Mrs. Malecha Reads!

 by Laura Elliott Louisa June had no idea that the attack on Pearl Harbor would change her life forever.  Her family has fished the waters off the coast of Virginia for years without an issue, but now there are U-boats patrolling the water and torpedo strikes.  Louisa wishes that she could do something to help, but when the worst tragedy strikes, Louisa and her family will have to pull together to survive.  Cousin Belle, who has her own stories about war, comes to try to help the family get through their tough time.  Will they be able to move on during this awful time?

 by Aida Salazar Genre:  Historical Fiction Lula and her family have to work very, very hard to try to earn enough to survive.  They are migrant farm workers who move throughout California, harvesting grapes wherever they can find work.  They are at the mercy of the growers to pay them whatever they want, which is usually to little to feed, cloth and shelter their growing family.  Now the migrant workers have had enough and are attempting to strike to improve working conditions.  Lula is excited about the labor movement, but at first her papa is not and he forbids her to have anything to do with it.  Papa has ruled over their family with his angry temper and cruel punishments, but Lula and her siblings are excited by what the labor activists have to say.  Will they be able to convince Papa that striking is what might most help their family in the future?

 by Andrea Beatriz Arango Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Novel in Verse Iveliz is struggling with seventh grade.  She only has one friend and would like to make more, but isn't sure how.  Her grandmother is moving in with them and her memory seems to be getting worse every day.  Iveliz has been working with a therapist to help her through some dark times and her grandmother doesn't think it's necessary.  And that makes her mad. Iveliz and her mother also have issues communicating and now she feels like life is getting worse and some days feels unbearable.  She knows that she should speak up and ask for help, but if she admits she needs help, will any help that someone gives her be enough?