Surviving the Desert by M. Weber

Stories of 5 individuals who survived desert conditions as they were either hiking, exploring or just traveling through a desert. One guy survived 71 days!! Do you think you would have what it takes to survive a desert?

  

 Has a table of contents, glossary, stats, index and FULL color pages.  

Carey Price: How a First Nations kid became a superstar goaltender by Catherine Rondina

Carey Price grew up in Anahim Lake British Columbia playing hockey on a frozen river in his back yard.  His parents took him to the closest town (3 hours away) to join a hockey league and from there he moved to Pasco, Washinton to live with a family and play for an amateur league.  

This book tells the story from his humble beginnings up to the Olympics and the NHL.  Has a table of contents, glossary, index and highlights from his life.  Black and white photography.  

What the Woods Keep by Katya de Becerra

Hayden has lived a strange life.  Her mom went missing when she was 8, she was expelled from school for hurting a student, her dad cannot keep his job as a college professor because he believes in mythical creatures called Nibelungs.  When Hayden turns 18 the family lawyer contacts her and tells her that she has inherited Holland Manor in Promise, Colorado; the house she grew up in, but left when she was 8 and her mom went missing in the woods behind the house.  She decides to go with her friend/ roommate Delphine to check it out.  Once she is there strange things start to happen and as she tries to solve her mom's cryptic message and she finds out her heritage.  

Blends modern day with mythology, some romance, and a creepiness factor.

8th and up.

The House in Poplar Wood by K. E. Ormsbee

Lee and Felix Vickery are twins. Lee lives with his mother and Felix lives with his dad. They are also apprentices to Shades - Lee to Memory and Felix to Death.  They are not allowed to see their other parent or visit them because of an Agreement made with Death. 

Gretchen Whipple needs their help to solve a murder that was hidden.  She promises if the boys will help her solve the murder she will be able to help them undo the Agreement. 

Full of supernatural mystery, twists and turns, it is still not a "have to keep reading to find out what happens book".  I did enjoy it, but will probably not revisit.  :)

Blended by Sharon Draper

Wow, wow, wow... Isabella deals with many things in this book.  She is dealing with her parent's divorce (white mom/ black dad) Dad moves away for years and then moves back.  Izzy has to deal with her "mixed-ness" and how people perceive her, comments made and how she responds.  She also has to deal with parents having new relationships and getting remarried.  Classmates that are judgmental and racist.  And the SHOCKER that I didn't see coming was police profiling and the shooting.  I love this book for giving people a window to see how others live and a mirror to those going through the same issues.  Can't wait to share this with my students!

Geraldine A House that Once Was

Geraldine is a giraffe and her family is moving.  She stands out in her new town, school and she hides because she's different.  she meets Cassie and the two become friends.  Geraldine accepts who she is and is proud of it.  Very relatable story...we've all felt that way at one time or another. 

Beautiful illustrations by Lane Smith.  Two kids discover a house in the woods and as they look through it wonder about who lived there, where did they go, why did they leave?  Search the pictures for clues as you read. 

The Special Ones by Em Bailey

Esther is a "Special One" along with 3 other people.  They are kept on a private farm where they live by rules created by their "captor".  In the evening they chat online with people who follow them through videos he publishes.  He "renews" people who don't follow the rules, and he is ALWAYS watching.  Esther gets notice that she will be renewed and she determines that she will escape before he kills her.  The questions remains, who is he and will he ever be caught or will he catch her again?