Some Places More Than Others by Renee Watson

Interest Level: 5-8

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reading Level: 4.6

Amara, almost 12, leads a comfortable life in Beaverton, Oregon. Her dad works for Nike, and that brings perks. Her mom owns a boutique and is pregnant with Amara’s soon-to-be sister. But when her teacher assigns a family history project, she realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know: Why is her father estranged from Grandpa Earl? For her birthday, Amara wants to go to New York with her Dad on a business trip and see Grandpa Earl. But her Mom thinks that it might not be the best idea.

A great book with many twists and turns. It made me want to visit New York again. I routed for Amara and I wanted her Dad and Grandpa to reconcile. I highly recommend this book for students in 5th grade to 9th grade. 

Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream by Crystal Hubbard

Interest Level: K-3
Genre: Historical Fiction

Reading Level: 4.3

A biography of African-American baseball player Marcenia Lyle, whose love of baseball as a child allowed her to break the gender barrier by becoming the first female member of the professional Negro Leagues.

I happened on to this book; and although I knew it was too young to buy for the middle school library, I had to pick it up and read it. I love baseball and I loved this book. Growing up with all brothers, all boy cousins and in an all boy neighborhood, I was routing for Marcenia. If you happen to see this book in a library or a bookstore, READ it. Or buy it for a young person that you know that loves baseball.

Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Interest Level: 3-6

Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading Level: 5.8

 Danger is never far from Audra's family farm in Lithuania. She always avoids the occupying Russian Cossack soldiers, who insist that everyone must become Russian -- they have banned Lithuanian books, religion, culture, and even the language. But Audra knows her parents are involved in something secret and perilous.

When Cossacks arrive abruptly at their door, Audra's parents insist that she flee, taking with her an important package and instructions for where to deliver it. But escape means abandoning her parents to a terrible fate.

As Audra embarks on a journey to deliver the mysterious package, she faces unimaginable risks, and soon she becomes caught up in a growing resistance movement. Can joining the underground network of book smugglers give Audra a chance to rescue her parents?

I LOVE historical fiction. I highly recommend this book for 3rd through 9th graders. The characters are compelling. The story moves along at a nice pace. The story comes to a nice close; and an ORCA (Oregon Readers Choice Award) nomination for 2021.

The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

Interest Level: YA

Lexile: HL800L
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Reading Level: 5.2

Six kids went missing ten years old. Until today. Today five of those kids return. They’re sixteen, and they are . .  fine. Scarlett comes home and finds a mom she barely recognizes, and doesn't really recognize the person she's supposed to be, either. But she thinks she remembers Lucas. Lucas remembers Scarlett, too, except they’re entirely unable to recall where they’ve been or what happened to them. Neither of them remember the sixth victim, Max—the only one who hasn’t come back. Which leaves Max's sister, Avery, wanting answers. She wants to find her brother—dead or alive—and isn’t buying this whole memory-loss story. But as details of the disappearance begin to unfold, no one is prepared for the truth.

I enjoyed this book and plan on adding it to the middle school's collection. It is set up for a sequel but if one comes out, I don't think I will read it. It appears as if there was a shift at the end of the book to go from a story about the kids to an adventure story. I could be wrong. Either way. I like the character and the writing. I recommend this book to 7th graders to adults.