You NEED to Read These Books

 

 School is back in session. I've been meeting with readers, and it's exciting to see the books they are choosing to read.  I want to share the titles of some of the books I've read recently.

You should read Crossover by Kwame Alexander. You should read it because it was awarded the 2015 Newbery Medal. Mostly you should read it because of the amazing way Kwame Alexander is able to use words to share a story with feeling and power. I didn't think I'd ever cry while reading a book about a kid who plays basketball. Alexander's follow up book, Booked, is another you don't want to miss.

Kate Messner's The Seventh Wish is another book you should read.  The charming setting and characters draw in the reader while addressing the difficult problem of drug addiction. This book isn't preachy or scary, but it shows a world of addiction that touches the lives of many kids.

The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart is a heartbreaking story about a boy who runs away from home and his remarkable journey. I gasped out loud three time while reading this book.  It’s one of those books that I wanted to keep reading, but I also didn’t want to read it because I was afraid of what would happen to the main character. (See the dog on the cover? That's a hint for some of the peril that lies ahead.)