Mrs. Malecha Reads!

 by Gale Galligan Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel Ollie and Cat are used to moving around a lot due to their dad's job as a diplomat.  They are leaving Germany and moving to Virginia.  Ollie and Cat assume it is just another temporary stop until their parents tell them they are buying a house and plan to stay put for awhile.  The girls aren't used to making real friends or getting comfortable in a school.  Will staying in one place be everything they hoped for?

by Gillian McDunn Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Mystery Simon and his family never stay in one place for long.  They are constantly on the go so that his parents can post on their travel blog about all of the cool places they have been.  Simon is getting tired of life on the run and would really like to stay in one place for awhile.  The family has settled into an apartment in the Tangerine Pines when a priceless necklace is stolen.  Simon and his new friend, Amaya, decide that they will take on the case and try to find the necklace.  His parents aren't sure that they want to stay in a building where things are stolen, so it will be up to Simon and Amaya to solve the mystery and convince his parents that this is a place where they should put down some roots and stay.

 by Christina Soontornvat Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Sports, Graphic Novel 8th grade is wrapping up and Christina and her best friends, Megan and Leanne, are excited about moving on to high school.  Not making the cheerleading squad last year was very disappointing, but when the girls learn that there will be 3 spots open in the group for 9th grade, they are sure that this year the will have better luck.  While they are practicing as hard as they can, Christina starts to notice that her parents are not getting along at all.  When Christina's dad moves out, her future suddenly seems unclear.  What will high school be like if she doesn't make the squad and her parents split up?                                                  

 by Kekla Magoon Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Mystery Chester and Skye are on a mission to solve a mystery.  Clues have been left and cracking the code seems to be something they should be able to do if they work together.  However, Chester thinks that the clues are somehow linked to his father who left when he was very young.  As he and Skye get further into the hunt for clues, they are both learning new things about each other.  But Skye knows something that Chester hasn't yet figured out.  When Chester learns about the secrets both his mom and Skye have been keeping from him, he really feels like the world is out to get him.  Will Chester crack the code and be able to accept what he finds out?

 by Erin Soderberg Downing Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Adventure Jo's dad had promised her that they would hike the Superior Trail together.  But then her parents got divorced and her dad moved on with a new family and Jo feels like she and her mom have been left behind.  Jo's mom decides that she is willing to giv3e the hike a trail...even though it is just over 100 miles.  Jo feels like she has so much to prove...to herself, to her mom, and to her dad.  Jo is faced with one challenging obstacle after another, but she is determined to just keep walking.  

 by Jessie Ann Foley Genre:  Realistic Fiction Breda has never met her Granda before, but her mom has decided to send her to Ireland to spend the summer with him.  Breda's mom has been busy working to open her own salon and that hasn't left her much time to spend with Breda.   So now Breda finds herself in a strange country, on a farm with a person she doesn't know.  Granda doesn't seem that excited to have Breda there either.  Her mother warned her that sometimes at night her Granda has terrible night terrors because of things that happened to him as a child.  Breda wants to know his secrets and in the process uncovers some of the secrets that her mom has been keeping from her.

 by Gary D. Schmidt Genre:  Realistic Fiction Hercules Beal had no idea what to expect from his new middle school, but it certainly wasn't Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer.  Recently retired from the military, Mr. Hupfer runs a tight ship and his assignment for Hercules is for him to duplicate the 12 myths.  Herc is already struggling with being a new student and is still having a hard time accepting that his parents will not be coming back.  The last thing Herc thinks he needs is a grouchy old English teacher telling him what to do.  But as he moves through the assignment, be starts to realize that maybe Mr. Hupfer does have a point to what he is making his students do.

 by Ritu Hemnani Genre:  Historical Fiction, Novel in Verse Raj and Iqbal love to fly kites together and are hoping to be able to fly them in honor of India's independence from Britain celebration.  But what they don't realize is that this celebration is going to divide their country into 2 parts and that their families are going to be impacted.  Raj's family is forced to flee the only home they have ever known and start their lives over in a brand new country.  Will Raj ever find a friend like Iqbal again?

 by Linda Williams Jackson Genre:  Historical Fiction Ellis Earl Brown has big dreams.  He would like to be a teacher or a lawyer or someday, or maybe both!  But growing up poor in Mississippi is making it hard for him to stay focused on his dreams. He has eight siblings and his momma has a hard time finding enough work that will keep food on the table. When his teacher invites him to memorize a speech for the Easter breakfast, Ellis Earl decides to give public speaking a try.  Can he use his voice to help his family have a better life?

 by A.J. Sass Genre:  Realistic Fiction Ellen knows that she is different then other kids.  In order for her to best function, she needs to have every detail planned out in her life. She has one best friend, Laurel, and they have planned to be in the same group during a class trip to Spain.  When Ellen learns that she and Laurel will not be in the same group, she is panicking that things will not work out okay.  Ellen learns to adjust to this and other changes throughout the trip and while she and Laurel have some ups and downs, Ellen learns that there are advantages to getting to know other kids too.  Ellen realizes that sometimes changes and surprises can turn out to be okay.

 by Erin Entrada Kelly Genre:  Science Fiction Michael and Giddy aren't sure what to make of the new kid who has mysteriously appeared in the courtyard of their apartment building.  The kid is acting strangely and is dressed unusually.  When they finally speak to him, he tells them that his name is Ridge and that he is from the future.  Michael and Giddy don't really believe him until he talks more about the future and shows them the device that got him to their small town.  Michael is more worried about what is going to happen on January 1, 2000, but Giddy wants to know more about how they can help Ridge.  Can Michael put his worries aside and help Ridge get back to where he belongs?

 by Gayle Forman Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction Alex has just been sentenced by a judge to serve community service for his entire summer. Alex isn't angry with the judge, he knows what he did was wrong and knows that he has to try to put things right. But Alex has had a rough time of it. His mom needed to be hospitalized and when she left too soon, he was placed first in foster care, and then with his aunt and uncle who really didn't want him.  His community service is at an assisted living facility and he has to help the staff take care of the elderly residents.  Alex knows nothing about how to work with old people so he is prepared for the worst.  Instead, he meets some wonderful people who will end up helping him find real value to a life that has felt all mixed up.

 by Elly Swartz Genre:  Realistic Fiction Middle school is a struggle for Autumn.  Her best friend has moved away and her dad has joined the Peace Corps.  Before he left, he told her that she should do one fearless thing this school year.  She doesn't know what that would be, until the school newspaper is looking for someone to write the Dear Student column.  Autumn applies and is surprised when she is chosen.  Her identity will remain hidden as she advises her fellow students on their problems.  At first Autumn really likes the job, but then she realizes that some of the people writing to her are her friends.  Why wouldn't her friends talk to her directly about their problems?  Autumn suddenly finds herself stuck in a tricky situation.

by Hena Khan Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel  Aliya has moved from Florida to Wisconsin and everything is different, except for that fact that she loves to play basketball.  Aliya played on a decent rec team in Florida because her school did not have a girls' team.  She is excited to learn that her new school does, except for the fact that only 9 girls show up for tryouts and they pretty much stink.  However, the school has hired a new coach so maybe there is a chance that they can all learn some new skills and succeed as a team.

 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?

 by Shifa Saltagi Safadi Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Novel in Verse 7th grade is tough when your best friend moves away and you are trying your best to fit in.  Kareem wants to tryout as a quarterback for the football team, but the coach's son also wants that spot and he is a bully.  He convinces Kareem to do his homework for him in exchange for talking his dad into letting him join the team.  As if that wasn't enough stress, Kareem's mom learns that she has to return to Syria to help her parents get to the United States.  Life without his mom at home makes things even more challenging for Kareem.  Maybe life could get easier if he could figure out who his real friends really are.

 by Gennifer Choldenko Genre:  Realistic Fiction Hank Hooperman tries to avoid making mistakes whenever possible, but it is getting more difficult as he has more responsibilities.  His mom has always done her own thing, but this time she has left him with his 3 year old sister for almost a week.  The landlord is threatening eviction, the power has been shut off, and Hank has no more money to feed his sister.  He finds the name and address of an emergency contact his mom listed on a field trip form so he decides that their best chance is to see if that person can help them.  Hank is trying so hard.  He loves his mother, but he is also angry at the position she has put him in.  How does he figure out what is best for himself and his sister?