In central Texas in 1899, eleven-year-old Callie Vee Tate is instructed to be a lady by her mother, learns about love from the older three of her six brothers, and studies the natural world with her grandfather, the latter of which leads to an important discovery.

Liz says:

“We predicted this to be a Newbery Winner, and in fact it received the Newbery Honor Medal. This first book by Kelly is about a young girl growing up at a time when girls were taught to be housewives. Instead, Callie wants to be a scientist just like her Grandfather. As she and her Grandfather observe nature and ultimately make a discovery, Callie also looks inward and makes her own discoveries about herself. Beautifully written, this book is best enjoyed by 5th and 6th grade girls.”

As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1980s television game show, “The $20,000 Pyramid,” a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.

Liz & Rob (Liz’s son) say:

“This is a thought-provoking, fun story. You have to pay attention to details and suspend your disbelief and you will be in for a real treat!”

A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards’ families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister.

Liz says:

“This is a very accessible book that sheds light on what life might be like for the sibling of a special needs child. While this book treats this issue with insight and sensitivity, the book is given levity by its setting and entertaining characters. This Newbery Honor winner is truly a winner.”

When his younger brother is diagnosed with leukemia, thirteen-year-old Steven tries to deal with his complicated emotions, his school life, and his desire to support his family.

Liz says:

“Through the honest, sometimes funny, sometimes profoundly worried voice of 8th grader Steven Alper, we see the impact of a life-threatening illness on an entire family. There is sadness and humor in this story and I think it’s an important book for adolescents as its ultimate message is one of empathy and hopefulness. I believe this is a perfect 7th grade read.”

Jason, a twelve-year-old autistic boy who wants to become a writer, relates what his life is like as he tries to make sense of his world.

Liz says:

“This slice of life story about Jason takes us into the mind of a child with Autism as he experiences the day to day challenges of growing up. Jason’s story both illuminates his differences from and his similarities with ‘neurotypicals’. This is a beautifully crafted story with so much to tell, making it anything but typical.”

After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother’s route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also left.

Liz says:

“This is a must read for 5th and 6th grade girls. As Sal travels cross country to find her mom, she discovers the truth about why her mom left. Readers will find themselves crying on one page and laughing on the next. Creech is at her best in this Newbery Award winning book.”

“When Ted and Kat’s cousin Salim disappears from the London Eye ferris wheel, the two siblings must work together–Ted with his brain that is “wired differently” and impatient Kat–to try to solve the mystery of what happened to Salim.

Liz says:

“This is a thoroughly enjoyable read that I recommend especially to 5th and 6th grade boys. It is reminiscent of Mark Haddon’s book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Ted has Asperger’s Syndrome and as a result has a unique perspective on the world and is able to see the facts of his cousin’s disappearance with greater clarity and insight than everyone else. This is a great mystery and a wonderful story.”

Twelve-year–old Mitch and his mother are spending the summer with his grandparents at Bird Lake after his parents separate, and ten-year-old Spencer and his family have returned to the lake where Spencer’s little brother drowned long ago, and as the boys become friends and spend time together, each of them begins to heal.

Liz says:

“True to form, Henkes delivers a thoughtful story of loss, forgiveness and hopefulness.”

Philip, an adolescent white boy who is blinded in a torpedo attack at sea during World War II, acquires a new type of vision, courage, and love when he is stranded on a tiny Caribbean island with Timothy, a kind, elderly black man.

Liz says:

“This is one of the best survival stories and one of the best historical fiction books for young readers. This is an unforgettable read – a classic!”