Middle School Reads!

 by Cindy Baldwin Genre:  Realistic Fiction Annie Lee's daddy died at the beginning of the summer and nothing has been the same ever since.  Her mom is sad all the time and to make matters worse, her dad's ghost seems to be hanging around the apartment they had to move to after they sold their house.  Annie Lee is supposed to go directly home after school, but she can only stay in the tiny apartment for so long.  When she ventures out, she meets a new friend Ray who plays the piano at the mall and agrees to give her lessons.  At school, Annie Lee tries to be invisible, but that only works until a new girl, Mitch, discovers her and decides they should be friends. Can Annie Lee open herself up to the possibility that there is still room for happiness in her life?

 by Brian Young Genre:  Fantasy Nathan has no idea what is going to happen when he makes a quick decision to spend the summer with his grandmother on the Navajo Reservation.  He will be without electricity and cell service, but able to reconnect with his grandmother while working on a science project.  Things are going well until his Uncle Jet arrives.  It's clear that Uncle Jet is dealing with some serious stuff.  One night, Nathan gets lost in the desert and is visited by a Holy Being - a water monster - who needs his help if he is going to survive.  Does Nathan have the courage to help the water monster and his Uncle Jet?