Check out these exciting easy and fiction titles published in September. Everything here is realistic, including historical fiction, mysteries, and adventure. Happy reading!
ELEMENTARY PICTURE BOOKS
Anna at the Art Museum by Hazel Hutchins (ill. by Lil Crump). 9781773210438. 2018. Gr K-2.
Bored during a trip to an art museum with her mom, Anna becomes irritated with all the rules. She finds a door with a No Entry sign, but a security guard lets her in anyway. There she discovers the restoration room and learns a valuable lesson on art and life and discovers a new love of paintings.
A Boy and a House by Maja Kastelic. 9781773210544. 2018. Gr K-2.
In this wordless picture book, a young boy follows a mysterious cat into an old house. There he collects a series of discarded drawings that lead him to the attic, where he meets a new .
The Dam by David Almond (ill. by Levi Pinfold). 9780763695972. 2018. Gr 1-3.
A dam is built which will soon flood the valley where for generations the people of Northumberland came to farm and homestead. A father and daughter travel through the valley and into the abandoned homes, while the girl plays her violin in what will be the last time the valley hears music. Slowly the water rises into what is now known as Kielder Water.
The Day War Came by Nicola Davies (ill. by Rebecca Cobb). 9781536201734. 2018. Gr K-3.
Follow this heartbreaking yet hopeful story, a little girl is forced to become a refugee when war comes to her village.
Felix’s New Skirt by Kerstin Brichzin & Igor Kuprin. 9789888341580. 2018. Gr K-2.
Felix’s family doesn’t mind when he wears skirts, but when his classmates tease him, Felix wants to stay home from school. This sweet book shares a good lesson in empathy and tolerance.
Good Rosie! by Kate DiCamillo (ill. by Harry Bliss). 9780763689797. 2018. Gr K-2.
Rosie the dog likes taking walks with her owner George, but misses the companionship of another dog. One day George takes Rosie to the dog park, but the park is full of dogs that Rosie doesn’t know. When two dogs approach Rosie to play, she is unsure of how to respond. Slowly Rosie overcomes her shyness and the three very different dogs learn how to be friends.
Hey, Wall : A Story of Art and Community by Susan Verde (ill. by John Parra). 9781481453134. 2018. Gr PK-3.
A young boy decides to take on an art project whereby he will paint a big wall in his community to make his neighborhood more beautiful.
King Alice by Matthew Cordell. 9781250047496. 2018. Gr PK-1.
Housebound on a snowy day, an imaginative young girl writes a magical adventure book drawn from her own family. Her father patiently lets the girl’s imagination run wild and helps her write the book, needing to take frequent, adventurous breaks along the way.
Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan (ill. by Taeeun Yoo). 9781481461917. 2018. Gr PK-3.
As he makes his night rounds at a construction site, the night watchman experiences the sensations of the night, including birds chirping, traffic roaring by, and buzzing insects, while a stray kitten keeps him company. After a while, the kitten, a near constant companion, goes home with the watchman to be a part of his family.
Night Job by Karen Hesse (ill. by G. Brian Karas). 9780763662387. 2018. Gr PK-2.
A young boy accompanies his father to his nighttime job as a school custodian. Together they experience all the sights and sounds of the night as the rest of the city sleeps.
Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights by Rob Sanders (ill. by Jared Andrew Schorr). 9781534429437. 2018. Gr 1-3.
This to-do list for fighting peacefully is broken down into easy-to-understand steps for young readers: Inquire. Invite. Inform. Imagine. Join with others.
Storm by Sam Usher. 9781536202823. 2018. Gr PK-2.
Even though the weather looks stormy, a boy and his granddad decide it is a perfect for flying a kite. The first task is to find a kite—when they do, then the adventure begins.
ELEMENTARY CHAPTER BOOKS
Ella Unleashed by Alison Cherry. 9781534412125. 2018. Gr 4-7.
Ella likes her new stepfather and she likes his dog, Elvis. She is thrilled to be handling Elvis in a junior dog show. She just wishes that her dad would come to watch her, but her dad doesn’t like her stepdad. When her best friends suggest that she find a date for her dad, she sets up a fake dating profile online. When her plan backfires, she needs to find a way to put the pieces of her life back together again.
Mascot by Antony John. 9780062835628. 2018. Gr 4-6.
Noah’s dad was killed in the car accident that left Noah paralyzed. That was months ago, and Noah is sick and tired of physical therapy and using a wheelchair. He hates feeling helpless and he misses playing baseball. With friends Alyssa and Dee-Dee, he tries to take down the class bully and get rid of his mom’s new boyfriend. Fast-paced and humorous, this book presents a realistic picture of the trials and victories of a newly disabled child.
Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina. 9780763690496. 2018. Gr 4-7.
Merci is a scholarship student at a private school in Florida, and though poorer than her classmates, she thrives on her own self-confidence. But at home, life is stressful with an ailing grandfather and family obligations; and more, she is targeted by a mean girl, Edna, who is jealous of Merci’s friendship with Edna’s crush.
Missing Mike by Shari Green. 9781772780451. 2018. Gr 4-6.
Mike is a mutt with one missing eye, but Cara loves him and he loves her. But when her family has to evacuate when a wildfire is headed to their home, Mike disappears and there is no time to search for him. Cara is devastated, both by the loss of her pet and by the destruction wreaked by the fires. Housed with a volunteer family in the city, Cara becomes friends with Jewel, and together they plan to go search for Mike.
The Nebula Secret (Explorer Academy, Book 1) by Trudi Trueit. 9781426331596. 2018. Gr 4-6.
Cruz is one of 24 kids sent to Explorer Academy to train to become great explorers. But when Cruz gets there, he finds that his family shares a past with the academy, and someone is out to get him. But why? Codes and puzzles add to the excitement in this series starter.
Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech. 9780062570703. 2018. Gr 3-6.
Young Louie takes care of a sick newborn donkey despite the reservations from his quirky friend, Nora. But Louie persists, names the animal Winslow, and nurses him back to health, proving the donkey is stronger than anyone imagined.
Undercover Princess (Rosewood Chronicles, Book 1) by Connie Glynn. 9780062847805. 2018. Gr 4-7.
Lottie has always dreamed of having an extraordinary life. Crown Princess Ellie just want to be ordinary. When they find themselves roommates at Rosewood Hall, they decide to swap places. But someone finds out, and the girls are in danger of exposure.
Winnie’s Great War by Lindsay Mattick & Josh Greenhut. 9780316447126. 2018. Gr 4-6.
After Winnipeg was rescued and adopted as a cub in the Canadian woods, she and Captain Harry Coleboum travelled across the Atlantic and wartime Europe as part of the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps during World War I. She became a favorite with soldiers and animals alike. After the war, Coleboum gave Winnie to the London Zoo, where she became the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTION
24 Hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling. 9781454929246. 2018. Gr 5-7.
In Nowhere, Arizona, thirteen-year-old Gus is bullied by Bo Taylor. Aftre Rossi Scott loses her dirt bike to Bo while standing up for Gus, she insists that Gus has to search for gold in a dangerous mine to help pay her back. Along with a small, disjointed band of peers, Gus and Rossi spend the next twenty-four hours bonding over shared turmoil in Nowhere and realizing this quest might be their ticket out.
Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood. 9781481468831. 2018. Gr 4-7.
In a desperate bid to escape Nazi bombings, ninety British boys and girls board the luxury liner SS City of Benares, which is destined for Canada. Five days after departure, the ship is hit with German torpedoes and sinks. Thirteen-year-old Ken escapes to lifeboat twelve and struggles to survive as he waits for rescue.
No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen. 9781524768348. 2018. Gr 5-8.
Felix appears on his favorite trivia game show and accidentally reveals that he and his mother, Astrid, are homeless. He fears the Canadian agency that could take him away from his mother, but soon learns to have faith in people.
The Red Ribbon by Lucy Adlington. 9781536201048. 2018. Gr 5-8.
Two young teens at Birchwood (aka Auschwitz) find themselves working in the Upper Tailoring Studio, sewing fancy clothing for their Nazi captors and hoping to survive.
Squirm by Carl Hiaasen. 9780385752978. 2018. Gr 4-7.
When tween Billy Dickens finds his father’s address in Montana, he heads north to find him. Instead he finds his stepsister and his father’s new wife, both Crow Indians. His father is on a wild goose chase hunting a wealthy poacher, and Billy heads off across the country to look for him.
Tight by Torrey Maldonado. 9781524740559. 2018. Gr 5-8.
After his quick-tempered father gets in a fight and is sent back to jail, sixth-grader Bryan, known for being quiet and thoughtful, snaps and follows new friend Mike into trouble.
You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P! by Alex Gino. 9780545956246. 2018. Gr 5-8
When Jilly learns that her little sister Emma has a hearing impairment, she realizes the world is going to treat Emma differently than herself. She connects online with a fellow fantasy fan, Derek, who is black, deaf, and fluent in ASL. While trying to help Emma and Derek, Jilly makes a few unintentional mistakes. She soon learns that the best thing she can do is to recognize that people face different challenges and to take charge of her own actions.
HIGH SCHOOL FICTION
500 Words or Less by Juleah Del Rosario. 9781534410442. 2018. Gr 9-12.
In an attempt to salvage her reputation after she cheated on her boyfriend, Nic has offered to write their college admissions essays. As she learns more about her classmates’ inner lives while writing heir essays, she has to search her own experiences—not just the cheating, but also being abandoned by her mother. This is a novel in verse.
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott. 9781627797412. 2018. Gr 7-12.
As Teodoro “T” Avila enters his junior year of high school, his brother Manny returns from a tour in Iraq with severe PTSD. Tension mounts in the house as Manny begins having violent outbursts and T’s older sister Xochitl suggests the boys take a road trip together to bring them together again. Back matter includes information and resources about PTSD.
Analee, in Real Life by Janelle Milanes. 9781534410299. 2018. Gr 9-12.
Though she is really a 16-year-old Florida teen, Analee finds herself more comfortable as her online role-playing persona, Kiri the Night Elf Hunter. She hides from her real-life problems and the weird thoughts in her head, until she becomes lab partners with the school heartthrob.
Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani. 9780062696724. 2108. Gr 8-12.
A young, ambitious Nigerian girl dreams of achieving a government scholarship and attending university. One night, however, she is kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram and taken deep into the forest where the men try to indoctrinate her into their radical beliefs. As the girl struggles to survive, she watches her best friend slowly accept their captor’s propaganda.
Dream Country by Shannon Gibney. 9780735231672. 2018. Gr 9-12.
Spanning two centuries and two continents, Dream Country is the story of five generations of young people caught in a spiral of death and exile connecting America and Africa, and of how determined dreamers try to break free and gain control of their destiny.
A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti. 9781481415200. 2018. Gr 9-12.
Annabelle begins running from Seattle to Washington D.C. trying to leave her devastating past behind. As she passes through the mountains and valleys, she becomes a reluctant activist as her “publicity team”—Grandpa Ed, her brother, and two friends—help people connect Annabelle’s run to her recent tragedy involving gun violence and sexism. Despite the cheers from state to state, Annabelle doesn’t know if she can outrun her demons.
Here to Stay by Sara Farizan. 9781616207007. 2018. Gr 8-12.
Bijan Majidi’s popularity rises after he scores the winning shot in a high school varsity basketball game, until someone sends an anonymous email to everyone in school with Bijan photo-shopped as a terrorist. A hate crimes investigation is initiated, but Bijan has no interest in being the poster-child for Islamophobia. Then two of his lesbian friends are similarly attacked, and Bijan, realizing that hate crimes go beyond just him, is pushed into taking a stand.
Hole in the Middle by Kendra Fortmeyer. 9781616959562. 2018. Gr 8-12.
Morgan was born with a literal hole through her middle, near her belly button. Nobody knows except her divorced parents, her doctors, and her best friend. But one night at a dance she decides to wear a cut-off tee and feels liberated—until a picture taken at the dance goes viral. When her doctor introduces her to a boy with a lump where her hole is, she wonders if he could be her cure—or her perfect match.
The House of One Thousand Eyes by Michelle Barker. 9781773210711. 2018. Gr 9-12.
In 1980s East Germany, after Lena’s parents die in a factory fire, she goes to live with her fiercely Communist aunt and loving Uncle Erich, who becomes her only comfort. One day, Erich disappears without a trace; his belongings, books, and all vital records are gone as if he never existed. She begins to investigate the disappearance but knows she can’t tell anyone as there are government spies everywhere. Nevertheless, she persists regardless of the consequences.
Meet the Sky by McCall Hoyle. 9780310765707. 2018. Gr 9-12.
An accident has changed the structure of Sophie’s life, but she’s determined to plan for her own future while helping her sister and mother keep the family business running. When a hurricane hits, Sophie finds herself trapped on an island with Finn, the boy who broke her heart when she was a freshman. Now this controlled and future-focused teen must rely on a boy she doesn’t trust who’d rather surf in the eye of the hurricane than take shelter from it.
People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins. 9781481442930. 2018. Gr 9-12.
Six teens struggle with difficult life situations that have the potential to lead them to violence. One of them will use a gun to kill another. All will face difficult decisions that will affect their futures.
Pride by Ibi Zoboi. 9780062564047. 2018. Gr 8-12.
Zuri Benitez is deeply proud of her Afro-Latino roots in their Brooklyn neighborhood and is disappointed as she watches Bushwick gentrify. And when the wealthy Darcy family moves in, Zuri wants nothing to do with them, especially their two teenage sons, even though her older sister, Janae, falls for the charming Ainsley. The other brother, Darius, is especially obnoxious, but her dislike shifts into understanding and even affection.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. 9780062797155. 2018. Gr 11-Adult.
When Lale, a Slovakian Jew, is sent to Auschwitz, he is put to work as a tattooist because of his knowledge of languages. For two-and-a-half years, he inks numbers on the arms of other Jews. He saw plenty of brutality as well as bravery, and he also fell in love. Though considered fiction because of the dialogue, the events and people in this book are real
Unbroken : 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens edited by Marieke Nijkamp. 9780374306502. 2018. Gr 9-12.
Thirteen short stories in a variety of genres feature disabled characters and are written by established and debut authors who also have disabilities.
Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll. 9780374306069. 2018. Gr 7-12.
Teens Doris, Nell, and Grant spend a summer working in Unclaimed Baggage—a store that catalogs and sells unclaimed airline luggage—and find an unlikely camaraderie. Doris is an outspoken liberal in a conservative small town; Nell had to leave a perfect life in Chicago to move to Alabama; and Grant was a popular high school athlete until his drinking cost him everything. As they go through other people’s lost luggage and memories, they begin to shed some of the emotional baggage they carry with them.
The War Outside by Monica Hesse. 9780316316699. 2018. Gr 7-12.
In 1944, World War II doesn’t affect Margot in Iowa and Haruko in Colorado until they are sent with their families to a family internment camp in Texas for those colluding with the enemy, because their parents are from Germany and Japan respectively. The teens are opposite in many ways, but they become attracted to one another as their families begin to fall apart. However, in a prison full of spies, the girls wonder if they can trust each other.
When Elephants Fly by Nancy Richardson Fischer. 9781335012364. 2018. Gr 9-12.
Lily’s mother, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, tried to kill her when Lily was seven. Now a senior in high school, Lily hopes to avoid falling into the grips of the same illness, which she knows usually manifests between the ages of eighteen and thirty. She’s got her best friend, Sawyer, committed to regular psychological testing to monitor for signs. Meanwhile, Lily takes a newspaper internship that has drawn her into the story of a mother elephant that tried to kill her own calf, leaving the young elephant at risk of dying from grief. Now Lily can’t let the story go until she knows that calf is safe.
