School and Community Winter 2024

Middle School Thirst by Varsha Bajaj

High School The Do- Over by Lynn Painter

Minni and her family live in Mumbai. Water access is limited and the communal taps have long lines. Next come water shortages and even thieves stealing from the taps. Minni learns water isn’t limited everywhere in the city though and has to decide between risking her job and life or exposing the “water mafia.” Middle grade students will be surprised the family has to transport water daily and that it is possible water could be limited. A “window” book included on the Best Fiction for Young Adults, the Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, and the Librarian Favorites Award lists. Rolling Warrior: The incredible, sometimes awkward, true story of a rebel on wheels who helped spark a revolution by Judith Heumann and Kristen Joiner Judy Heumann was paralyzed as a young child from polio and was instrumental in the Americans with Disabilities Act becoming law. Born in 1949, Judy experienced a world much different than it is today. Stairs were everywhere. Public buildings were not required to be accessible with ramps and motorized wheelchairs weren’t available yet. Despite everything, Judy graduated from college with a teaching degree, but doctors declared her medically unfit to teach. Judy became an activist for disability rights and was involved in reform for the rest of her life. A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus Three orphaned siblings are sent to the English countryside to avoid the bombings of World War II but also, to find a new family. William, Edmund, and Anna despise their first family due to bullying by the twin sons. The single mother who takes them in does not have extra food or space to share but expects the children to care for her small children. The library becomes a refuge. Anna is sure Mrs. Muller, the librarian, is destined to be their forever family. This historical fiction book is on the current Mark Twain Readers Award list. Book recommendations from William, Edmund and Anna are included at the end.

Emilie’s Valentine’s Day went horribly wrong. She crashed her car, her boyfriend kissed his ex and her dad wants to move. She just wants to try the entire day over again, and there’s good news - she does. In a Groundhog Day situation, Emilie keeps reliving the worst Valentine’s Day over and over again, getting to know the boy whose car she crashed into. Suddenly, her worst day doesn’t seem so bad anymore with him around. Lynn Painter weaves a bit of Omaha into each of her books and delivers a perfect shameless romance. Her newest book, Betting on You, is bound to be just as lovely. Champion of Fate by Kendare Blake After Reed’s family was murdered and her village was destroyed, she was saved by two women who turned out to be more than human. The Aristene are immortal women warriors who create heroes and Reed’s time to join them has come. She must first pass her trial by making Hestion a hero, and with war on the horizon, that shouldn’t be difficult… until their feelings for each other become more than they realized. This absolute page turner is a brilliant first book in a series by one of the top fantasy writers of the time. While other authors write about cute love and wearing pretty dresses, Kendare Blake loves writing about forbidden love and giving her characters armor instead. If you love this book, fear not - she’s got the One Dark Throne series as well! The Depths by Nicole Lesperance Addie is a competitive deep-sea diver, but a dive gone wrong has left her beached until her lungs heal. She’d also rather be anywhere than accompanying her mom and new stepdad onto a private island, but odd things start to happen. The flowers change colors, the birds are chirping her name and Addie discovers a child who wants to be friends. She also meets a cute boy who shows her a special place on the island to dive, and Addie doesn’t feel any pain from her past injury there. Soon it’s clear that this is no ordinary island, and getting off it is going to be much harder than Addie thought. With a bit of ghostly horror and a sudden twist, this story is a definite must-read for students who like a bit of mystery and suspense that will leave their hearts pumping.

For additional information, please check out MSTA’s Reading Circle at readingcircle.org or contact an RC member: Jenn Baldwin, Jennifer. baldwin@jasper.k12. mo.us ; Lysha Thompson, lysha.thompson@sos. mo.gov ; and Kayla Gilmore, f reyk15@gmail.com .

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