Tessa's​​Written as journal entries to her dead mother, Nishna’s story takes us to India in 1947 when that country is being liberated from British rule and partitioned into Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India.
Nishna’s father is Hindu, her mother was Muslim and although their marriage was not usual or accepted by all, they had lived peacefully.  As Hindus they must now leave Pakistan as differences threaten to turn violent.  Their beloved servant Kazi, who taught her to cook and is practically a father to her, is Muslim and must stay behind.  Nishna and her family become refugees and embark on the dangerous and harrowing journey to find a new home.  Nishna’s is the voice of a child, simply recounting the sights, sounds and experiences that mark their sojourn to safety in Jodhpur.  The family has survived but she has seen many who did not.  Nishna’s  search for home and identity look for a hopeful future.
In the author’s note Ms Hiranandani offers  “Remembering the mistakes of the past will hopefully create a more enlightened, tolerant, and peaceful future. Accepting differences has always been a great challenge for humanity played out in thousands of ways. This was one way.”


Tessa's Picks, 3-6th grade, 3rd & 4th summer 2018, 6th summer 2018, Diaries, Historical fiction, Global perspectives, People of color.

​

It's senior year and Danielle can't wait for it to be over. With her frizzy red hair, quirky tastes, and OCD she sticks out like a sore thumb.  Despite all the trauma she endures at school, she finds it comforting to catalog her days there.  She accomplishes this through a color-coded binder in which she keeps all her English essays, notes, important e-mails, and day-to-day journals.  Experience school through her eyes and find out if Senior year will be the disaster she's expecting.

I loved the epistolary format with Danielle’s essays, journals, etc.  There were many great characters like her aunt who was always ready with words of wisdom, her friend Daniel who introduced her to The Dude, and her pen pal Justine.  What really made the book was Danielle's frank and often humorous descriptions of her life, her dreams, and her worries.  I'd give this to teens looking for a high school misfit story.  

OCD, the Dude, and Me by Lauren Roedy Vaughn

Erica's Pick
7th & 8th grade
Tags: Character Driven, Contemporary Fiction, Diaries, Friendship, Humor, Issues Fiction, School Stories

A week ago Liza's biggest concern was what dress flattered her figure best. Now she is a penniless orphan working as a lady's maid. At least she is working for princess Victoria. But for a future Queen, Victoria's palace looks pretty shabby. Her mother treats her as if she is still a child and never allows her to be alone.  Her mother plots with Sir John to take over Victoria's power and keeps Victoria hidden from view so that people will believe the rumors that she cannot handle being queen. Before Liza knows what's happening, she finds herself spying for Victoria and making deals with newsmen on fleet street. Victoria may be Queen some day, but until that day comes her mother has her in a trap.  She is a prisoner in her own palace.

Liza was a resourceful, intelligent protagonist. She thinks on her feet and she isn't afraid to risk herself for what she thinks is right. The life of young Victoria and the intrigue behind the scenes is fascinating. Real excerpts from Victoria's diary and letters from her mother are included throughout the text as well as diary entries from the fictional Liza.

Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl

Erica's Picks
6th - 8th Grade
Tags: Character Driven, Diaries, Historical Fiction

Have you ever been forced to go on a family trip? Sometimes they can be fun, but sometimes you'd rather just stay home. That's how Pacy feels about her family's trip to Taiwan. To her mom and dad it's a trip to their homeland, but Pacy's home is back in America. And the worst part is that they have to stay the whole summer. A whole summer away from her friends in a country where she can't even understand what people are saying or read the signs if she gets lost. As if that wasn't bad enough, she finds out that her parents have signed her up for classes at the cultural center--classes during summer vacation! But when she gets there, Taiwan isn't anything like what Pacy expected. Her relatives are nice, the food is delicious, and she is determined to win the top prize in her painting class. Maybe the summer will be great, or maybe it will be a disaster after all. One thing is sure though--she'll never forget it!

Pacy is charming and I love the way she tells her story! The information about Taiwan is fascinating and left me wanting to learn more (and go eat some dumplings!) Lin weaves in brief stories throughout the main narration about Chinese legends or Pacy's family history. Lin is an excellent illustrator and she skillfully fits her drawings into the story as if Pacy is doodling in the margins of her diary. I'd give this to fans of novels that are written in the style of a diary with doodles like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Amelia's Notebook series.

Dumpling Days by Grace Lin

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th Grade
Tags: Contemporary Fiction, Diaries, Family Life, People of Color, Summer Vacation