Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem by Kate DiCamillo

Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem by Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Candlewick Press, 2020. Children's chapter book.

In this, the fifth book in the Tales from Deckadoo Drive series, the story is about second grader, Stella Endicott. Stella loves school. She loves her teacher. She loves her neighborhood. But, when Horace Broom, another second grader questions her truthfulness, the fun begins. Of course, the children end up as friends, but the adventures that get them there are quirky, down-to-earth, and hilarious.

DiCamillo's writing is so smooth that it is a pleasure to read. She always teaches something: in this case, all about metaphors AND the planets!  Readers will flock to their libraries to find out more about Baby Lincoln, Mercy Watson, and the other neighbors on Deckadoo Drive.  Put some paper out as students will want to write their own poems as well.

Death in Rough Water by Francine Mathews

Death in Rough Water by Francine Mathews. SOHO Press, 2016. Fiction. Crime, detectives.

A fun summer who done it for anyone who loves Nantucket! Detective Merry Folger works under her father, the police chief. When her childhood friend, Adelia's father dies on his fishing boat, Del returns to the island with her two-year-old daughter in tow. Soon Merry is pulled into even more turmoil with more lives in danger. Mathews gets the trivia right and readers will feel like they are right there, too.

Check out other titles in this series or look for the author's other series starring Jane Austen and written under the name Stephanie Barron.

Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson

Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson. William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2019. Fiction mystery.

Amy is a wife, mother, stepmom, and friend. She seems quite normal as a member of her neighborhood book club. But, when a new woman named Roux appears at a meeting, Roux challenges the women to a "game" and their secrets all begin to appear. Even Amy and her friend, Char, have secrets. The teen, Luca, is astonishingly handsome and immediately appeals to Amy's stepdaughter, Maddy. As Amy tries to put together the pieces of information that Roux and Luca drop like red herrings, the plot takes creepy twists and unexpected turns. Can Amy protect those she loves as well as her past? This cul-de-sac will keep you reading until far too late in the night!

Kent State by Deborah Wiles

  Kent State by Deborah Wiles. Scholastic, 2020. Middle school and up.

During the turbulent times of the late 1960's, America was divided over the War in Viet Nam. On May 4, 1970, at Kent State University in Ohio, the National Guard was called to quell a student protest on the campus. Pandemonium ensued. Four students were shot and killed.

Deborah Wiles uses this real event to provide voices that represent many of the people who were there. From students to community members to guardsmen and others, people of diverse beliefs and cultures speak about what they saw and felt. Told in blocks of spoken text by unnamed characters, the book would make a dramatic impact as a spoken performance. Wiles uses her extensive research to describe what happened at Kent State and to encourage readers to take a stand for what they believe in.