Oxford English Dictionary

The country is on the verge of World War II. Playing war games in his bed chamber near Prague, Aleksander, young prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, hears hushed sounds outside his door in the middle of the night.

Alek slid one hand under his pillow, until his fingers touched the cold steel of his hunting knife. He lay there holding his breath, grasping the handle tightly, repeating to himself his father’s watchword. ‘Surprise is more valuable than strength.’

What’s it like to be a thirteen-year-old “child of the woods” in the year 1776? Quiet. Relaxed. Free.

Samuel’s town-raised, educated parents moved west to the wilderness when he was just a baby. Their goal is to live a simple, contemplative life even if they don’t understand the woods. Samuel, the hunter, carries a .40-caliber flintlock rifle and wears buckskin clothing. He collects the game needed to feed his family and has grown to know and love the forest. But his peaceful existence is about to end.

One day, while on a hunt for bear several miles from home, Samuel climbs to the top of a ridge and scans across the valley. He sees thick smoke rising in the east. It looks to be about the same distance away as his family’s cabin. Filled with dread, Samuel runs through the woods. Eight miles. In the dark. Could there be some kind of attack? Unthinkable! But, if so, he needs to protect his parents.

But Samuel finds there is no protection against War.

Gary Paulsen makes history real for the reader by juxtaposing the fictional Samuel’s story with factual historical information from the Revolutionary War period.

Other books you may enjoy:
• Chains and Forge (Seeds of America series) by Laurie Halse Anderson
• Soldier’s Heart: A Novel of the Civil War by Gary Paulsen
• The Rifle by Gary Paulsen
• Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

Ever wish you could take on the hurts of your loved ones? Wish you could absorb the physical and emotional pains from those you care about? This seems like an attractive option. But consider the fallout. It could destroy you.

Brewster Rawlins is huge. His clothes are shabby and don’t quite fit. He has a nickname and a reputation. Brewster’s peers call him Bruiser. In eighth grade he was voted Most Likely to Receive the Death Penalty.

Sixteen-year-old twins Tennyson and Bronte, whose unusual names have been bestowed by their literature professor parents, have the kind of close relationship you would expect of twins. So when Tennyson discovers his twin sister Brontë has plans to date the Bruiser, he objects strongly. Tennyson tries to dissuade Brontë, but she refuses to be moved, denying that Bruiser is just another stray that she plans to save. Since he can’t stop Brontë’s impending date, Tennyson decides to spy on her. He pretends he just happens to end up at the same miniature golf course as Bruiser and Brontë on Saturday afternoon with his girlfriend Katrina. Later, Brontë scolds Tennyson for his spying, telling him he’s a bully and a snob.

In the locker room at school on Monday, Tennyson happens upon Bruiser with his shirt off and is horrified by what he sees. Scars and pockmarks; discolorations; a big bruise on his shoulder, yellowed around the edges. His back is decimated like the cratered surface of the moon.

Wanting to know more about his mysterious classmate, Tennyson seeks out the ramshackle house where Bruiser lives with his Uncle Hoyt and his kid brother Cody. Unobserved, Tennyson watches as unfolding events in Bruiser’s backyard lead to Uncle Hoyt flying into a fit of rage. Tennyson steps out to reveal himself and protect Cody from his uncle’s swinging belt buckle. Could Uncle Hoyt be the source of Bruiser’s ruined back? It seems like a logical conclusion, like putting two and two together. But as Bruiser soon explains, “Two and two doesn’t always equal four.” If Bruiser’s wounds don’t come from Uncle Hoyt, then what is their cause? Could it be something even more devastating?

In this action-packed novel, Mary Faber loses her family and finds herself orphaned at the age of eight. She is taken in by a gang of street kids who teach her how to beg and escape the dangers of 18th century London. After the gang’s leader is killed, a devastated Mary quickly takes his clothes, disguises herself as a boy, and takes a job as a ship’s boy on the HMS Dolphin. “Jacky” does her job well and fits in with the other ship’s boys, even handling the high seas and some pirate battles, earning the nickname “Bloody Jack.” But, when she starts to have feelings for her fellow shipmate, she has to find the courage to reveal her secret identity. The bittersweet ending will leave readers anticipating a sequel.

Twelve-year-old Anita lives in the Dominican Republic with her entire family in the early 1960s, during which time Dominicans were either trying to flee their homeland or show their courage by fighting for their freedom. Although many of her family members leave for the United States, Anita stays with her Mami and Papi as they try to help fight the cause. Anita struggles with her family’s uncertain future, her developing body, avoiding the secret police, and her feelings for her new neighbor Sam Washburn. As the situation deteriorates, Anita’s uncle and Papi are imprisoned, and Anita and her Mami go into hiding. Eventually, Anita and her Mami are able to escape and go to the United States to join the rest of the family. As they begin to settle in, they receive some heartbreaking news. Readers will be inspired by Anita’s bravery and courage as she faces the unknown.

Esperanza Ortega lives a charmed life on her family’s ranch in Mexico until her world suddenly comes crashing down when her father is unexpectedly killed. Esperanza and her mother flee Mexico in order to avoid her terrible uncle who wants to control their lives. Now settled in America, on the eve of the Great Depression, Esperanza and her mother must labor in the fields of Southern California. Ryan pulls the reader in from the very beginning and takes them along Esperanza’s journey in this reverse rags to riches tale.

Jamie Carcaterra is a girl on a mission. She is writing a feature column for her high school newspaper called “Fat Girl,” with the goal of winning a “National Feature Award” scholarship. Jamie tells her readers, “Write to Fat Girl and send her to college!” Jamie has struggled with weight issues her entire life; through her column she shares her thoughts and feelings about weight while challenging others to explore their views. Jamie’s boyfriend, Burke, is overweight too, and his decision to have gastric bypass surgery sends Jamie reeling. Can she handle the repercussions involved with Burke’s weight loss? Will she win a scholarship? Will she be forced to stop the presses as she deals with the fallout? Big Fat Manifesto is laugh out loud funny and heart wrenchingly poignant.

Cammie Morgan attends The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women but it is not your typical all girls boarding school. It is a school that trains spies. Both of her parents were CIA field agents; her mother is currently the head mistress at The Gallagher Academy and her father recently died while on an undercover mission. Cammie is considered a natural in the spy world. She is only seen when she wants to be seen, she can speak 14 languages and takes classes in code breaking and undercover operatives, but she knows nothing about boys. Her life as a spy in training is turned upside down when she meets Josh on her first undercover assignment and discovers that he can actually see her when she is trying not to be seen. As Cammie builds a relationship with Josh, she is forced to lie to him about her entire life in order to protect the secrecy of The Gallagher Academy. Can a relationship that is built on lies survive? Read I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d have to Kill You to find out.

The Tequila Worm is powerful story that chronicles the life of Sofia, a Mexican-American girl living in McAllen, Texas. Sofia has a magical childhood, and her family retains their Mexican-American traditions—from making cascarones to eating tequila worms. When Sophia is older, she earns a scholarship to attend St. Luke’s, an elite private high school. She struggles with her decision, but ultimately decides that she wants to go. Sofia’s time at St. Luke’s allows her to experience an entirely different way of life and strengthens her ties to her barrio. Pura Belpré winner Viola Canales writes a heartwarming story that provides readers a wonderful window into the world of a Mexican-American family’s traditions.

Frankie Landau-Banks has just begun dating one of the hottest guys at Alabaster Preparatory Academy, but she soon finds that he is keeping secrets from her. He is a member of the Loyal Order of the Bassets, an all boy secret society with a history of creating mayhem. As the year progresses, many elaborate pranks are staged by the Loyal Order; little do they know that they are really taking orders from Frankie.