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The Fat Boy Chronicles
Story about an obese teenager and the bullying he endures through high school. Parellel plots include a best friend with an alcoholic mother and abusive father, and a youth group member who is a "cutter." In the end, Jimmy finds his faith,loses 60 pounds and his life changes. The whole story is chronicled through a series of journal entries. High School Buchanan, M., & Lang, D. (2010). The fat boy chronicles. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. -
A Fault in our Stars
Hazel & Gus bond though their cancer support group & become fast friends. Through their friendship they share a book that has no ending. Wanting to find out how the story ends, Gus uses his Make a Wish a trip to Amsterdam to find the author. Hazel &Gus leave dissappointed but closer than ever. Then Gus's cancer takes over his body & Hazel stays by his side until the end, even then Gus has a surprise waiting. Young Adult Green, J. (2012).The fault in our stars. New York:Thorndike Press -
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
A new student is treated poorly by her classmates because of how she dresses. Later when she moves a young girl contemplates her role in how she made the girl feel. Perfect for late elementary age students. Citation: Woodson, J. (2012). Each kindness. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books. -
Unspoken: A Story From the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole
A wordless book showing the bravery of a young girl during the Civil War as she finds a runaway slave hiding in her barn. The book chronicles what the girl did to aid the runaway as the troops looked for her. Content good for grades 4,5 and 6. Citation: Cole, H., & Kostiw, M. (2012). Unspoken. New York,NY: Scholastic Press. -
I funny: A Middle School Story by James Patterson
A disabled student takes his comedy show on the road despite the lack of support from his guardians, including a "brother" who is bullying him. The books shows the different stages of fear, bravery, courage and shame that Jamie goes through trying to deal with a change in families while being confined to a wheelchair. Middle School, Late Elementary Citation: Patterson, J., Grabenstein, C., & Park, L. (2012). I funny. New York: Little Brown and Company. -
Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner
A mostly wordless book about a cat who finds a toy that happens to be an alien spacecraft. The aliens team up with some insects in a revolt and escape but Mr. Wuffles just keeps bringing them right back down to earth, literally. Book for younger elementary grades K-2 Citation: Wiesner, D. (2013). Mr. Wuffles! New York: Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. -
Timmy Failure: Now Look What You've Done
Timmy & his pet polar bear, Total, own Total Failure Detective Agency. In this book Timmy battles the ever lazy Total while trying to solve a school mystery. Missed deadlines, secret admirers, crazy aunts, parrots & being kicked out of not 1, but 2 schools, add to the laughs and twists of this book. In the end, Rollo helps convince Timmy that the contest was rigged & Timmy takes over as only Timmy can. Grades 4-5
Pastis, S. (2014). Now look what you've done. Somerville, Mass.:Candlewick Press -
Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky by Sandra Davis
This historial fiction story follows the Imano family after they are separated following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Their father is arrested and the rest of the family is sent to an evacuee camp in Colorado. Perfect for late elementary and early middle school. Citation: Dallas, S. (2014). Red berries, white clouds, blue sky. Ann Arbor, MI:Sleeping Bear Press -
Mix it Up! by Herve Tullet
A cute,interactive story showing children what happens when primary colors are mixed together. Kids are encouraged by the author to touch, tilt and shake the book creating a love for literacy. Made for grades ECE-Kindergarten. Citation: Tullet, H., & Franceschelli, C. (2014).Mix it up!.San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.
