Josie Hanneman, Bookshelf

School is back in session and it’s time to find some great books for our students.

It can be particularly challenging to find the right book for a child or teen as some are reading above grade level, some below; some children are mature beyond their years, and others are late bloomers and prefer to stay in childhood.

Each child is unique in their interests and desired reading format. Because of this there is no one perfect book that will work for every child in a class, or in a grade level. We recommend that parents talk to their children, their children’s teachers, and their librarians to find a great book for their child, regardless of age, reading level, or interest. The conversation between parent and child is a building block to lifelong reading and learning.

Here are a few new titles that we recommend, with a middle grade focus:

”Unfadeable” by Maurice BroaddusBella Fades is trying to lay low for the summer. She’s a graffiti artist, but she’s keeping her tagging quiet since she doesn’t want anyone in social services to know she’s basically taking care of herself. But when she finds out that powerful people are taking money from her Indianapolis neighborhood, she has to start trusting her neighbors in order to fight back.

This story covers some serious topics like homelessness, schizophrenia and racism, but they are part of the story, not lecture-y. If you like Kelly Yang’s “Front Desk,” or anything by Jason Reynolds, this might be a great book for you. School Library Journal recommends this book for grades 4-7.

”The Prisoner of Shiverstone” by Linette MooreHelga arrives at Utley Island under slightly suspicious circumstances, but convinces the guards that she’s been shipwrecked. Her secret mission is make contact with the imprisoned scientists held there, and rescue one of them. This is not a straight up mystery — it’s a bit adventure, a bit science fiction, a little fantasy, and definitely a graphic novel. There’s even a bit of humor. School Library Journal recommends this book for grades 4-7.

”The Lucky Ones” by Linda Williams JacksonEllis Earl Brown has big dreams — he’d like to grow up to be a teacher, or a lawyer, or maybe both. But his family of 8 siblings, plus a cousin, struggles. Ellis loves school, his teacher and reading. When he discovers a copy of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” he’s amazed to find a family worse off than his own. Their happy ending gives him hope.

When Senator Robert F Kenney plans on visiting Ellis’ state and he’s invited to be part of the welcoming party, he wonders if his family’s luck might be turning around. Will he be one of the lucky ones? If you like more modern historical fiction, you can also try “Countdown” by Deborah Wiles, or “One Crazy Summer” by Rita Williams-Garcia. School Library Journal recommends this book for grades 3-6.

” Josie Hanneman is a librarian with the Deschutes County Library.