Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Interest Level: 3-6

Reading Level: 5.1
Lexile: 810L
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Julia is short for her age - very short. She'd like to fade into the scenery. She doesn't want to stand out. She doesn't want to be noticed. She won't even use the work "short". Then Julia gets a part in a semi-professional production of "The Wizard of Oz". Julia becomes friends with an adult cast member with dwarfism and Julia's talented elderly neighbor. Soon, Julia grows in ways that are far beyond her height.

This book is a sweet coming of age tale. Julia grows in many ways during the summer if not for height. I am glad that I purchased this book for the library and would recommend it to all my middle school readers. The only thing that denied this book a full 5 stars was that I wasn't compelled to carry it around with me.

Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely

Interest Level: Young Adult
Reading Level: NR
Lexile: NR
Genre: Dystopian Fiction

In a post-Second Civil War lawless West, sharpshooter Serendipity "Pity" Jones stars in, and lives at, the Theater Vespertine, but there is a dark cost to her life in Cessation that Pity may not be willing to pay. I found this dystopian tale very entertaining. In my opinion its audience is 11th grade to adult. Although I will not be purchasing it for the middle school library, I do recommend it for the older reader.