# data[].attributes.body
Upper Elementary/Middle Grades

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High School

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All Ages

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Middle Grades

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High School

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All Ages

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Middle Grades

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High School

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High School

# data[].attributes.body
High School

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High School

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High School

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Upper Elementary/Middle Grades

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Middle Grades

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Nine, Ten: A Sept 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin

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Nine, Ten: A Sept 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin

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Upper Elementary/Middle Grades

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High School

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High School

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Love Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

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Love Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

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High School

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Middle Grades

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Upper Elementary/Middle Grades

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Middle Grades

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All Ages

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A community comes together during a fearful night of the LA riots. Grades 2-5

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All Ages

My favorite to combat the negativity we are inundated with. I also love the diversity displayed in the illustrations.

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The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Anne Brade

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The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Anne Brade

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(Gun violence and control. Upper elementary/middle school)

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All Ages

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All ages

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All Ages

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Upper Elementary/Middle Grades

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How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon recommended for High School

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How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon recommended for High School

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Great story that shows many perspectives on how a shooting went down and the ripple effects created in the remaining community members

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Tradition by Brendan Kielyy recommended for High School

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Tradition by Brendan Kielyy recommended for High School

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Interesting exploration of the culture of white, male, cisgender, privilege at kind of elite school attended by Brett Kavanaugh—whose Supreme Court vetting was in the news at the time of publication. Told from the perspective of the “radical” feminist girl and the scholarship athletic recruit, it shines an interesting light on rape culture.

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All the Rage by Courtney Summers recommended for High School 

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All the Rage by Courtney Summers recommended for High School 

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Deals with rape culture and white, male privilege in small town America. I most appreciated how Summers went into depth on the stigmatization of the victim and how she used the narrative to show the mental state of the victim and how complex and confusing traumatic memories are. An intense and upsetting story that is extremely well researched and written

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas recommended for High School 

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas recommended for High School 

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Brilliant novel, the movie just doesn’t do it justice.

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Dear Martin by Nic Stone recommended for High School 

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Dear Martin by Nic Stone recommended for High School 

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Explores the gaps between ability/intelligence, privilege, and race as well as police brutality while examining whether Dr. King’s teachings still apply to today’s world.

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Junior high and up
*Also great read for mental illness, specifically agoraphobia

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Underwater has 2,626 ratings and 515 reviews. Brooks said: I talk about voice a lot. I tell students and aspiring writers that making theirs unique and p...

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Middle school & up

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'Under the Mesquite' was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Lee & Low Books.
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!

2.5 stars

The Storyline

'Under the Mesquite' tells the story of Lupita and her Mexican American family. Lupita struggles with finding her own identity in a new place after her family moves from Mexico to the United States. To make matters worse she has discovered that her mother has cancer and will undergo surgery to hopefully give her more time on this Earth. Desperate t...more

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'Under the Mesquite' was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Lee & Low Books.Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog! 2.5 stars The Storyline 'Under the Mesquite' tells the story of Lupita and her Mexican American family.

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Elementary

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Oskar and the Eight Blessings has 566 ratings and 138 reviews. Kayla said: A beautiful story about a young immigrant's arrival in New York City. As Oskar...

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Middle School and up

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Read 2,135 reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. Miss Saunders, whose skin is blotched with a rare skin condition, serves as a mirror to …

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By Zana Fraillon

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Middle grade readers

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For all ages
Discusses racial injustice from a Caucasian & African American families’ perspectives in language that younger students are able to comprehend. Ithe  incident involves a shooting of an African Amarican man & the police.

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middle and hugh

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high school

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middle and high

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high school

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The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen Grades 6-8

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The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen Grades 6-8

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Amazing story of being the brother of a school shooter. It’s written in a journal/diary format and very easy to talk about because Henry is an interesting character. Set in Vancouver, B.C. The family is struggling and the news connection is one that doesn’t get much attention. What if it was your family?

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News/Media
The Breaking News by Sarah Lynn Reul
The Breaking News by Sarah Lynn Reul 
All Ages
Most People
Most People
All Ages

My favorite to combat the negativity we are inundated with. I also love the diversity displayed in the illustrations.
Come With Me by Holly McGhee
Come With Me by Holly McGhee 
All Ages
 
add
 Gun Violence -General
The Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
The Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Middle Grades
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds 
High School
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
High School
Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson
Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson
High School
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds
High School
Smoky Night
Smoky Night
A community comes together during a fearful night of the LA riots. Grades 2-5
The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Anne Brade
The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Anne Brade
(Gun violence and control. Upper elementary/middle school)
How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon recommended for High School
How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon recommended for High School
Great story that shows many perspectives on how a shooting went down and the ripple effects created in the remaining community members 
 
add
 Gun Violence - School
Only Child by Rhiannon Navi
Only Child by Rhiannon Navi
High School
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Upper Elementary/Middle Grades

Underwater book
Underwater book
Junior high and up
*Also great read for mental illness, specifically agoraphobia 
 
add
 Immigration
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Upper Elementary/Middle Grades
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
All Ages
Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
Middle Grades
American Street by Izi Zoboi
American Street by Izi Zoboi
High School
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Middle Grades
Island Born by Junot Díaz
Island Born by Junot Díaz
All Ages
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
The Day War Came by Nicola Davies
The Day War Came by Nicola Davies
All ages
The Journey by Francesca Sanna
The Journey by Francesca Sanna
All Ages
Under the Mesquite
Under the Mesquite
Middle school & up
Oskar and the Eight Blessings
Oskar and the Eight Blessings
Elementary
The bone sparrow
The bone sparrow
By Zana Fraillon
Illegal by Eoin Colfer
Illegal by Eoin Colfer
middle and hugh
Threads by Kate Evans
Threads by Kate Evans
high school
Stormy Seas
Stormy Seas
middle and high
 
add

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All ages

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Middle School/High School

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A classic novel (20th anniversary this year) recently released in graphic novel form as well. 8th grade and up.

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Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream by Joshua Davis

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Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream by Joshua Davis

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High School

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5th Grade and Up

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Middle School/High School

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High School

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9-12

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A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy, by Sue Klebold

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A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy, by Sue Klebold

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Adult for YA

This non-fiction title will appeal to teens interested in real life tragedies, in terms of examining school shooting/violence, issues of how the media portrays/romanticizes the perpetrators, mental illness/suicide/homicide. It's a difficult topic but manages to humanize someone we may otherwise  categorize as "a monster" without excusing or minimizing the horrific acts. Highly compelling and heartfelt.

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High School

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Bluehost - Top rated web hosting provider - Free 1 click installs For blogs, shopping carts, and more. Get a free domain name, real NON-outsourced 24/7 support, and superior speed. web hosting provider php hosting cheap web hosting, Web hosting, domain names, front page hosting, email hosting. We o…

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(Don't) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation on Mental Health edited by Kelly Jensen

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(Don't) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation on Mental Health edited by Kelly Jensen

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9-12

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Middle School/High School. Novel about the Tulsa race riots

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Ellen Hopkins. Based loosely on the real life addictions of her daughter to crystal meth. GR. 8 and up

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Middle & High

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The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah

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The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah

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Middle School/High School

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High School

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Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

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Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

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High School

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Upper Middle/High School

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All ages

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It's the summer of 1977 and all Nora López wants to do is get old enough to move out and live on her own. Her home life is difficult, as her father left home when she was little and will only occasionally send them money to cover the family's rent - something made more vital when Nora's mother begins to gain fewer hours at work. Nora's younger brother Hector is violent and abusive. MS/HS

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Upper Elementary/Middle

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Just won the Newbery and it explores the complex issues of being different and being helped out. Cuban family living in Florida.

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We Need to Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver

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We Need to Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver

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A disturbing yet very important discussion about violence in schools/families and ignoring vs. confronting signs of mental illness and emotional disturbance.

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All ages

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upper middle and high school

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High School

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Melody Brooks is an eleven-year-old girl who was born with cerebral palsy. Her parents have done everything they can to help her live a normal life, but life is often frustrating for Melody since she cannot speak, move, or communicate her wishes. As a result, Melody has to fight to get her wishes.

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It tells the story of a girl from Nepal named Lakshmi, who is sold into sexual slavery in India. The novel is written in a series of short, vignette-style chapters, from the point of view of the main character.

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High School

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https://bookriot.com/2018/09/09/ya-books-about-school-shootings-to-build-empathy-sympathy-and-understanding/

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Counting by 7’s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan

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Counting by 7’s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan

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What a great book and you won’t love the protagonist. Great to pair with Restart by Gordon Korman.

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You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

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You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

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Middle/High School

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All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook

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All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook

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Upper Elementary

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Upper elementary and middle school

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High School

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The Day The World Came To Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
Grades 7 - 12

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Mosquitoland
8th grade-high school

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Recommended for High

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Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard

Grades 3-5+

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Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard

Grades 3-5+

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"Something Happened in Our Town follows two families — one White, one Black — as they discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their community. The story aims to answer children's questions about such traumatic events, and to help children identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives." - APA
Written by three psychologists for the RIF social emotional learning collection.

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High school age group - a teenage girl defending her innocence after being convicted of murdering a baby

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This Is Where It Ends
High School

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High School - teenage girls rebelling against gender stereotypes & racial stereotypes

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High School

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High School

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High school - A teenage girl becomes addicted to oxycodone after being in a car accident

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This book can be read with more mature middle school and high school students--Graphic Novel

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This book can be read with more mature middle school and high school students--Graphic Novel