WE'RE NOT IN BROOKLYN ANYMORE!

First they visited their long-lost mother in Oakland in One Crazy Summer, they returned to life with their father in Brooklyn in P.S. Be Eleven, and now the Gaither girls are back--this time visiting their paternal relatives in rural Alabama--in Gone Crazy in Alabama, the third and final installment of the series from award-winning author Rita Williams-Garcia. 

Much like the previous two novels, Williams-Garcia paints an all-at-once funny, poignant, and unflinchingly realistic look at life in the 1960s for these three young black girls and their family. As their father reminds 12-year-old Delphine and her younger sisters Vonetta and Fern while he's telling them to be on their best behavior, "the South's not like Bed-Stuyvesant and you can't get more southern than Alabama." 

And truer words have never been spoken: they get their milk and butter from a cow, the best entertainment is hearing their great-grandmother and great-aunt tell conflicting stories about their decades-long feud, and, perhaps most notably, they experience the very real presence of the KKK. But when a potentially deadly storm strikes, things get even more real as Vonetta goes missing after a fight with her sisters. Will the Gaither girls and their family ever be the same after their time in the deep South? 

This historical fiction novel really tells it like it was, and will make a gripping read for 5th to 8th graders, whether or not they've already enjoyed the previous two books in the series. 

JUST SAY IT LIKE IT IS

Just say it like it is is GiGi's motto.  

In life, there's always the unexpected events and the secrets that keep people from saying it like it is. these things make a person think of the what ifs.  

What if there are secrets that you don't know about?  
What if she made a new friend?  
What if the mean girl is not mean anymore?  
What if your Mama is not who you thought she was?
What if someone lies to you?

Tucked between a collection of recipes from her mom is the search for new beginnings, old secrets and a world turned upside down.  The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh is a great realistic and angst ridden story for readers in 6th-8th grades. 

Spoiler alert!!! 
There's teen pregnancy, gay best friend, adoption and rebellious children.  

THE MANY FACES OF HOPE

Ten-year-old Star Mackie moved to a trailer park in California from Oregon with her mother and sister. Although she sees that her sister Winter is very unhappy with their mother for making them live in a trailer and having to go to an alternative high school, Star has a more positive outlook. She tries to make friends at her school, which is not helped by the fact that her mom's hairdresser friend gave her a layered blue hairstyle which immediately gets mistaken for a mullet. But Star is not hindered. Determined to have her schoolmates understand that living in a trailer is not so bad, she decides to start a trailer park club at her school. Star encounters kindness and adversity from students and teachers, and manages to overcome all her challenges with strength and optimism.

Hope is a Ferris Wheel by Robin Herrera is a realistic fiction novel that helps its readers understand the diverse experiences of other children. Star Mackie is not so different from other ten-year-olds in her school, except for the fact that she does not live in a big house like many of her classmates. But far from focusing on the hardships of being poor, Star focuses on things in her life that make it normal. This lively protagonist is sure to capture the readers' hearts.

For grades 6 and up.

CHRONICLES OF AVANTIA ADVENTURE

A special mask possesses the power to control the Beasts of Avantia.  But when danger nears, the mask is purposefully broken up and hidden in different places so that the evil warlord does not gain possession of them.  It is now up to two heroic young people and others to retrieve each piece.  Unfortunately, the sibling of one of the two heroes turns towards evil which makes this novel adventurous and full of surprises.

ADAM BLADE delivers a thrilling fantasy story for boys and girls to enjoy. Check out CHASING EVIL, book two in the CHRONICLES OF AVANTIA.  For 4th grade and up.

ALL KINDS DELICIOUS DUMPLINGS

Pacy loves dumplings and the thought of dumplings is what keeps her spirit up at the thought of spending a whole month in Tawain instead of having a regular summer like her friends in New Hartford.  She doesn't speak the language, so her parents enroll her and her two sisters in a sort of enrichment class for Taiwanese American kids like herself.  Uggh... school in the summer. 


Taiwan is a different world from New Hartford except for the dumplings.  She didn't realize there were so many different kinds.  Everyone in her family gets into the dumpling mood and introduces her to soup dumplings, pan fried dumplings, the night market, chicken feet and most of all she gets to know all that is Taiwan and family.  


Dumpling Days by Grace Lin is a great culture-filled, food-filled book for readers 4th-6th.  

CAN A DRAGON BE A GOOD FRIEND?

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

How To Be Friends with a Dragon by Valeri Gorbachev

A fun story about the many rules to follow when around a dragon.  Valeri Gorbachev’s illustrations are whimsical and the story is an absolute delight to share with young dragon fans with bright imaginations.  For ages 4 - 7.  

THE FIESTA DRESS: A QUINCEANERA TALE

Eva and her family prepare for her quinceañera, no one is paying attention to Lolo, her younger sister. She feels a little left out of all preparations for her sister's big celebration, but when Gobi, the perro, get outs of the laundry room and steals Eva's sash, her little sister comes to the rescue.

A delightful tale with swirling fancy dresses that every young girl will enjoy. A glossary in back of the book offers definitons of all the Spanish words. THE FIESTA DRESS: A QUINCEANERA TALE written by Caren McNelly Mccomarck and illustrated by Martha Aviles. For ages 4-8. Grades 2-3.

LIVING WITH A SISTER

From Children’s Librarian, Kristine Markosyan at the Adams Square and Pacific Park Branch Libraries:

Ten Rules for Living with My Sister by Ann M. Martin is narrated by third grader, Pearl.  As the younger sibling, Pearl’s relationship is like any relationship between two sisters.  She compares her sister, Lexie’s life and experiences with her own and naturally portrays the role of the pesky younger sister.  In the beginning of the story, her sister Lexie is able to avoid Pearl by closing her bedroom door and putting a sign to keep her out or giving her the silent treatment.  When their grandfather, Daddy Bo’s health issues arise, he moves in with the family and the girls have to share a room.  How will the sisters manage sharing a room?  
 
This is a great read for girls ages 7-12, who are either a younger or older sibling.  The narrators experience with her family, school life and personal growth keeps young readers interested throughout the book.  
 
Best for readers in grades 4 and up.

ANNIE, SLEEPING BEAUTY'S NON-MAGICAL SISTER

On her sister's sixteenth birthday, Annie helped the palace guards search for illegal spindles, but before the day ends her sister falls under the bad fairy's spell and falls asleep for who knows how long. It's up to Annie, the sister with no magical fairy gifts whatsoever to bring her family and the rest of castle back awake and break the 100 years spell, otherwise she might never see her family again.

First, she must go and recruit Gwendolyn's betrothed to kiss her awake and just in case, as many other princes as possible. But when any royal beings go near Annie they lose their magical luster. The princes don't look as handsome and lose some of their charms. Everyone looks a little older, and not as perfect, but she will do whatever it takes to bring her sister and the rest of the castle out of the wicked spell before the whole kingdom falls into ruins or... the wrong hands.

The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker writes another fun fairy tale adventure for readers in 4th - 8th grade.

A FAMILY REUNION THEY DIDN'T WANT

Cecile is her mother's name, but she calls herself Nzila now that she is an artist/poet in Oakland, California. Her father insisted that Delphine and her sisters will have to spend a month of their summer with their mother. All Delphine wants is to know the truth behind why her mother abandoned the family.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia is a beautiful historical novel of a non- typical family reunion. Set in the 1960s during the Black Panther movement, three girls set off for what they think will be a sunny, Disneyland, movie star filled summer of fun, but what they get is something else.

For readers in 6th-8th grade.

A FARAWAY ISLAND

This is a thoughtful story about two young Jewish sisters from Vienna, twelve-year old Stephie and her eight-year old sister, Nellie.

During WWII, Stephie and Nellie were separated from their parents who sent them away to an island near Sweden to escape from the Nazis during the war. The sisters expect to stay in there for about 6 months until they can reunite again with their parents in America. Unfortunately, they were separated upon arrival to the island. Nellie stays with a foster family that really cares for her. She has many friends and becomes adapted to the Swedish culture. Stephie on the other hand, has a miserable life. Her foster mother is a cold woman, she has no friends and is constantly bullied at school. She is very jealous of her younger sister. During this journey of being distant from her family, she wonders to herself if she will ever see her parents again. The sadness of familiar separation and the barbarity of Hitler is well expressed telling the story of Jewish children during World War II in Europe.

DOLLS FOR ALL

THE DOLL SHOP DOWNSTAIRS by Yona Zeldis McDonough and illustrated by Heather Maione is a quaint little historical fiction about a Jewish family at the beginning of World War I. The family owns a doll repair shop that has fallen on hard times due to the fact that all the replacement parts for dolls come from Germany, and the United States refuses to trade with Germany during the war. So, the three girls Sophie, Anna and Trudie try to come up with ideas that will keep her family in business. This is a perfect story for accelerated third grade readers, or 4th graders not quite ready for lengthier chapter books.

AN EVENT TO REMEMBER

It's the end of middle school and Phoebe and her four best friends plan on throwing a big party to celebrate the event. Everything is going to be perfect from the special invitations to the fashion photographer hired to document the party. The entire school is talking about this and hoping to be invited to the big celebration. Phoebe considers herself to be a very lucky girl who seems to have it all. Sometimes though luck runs out and when her mother loses her job and everything, including the party, is suddenly in jeopardy.

Rachel Vail starts a sisterhood trilogy with her book Lucky and tells the story of Phoebe and her sisters during a year that changes all of her lives.

For grades 6 through 8.

MYSTERY IN THE HLLS

The Hollywood Sisters: Backstage Pass by Mary Wilcox is a new mystery series about the Ortiz sisters newly plunked into their rented Beverly Hills mansion from more humble digs in Anaheim. Jessie, the shy and younger sister of the now famous Eva, is determined to stop the bad press, but she seems to only be getting in the way and creating ill feelings with the crew and cast members instead.

For readers in 4th-6th grade.

LEMONADE FOR SALE!

What started out as a friendly end of summer activity for brother and sister, Evan and Jessie, has turned into a very unfriendly competition when Evan finds out that his super smart sister will be skipping a grade and be in his fourth grade class. Evan and Jessie have their own worries about this news and it brings out the worst in each.

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies is a great short read for third through fifth graders.