We Dream of Space

 We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

Cash, who loves basketball but has a newly broken arm, is in danger of failing 7th grade for the second time! Fitch, who spends every afternoon playing at the arcade, wrestles with an explosive temper that he doesn't understand. Bir, Fitch's twelve-year-old twin, who wants to be NASA's first female shuttle commander but feels like she is invisible. They live in the same house, but are in their own orbits, dreaming of hope, dreaming of belonging, dreaming of friendship, dreaming of family, dreaming of space.

Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya

 

Emilia Torres has a wandering mind. It's hard for her to follow along at school, and sometimes she forgets to do what her mom or abuela asks. But she remembers what matters:  a time when her family was whole and made sense. Emilia expects that her life will get back to normal when Dad returns from deployment, but instead it unravels. 

Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo

 Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo

Beverly Tapinski has run away from home plenty of times, but that was when she was just a kid. Now that she's fourteen years old, she figures it's not running away, it's just leaving. Determined to make it on her own, she finds a job and a place to live and tried to forget about her dog. If you love other books by Kate DiCamillo, this one will not disappoint you.

New Kid by Jerry Craft

 

Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents send him to a private school known for its academics, where Jordan turns out to be one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?

Other Words for Home

 

Jude never thought she'd be leaving her beloved brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming uncertain with the possibility of violence, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives. This is a novel in verse which means the story is told in a narrative poetry style instead of traditional novel style. This makes it a very quick and very enjoyable read!

Finding Orion

Finding Orion by John David Anderson

After reading Granted by John David Anderson, I've wanted to read every book by him! This book does not disappoint. Rion Kwirk comes from an odd family. His mom named him and his sisters after constellations, and his father makes funky-flavored jelly beans for a living. Rion and his family learn of Papa Kwirk's death the pile into the car to attend the funeral. Rion can't help but feel that this is not the end of Papa Kwirk's story and oh how right he turns out to be! 

Words on Fire

Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Danger is never far from Audra's home in Lithuania. The Russians have invaded Lithuania and tried to stamp out their way of life by banning their religion, their language and books. Audra knows her parents are involved in something secret. A secret way to keep their way of life alive. When her parents are captured Audra must decide if she can be brave enough to carry on their work and rescue them.