Frostfire

FROSTFIRE by Amanda Hocking. t. Martin's Griffin's, 2014.

Bryn is a troll, but
She is mixed blood so others
Distrust abilities.

NO PARKING AT THE END TIMES by Bryan Bliss. Greenwillow, 2015.

Is the end that near?
Abby's parents think ti's true
But Abby has doubts.

100 Sideways Miles

100 SIDEWAYS MILES by Andrew Smith. Simon & Schuster, 2014.

Finn, Cade, Julia
Circumstances dictate their
Accidental ties.

Hero Complex

HERO COMPLEX by Maegaux Foley. Soho Teen, 2014.

Was it suicide?
Or perhaps murder? Devon
Needs to get answers.

Laughing at my Nightmare

LAUGHING AT MY NIGHTMARE by Shane Burcaw. Roaring Brook, October 2014.

Do not assume you
Know about Shane until you
Read his own story.

Forget Me

FORGET ME by K.A. Harrington. Putnam, August 2014.

Her boyfriend is dead.
Or is he? What is the truth?
Morgan must find out.

Vivian Apple at the End of the World

VIVAN APPLE AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Katie Coyle. HMH, January 2015

Rapture takes parents?
Vivian does not believe
And seeks an answer.

The Scar Boys

THE SCAR BOYS by Len Vlahos. Read by Lincoln Hoppe. Listening Library, 2014.


Music can save lives.
Just ask Harry Jones who finds
Healing through music.

Girls Like Us

GIRLS LIKE US by Gail Giles. Candlewick Press, 2013.

Quincy, Biddy, friends?
Forced to live together they
Forge a deep friendship.

Looking for Jack Kerouac

LOOKING FOR JACK KEROUAC by Barbara Shoup. Lacewing Press, August 2014.

Paul meets Kerouac
In the pages of a book
And then face to face.

The Question of Miracles

THE QUESTION OF MIRACLES by Elana Arnold. HMH, 2015 (February).

Iris and her family have moved to Oregon where she knows no one and where it seems to rain every single day. She is more than unhappy; she is miserable. She is still grieving the loss of her best friend, Sarah. She would give anything for a miracle to happen so that she could see her friend again. And then Iris meets Boris who is himself a sort of miracle. Boris, the mouth-breather, becomes Iris' friend. But Iris still wonders how some people can receive miracles while others do not. This incredible book examines faith, friendship, and family realistically for middle grade readers. Ladder to COALTOWN JESUS and GODLESS.

Mystery!

UNDER THE EGG by Laura Marx Fitzgerald. Dial, 2014.

When Theo's grandfather is dying he whispers to her, "under the egg." Theo does search under the egg and eventually discovers a painting hidden underneath another painting. It looks ancient and perhaps famous, but who can Theo trust to help her? Her mother is off in her own little world, and her grandfather was the one who took care of the family. How are they to survive? Enter a new neighbor, a friend to Theo who is determined to help. CHASING VERMEER is a logical connection for the book. Also consider adding in the Red Blazer Girl Mysteries.

Voices that must be heard

SILVER PEOPLE by Margarita Engle. HMH, 2014.

Newbery Honor Medalist Engle tells the story of the building of the Panama Canal in her latest novel in verse. Using voices of some of the workers (the silver people as they were paid with silver), some of the inhabitants of the forest that was being lost in the construction efforts, as well as some of the local voices. Alternating among these different perspectives, Engle provides readers an in-depth view of the issues surrounding the construction. The novel could easily be adapted as readers theater with students giving voice to the different characters of the novel.

Logical tie-ins include Engle's other books such as THE SURRENDER TREE, LIGHTNING DREAMER, and FIREFLY LETTERS. Consider building a unit or ladder with novels in verse to include Helen Frost, Eirann Corrigan, Paul Janeczko, and Sonya Sones.

Ah, grasshopper

GRASSHOPPER JUNGLE by Andrew Smith. Dutton, 2014.

From the glowing neon green cover with fluorescent yellow accent, this book demands attention. Attention must be paid. Just ask Austin and Robby, two teens who skate the Grasshopper Jungle, who are the target of some bullies, whose parents have checked out for various reasons, and who look to each other for friendship and comfort. Their nemeses, the town bullies, accidentally unleash a virus of Unstoppable Soldiers, giant praying mantises that want only to devour and reproduce. End of the world scenario? Let Austin, the self-appointed historian, tell you in his own inimitable style. Smith has created a science fiction world firmly grounded in the lives of teen boys, one populated by horrendous creatures not all of which are insects. Suspenseful, hilarious, dark, and most of all unique in its approach to telling the story.

How to save a life

THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE by Leila Sales. FSG, 2013.

Elise seems to have never fit in. Despite spending the summer studying fashion and music and trying to copy styles, she is still an outcast. And the target of some of the mean girls at school. Elise considers suicide, even going so far as to pick up the sharp blade and cut herself. Her failed attempt makes her a bigger target than ever. Her only escape seems to be heading out at night and walking until she is tired enough to fall asleep. And then she discovers an underground party, a couple of girls who seem to accept her for herself, and a DJ who lets Elise try out her skills. Maybe things are looking up?

Noggin

NOGGIN by John Corey Whaley. Atheneum, 2014.

Travis remembers going to sleep; that is all. When he awakes, five years have passed. Travis is alive and well for the first time in a long time. The experiment to remove his head and ultimately attach it to a body not dying of cancer is a success. Well, successful from a scientific perspective. But for Travis and his family and friends, success might be too optimistic a word. How does a teen go about reforming connections to friends who are now 5 years older than he is? What will high school be like when he returns? Will the endless stream of curiosity seekers tire of following him?

Ethical Dilemmas

HEARTBEAT by Elizabeth Scott. Harlequin Teen, 2014.

Emma's life seemed about perfect. Her mother and stepfather are planning the arrival of Emma's sibling. Emma loves her stepfather. And then the unthinkable happens. Emma's mother collapses. She is being kept alive (though she is officially brain dead) so that perhaps the child she is bearing might have a chance outside her womb. Emma spends each afternoon visiting her mother, telling her about her day at school, denying the cold hard fact of her mother's death. Perhaps Caleb, a fellow student with a bad boy reputation, is just what Emma needs.

Grief

COALTOWN JESUS BY RON KOERTGE. Candlewick, 2013.

Walker is not dealing well with the loss of his older brother, Noah. His mother is wrapped in her own grief. Walker stands outside one evening and asks for help for his mother. When he returns to his bedroom, Jesus is there waiting for him. In spare free verse, the give and take between Walker and Jesus reveals the heart of loss, the true nature of grief, and the power of faith. Koertge's language is rich and powerful. In a phrase he can create an image, summon a memory, or provide assurance that things do get better.

Fallout

FALLOUT by Todd Strasser. Candlewick, September 2013.


Strasser opens his newest offering for teens with this question by asking (and answering) a what if question: what if Russia had dropped the bomb in the 60s? When Scott's father builds a bomb shelter, the rest of the neighbors think he is crazy. No one is going to drop the bomb; there is too much for both countries to lose after all. But the unthinkable happens and Scott, along with his parents and younger brother head into the shelter. Frantic neighbors begin to crowd in hoping to gain access. The shelter is built for 4 and only supplied with a minimum of food for the time they must stay inside to be safe from the fallout. But now there are 6. How will they all survive? Strasser maintains the suspense by switching back and forth between events in Scott's life before the attack and then scenes in the shelter itself. Kids today never experienced the duck and cover drills, never sat and saw the threats played out on television. To them, this is history, a history they should know.

If You Find Me

IF YOU FIND ME by Emily Murdoch. St. Martins Griffin, 2013.

Carey and Jenessa have only known the rusted camper as home for almost as long as either of them can recall. Carey knows that they ran away from their father a long time ago. Mom wanted to keep them off the grid for their own protection, and so they live in the woods without electricity or running water. Somehow they manage. But now Mom has been gone for an awfully long time, and the food is running short. Carey worries about Jenessa who rarely speaks, How will they survive?

Suddenly, there is a man approaching the camper accompanied by a woman from social services. Carey and Jenessa are to be handed over to Carey's father who has been searching for them ever since Carey's mother abducted her when she was little. Now, they have a father (one Carey is not sure she can trust) and a stepmother and stepsister, too. There will be many changes hurtling toward Carey as the truth is slowly revealed. Great pacing, realistic characters and emotions will draw readers in and hold them to the final page.