The Lions of Little Rock

by Kristin Levine
Lexile:  630
Genre:  Historical Fiction

Marlee feels like everything in her life is changing.  Her brother has left for college, her sister moved out of her room, and now it's time to start middle school.  Marlee doesn't like to talk at school so most people tend to think she doesn't have anything to say or any ideas to contribute.  But then Marlee meets Liz, a new student, who is outgoing and confident...everything that Marlee wishes she could be.  Liz has a secret.  A secret that in 1958 could cost her everything.  When Liz's secret is discovered, Marlee's perspective on life suddenly changes.  She will need the courage to find her voice if she is going to stand up for her friend.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hush

Image
by Jacqueline Woodson Lexile:  640 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Toswiah Green doesn’t know who she is anymore.  Is she Evie Thomas?  Or is she a combination of the two?  When Toswiah’s father, a police officer, witnesses a murder and decides to testify about the truth of what he saw, she and her family must assume new identities and move on to an uncertain future.  Now she is Evie and has to live in a strange new city, make new friends, and watch her father fight the loss of a career that he loved second only to his family.  Toswiah misses her old life and can only hope that her family can figure out who they are in their new life.
Read more

Where I Belong

Image
 by Marcia Argueta Mickelson Genre: Realistic Fiction Millie Vargas knows that after she graduates from high school, her life is going to change.  She has a full ride scholarship to Stanford University, but hasn't worked up the courage to tell her mother yet because her mom depends on her to help the family stay together.  Her mom works long hours as a housekeeper for the wealthy Wheeler family who is in the midst of a senate race.  When Mr. Wheeler turns his campaign focus on immigration, he unknowingly places Millie's family in a tough situation.  Millie's family came across the border illegally and worked hard to earn their citizenship.  Millie wants to stay out of the conversation, but her mom and others, feel that she should get involved and do whatever she can to support others who have not been as fortunate as her family.  
Read more

Almost Autumn

Image
by Marianne Kaurin Lexile:  870 Genre:  Historical Fiction 15 year old Ilse is waiting to go on her first date to the movies.  Only Hermann never shows up.  He is too embarrassed to face her even though his explanation is a good one.  The trouble is, there is no way he can tell her where he was or what he was doing.  It is October of 1942 in Oslo, Norway and changes are happening.  Ilse and her family are Jewish and they are slowly watching their lives disappear.  First it's just that the orders stop coming into her father's tailor shop.  Then, they have to register and get their papers stamped with a "J".  And then, her father is arrested and taken away with no explanation.  It is a dangerous time to be Jewish in Oslo.
Read more