Christine's new friend Moon is everything she is not - confident, funny, unconventional. But when Moon starts becoming more popular Christine feels threatened and does something mean. Unfortunately that coincides with the discovery of Moon's serious medical condition. Can Christine find a way to apologize and still be friends with Moon?
This was pretty standard fare. My students will like it but I find it a bit basic.
Red has been in foster care for about 3 years. Her mom is in prison and her grandmother died of cancer. Her placements have been terrible so far but her latest - with Celine and Jackson - finally feels like home. She helps with their petting zoo, she has friends, and she is growing to love them. When her mom gets out early though, Red is hopeful that they will soon be reunited, especially in light of Celine's cancer that is freaking her out. Can her mom truly keep things together so they can live together again?
This was a very touching story and one that, unfortunately, too many of my students will relate to.
Jameela dreams of being a journalist and when she becomes an editor of the school paper she is thrilled. But life has been tough at home. First her dad lost his job and ended up having to go overseas for work. Then her younger sister ended up with lymphoma. To top it off there is always drama with her sisters and now a boy, Ali, is distracting her. Can Jameela figure out the truth of everyone's story and how to contribute in a meaningful way?
The afterward and promotional material talk about how this is inspired by Little Women. I never would have picked up on it without seeing those bits of info. It is a decent story with good diversity.
I loved this so much. I listened to it on audio and was chuckling a lot.
Sal has a unique ability. He can see into and even get things from parallel universe, like say a chicken that he could put in the bully's locker. But his gift comes with a price - he could be breaking the universe.
With the help of his new friends Gabi he learns how to navigate the multiverse and even help some friends in the process.
This was a rollicking good time.
Hundreds of years ago the McNeil family became cryptid hunters. But traveling around the world in search of cryptids can get expensive. So, along the way, they added hoaxes to their repertoire. Run a hoax for someone, get paid, go on a real hunt, repeat. But lately, Grayson's dad has just done hoaxes and he hates it. He wants his family to have a legit career and he wants to be able to share it with the world.
When his dad agrees to a Grand Slam of 4 hoaxes in just a few days everyone is super stressed but when his dad and grandfather disappear it is up to Grayson and his brother to save the family business. Can they defeat the evil rival hoax family and can Grayson find a way to combine his passions with hoaxing?
This was a lot of fun. Good dynamics, good cryptids, good action. I liked it.
Ebony-Grace has been sent to stay with her dad over the summer while things settle down with her grandfather. She is not happy about it at all especially as it interferes with the imaginary world she and her grandfather have created. Her grandfather works for NASA and has instilled in Ebony a love of Star Trek (Uhura especially) and other science fiction. The problem is, her imagination can make her seem weird to others so it's hard for her to make friends. Can she save the world and get back to her grandfather?
The theme of growing up - especially growing up at different rates - was strong in this. I loved the setting of Harlem in the mid 80s. I had a hard time with the grandfather subplot because it was never fully explained what happened to him. I felt the ending was really abrupt as well.
More than anything else Amara wants to go to NYC with her dad for her birthday. It becomes even more important when she learns about a family history project for school and she realizes how little she knows - in fact, she didn't even know her dad and grandfather haven't spoken for 12 years (the year she was born, the year her grandma died - coincidence?). When her parents finally agree to let her go Amara takes the opportunity to learn more about her family, her roots, and maybe bring healing to her father and grandfather.
This was a good story about family relationships, healing, and also some good African American heritage especially in the Harlem area.
