Intermediate (ages 9-14)

Material appropriate for intermediate age groups

Mishka

Winner of the national book award for children’s literature in the Netherlands — a sweet and tender story of a girl refugee finding a new home! Roya, her three brothers, and their parents have a new family member — Mishka, a bunny rabbit. He soon becomes a beloved part of their new home and gradually, the rabbit — and also Roya — get to hear the story of the family’s journey from Afghanistan to the Netherlands. Told from different perspectives every time: big Bashir, gentle Hamayun, tough Navid, and sometimes Mom and Dad. Mishka and Roya listen. Anoush Elman and Edward van de Vendel became friends upon Elman’s arrival in the Netherlands, and fifteen years later, they decided to write a story for younger readers about his family’s experience. This gorgeous chapter book — illustrated throughout in full color — is a tender, lyrical story of a young girl processing a new country, new school, and new friends — and a bunny escape! — in a story readers and parents will treasure.

Featured in WOW Review Volume XVII, Issue 2.

Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy Of American Indian Residential Schools: The Legacy Of American Indian Residential Schools

Little Moon There Are No Stars Tonight was four years old when armed federal agents showed up at her home and took her from her family. Under the authority of the government, she was sent away to a boarding school specifically created to strip her of her Ponca culture and teach her the ways of white society. Little Moon was one of thousands of Indigenous children forced to attend these schools across America and give up everything they’d ever known: family, friends, toys, clothing, food, customs, even their language. She would be the first of four generations of her family who would go to the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School.

Dan SaSuWeh Jones chronicles his family’s time at Chilocco–starting with his grandmother Little Moon’s arrival when the school first opened and ending with him working on the maintenance crew when the school shut down nearly one hundred years later. Together with the voices of students from other schools, both those who died and those who survived, Dan brings to light the lasting legacy of the boarding school era. Part American history, part family history, Stealing Little Moon is a powerful look at the miseducation and the mistreatment of Indigenous kids, while celebrating their strength, resiliency, and courage–and the ultimate failure of the United States government to erase them.

The Kingdom Over The Sea

When 12-year-old Yara finds a strange set of instructions left behind by her deceased mother, she starts on a journey to discover the truth about her mother’s past and her true identity.

The Kingdom Over the Sea is the WOW Recommends Book of the Month for January 2024.
This book is also featured in Season 2, Episode 3 of the WOW Reads podcast.

Mèo And Bé

Just before the United States enters the Vietnam War, 11-year-old Bé and her loyal three-legged kitten, Mèo, must learn to navigate the treacherous waters of conflict and adversity.

Bé has not spoken since her mother left, but she remains hopeful they may be reunited some day. Her oppressive stepmother, Big Mother, treats her like a servant and her father is helpless to step in after suffering from a stroke. However, she finds solace in the companionship of Mèo, her steadfast feline friend.

Soon, Bé’s fragile world shatters when she is unjustly accused by Big Mother of stealing and is forcibly taken from her home to a nightmarish underground prison alongside other captive girls. Amidst the darkness, Bé forms an unspoken bond with Ngân, and Mèo becomes a source of comfort for the imprisoned souls.

As violence erupts and freedom beckons, Bé, Mèo, and Ngân embark on a journey through the chaos of war, holding on to the hope of finding sanctuary and belonging in a fractured world. A poignant tale of resilience and kinship amidst the ravages of conflict, this story is a testament to the enduring power of love and compassion.

This book is part of the Worlds of Words Global Reading List for 2023/24.

The Kids Book Of Black History In Canada (Kids Books Of)

A definitive guide for children about Black history in Canada, this book is an exploration of the often overlooked contributions and experiences of Black Canadians throughout history beginning with the arrival of the first known African in the country, Mathieu Da Costa, in 1604. Through compelling stories, captivating illustrations, and accessible language, young readers are introduced to key figures and events that have shaped Canada’s Black heritage. From the early struggles for freedom and equality to the ongoing fight against systemic racism, this book sheds light on the resilience, creativity, and resilience of Black Canadians.

Tales From Gold Mountain: Stories Of The Chinese In The New World (A Groundwood Book) (A Groundwood Book)

Through eight original tales, readers gain insight into the hardships faced by the first Chinese immigrants in America. In “Spirits of the Railway,” a young man endeavors to appease the restless ghosts of railroad workers who were never properly laid to rest, shedding light on the sacrifices made by laborers in building the nation’s infrastructure. In “Forbidden Fruit,” a father’s bias threatens to tear apart his daughter’s chance at love and happiness, highlighting the impact of cultural traditions and familial expectations on individual lives.

Sona And The Golden Beasts

Sona, a Malech, belongs to the ruling class that has oppressed the native Devans for centuries. Despite the Malechs’ ban on music to prevent the Devans from accessing their magical abilities, Sona hears melodies everywhere, hiding her own musical talents to avoid endangering herself. But When Sona discovers an orphaned wolf pup with golden ears, she suspects a connection to the sacred beasts of Devia and vows to protect it at all costs. As she embarks on a perilous quest with a Devan boy to obtain the nectar of life for a gravely ill loved one, Sona uncovers secrets about the Malechian empire and her own identity.

Wild Bird

In the small colonial community of Victoria in 1861, sixteen-year-old Kate Harding is trying to help her mother as she is about to give premature birth in their home. While mother and daughter make it through the grueling ordeal with the help of a local midwife, the baby does not live. The irony of this tragic event is that Kate’s father is one of the few doctors in the colony, but he was out tending to other patients at the time. Wild Bird takes readers up close as a young girl yearns to find her place through meaningful work, while the author describes the ways in which Indigenous people relate to the recently arrived settlers.