Mrs. Malecha Reads!

 by J.M. Nuanez Genre:  Realistic Fiction Jack and Birdie's lives changed forever the day that their sparkly, unpredictable mother died.  She made the most ordinary things in life seem extraordinary, except on the days when she couldn't leave her room.  And then one day she was gone, and Jack and Birdie were sent to live with their uncle Carl.  That didn't go well so then Uncle Patrick stepped in.  Jack and Birdie don't feel like Patrick understands them or wants them around and he never talks about their mother.  Birdie's getting in trouble in school and Jack just feels lost.  Will they be able to figure out to make a new future living with an uncle who doesn't seem to want them?

 by Ellen Oh Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction Junie Kim is tired of being bullied at her middle school.  Students are relentless in making fun of her Asian heritage.  Up until this year, Junie has done her best to ignore it, but when a vandal breaks into her school and sprays racist graffiti in the gym and now her friends want to band together and stand up to the racism.  Junie isn't sure she is brave enough to do that, but if she doesn't, she might lose her friends.  Luckily, Junie's grandparents decide to share the stories of the racism they have faced over their lives which helps Junie sort through all of her feelings and come to the conclusion that this is the time for her to face her bullies and stand together with her friends.

 by Jamie Sumner Genre:  Realistic Fiction Hugo is not happy about his parent's decision to move their family to Colorado.  Having to start fresh at a new middle school stinks - new teachers, new friends, a whole new routine.  Fortunately, Hugo's cousin Vijay is around to help, but even that doesn't make things go very smoothly.  Hugo was born early and has always been on the smaller side.  He hates the nicknames that kids have come up with over the years and it seems like it is starting all over again.  Hugo's main claim to fame is reading people's trash.  He is fascinated with what people's garbage can say about them.  Will this rare talent be enough to make him cool in his new middle school?

 by Ernesto Cisneros Genre:  Realistic Fiction Efren has the best mother in the world.  Even though their family doesn't have a lot of money, Efren knows that his parents love him and his younger twin siblings, Max and Mia.  His father works long hours and sometimes two jobs to help them keep food on the table while his mother works and keeps things going at home.  But one day, Efren comes home from school and the apartment is strangely empty.  He waits and waits, but his mother doesn't come.  The family learns later that evening that his mother, who was in the country illegally, has been deported.  Suddenly Efren has to step up and take care of all the family responsibilities that his mom used to cover.  It's exhausting and no one seems to know when his mother will be able to come home.

 by Katerine Applegate Genre:  Fantasy Willodeen is drawn to all sorts of creatures and loves to wander the woods in hopes of encountering any animal.  Her favorite is the unlovable creatures known as screechers.  Lately though, they have been harder to find because people have been encouraged to hunt them to get rid of their awful smell.  The town is also noticing that while there are less screechers, which they think is a good thing, they are also less hummingbears which is a major tourist draw and many in the town rely on the money that the tourists will spend when they come to town.  Willodeen thinks that the delicate balance of nature has been upset.  She and her new friend Connor have a tough task in proving that to the townspeople.  Will they listen to two kids who think they have a solution to the town's problems?

 by Maleeha Siddiqui Genre:  Realistic Fiction Nimra is going to public school for the first time.  Being a new 7th grader isn't easy, especially since her friend Jenna is pretty much ignoring her until Nimra gets invited to sing with the Barakah Beats band.  Suddenly, Jenna and her friends want to know everything about the band.  Nimra doesn't really want to part of the band, but decides to pretend she does so that Jenna and the other girls will keep talking to her.  The more time Nimra spends with the band, the more she realizes that Waleed, Bilal and Khadijah are more her friends than the others.  Can she get out of singing with the band and keep them as her friends?