"Boys are Dogs" by Leslie Margolis

Sixth grade Annabelle just moved into a new house with her mom and her mom's boyfriend Ted Weeble. Annabelle creates a secret nickname for Ted, Dweeble, which is very fitting with his dorky running shorts and nerdy music. New house equals a new school, and her new middle school is filled with pesky boys that take great pleasure in teasing and tormenting Annabelle. Mom and Ted surprise Annabelle with a new puppy, hoping the distraction will help her adjust. Annabelle soon discovers that boys and dogs have a lot in common, and dog training is coming in very useful for putting boys in their place! This is a funny read, Annabelle is super clever and confident.

"Anatomy of Wings" by Karen Foxlee

Jenny was enamored with her older sister, Beth. Beth had grace, charm and beauty, and made everything appear effortless. In this novel, Jenny recounts their adolescence in a small, Australian mining town. Their neighbors and family watch Beth self-destruct, as she morphs from an innocent young girl into a mischievous delinquent. Spiraling out of control, Beth is earning an unfavorable reputation around town, and her parents are out of ideas on how to tame their wild daughter.

Beth dies from an accidental fall from the town’s water tower and the family is hit hard by grief. Jenny loses her singing voice, their spiritual grandmother becomes estranged from the family, and her parents are on the brink of splitting up. Someone in town knows what was going through Beth’s head before her untimely death. Jenny is determined to piece together the clues, relying on a box of Beth’s keepsakes.

Being a teenager doesn’t last forever, but it sure can feel permanent when you’re living it. Beth’s premature death is a reminder of the struggle of adolescence and the mindset of youth. This is a captivating coming-of-age novel, good for 8th grade and up.

"Pride of Baghdad" by Brian Vaughn

When the United States bombed Iraq in 2003, civilians weren't the only casualty. This graphic novel is based on the true story of 4 lions that escaped captivity from the Baghdad zoo, and were loose on the streets of Baghdad. For the first time, these domesticated animals must find their own food and defend themselves against predators. The illustrations showcase the harsh, violent realities of a city caught in the mist of war. This book is not intended for weak stomachs. War is violence, and this book emphasizes how it affects all members of a society, including the animal world.

Vaughn has proven himself as an emerging talent in the comic industry. He's the author of the popular Runaways series and won the Eisner Award for his work Y: The Last Man.

"Three Cups of Tea - One Man's Journey to Change the World...One Child at a Time - The Young Reader's Edition" by Greg Mortenson

Last year KCLS participated in King County Reads - where we encouraged everyone to read Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. I was thrilled to discover this new version of the book adapted by Sarah Thomson. If you missed the original, here's the basic story. Greg Mortenson took off traveling to the middle east where he tried to climb K2, the 2nd highest mountain in the world, and some would argue the most challenging. He did not make the summit and upon his descent, he strayed from the trail and got lost. Eventually he stumbled into a remote village, where locals wholeheartedly welcomed him and nursed him back to health with food and kindness. He was shocked to see the village's school, its lack of teachers and supplies. Students were copying their lessons with sticks in the dirt. Greg was inspired by their desire to learn and vowed to return to their village and build them a proper school, and so he did. To date, as director of the Central Asian Institute, Greg has constructed over 50 schools and is dedicated to improving the quality of education for these children, especially young girls. This is a powerful, moving humanitarian story and I'm so excited to see it accessible for a younger audience. It's a great way to share Greg's story with your kids, your students or anyone who wants a simplified version of his story. The book has a great Q&A with Greg's daughter Amira, and information on Pennies for Peace, a fundraising opportunity for interested students. Whereas a penny in American is considered worthless, in Pakistan or Afghanistan a penny can purchase a pencil and help promote education and literacy. Color photographs make a stunning addition and I wish they had been included in the original. Highly recommended all around!

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw" by Jeff Kinney

Greg Heffley is back, and he's wimpy as ever. His dad Frank is ready to turn Greg into a man, but that's proving harder than it looks. Is military school the solution? Greg is the king of laziness and will do anything to get out of real work. All my favorite characters make an appearance in this edition - Rowley, Rodrick and Manny. This series continues to crack me up! Will Greg be the star on his soccer team? Will he get a new girlfriend? The movie is coming out soon, so now's a good time to get caught up on this hilarious series.