11 Birthdays - Wendy Mass

This was a very cute book about friendship and insecurity and adventure. It is Amanda's eleventh birthday and this is the first time she is going to celebrate it without Leo because they have been in a fight for one year. She goes through the motions and doesn't have the greatest time at her party. Once it is over, she is glad and can't wait for the weekend. Then her alarm goes off and it is her birthday again...

This book is definitely targeted towards girls but there might be some boys who could enjoy it. I think it could resonate well with some people because of the struggles Amanda goes through. Her problems are ones that many people could relate to and I think most people go through these feelings at some point in their lives.

A Mango Shaped Space

A Mango Shaped Space, by Wendy Mass is an interesting (and sad) book about a young girl with a condition called "synesthesia" in which sounds, objects and words have colour.  Because she faces ridicule at school, Mia, the protagonist, hides her condition for as long as she can.  She eventually has to admit it, though, and as a result of a diagnosis from a specialist, meets a boy with the same condition.  There is a crush and obsession and forgetfulness that often accompany a first crush.  During this period of extreme distraction, Mia forgets to bring her beloved cat, Mango, in from the cold one night and, spoiler alert, the cat dies.

This is a book about being different, coming of age, acceptance, loss and love.  It is a multiple award winner and well worth reading at any age although it is recommended for grades 5 - 8.

The Song of the Lioness Quartet

The Song of the Lioness Quartet is a series by Tamora Pierce featuring a strong female protagonist, Alanna.  In the kingdom where Alanna lives, she is expected to grow up to become a proper young lady in the palace court and her bother, Thom, is expected to train to become a knight.  Neither want to pursue the path fate has for them and so they hatch a plan to trade places and assume each other's future.  The four books in the series follow Alanna's journey as she grows up, gains skills and wins hearts.

This series would be of interest to middle school aged students, possibly especially girls, although there is action and adventure enough for all kids to enjoy.

BloodyJack

"Bloody Jack" is the first novel in a series by L.A. Meyer.  It is about a young orphaned girl in the 1800's who, to navigate the harsh England in which she finds herself alone, pretends to be a boy and gets hired on as a Ships Boy.  She chooses this path knowing that it will keep her fed and clothed and that she has a better chance of survival as a boy than a girl in the world in which she lives.

Complications arise as "Jacky" matures and develops but you'll have to read it to find out how she deals with such things.  There are currently 12 books in the series.  In each book, Jacky encounters a huge obstacle to her well being (slavery, pirating, the law, war) and, in each case, through ingenuity and bravery, she prevails, winning friends and gathering supporters along the way.

These books are great for readers that can't find enough books to read.  A student can immerse themselves in the world of Jacky Faber for a long time.  They are exciting, interesting and adrenaline pumping and they feature a strong, irresistible female protagonist.