When Beatryce is discovered by a monk and a goat she is sick and doesn't remember any details of her life, but she does know how to read and write. This shocks everyone as it is illegal for girls to have this knowledge. The monk tries to protect her by shaving her head and dressing her in robes, but soon the king himself comes looking for her, the girl prophesied to dethrone him. Beatryce has a fierce protector in the goat and makes new friends along the way, but will it be enough to save her from the king?

This is an admittedly unusual premise for a children's book, but DiCamillo and Blackall are masters of their craft and they do not disappoint here. The story reads like a classic fairy tale and the cast of quirky characters is sure to draw fans. The moral at the heart about the power of love and story is definitely one I can get behind. My prophecy is that will become a classic and be read aloud by generations.

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th
​tags: adventure, animals, fairy tales, historical fiction

As the youngest of four sisters, Primrose is used to being forgotten. She isn't expecting a huge celebration for her sixteenth birthday, but even she is surprised when her family doesn't acknowledge it at all. When her mother informs her that she will not be allowed to come out into society until her older sister is married, she contemplates a plan she would never have dared before. Prim and her best friend decide to sneak out in disguise and go to the infamous Vauxhall Gardens for their own birthday celebration. But when the night turns dangerous and Prim becomes entangled with a snooty gentleman she isn't sure whether it will turn out to be the best or worst night of her life.

This book is light, fluffy fun for those looking for a historical romance in the style of Jane Austen but with a more modern sensibility. Great to read over a cup of tea and a tray of biscuits.

Sixteen Scandals by Sophie Jordan

Erica's Picks
7th & 8th
​tags: historical fiction, romance

Valora Luck worked as a servant for the crotchety Mrs. Sloane. Mrs. Sloane purchased tickets for them both on the maiden voyage of the Titanic, but died before it could leave port. When Valora attempts to take their first class room alone, she is turned away for being Chinese. But Valora needs to get on that ship. Her last living relative, her twin brother, is a passenger in third class on his way to a job in Cuba. Valora knows that if she can get on board and find him, they can convince the circus magnate on board to hire them as acrobats and start a new life in America together. But fate has other plans, and there's more danger aboard the Titanic than Valora could have ever dreamed.

I should perhaps confess that I never saw the famous movie, but even if I had I'm sure this would still be my favorite fictionalized account of the Titanic. With a large cast of characters, constant schemes, layers of deception, and stunning fashions this is a story I can get behind. Inspired by the eight Chinese passengers of the Titanic who really existed and about whom so little is known due to the racism of the era. A not-to-be-missed historical drama.

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee 

Erica's Picks 
6th - 8th
​tags:  family life, fast-paced, historical fiction, People of Color, survival, tear-jerker

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

Meera longs to learn how to read and write, but when her father sees her spying on the boys' lessons, she is punished. Meera's life has been focused on learning how to be a good wife. Her thirteenth birthday is approaching, and when it arrives she will move out of her parents' house and into her husband's. She dreads the day, but when it finally comes something even worse happens, and she is forced to flee for her life. She finds work in the house of a British officer. She is safe, but his contempt for her people is clear. When she gets a chance to join the revolution will she risk that safety to fight for her people, or will her husband's family find her before she even gets the chance?

Meera is a strong and resourceful heroine fighting her way out of impossible situations. A lot of fascinating historical detail is included but it's revealed naturally. The plot is both fast-paced and thought-provoking as Meera is faced with difficult decisions. Highly recommended. 

Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame by Supriya Kelkar 

Erica's Picks
5th - 8th
​tags: ​fast-paced, global perspectives, historical fiction, issues fiction, People of Color, social justice

Charlie had a lot of friends in London, but now that they've moved back to the small town where her father grew up, she only has Dizzy. They're both outcasts: Charlie because she doesn't act the way a girl "should", and Dizzy because Polio left him with a permanent limp. Johnny takes a particular delight in tormenting them, but one day he takes it too far. He lures them into the woods with a plan to scare them, but soon all three are lost. As night descends they become trapped in a nightmare where the normal rules don't apply. If they want to survive to dawn, they'll have to rely on each other and keep their wits about them. The woods have more than one trick in store for them, and the morning seems like it will never come.

This is a short and fast-paced adventure that plays with time and history as well as secret codes and science. Great for anyone looking for a spooky mystery to crack.

The Longest Night of Charlie Noon
by Christopher Edge

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th
​tags: adventure, fast-paced, historical, mystery, science fiction

Ning never knew her father, but anyone who sees her can tell that he was a foreigner. Her strange looks combined with her unbound feet make her an outcast and guarantee that she will never find a husband. Her mother hides her away so she's barely experienced life outside her small home and her only friend is her mother's servant. One day she makes a rare trip to a temple and makes a wish for her father to return. Little does she know that wish would change her life forever. Soon she's all alone in a foreign land filled with people who distrust her. How can she build a new life for herself and still be true to her roots? Where can she run when home is thousands of miles and an ocean away?

This story, based on the life of the author's great-great-grandmother, is an engaging and unique immigration tale. From Ning's life in Shanghai to her trip across the ocean and her life in America her bold spirit shines through as she's thrown into daunting situations and has to handle them all on her own. I love how she borrows courage from tales of her favorite pirate queen. An author's note in the back details more about the life of the author's family.

View from Pagoda Hill by Michaela MacColl 

Erica's Picks
5th - 8th
​tags: character driven, family life, global perspectives, historical fiction, People of Color

Ailey knows he has the moves to make the Scarecrow in his school's production of The Wiz really shine. But at his audition, his mind goes blank and he completely chokes. He isn't looking forward to telling his family, but when he gets home there's much bigger problems: his grampa is in the hospital. Grampa tells Ailey about the time he met Bojangles and was given a pair of tap shoes and invited to audition, but he never worked up the courage to try. It's his biggest regret in life. When Ailey finds the tap shoes in the closet and makes a wish, he's transported back in time. He has the chance to change his grampa's life, and maybe his own too.

The author's love for history shines through. I love how the characters are named after Alvin Ailey, Benjamin Banneker, Mahalia Jackson and more (there's a list in the back with brief bios of their real-life counterparts). Henderson also does an amazing job conveying the tap sequences through onomatopoeia (I would love if it was made into a movie just so I can see the dances). Ailey's love for his family is the moving force behind the novel and a great warmth radiates from that. It' would make an excellent read-aloud with plenty of jumping off points for discussion.

The Magic in Changing Your Stars by Leah Henderson 
2nd - 4th
Erica's Picks
​tags: family life, historical fiction, People of Color, SEL

After living a life terrified of being turned in by a neighbor for not being patriotic enough, Twelve year old Sora and her family make the dangerous decision to try and escape to South Korea as the front line of the war moves closer to their village. Fleeing into a war zone with limited resources is dangerous enough without having to worry about being caught by their own country men and punished for trying to defect. In the chaos of a bombing Sora is separated from her parents and left with her eight year old brother to protect. As they struggle through the hunger, cold, and war happening around them they wonder if they will ever see their family again, or if they are even alive.

This harrowing journey is incredibly moving. The resilience of Sora to push on and care for her brother despite everything is astonishing. While appropriate for a middle grade audience, the realities of life at the time are not sugarcoated and you should be prepared for a tear-jerker. The ultimate message though is one of hope and empathy.

Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee 
Erica's Picks
4th - 7th
tags: family life, fast-paced, global perspectives, historical fiction, people of color, survival, tear-jerker

Nannerl Mozart loves to lose herself in music. Her father allows her to perform at the piano, at least until she reaches a marriageable age, but he doesn't allow her to compose. It's not proper for a lady. Meanwhile her younger brother Wolfgang Amadeus is given free reign to compose and quickly begins to outshine his older sister. Nannerl and Wolfgang have always been close, playing together and making up elaborate fantasy worlds to pass the time. But the injustice of how they are treated differently due to their sex begins to grate on Nannerl. When an elven prince from one of their stories appears to Nannerl in real life, he offers her the fame she deserves; a guarantee her name will live on forever. But what seems like a fairy tale happy ending is twisted when Nannerl discovers the price she'll have to pay.

I loved this combination of fantasy and historical fiction. I had never heard of Wolfgang Mozart's older sister before and was intrigued by her story. I was equally enthralled by the fantasy world coming to life and the twists and turns of figuring out the truth of it. Most of all I was moved by the relationship between the siblings Highly recommended.

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu 
Erica's Picks
6th - 8th
tags: fairy tales, family life, fantasy, historical fiction