Title: A Thousand Perfect Notes Author: C.G. Drews Published By: Orchard Books (2018) Synopsis: An emotionally charged story of music, abuse and, ultimately, hope. Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to…
Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Title: Shouting at the Rain Author: Lynda Mullaly Hunt Published By: Nancy Paulsen Books (2019) Synopsis: Delsie loves tracking the weather–lately, though, it seems the squalls are in her own life. She’s always lived with her kindhearted Grammy, but now she’s looking at their life with new eyes and wishing…
Lydia Green of Mulberry Glen by Millie Florence
Title: Lydia Green of Mulberry Glen Author: Millie Florence Published By: Sprouting Pen Press (2019) Synopsis: Lydia Green never had reason to worry much before. She lived in a timeless Glen on the edge of the Valleylands with her mismatched family of fairies, philosophers, and two troublemakers known as the…
The Long Ride by Marina Tamar Budhos
Title: The Long Ride Author: Marina Tamar Budhos Published By: Wendy Lamb Books (Coming Sept 2019) Synopsis: In the tumult of 1970s New York City, seventh graders are bussed from their neighborhood in Queens to integrate a new school in South Jamaica. Jamila Clarke. Josie Rivera. Francesca George. Three mixed-race…
6 Great Book Series for Middle Graders (And Beyond!)
PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson This Peter Pan retelling is intense, but so good! Crazy dramatic storylines full of action and nonstop adventure; deep characters with flaws, relatability, and complex arcs; and a little bit of darkness, too (though not celebrated or promoted – the…
100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons
100 Days Of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons Expected Publication: August 2019 Synopsis: When 16-year-old poetry blogger Tessa Dickinson is involved in a car accident and loses her eyesight for 100 days, she feels like her whole world has been turned upside-down. Terrified that her vision might never return, Tessa feels like…