# data[].attributes.body
Middle Grade Nonfiction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tags

I have always adored nonfiction books and spent a large part of my childhood reading books about animals and history. As an adult reader and teacher, I still enjoy learning about our natural world and its people. The quality of nonfiction texts written for young readers has dramatically improved since the 1970's and 80's when I was growing up. Texts are more visually interesting with formats and design features that engage children, and nonfiction books for kids include a wider range of voices and topics.

It is my honor to collaborate with Carol Jago, educator, author, and fellow book lover, to announce the 2017 Nerdy Book Club Award winners for the Best Long Form Nonfiction (longer than a picture book) of this year. The books on this list include an outstanding array of subjects, formats, and writing styles. Each title deserves wide reading and belongs in both school and home collections.

The 2017 Nerdies for Best Long Form Nonfiction are:

#Not Your Princess: Voices of Native American Women by Lisa Charleyboy & Mary Beth Leatherdale

Annick Press

This compelling collection of stories, essays, artwork, photographs, and memoir offers young readers the authentic voices of women who have often been invisible in literature. While the circumstances depicted by the 58 indigenous contributors are sometimes grim, the overarching song that holds the compilation together is one of hope and power. The editors have arranged the images and text in such a way that they seem to be in conversation with one another, juxtaposing the visual with the written, color with black and white, the shocking with the sweet. This is a book that will fly off your classroom shelves and be passed from reader to reader. Consider purchasing multiple copies.-CJ
Lisa Charleyboy's website Mary Beth Leatherdale's website American Indians in Children's Literature review of #Not Your Princess by Debbie Reese
Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary by Martha Brockenbrough

Feiwel & Friends

Lin Miguel Miranda's musical has brought sudden attention to the life of Alexander Hamilton. Martha Brockenbrough's biography is a welcome addition to the musical's libretto, offering detail and background for the scenes and characters so many have come to love. Illustrated with historically accurate artwork and written in a lively fashion, this is an accessible volume both for young readers and for anyone daunted by Ron Chernow's 800+ page tome. (The author describes herself as a "writer for smart kids and juvenile adults.) While extolling Hamilton's astonishing achievements, the book is no hagiography. Brockenbrough describes the man's weaknesses and shortcomings even-handedly, resulting in a well-rounded portrayal of this remarkable American immigrant.-CJ
Martha Brockenbrough's website
Alice Paul and the Fight for Women's Rights: From the Vote to the Equal Rights Amendment by Deborah Kops

Calkins Creek

Did you know that shortly after women won the right to vote in 1920, Alice Paul wrote the Equal Rights Amendment, which if passed would have made all laws that discriminated against women unconstitutional? This relatively unknown woman was an important figure in the early women's rights movement and an unflagging advocate for equality throughout her long life. Deborah Kops biography includes stunning historical photographs that help bring the past to life for readers young and old. Raised a Quaker, Paul graduated from Swarthmore, and then moved from the quiet of Moorestown, PA to the most crowded corner in America, the lower east side of New York. It was there that her activist spirit was kindled. Alice Paul's story is an inspiration to mighty girls of any age.-CJ
Deborah Kops's website
Bound by Ice: A True North Pole Survival Story by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace

Calkins Creek

With the financial support of James Gordon Bennett Jr., the owner of the New York Herald, and the backing of the U.S. Navy, Lt. Commander George W. De Long led an ill-fated expedition to explore the North Pole in 1879. In spite of the skilled crew, De Long's vessel, the U.S.S. Jeannette, became trapped in ice two months into the journey. The ship eventually sank and its 33 sailors attempted to reach Siberian settlements-struggling against arctic weather and the loss of most of the crew. The authors expertly integrate primary source documents, journal entries, maps, and photographs into a riveting adventure story of fellowship and survival.-DM
Sandra Neil Wallace's website Rich Wallace's website
Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws that Affect Us Today by Cynthia Levinson and Sanford Levinson

Peachtree Publishers

In the summer of 1787, the leaders of the new United States of America gathered to develop the laws that would govern our nation. After months of debate and compromises, the Constitution was written to define the rights of citizens and the role of government, but it wasn't perfect. Over 200 years later, we are still affected by the flaws in our Constitution, such as the Electoral College and the scope of our civil rights and liberties. Award-winning author, Cynthia Levinson, and her husband, Sanford Levinson, a Constitutional law scholar, join forces in this lively and relevant exploration of the U.S. Constitution, its continuous evolution and interpretation through amendments and Supreme Court cases, and how it affects our daily lives. A must-read for all Americans and a vital text for American History classrooms and school libraries.-DM
Fault Lines in the Constitution blog Cynthia Levinson's website Cynsations blog interview with Cynthia Levinson
Fred Korematsu Speaks Up by Laura Atkins and Stan Yogi, illustrated by Yutaka Houlette

Heyday

After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which called for the removal of all residents and American citizens of Japanese ancestry from their homes and forced thousands into internment camps. Fred Korematsu, a young man from Oakland, California, resisted his internment and became a fugitive before his eventual arrest. Speaking out against the unlawful detention of American citizens, Korematsu appealed his conviction for violating the internment order and became the primary plaintiff in the Supreme Court case, Korematsu vs. United States, which concerned the constitutionality of the internment order. Korematsu lost the case, but he continued to speak out against racism and civil rights for the rest of his life. Mixing poetry with alternating pages of primary source documents and historical information, this first book in the new Fighting for Justice series will introduce young readers to an American hero and spark interest in social activism.-DM
Laura Atkins' website Uma Krishnaswami's interview with Laura Atkins and Stan Yogi
Girl Rising: Changing the World One Girl at a Time by Tanya Lee Stone

Wendy Lamb Books

Around the globe, millions of girls are unable to attend school or denied the ability to pursue an education. Many are forced into marriages and early motherhood, sold into slavery, or become victims of gender-based violence. Through their films and outreach efforts, the Girl Rising Campaign seeks to educate girls and inform others about the importance of empowering girls as a means to ameliorate poverty and improve communities. Talented author and advocate, Tanya Lee Stone, gives young readers a behind-the-scenes look at the 2013 Girl Rising documentary and explores the factors that prevent girls from acquiring an education and equality. This important work offers an informed look at the complex issues that contribute to oppression and inequality for many women and girls.-DM
Tanya Lee Stone's website Girl Rising website
How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana and Abigail Pesta

Katherine Tegen Books

Fleeing turmoil in her home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sandra Uwiringiyimana witnessed the murder of her mother and little sister by rebels in a refugee camp. Through a United Nations program, Sandra and her surviving family members eventually immigrated to the United States, but her transition was difficult due to intense trauma, sorrow, and the prejudice and racism Sandra encountered. As a activist, Sandra shares the suffering of refugees and the need for worldwide advocacy and humanitarian aid. Sandra's heartbreaking and inspiring memoir, written with journalist Abigail Pesta, introduces young readers to the political and social issues that force many people from their homelands to seek better lives in the United States and reminds us all that refugees are not pawns, but people.-DM
Abigail Pesta's website CBS News interview with the authors
Isaac the Alchemist: Secrets of Isaac Newton, Reveal'd by Mary Losure

Candlewick

Isaac Newton's scientific discoveries changed the world, but long before his legendary experiments and formulas, Newton was a lonely boy who lived in an apothecary shop. Fascinated with alchemy, the transmutation of common materials into something more valuable like gold, Newton developed his unique look at the world and his processes for conducting and recording experiments at a young age. This well-researched and engaging biography offers readers a foundation in fundamental physics and chemistry, and a deeper look into one of the greatest scientific minds of all time. Don't miss the back matter which includes extensive resources and a fascinating description of Mary Losure's research processes.-DM
Mary Losure's website
Life on Surtsey: Iceland's Upstart Island by Loree Griffin Burns

HMH Books for Young Readers

Dr. Loree Griffin Burns is one of the best science writers creating books for kids today. With her descriptive writing style and her ability to break down complex scientific processes into accessible ideas, her books provide inviting entry points for young scientists and not-interested-in-science-yet kids. In this new installment in HMH's stellar Scientists in the Field series, Burns explores the newly-formed volcanic island, Surtsey, and spends time with the scientists who are studying the island's creation and evolution. Surtsey's raw, dangerous beauty and its significance to scientific study will intrigue readers and promote interest in conservation, biology, and geology. An effective and engaging model of scientific writing for young writers, too.-DM
Loree Griffin Burns's website Loree Griffin Burns's Nerdy Book Club post about Life on Surtsey
Pathfinders: The Journeys of 16 Extraordinary Black Souls by Tonya Bolden

Abrams Books for Young Readers

Lauded historian and Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author, Tonya Bolden, presents a collective biography of sixteen notable black women and men who made significant contributions to science, art, and business. Many of them never received recognition for their accomplishments during their lifetimes and overcame tremendous obstacles to achieve even modest success because of racism and inequity. This important book gives young people a more accurate and inclusive portrayal of history and the incredible people who influenced our world. Each individual featured deserves further inquiry and discussion.-DM

Tonya Bolden's website

Poison: Deadly Deeds, Perilous Professions, and Murderous Medicines by Sarah Albee

Crown Books for Young Readers
Sarah Albee's website NPR interview with Sarah Albee
In this humorous and humorously illustrated history of poison, Sarah Albee chronicles the many ways in which deadly substances have influenced events in literature and real life. You will be happy to hear that this is not a "how to" guide to poisoning but rather a tongue-in-cheek exploration of the ubiquity of poison through the ages. Of interest to any budding scientist and a must-have in any STEM school, the book will engage young readers on may levels, including otherwise reluctant readers who are drawn to tales of gross mayhem. Albee has included a remarkable author's note and research guide that serves as a springboard for further learning.-CJ

Red Cloud: A Lakota Story of War and Surrender by S.D. Nelson

(Abrams Books for Young Readers)
S.D. Nelson's website
Artist and author S.D. Nelson, member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas, continues his biography series of great Lakota leaders with this dramatic and informative portrait of Oglala Lakota chief, Red Cloud. Driven to accept a treaty with the American government in order to protect his people from genocide, starvation, and war, Red Cloud agreed to move with his tribe to a reservation-in opposition to other Lakota leaders (including Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull) who refused to surrender. Red Cloud continued to lead his people in negotiations with government agents for the rest of his life-in spite of repeated betrayal and the American government's refusal to abide by its own treaties. An honest, well-researched portrait of a courageous man forced into an impossible position. Nelson's vibrant artwork enhances the text and stands out as important storytelling elements.-DM

Shackles From the Deep: Tracing the Path of a Sunken Slave Ship, a Bitter Past, and a Rich Legacy by Michael Cottman

National Geographic Children's Books
Michael Cottman's website National Geographic's Educators Guide
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author, and avid scuba diver, Michael Cottman, explored the recovered slave ship, the Henrietta Marie, as part of the National Association of Black Scuba Divers in the early 90's. After years of research and diving expeditions, Cottman published The Wreck of the Henrietta Marie: An African American's Spiritual Journey to Uncover a Sunken Slave Ship in 1998, describing his experiences with the Henrietta Marie recovery operation. Working with National Geographic Children's Books, Cottman has created a book for young readers based on his exploration. Rich with primary sources, this is a gripping look at the African slave trade and Cottman's spiritual and archaeological journey. Rich with resources and primary source material including maps, timelines, and references.-DM

Stormy Seas: Stories of Young Boat Refugees by Mary Beth Leatherdale and Eleanor Shakespeare

Annick Press

Through interviews and historical and information, Mary Beth Leatherdale introduces readers to five children who fled their homelands and sought asylum via boats and ships. The powerful stories of real children from Nazi Germany to Cuba to Vietnam to Afghanistan to the Ivory Coast illustrate the uncertain futures of families forced to leave their home countries and their dependence on other countries to offer aid. Illustrated with Eleanor Shakespeare's lush collages combining photographs and original art. An #ownvoices pairing for Alan Gratz's historical fiction book, Refugee.-DM

Mary Beth Leatherdale's website http://www.marybethleatherdale.com/

Eleanor Shakespeare's website http://eleanorshakespeare.com/

The 57 Bus: Two Sides of the Same Crime/ Two Ends of the Same Line by Dashka Slater

Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR
Dashka Slater's website Dashka Slater's 2015 New York Times magazine article on the events that inspired her book
Dashka Slater first wrote about this story a New York Times Magazine article in 2015. It is the tale of two high school-age kids on a bus to school in Oakland, California and a moment that changed both of their lives forever. Sasha is white, self-identifies as agender, attends a private school, and is dressed in a gauze skirt. Richard is black, from the poor side of town, and attends the public school. Impulsively flicking a lighted match at Sasha's skirt and setting Sasha alight results in serious injury to Sasha and a charge of a hate crime and possible life imprisonment for Richard. Their story is sure to inspire powerful discussions about race, gender, tolerance, and redemption.-CJ
Ann Bausum's website
The March Against Fear: The Last Great Walk of the Civil Rights Movement and the Emergence of Black Power by Ann Bausum

National Geographic Children's Books

The last great march of the Civil Rights Movement, the March Against Fear, traveled from Memphis, Tennessee to Jackson, Mississippi in June 1966. Begun by James Meredith, the first African-American to be admitted to the University of Mississippi, the march grew to 15,000 people and resulted in 4,000 black voter registrations. Ann Bausum ( Stonewall) uncovers the factors that led to the march, describes the dangerous conditions for marchers in hostile Mississippi, and explores the march's long-term consequences for the Civil Rights Movement and the rise of Stokely Carmichael's Black Power Movement. Includes extensive supporting information including primary source material such as first hand accounts, photographs, and additional references.-DM
Susan Goldman Rubin's website Interview with the author about The Quilts of Gees Bend
The Quilts of Gees Bend by Susan Goldman Rubin

Abrams Books for Young Readers
Ammi-Joan Paquette's website Laurie Thompson's website
In the rural community of Gees Bend in southern Alabama, women have been quilting for generations, producing works of art out of scraps of material from overalls, sacking, anything they could lay their talented hands on. The resulting quilts were things of everyday use until they attracted the attention of the art world, first at the Museum of Fine Arts in Huston in 2002 and later at the Whitney. The Metropolitan Museum of Art now displays a permanent collection of the quilts of Gees Bend. Susan Goldman Rubin tells the story of the women who have been creating these startlingly original compositions since post-bellum times through to the present. Her book includes not only reproductions of the quilts but also historical photos that depict the conditions under which they were created.-CJ

Two Truths and a Lie: it's Alive! by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Thompson, illustrated by Lisa Weber

Walden Pond Press
Deborah Heiligman's website
In this era of Fake News, faced with the urgent need to teach children to evaluate the credibility of information, this book is a timely and entertaining resource. Authors Paquette ( Princess Juniper) and Thompson ( Be A Changemaker) use the classic two truths and a lie game to frame stories about the natural world-two out of three stories are true, but one is false. Children will love learning bizarre facts about animals and plants (Zombie ants, anyone?) while developing and practicing critical information literacy skills. The first book in an exciting new series.-DM

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

Henry Holt and Co. BYR
Jack Gantos's website
National Book Award Finalist ( Charles and Emma's Leap of Faith) Deborah Heiligman has again written a biography that sets forth a claim. In the case of the Van Gogh brothers, it is that without Theo there would have been no Vincent. Using the 658 letters Vincent wrote to Theo and the 40 Theo wrote to Vincent as her source material, Heiligman charts the course of a relationship that was surprisingly interdependent and based upon unconditional love. While some readers may be drawn to the book by their love for Vincent Van Gogh's paintings, others are likely to find that his life story sends them to the Internet to search for images of the art being described.-CJ
Carol Jago has taught English in middle and high school for 32 years and served as president of the National Council of Teachers of English. After years of reading only fiction, she has fallen in love with nonfiction. You can find Carol on Twitter @caroljago.
Writing Radar: Using Your Journal to Snoop Out and Craft Great Stories by Jack Gantos

Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR

With inimitable humor and wit, Jack Gantos - winner of the Newbery Medal for Dead End in Norvelt - offers young readers the inside scoop about writing. The book will be of interest not only to your budding young writers but also to student writers who feel they never have anything to write about. Gantos provides guidance on developing one's radar for good stories, the kind that can be found in anyone's life. Along with how-to chapters on "Story Maps," "Action and Emotion," and "Good Habits Lead to Great Inspiration," Gantos reflects on the power of storytelling and its importance in all our lives. The book abounds in ideas for powerful writing lessons.-CJ

Congratulations to the winners of this year's nonfiction Nerdies and thanks to everyone who nominated titles during the ballot process this year.

Donalyn Miller has taught fourth, fifth, and sixth grade English and Social Studies in Northeast Texas. She is the author of two books about encouraging students to read, The Book Whisperer(Jossey-Bass, 2009) and Reading in the Wild (Jossey-Bass, 2013). Donalyn co-hosts the monthly Twitter chat, #titletalk (with Nerdy Book Club co-founder, Colby Sharp). Donalyn launched the annual Twitter summer and holiday reading initiative, #bookaday. You can find her on Twitter at @donalynbooks or under a pile of books somewhere, happily reading.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The 2017 Nerdies: Long Form Nonfiction Announced by Carol Jago and Donalyn Miller

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I have always adored nonfiction books and spent a large part of my childhood reading books about animals and history. As an adult reader and teacher, I still enjoy learning about our natural world and its people. The quality of nonfiction texts written for young readers has dramatically improved since the 1970's and 80's when...

# data[].attributes.body
by Rae Carson - historical fiction with a twist of fantasy
Topics: 1840s, gold rush, pioneers, wagon trains, gender/race discrimination

I always love survival stories, and Lee Westfall is forced to make it on her own after tragedy in her family.

# data[].attributes.body
by Gary D. Schmidt
The wednesday wars is about Holling hoodhood a student at camillo junior high.  He thinks that his teacher,Mrs. Baker,it out to get him.

# data[].attributes.body
Many of the best books I've read in the past few years were from this list. Librarians like Ms. Cargile read books all year and make recommendations. She and I have a bet to see who can read the most from this list by the end of December!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lone Star Reading List | Texas Library Association

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Texas Lone Star list is a recommended reading list developed by public and school librarians from the Young Adult Round Table. The purpose of the list is to encourage students in grades 6, 7, or 8 to explore a variety of current books.

# data[].attributes.headline
2018 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List

# data[].attributes.subject
2018 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List

# data[].attributes.body
I’m trying to get better about reading nonfiction, so if you’ve read any, please make recommendations!

# data[].attributes.body
By Joelle Charboneau
This is a dystopian book about a future course that determines wheter you will get a good job, but one girl finds out that the Testing has a dark secret.

# data[].attributes.body
This book is about a group of orphan whose royal or noble parents were killed and they are trying to get their kingdom in hopes of going back to their old lives.

# data[].attributes.body
This book is about a girl and her family running away from these people called Erasers and it been years they ran away from "The Cage" they hide away in a cabin and the Erasers end up finding them and take the most youngest out of the group gets kidnaped and they go look and see that shes back at "The Cage"

# data[].attributes.body
Middle Grade Fiction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I love beginning each year announcing the winners of the Middle Grade Fiction Nerdies. These books will remain in the hearts of young readers for the rest of their lives. Once again Nerdy Nation comes through with an amazing list of books. Congratulations to all the winners!
*Book descriptions taken from Goodreads* Amina's Voice By: Hena Khan
Amina has never been comfortable in the spotlight. She is happy just hanging out with her best friend, Soojin. Except now that she's in middle school everything feels different. Soojin is suddenly hanging out with Emily, one of the "cool" girls in the class, and even talking about changing her name to something more "American." Does Amina need to start changing too? Or hiding who she is to fit in? While Amina grapples with these questions, she is devastated when her local mosque is vandalized.
Beyond the Bright Sea By: Lauren Wolk
Twelve-year-old Crow has lived her entire life on a tiny, isolated piece of the starkly beautiful Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. Abandoned and set adrift on a small boat when she was just hours old, Crow's only companions are Osh, the man who rescued and raised her, and Miss Maggie, their fierce and affectionate neighbor across the sandbar.

Crow has always been curious about the world around her, but it isn't until the night a mysterious fire appears across the water that the unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart. Soon, an unstoppable chain of events is triggered, leading Crow down a path of discovery and danger.

Vivid and heart wrenching, Lauren Wolk's Beyond the Bright Sea is a gorgeously crafted and tensely paced tale that explores questions of identity, belonging, and the true meaning of family.
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground By: Rita Williams Garcia
From beloved Newbery Honor winner and three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner Rita Williams-Garcia comes a powerful and heartfelt novel about loss, family, and love that will appeal to fans of Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander.

Clayton feels most alive when he's with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen-he can't wait to join them, just as soon as he has a blues song of his own. But then the unthinkable happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton's mother forbids Clayton from playing the blues. And Clayton knows that's no way to live.

Armed with his grandfather's brown porkpie hat and his harmonica, he runs away from home in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road. But on the journey that takes him through the New York City subways and to Washington Square Park, Clayton learns some things that surprise him.
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited By: Ellen Oh
Whether it is basketball dreams, family fiascos, first crushes, or new neighborhoods, this bold anthology-written by the best children's authors-celebrates the uniqueness and universality in all of us.

In a partnership with We Need Diverse Books, industry giants Kwame Alexander, Soman Chainani, Matt de la Peña, Tim Federle, Grace Lin, Meg Medina, Walter Dean Myers, Tim Tingle, and Jacqueline Woodson join newcomer Kelly J. Baptist in a story collection that is as humorous as it is heartfelt. This impressive group of authors has earned among them every major award in children's publishing and popularity as New York Times bestsellers.

From these distinguished authors come ten distinct and vibrant stories.
Greetings From Witness Protection By: Jake Burt
A funny and poignant debut middle-grade novel about a foster-care girl who is placed with a family in the witness protection program, and finds that hiding in plain sight is complicated and dangerous.
Nicki Demere is an orphan and a pickpocket. She also happens to be the U.S. Marshals' best bet to keep a family alive. . . .

The marshals are looking for the perfect girl to join a mother, father, and son on the run from the nation's most notorious criminals. After all, the bad guys are searching for a family with one kid, not two, and adding a streetwise girl who knows a little something about hiding things may be just what the marshals need.

Nicki swears she can keep the Trevor family safe, but to do so she'll have to dodge hitmen, cyberbullies, and the specter of standardized testing, all while maintaining her marshal-mandated B-minus average. As she barely balances the responsibilities of her new identity, Nicki learns that the biggest threats to her family's security might not lurk on the road from New York to North Carolina, but rather in her own past.
Hello, Universe By: Erin Entrada Kelly
In one day, four lives weave together in unexpected ways. Virgil Salinas is shy and kindhearted and feels out of place in his loud and boisterous family. Valencia Somerset, who is deaf, is smart, brave, and secretly lonely, and loves everything about nature. Kaori Tanaka is a self-proclaimed psychic, whose little sister Gen is always following her around. And Chet Bullens wishes the weird kids would just act normal so that he can concentrate on basketball. They aren't friends - at least not until Chet pulls a prank that traps Virgil and his pet guinea pig at the bottom of a well. This disaster leads Kaori, Gen, and Valencia on an epic quest to find the missing Virgil. Through luck, smarts, bravery, and a little help from the universe, a rescue is performed, a bully is put in his place, and friendship blooms.
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus By: Dusti Bowling
Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona, Aven moves with them across the country knowing that she'll have to answer the question over and over again.

Her new life takes an unexpected turn when she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. It's hard to solve a mystery, help a friend, and face your worst fears. But Aven's about to discover she can do it all . . . even without arms.
Me and Marvin Gardens By: Amy Sarig King
Obe Devlin has problems. His family's farmland has been taken over by developers. His best friend Tommy abandoned him for the development kids. And he keeps getting nosebleeds, because of that thing he doesn't like to talk about. So Obe hangs out at the creek by his house, in the last wild patch left, picking up litter and looking for animal tracks.

One day, he sees a creature that looks kind of like a large dog, or maybe a small boar. And as he watches it, he realizes it eats plastic. Only plastic. Water bottles, shopping bags... No one has ever seen a creature like this before, because there's never been a creature like this before. The animal-Marvin Gardens-soon becomes Obe's best friend and biggest secret. But to keep him safe from the developers and Tommy and his friends, Obe must make a decision that might change everything.

In her most personal novel yet, Printz Honor Award winner Amy Sarig King tells the story of a friendship that could actually save the world.
Orphan Island By: Laurel Snyder
On the island, everything is perfect. The sun rises in a sky filled with dancing shapes; the wind, water, and trees shelter and protect those who live there; when the nine children go to sleep in their cabins, it is with full stomachs and joy in their hearts. And only one thing ever changes: on that day, each year, when a boat appears from the mist upon the ocean carrying one young child to join them-and taking the eldest one away, never to be seen again.

Today's Changing is no different. The boat arrives, taking away Jinny's best friend, Deen, replacing him with a new little girl named Ess, and leaving Jinny as the new Elder. Jinny knows her responsibility now-to teach Ess everything she needs to know about the island, to keep things as they've always been. But will she be ready for the inevitable day when the boat will come back-and take her away forever from the only home she's known?
Patina By: Jason Reynolds
Patina, or Patty, runs like a flash. She runs for many reasons-to escape the taunts from the kids at the fancy-schmancy new school she's been sent to since she and her little sister had to stop living with their mom. She runs from the reason WHY she's not able to live with her "real" mom any more: her mom has The Sugar, and Patty is terrified that the disease that took her mom's legs will one day take her away forever. So Patty's also running for her mom, who can't. But can you ever really run away from any of this? As the stress builds up, it's building up a pretty bad attitude as well. Coach won't tolerate bad attitude. No day, no way. And now he wants Patty to run relay...where you have to depend on other people? How's she going to do THAT?
Posted By: John David Anderson
In middle school, words aren't just words. They can be weapons. They can be gifts. The right words can win you friends or make you enemies. They can come back to haunt you. Sometimes they can change things forever.

When cell phones are banned at Branton Middle School, Frost and his friends Deedee, Wolf, and Bench come up with a new way to communicate: leaving sticky notes for each other all around the school. It catches on, and soon all the kids in school are leaving notes-though for every kind and friendly one, there is a cutting and cruel one as well.

In the middle of this, a new girl named Rose arrives at school and sits at Frost's lunch table. Rose is not like anyone else at Branton Middle School, and it's clear that the close circle of friends Frost has made for himself won't easily hold another. As the sticky-note war escalates, and the pressure to choose sides mounts, Frost soon realizes that after this year, nothing will ever be the same.
Refugee By: Alan Gratz
JOSEF is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world . . .

ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety in America . . .

MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe . . .

All three kids go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. All will face unimaginable dangers - from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, shocking connections will tie their stories together in the end.

This action-packed novel tackles topics both timely and timeless: courage, survival, and the quest for home.
Restart By: Gordon Korman
Chase's memory just went out the window.

Chase doesn't remember falling off the roof. He doesn't remember hitting his head. He doesn't, in fact, remember anything. He wakes up in a hospital room and suddenly has to learn his whole life all over again . . . starting with his own name.

He knows he's Chase. But who is Chase? When he gets back to school, he sees that different kids have very different reactions to his return.

Some kids treat him like a hero. Some kids are clearly afraid of him.

One girl in particular is so angry with him that she pours her frozen yogurt on his head the first chance she gets.

Pretty soon, it's not only a question of who Chase is-it's a question of who he was . . . and who he's going to be.
Rise of the Jumbies By: Tracey Baptiste
Corinne LaMer defeated the wicked jumbie Severine months ago, but things haven't exactly gone back to normal in her Caribbean island home. Everyone knows Corinne is half-jumbie, and many of her neighbors treat her with mistrust. When local children begin to go missing, snatched from the beach and vanishing into wells, suspicious eyes turn to Corinne.

To rescue the missing children and clear her own name, Corinne goes deep into the ocean to find Mama D'Leau, the dangerous jumbie who rules the sea. But Mama D'Leau's help comes with a price. Corinne and her friends Dru, Bouki, and Malik must travel with mermaids across the ocean to the shores of Ghana to fetch a powerful object for Mama D'Leau. The only thing more perilous than Corinne's adventures across the sea is the foe that waits for her back home.
See You In The Cosmos By: Jack Cheng
11-year-old Alex Petroski loves space and rockets, his mom, his brother, and his dog Carl Sagan-named for his hero, the real-life astronomer. All he wants is to launch his golden iPod into space the way Carl Sagan (the man, not the dog) launched his Golden Record on the Voyager spacecraft in 1977. From Colorado to New Mexico, Las Vegas to L.A., Alex records a journey on his iPod to show other lifeforms what life on earth, his earth, is like.

But his destination keeps changing. And the funny, lost, remarkable people he meets along the way can only partially prepare him for the secrets he'll uncover-from the truth about his long-dead dad to the fact that, for a kid with a troubled mom and a mostly not-around brother, he has way more family than he ever knew.
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora By: Pablo Cartaya
Save the restaurant. Save the town. Get the girl. Make Abuela proud. Can thirteen-year-old Arturo Zamora do it all or is he in for a BIG, EPIC FAIL?
For Arturo, summetime in Miami means playing basketball until dark, sipping mango smoothies, and keeping cool under banyan trees. And maybe a few shifts as junior lunchtime dishwasher at Abuela's restaurant. Maybe. But this summer also includes Carmen, a cute poetry enthusiast who moves into Arturo's apartment complex and turns his stomach into a deep fryer. He almost doesn't notice the smarmy land developer who rolls into town and threatens to change it. Arturo refuses to let his family and community go down without a fight, and as he schemes with Carmen, Arturo discovers the power of poetry and protest through untold family stories and the work of Jose Marti.
The Ethan I was Before By: Ali Standish
Ethan had been many things. He was always ready for adventure and always willing to accept a dare, especially from his best friend, Kacey. But that was before. Before the accident that took Kacey from him. Before his family moved from Boston to the small town of Palm Knot, Georgia.

Palm Knot may be tiny, but it's the home of possibility and second chances. It's also home to Coralee, a girl with a big personality and even bigger stories. Coralee may be just the friend Ethan needs, except Ethan isn't the only one with secrets. Coralee's are catching up with her, and what she's hiding might be putting both their lives at risk.
The First Rule of Punk By: Celia C. Pérez
There are no shortcuts to surviving your first day at a new school-you can't fix it with duct tape like you would your Chuck Taylors. On Day One, twelve-year-old Malu (Maria Luisa, if you want to annoy her) inadvertently upsets Posada Middle School's queen bee, violates the school's dress code with her punk rock look, and disappoints her college-professor mom in the process. Her dad, who now lives a thousand miles away, says things will get better as long as she remembers the first rule of punk: be yourself.

The real Malu loves rock music, skateboarding, zines, and Soyrizo (hold the cilantro, please). And when she assembles a group of like-minded misfits at school and starts a band, Malu finally begins to feel at home. She'll do anything to preserve this, which includes standing up to an anti-punk school administration to fight for her right to express herself!
The Someday Birds By: Sally J. Pla
Charlie wishes his life could be as predictable and simple as chicken nuggets.

And it usually is. He has his clean room, his carefully organized bird books and art supplies, his favorite foods, and comfortable routines.

But life has been unraveling since his war journalist father was injured in Afghanistan. And when Dad gets sent across country for medical treatment, Charlie must reluctantly travel to meet him. With his boy-crazy sister, unruly twin brothers, and a mysterious new family friend at the wheel, the journey looks anything but smooth.

So Charlie decides to try and spot all the birds that he and his dad had been hoping to see together in the wild. If he can complete the Someday Birds list for Dad, then maybe, just maybe, things will turn out okay...

Equal parts madcap road trip, coming-of-age story for an unusual boy, and portrait of a family overcoming a crisis.
The Stars Beneath Our Feet By: David Barclay Moore
It's Christmas Eve in Harlem, but twelve-year-old Lolly Rachpaul and his mom aren't celebrating. They're still reeling from his older brother's death in a gang-related shooting just a few months earlier. Then Lolly's mother's girlfriend brings him a gift that will change everything: two enormous bags filled with Legos. Lolly's always loved Legos, and he prides himself on following the kit instructions exactly. Now, faced with a pile of building blocks and no instructions, Lolly must find his own way forward.
His path isn't clear-and the pressure to join a "crew," as his brother did, is always there. When Lolly and his friend are beaten up and robbed, joining a crew almost seems like the safe choice. But building a fantastical Lego city at the community center provides Lolly with an escape-and an unexpected bridge back to the world.
The Vanerbeekers of 141st Street By: Karina Yan Glaser
The Vanderbeekers have always lived in the brownstone on 141st Street. It's practically another member of the family. So when their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord decides not to renew their lease, the five siblings have eleven days to do whatever it takes to stay in their beloved home and convince the dreaded Beiderman just how wonderful they are. And all is fair in love and war when it comes to keeping their home.
The War I Finally Won By: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
When Ada's clubfoot is surgically fixed at last, she knows for certain that she's not what her mother said she was-damaged, deranged, crippled mentally as well as physically. She's not a daughter anymore, either. What is she?

World War II continues, and Ada and her brother, Jamie, are living with their loving legal guardian, Susan, in a borrowed cottage on the estate of the formidable Lady Thorton-along with Lady Thorton herself and her daughter, Maggie. Life in the crowded cottage is tense enough, and then, quite suddenly, Ruth, a Jewish girl from Germany, moves in. A German? The occupants of the house are horrified. But other impacts of the war become far more frightening. As death creeps closer to their door, life and morality during wartime grow more complex. Who is Ada now? How can she keep fighting? And who will she struggle to save?
The Way to Bea By: Kat Yeh
Everything in Bea's world has changed. She's starting seventh grade newly friendless and facing big changes at home, where she is about to go from only child to big sister. Feeling alone and adrift, and like her words don't deserve to be seen, Bea takes solace in writing haiku in invisible ink and hiding them in a secret spot.

But then something incredible happens-someone writes back. And Bea begins to connect with new friends, including a classmate obsessed with a nearby labyrinth and determined to get inside. As she decides where her next path will lead, she just might discover that her words-and herself-have found a new way to belong.
wishtree By: Katherine Applegate
Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood "wishtree"-people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red's hollows, this "wishtree" watches over the neighborhood.

You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red's experiences as a wishtree are more important than ever.
York By: Laura Ruby
It was 1798 when the Morningstarr twins arrived in New York with a vision for a magnificent city: towering skyscrapers, dazzling machines, and winding train lines, all running on technology no one had ever seen before. Fifty-seven years later, the enigmatic architects disappeared, leaving behind for the people of New York the Old York Cipher-a puzzle laid into the shining city they constructed, at the end of which was promised a treasure beyond all imagining. By the present day, however, the puzzle has never been solved, and the greatest mystery of the modern world is little more than a tourist attraction.

Tess and Theo Biedermann and their friend Jaime Cruz live in a Morningstarr apartment house-until a real estate developer announces that the city has agreed to sell him the five remaining Morningstarr buildings. Their likely destruction means the end of a dream long-held by the people of New York. And if Tess, Theo and Jaime want to save their home, they have to prove that the Old York Cipher is real. Which means they have to solve it.

From National Book Award Finalist Laura Ruby comes a visionary epic set in a New York City at once familiar and wholly unexpected.

***************
Colby Sharp is a fifth grade teacher in Parma, Michigan. He is the co-founder of Nerdy Book Club and Nerd Camp Michigan. He co-hosts The Yarn Podcast with his friend Travis Jonker. His first book, The Creativity Project comes out in March.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
THE 2017 NERDIES: Middle Grade Fiction ANNOUNCED BY Colby Sharp

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I love beginning each year announcing the winners of the Middle Grade Fiction Nerdies. These books will remain in the hearts of young readers for the rest of their lives. Once again Nerdy Nation comes through with an amazing list of books. Congratulations to all the winners!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tags

Family, no matter how we define it, is the place where the "Who am I?" begins. As we grow and search for heroes, no matter how we define them, we begin the lifelong exploration of "Who will I be?"

The 2017 Nerdy Poetry and Novels in Verse will enrich the lives of readers with FAMILY and HEROES, expanding the ways we define both.
What matters most are those we hold close - our family makes us who we are. Family Poems For Every Day of the Week/Poemas Familiares Para Cada Dia de la Semana
By Francisco X. Alarcón

Illustrated by Maya Christina González

Lee & Low Books

Bilingual poems explore family activities every day of the week, and explain the origins of the names of the seven days.
When My Sister Started Kissing
By Helen Frost

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Set during summer vacation at a cabin on a lake, two sisters navigate growing up, plus the changing landscape of a family with a stepmom and a new little brother.
Gone Camping: A Novel in Verse
by Tamera Will Wissinger

illustrated by Matthew Cordell

HMH Books for Young Readers

In this companion to Gone Fishing , Lucy and Sam go camping with Grandpa. Family ties are strengthened through common experiences.
Forget Me Not
By Ellie Terry

Feiwel & Friends

Navigating the world with Tourette's syndrome is much easier with the support of family and friends.
Bull
By David Elliott

HMH Books for Young Readers

The story of the mythological family of Minos and Pasiphae, their daughter Ariadne and Pasiphae's son Asterion (aka the Minotaur) is retold in multiple voices, including that of the wise-cracking Poseidon.
Solo
By Kwame Alexander, with Mary Rand Hess

Blade is conflicted about his place in his family. He shares his father's love of music, but not the rich-and-famous-rockstar lifestyle.
Long Way Down
By Jason Reynolds

Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

Will's brother was murdered and he's out to get revenge, but on the elevator ride down he is visited by "family" members who help him see the larger picture.
Hey Black Child
By Useni Eugene Perkins

Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Little, Brown

This empowering poem lifts up every black child with the words of the poet, the pictures of the illustrator, and the voice of the person (family or "family") who reads it aloud.
Those we venerate guide us to become great - our heroes show us who we might become. Bravo!: Poems About Amazing Hispanics
By Margarita Engle

Illustrated by Rafael López

Henry Holt and Co.

Well-known and need-to-be known Hispanics are featured in these biographical poems, providing inspiration for all who seek a hero.
Stone Mirrors: The Sculpture and SIlence of Edmonia Lewis
By Jeannine Atkins

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Edmonia Lewis overcame the obstacles of race and gender to become a sculptor in the years following the Civil War. Heroes show us how to hold fast to dreams.
Loving vs Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case
By Patricia Hruby Powell

Illustrated by Shadra Strickland

Chronicle Books

Richard and Mildred Loving were teenagers who fell in love. Their marriage broke the laws of the time, but their civil rights case paved the way for the legal biracial marriages of today. Heroes lead the way to a better future..
One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance
By Nikki Grimes

Bloomsbury USA Childrens

In this collection of Golden Shovel poems, Nikki Grimes pays tribute to the poet-heroes of the Harlem Renaissance - heroes whose words continue to resonate today.
Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets
By Kwame Alexander with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth

Illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Candlewick Press

Twenty acclaimed poets are celebrated with poems that acknowledge their impact on the work of the authors. Heroes change our lives.
I'm Just No Good At Rhyming: And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups
By Chris Harris

Illustrated by Lane Smith

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Can a hero be the person who makes us laugh? Perhaps that's what we need now more than ever. Put this book in kids' hands. Be a hero.
Read! Read! Read!
By Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke

Reading is the magic that binds all Nerdy teachers, librarians, and readers. The poems in this book celebrate all we hold dear: books are heroes, poems are heroes, and most of all, readers are the heroes of today and tomorrow.

Mary Lee Hahn is a 5th grade teacher in Dublin, Ohio. Her poetry has been published in the Poetry Friday anthologies, Dear Tomato: An International Crop of Food and Agriculture Poems, and The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry. Her poetry website is maryleehahn.com, she blogs with Franki Sibberson at A Year of Reading, and she can be found on Twitter @MaryLeeHahn.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The 2017 Nerdies: Poetry and Novels in Verse Announced by Mary Lee Hahn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Family, no matter how we define it, is the place where the "Who am I?" begins. As we grow and search for heroes, no matter how we define them, we begin the lifelong exploration of "Who will I be?" The 2017 Nerdy Poetry and Novels in Verse will enrich the lives of readers...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tags

It's the most wonderful time of the year once again. Time to drain your pocketbooks, fire up that library card, and add to your to-read lists. I love waiting to see all of the amazing lists that come out of your votes for the Nerdies. Every year I've waited with excitement for the winning list to arrive in my email inbox to write this post. I examine it with delight, seeing old favorites that my students and I have shared over the year and finding new books that I know need to find their way to my shelves in the classroom. As I've often said, the graphic novel section of my classroom remains the most used space in the room. I've taught from kindergarten through seventh grade and it still holds true today for my middle school students. These are books they return to again and again - stories they love, illustrations they admire, and characters that make them think.
The 2017 Nerdy Book Club Award Winners for Best Graphic Novels
Imogene, or Impy, has called the Renaissance Faire home for as long as she can remember. Faire season is one to be celebrated and she's excited to grow up and work in it, just like her parents. This year, though, she tackles an even bigger challenge - leaving the comfort of homeschooling and entering the crazy world of middle school.

is a follow-up to Chmakova's fabulous book, , though I believe it can stand alone as well. Here we follow Jensen as he navigates the difficulties of middle school, makes new friends, and deals with some typical middle school problems in a way that makes you cheer him on until the end..

I'd read anything Dav Pilkey writes at this point. At my age, I still find myself laughing out loud over his books. returns to the Nerdy graphic novel winners in the third volume, A Tale of Two Kitties . Dog Man's arch nemesis, Petey the Cat, is back. He's cloned himself to spread his evil message, however his clone is half his size (Lil' Petey) and *gasp* not evil!

Alfonso Jones has a lot ahead of him, and it's all looking good. A lead role in a rendition of Hamlet, a girl he likes and is working up to tell her that and, in an instant, it is all turned on its head. Thinking Alfonso's hanger in a dressing room is a gun, an off-duty police officer shoots him. When he awakes, it is in the afterlife as ghosts share what we needs to know about this new world. Powerful story.

Emmie is quiet and introverted. Katie is outgoing and friendly. One day, completely by accident, a note Emmie has drawn ends up in the wrong hands and her middle school world threatens to come crashing down. Fabulous book for the middle school classroom.

In my mind, Ben Hatke can do no wrong after the amazing Zita the Spacegirl series. Here he is again in the second installment of the Mighty Jack series, the first one appearing on this list last year. Jack is back and he and Lilly are off on an adventure, to save his little sister Maddy from an ogre. Filled with action, adventure, and friendship, kids will be sure to add this to their favorite graphic novel lists.

Priyanka Das, Pri, has so many questions about her mom and her mother's homeland of India. Unfortunately this topic has always been off limits. When she finds one of her mom's pashminas hidden away, Pri is transported and just might find the answers she has longed for. Perfect story for all children, especially when they are straddling multiple cultures.

Shannon has a best friend in Adrienne, it has been that way since they were little. But then Adrienne begins to hang around with Jen, the leader of The Group - the most popular group in school. To keep atop the social ladder of their school, and stay part of The Group, kids can be cruel. Real Friends rings true for anyone who has already navigated these tricky waters, and kids that are just wading in.

Three years ago The Spill hit Poughkeepsie, taking the lives of Addison's parents and while severely impacting her little sister, Lexa. Life has changed. Addison supports she and her sister by taking photos of this bizarre new world, but that job is not without danger. Get swept up in the first volume of this new series and then eagerly await the second volume, coming this summer.

Tillie Walden has been devoted to figure skating for ten years. Ten years of practices, of waking early, of competition, of single-minded devotion to her sport. A move to a new school, a new hobby in art, and a new friend - and possibly girlfriend? - make Tillie wonder if she has outgrown this sport she fiercely loved for so long.

Narwhal and Jelly are back on the Nerdy Graphic Novel list this year after the first book appeared here in 2016. In this installment the two friends go on three superhero adventures in a heartwarming story. Through Narwhal and Jelly, and their superhero alter-egos, you find a story of friendship and finding your voice.

The Holms, and Sunny, are back in this follow-up to Sunny Side Up (which won a Nerdy in 2015). Sunny is back from Florida and getting ready to head to the strangest place of all - middle school. Life seems to be far from normal. She talks to Gramps on the phone, but home seems off since her brother Dale went to boarding school. The Holms do a perfect job portraying the confusion of this age while dealing with big and small issues, both that can leave an impact.

This beautifully illustrated memoir written for adults has crossover appeal for teens. Thi Bui writes and illustrates her family's escape during the fall of South Vietnam in the 1970s along with the difficulty of starting over somewhere new. Told in different time periods, the book begins, and ends, with the birth of Thi's first child, but then that event causes her to reexamine what her mom had gone through in the past and the impact on their relationship.

The Stone Heart picks up right where The Nameless City (a 2016 Nerdy winner) left off. Kaidu and Rat are safe from the assassination attempt of the first book, but now the entire city seems to be in jeopardy. It's hard to know who you can trust in this fast paced adventure, but you will have a blast being along for the ride.

Oona Lee, An Tzu, and Jax Amboy are unlikely heroes, but they will need to join together to fight evil. Each world is home to a different race, but the worlds are in trouble - possibly because the ancient beacons haven't been lit. By working together, they might be able to defy the odds. First in a series, there are multiple storylines interwoven that will leave you wanting more.
Congratulations to all of the 2017 Nerdy Book Club award winners for best graphic novels. Katherine Sokolowski has taught for twenty-one years and currently teaches seventh grade in Monticello, Illinois. She is passionate about reading both in her classroom and also with her two sons. You can find her online at http://readwriteandreflect.blogspot.com/ and on Twitter as @katsok.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The 2017 Nerdies: Graphic Novels Announced by Katherine Sokolowski

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's the most wonderful time of the year once again. Time to drain your pocketbooks, fire up that library card, and add to your to-read lists. I love waiting to see all of the amazing lists that come out of your votes for the Nerdies. Every year I've waited with excitement for the winning list...

# data[].attributes.headline
Court of Fives, Poisoned Blade and Buried Heart BY: Kate Elliott

# data[].attributes.subject
Court of Fives, Poisoned Blade and Buried Heart BY: Kate Elliott

# data[].attributes.body
All I can say I that this series is really good. One of my favorites.

# data[].attributes.body
by Neal Shusterman
I loved this book because it's different from most scifi novels because it's set in a "perfect" world with no hunger, disease, poverty, or even death. Thus, the need for Scythes to cull the population based on past percentages of death.

# data[].attributes.body
I just finished Linger the second book to this Wolves of Mercy Falls series. The books are written similarly to Wonder by Rj Palacio with different points of view.
For many year Olivia has always loved to watch the wolves in the forest behind her house, but there was on beautiful yellow-eyed wolf she would always keep her eye out for. he is so "close" to that wolf she calls him "my wolf". Sam the name of the yellow- eyed wolf lives two lives one as human one as wolf. As Sam is human meets Olivia and become very close, but as winter comes he has to fight to stay human or lose Olivia forever.

10/10 its a great book you should read it ;) not a quick read, but a great read. I would definitely suggest reading them in order

# data[].attributes.body
About a boy that's on house arrest

# data[].attributes.body
by Renee Watson - Realistic Fiction
Jade comes from a poor neighborhood, she makes sure to take every possible opportunity to her advantage. She takes the bus to a private school where she feels like an outcast, but the opportunities are endless. She joins the mentorship program Woman to Woman that promises a scholarship. With the help her mentor she learns how to speak, create, and express her pains, hopes, joys, and sorrows.

Another great read, quite inspiring.