Aven likes to tell people that she lost her arms alligator wrestling in the Everglades or in a freak roller coaster accident or a skydiving trip gone wrong. The truth is that she was born without them.  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 explain herself over and over again. There she meets Connor, a solitary boy who is dealing with his own disability. They become friends and discover a mystery with big secrets having to do with Aven's past (she is adopted).
Aven is feisty, hilarious, and she can do it all...even without arms.
If you loved Wonder,  you will adore this book.
youtu.be/s2usmrzHi5s Toetalks. Click for an interview with the author and two women who inspire her.

Tessa's Picks, 4th-6th grade, Character driven, Contemporary fiction, Friendship, Humor, Issues fiction.
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​A six seater plane is flying over the Amazon toward the city of Manaus. Fred has been watching the movements of the pilot’s hands on the fuel gauge, throttle, and joystick. Behind Fred are a girl and her brother. They have the same brown skin and long eyelashes. Lila is protective of her little brother Max who is trying to eat the seat belt. In the next row is a pale girl with blond hair down to her waist.  Con’s ruffled collar is clearly bothering her and she stares out the window avoiding contact.
Suddenly the pilot begins to belch repeatedly, his hand gives a violent jerk and the plane dips and lurches away from the river and down towards the canopy.  The children emerge from the crash but the pilot is dead.
Suspicious of each other and low on survival skills, the children try to find food and shelter.  The discovery of a map leads them to head for Manaus.  On the way they fall into an ancient city and meet the Explorer, a man with a mysterious past and keen survival skills who teaches them to eat tarantula eggs among other lore.  As his heart softens to the children, he must balance his need to protect the city and forest with his desire to lead them to safety.
“And all of you - do not forget that, lost out here, you were brave even in your sleep. Do not forget to take risks. Standing ovations await your bravery,' Con swallowed. 'But I'm afraid,' she whispered. The Explorer nodded, scarred and dusty and matter-of-fact. 'You are right to be afraid. Be brave anyway.”
Do yourself a favor and embark on this amazing adventure in this wise and wonderful survival story.
  


Tessa's Picks, 4th-7th grade, Adventure, Survival, People of Color

Three different kids. Three times and places in the world. One mission in common. Escape

Osef is a Jewish boy living in 1930”s Nazi Germany.  With their traumatized father recently released from a camp, the family sets sail bound for Cuba. The fate of that ship is a fact of history  and a heart wrenching story of the choices that people must make in war times.

Isabel is a Cuban girl living during the riots and government repression of 1994. With her pregnant mother and family, they join another family on a leaky raft, hoping to find safety in America.  Facing drowning and sharks, they brave stormy  seas.

Mamoud is a Syrian boy in 2015.  His homeland is torn apart by violence and when the family’s apartment is bombed, they flee.  They face military violence, betrayal, near drowning and separation as they make their way to Europe.

All these families faced unimaginable dangers as well as hope for a better life.  Although separated by  decades and geography, unbelievable connections will tie their stories together.
This is an action-packed moving story that puts you in the heart of three actual happenings in the past and present.  The topics are both timely and timeless: courage, survival and the journey to find home.


Tessa's Picks, 5th-8th grade, Historical Fiction, Adventure, People of Color, Issues fiction, Social justice

With graduation behind her, Dimple is looking forward to Stanford and escaping her Indian mother’s obsession with finding the IIH (ideal Indian husband) for her.  Even better they agree to let her attend a 6 week summer program at SFSU for aspiring web developers,her passion. Behind her back, her parents and Rishi’s have arranged for him to attend as well hoping to initiate an “arranged” marriage. Turn this book over...that is what happens.  Rishi is a romantic and believes in traditional Indian values even to the point of denying his art which is his passion.
Dimple is a feminist and focused on career.  Despite their differences, these two fall in love.  Set in foggy San Francisco, this is a sweet and feisty love story that will have you hoping for a happy ending.


Tessa"s Picks, 7th-8th grade, Character driven, People of color, Romance, Contemporary fiction

What could be better than playing a munchkin in the Wizard of OZ? Well O.K. for me it would be the wicked witch.  But Julia, did I mention that she is really short, is cast to play a munchkin.  Not her idea. It’s her younger brother Randy who is the actor; she has just been coerced into tagging along to watch out for him.  It turns out to be the summer of her life as she becomes best friends with one of the munchkins, Olive, an adult with dwarfism. Olive, the director, and an older neighbor who helps with costumes are all quirky wonderful characters who help Julia figure out who she is.
“On opening night of the show: I lean into the window on the passenger side of the car. I smile at Mom and tell her something I’ve wanted to say all summer. “Thanks, Mom. Thanks for making me try out for this play.” I think I might just have made being a mother totally worthwhile for her. I will try to never forget her face…. Mom’s got tears in her eyes and she’s smiling. It’s an amazing look. I have to remember how powerful it can be to say thank you. Especially to the people you live with. They probably least expect it.”
This book will have you laughing out loud one minute and swiping a tear the next.

Tessa's Picks,  3rd-7th grade, Character driven, Humor, Friendship, Contemporary fiction.

Red is over 200 years old, but she still doesn't understand people. She's been the community's wish tree for a long time and seen all sorts of wishes from the silly to the profound. She's never actually done anything to grant a wish though. Trees are the strong, silent types. Then one day a new girl wishes for a friend. When Red finds out that she's going to be cut down, she decides that for once she's going to do something to make a wish come true.

I love the perspective of a Red Oak as a narrator and all the critters who live in and around her. There's so many delightful details like the naming conventions of all the animals from skunks (named after something sweet) to opossums (named after their biggest fear.) As someone who is fond of jokes that aren't always appreciated by others, I identified with the tree's attempts at humor.

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th Grade
​Tags: Animals, Character Driven, Friendship, People of Color

When Anna reads Secret Garden, she decides she wants to create a magical garden of her own. Her family just moved to a new house with a back yard that looks pretty rough and weedy, but she can already see how it would look with a little help. Luckily there's a girl on her street whose birthday is just one day apart from hers. She can help her get the garden ready. But when school starts and poison ivy attacks, Anna wonders if she's lost her friend and her garden.

I love Anna's imagination and the way she navigates her new friendship. A lot of kids will love the storyline about the lost baby bunny they rescue. It's great for kids learning to read chapter books on their own, but parents would enjoy it as a read aloud as well.

Year of the Garden by Andrea Cheng

Erica's Picks
1st - 3rd Grade
​Tags: character driven, animals, contemporary fiction, friendship, people of color

Detective Gordon is getting on in years but he's still the best detective around. When he discovers a young mouse who steals a single nut out of hunger, he decides that instead of arresting her, he should take her on as an apprentice and give her food and shelter. They work together to solve cases around town. It's a funny book with a lot of heart and it would make a great read aloud. My favorite part is how particular he is with his stamp. It reminds me of when I let kids stamp their library books. 

​Detective Gordon by Ulf Nilsson

Erica's Picks
1st - 3rd Grade
​Tags: Animals, Friendship, Humor, Mystery