Rory is not excited to start middle school. For one, he still can't say his 'r's, which makes even saying his name an opportunity for ridicule. Secondly, his best friend Brent has betrayed him and started hanging out with the same jerks who make fun of his speech. Lastly he found out that at the end of the year he needs to give a big oral presentation in front of the whole school.

Then, after making fun of Rory and ditching him yet again, Brent gets in an accident. Suddenly the whole school is obsessed with Brent and full of sympathy for him. But Rory still doesn't know if he can forgive Brent for how he acted. When Brent ends up changed and becomes the brunt of ridicule himself, will Rory stand up for him, or enjoy the poetic justice?

I loved this story of friendship, resilience, and doing the right thing even when it's hard. As someone who went to speech therapy for her 'r's for years, I could definitely relate to Rory. The complexity of Brent and Rory's relationship and how it changes is really compelling. Sports fans will appreciate the parallels Rory draws between his story and Muhammad Ali and music fans will appreciate Rory's love of classic rock and electric guitar. A moving story without simple answers that deserves a wide audience.

The Way I Say It by Nancy Tandon

Erica's Picks 
3rd - 5th grade
tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, disability, friendship, issues fiction, school stories, SEL

Etan loves spending time at his grandfather's shop. Ever since his mother went to stay in the hospital, he hasn't felt like speaking much. Etan's grandfather understands and doesn't try to pressure him or make him feel guilty. So he's happy to help his grandfather's friend by making a grocery delivery to a house on the outskirts of town. When he gets there, he discovers it's the home of "the creature," a girl with a skin condition who was bullied so badly she's now home-schooled. Etan quickly befriends her, even when his classmates tease him for it. Everyone is excited for The Battle of the Bay with the A's pitted against the Giants in the World Series, but soon something will happen that will take everyone's minds off baseball and their own problems as they have to face the power and brutality of nature.

There's so many aspects of this book to love from the incorporation of Jewish folklore and the golem to the way Etan and Malia's friendship blossoms. There's just a hint of magical realism but it's mostly grounded in history. Of course people familiar with Bay Area history will know what to expect as the Battle of the Bay looms closer, but for many readers it will be a surprise. A novel in verse, it is a quick but impactful read that I highly recommend, especially for locals.

​The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th grade
​tags: character driven, disability, family life, friendship, historical fiction, magical realism, mental illness, novels in verse, People of Color, SEL

​Jordan loves her basketball teammates and playing with them at practice, but after she became paralyzed from the waist down she hasn't been allowed to play in official games. Jordan is having difficulty adjusting to life in a wheelchair, but things change when she comes across a wounded baby elephant on her way home from school. She takes the elephant home to her mother, a veterinarian, and quickly forms a strong bond with the animal. Soon Jordan is back to competing, this time in water polo, and what starts as a hard year turns out to be the most magical of her life.

I love Marshmallow! This sweet, intelligent creature is sure to win over animal lovers. Jordan's profound sense of loss when she can't play basketball with her team and her commitment to learning a new sport will resonate with sports fans as well. The drawings have a beautiful, dreamlike quality while remaining rooted in real-life, which is perfect for the magical realism of the story. I love that the author includes the occasional word in Indonesian and all the details of the setting. A great comic book with wide appeal.

Marshmallow & Jordan by Alina Chau

Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th
​tags: animals, character driven, comics, magical realism, disability, friendship, global perspectives, People of Color, school stories, sports

Louisa wants nothing more than to spend the summer rehearsing with her violin for her big audition with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. But her environmentalist parents have other ideas. They went off on an expedition observing toads and sent Louisa to stay with her uncle in the wilds of the Tasmanian jungle in Australia. At first Louisa is scared stiff of the spiders and snakes that could be lurking in any corner, but soon she learns that even more fantastic creatures may be lurking in the jungle. Creatures like the widely-believed to be extinct Tasmanian Tiger. As she learns more about the history of Tasmania and her family she becomes determined to find and save the enigmatic creature that is drawn to her music. But with her uncle's home set to be bulldozed, will she be able to find it before it's too late?

This is an excellent read for music and animal lovers everywhere. The book completely transported me to Tasmania and made me fall in love with its native fauna. Even tasmanian devils are cute as babies. Louisa is a great character who grows immensely over the course of the book and watching her friendship bloom with Colin was a delight. Highly recommended.

Music for Tigers by Michelle Kadarusman

Erica's Picks
4th - 7th
​tags: animals, character driven, contemporary fiction, disability, friendship, global perspectives, SEL, social justice, summer vacation

20% of Americans have a least one disability. Many innovations aimed at adapting the environment to their needs have had wide-reaching benefits from closed captioning to curb cuts. How can we further understand the disability experience past, present, and future? What stereotypes exist that hurt all of us? How can we better understand each other and celebrate the diversity that exists in the world? To find the answers to these questions and more, check out The Disability Experience!

This is a great overview of the many varied experiences of people with disabilities presented in a fun, accessible way for teens. Because it covers such a wide range of topics from sensory to physical to intellectual disabilities the book doesn't go too far in depth to any one. This would be a great, eye-opening introduction that will hopefully inspire more reading and dialogue.

The Disability Experience: Working Toward Belonging by Hannalora Leavitt

Erica's Picks
5th - 8th
​tags: disability, nonfiction, SEL, social justice

In Chilmark, everyone knows sign language. Even hearing people use it to communicate regularly, which comes in handy when neighbors can talk across distances with the use of a telescope. Most families on the island are a blend of deaf and hearing. Mary has never left her island and sees all this as normal, so she is shocked when a scientist arrives and says it's rare to be deaf. She starts to understand how deaf people are treated on the mainland by observing how this outsider treats them. But nothing could prepare her for the shock of leaving her island and seeing for herself.

I absolutely adored this historical fiction novel. It blends together so many fascinating aspects of history from the prevalence of deaf people on Martha's Vineyard and the sign language they created, to the history of the native Wampanog people. Mary is a great protagonist and I eagerly followed her adventures and was grateful for her insight. Highly recommended for fans of history or those want to learn about Deaf culture.

Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte

Erica's Picks
4th - 7th
​tags: disability, family life, historical fiction, mystery

Ellie loves her grandparents, so when her grandfather starts getting dementia and her mother decides to move in with them, she is thrilled. Maybe she can even win the local baking contest her grandmother always talks about. The only downside is starting at a new school. Ellie's mother worries that the small school will not have the same supports for a student with cerebral palsy as her old one. Ellie just wants to be left alone without having an awkward aide follow her around all day. At first her new school seems impossible to survive. But as Ellie makes new friends and new recipes she learns how to roll with all the unexpected changes.

This is a funny and sweet story about family and friendship. Bakers will appreciate Ellie's culinary efforts and letters to her favorite chefs. There's some serious issues touched upon, but it never feels heavy as Ellie's sense of humor shines through. Recommended for child bakers and fans of heart-warming tales.

Roll with It by Jamie Sumner ​
Erica's Picks
4-6th grade
​tags: 

There are a lot of great things about being quadruplets. But it's hard for Becca when her three brothers all have something that makes them stand out, and she's still finding her path. Jammer is a sports star, KC is a science genius, and Bailey has a passion for music. Not only that, but there's something wrong with her. When her best friend needed her most, she wasn't there for her, and now she's moved away. When Becca comes across a sick piglet, she knows it's her chance for redemption. Becca loves the saucy pig. But it's surprising how much trouble even a small pig can get up to. And the vet says she could grow up to 600 pounds! It's clear that Becca can't keep Saucy forever, but she can't bear to part with her. When Becca finds more piglets in trouble, she knows she'll need the help of the whole community to save them.

Quadruplet or not, a lot of children will relate to Becca: her struggle to stand out, her guilt over betraying her friend, and most of all her love of animals. Saucy is the star however, and readers will fall in love with her as easily as Becca does. The pictures only sweeten the story and show off Saucy's personality more. An inspiring story about finding yourself and taking action to right wrongs.

Saucy by Cynthia Kadohata, Marianna Raskin (Illustrations)

Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th grade
​tags: animals, character driven, contemporary fiction, disability, family life

When Ada Ru's parents tell her they're moving to Scotland for the whole summer, she is not thrilled. But before long she's swept up in a local mystery. The city is by a lake, and not just any lake: Loch Ness, home of the fabled Loch Ness Monster. Ada Ru teams up with a fellow American transplant and a local Nessie enthusiast nick named Hammy Bean to find definitive proof that the monster exists. What follows is a summer that she'll never forget.

I loved this story, and not just because it's set in Scotland (although that certainly didn't hurt). There's a great sense of adventure as they embark on their quest and plenty of humor as well. All of the characters are great from the skeptical but loyal Ada Ru, the cool, guitar-playing Dax, and the always optimistic, blind Hammy Bean. (Not to mention Hammy's dog, Mac-Talla.) This is a perfect story of summer adventure and new friendships.

Nessie Quest by Melissa Savage
Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th grade
​tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, disability, friendship, global perspectives, humor, mystery, summer vacation

When Sunflower is orphaned, the poorest family in the village adopts her. They may not have much, but they shower sunflower with love and work hard to give her the best they can. No one is more excited to have her join the family than her new brother, Bronze. He has been mute ever since a horrible fire, but communicates with sign language. The two of them are inseparable, but when the crops are devastated by locusts they are forced to make hard sacrifices to survive.

It's easy to tell why this story is so beloved in China and I'm glad it was finally translated into English. Even though Sunflower and her family go through serious hardships, their love shines through so strongly and the simple joys of childhood are depicted so clearly that the ultimate effect is a sweet, heart-warming story. The language is simple but vivid and displays great wisdom through accessible stories and languages as the very best children's books do. Highly recommended.

Bronze and Sunflower by Cao Wenxuan
Erica's Picks
4th - 6th grade
tags: