A boy discovers and takes pride in the customs of his people when he visits his family’s village.
Vacation in the Village
Realistic Fiction
Realistic Fiction genre
Herbert
A boy never gives up hope when his little dog vanishes at sea in this suspenseful and heartwarming true-life adventure. Herbert was a small dog who lived by the sea. Everybody loved him, but the person who loved him best of all was Tim. One fine day, Herbert sets off on a boat with Tim’s father. But without warning, a storm crashes in — and so begins the biggest adventure of Herbert’s life. This stirring true story, written and illustrated by Robyn Belton, tells the remarkable tale of a young boy’s beloved dog and his real-life adventure at sea.
Dead Time/Shelter
Two vulnerable girls go to extremes for love. Isabella is in jail and waiting to be tried for a horrifically violent crime. Her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend, Lulu, is dead. Even her name makes Isabella want to poke somebody in the eye with a stick. True, Isabella was jealous and asked her boyfriend, Sergei, to prove his love, but how could she have known how far it would go? She’s obviously the victim here. Sergei will tell them, will make them believe her story. In the second story, Abby is only in high school, but she feels responsible for holding her family together. Her father works two jobs and is rarely home. Her mom, angry about their financial woes, escapes to nightclubs with her girlfriends. When Abby meets Sean, an attractive, sensitive guy who lets her confide in him, it’s not surprising that she falls in love fast and hard. Sure, he’s a little older, but Abby still wants to give herself to him. But Abby’s first time is not at all what she imagined.
It’s A Wonderful Life
What a pity excue for a holiday!
While her friends party in Europe, Anna- a Dutch seventeen year old- is sent to her uncle who lives ina tiny town in Pennsylvania. Bakerton: two streets, a church, a diner, two undertakers and a steamtrain that spills out a bunch of tourists on a daily basis.
How was she to know that she would feel at home in Bakerton. That she would meet the most intriguing people. that she would spend her holiday wearing vintage dresses selling antiques, and learn about funeral rituals. And that she would befriend a vicar, a baker, a waitress, an old Jewish couple, an Italian cook and many others…
If only she knew she would learn about life this summer…and a little more about herself as well…
It’s a Wonderful Life is a captivating and colorful story of coming of age and true friendship.
Five Flavors Of Dumb
Eighteen-year-old Piper becomes the manager for her classmates’ popular rock band, called Dumb, giving her the chance to prove her capabilities to her parents and others, if only she can get the band members to get along.
See the review at WOW Review, Volume 4, Issue 2
Schneider Family Book Award
Crouching Tiger
A Chinese-American boy gains a new understanding of his Chinese grandfather in this celebratory story of family, martial arts, and the Chinese New Year. Vinson is very excited when his grandfather comes from China for a visit. When Grandpa practices tai chi in the garden, Vinson asks to learn, hoping it will be like kung fu, full of kicks and punches. But tai chi’s meditative postures are slow and still, and Vinson quickly gets bored. He can’t understand why Grandpa insists on calling him by his Chinese name, Ming Da, or why he has to wear a traditional Chinese jacket to the Chinese New Year parade. As the parade assembles, however, he notices the great respect given to his grandfather and the lion dancers under his training. And when Vinson is offered a role in the parade, he realizes that being part Chinese can be pretty cool—and is ready to start learning from his grandpa’s martial-arts mastery in earnest.
Flyaway
If they saved the swan together, could she then save her friend?In a heartbeat, in a wingbeat, it happens. Isla’s father falls. They’re racing across the fields, following the swans flying in to winter at the lake like they do every year, when something goes wrong. And before she can even catch her breath, they’re in the back of an ambulance, she’s holding his hand.At the hospital, upset and scared, Isla meets Harry. Unlike the boys at school, he doesn’t laugh when she tells him about her love of birds. He listens. But what is he doing there?As Isla struggles with her father’s frailty and the new feelings she has for Harry, she’s determined to help the only way she knows how. Outside the hospital windows, Isla watches a lone whooper swan struggling to fly. If only she could save the lost bird, would that somehow heal her dad, and cure Harry, and make everything good again?
Kung Fooey
Fourth-grader Cal learns a lot about teasing and standing up for others when a weird new student joins his class, while Stella, the tenth-grader who lives with Cal’s family to help his mother, practices for her driving test.
Fix Me
Orphaned as a child, terrorized by her abusive brother, and haunted by memories, Leia feels exposed, powerless, and vulnerable. When her tormented mind can stand it no longer, she escapes to the zoo, where she finds shelter and seeks refuge. The zoo is a sanctuary: a protective space for families, and a safe place for the traumatized to forget. But can she ever feel safe? Can she ever forget? Once again, Rune Michaels brings us a harrowing psychological drama that raises questions about the very nature of humanity.
You against Me
If someone hurts your sister and you’re any kind of man, you seek revenge.If your brother’s accused of a terrible crime but says he didn’t do it, you defend him.When Mikey’s sister claims a boy assaulted her, his world begins to fall apart. When Ellie’s brother is charged with the offense, her world begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide.