Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
When Ellie is dumped by her boyfriend, she’s forced to make new friends—while watching him swoon over his new girlfriend—in The Secret Recipe for Moving On. Sharing a ‘life skills’ class with her ex feels like a recipe for disaster until Ellie finds unexpected friendship, self-worth, and a new sense of purpose. Through laughter and competition, she learns that sometimes the best relationships are the ones that help you rediscover yourself.
Peter loves his grandpa but wants his room back. He has no choice but to declare war! With the help of his friends, Peter devises outrageous plans to make Grandpa surrender the room. But Grandpa is tougher than he looks. Rather than give in, Grandpa plans to get even. They used to be such great pals. Has their war gone too far?
Louis Sachar’s Holes is a funny, heartfelt mystery about fate, friendship, and second chances. Stanley Yelnats’s journey from unlucky teen to unexpected hero is filled with clever twists and meaningful lessons about perseverance and justice. With humor and depth, Sachar creates a story that appeals to both kids and adults, making this a must-read classic for middle-grade classrooms.
Featuring a poverty-stricken boy who bravely rides out all the storms life keeps throwing at him. Joe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can’t be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets “the itch,” and now he and his beloved grandmother find themselves without a home.
Cecil Hall and his family have just moved from Florida to Massachusetts, near Boston. Cecil is anxious about making friends because he doesn’t know where he’ll fit in. His older sister, Leah, thinks he should befriend the other black kids at his new school, but Cecil isn’t sure how he’d go about doing that.