Mrs. Malecha Reads!

 by Renee Watson Genre:  Realistic Fiction Ryan is having trouble living up to her name.  "Ryan" means leader and she's trying to be the best she can be, but it's hard with all that she has on her mind.  Money is tight so their family has to move and her dad has a new job that he has to work at night.  And now the big fourth grade talent show is coming up.  Ryan wants to be part of it...if she can figure out what her talent is!

 by Andrea Davis Pinkney Genre:  Historical Fiction Loretta, 1927 to 1930:  tells the story of growing up as the daughter of a sharecropper.  Her mother died shortly after she was born so it was her dad and 2 sisters that kept the family going.  They never had much, but they had each other. Roly, 1942 to 1950:  tells the story of how he was found by Loretta and her sisters and brought into their family as the younger brother.  He helped them scrape together enough money to buy a piece of land, but times were still tough. Aggie B., 1962 to 1968:  tells the story of growing up without her mother and feeling the call to change and challenge the Jim Crow laws that have kept her family down for so many years.  Aggie B, with help from 'Retta become a strong force in their community, working towards a better life for all.

 by Uri Shulevitz Genre:  Memoir Uri was just 4 years old when the Germans started bombing Warsaw, Poland.  His mother helped him put on his boots and told him they were going to take a long walk.  This book chronicles the 8 years that Uri and his family spent on their "walk" as they were relocated and struggled for survival each day.  Throughout their journey, the family remained hopeful that one day they would find a home again and not have to worry about food and safety on a daily basis.

by Cynthia Kadohata Genre:  Realistic Fiction Becca feels like she is in constant competition with her 3 brothers to be good at something.  They have all found things to be good at, but she just can't.  Then one day she finds a sick pig by the side of the road.  Although hesitant, her parents allow her to bring it home and nurse it back to health.  Becca names her pig Saucy and she discovers that the bigger Saucy grows, the more trouble she gets into.  Becca's parents said that Saucy will be with them only temporarily, but in just a few short days, Saucy has become part of their family.  Will Saucy get to stay?