Durable Goods, Joy School and True to Form by Elizabeth Berg
Immerse yourself in the mind of plucky Katie Nash, the 13-year-old Army brat with a poetic soul who shares wry observances of her world of tan lines, junk food and bad hair. Set in the late 50’s and early 60’s, this trilogy is told in Katie’s warm, quirky and often hilarious voice as she struggles with her relationships with her cold and distant widowed dad, her shoplifting friend and a dreamy garage mechanic. Re-live the best parts of your adolescence with this spirited heroine who will make you feel like you have just found a new best friend. The audio versions are terrific, too! ~ Susan, Foundation
The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch
At 2:15 a.m., an hour before the lowest night tide of the summer, 13-year-old Miles O’Malley ventures out into the South Puget Sound in his kayak to search for marine life. What he discovers changes his life: a rare giant squid, with an eye the size of a hubcap. Miles must grapple with the media attention that comes his way and with what his discovery means – is the earth trying to tell us something? A beautiful tribute to the wonders contained in the Puget Sound. ~ Hannah, Ballard Branch
Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros
Lala is the only girl in a large, raucous Mexican-American family living in Chicago. She narrates this sprawling family saga which is filled with eccentric, mostly lovable characters. Lala both dreads and relishes the family’s annual road trip to Mexico City to visit “Awful Grandmother” and “Little grandfather.” Although initially terrified of the grandmother, as a teenager Lala forms a close bond with her as the matriarch passes down stories of the family’s past. Lala weaves together the grandmother’s tales with her own “lies” to create a colorful, imaginative account of the family through several generations. ~ Paige, University Branch
Leave a Comment