

A guide to a teen's changing body
Harris, R. H., & Emberley, M. (1994). It's perfectly normal: A book about changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health. Cambridge,...

A moving story beautifully told
Nelson, J. (2014). I'll give you the sun. New York, NY: Dial Books. Nelson won the Printz Award for her 2014 novel, and it is a...


Triumph over tragedy and circumstance
Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York, NY: Little, Brown. Sherman’s National Book...

A standout collection of short biographies
Schatz, K., & Klein, S. M. (2015). Rad American women A-Z. San Francisco, CA: City Lights Books. This is an excellent biographical survey...


A road trip leads to personal reflection and revelation
Green, J. (2006). An abundance of Katherines. New York, NY: Dutton Books. The story begins when the main character, Colin Singleton, is...


An engaging read for boys grades 5-8
Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead Stead, R. (2012). Stead, R. (2012). Liar & spy. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books. Seventh grader Georges’...


A complicated, messy, wonderful character
Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi, a girl in pieces. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press. This novel follows year in the life of Gabi, a high school...


A gripping and true tale of spying in the South
Bowers, R., Absher, E., & Henderson, W. (2010). Spies of Mississippi: The true story of the spy network that tried to destroy the civil...


Sisters, an engaging graphic novel for readers ages 11-14.
Telgemeier, R., Lamb, B., Falco, P., & Graphix (Firm). (2014). Sisters. New York, NY: Graphix. Raina Telgmeier, author and illustrator of...


October Author of the Month-Matt Phelan
Matt Phelan is a popular illustrator of books for young readers. He illustrated the book Flora's Windy Day by Jeane Birdsall and the...