Hummingbird

Wow.  Just wow.  Natalie Lloyd knocked it out of the park with this one.  Olive's town is about to experience a visit from a magic hummingbird.  Whoever finds it, must solve a riddle and they will be granted a wish.  Olive knows it will be her and she can wish for bones that will not be so breakable and she can have a normal life - one where she can perform on stage!  But doesn't everyone have important wishes too?  And isn't there magic all around you every day, if you only choose to see it?  This books gave me chills.  It was beautiful.  (FIC LLO)

Too Bright to See

In his debut novel, Kyle Lukoff introduces us to Bug.  Bug and her mom have recently lost Uncle Roderick, with whom they live in a haunted house.  Bug is convinced her Uncle's spirit is trying to communicate.  As the summer continues to edge toward the start of middle school, Bug tries to figure out the message Uncle Roderick wants to send.  Fans of ghost stories will enjoy this.  The content is a bit mature, tackling issues of gender identity, but this should be a perfect fit for upper elementary and middle school students.

My Own Lightning

When I discovered Lauren Wolk wrote a sequel to Wolf Hollow, I could not get my hands on this fast enough.  To say I am a fan is an understatement.  She has a way with words that leaves me breathless.  Her messages and themes are both timely and timeless.  In this chapter of Annabelle's story, it is a few months after the tragic events in the previous novel.  AnnaBelle is trying to forgive herself and move forward.  During a storm she is struck by lightning. The strike heightens her senses - particularly with animals.  Dogs have been disappearing, including her brother's, and her new sense leads her to a reclusive neighbor.  But when Andy, who played a part in last spring's tragedy, may have some information, it forces AnnaBelle to face her past and question her judgment of people.  It is a story of forgiveness, but also one of courage and growth - one in which you learn that we all need to look harder at someone to see what they really are.  (FIC WOL)