Child of Dandelions by Shenaaz Nanji

Governor General's Award nominee 2009.
Ms Nanji is a former STS parent. Grade 6-9

Fifteen year old Sabine lives a life of luxury with her family in Kampala, Uganda. When Idi Amin comes to power, he decrees that all Indians must leave Uganda and the countdown begins. All Indians, Ugandan born or not, are at risk. This becomes a reality for Sabine when her uncle disappears and her best friend turns against her because she, like most African Ugandans, feel that the Indians have exploited them. This book is a stirring portrayal of the rising terror and violence in 1972 as the radio continues the countdown and Sabine and her family try to escape.

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

Location: PB GOLD MYE

Vietnam. Iraq. Different generations. Different wars... but the experiences of the soldiers who fought in them are hauntingly familiar. Watch a video booktalk about Sunrise Over Fallujah... http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/video.jsp?pID=1640149541&bcpid=1640149541&bclid=1557820328&bctid=1751349518

Dewey: the Small-Town Library Cat Who touched the World by Vicki Myron

January 18, 1988...a two month old kitten was abandoned in the drop box at the public library in Spencer, Iowa. For the next 19 years, Dewey Readmore Books lived at the public library and became the soul of the library for the residents of Spencer (10,000) during the economic bust that was destroying the spirits of the people across the country. Dewey's influence soon extended outside of the town and even the state and he became an icon as far away as Japan. Visitors to the library came from all over often driving hours out of their way to visit this extraordinary cat. [Located at 636.8 MYR]

Books I have read this summer...

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
(Book 1 of a trilogy; PB PURPLE COL; grades 7 and up)

In the not-too-distant future, the United States has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. The Capitol keeps order by demanding an annual tribute for its Hunger Games, in which two contestants, a boy and a girl, are chosen from each of the districts to fight to the death in an event televised from an arena. Only one contestant can survive and win. Katniss Everdeen, from the impoverished District 12, volunteers when her younger sister is chosen. In this fight to the death, this book's violence is cringe-worthy and the exploitation of the desperate and impoverished for the entertainment of the wealthy and powerful is a disturbing theme. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.