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AVI
Nothing But the Truth: A Documentary Novel (age 10+)
by Avi
letters/journal ... school
Publisher comments: Patriotism or practical joke? Harrison, NH: Ninth-grade student Philip Malloy was suspended from school for singing along to The Star-Spangled Banner in his homeroom, causing what his teacher, Margaret Narwin, called "a disturbance." But was he standing up for his patriotic ideals, only to be squelched by the school system? Was Ms. Narwin simply trying to be a good teacher? Or could it all be just a misunderstanding gone bad...very bad? What is the truth here? Can it ever be known? Heroism, hoax, or mistake, what happened at Harrison High changes everything for everyone in ways no one (least of all Philip) could have ever predicted.
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CUS
Catherine, Called Birdy (age 10+)
by Karen Cushman
growing up ... letters/journal ... historical
Catherine feels trapped. Her father is determined to marry her off to a rich man--any rich man, no matter how awful. But by wit, trickery, and luck, Catherine manages to send several would-be husbands packing. Then a shaggy-bearded suitor from the north comes to call--by far the oldest, ugliest, most revolting suitor of them all. Unfortunately, he is also the richest. Can a sharp-tongued, high-spirited, clever young maiden with a mind of her own actually lose the battle against an ill-mannered, piglike lord and an unimaginative, greedy toad of a father? Deus! Not if Catherine has anything to say about it!
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HES
Out of the Dust (age 10+)
by Karen Hesse
letters/journal ... historical ... poetry
In a series of poems, fifteen-year-old Billie Jo relates the hardships of living on her family's wheat farm in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years of the Depression.

Escondido Elementary School, Sat Aug 25 11:55:29 2012
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