Ship of Dolls

Written by Shirley Parenteau, this is a historical fiction story based on a true event.  Before World War II, the tensions between the United States and Japan were high. In order to ease those tensions and create good feelings of friendship, communities all over the country raised money to buy a doll to send to Japan.  This book tells the story of a girl in the Northwest U.S, whose school raised the money and bought a doll to send.  Lexie has been sent to live with her grandparents there while her mother is far away. She has a special bond with the doll and a special reason for wanting to go to San Francisco to see the 12.000 dolls sail for Japan.

Way Down Deep

In a quaint town in the 1940s in The mountains of West Virginia, a little girl is found on the steps of the courthouse.  Ruby is taken in by the quiet woman who runs the boardinghouse in town and grows up well, much loved by all around town.  When a new family moves into town from over the mountain, they carry a clue to her past that could change all that.  (FIC WHI)

Because of Mr. Terupt

This is not a new book.  I finally added it to my collection after several teachers told me how great it is. The setting is a fifth-grade classroom.  They have a new teacher.  And they are not an easy group.  Seven students narrate the story.  Each has their own personality and problems.  But they are each touched by the magic of this amazing educator, even after an accident takes him from them. (FIC BUY)

Finley Flowers Original Recipe

This was a sweet chapter book that introduces a new character and her best friend.  In her desire to get her best friend a terrific birthday present, she joins a baking contest whose prize is a year of free pizza!  But it doesn't go so well and she learns a good lesson about cooperation and friendship.  It is the first in a series that straddles the early chapter and big-kid fiction sections as a 3rd-grade reading level book.  (FIC YOU)