Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown by Ann E. Burg – BOOK REVIEW

It is 1889, and the residents of Johnstown, Pennsylvania are preparing to honor those that served and those that lost their lives fighting for the Union in the Civil War. As Decoration Day approaches, six young people’s experiences reveal the nuances of life in this small, steel town.

The Boy, the Wolf, and the Stars by Shivaun Plozza – BOOK REVIEW

In the land of Ulv, a long-ago myth claims a wolf ate the Stars, ridding the land of all magic. Now, shadow creatures stalk the starless nights, forcing all who live there to stay inside – to stay in the light.

Stick With Me by Jennifer Blecher – BOOK REVIEW

Izzy is the most talented artist in the 6th grade. Art is her escape, a way for Izzy to express her complicated emotions, especially since her best friend, Phoebe, has ditched her for the meanest girl in their grade. Suddenly, the solace Izzy finds through drawing is disrupted when another family rents out Izzy’s family’s house for a week.

Serena Says by Tanita S. Davis – BOOK REVIEW

Serena St. John cannot wait to visit her best friend JC in the hospital, especially since JC just had a kidney transplant. When Serena starts to feel under the weather just before the visit, her plans are put on hold.

A Thousand Questions by Saadia Faruqi – BOOK REVIEW

Instead of spending summer break in Houston, Texas, Maryam, or Mimi, and her mother travel halfway around the world to visit family in Pakistan. At first, Mimi detests the prospect of staying in a foreign country with grandparents she’s never met in person.

The Secret Life of Sam by Kim Ventrella – BOOK REVIEW

After Sam’s pa dies in a tragic car accident, Sam must leave his beloved life in Bayou St. George, Louisiana behind. Sam moves to Holler, Oklahoma, where he is forced to live with his Aunt Jo, who he hasn’t seen or heard from in years.