Reading Group Recommendations

 As a reading teacher / dragon, I am always looking for books my kiddos will like. I know you will love the next three books that I chose.

First off, I chose A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park. I read this book because the cover intrigued me. I have to admit, the story hooked me immediately. The story is about two kids in Sudan, one in 1985 and one in 2008. Salva, a boy in 1985, is a refugee trying to survive in Africa. Nya, a girl in 2008, spends her days traveling to and from their local water source because her village doesn't have access to running water. The story isn't long, but boy is it powerful. The dual timelines end up intersecting, which is what really captured my heart. You are sure to love Salva's story as much as I did, especially knowing it is based on a true story!

The second book I chose is a Newbery Honor book: Rules by Cynthia Lord. Rules is a story about Catherine and her younger brother, David. Catherine is a budding young artist. At twelve years old, she just wants a normal life, but she is constantly trying to teach David the "rules." David is on the autism spectrum, and he doesn't always understand what it socially acceptable. As Catherine goes to his therapy appointments with him, she ends up making a friend with someone she doesn't expect. She uses her artistic gift to make his life better and ends up learning some rules of her own. I highly recommend Rules by Cynthia Lord. We've all had that moment where we had to learn the rules, and we've all experienced making friends at unexpected times. This book is honest, realistic, and full of lessons about how it feels to make mistakes even though you're just trying to do the right thing.

The third book I chose for my reading group is Ghost by Jason Reynolds. First of all, I am a HUGE Jason Reynolds fan. Secondly, I really connected to the heart in the main character (Castle) of this book. Castle Crenshaw is a kid who is always ready to run. He's had a hard childhood and is trying to move past some trauma he and his mom faced when he was a kid. One day, he accidentally challenges the local track star to a race. He ends up joining the track team, despite his self-doubt and sass. With the support of his coach and the team who rallies around him, Castle faces and tries to overcome the trauma of that dark night he and his mom had to run. The main character in this story sounds like so many kids I've met who had to live their lives and move on, despite the tragedies they face on a daily basis. I'm happy to say this book had a good ending and is just the first book in the Track series by Jason Reynolds. If you like sports books and have an urge to support the underdog, you're bound to love this one!