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This book is written in verse which many reluctant readers enjoy because the number or words on the page do not fill the page. This is the story of Ellie who struggles with insecurities with her weight. In addition her mom puts pressure on her to lose weight. I enjoyed this book because I felt like it addressed a middle school subject many students deal with, insecurities about their appearance, but also the issue of weight and how it impacts a student's self esteem and internal dialogue. Short read. Great message.

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I rarely state this, but this book felt like it would NEVER END. To me the story was too slow and drawn out. Also the conflict and characters weren't that interesting to me. It told the story of two different characters whose lives eventually meet up toward the end of the book. The conflict was something I'd heard before and provided me with no new insight on the situation she was experiencing.

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This book focuses on the events of 9/11 from two different perspectives. I used this book as a read aloud two years ago and students enjoyed they book. It explains how the day's events affect a young boy and how because of this event he is inspired to make a particular career choice that brings him face to face with people who he thought were the enemy, but in the end help him survive. A great read if you love historical fiction and multiple perspective books.

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This book was interesting to me as it explored a rarely discussed topic of homelessness. These two young ladies on the front cover were living in a car with their dad until their dad goes missing. They have to survive on what little they have and carry on with normal life in hopes of not being found out about their homelessness and chance being separated and the unknown of whom they would live with. This is a sweet tale of survival and family,

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Lucy has just moved to a new school, which is an uncomfortable situation to begin with but to make matters worse this group of students she's joining experienced a school shooting losing several of its classmates. The topic of this book was difficult and sad, but one not covered in many middle school books. Lucy is able to find a connection with the students who has lost so much with a lost she suffered recently in her own life. As she navigates a difficult situation she finds her niche and place in her new school and makes a friend who desperately needed a friend as much as Lucy did.

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Even for someone who doesn't like cats I did enjoy this book. I liked the setting, which was different from most stories - MARS. I loved hearing how life on Mars was different than here on Earth and the daily tasks and routines they had because of where they lived. In addition, I enjoyed hearing about the relationships between all the Americans and other countries living on Mars and how they have to rely on one another to be successful living on Mars.

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This book explores how making a paper chain can show a school's stance on a very important issue. It also shows how students with different backgrounds, beliefs, and interests can come together for a common cause to make a statement. This book will open your eyes and make you more aware of the other students in your class or in the halls and be more understanding and accepting of those differences.

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Police had already decided the guilty party in the murder, but the main character doesn't believe their findings so she takes it upon herself to reopen the case and investigate herself. Nosing around in business the community thought was closed upsets the family of the victim, and eventually, Pippa, the main character, is threatened to stop her investigation. I was very nervous for Pippa the whole book as I knew the community's minds were at ease that the suspected killer was dead, but now her investigation means the killer may still be out there. I was also incredibly curious who the killer might be, and how the police could have gotten this case all wrong.

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This book is very much nature vs. main character. If you enjoy this kind of book this book is for you. I, on the other hand, struggle reading books where pages after pages describe the environment and the nature. It just comes off as boring to me. However, if you love being outdoors this might interest you.

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I'm not a big fan of space myself but I know many of my students are. I do love a realistic fiction book and this one was mixed with historical fiction. I really enjoyed the tale of three siblings struggling to find their place in middle school with the background of the Challenger space shuttle launch.

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This is a tale about a son and his football playing father. Due to the impact his father's brain has taken playing football he is beginning to suffer from CTE which changes his mood and memory. He struggles with the relationship he and his father once had changing with his health.

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Two young men are stranded in Nevada without food or water in an environment where others are desperate for the same. Will these two young men make it to a family friend's house in hopes they will share their resources? And if they do make it there, will they be home? Will they share their resources? This is another book of character vs. nature but with the desperation of a brother's love sprinkled in.

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This a book of adventure, quest, betrayal and love. I found this book to be very long and drawn out. Others have told me it was their favorite book. 🤷‍♀️If you like reading series this may be the book for you because it leaves with a bit of a cliffhanger setting it up for the next book.

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Hannah's family structure has recently changed due to her cousin coming to live with her due to her aunt's death. This change from being an only child to sharing her parents attention with a cousin who seems to always being getting into sticky situations is what this book is framed around.

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I judged this book by its cover and thought it would be funny based on its cover. This story does have some humor but deals with a pretty serious topic, cancer. The main character has cancer removed near his eye and now has a lazy eyelid that gives him a permanent wink. Coping with cancer along with middle school and learning to play the guitar is a lot, but Ross does so with grace and humor.

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This book reminded me a lot of The Mysterious Benedict Society. A group of highly intelligent middle school kids from around the world join forces to work for the government and fight the evils in the world.

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I have always dreamed of winning a lot of money and then how I would spend it. The two characters in this book have to spend over 5 million dollars in 30 days, with some restrictions of course. They find it pretty difficult. What will happen if they don't spend the money? Read to find out.

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I love mystery/horror and I've heard Mrs. Pierre recommend this book to many sixth graders and I'd love to read it myself!

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Starting at a new school can be difficult, but starting at a new school where you stand out as different is even harder. This graphic novel has beautiful illustrations and explores the struggle to fit in where you think you don't belong.

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If you're a fan of action movies this is your book. It is filled with action and a mystery treasure. The good guys, including Charlie Thorne, are racing the bad guys to a treasure that can devastate the entire world if it falls into the wrong hands.

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This graphic novel is historical fiction. This story takes place during World War II and looks at the risks good people took to hide Jews during Nazi occupation. Fans of graphic novels and WWII will definitely love this book.

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This book is about leaving the family you've always known to build a family you choose. Four homeless kids navigate the streets of India in order to survive.

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If you love ocean life or want to be a marine biologist this book is for you. The main character in this book, Iris, feels a special connection to a one of a kind whale, Blue 55. Whales of the same species are able to speak to one another, but Blue 55 is a mix of two different species of whale and therefore speaks a whale language no other whale understands. Iris feels quite the same as she is deaf and feels that most other people can't speak her language either. Follow Iris on her journey to meet Blue 55 despite her parents telling her she can't.

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A nominee in 2021-2022 I started but never finished.

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This book really kept me interested. It is historical fiction. It has two different perspectives on what happened on September 11th.

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This was the best book I read this summer. It looks at the relationships that are built between a group of individuals at school that are see as "unteachable" and the bonds they create and what they learn from each other. Students are always looking for books with humor and this is a great one they can relate to and laugh along with. Highly recommend!

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Life isn't fair. Coyote Sunrise and her dad, Rodeo have known that since Coyote's mother and two sisters died in a car accident. Rodeo refused to live in the town where this tragedy happened so he sold their home and bought a bus. Since that day Coyote and Rodeo have traveled the US on their bus. However, after a phone call with her grandmother Coyote is set on getting back to Washington before memories of her mother and sisters are gone forever, but how will she convince Rodeo to go back when he's vowed he would never do so? Picking up uniquely different hitchhikers along the way their journey in the school bus is never ordinary.

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Bodies are rising from the dead and attacking Aderyn's home town because of the rumored curse put on her town many years ago. Aderyn's family has worked as gravediggers for centuries and before passing her father taught her everything he knew about appeasing the "bone houses", or rising dead. Will Aderyn discover how to keep the now increasing number of bone houses from destroying her town and killing the only family she has left - her little brother and sister?

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This book is written in prose and therefore is a quick read. Jude and her mother escape their war torn home in Syria to come live with her uncle in America. What Jude has seen in the movies isn't exactly what she finds in her new home city of Cincinnati. While learning about American culture she tries to find where she can fit in while still holding true to her native culture.

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How does one really know that the truth is the truth? In the future paper is heavily taxed and paper books are rare. Everything is digital. Is there a reason the government is trying to rid the world of paper and bound books? Should the city be trusting the news they see on tv or are they being misled to believe things that aren't actually true? The first in a series this book will make you question whether what you thought you knew is really the truth.

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The art in this graphic novel is eye catching and interesting. This story explores the relationship of two basketball playing twins. Guided by their father the boys navigate through love, brotherly love, and basketball. If you love basketball, you'll enjoy this quick read!

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Genesis leaves a school where she was bullied and didn't seem to fit in to go to a new school where she finds friends and is inspired by her choir teacher. But will she get to stay at this new school she loves so much or will someone she loves let her down causing her to lose the new life she's made for herself?

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Cassidy's parents are ghost hunters and her best friend, Jacob is a ghost. If you love ghosts- this is your book!

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Historical fiction

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Three kids look at the events of September 11th from their very different points of view.

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Catrina and Maya are moving to northern California. Maya suffers from cystic fibrosis.

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Castle, or Ghost, is one amazing runner. Ghost is being raised by a single mother and must balance his complicated home life and his academics in order to stay on the track team.

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This book takes place in a future society where every 12 years the government wipes your memory. The notebook you write in daily is the only way you will remember what happened after "the forgetting". But how many people are really writing the truth in their notebooks to remember? Only Nadia knows because she seems to be the only one the forgetting doesn't work on. Will Nadia use her memories to help uncover the truth of her city?

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Extremely smart kids are asked to join a secret organization.

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Loved the Hunger Games series and hope I will like this book as well.