Mia's comfortable life in the forest is changed forever when one of her siblings gets rabies, forcing her to flee for her life. Along the way she will encounter dangers from traps to badgers to humans. But she will also encounter a new friend. Uly has never had a comfortable life. Born with a twisted paw, he has always had to fight to survive among his cruel older sisters. But his life takes a turn for the worse when the fabled Old Scratch turns out to be real. Will two fox kits be able to survive the woods together? Or will they fall prey to one of the hundreds of dangers lurking in the dark?

This is a deliciously creepy story that is also beautifully narrated and has the potential to become a classic. The fact that the main characters are foxes and the framing device that it's all a story prevents it from being too scary but it's still pretty intense at times. The black and white illustrations only add to the atmosphere. After reading this you will never look at foxes or Beatrix Potter the same way again.

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker 
Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th grade
tags: animals, disability, fast paced, friendship, horror

In the early days of football, no one wore helmets, forward passes weren't allowed, and the "Big Four" had a stranglehold on championships. But when a high number of deaths made some college deans threaten to ban football, Teddy Roosevelt stepped in to save it and institute new rule changes that would make it safer, break up gridlock on the field, and make it more fun for spectators. No one made it more fun to watch than Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indians. They invented the spiral, created innovative plays, and outplayed teams twice their size while maintaining a gruelling schedule of away games. Jim Thorpe was their breakout star with a speed and style that couldn't be touched. To find out more about the history of football, the life of Jim Thorpe, and life at Indian Boarding Schools, read Undefeated.

I am not a sports fan, but I absolutely loved this book! As always, Sheinkin's writing has all the emotion and fast pacing of a novel and the fact that it's all true only adds to the fascination. There's a wide variety of topics covered but it all feels cohesive. I particularly appreciate the way Sheinkin addresses injustices without sounding preachy and while engaging the reader. A sure-fit hit with fans of history and sports.

Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin
Erica's Picks
6th - 8th grade
Tags: history, nonfiction, people of color, sports

Things just haven't been the same since Iris's grandfather died. After spending all day at a school where she's the only deaf student, Iris loved visiting her grandparents and talking with them in sign language. Now Iris feels more alone than ever. Then she learns about Blue 55. Blue 55 is a whale that sings at a different frequency than the others. Instead of traveling in a pod, he wanders the ocean by himself, unable to communicate with anyone else. Iris's heart goes out to him, and thanks to her skills at radio repair, she thinks she can come up with the perfect plan to help. With a little help from her grandmother and a lot of luck, Iris sets off to meet Blue 55 and play him a new song.

This is such a moving novel. Of course I loved reading about the sign language poems Iris writes and the aspects of Deaf culture the book explores. Her grandmother is a spitfire and the scene where she takes the stage during karaoke is one of my favorites. Learning about whale biology was fascinating as well, especially knowing that Blue 55 is based on a real whale. Strongly recommended!

Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
Erica's Picks
4th - 6th grade
​Tags: animals, character driven, contemporary fiction, disability, family life, school stories, SEL

A coder trying to save her city from a devastating attack. An actor who accidentally summons the spirit of a villain. A girl cursed to fulfill others' wishes. 13 teens living with disabilities and with their own unique stories to tell. With a range of genres and diverse cast of characters, this story collection has something for everyone.

What I loved most about this collection was the variety. Not only in disabilities represented from mental to physical, but in every aspect: genre, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation. This was a buffet with every kind of dish you could want. My favorite story was "Found Objects" by William Alexander but it is a close call and there are many runners-up. Highly recommended.

Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens edited by Marieke Nijkamp 
Erica's Picks
8th grade
Tags: contemporary fiction, disability, short stories