Franny doesn’t style her hair, wearing makeup makes her want to gag, and she couldn’t care less about wearing dressy dresses when she’d much prefer her lab coat. But sometimes Franny wonders if her mom wishes she were different. Grades 1-3. Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty.
When bullies destroy his fort, Rusty dons superhero garb and seeks revenge. Guided by his grandfather’s ghost, two cans of paint, and a little help from his friends, Brown can do anything! Grades 3-5. You may also enjoy The Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney.
Harry Potter’s parents are dead and he’s stuck with relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. When he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he’s a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Grades 5-8. You may also enjoy the Harry Potter Series.
By Christopher Paul Curtis
Bud is a 10-year-old orphan in Depression-era Michigan fed up with the treatment he has received at various foster homes. He decides to run away to reach the man he believes to be his father. Grades 4-8. You may also enjoy Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli.
