 When Sweet Pea’s parents get a divorce, they try to keep things normal for her in the strangest way possible. Her father moves into a house just two doors down from her mother and tries to make the house identical, down to painting the walls to match the old wall paper. In between her parents lives the town eccentric and advice columnist, Miss Flora Mae. When Miss Flora has to take an emergency trip, Sweet Pea house sits. When she gives into temptation and reads the letters asking for advice, she finds out more than she bargained for.
Sweet Pea is aptly named and a funny, sweet protagonist. I enjoyed watching her navigate friendships, her parents’ divorce, and her small town’s response to her father coming out as gay. Erica's Picks Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy Grades 3 - 6 Tags: Character Driven, Contemporary Fiction, Family Life, Friendship, Humor, LGBTQ
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 None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for the filthy minds of high school students. Aphra’s programming project is supposed to give advice and learn natural language from its users, but when it starts spouting filth, she knows she can’t turn the project in. So she takes over, pretending to be her program while she gives advice. The good news is that her crush figures it out and falls in love with app’s persona. The bad news is he thinks the person behind the persona is Aphra’s best friend.
This modern-day Cyrano had me in stitches with laughter. A fantastic romance filled with humor and heart. Erica's Picks We Are the Perfect Girl by Ariel Kaplan Grades 6-8 Tags: Character Driven, Contemporary Fiction, Family Life, Friendship, Humor, Mental Illness, Retellings, Romance, SEL  Lou is used to small spaces. She shares a room with her mother in her grandmother's house in San Francisco. It's even more cramped when her extended family comes to visit. She loves them all, but longs for a space of her own. She's obsessed with tiny houses and has spent many hours researching their clever designs. When her mother gets a job offer in Washington state, Lou is convinced that if she can build her tiny house, it will convince her mother to stay. Will she be able to rally her friends to the cause? Or will she have to leave everyone she loves behind?
This is a charming story full of heart and endearing characters. Lou has a great community of friends and family. Erica's Picks The House that Lou Built by Mae Respicio Grades 3 - 6 Tags:  When Vita’s grandfather is cheated out of his family home by a notorious conman, she and her mother take the next boat to New York. 1920s New York is full of wonders and danger, but none of it is a match for Vita’s determination. Vita has a permanent limp and is used to people underestimating her. She uses that to her full advantage. With her new friends from the circus, she sets off to steal her family’s fortunes back.
I enjoyed every moment of this adventure story. From the circus performers and animals to the trips through secret tunnels this book will keep you on the edge of your seat! Erica's Picks The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell 3rd - 6th grade Tags: Adventure, Animals,  1890s Atlanta is not an easy place for Chinese Americans. Jo, abandoned at birth, lives with her adopted father in an abandoned hideout left over from the underground railroad. She grew up listening to the conversations in the newspaper offices above. When she hears that they are struggling, she anonymously submits articles for a new advice column. “Miss Sweetie” becomes wildly popular and controversial. As Jo tries to keep her identity a secret, she tries to uncover who her parents were. But some secrets are best left alone and these ones put her in the crosshairs of a notorious criminal.
I loved this historical fiction. It transported me back in time and kept me turning pages with the hint of mystery and romance. Erica's Picks The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee 6th - 8th Tags: Character Driven, Historical Fiction, Issues Fiction, Mystery, People of Color, Romance, Social Justice  Years ago, Abdi’s older brother was kidnapped by the jihadi group Al Shabaab , brainwashed, and turned into a child soldier. Now the rest of his family is kidnapped by the supposed good guys. They beat Abdi and threaten his family unless he agrees to go undercover in Al Shabaab and report back to them. If Al Shabaab discovers he’s a spy, he’ll be tortured until he longs for death. But if he refuses, his whole family will be killed.
This fast-paced story will keep you on the edge of your seat and immerse you in a different world. The book alternates between Abdi’s time after escaping Al Shabaab and flashbacks to his time with them. It keeps you guessing as you try to piece together the pieces of what happened in the past. Erica's Picks Let's Go Swimming On Doomsday by Natalie C. Anderson 8th Grade Tags:  In a world overrun by monsters, Rowan’s family gained power by taming and slaying them. Which is why as the oldest child she’s destined to become Queen while her brother is destined for the role of Royal Monster Slayer. There’s only one problem: she hates the politics of court and is a much better monster slayer than her brother. When an accident allows them to switch roles, Rowan is determined to prove herself. But will she be able to defeat a rogue gryphon who has already killed a skilled huntswoman?
Wargs, jackalopes, and pegasi oh my! I love reading about fantastical creatures and I appreciate that Rowan only slays monsters as a last resort and often relocates or befriends them instead. Erica's Picks A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying by Kelly Armstrong 4th - 6th grade Tags:Animals, Adventure, Fantasy, People of Color  Norris can’t believe it when his mother says they’re moving to Texas. Norris is a black French-Canadian who hates the heat and loves hockey. When he first gets to Texas, it seems like all the stereotypes he’s seen about Americans on TV are true. There’s the mean cheerleaders, the aggressive jocks, and overly cheerful but ultimately useless guidance counselor. Norris describes it all with biting humor in his notebook. It’s an outlet that keeps him sane in the ridiculous heat. But when Texas surprises him and he starts to build a nice life for himself, it’s his notebook that might be his undoing.
Norris’s voice is hilarious and I enjoyed seeing life through his eyes. If you want a classic American high school story, this Canadian will deliver! Erica's Pick 7th & 8th Grade The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe Tags: Character Driven, Contemporary Fiction, Friendship, Humor, People of Color, School Stories  Sawyer’s mother grew up as a Southern belle in a world of white gloves and canapes. When she got pregnant with Sawyer, she fell from grace hard and fast. Sawyer grew up in a dingy apartment, eating take out from the bar where her mom works. At first when her estranged grandmother stops by with an offer to pay for her college in exchange for living with her in her mansion and going through the debutante season, it seems too good to be true. But Sawyer soon discovers the dark secrets lurking behind the pretty dresses and realizes she was safer at home on the wrong side of the tracks.
As Sawyer explores the world of debutantes and tries to finally solve the mystery of who her father is, she uncovers the dark underbelly of high society. She’s not sure who to believe and neither is the reader as this twisted plot unfurls. Erica's Picks 8th Grade Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Tags: Contemporary Fiction, Fast-Paced, Mystery  Life is not easy for Mason Buttle. He's the biggest kid in his grade, has overactive sweat glands, and severe dyslexia. On top of all that, his best and only friend died a year ago in an accident and everyone blames him. When he makes a new best friend, it happens again. His new best friend disappears and everyone fears the worst. How can Mason clear his name and find his friend?
This is a heart-warming story with a unique protagonist. Mason is so earnest and kind it's impossible not to root for him. Erica's Picks The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor Grade 5 - 7 Tags: Character Driven, Contemporary Fiction, Family Life, Friendship, Mystery, School Stories |
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