech) by Gary Paulsen J PAU— In this journal Duane Homer Leech describes his observations of a newly hatched bird, nesting in his windowsill while interweaving his own story and challenges he faces while confronting puberty.