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Submitted by Kirsten Stone

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The Lighting Thief by Rick Riordan. I just started reading this book, which our district uses in the 6th Grade Fantasy Unit as a mentor text or as a book club book. The kids coming into 7th and 8th grade always talk about it, so I finally got around to reading it. I really like this book so far because it reminds me of Harry Potter- except Greek Gods/ myth based. :)

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Caroline's Comets, A True Story, By Emily Arnold McCully

(Biography)

Submitted by Sandie Solimene, Cohort B
The true story of Caroline Herschel, a German girl who grew up sickly and with few skills, and whose family let her live with her brother William, where she became his assistant as he pursued an interest in telescopes. He discovered Uranus, as she recorded his notes and findings. On her own, she discovered many star clusters and 2 galaxies. While he was away at a conference, she discovered what became Caroline's Comet, and later was hired by the King of England as the country's first female scientist.

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Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks

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Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks

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Written by a CT author and nominated for a Nutmeg Award last year, I highly recommend this book. Written from the perspective of the imaginary friend Budo, to an autistic elementary school boy, this book tells the incredible story about the bravery that exists in true friendship. The writing is beautiful and the perspective of the main character is truly refreshing. (recommended by Laura Vaida)

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By Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan
(Recommended by Cyndi Hansard)
This book was recommended to me by my ten-year-old daughter. She told me I had to read it, and I'm glad she did. It follows Ravi, whose family just moved to NJ from India, and Joe, the boy who sits behind him in class. Both boys suffer at the hands of fifth-grade bully, Dillon Samreen, and they struggle alone through the first days of school.
This book teaches an important lesson about the dangers of making assumptions, and it has a very satisfying ending. I laughed out loud until my stomach hurt.

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The Radium Girls by Kate Moore, depicts the true stories of the young women who worked in the dial painting factories in the early 1900s. They bravely attempted to seek justice from the company that knew they were poisoning the girls, yet not only did nothing to stop the injustice, went on the lie about the devastating effects the radium could cause.

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Stormy Seas (recommended by Donna Merritt)

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Stormy Seas (recommended by Donna Merritt)

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I highly recommend this book. After meticulous research and connecting with young refugees to hear their stories, Mary Beth Leatherdale presents their first-person accounts, the reasons they had to flee, their harrowing journeys, and what ultimately became of them. Ruth escapes Nazi Germany, Phu leaves South Vietnam, Jose gets out of Cuba, Najeeba runs from the Taliban in Afghanistan, and Mohamed flees the Ivory Coast civil war. Their experiences are terrifying and their chosen places of asylum are far from welcoming. I broke down and cried several times, thinking of my own children in those situations. The history of each country they left is included, but none of it is too dense—Eleanor Shakespeare's layout, illustrations, and graphic design held my interest, and I believe it's broken up in a way that will keep the attention of middle and high school students.

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The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

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The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

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Submitted by Cheryl Monaco - Cohort A
This book is absolutely amazing. I read it for the first time a few months ago, and we are using it in our curriculum now. It´s a powerful true story about the University of Washington´s crew team and their journey to the 1936 Olympics. Brown tells this story beautifully. HE focuses on one rower, Joe Rantz. We learn about his hardships both as a young man and while he is in college struggling to stay on the team. I prefer the young adult adapted version. Brown teaches readers the value of hard work, determination, resiliency, and humility, among other things. I highly recommend it.

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Middle School Fiction      Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

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Middle School Fiction      Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

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By Jordan Sonnenblik
Steven is an 8th grade student trying to deal with typical middle school issues. Girls, friends, music, and his annoying little brother Jeffrey.  One day the family's life drastically changes when they find out Jeffrey has leukemia.  Steven's academics fall apart along with his peer and family relationships.  Steven's guidance counselor and teachers meet with him and encourage him to make up his work so he can continue in the school band.  While dealing with all of these emotions, his best friend and crush come up with an idea to help Steven's family pay for Jeffrey's medical bills.

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Recommended by: Lindsey Carley
A sweet story to read aloud to your lower elementary students in October/November about an Ugly Pumpkin that doesn't fit in. A true "Ugly Duckling" story in the form of a pumpkin....you'll love the ending!

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Inside Out & Back Again by Thannha Lai (Submitted by Liz Tremper)

Wow. A story that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Thannha Lai's historical fiction --which is semi-autobiographical-- follows a young girl name Ha and her family as they move to Alabama during the Vietnam War. Ha struggles to find her identity in America, and let go of so much of her culture and identity that made up her life in Vietnam. I could go on about this book forever. A fast read written in narrative verse, learn about Ha's journey as she literally gets her life turned inside out.

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The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey
Caldecott Honor Book 1997. Recommended by Michelle Bibeault.
A boy and his dog enjoy the quiet of a Saturday morning paper route. The vivid illustrations depicting early morning to dawn enlighten children to the beauty of an undisturbed serene morning.

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Challenger Deep by Neil Shusterman (Submitted by Laureen Anthony)

I just finished this book the other day and it is one of those works that stays with you. Caden, the 15-year old protagonist, lives in two worlds: his typical teen world with school and family, and his sometimes terrifying voyage on a pirate ship to the deepest part of the ocean. To Caden, who has schizophrenia, both are equally real. This story looks at the lonely and difficult world of mental illness with wit and compassion.

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The Library Book
by Tom Chapin and Michael Mark
This book is based on the song, "The Library Song." I've been playing the song in my K-2 classes. It's so catchy and fun! I haven't actually shared the book yet with the kids. I've been letting them make their own pictures in their minds. It's going to be fun to share the book with them. They have fun listening to the catchy tune and identifying book characters in the song. It ends with a whipser so it' been a great way to wrap up the lesson.

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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.
Recommended by Bonnie Pils

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Middle School - High School Nonfiction (Jessica Mulvihill) 

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Middle School - High School Nonfiction (Jessica Mulvihill) 

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Three Cups of Tea By Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin

This nonfiction text has been on my "to read list" for a few years and I am so glad that I finally read it. This is a most inspiring true story of how Greg Mortenson's wrong turn coming down from K2 leads him to developing the Central Asia Institute. Greg and his foundation build schools and have a strong focus on educating girls in remote Pakistan/Afghanistan Mountain villages. No stranger to the threat and hostility of Tailiban forces and differing religious and political views, Students will be inspired by Mortenson's tale. They will have an eye opening example of what good can be done when one person puts their wheels in motion.

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Novak, B. J. (2015). The book with no pictures. New York City, NY: Dial Books.

Review by Keri Procko

Have a kid or student who is reluctant to read?  The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak is sure to change that.  Just as the title informs, this children's book is lacking illustration but it does not lack interaction from its readers and audience.  Throughout the story it requires the reader, best when read aloud, to say silly, awkward and crazy phrases.  This is because, just like in books readers must read what the authors writes.  This entices young ears to enjoy the books as the reader makes a fool of themself as they tell the story.  It explains to young ears that reading can be fun and listening to a read aloud is very enjoyable.  This book would be valuable during a read aloud to an elementary class that is getting ready to begin independent reading.   However, it would be very valuable when learning how letters make particular sounds because many of the words are made up in the book which would require young readers to sound out words and phrases based simply on the formation of a word and not an assumed word from the image associated it with.

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Hana Hashimoto, 6th Violin
Review by Karen Gonillo, Cohort

Hana Hashimoto has signed up for the school talent show to play her violin. She has only had 3 lessons and her 2 brothers tell her she is going to fail. She remembers her grandfather who played the violin and practices like he did. Great story for perseverance and courage.

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Follow Starr as she is a black girl that lives in a poor neighborhood but goes to a private white school because her parents want her to do well. One day Starr ends up leaving a party with her best friend Kahlil when they get pulled over by the police. Things go bad and Kahlil gets gun down by the police and Starr's world gets turned upside down. A topical book to bring up among high school students about the police brutality and black lives matter movement. This book brings up great points and can spark a great class discussion about whether the cop was in the wrong or right, as well as other societal issues. Their is some strong language and brief sexual content but keeps it "real" for the teenagers. Strongly recommended, coming from a person that usually doesn't read books like this. Also recommended to listen to the book as the reader is wonderful! (Tried placing this under HIgh School Fiction but wouldn't go for some reason.)

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Wonder; Elementary Realistic Fiction (recommended by Becky Ferraro)

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Wonder; Elementary Realistic Fiction (recommended by Becky Ferraro)

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An excellent book with an excellent message. Augie Pullman is the star of this late elementary/early middle school book that truly teaches kids persective and tolerance. The author switches perspective throughout the book to allow readers to see things from the outside looking in, as Augie struggles with his transition to a new elementary school with several face abnormalities. Overall, kids appreciate his differences and learn about the importance of being kind to others.

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Counting by 7's, Holly Goldberg Sloan (recommended by Kara Ingalls)

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Counting by 7's, Holly Goldberg Sloan (recommended by Kara Ingalls)

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Willow Chance is a genius with a powerful green thumb! She has a strong sense of who she is, but then the unthinkable changes her life forever. When Willow loses her adopted parents to an accident, she must learn to take on the world without them. With no other friends or relatives to take her in, her counselor, Dell,  and new friend, Mai, and her family rearrange their lives to help her. The story shows Willow's struggle in losing her parents, and her courage to move forward. She uses her gifts of intelligence and gardening to bring joy back to her life and to those around her. I highly recommend this book! Willow's wit and charm will draw you in . This book would be a wonderful reminder to students of how we can all use our personal strengths and our closest relationships to help us get through even the most devastating times in our lives.

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A reminder that we can all make a difference...all it takes if for everyone to have one someone.

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by Lindsay Mattick
(Elementary Non-Fiction)

Learn the true story of everyone's favorite bear - Winnie the Pooh.  The true story of Harry Colebourn who befriended a bear during WWII.  The bear becomes everyones favorite zoo animal, even a father (A.A. Milne) and a familiar boy named Christopher Robin.  The story is told by the great-great granddaughter of Harry Colebourn and tells the story of how A.A. Milne discovered the idea to start the Winnie the Pooh series with his son Christopher.

Recommendation by: Britany Sweet

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Our Librarian Won't Tell Us Anything by Toni Buzzeo

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Our Librarian Won't Tell Us Anything by Toni Buzzeo

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(recommended by Karen Groves)
This story is great to introduce students to finding their own resources to answer questions. It is about 4th graders who think their librarian won't give them the answers. When a new students comes to their school, they think she is giving him the answers but really she is teaching him how and where to find the resources he needs.

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Day of Tears by Julius Lester
(recommended by Gina West)
This book is about the Biggest Slave Auction in history!  It is written in prose and is an emotional rollercoaster.  One man's decision destroys and rips apart so many innocent famiies.  Julius Lester does a phenomenal job including viewpoints of all characters involved.  One of my favorites!

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(recommended by Ron DeFazio) The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.
This book was recommended to me by my wife and daughter. It is based on the true story of a gorilla named Ivan who spent 27 years in captivity. The story is told from the perspective of Ivan who spends his days people watching from his enclosure in a shopping mall. He befriends some other animals in the mall "zoo" and tells of the time they spend together. This is a great story about the power of friendship and staying dedicated to the ones you care about even through the most difficult of times.

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by Jennifer Niven
Reviewed by Marika Sagnella
Libby is a teen struggling with the death of her mother and weight issues. Jack is a teen struggling with prosopognosia and parents on the brink of divorce. While Libby's struggles are visible to everyone around her, Jack's are less obvious. Both teens are brought together through an act of bullying, but develop a relationship through mutual respect and love. The book deals with issues of bullying, high school cliques, body image, and teen angst. One of my ninth grade students read it last year and told me it was the best book she ever read.
Read it, love it, then read Niven's earlier book, All the Bright Places. It's equally as beautiful and unforgettable.

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The Giver by Lois Lowry
Reviewed by Roberta Collins - Cohort C
I remember my middle school music students telling me about this book.  It is about a world where choice has been taken away.  Everything is decided from when you are born to when you will die (be released).  At the age of 12 you are given your job in society.  Without giving away the story, the main character, Jonas, becomes the Receiver of memories.  As he goes through his training and receiving of memories from the "Giver" he questions his life and makes his own choices.
As an adult it made me think of how some of our information is controlled.  It's a great thinking book.  I look forward to talking with my students about it when they read it this year.

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Posted by John David Anderson

(Recommended by Andy Cloutier)

A great book that gets inside the middle school experience and coming of age.

Branton Middle School is a typical small town middle school.   When cell phones are banned students find a new way to communicate; post-it notes.  Frost and his tribe encounter a new girl who is different from any other girl in their school.  The sticky note war claims a member of the tribe and Frost realizes that his life is soon forever changed.

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Elementary Fiction                The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

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Elementary Fiction                The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

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(Recommended by Beverly Boyd)
Edward Tulane is a very fine, elegant china rabbit owned by Abilene who loves him dearly.  Edward thinks so highly of himself and does not love Abilene as much as she loves him, until one day he is cast off a boat and ends up at the bottom of the ocean floor.  Edward endures a heart wrenching journey where he learns what love is as he encounters different people and situations through his journey.  This is a great book to show/teach character development and change.

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The Night Gardener by Terry Fan (elementary fiction)

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The Night Gardener by Terry Fan (elementary fiction)

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Julianna Cobuzzi

I was introduced to this gorgeous picture book last year during my third grade Caldecott unit.  In this unit, students become familiar with Caldecott criteria, and end up voting on their own personal favorite of the prospective winners.  This book was the favorite of the majority of students.
In the story, the main character, William,  wakes up to see a tree outside his home has been sculpted into a beautiful owl.  Each morning after, he finds the tree has become a new animal.  The topiary begins to draw in more than William, and soon the entire town is entranced.  While the mysterious night gardener disappears, William makes a decision based on his wonder and appreciation of the sculptures.
The story is simple, yet offers a subtle mystery coupled with the most lovely illustrations.

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Some may say Steve Jobs was brilliant while others might say he was the biggest jerk! Love him or hate him, he truly revolutionized Apple Computers and the world of technology forever.

Steve Jobs was a perfectionist. He felt that the back should look as good as the front and he believed that his work was art.
He was in plain English an asshole to work for. He pushed his staff and belittled them while attempting to make them great.
He was savvy and he knew that you if do something, you do it well hence why Apple had and continues to have very few products. He believed that the products should be sleek.
A must read!

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[Recommended by Amy Senna] The War that Saved My Live by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. This is a historical fiction story about Ada and Jamie lived with their abusive mother Mam during the start of WWII. Mam would not let Ada leave their flat because she didn't want to her to embarrass her because she had an untreated club foot (which could have been corrected when she was a baby). Ada feels worthless and useless, but is determined to walk. When England enters the war, the country decides to evacuate all children in London out to the countryside. Ada decides to sneak off with Jamie to go away. They are placed with a reluctant Susan Smith who cares for them and teaches them. Ada learns to ride a horse and begins to read and write. She is so resistant to the attention and love that Susan gives her because she has never felt that before, and she panics with these emotions. Mam comes back for them when the government starts charging her to have Susan keep the children, but upon returning to London, Ada get Mam to admit that she never wanted them in the first place. Ada tells Mam they will disappear out of her life and she won't have to ever pay for it. They return to Susan who came to London to find them. Fortunately she did, because a German bomb destroyed Susan's home while they were gone!

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I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt like it hits you in all the right spots; it's a sad premise with genuinely funny moments. It's good for students who like realistic fiction; it's a twist on the John Green-type love stories because it isn't a love story at all.

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Sonia Sotomayer: A Judge Grows in the Bronx
by:  Jonah Winter
(submitted by Diana Frascatore)
This is a great book that represents cultural diversity.  This book is excellent for a read-aloud to your elementary class.  I really like this book since it is written in English and Spanish.  It is wonderful for EL students.
This non-fiction text is an inspiring true story of a young Puerto Rican girl, Sonia Sotomayor who grows up in a poor single family in the Bronx.  Sonia's father had died, so her mother works during the day and goes to school nights for Sonia to have the necessities in life.  Sonia gets diagnosed with diabetes and during this time she continues to do what she loves best, which is reading.   Later, Sonia receives a high school award for being the best student in in the entire class.  She then attends Princeton, with a full scholarship, but not without hardships, and inferior feelings.  Sonia decides not to give in to her feelings of despair and ends up becoming a Supreme Court Justice.
This is a fantastic read and students will be able to connect and identify with the struggles that are faced by Sonia and how hard work leads to success.

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Under the Egg
By Lauren Marx Fitzgeral
Theo lives a very unconventional life style in the middle of NYC.  Her grandfather, Jack, dies suddenly leaving her with an art mystery. While caring for her wacky mother, chickens, and home, she is able to make a friend and bring a community together as she searches for the truth about a special painting.

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Submitted by Sarah Cheney

Lab Girl is my new favorite book. It's a memoir by Hope Jahren about her coming of age as a scientist. She interweaves, through her narrative, meditations on the lives of plants and brings us to see the similarity between them and our lives. As you would expect of a scientist, her precision of language makes the reading delightful. The honesty of her story draws you into her world. I was very touched by the way she wrote about her family life and how lacking of emotion it was. I was also struck by how matter-of-factly she writes about the sexism complicates her life as a scientist. I think this book is excellent for young women because Jahren shows us how she found her strength as a woman despite all the road-blocks society presented her with.

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Bobby feels that he has the world's worst teacher because he gets in trouble for doing something in class. When he encounters his teacher in the park, his perception of her changes. A great book to teach... Don't judge a book by the cover!

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ELEMENTARY FICTION                   The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

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ELEMENTARY FICTION                   The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

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Recommended by: Heather Pomroy

A young girl gets an idea to create "the most magnificent thing." She works hard...trying again and again and again to build what she has in her mind, but to no avail, and ends up quitting in frustration. After a much needed break, she is able to see things differently and sets to work revising her previous attempts.

A relatable story of persistence and creativity.

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Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate (author of The One and Only Ivan)

Story of family, friendship, and survival.

Jackson begins to realize that his family is loosing their home and they will be forced to live in their van for the second time.

Crenshaw, Jackson's imaginary friend appears after Jackson thought he had outgrown him. He's very large, eccentric, and a cat. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him. But can he?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23bB4QtK68Q

Recommended by: M.Melillo

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This is a terrific science fiction book that revolves around Transitioners who are people that live in the regular world and have an extra day of the week called Grunsday. The main characters RIley and Jax are transitioners who need to save Evangeline, a kin girl, from those who want to destroy the 8th day. There are also Kin who are related to the wizard Merlin and have been trapped in the 8th day for generations. This book is a fast paced mystery that my own daughter has been obsessed with since we started reading it together. If you have a student who likes magic, mystery, and mayhem then this is the book for them!

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The Eighth Day was recommended by Melissa Serviss

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The Eighth Day was recommended by Melissa Serviss

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Recommended by Matt Puhlick

Combining graphic novels and regular print, I am Princess X is a tale of deception, murder, intrigue and friendship with a good bit of mystery. Many of the 8th graders at my school are reading this and recommend for this grade level and up.

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Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie

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Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie

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This is a novel I decided to read because one of my students recommended it. He read it in my class during SSR and laughed out loud quite frequently. Now I see why. Sheman Alexie's style and presentation of the text easily hooks any reader. I especially enjoyed the drawings throughout the novel and his boyish quips.

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Spy School Secret Service
by Stuart Gibbs
(Recommended by Chris Supik)
Middle School Fiction

My son and I went to R.J. Julia booksellers to meet Stuart Gibbs. His personality and energy totally sold us on his "Spy School" series. In this book, along with the other books in the series, the reader follows 13-year old CIA agent, Ben Ripley. In the beginning of the story Ben is assigned a mission to protect the president of the U.S. from a possible assassin. He later finds out that he has been set up by the evil organization, SPYDER. SPYDER planted a bomb on Ben knowing that he was going to be near the president. Ben thwarted SPYDER'S attempt to assassinate the president and proved his innocence.

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An absolute page turner, the story of a young man named Brewster who has been inappropriately dubbed Bruiser by his peers.  Classmates and twins Bronte and Tennison come to know Brew and form unlikely relationships.  Dealing with more "typical" teenage issues such as peer groups, divorce, academic pressures and dating, Bronte and Tennison see another side of life through Brew's eyes.  A life of loss, abuse, alcoholism, social services and foster families, and best of all... secrets. What starts out as a typical realistic fiction read quickly changes to fantasy and captivates the audience.  The character development in this book is phenomenal and a great mentor text for readers and writers.  Chapters are told from different characters' perspectives throughout the book, allowing students to empathize and gain an appreciation for their own lives.  This book can also be used for rich vocabulary since the twins parents are English professors and require the children to study various words, often chapters are titled with words that intrigue the reader.  The author's amazing writing ability is also a wonderful portrait of figurative language, consistently making analogies and creating images in the reader's mind.  One of my favorite reads.

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by Jonathan Auxier
Middle Grade Fiction
(Submitted by Maggie Murphy)

Molly and Kip, two Irish orphans, travel to a mansion, cloaked in horrific mystery, in search of work. The pair are taken in by the sickly family as servants and quickly discover that something is amiss: the family becomes paler by the day, there are always dusty footprints in the foyer, and the house bellows strange groans in the night. As Molly and Kip learn more about the house, they are more eager to abandon it, but it is not that easy. The story deals with themes of greed and personal willpower and is decidedly creepy!

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

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HIGH SCHOOL FICTION
Peter Diette (Cohort B)
Two 15 year old boys that are relative loners find each other and form a bond, though both are quite different.  We watch their friendship grow, and share in their struggles as they consider who they are and how they will fit into the world as young adults.  This is a very accessible story about accepting who you are and navigating the difficult late adolescent years.  The story is interwoven with two Mexican-American families, and offers insights into their world in the late 1980's.

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El Deafo by Cece Bell
Peter Diette (Cohort B)
Young Cece Bell experiences permanent hearing loss after a brief illness, then struggles to fit in with school and neighborhood kids. The fictionalized account of the author's own childhood bring to life her experiences and thoughts as she navigated a sometimes confusing world around her. The graphic novel makes the story very accessible, and makes the point that differences can be empowering.

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Elementary Non-Fiction
Narrative Non-Fiction by Duncan Tonatiuh, submitted by Peter Diette (Cohort B)
This is the true story of Sylvia Mendez and her family's fight for desegregation in public schools in Orange County, CA in the 1940's. Almost 10 years before Brown v. Board of Education desegregated schools nation wide, this case was brought in California when American students of Mexican heritage where denied equal access to schools. It illustrates in student-friendly language that segregation and discrimination affected a diverse groups of citizens, and tells an important chapter of the civil rights battle.

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I highly recommend this book. It is one of the best books of the year and I just heard it is also becoming a movie. It is the story of a black teenager who attends a mainly white, upper middle class private high school, but lives in a predominantly black neighborhood. It is about her struggle to balance her two different lives (school/home) and her struggle becomes even worse when her best friend from her neighborhood is shot and killed by a white police officer. Her friend was unarmed. I love the writing style - it is fast paced and could probably be read in a few days! Loved it!

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By Angie Thomas
(recommended by Christie Riendeau)

16-year-old Starr Carter witnesses an event that she never thought could happen to her, even growing up in "the ghetto" of Garden Heights. An event that draws focus to her identity as a young, black woman living in two worlds: that of Garden Heights, and that of Williamson-the almost all white prep school that she attends. Her search for identity modernizes WEB Dubois' concept of "Double Consciousness" that still occurs in America. Starr must also contend with friendships, a boyfriend, strong-willed parents and siblings, and the event that changed her life. Thomas invites us in to her self-proclaimed "unapologetically black" novel that is absolutely worth reading no matter what age or race.

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Not Norman: A Goldfish Story written by Kelly Bennett and illustrated by Noah Z. Jones is a fantastic children's book! Norman is given to a little boy for his birthday. Read this book and find out how the boy feels about his birthday gift and if Norman will make a good pet.
I teach kindergarten and I'm always looking for an engaging book that my scholars would enjoy.
(Recommended by Jill Gabriel)

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Jason Reynolds

Coretta Scott King Book Awards
2015 John Steptoe New Talent Award

Submitted by:
Krislyn Petti

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Elementary Fiction- Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

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Elementary Fiction- Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

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Those Shoes is centered around Jeremy and his need to fit in. Jeremy wants so badly to have "those shoes" that his classmates have but his family can't afford them. One day, Jeremy and his grandmother find those shoes in a thrift shop and Jeremy is thrilled. He buys those shoes even though they are too tight for his growing feet. As the story progresses Jeremy realizes another friend in his class might need those shoes more than him. Despite his inner struggles, he decides to give them away to his friend Antonio. In the end of the book, Jeremy feels sad to give his shoes away but happy to help his friend. This story really tugs at the heart strings and makes me tear up nearly every time I read it. It is great for teaching social issues, as well as, want versus need.

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I chose this book for my first book trailer because I, like Donavan, enjoy words. I liked the idea of collecting words, writing them down and storing them in a big glass jar. And I sympathized with Donavan's struggle when the jar started to get full. This is a sweet, short read that showcases the power of language. I would recommend it to a word-loving 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grader, or to a teacher trying to get her students to appreciate the power and beauty of language.

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Heather Redin recommends Those Shoes- Maribeth Boelts

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Heather Redin recommends Those Shoes- Maribeth Boelts

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Those Shoes is centered around Jeremy and his need to fit in. Jeremy wants so badly to have "those shoes" that his classmates have but his family can't afford them. One day, Jeremy and his grandmother find those shoes in a thift shop and Jeremy is thrilled. He buys those shoes even though they are too tight for his growing feet. As the story progresses Jeremy realizes another friend in his class might need those shoes more than him. Despite his inner struggles, he decides to give them away to his friend Antonio. In the end of the book, Jeremy feels sad to give his shoes away but happy to help his friend. This story really tugs at the heart strings and makes me tear up nearly every time I read it. It is great for teaching social issues, as well as, want versus need.

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by Ruta Septys

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by Sharon M. Draper
I was thoroughly inspired by this book!  Draper takes you through the life of a little girl with cerebral palsy through her eyes. She cannot control her movements or speak, but she is brilliant. Everyone around her assumes she is mentally disabled. It is an inspiring book about determination, discrimination, and parent's unconditional love for their children. I recommended it as a read aloud to our 5th grade NEST program, which is an inclusive classroom in our building for highly functioning autistic students and their typical peers.
Lori Santella Dominick

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Over 1.5 million people have read the #1 New York Times bestseller Out of My Mind and discovered the brilliant mind of Melody Brooks. Out of My Mind spent two years on the New York Times bestseller list! "If there's one book teens and parents (and everyone else) should read this year, Out of My Mind should be it."

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A Teen's Game Plan for Life by Lou Holtz

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A Teen's Game Plan for Life by Lou Holtz

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Recommended by Christine Pakutka (Cohort C)

Legendary football coach, Lou Holtz, provides guidance and support for teenagers at a time when they most need it. This book lays out an easy-to-follow, inspirational, "game plan" with the goal of reminding kids about the importance of making good choices. As a sports fan, I enjoyed the stories and analogies - and I think many teenagers will as well. You cannot read this book without feeling inspired to be your best self.

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The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
A true story about events that change a life due to decisions and consequences. With themes of acceptance and forgiveness, this book had me questioning the way I view my students and the labels we place on them from gender, to special education, to leveling classes, what I think I know isn't always correct. After finishing this text, I researched the people in it as I am sure many students would.

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I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives by Caitlin Aliferenka and Martin Ganda with Liz Welch

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I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives by Caitlin Aliferenka and Martin Ganda with Liz Welch

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Recommended by Kate Mundy (cohort A)

This was one of the first books I read for the Lit Review spreadsheet. It is about two middle school students, one in Pennsylvania and one in Zimbabwe. The two develop a friendship over international mail. As Caitlin and Martin grow closer, Caitlin realizes the difficulties in Martin's life, and she and her family work to support Martin's education. Their friendship spans years and continents. This is a true story and kept me turning pages until the very end!

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Foreword by inquiry-guru, Kath Murdoch, this is a very practical book for those who live by inquiry-based teaching! 50 practical experiences under 5 strategies, and more tips to launch and extend your inquiry journey! As LMS, a must-have when working with classroom teachers with a wide range of experience in inquiry-based teaching & learning.

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(Recommended by Melanie Perry) Jazz Jennings is the star of a reality television show, an LGBTQ activist, and a transgender teen. Her memoir, Being Jazz, describes how she knew she was a girl in a boy's body for as long as she can remember. Since then, she and her family have been fighting for Jazz, and other transgender kids like her, for equality, acceptance, and legal rights and protections. Hers is a story of self-acceptance, inclusion, and perseverance.

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by Wendy Mills
(Recommended by Lucia Fonseca)

A historical fiction book about the September 11 terrorist attacks on United States soil. Readers learn about two girls and about an event that changed them and the world forever. Jesse lost her brother in the attacks. She misses him and embarks on a journey that leads her to the truth about his death. Alia is proud Muslim teenager who gets caught in one of the Twin Towers during the attack while visiting her father at work. She meets a boy. Together they help each other. Will they get out alive?

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by Jarrett Krosoczka
High School Non-fiction Graphic Novel
-Robin Percival

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Wonderstruck -  submitted by Laura Bernann

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Wonderstruck -  submitted by Laura Bernann

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Finishing the book now and hope to see the movie...I love the two stories at the same time with those amazing drawings.

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The Orphan Train
by  Christina Baker Kline
Submitted by Lori St Jarre

This is a beautifully written story of how two women from two very different generations come together to help each other heal.

Two women decades apart in age, yet so alike.
Wealthy 91 year old Vivian Daly did not always live a serene life on the coast of Maine. As a child, Vivian and her family emigrated from Ireland to NY in hopes to find a better life. Instead her father begins drinking more and more, bringing home less and less money, and her mother seeps deeper and deeper into a depression. Then, a fire destroys their home and kills Vivian’s family. As a result Vivian is handed over to the Children’s Aid Society. They place Vivian on an orphan train headed out west in hopes that a family will take her into their home. Unfortunately she is shuffled from one abusive home to another.
17 year old Molly has been shuffled from one foster home to another shortly after her dad dies, and her mom proves not able to care for Molly.  Her experience in foster care is not positive.  “She has learned not to expect anything from anybody” (Kline, 2013, p.8), so when classmate Jack wants to befriend Molly, she cannot understand why.  Then Molly is caught stealing a book from the local library. Jack arranges for her to complete her community service time by helping Vivan clean out her attic that holds many memories of her past.
It is when these two women are brought together that they can finally  explore their past and answer the questions about their past that have been haunting them.

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Coming On Home Soon
by Jacqueline Woodson
(Post by Debbie Erickson)
This book, with beautiful illustrations, reads almost like a poem and tells the story of a little girl whose mother has had to go to work on the railroad to make ends meet during the war.

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Middle Grades Nonfiction: Brown Girl Dreaming

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Middle Grades Nonfiction: Brown Girl Dreaming

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Jacqueline Woodson's poetic autobiography of growing up torn between the North and South. This is some of the most beautiful, quotable poetry that I've seen in a long time. It's the type of book that works its way into your heart and stays there for long after you've finished it.

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By Kwame Alexander
Middle grades
Fiction
Recommended by Andrew San Angelo
I was talking to a students about books he liked to read, and he mentioned this title to me.  This book is the a great read for students as it appeals to young athletic readers.  It is written in verse and some students love this format.  The story is told from a 7th grader who is a basketball player along with his twin brother.  His father is a retired basketball player and his mother is the Assistant Principal at his middle school.  The story line is very appealing to students of this age group.

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Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson (Jen Riccio)

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Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson (Jen Riccio)

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I just started listening to this book on Audible, but I am loving it so far! It is a story that follows outbound narrator, Hailey, but you learn about five other students in her class who are all dealing with different things. (This won’t let me add a photo of the cover at the moment 👎)

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High School Non Fiction
Hole In My Life
Jack Gantos
I listened to the author read the audio version. It was a pretty interesting story of Jack Gantos' unconventional life. The memoir began towards the end of his high school year. The family moved a lot for the father's work in construction. They moved from Florida to Puerto Rico. Soon Jack moved back to Florida by himself to finish high school. The story follows his life and one very poor decision that cost him a year and a half of freedom.
Kathryn Kovacs

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In 1991, fourteen-year-old Brent Runyon came home from school, doused his bathrobe in gasoline, put it on, and lit a match.

He suffered third-degree burns over 85% of his body and spent the next year recovering in hospitals and rehab facilities. During that year of physical recovery, Runyon began to question what he’d done, undertaking the complicated journey from near-death back to high school, and from suicide back to the emotional mainstream of life.

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by Lindsay Currie

This was a fun, spooky ghost story written for older elementary/middle school age students.  The main character, Tessa, is a middle school student forced to relocate from Florida to Chicago and she is not happy about it, especially when she realizes the house her family moved into might be haunted!  It's a great story of bravery, overcoming obstacles, and, most importantly, the importance of friendship and teamwork.  I read this and immediately knew my 5th graders would love it.  I'm reading it to them now and they keep begging for more!  Perfect for this time of year, too!

Image from Goodreads.com.

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Recommended by Kate Jovanelly

I read this book every year with my students. It's an excellent story about a new girl, Maya who comes to school, but Chloe and some of the other girls don't want to play with her, because she is different. It's the perfect book to celebrate kindness and to have great discussions about how a small act of kindness can change the world! It's also the perfect book to talk about theme.
Image from Amazon.com

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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

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This book was recommended by my father,  as he knows my interest in Science.  It is a powerful story relevant today more than ever of the collision between race, ethics, legalities in medicine, and the dark history of experimentation on African Americans without their knowledge.  High school students would benefit from reading about this dark time in history.
Book Recommendation from
Lisa Zielinski

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This is a must read for every LMS! It is the true story of Japanese children during WWII writing to their local librarian from interment camps. My son is 1/2 Japanese, I cried through the whole book! It was AMAZING!

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Nonfiction middle school read
Spectacular and insightful as well as awe inspiring!  I learned so much as this was told by Malala herself and detailed the origination of the Taliban in Pakistan,  within her own hometown.  Her perseverance and determination are not only admirable but also astounding.  I've added her to my proverbial dinner table!
Jackie DeLoma

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by Jessica Day
I listened to an audio book version of this book.  It was very entertaining, and I looked forward to getting into my car to run errands just so I could hear more!  There are 3 children, ages around 9-14, who live in a castle that, on Tuesdays especially, likes to rearrange rooms, staircases, etc.  The youngest (girl) Celie has a special relationship with the castle.  Their parents (king and queen) are ambushed and presumed dead and they must protect their royal lineage from an evil neighboring prince.  A real treat for Harry Potter or fantasy fans!
submitted by Sandy Fravel

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How I Resist is a collection of essays from famous and influential people. All of these essays are about the topic of resistance, and are reflective of the individual challenges and social justice activism of the author. Contributors include poet laureates, actors, artists, musicians, novelists, activists, and celebrities who have struggled one way or another in American society with gender, sexuality, or race. Each essay is different- some are very short, some are long, some are in the form of poems, interviews, narrative accounts, some are funny, and some are sad. All of the essays leave the reader with a sense of hope and positivity in his/her individual ability to create positive change through activism. This is an important book for any young adult readers who want to make a positive change in the world, but are unsure of how to start.

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All American Boys tell the story of two high school boys living in today's world. Rashad, an African American boy, is wrongly accused of stealing a bag of chips and is violently beaten by a police officer. Quinn, a classmate of Rashad's, happens to witness the beating and realizes the police officer is his best friend's older brother. Quinn has to decide how to handle the situation and who to stay loyal to. The story goes back and forth between their points of view and delivers a powerful message in today's society.

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My face hurt, I was grinning so hard as I read this magnificent book. The symbiotic relationship between the luminous Audrey Hepburn and the revolutionary fashion designer Givenchy is given a loving, albeit brief treatment here. See how many of her movies you can name as the illustrator lovingly recreates her costumes. Come on, people! Givenchy gave us the LBD, for crying out loud! Show some love!

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by Deborah Heiligman

This autobiography was a tremendous work which incorporated a multitude of letters that both brothers wrote to help tell the story of Vincent and Theo. Most people have an idea about Vincent Van Gogh and the life he led before his tragic death. This book opens the reader's eyes to how integral to his life and art his brother really was. Their partnership formed Vincent's artistic aesthetic and neither good have lived without the other. After reading this book, I fell in love with brothers.

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Xiaoyi Lin recommend:The Merry-Go-Round Poetry Book by Nancy LarrickKaren Gundersheimer

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Xiaoyi Lin recommend:The Merry-Go-Round Poetry Book by Nancy LarrickKaren Gundersheimer

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These poems that have true child appeal include
joyful  seasons, bothersome brothers, pets and
goblins. Good for poem lovers. Poetry unit: nature
& animals

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Just started the book...Great so far.. Based on a true story. As a parent I find it very emotional!

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I just finished Wishtree, by Kristina Applegate, award-winning author of another book I loved, The One and Only Ivan. My daughter's 6th grade teacher told her that he loved the book and she came home and shared the title with me. The book is told from the perspective of an old and extremely wise tree who has been the recipient of the varied wishes of community members for decades.  When she decides to intervene in the lives of two children against the better judgement of her animal friends, their lives change in ways they never could have imagined. I loved this book and its message and highly recommend it to readers of most any age.

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We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems and recommended by Matthew Kyer

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We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems and recommended by Matthew Kyer

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This book is so meta! In this Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book, Elephant and Piggy become aware that they are in a book and can make the reader say silly words. They also point out page numbers, word bubbles and that someone is looking at them...a READER!  This is a great read aloud to inspire the writers in our classrooms.

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Elementary Non-fiction
Recommended by Shelby Land
This is a beautifully illustrated picture book that explains how the Grand Canyon was formed and teaches about the ecosystems at the different layers. The writing is clear and easy for children to understand but still gives them plenty of scientific vocabulary. Along the edges of each page are detailed drawings and explanations that make you really want to study the text. It also has cut outs on a few pages to show what made the fossils that we see today as the book switches back and forth between present day and the time of the formation of the layers which make it very engaging. This book reminds me that I want to visit the Grand Canyon someday soon.

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By Alex Tresniowski and Laura Schroff

This was one book I truly could not put down. This is a memoir of Laura Schroff, an executive living in NYC in the 80's. One day walking to work she comes across Maurice, a homeless boy whose life is so dire that he doesn't even understand the concept of breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Through this chance encounter a friendship emerges and Laura tells an amazing tale of their friendship. It is a quick read, but one that really opens up ones eyes.