Mrs. Malecha Reads!

 by Ernesto Cisneros Genre:  Realistic Fiction Isaac and Marco have been best friends for a long time, but they both realize that heading into middle school things might change.  Isaac struggles academically, but is a whiz on the basketball court.  Marco is practically a genius, but can barely walk without tripping over his feet.  Both of them are struggling with how to relate to their fathers who aren't always present in the ways the boys would like. Can these two friends help each other out and have a successful middle school experience?

 by Jamie Sumner Genre:  Realistic Fiction Lou has a voice that gets her noticed, but Lou doesn't want to be noticed.  Her mother wants her to be a star, but Lou hates the crowds, the noise, and the people who attempt to hug her or shake her hand.  Lou and her mom are barely making ends meet and Lou doesn't always have a safe home or enough to eat.  When Child Protective Services gets involved, Lou is sent to live with an aunt and uncle she has never met.  Lou is worried about her mom, but at the same time, is happy living in a stable home and going to middle school.  Lou will have to decide who truly has her best interests at heart.

 By ibtihaj Muhammad Genre:  Memoir Ibtihaj Muhammed always set high goals for herself so when she set out to make the 2016 Olympic Games in the sport of fencing, her family and supporters knew she would achieve it.  Ibtihaj has been in the spotlight for most of her life as a hijab wearing Muslim American.  She is used to the questions, stares, and preconceived notions about who she is and what she represents.  But Ibtihaj was determined that no one was going to stop her from achieving her dreams and she made it all the way to the very top of her sport.

 by A.J. Sass Genre:  Realistic Fiction Ana-Marie Jin is trying to figure out who she is. She is definitely a skater as she is the current US Juvenile Figure Skating Champion.  But she is not the kind of figure skater who has long flowing hair and likes to wear frilly costumes.  She likes to wear her hair short and when a fellow skater mistakes her for a boy, she doesn't correct him.  She likes that he calls her A and refers to her with boy pronouns.  But Ana doesn't really feel like she is a boy either.  So what does that mean?  Ana will have to look deep inside herself and trust her mom, her best friend, and her skating coach if she is to truly figure out who she is...both on and off the ice.

 by Rena Barron Genre:  Fantasy All Maya can think about is how great her summer break is going to be.  But one day as she is staring out the window during math class, she sees all of the color disappear and her math teacher seems to freeze.  It's only for a moment...did she imagine it or did something weird really happen?  When she starts to have odd dreams she can no longer ignore that something strange is going on.  She is reluctant to confide in her parents, but they are acting strange too.  Her dad has to suddenly leave on a work trip and finally, her family's secrets must be revealed. Her father is the guardian of the veil between the the regular world and the Dark where an evil Lord of Shadows rules.  Maya and her friends will have to unlock their hidden powers if they are going to be able to save her father...and the world.