Almost Home

by Joan Bauer
Lexile:  590
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Sugar Mae Cole is always looking for the sweetness in her life which has been full of ups and downs. Lately, the downs seem to be winning.  She and her mother are forced out of their home and into a shelter.  It's not great, but as long as she has her 6th grade teacher, and her writing, life is bearable.  But then her mom gets the idea that they should move to Chicago and start their lives over.  Soon, Sugar finds herself alone in a new city with her mom who is no longer able to hold it together.  With the help of new friends, and one very special dog, Sugar hopes she can hang on until things get better.

Outcasts United

by Warren St. John
Lexile:  980
Genre:  Informational

Outcasts United is the story of the Fugees soccer team in Clarkston, Georgia.  The Fugees and their families have come from all over the world and settled in a small community that is full of strange new customs, food, language, and people.  The one thing that some of them have in common is their love of soccer.  LumaMuflech, herself an immigrant to the United States, stumbles upon a group of boys playing soccer in a parking lot.  Little does she know, what a life changing event that chance meeting will become - for her and for all the children she will coach.

The 9/11 Report - A Graphic Adaptation

By Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon (based on the final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States)
Lexile:  ???
Genre:  Informational (Graphic Novel)

September 11, 2001 is a day that will never be forgotten.  Questions that quickly arose:  how did this happen?  How could the United States be so unprepared?  How can we avoid such a tragedy from happening again?  Ten Commissioners were tasked with finding the answers.  This is their report.

Playground

by 50 Cent
Lexile:  900
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Butterball hates living in the suburbs.  He much preferred his old life back in New York City when his parents lived together and he went to school with his friends.  In the suburbs, everything is different. His parents have split up, he hates his new school, his mom is working all the time, and now he's been forced to see a counselor who's supposed to help him figure out his issues.  It's serious this time.  If he can't get his life back on track, he's going to be expelled and sent away to a private school.

Victory (Resistance Book 3)

by Carla Jablonski and Leland Purvis
Lexile:  ???
Genre:  Historical Fiction (Graphic Novel)

World War II is finally coming to an end, but Sylvie, Paul, and Marie are still missing their father and working undercover with the Resistance is getting more dangerous every day.  But they refuse to give up until the war ends and their family is all together again.

Defiance (Resistance, Book 2)

by Carla Jablonski and Leland Purvis
Lexile:  ???
Genre:  Historical Fiction (Graphic Novel)

Paul and his sisters are continuing to work behind the scenes of the French resistance.  There father is still a prisoner of war and Marie wants desperately for someone to find him and help him escape.  Paul knows that is unlikely so instead focuses his efforts on helping the Marquis, a group of French resistance workers hiding in the woods.  One of their leaders asks Paul's older sister, Slyvie, to go out on dates with the German soldiers to get information for them.  She's not sure she's willing to take the risk.  It's up to Paul to convince her that this is a way that they can help fight back during this terrible time in their lives.

Resistance (Book 1)

by Carla Jablonski and Leland Purvis
Lexile:???
Genre:  Historical Fiction (Graphic Novel)

World War II has moved into France, but life hasn't changed much for Paul.  But one day when his friend Henri's parents disappear, Paul is forced to start thinking about the war and what it is doing to his country.  Henri is Jewish and Paul realizes that it will be up to him to help Henri survive.  Paul knows there is a group of people known as the Resistance working behind the scenes to protest what is happening.  Will he have the courage to join in and fight for the things he believes in?