Mrs. Malecha Reads!

 by Reem Faruqi Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Novel in Verse Aafiyah Qamar has a bad habit.  Her fingers get itchy and before she can stop them, they take things that don't belong to her.  Her parents would be so angry if they knew, but they are so busy with their own troubles that it is easy for her to hide what is happening.  Her father has been detained in Pakistan and the family is having to spend a lot of money on lawyer bills.  Her grandfather is being treated for cancer and doesn't have insurance so the bills are adding up.  Her mother is just trying to keep everyone afloat.  Will Aafiyah be able to hide her secret?

 by Johnathan Todd Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel Cecil and his family have just moved from Florida to Boston so he it anxious about how he will fit in in his new school and his new neighborhood.  His sister tries to give him some advice, but that just makes him more nervous.  Cecil is an artist and loves to spend his time drawing comics.  His dad thinks it is kind of a waste of time so Cecil is trying to figure out a way for his dad to see that comics are important to him and can actually earn him some money and respect.  But when someone gets a hold of Cecil's drawing and uses it against him, Cecil will have to figure out how to stand up for himself.

 by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Gabriela Epstein Genre:  Realistic Fiction and Graphic Novel 5 kids who nobody pays any attention to, suddenly have come up with a plan to help someone out who is struggling.  They have been stuck together on a community service project because they all have one thing in common - they speak Spanish.  Other than that, they are nothing alike and have no desire to be lumped together in a group.  The strategy of staying invisible has worked for a long time, but they realize that if they work together, they might all benefit, even if it means sharing some of their secrets with each other.

 by Rex Ogle and Dave Valeza Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel Rex wakes up on the first day of 7th grade with a giant pimple on the center of his forehead.  He's nervous enough about the first day of school so for this to happen just seems to be too much.  And he is right...it is just the start of his problems with the embarrassments of growing up.  Rex can't afford a lot of the things his friends can and he gets picked on and bullied for that.  Will Rex be able to turn things around and make 7th grade a survivable experience?