Wonderstruck

Wonderstruck
By Brian Selznick

This thick, heavy book may look intimidating at first glance--but you will race through Wonderstruck, both because the plot is so compelling and because half of it is told through pictures!
I enjoyed trying to figure out the connections between the text-only story of a boy who just lost his mother (and his hearing, from a lightning strike) and the drawings of a deaf girl, many years before, who runs away from home to New York City.
Full of curious characters, unusual museum artifacts, and unexpected friendships, Wonderstruck is an unconventional half-graphic-novel you will no doubt enjoy!

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Young Readers Edition

by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

What an inspiring story! What an impressive young man!
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is the true story of how William Kamkwamba--a young teenager driven by curiosity--built his own wind turbine out of junk to generate electricity for his home in rural Malawi, a small country in Africa. Not only did he succeed with this challenging project (and several others), he overcame many obstacles: like being kicked out of school because his family couldn't afford to pay, and a severe famine in his country that left him and his entire village starving for many months.
And, by the way, this boy completely taught himself the science necessary to build a windmill, with books from a small library...and no access to the Internet.

The False Prince

The False Prince
By Jennifer A. Nielsen

California Young Reader Medal
2014-2015 Middle School Winner!

I had a hard time putting this book down once I'd started it--and the twists and turns in the story really surprised me!

Four similar-looking orphan boys, selected and purchased by a wealthy and powerful nobleman, are forced to compete with each other to be the new--false--prince who will be installed on the throne. The royal family has been disappeared, the kingdom is on the verge of war, and the dubious noblemen has a bizarre plan that may prevent war...or maybe he's just planning his own path to power...?

Kepler's Dream

Kepler's Dream
by Juliet Bell

Unhappy Ella, 11 years old, is moving from California to New Mexico for the summer to live with a grandmother she's never met (or maybe she met her once, as a baby, who remembers?). Ella's mom has cancer, and needs a very serious blood treatment in Seattle, so Ella will be on her own--since her dad is pretty much never around.
While in her eccentric grandmother's isolated house, Ella learns a lot about a special, old book that her grandfather loved--he was an astronomer who died during a fishing accident when Ella's father was a young boy. When the book, Sonmium, written in 1608 by Johannes Kepler (!) goes missing, Ella is determined to unravel the mystery along with a new friend, Rosie.

Harlem Hellfighters

Harlem Hellfighters 
by J. Patrick Lewis and Gary Kelley

This gorgeous and intense picture book tells the true story--in free-verse poetry--of the 369th Infantry Regiment during World War I.
In 1917 a brave group of 2,000 black Americans enlisted and  became known as the Harlem Hellfighters; some of these young men played instruments in a famous band that brought the music of Harlem, New York, straight into the war raging in France.
Faced with racism in the United States, the Harlem Hellfighters returned victorious when the war was over, helping to make progress towards equal rights for all African Americans--that were still a long time coming.



Below, Lt. James Reese Europe, famous jazz
band leader, back with the 369th Regiment.
More photos and information about the Harlem Hellfighers at: www.archives.gov/education/lessons/369th-infantry

Shadows of Sherwood

 
Shadows of Sherwood: A Robyn Hoodlum Adventure
By Kekla Magoon

I've always loved the tales of Robin Hood, so when I heard about this brand-new series with a dystopian, urban twist--the Robyn Hoodlum Adventures--I was pretty excited!
This first book in the series, Shadows of Sherwood, introduces Robyn, a street-smart teen with a daring taste for adventure, and her eclectic merry band of new friends. From a mixed-race family of political importance and privilege, Robyn suddenly finds herself alone and terrorized one night when her parents are disappeared by the very creepy Sheriff Marissa Mallet.
Nott City is changing, and not for the better; an evil governor, Ignomus Crown, has taken power and Sheriff Mallet will stop at nothing to please him. Innocent people are being arrested all over town, and Robyn finds herself at the top of the Most Wanted list once she begins to bravely help the poor and needy citizens of the city....
Stay tuned for more from Kekla Magoon!

Chained

Chained 
By Lynn Kelly

In northern India, Hastin lives with his mother and younger sister in a small village. After his sister contracts a serious illness from mosquitoes, Hastin decides to leave home to work off his family's debt for the hospital bill. Unfortunately, the circus master who "hires" Hastin has no intention of actually paying him anything, and treats him terribly. Hastin's job as the elephant keeper for a baby elephant he helped trap is the only thing that provides any comfort; he and the elephant develop a strong bond, and protect each other from the cruelty of the awful circus master.
Hastin must escape and get back to his home--but he can't leave the young elephant at the circus...he must figure out a way to save them both. It seems impossible!
A real page-turner for animal lovers.