Mira has ONE big goal for her 6th grade year: start talking at school. A talented stop motion film producer, Mira is comfortable creating in her bedroom/studio/sanctuary. But social situations cause anxiety and the inability to speak. A serious story with many comical moments. Readers gain insight into situational mutism.
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Living in California, 8th graders Finn and Rabbit are not strangers to wildfire danger. It's not IF, rather WHEN. And, when one devastates their community, these two friends think they know the cause and are ready to use their voice to tell others. Will the community listen?
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Overcome with grief over his father's death, 7th grader Finn is given a chance to make amends for an act of vandalism by hiking the 46 highest peaks of the Adirondack Mountains.
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Zarina is a young girl navigating challenges of identity, family and culture during the political turmoil of the Partition in 1947 when India gained independence from the British. What does Zarina and her family do when they're told they no longer belong in their ancestral country, one they deeply love?
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Welcome back to a new season! Here, I shine a light on the top three listened to episodes of ALL TIME!
Want a sneak peak? Okay! Ep. 46 Solito by Javier Zamora, Ep. 1 Unsettled by Reem Faruqi, and Ep. 6 This Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda
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Inspired by a true story in the 1970s. A group of high school girls just wanted to play basketball, like the boys. There is no funding and no fans in the stands, no uniforms, no coach at first, and no bus for their away games. With plenty of determination, the "Lady Bears" show how a small group of young people can make a big difference.
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In Whale Eyes, author James Robinson and illustrator Brian Rea collaborate to provide readers with an interactive experience--inviting them to experience how James’ "Whale Eyes" work. Robinson empowers readers to appreciate the impact of words, helps them confront the discomfort of recognizing disability, and ultimately fosters meaningful human connections.
A prime suspect for burning down the house of a long-time bully, Ezra find comfort in learning his Ojibwe ancestral traditions of hunting and trapping in the wilderness. There is plenty of action, mystery, and suspense to keep YA readers turning pages.
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Discover a simple, special method to recommend books that requires NO time on your part while making a significant impact on readers' next book choices!
Spark Creativity Podcast interview with Betsy and Spark Creativity on Instagram
Current top pick for a novel in verse: Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi podcast
It's 1913. Teen Matilda Young wonders if she's brave enough to join the many suffragists fighting for something so simple: women's right to vote in the U.S. The work is difficult, exhausting, and exhilarating. While we know the final outcome (ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920), Matilda serves as a reminder: take action for what matters.
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8th grader Ajay is navigating being the only Sri Lankan in his new community. He has numerous family rules to uphold, and now he's stolen a candy bar that makes him a millionaire.
He has to tell one lie after another in attempts to not disappoint his parents, deal with a bully, make friends, and possibly claim the life-changing prize money.
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7th grader Vale is THE best athlete in her gym. After a devastating accident, Vale is determined to come back stronger than ever as she strives to realize her dream of being a pro international fencer.
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Surrounded by her supportive family, ten-year old Cooper is growing up in 1963, a time marked by the Civil Rights Movement. She's dealing with issues close to home like a bully and racism plus tragic events in the U.S. like JFK's assassination and the bombing at a Black church in Alabama. Cooper's story resonates with the past and the present.
On 13 year old Sage's birthday, her best friend was hit and killed by a speeding driver as she crossed the street. . . on her way to Sage's. Now, Sage is filled with grief and guilt. This emotionally resonant novel, written in verse, is an honest and raw telling of living with the rollercoaster of grief.
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In this middle grade graphic memoir, Jay Jay has grown up with an incarcerated dad, and now he's home. Dad is a program developer and wants to use technology to connect kids with incarcerated parents. When stumped by a programming problem, he turns to his brilliant, math loving daughter, Jay Jay, for help.
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Sena's life on his farm in Ghana is difficult, and he'd do anything to help his family. A story of survival, human trafficking (a world-wide crisis), filled with adventure and anguish, heartbreak, and hope.
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Geetha's important story will be loved by middle grade readers with its relatable topics such as immigrating to a new and very different country (from India to the U.S.), bullying, friendship, music, the healing power of nature, and young people who strive to make an incredible difference in their community.
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Celebrating 100 episodes with Alice Hoffman's When We Flew Away A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary. In this fictional account grounded in historical accuracy, middle grade readers meet Anne, a bright, hopeful young girl living freely in a world without fear, before the world starts to unravel, urgently. Start with this novel, then read The Diary of Anne Frank.
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Rex Ogle's memoir, Free Lunch, is his first of three. Here, as a sixth grader, Rex endures domestic abuse. School is safer, yet not without the struggles that come from living in poverty. Rex's honest account of tough topics with glimmers of hope make this a favorite of many readers.
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12 year-old Effie is deaf and uses ASL (American Sign Language), but nobody in her family knows ASL, nor do they care to learn. Effie is courageous and through trusted people, friendship, poetry, and deer, she comes to know herself.
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