Book Recommendations

I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosin — Book Recommendation

Title: I Lived on Butterfly Hill Author: Marjorie Agosín Publisher: New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2014. Genre: Historical fiction Audience Age: 11 to 15 years Themes, topics: Home, exile, Chile, refugees Opening Sentences: The blue cloud finally opens—just when the bell rings to let the Juana Ross School out for the weekend. I’d …

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Heading into the New Year — and a book: Inventing the Rest of Our Lives by Suzanne Braun Levine

Near the end of 2016, I will turn 60. Although many people dread such a number, I am (oddly, perhaps) looking forward to it. Although my 50s brought great grief, they also brought great joy, learning, expansion of horizons, experiences beyond my hopes and dreams, and tremendous opportunities. I look forward to my 60s, wondering, …

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Words of Remembrance as November 11th Approaches

Many countries observe November 11th as a day of remembrance, honoring those who have served and sacrificed in wartime. In Canada, we call this day Remembrance Day. In the United States, it is Veterans Day. It is important that those people’s stories not be forgotten. There are other stories, as well — stories of families …

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George by Alex Gino — #WeNeedDiverseBooks

Title: George Author: Alex Gino Publisher: New York: Scholastic, 2015 Genre: Middle Grade fiction Audience Age: 9 to 12 years Themes/topics: Transgender middle schoolers, being true to who you are, bullying Opening Sentences: George pulled a silver house key out of the smallest pocket of a large red backpack. Mom had sewn the key in …

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International Dot Day is Nearly Here! September 15th-ish, 2015!

“Make your mark and see where it takes you.” With those encouraging, creativity-freeing words, Peter H. Reynolds gives us all a gentle challenge to unleash our own creativity and see where it takes us. If you have read Peter’s wonderful picture book The Dot, you will know that a little gentle encouragement from her teacher …

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Dramarama by E. Lockhart — book recommendation (part one)

[Edited to add: I will be revisiting this book in the fall. I want to tell you some of Demi’s story as well as Sadye’s. So watch for part 2 of this post in September!] Title: Dramarama Author: E. Lockhart Publisher: New York: Hyperion Paperbacks, 2007. Genre: YA Fiction Audience Age: 13 to 17 years …

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Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt — Book Recommendation

Title: Okay for Now Author: Gary D. Schmidt Publisher: New York: Sandpiper, 2011, 2013. Genre: Late Middle Grade, early YA Audience Age: 11 to 14 years old Themes/topics: growing up with an abusive parent, trying to fit in at a new school, teenage illiteracy, the power of art Opening Sentences: Joe Pepitone once gave me …

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