The Friendship War

Written by Andrew Clements, the master of the school story, this is a realistic fiction story about a girl named Grace who starts a button collecting trend in her school.  But when her best friend Ellie isn't the one getting all the attention, she turns on Grace.  How Grace responds to Ellie's betrayal is so raw and real, students will relate immediately.  However, Grace's choice in solving the problem is admirable and heals their friendship.  (FIC CLE)

The One and Only Ruby

Who doesn't love this series???  Katherine Applegate hit a homerun with Ivan, followed it up beautifully with Bob's story, and now tells Ruby's, the baby elephant's, story.  They live in their new home and are missing Stella.  Ruby's new elephant family can not wait to celebrate her tusking day.  But Ruby is scared and confused and doesn't want to celebrate the things that got her mother and other elephants in Africa killed.  Her origin story is beautifully told.  When Ruby is told what the ceremony means - an acceptance of your place in the herd and an acknowledgement of some rules to live by, she is relieved and eager to mark this stage of her life.  I think this would be a perfect One School -One Book read aloud.  (FIC APP)

We Were the Fire

Rufus lives in the 1960's in Birmingham, Alabama.  Black people like him are segregated, and not allowed to do what white people can do.  When Martin Luther King encourages blacks to protest peacefully, the adults fear losing their jobs.  So the children of Birmingham step up and speak up.  The world sees what the police are doing to kids, and people demand change.  (There is a picture book that deals with the same topic:  Let The Children March, by Monica Clark-Robinson.)  This is a short novel that is on the 23-24 Great Stone Face list.  (FIC MOS)

Thirst

Set in current-day Mumbai, India, this story centers around Minnie and her family, struggling among millions like her to make a livable wage and find water to live.  When Minnie, her friends, and her brother stumble upon water thieves, they anger a powerful group of people getting rich off selling stolen water.  She must make a decision to do what is right and out the criminals.  This is on the Great Stone Face List for 2023-24.  (FIC RAJ)

New Dragon City

Who is your enemy?  When your mind and heart are convinced of what you think is the truth, it is difficult to see otherwise.  In a post-apocalyptic world, dragons and humans are enemies.  Dragons have taken over and destroyed the human world.  Humans have to hide from and hunt their enemy to survive.  But when one human child and one baby dragon bond, the lines of hate and intolerance start to blur.  Can their bond change both their worlds? This great fantasy novel is on the 2023-24 Great Stone Face list.   (FIC MAN)

The Lucky Ones

This book is on the Great Stone Face List for 2023-24.  It is a story set in the 1960's South that centers around a young boy named Ellis Earl whose family is very poor.  As he struggles with a crowded, run- down house with no electricity, no food, and no room, he begins to read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and finds comfort in his similarities to Charlie Bucket.  His teacher encourages them to be their best selves and reach for the stars.  Ellis Earl learns of a woman from Washington D.C who is shining light on the poverty in the South and he dreams of becoming a lawyer like her so he can help families like his.  When Bobby Kennedy does his tour of the South to see the conditions the lawyer was talking about, Ellis Earl meets him and pleads his case for those like him.  (FIC JAC)