Kidnapped by a rebel group as a child, Imara has grown up among rough men doing terrible deeds. The only reason she has survived is that they believe she has supernatural powers. She has accepted her fate and the devil inside her. Imara has learned to keep her feelings bottled up safe inside and not let anything touch them. Then the rebels kill a silverback gorilla and kidnap its baby. She is put in charge of caring for it until they can sell it as a pet. The innocent baby chips away at all her defenses as tempts her to forget all the lessons that have kept her safe and risk it all to save another. 

This heart-wrenching novel completely absorbed me as I eagerly rooted for Imara. Gorillas are my favorite animal, so I was hooked instantly. Even though it's fiction it's firmly rooted in reality and opened my eyes up to issues that I knew very little about. 

Gorilla Dawn by Gill Lewis
Erica's Picks
5th -8th grade
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In a Viking village plagued by supernatural foes, warriors must pass a trial when they come of age. If they fail, they are banished from the village unless they can accomplish an impossible task. Most don’t even survive a week. As the chief’s daughter, Rasmira has been training her whole life to take over from her father and lead her people in battle. But when she’s sabotaged in the trial, she’s sent away on her own. Her task? To kill the God that terrorizes the village. In the wild, she meets two others who have failed their trials and been banished. Together, they vow to help each other complete their tasks so they can return to their villages.

A viking adventure with a supernatural twist. This is a classic adventure full of monsters, quests, and revenge. The Norse setting makes it a little different and the characters are really well developed. The fast-paced plot will have you turning the pages and puzzling over how the characters can complete their impossible tasks. 

Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller
Erica's Picks
Grades 7-8
​Tags: adventure, fast-paced, friendship, historical fiction, 

Solara and Dylan have always hated each other. Rivals at their elite school, Dylan comes from one of the richest families in the Galaxy while Solara is a scholarship student from the orphanage. But when Dylan’s family is caught up in an inter-galactic scandal, they end up on the run together, booking passage on a pirate ship. In deep space, no one will be able to find them as long as they don’t blow their cover with the crew. But they also have nowhere to escape when things go wrong. 

This is a classic sci-fi story with a bunch of quirky misfits hurtling through space trying to avoid a corrupt government. It's a fun adventure for fans of the genre. 

Starflight by Melissa Landers

Erica's Picks
Grades 6-8
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Moving stinks for everyone, but it's especially awful for Maya. Maya is deaf and she's used to going to a school with other deaf kids where everyone can sign and understands what Deaf culture is about. But in Colorado she has to go to a regular, hearing high school, which means she has to have an interpreter in all her classes. Outside of class, she has to rely on lip reading, which is never 100% effective, and deal with the ignorance of her hearing classmates. But one boy is different. Beau starts learning sign language and seems interested in getting to know Maya a lot better. Will they be able to bridge their differences and get together? Or is their relationship doomed before it even starts?

I love reading books that explore Deaf culture, and Maya is a wonderful character. She's fiercely loyal to her younger brother, who has cystic fibrosis and is not acclimating to the higher elevation well. With her friends at school she can be flawed and moody, which is perfectly understandable considering all she has to put up with and makes her well-rounded and relatable. I'd whole-heartedly recommend this to students looking for a realistic school story or a romance. 

The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais
Erica's Picks
Grades 6-8
Tags:character driven, contemporary fiction, disability, family life, romance, school stories

Danny is the O'Carolan's last hope. His family was destroyed by the potato famine. His parents and brothers are all either dead or sent to the ends of the world as punishment for stealing food to feed their starving family. His last remaining relative is his older sister Kathleen, and she is determined to keep a close eye on him. When they arrive in New York with nothing but a mysterious family heirloom, they have to act quick if they don't want to end up in an orphanage. Kathleen takes the only job she can find where they can stay together: working as a maid. But Danny has to disguise himself as a girl so they can stay together. He hates the deceit and the hard work for little pay, but he knows that above all else he has to survive to keep the O'Carolan name alive.

I loved this nuanced look at a difficult period in American history. The Civil War is raging and many of the Irish who have just arrived are drafted while the rich pay a fee to avoid going to war. Meanwhile the Irish immigrants are taking jobs that free blacks had previously filled. Tensions rise on all sides as Danny tries to do the right thing, be true to himself, and keep his traditional songs and dances alive. ​

Last of the Name by Rosanne Parry
Grades 4 - 7
​Tags: character driven, family life, historical fiction

Patrick has always wanted a dog, and one summer at his grandfather's house his dreams finally come true. When he sees Oz in the shelter, Patrick knows they'll be best friends. But Oz had a rough start with some mean people and doesn't trust anyone. Will Patrick be able to make Oz happy again and help him find his bark?

This is such a sweet story. I loved how the narrative switched between Patrick and Oz's perspectives. Partway through the story Patrick gets some upsetting news and the tables turn so that Oz needs to help Patrick find his happiness again. It's so heart-warming to see them help each other and the illustrations are simply adorable. It's a perfect read-aloud or early independent chapter book for kids who love dogs.

The Dog Who Lost His Bark by Eoin Colfer, illus. by P.J. Lynch

Erica's Picks
1st - 3rd grade
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​Yasmin loves books and she's determined to read a new one every day. After school, she visits Book Uncle on the corner. A retired teacher, he has set up a free lending library for the neighborhood. Book Uncle is always ready with the perfect book and everyone loves him. But when the Mayor shuts Book Uncle down, Yasmin and the other kids worry they won't be able to get new books anymore. Luckily, a new election is just around the corner. If this Mayor won't let Book Uncle operate, they will campaign for one who will.

This sweet story is a great slice-of-life of a kid in India. I loved everything about the story from Book Uncle himself to the way the students get all the mayoral candidates talking about libraries. Highly recommended!

Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami

Erica's Picks
1st - 3rd grade
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Born in the Great Depression to two Deaf parents, Myron's native tongue is American Sign Language. As he grows up, he navigates his role as translator for his parents to the hearing world. Along the way there's emergency hospital trips, neighborhood bullies, gatherings at the beach, and landmark events. Myron's life is at turns ordinary and extraordinary but it's always fascinating.

I loved reading details about life in the 30's and 40's through the eyes of a child. The peeks into Deaf culture were great and the way Uhlberg describes the signs beautiful. My favorite parts were just reading about every day life in the past. 

The Sound of Silence by Myron Uhlberg

Erica's Picks
4th - 7th
Tags: Biography, Disability, Family Life, Nonfiction