Nancy H. Wood Library Blog » Uncategorized

Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica

Mrs. Hardy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:30:47 +0000

After her mother’s death, 12 year old Molly learns that her father is a basketball star for the Boston Celtics. She’s not so sure that he’s the father she imagined him to be.

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Mrs. Hardy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:29:21 +0000

While learning to bestow dreams, a young dream giver tries to save an 8 year old boy from the effects of both his abusive past and the nightmares inflicted on him by the frightening Sinisteeds.

A really creative idea about how we get our dreams – and our nightmares. Lois Lowry has done it again!

Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop

Mrs. Hardy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:27:12 +0000

Twelve-year-old Grace Forcier and her friend Arthur, taken out of school and put to work in a Vermont textile mill in 1910, are championed by their teacher who urges them to write the National Child Labor Committee, an action only Grace seems to realize will have serious repercussions.

If you like historical fiction, you’ll like this one. Read Paterson’s Lyddie to get another look at child labor in the early 1900’s.

The Sacrifice by Kathleen Benner Duble

Mrs. Hardy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:23:37 +0000

Two sisters, aged 10 and 12, are accused of witchcraft in Andover, MA, in 1692 and await trial in a miserable prison while their mother desperately searches for some way to obtain their freedom.

The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs by Betty Birney

Mrs. Hardy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:22:08 +0000

Eben McAllister searches his small town to see if he can find anything comparable to the real Seven Wonders of the World.

Free Baseball by Sue Corbett

Mrs. Hardy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:20:58 +0000

Eleven-year old Felix becomes a batboy for a minor league baseball team, hoping to someday be like his father, a famous Cuban outfielder.

Mrs. Hardy writes: If you like baseball you will love this book! The dog in the story is super!

Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins

Mrs. Hardy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:18:24 +0000

In her Bangladesh village, 10 year old Naimi excels at painting designs called alpanas, but to help her impoverished family financially she would have to be a boy – or disguise herself as one.

Mrs. Hardy writes: This makes me think of The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

Mrs. Hardy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:16:00 +0000

While sorting through difficulties in her friendship with her neighbor Margaret, 8 year old Clementine gains several unique hairstyles while also helping her father in his efforts to banish pigeons from the front of their apartment building.

If you love this one, you have to read the two sequels! They make you think of Ramona and Junie B.!

Drita, My Homegirl by Jenny Lombard

Mrs. Hardy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:49:16 +0000

When ten-year old Drita and her family, refugees from Kosovo, move to New York, Drita is teased about not speaking English well, but after a popular student named Maxine is forced to learn about Kosovo as a punishment for teasing Drita, the two girls soon bond.

Chicken Boy by Frances O’Roark Dowell

Mrs. Hardy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:44:31 +0000

Since the death of his mother, Tobin’s family and school life has been in disarray, but after he starts raising chickens with his seventh-grade classmate, Henry, everything starts to fall into place.