Simon has a major crush, the only problem is he doesn't know who he's crushing on. After a pseudonymous post about not being openly gay in his high school, he met Blue. Blue and Simon have been messaging ever since, and Simon can't get enough of him. When another student discovers their e-mail conversations, everything is put in jeopardy. Simon is blackmailed with the threat of having not only his secrets revealed, but Blue's as well. How will he keep their secrets safe while staying true to himself? How far will the blackmail go? And most importantly, who is Blue?

All the characters are fleshed out from the kid blackmailing Simon to his embarrassing but loving parents. The play brought me back to my own high school theatre days and the ending was simply perfect. 

Erica's Picks
8th Grade
Tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, LGBTQ, romance, school stories

Playing sports always brought Trent joy. Everyone in town knew him as the golden kid who could excel at any type of game, and he took pride in his reputation. Until the day a pick-up hockey game changed his life forever. One slapshot to the chest combined with an un-diagnosed heart condition made Trent a killer. Now it's a new school year and a new baseball season. It should be a fresh start, but Trent can't leave the past behind. He's changed into someone his friends and family don't recognize and he's not sure if he can ever go back, or if he even wants to. Will he ever play sports again? Who will he be without them?

The characters in this story are simply fantastic. It would take a very cold heart not to sympathize with Trent as he recovers from the grief and guilt of accidentally killing another kid. Those who enjoy sports will be especially impacted by the loss Trent feels at his inability to play the way he did before. Misfits and sports neophytes, on the other hand, will relate to the other main character Fallon, who helps Trent adjust to his new life. A little something for everyone.

Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff

Erica's Picks
4th - 7th Grade
Tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, friendship, issues fiction, school stories, sports

Hardwicke Academy: the school of choice for the children of the DC elite. It's exclusive, it's secure, and it's about to be completely rocked by its newest student. Tess Kendrick is the younger sister of infamous political fixer Ivy Kendrick. Caught in a messy affair? Need to make a story disappear? If you're lucky, and you can afford it, you'll hire Ivy to take care of all your needs and keep your secrets. Tess grew up on a farm with her grandfather, about as far away from political intrigue as you can get. But her sister's reputation has preceded her and it isn't long before Tess is fixing problems for students on campus. Their parents are power players, and their problems go beyond school drama. Soon, Tess has uncovered a major scandal that even her sister might not be able to fix. With her life on the line and her world turned upside, she needs to decide where her loyalties lie and what she's willing to risk.

The plot is relentless and full of betrayals, twists, and high stakes. Tess is a very sympathetic character as she's thrust into a world she's completely unprepared for and tries to do her best. A fantastic political thriller.

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Erica's Pick
8th grade
Tags: Contemporary Fiction, Family Life, Fast-Paced, Romance, School Stories

"My name is Liv (Not Olivia)... I'm not technically a girl.I'm Transgender. Which is a bit like being a transformer. Only not quite as cool because I probably won't get to save the world one day." Liv knows he was always meant to be a boy and his new school's dress code won't even let him wear pants. He puts on the skirt of his new uniform and tears blur his vision.  Angry tears at how unfair it is and how wrong he feels. Supported by his two moms, Liv tries various methods of protest (wearing pants under the skirt, organizing a petition) but nothing can budge the powers that be until he meets some new friends who embrace his cause. This is a book about identity, acceptance and celebrating who you are.
Funny and empowering, this book will have you cheering for the pants project.


Tessa's Picks, 4th grade, 5th grade, Character driven, Issues Fiction, Friendship, School Stories, LGBTQ

Saba never imagined as her apartment went up in flames that it would be the beginning of a grand mystery that would change her life for the better. Her school community rallies around her, led by two new kids who seem eager to make their mark. Saba's family moves into a luxurious apartment and an auction is organized to raise money for them. When the donation of a weird piece of art found in an alley turns out to be a valuable work by a famous artist, tensions rise. Who should keep the money: Saba's family? The kids who found the art? The school? And just who set the fire in the first place? Read a series of notes, articles, and testimonies, put together the clues, and find out for yourself!

I loved the format of this book! I find it especially effective in mystery narratives where not all the characters can be trusted and you have to be on a sharp lookout for red herrings. A major subplot of the book involves outsider art, an area that I found fascinating. The final conclusion was perfect and a completely satisfying ending to a compelling mystery.

The Art of Secrets by James Klise

Erica's Picks
6th - 8th
Tags: Art, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, People of Color, School Stories

Have you ever seen a dragon attack up close? Felt the heat from their flame on your skin and smelled the sulfur in the air? Most people run for cover as soon as one is spotted. It takes a special type of person to run toward one. You need bravery, training, agility, skill, and a touch of madness. But slayers aren't the only ones crazy enough to seek out a dragon. Their trusty bards are always close behind. Everyone in Trondheim has great hopes for Owen, the youngest in a long line of dragonslayers. But before he can fulfill his destiny, he and his bard must face a more fearsome foe: his algebra test.

This story is a cross between an epic dragon-slaying fantasy novel and a regular school story about a new student in town. There's plenty of action as well as great bits about Owen's family (he is raised by his aunt who is a famous retired dragon slayer and her wife who is a blacksmith) and his budding friendship with the story's narrator (who has musical talent and becomes his bard/tutor.) An all around great novel! 
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Erica's Picks
6th - 8th grade
​Tags: Adventure, Family Life, Fantasy, Friendship, LGBTQ, School Stories

   “Everybody is smart in different ways.  But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid.”

Ally has managed to hide the fact that she can’t read by creating disruptive distractions.  You feel her anguish at being a smart girl whom classmates have labeled “dumb” and “loser”.  A new teacher sees the clever artist and math whiz in her and finds a way to turn her secret toward a path to overcoming her dyslexia.  With the help of two quirky sidekicks, the trio of outsiders turn impossible into possible. This heartwarming novel from the author of One For The Murphys, will have you laughing and cheering for its courageous heroine and her inspiring teacher.

Tags: Tessa's picks, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, Contemporary fiction, School stories, Issues fiction, Friendship

Grayson lives with his aunt and uncle, having become orphaned when he was in preschool.  For years he would look in the mirror and see himself as the girl he longs to be, a princess twirling in front of her castle.  As a sixth grader Grayson is well aware of the ridicule he would face if his secret that he is in the wrong gender’s body were to come out.  Hiding his true self has made Grayson isolated and unhappy  at school where is called “loser” and “freak.” New friends and trying out for and landing the female lead in the school play open the path to Grayson’s transition.   Grayson is an engaging character who will have you cheering for "him" to become "her". This is a touching book about identity, friendship, and the human spirit.  Don’t miss it.

As E.E. Cumming’s says “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”


 

Tags: Tessa's picks, LGBTQ, Contemporary fiction, 4th Grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, School stories, Family life.