These are books that we aren’t considering for our mock-Newbery award for various reasons, but our club members still really ❤ them!
The Spirit of Cattail County by Victoria Piontek
“This is a heart-touching book about a girl who can see ghosts and how she handles her mother’s death. This book starts with one plot and ends with a totally different one, which is a good quality in books.” – Keira R., September 2018
What’s His Face by Gordon Korman
“This is a hilarious book juxtaposing a boy from the middle ages and a boy in our wolrd now, who meet through a phone. It explores the myths behind the famous play Romeo and Juliet.” – Keira R., September 2018
The Elephant Thief by Jane Kerr
“This is an exciting adventure story about a boy breaking free from the boundaries of his past, bonding with a large but gentle animal, and winning a race against time.” – Keira R., September 2018
A Stitch in Time by Daphne Kelmar
“This is an amazing, clever book about a strong female character breaking the gender-specific barrier, getting over her grandfather’s death, and finding herself in the end.” – Keira R., October 2018
My life in black and white
This is an exiting piece about having something that defines you being taken away…forever. When Lexi loses her beauty, she has to find herself in a new way, and forgive the person who took her beauty away from her.
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
“This is a gracefully-written novel about how a girl’s life and family are torn apart because of a war, and she travels far away from home, but she manages to save herself and her brother in the end.” – Keira R.
“When Nick and Allie die in a car crash, they find themselves alive in a different way…but to free themselves and the many other trapped souls in Everlost, they must embark on a journey, and join forces with some unlikely allies.” -Keira R.
Diamonds in the Shadow by Caroline B. Cooney
“When the Amabo’s come to America, they expect to make the trade off with Victor immediately. Instead, they end up staying with the Finches, discovering a life they’ve never lived, and creating the family they’ve never had.” – Keira R.
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
“When Lupita’s mom gets cancer, she and her family, who are immigrants in the US, must pull together like never before. An eye-opening novel about how cancer can tear a family apart in poem format.” – Keira R.
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
“This novel is a rhythm-filled book about not only basketball, but family and love and hope and heartbreak all wrapped up in one wicked crossover.” – Keira R.
All of the Above by Shelley Pearsall
“A fluidly-written book, juxtaposing the viewpoints of many characters trying to be noticed. A Vietnam vet who owns a barbeque; a hairdresser who’s also an aunt; and a math teacher that has been doing things the same way for too long–all folded up in a huge, rainbow tetrahedron.” – Keira R.
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
“A hard-to-forget graphic novel about a girl overcoming the loss of her best friend & the unfamiliar atmosphere of a new place with new people to achieve her roller derby dreams.” – Keira R.
The Doughnut Fix by Jessie Janowitz
“An ingenious novel about a boy moving to a place far away from home, overcoming family challenges, and restocking the town’s supply of world famous chocolate cream doughnuts.” – Keira R.
The Boy, The Bird, and the Coffin Maker by Matilda Woods
“A truly enchanting story about a boy finding the father he’s never had, a man finding his long-lost son in a different way, and a bird helping them escape to a new life.” – Keira R.
Wish Upon A Sleepover by Suzanne Selfors
“A soul-touching story about a life-changing scavenger hunt and unexpected friendship.” – Keira R.
One For the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
“A heartfelt novel about a tough foster kid meeting a soft but strong mother, and realizing that this is what she’s needed all along [calling all Broadway fans! Wicked: The Musical references!].” -Keira R.
“Half-human, half-metal–all orphan. The best retelling of Cinderella out there.” -Keira R.
“A stupendous story about a girl who can’t stop running–from foster home after foster home, and now to find her lost twin sister. A surprising plot twist at the end.” -Keira R.
Zora & Me: The Cursed Grounds by T.R. Simon
“The boundaries between now and then, black and white, mine and yours, dead and alive, and love and hate seem to completely vanish as two young girls discover the real past of their town.” -Keira R.
The Memory of Forgotten Things by Kat Zhang
“A dead mom alive again. A stepdad you’ve never met. A sister whose life-ending car crash has been rewound. Join Luke, Sophia, and DJ as they experiment with friendship, family, and parallel universes.” -Keira R.
“Breaking barriers of friendship and gender stereotype, in the end Michey and Lev find their justice on the wrestling mat.” -Keira R.
“El wants to be popular. El wants to be pretty. But the unspoken truth is that El would give anything to just have her sister back at home and healthy.” -Keira R.
Spell and Spindle by Michelle Schusterman
“Marionette dolls, missing children, swapped souls, and enchanted thread all sewn together into a spellbinding tale.” -Keira R.
The Girl With More Than One Heart by Laura Geringer Bass
“After her favorite parent dies, Briana finds an extra heart in her belly, which sounds like her dad, and may just be the key to coping with her loss.” -Keira R.
“One of the best science-fiction books you can find nowadays–the right mixture of dystopia and normal teen life.” -Keira R.
“A sweet story about a black girl trying to get her family back together while in foster care.” -Keira R.
Bringing Me Back by Beth Vrabel
“The most-hated-boy-at-school and the nerd-goth girl join alliances to save a bear, and possibly the school football team.” -Keira R.
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl
“A gloriumptious” sequel to the famous, chocolatey novel, it is a story of trust and heroism, with just enough rivalry mixed in to liven it up.” – Keira R.
“A creepy-crawly narrative about the secret and sinister sorcery of the world and teamwork in the craziest situations.” – Keira R.
“A hilarious collection of stories about two absolutely-cuckoo old people who are way too cranky for their own good.” – Keira R.
Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
“A piece about a clever, sharp-looking red fox who manages to outsmart the three mean old farmers who are the tyrants of the area.” – Keira R.
Confusion is Nothing New by Paul Acampora
“Join Ellie Magari as she discovers her mother for the very first time after she receives word that she passed away.” – Keira R.
Beneath My Mother’s Feet by Amjed Qamar
“This book embodies the fierce spirit of a Pakastani girl trying with all her might to go back to school and back to the way things used to be.” – Keira R.
Eva Perry Mock-Newbery Club 