The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert In a predominately white California beach town, the only two black seventh-graders, Alberta and Edie, find hidden journals that uncover family secrets and speak to race relations in the past.
Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono On her 13th birthday, a young witch named Kiki must fly away from home to a new city to find her niche in life. Accompanied by her chatty cat, Jiji, she starts a flying service and discovers lots of fun-filled escapades and meets plenty of new friends.
The Littlest Voyageur by Margi Preus In 1792, Jean Pierre Petit Le Rouge, a squirrel, eager for adventure, stows away in the canoe of a group of voyageurs, unaware of what they are traveling so far to trade. Includes pronunciation guide, historical notes, and a map.
As American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar When a racist incident rocks her small Michigan town, eleven-year-old Lekha must decide whether to speak up or stay silent, even as she struggles to navigate her life at home, where she can be herself, and at school, where she is teased about her Indian culture.
Dragon Ops by Mari Mancusi Ian is thrilled to beta test the mixed-reality version of his favorite game on a private island, but unless he, his sister, Lilli, and their cousin Derek defeat the dragon, it will be game over.
Eight Princesses and a Magic Mirror by Natasha Farrant A magic mirror reveals itself to diverse princesses when each needs it most, illuminating how their power comes not from titles or beauty, but from inner strength. Beautiful color illustrations.
A Drop of Hope by Keith Calabrese Times are tough in the small town of Cliffs Donnelly, Ohio especially for some of the kids at Rod Serling Middle School, but then an old dry well suddenly begins to grant wishes, or so it seems--three of the students know what is happening (but do they really?), because sometimes a good deed can make magic happen.
The Brave by James Bird Collin has a unique condition that leads him to count every letter spoken to him. It's a quirk that makes him a prime target for bullies. He goes to live in Minnesota with his mother, an Ojibwe who lives on a reservation. Collin's quirk is matched by that of his neighbor, Orenda, a girl who lives mostly in her treehouse and believes she is turning into a butterfly. With Orenda's help, Collin works hard to overcome his challenges.
Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened by Emily Blejwas In small-town Wicapi, Minnesota, in 1991, twelve-year-old Justin struggles to pick up the pieces of his life after the unexpected death of his father.
I Can Make this Promise by Christine Day All her life, Edie has known that her mom was adopted by a white couple. So, no matter how curious she might be about her Native American heritage, Edie is sure her family doesn't have any answers. Until the day when she and her friends discover a box hidden in the attic--a box full of letters signed "Love, Edith," and photos of a woman who looks just like her.
Mary Underwater by Shannon Doleski Gaining courage from Joan of Arc, fourteen-year-old Mary Murphy navigates the waters of Chesapeake Bay in a submersible built with her friend, Kip, escaping the home where her violent father has just returned from prison. Includes facts about domestic violence and submersibles.
The Water Bears by Kim Baker Last year, Newt Gomez survived a bear attack. This year, he finds an unusual bear statue that just might grant wishes. Newt has a wish: while he loves his home on eccentric Murphy Island, he wants to go to middle school on the mainland, where he won’t be haunted by dreams of the attack and the object of pity.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
One Year at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks Winning a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school, Juniper endures bullying from a popular queen bee before investigating rumors about a mythical beast in the nearby forest. Graphic Novel.
The Phantom Twin by Lisa Brown Isabel and Jane are the Extraordinary Peabody Sisters, conjoined twins in a traveling carnival freak show--until an ambitious surgeon tries to separate them and fails, causing Jane's death. Isabel has lost an arm and a leg but gained a ghostly companion: her dead twin. Graphic Novel.