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Prairie Evers
Prairie Evers is a ten-year old girl who has been homeschooled by her grandmother until the family moves to upstate New York and her parents decide it’s time she goes to public school to be around children her own age. Prairie is content to stay at home on the farm…
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One for the Murphys
When Carly Connors in placed in the foster care system at the age of twelve after an incident at home with her mother and step-father she is blindsided. The Murphy family with whom she is placed is drastically different from how she grew up and although it takes a little…
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See You At Harry’s
See You At Harry’s written by Jo Knowles is a beautiful story filled with the complexities of middle school. Fern feels invisible at the age of 12 when her older siblings are beginning to distance themselves from childish games and her younger brother will not stop bothering her. Fern feels that…
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The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars written by John Green is one of those books you pick and you know that no matter what there will a point in the story that you will cry. Personally, I dislike sad books… I hate crying while I’m reading, but The Fault in Our…
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It’s Never Too Early to Think About the Newbery Award
In recent years, I’ve begun following the Newbery Award more closely. It’s extremely interesting because the Newbery Committee does not provide the public with a short list of books that they are looking at for receiving the award, but there are plenty of blogs circling the blogosphere that offer their own opinions…
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Wonder
Wonder written by R. J. Palacio is a beautifully written novel for middle school readers about being different – something almost everyone can relate to on some level. The main character is a 5th grade boy named August Pullman who was born with severe facial deformities that prevented him from going to school…
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Half Brother
Ben Tomlin was an only child for thirteen years, until the day his mother brought home Zan – an eight-day old chimpanzee. Ben’s parents plan on raising Zan as a human and to teach him American Sign Language (ASL) in order to see if Zan can acquire advanced language skills.…
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Eight Keys
Eight Keys written by Suzanne LaFleur is the coming-of-age story of a sixth grade girl named Elise whose entire world is changing and she can’t manage to keep up. She starts her 6th grade year at a new middle school where her locker partner bullies her, her best friend Franklin seems to…
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Love, Inc.
Zahra, Kali, and Syd met at group therapy for teens whose parents have divorced. These three teens are complete opposites with one thing in common – the same boyfriend! The girls combine forces to take revenge of the cheating scumbag and in doing so create their own consulting business for teens…
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Sparrow Road
Sparrow Road is a story of mystery, of intrigue, of interesting characters, and of connecting to a world that is not your own, or better yet can become a part of your own. Sheila O’Connor’s characters in Sparrow Road are the type of people I would love to spend time…