Mrs. Malecha Reads!

by Diane Guerrero, with Erica Moroz Lexile:  730 Genre:  Memoir Growing up, Diane always knew that her family's situation could change at a moment's notice.  One wrong move or misstep could draw the attention of immigration officials.  Most of the time, Diane was able to push these "what it" worries to the side and go about her business of growing up.  But when her parents are deported and she finds herself completely alone, she has to make a tough decision.  Does she go to Columbia with her parents or stay in the United States and continue on with her education while relying on other family members and friends?  Neither option will be without risk and hard work, but Diane is the only one who can figure out what is the best pathway to her future.

by Jason Reynolds Lexile:  570 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Lu is one of the co-captains of the Defenders track team and running is his life.  They mostly accept his differences, Lu is an albino, and he feels comfortable with his teammates.  His parents have just shared surprising news with him; that he is going to be a big brother.  Lu isn't sure how he feels about this news and then he learns a secret about his father's past that makes him question who he is and what he stands for.  Growing up is tough, both on and off the track...is Lu up to the challenge?

by Jason Reynolds Lexile:  700 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Sunny Lancaster has always contributed to his track team by winning the mile.  But on day, he decided that he was done running.  So he stopped.  Right in the middle of his race.  His coach and dad don't understand, but Sunny is just tired of running.  His mom died the day he was born and ever since that moment, his dad has been grooming him to be the best runner so that he can achieve things on the track that his mom was unable to finish.  Will Sunny and his dad finally be able to move forward and plan a future that makes them both happy?

by Emma Steinkellner Lexile:  GN390 Genre:  Fantasy, Graphic Novel Moth has always been fascinated with witches so at age 13 when she learns that she is part witch, everything seems to make sense.  Her mother reveals that she is a witch, but no longer practices magic or wants anything to do with being a witch and Moth's mother wants her to choose the same path.  But Moth can't help but wonder about the secrets her mother is keeping from her about her family.  If she knew more about their past, would it make the present and her future easier?  Moth is determined to learn all she can about magic and witchcraft.

by Kate DiCamillo Lexile:  480 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Beverly has run away from home lots of times, but this time she is leaving for good.  Buddy, her dog, has died and her relationship with her mom has deteriorated to the point that she just wants to get out of town.  So she leaves, gets a job at a fish restaurant, moves in with Iola Jenkins, who needs someone to drive her car, and starts to make a new life for herself.  But like with most things in Beverly's life, this is only temporary.  But will her new friends help her see that she has value and worth and a whole lot to offer the world?

by Deborah Heiligman Genre:  Informational, Memoir When German bombs came to England, many parents feared for the safety of their children.  Some parents decided to send them out of the country in hopes that they would avoid the dangers of the war.  In September of 1940, the passenger ship, SS City of Bernares set out with 100 children on board with hopes of getting them safely to Canada.  They knew there were risks as they were sailing through waters there German submarines were lurking.  One moment the ship was filled with the happy sounds of children laughing and playing and then next moment, after a torpedo struck the side of the ship, everyone was in a fight for survival.  This is the true story of the sinking of the SS City of Bernares .

by Renee Watson Lexile:  750 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Amara just has one wish...she wants to go to New York City and meet her father's family.  Her parents keep coming up with excuses about why she can't go, but Amara is persistent.  She has so many questions...why haven't her father and grandfather spoken in 12 years?  Does it have something to do with Amara being born?  Finally, her parents agree to let her go and she and her father are off to New York.  Amara has a long list of places she would like to visit.  What will she learn about her family during her New York adventure?

by Allison Mills Genre:  Paranormal Shelly is not afraid of ghosts...how could she be when she collects them!  She helps her grandmother on her various jobs of finding ghosts and helping them along their journey to be at rest.  Shelly deals with animals of all kinds and people as well, but when someone close to her dies, Shelly starts to look at death in a whole new way.  Ghost hunting is supposed to be about finding ghosts and sending them on their way, but now Shelly can't let go of them.  There is one particular ghost that she is determined to find.

by Erin Entrada Kelly Lexile:  600 Genre:  Fantasy Lalani's life has gone from bad to worse.  She thought living with her stepdad and stepbrother was bad, but then when when her mother got sick, things are even worse.  All she does is cook, clean, run errands, and mend.  Their village is struggling as they have been without water for a long time.  Men of the village going sailing out to sea and never return.  Something is going to have to change.  Someone is going to have to help.  Lalani decides that she is the one who has to do something.  What will her decision cost her her family and the only home she has ever known?

by Jen Wang Lexile:  GN510 Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel Christine and Moon live in the same Chinese American community, but they couldn't be more different.  When Christine's family offers to let Moon and her mom live in their backyard apartment, Christine isn't sure if she wants Moon to be that close.  The rumor going around school is that Moon got kicked out of another school for fighting.  Moon is a great storyteller and Christine finds herself liking to hang out with Moon more than she thought she would.  But then something terrible happens and Christine feels that she is to blame.  She wishes she would have been a better friend to Moon.  Is it too late for that?

by Celia C. Perez Lexile:  750 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Ofelia, Cat, Lane, and Aster don't seem to have much in common other than the fact that they all could use a good friend.  The four girls start to hang around together and become united around the idea that they need to help Cat.  Cat is hiding a secret from her parents.  She is supposed to be attending her local Scout troup meetings, but she has recently been in conflict with the leader over a hat that was made many years ago from bird feathers.  Cat thinks the hat is outdated and should not be used as a symbol of the Scout troup, the Floras.  Together the girls go on a mission to persuade the leader of the Floras to donate the hat to a museum.  Do these 4 girls have what it takes to succeed in their mission?