Staff Picks Youth
November 2020
Song for a Whale
by Lynne Kelly
Iris, along with her grandmother, is deaf. When Iris finds out about a whale who has difficulty communicating with other whales, she immediately feels a connection. When her parents deny her wish to try to visit the whale in person, she hatches another plan. This title is also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Torpedoed: the true story of the World War II sinking of “The Children’s Ship”
by Deborah Heiligman
Very readable non-fiction book on the torpedoing of the ship ‘The City of Benares’ in 1940. Includes pictures and quotes from survivors. This title is also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Nonfiction
Pie in the Sky
by Remy Lai
Jingwen and his brother leave their home for Australia. Their parents owned a bakery in their former home and now his mother is working in one. Jingwen feels compelled to secretly make every cake that he made with his dad who was killed in an accident. To keep the cake making hidden from his mother, Jingwen and his brother must eat the entire cake before their mother returns from work. This title is also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
October 2020
A Line Tender
by Kate Allen
Lucy and her best friend, Fred, are working on a field guide of animals for school consisting of drawings (by Lucy) and facts (by Fred). When an accident occurs, Lucy’s life is changed forever. With help from some close grownups in her life, she learns to navigate a new normal.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
I Can Make This Promise
by Christine Day
Edie and her friends find a box in the attic full of letters and pictures of a woman who looks a lot like Edie. Who is it? Why doesn’t Edie know about her? What ensues is a discovery of lost family.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
The Sisters of Straygarden Place
by Hayley Chewins
Posted in: Youth Fiction
I Always Wanted One
by Oliver Tallec
A touching story about a boy and his dog but with a wonderful twist. This funny story is told from the dog’s perspective. (Hint)
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
The One with the Scraggly Beard
by Elizabeth Withley
A beautifully illustrated and empathetically written story answering questions and concerns a mom’s young son has about a man who lives under the bridge. This is a story about homelessness, the path lives can take, and belonging. Be sure to read the Author’s Note at the end of the story.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Esperanza Rising
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Esperanza Rising is a touching story that follows Esperanza , the daughter of a wealthy Mexican rancher, and her mother as they are forced to leave their home and country to find work on a California farm labor camp. Esperanza, who was raised in a home full of servants and beautiful clothes, will have to learn to accept her new home in order to help her family survive, but can she also learn to appreciate a simpler life? To help support themselves, Esperanza is forced to learn new skills and embrace a new world. She and her mother face daily hardships , but are drawn together by the love of family and the commitment of friends. This book won the 2002 Pura Belpré Award and is a moving and timely read. This title is also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Darnetta Bolton, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Talking is Not My Thing
by Rose Robbins
An autistic sister expresses herself to her brother and grandmother by using visuals such as flashcards or facial expressions and gestures. Throughout the day of play, meals, and then bedtime the love and support between family members are conveyed without needing words.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian 1
Posted in: Youth Fiction