Middle School Reads!

by Christina Collins Lexile:  630 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Elise has recently started middle school after being homeschooled by her mother for many years.  8th grade is like nothing Elise has ever experienced before and it seems that every time she opens her mouth to speak, she shares a secret or says something that makes someone mad.  So Elise decides that it is safer if she just doesn't talk.  But not talking leads to all kinds of other problems, especially with Elise's mom.  She knows that her mom is hiding something too, but doesn't know how to ask her what it is?  Elise is going to have to learn how to communicate with her mom and with her friends if things are ever going to get better.

by Adib Khorram Lexile:  710 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Darius Kellner is Persian American.  His mom grew up in Iran and he has never met her family outside of the weekly Skype visits where he quickly says hi and bye to his grandparents.  Darius struggles with depression, a disease he inherited from his father, and has a hard time with bullies at his school.  He is not really comfortable with who he is and what his father expects him to be.  But now his grandfather is ill, and the family decides to take a trip to Iran.  Darius really doesn't know what to expect.  Will meeting the other half of his family and exploring his heritage help him to become more comfortable with himself?  Will it make the strained relationship with is father even worse or could this trip bring them closer together?

by Julie Murphy Lexile:  810 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Sweet Pea's world is rocked when her parents announce that they are getting a divorce.  Her dad has rented a house on the same street and her parents are trying to recreate a second twin house for her so that her transition into life without both parents at home is easier.  But does this arrangement help or make things worse?  And to make matters worth, Sweet Pea isn't getting along with her best friend and her ex best friend is suddenly starting to be nice to her again?  It doesn't help that Miss Flora Mae, the woman who lives between her two houses, has asked her to help her out with a secret project.  Sweet Pea is tired of the secrets and having to navigate life with her parents and her friends.  She's tired of trying to help everyone else...who is going to help her figure out this mess?

by Juleah Del Rosario Lexile:  700 Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Novel in Verse Rowena and Ariana are devastated after the loss of their mother.  They still have each other, but they are finding it hard to move on.  They are happy that their dad has found someone and they like Maribel and are excited about the new baby sister that will soon join their family.  But when Maribel loses the baby, the family is plunged into grief all over again and Row feels like everything is falling a part.  One day, Ariana gets on a bus and leaves everyone behind and won't respond to any of Row's texts.  It is up to Row and her friend to figure out where Ariana has gone so that they can find her and get both of their lives back on track.