WHAT LIFE LESSONS CAN A PERSON LEARN FROM BULLYING?

After a brief suspension, Julian Twerski is exempt from writing a Julius Caesar report.  Instead, his English teacher and father ask him to journal the events of his middle school life.  Since academic success comes so easily to Julian, he thinks this project will be a breeze.  When he starts, he focuses on journal basics: who, what, when, where, why and how.  He documents his time with his best buddies and his best friend's feelings towards a girl at school.  As the days pass, his writing starts to change when he journals about his discovery of first love, or his experiences with the neighborhood loner, Stanley Stimmel.   Julian reflects more frequently and more intensely about his interactions with his best buddies, Stanley, and the irresistible Jillian, and he learns a great deal about empathy, remorse, and heartbreak.  

The reader cannot help but get drawn in to his reflections, regrets, and growth.

From first time junior novelist, Mark Goldblatt, Twerp sheds light on how a group of middle schoolers can be friendly towards some and be troublesome for others.  Twerp is best for 7^th grade and up.

WOULD YOU HUG A PORCUPINE?

From Vivian, the Children's Librarian at the Casa Branch:

Hugs from Pearl by Paul Schmid


Pearl possesses such sweet qualities—she plays fair, she likes to share, and she loves to give hugs.  Her classmates like to receive her hugs but they can be a touch painful due to her quills.  Pearl is downhearted when she learns that her friends were injured upon contact, so she takes a proactive approach and finds a way to make things better for her and for those who can’t resist her hugs.  This story is great to share at home or during a storytime!