A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat 375 pages All light in Chattana is created by one man--the Governor, who appeared after the Great Fire to bring peace and order to the city. Pong, who was born in Namwon Prison, dreams of the day he will be able to walk among the magical lights. But when Pong escapes from prison, he realizes that the world outside is just as unfair as the one behind bars. As Nok, the prison warden's perfect daughter, hunts Pong through the alleys and canals of Chattana, she too uncovers secrets that make her question the truths she has always held dear. I read this because it is a Mark Twain nominee for next school year. I enjoyed the suspense in the book and liked it even though it is considered science fiction. I do think some of the concepts might be too much for 4th graders. This is also a Newbery Honor Book. I loved the story of family and how you can find family at unique places.

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck - 160 pages

Joey and Mary Alice are sent for one week each summer to stay with their Grandma Dowdel in a small southern Illinois town.  You would think that nothing would ever happen in such a small town, but there's the corpse that won't rest peacefully, the revenge on a some teenage pranksters, a ride in a airplane, and much more.  Each of their seven visits is an adventure.

 I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed it.  I'm not a huge historical fiction fan, but this one kept the action moving with humorous stories.  I thought the narration of the story was good.  One little quibble is that there were weird pauses in the narration that didn't always make sense. 

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck - 160 pages

Mary Alice is spending the year with her Grandma Dowdel while her father looks for work during the Great Depression.  She's spent summers there before with her brother, but now it's by herself for a whole year.  She's not sure what to expect from the hick town and her outspoken, one-of-a-kind grandma.

I enjoyed the audio version of this book.  It reminded me of the books by Kirkpatrick Hill which I love.  This is actually the sequel to the Newbery Medal book Long Way From Chicago.  So I guess I really need to go back and read that book.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - 337 pages

This is a memoir written by Jacqueline Woodson of her childhood from being born in Ohio, living with her grandparents in South Carolina, and moving to New York City with her mother.  The memoir is written in verse.

This is a wonderful book that is very well done.  It's been on my list to read since it came out.  I picked up yesterday to read during lunch since I had forgotten my book at home.  I am so glad I did.  The poems are emotional while being sparse.  They convey so much description and feeling in 1-2 pages.  Her experiences growing up without her father, dealing with racial issues, and living as a Jehovah's Witness are expressed with honesty.  This is a book that I think most kids would benefit from reading. However, I also think that it is a book that will require a fair amount of hand-selling to get into the hands of kids.

2015 Coretta Scott King Medal - Author
2015 Newbery Honor Book
2015 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book