Mrs. Malecha Reads!

by K.A. Holt Lexile:  680 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Amanda Peabody is known as the girl who's sister died.  She can't forget Clara and shake the feelings of sadness that have followed her through the last 3 years.  On the first day of 8th grade she walks into her classroom and accidentally receives a letter that her sister wrote to herself in 6th grade.  Now Amanda feels like this is her chance to finish the things that her sister never got to do.  Is it a sign from Clara that will help Amanda stop hurting and move on with her life?

by Kathleen Lane Lexile:  820 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Maggie double and triple checks the locks on all of her doors and windows every night to make sure that she and her family are safe.  There is a murderer loose in their neighborhood and she doesn't want him or any other danger to come her way.  But Maggie is slowly learning that there are things that she can and can't control.  Starting middle school is going to happen whether she wants it to or not.  Her friends are going to change whether she wants them to or not.  Maggie is struggling to come up with a plan that will keep everyone and everything she loves, safe.  If she can do that, everything will be just fine.

by Josie Angelini Lexile:  820 Genre:  Historical Fiction Annie lives in a house with her parents, 8 older siblings and a whole bunch of dark secrets.  Annie finds that it is difficult to figure out who she is and what her destiny is supposed to be.  Her sisters seem focused on making her seem as small as possible and her parents barely know she exists.  But Annie is smart and determined and the older she gets, the more she realizes that her family does not behave the way other families do.  Will she have the strength to confront her family's secrets in order to find her own way through life?

by Leslie Connor Lexile:  310 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Mason Buttle doesn't have an easy life.  He is the biggest, sweatiest kid in the 7th grade and struggles with reading and writing.  He has quickly become one of the biggest targets of bullies at his school.  Mason did have a best friend - Benny Kilmartin - but be died under suspicious circumstances on Mason's property.  The police are still trying to figure out what happened and since Mason was the last person to see Benny alive, they are continually asking him to tell them what he remembers.  Now Mason has made a new friend, Calvin, and the two of them team up against the bullies who are tormenting them.  But one day, Calvin disappears and the police again want to find out what Mason knows.  Mason feels like everyone is out to get him, but really, all he wants to do is be a good friend.

by Eric Litwin Art by Tom Lichtenheld Groovy Joe is SO much fun!  He loves sing and dance so he decides to have a disco party!  But there are dogs who show up to the party that Joe has never met.  But does he worry?  Goodness no!  Have some fun and sing along with Groovy Joe as he counts down to the big party.  You might even learn some math along the way!

by Anna Staniszewski Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes Ben is so excited!  He is going to adopt the best dog in the world.  But he's having a hard time finding just the right one.  Then, along comes Sadie.  Sadie does not look like your average dog.  In fact, she looks more like a dinosaur.  Ben is determined to turn Sadie into the best pet ever!

by Dan Yaccarino Morris the Mole is the littlest mole and none of his older brothers will listen to him.  The family is running low on food so they are all busy digging down.  But Morris has a new idea...what if they dug up instead?  Morris the Mole is about to discover a whole new world.