Fast Five Fiction: Cooking!

 It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. October is National Cookbook month and we'll be hosting a Create Your Own Cookbook program on October 20. To get in the mood for cooking, today I'll be sharing five books & series that focus on cooking or baking. 

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

Love Sugar Magic series by Anna Meriano

Leonora Logroño’s family owns the most beloved bakery in Rose Hill, Texas, spending their days conjuring delicious cookies and cakes for any occasion. And no occasion is more important than the annual Dia de los Muertos festival.

Leo hopes that this might be the year that she gets to help prepare for the big celebration—but, once again, she is told she’s too young. Sneaking out of school and down to the bakery, she discovers that her mother, aunt, and four older sisters have in fact been keeping a big secret: they’re brujas—witches of Mexican ancestry—who pour a little bit of sweet magic into everything that they bake.

Leo knows that she has magical ability as well and is more determined than ever to join the family business—even if she can’t let her mama and hermanas know about it yet.

And when her best friend, Caroline, has a problem that needs solving, Leo has the perfect opportunity to try out her craft. It’s just one little spell, after all…what could possibly go wrong?

Cupcake Diaries series by Coco Simon

Middle school can be hard…some days you need a cupcake. Join Katie, Mia, Emma, and Alexis as they form the Cupcake Club—and fast friendships—and navigate the trials and tribulations of middle school in these sweet stories.

Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai

When eleven-year-old Jingwen moves to a new country, he feels like he's landed on Mars. School is torture, making friends is impossible since he doesn’t speak English, and he's often stuck looking after his (extremely irritating) little brother, Yanghao.

To distract himself from the loneliness, Jingwen daydreams about making all the cakes on the menu of Pie in the Sky, the bakery his father had planned to open before he unexpectedly passed away. The only problem is his mother has laid down one major rule: the brothers are not to use the oven while she's at work. As Jingwen and Yanghao bake elaborate cakes, they'll have to cook up elaborate excuses to keep the cake making a secret from Mama.

All You Knead is Love by Tanya Guerrero

Twelve-year-old Alba doesn't want to live with her estranged grandmother in Barcelona.

But her mother needs her to be far, far away from their home in New York City. Because this is the year that her mother is going to leave Alba's abusive father. Hopefully. If she's strong enough to finally, finally do it.

Alba is surprised to find that she loves Barcelona, forming a close relationship with her grandmother, meeting a supportive father figure, and making new friends. Most of all, she discovers a passion and talent for bread baking. When her beloved bakery is threatened with closure, Alba is determined to find a way to save it—and at the same time, she may just come up with a plan to make their family whole again.

Confectionately Yours series by Lisa Papademetriou

Confession: My life is soooo not sprinkles and sunshine...Hayley's world is far from perfect: Her parents have divorced, her mom has lost her job, and she and her sister Chloe are stuck sharing a bedroom in their grandmother's apartment. Luckily, Hayley has a knack for baking cupcakes -- and cupcakes always make life just a little sweeter! But when she and her best friend Artie start drifting apart, she realizes that it's going to take more than sugar and spice to make things nice.

Confession: Hayley's in another sticky situation . . .Hayley and her little sister, Chloe, have just moved into their grandmother's house with their mom, who recently divorced their dad and now runs the family's tea shop. With her knack for baking, Hayley helps out too, but her newfound talent seems to have cost her her best friend, Artie. Now Hayley's crushing on someone who might just be Artie's new boyfriend. This mess really takes the cake!



Happy Friday and happy reading!

Nonfiction Spotlight: Listified

It's time for another Nonficiton Spotlight! I don't know about you but I am one of the people who LOVES a good list, book related or not. Today I wanted to share a little bit about a book new to our shelves, Listified. 

The Facts:

Title: Listified: Brittanica's 300 Lists that will Blow Your MindAuthor: PettieIllustrator: Andres LozanoPublisher: Britannica BooksPublication Date: 9/7/21

Target Audience: Ages 8 and up

Summary:

Ever wondered which 10 dinosaurs were the largest, and what they weighed…in cats? Or how much of your DNA you share with other animals…and bananas? Enter the listiverse and get ready to see the world in a whole new way. Listified! takes the best and most amazing parts of the universe —erupting volcanoes, medieval machines, jumping spiders, exploding stars, and everything in between — and organizes them into quirky list form for curious kids and their friends and family to enjoy.

Brought to life by imaginative and hilarious artworks, each list presents subjects from new and unexpected angles. So let Britannica's Listified! take you on a journey through 300 lists that illuminate everything from the human body, to prehistoric creatures, planet Earth, outer space, and the mysteries beyond. Here are three mind-blowing facts from Listified! to get you started…

• A Tyrannosaurus rex could swallow 15,000 hamburgers in a single bite.
• A bolt of lightning is the width of your thumb and five times hotter than the surface of the Sun.
• If you tied all your hair together into a single cord, it could support the weight of 18 cows.

An utterly absorbing compendium of amazing facts and trivia that will keep children aged 8+ entertained for hours!

The Experts Say:

"This nonfiction book brings all kinds of information to life with its cool lists and fun drawings." - The Week Junior Book of the Week

"The book is filled with cartoon illustrations, maps, charts and diagrams, in a bright color palette, featuring men, women, and people of various races, ages, and abilities. Really, there’s no boring pages!" - Youth Services Book Review

"If you are looking for the perfect book for that kid (or adult) who is simply interested in everything, look no further. This book is chock-full of the most interesting facts, with over 300 lists that cover, well, just about everything." - San Francisco Book Review

Miss Kate Says:

This book is full of interesting facts and fun trivia, there's something for everyone to enjoy. From space to Dinosaurs, the human body to inventions these lists will delight readers of all ages. Each list has been fact-checked for accuracy and the combination of photographs and illustrations are so fun to look at. This book is definitely one where you don't have to read the whole book from front to back, cover to cover. Feel free to browse areas that interest you and skim over those that don't. It would be a great book for a class discussion or to read with a friend or family member. You could browse through this book for a year, and then start over again at the beginning. 

If 300 lists aren't enough. for you, you can check out 1000 Interesting Facts from Factsite or browse the numerous lists on Listverse. Or try making your own list, you can get some guidance from this Scholastic article.

Fast Five Fiction: Spooky Stories

It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. Some spooky decorations have made their way to the children's department this week so today I'll be sharing five spooky books (or series) to put you in the holiday mood. 

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

You're Invited to a Creepover series by P.J. Night

Go to sleep…if you dare, because you’re invited to a creepover! This middle grade horror series combines two things that kids love—sleepovers and scary stories.

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

The Night Gardener follows two abandoned Irish siblings who travel to work as servants at a creepy, crumbling English manor house. But the house and its family are not quite what they seem. Soon the children are confronted by a mysterious spectre and an ancient curse that threatens their very lives. With Auxier’s exquisite command of language, The Night Gardener is a mesmerizing read and a classic in the making.

The Puppet's Payback and Other Chilling Tales by Mary Downing Hahn

The author of wildly popular ghost stories, Mary Downing Hahn has created a group of tales for fans of her "scary but not too scary" books. Even the stories without actual ghosts are spooky. Each tale turns something ordinary—a pigeon, a white dress, a stranger on the bus, a puppet—into a sinister link to the supernatural. For the human characters, secrets from the past or careless behavior in the present can lead to serious trouble. All the stories have a young person as the central character, so all will resonate with young readers who enjoy the eerie, the creepy, and the otherworldly. In a concluding note, the author talks about how she came to write ghost stories.

Scary stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker

The haunted season has arrived in the Antler Wood. No fox kit is safe.

When Mia and Uly are separated from their litters, they discover a dangerous world full of monsters. In order to find a den to call home, they must venture through field and forest, facing unspeakable things that dwell in the darkness: a zombie who hungers for their flesh, a witch who tries to steal their skins, a ghost who hunts them through the snow . . . and other things too scary to mention.

Spirit Hunters series by Ellen Oh

Spirit Hunters, a high-stakes middle grade mystery series about Harper Raine, the new seventh grader in town who must face down the dangerous ghosts haunting her younger brother.

A riveting ghost story and captivating adventure, this tale will have you guessing at every turn!

Harper doesn't trust her new home from the moment she steps inside, and the rumors are that the Raine family's new house is haunted. Harper isn't sure she believes those rumors, until her younger brother, Michael, starts acting strangely.

The whole atmosphere gives Harper a sense of déjà vu, but she can't remember why. She knows that the memories she's blocking will help make sense of her brother's behavior and the strange and threatening sensations she feels in this house, but will she be able to put the pieces together in time?

Happy Friday and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Disney's 50th Anniversary Celebration

It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. Today kicks off Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebrations. On Monday we're hosting a DIY Mickey Mouse Halloween Ears program and there's still space available, you can register here. To celebrate, today I'll be sharing some great series brought to us by Disney.

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

Disney Chills series by Vera Strange

Disney Chills is a  middle-grade anthology horror series in the vein of Goosebumps. Each book in the series focuses on a child making a deal with a Disney Villain, such as Ursula, Dr. Facilier, or Captain Hook, and the terrible price they pay for having their wishes granted.

The books feature moral lessons on social issues kids face, including popularity versus true friendship and not compromising yourself to fit in, and how making supernatural deals isn't the way to go. 

Wizards of Mickey Graphic Novels by Disney

When a sorcerer steals a powerful magic crystal from the ancient wizard Nereus, apprentice Mickey Mouse travels to the capital of Grandhaven to reclaim it before Nereus realizes it's gone. His search leads him to the Grand Sorcerers Tournament, which he enters with two young wizards he meets along the way-Goofy and Donald Duck. Little does he know, a far more sinister plot is unfolding in the shadows of the competition...

Kingdom Keepers series by Ridley Pearson

The Kingdom Keepers series, follows the adventures of five teens who, by day, are holographic hosts in the Disney Theme Parks. By night, they battle Disney Villains to keep them from taking control of the parks, the Disney entertainment empire, and the world. 

Twisted Tales series by Various Authors

What if Aladdin had never found the lamp? What if Belle's mother was the one who cursed the beast? What if Ariel had never defeated Ursula? What if the Evil Queen had poisoned the prince? What if Anna and Elsa never knew each other? 

Twisted Tales are an anthology series of books based around alternate "what-if" spins on familiar animated Disney films written by various authors, here are currently 12 books with more books coming next year. 

Descendants series by Melissa de la Cruz

Evil tree. Bad Apple?

Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon to the Isle of the Lost―a dark and dreary place protected by a force field that makes it impossible for them to leave. Stripped of their magical powers, the villains now live in total isolation, forgotten by the world.

Mal learns from her mother, Maleficent, that the key to true darkness, the Dragon’s Eye, is located inside her scepter in the forbidden fortress on the far side of the island. The eye is cursed, and whoever retrieves it will be knocked into a deep sleep for a thousand years. But Mal has a plan to capture it. She’ll just need a little help from her “friends.” In their quest for the Dragon’s Eye, these four kids begin to realize that just because you come from an evil family tree, being good ain’t so bad.

Happy Friday, and happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Banned Books Week

It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. Sunday kicks of Banned Books week so today I'll be sharing some of my favorite banned books. 

Since it was founded in 1982, Banned Books Week has highlighted the value of free and open access to information by drawing attention to the attempts to remove books and other materials from libraries, schools, and bookstores. It spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.

In exciting news, Jason Reynolds was named the Inaugural Honorary Chair of Banned Books Week.

He said, "For young people in particular, books offer both shared and differently lived experiences that help them develop empathy and understand themselves and their world. In turn, censorship isolates us from each other by narrowing our view of the world."

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

It was a dark and stormy night.

Out of this wild night, a strange visitor comes to the Murry house and beckons Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe on a most dangerous and extraordinary adventure—one that will threaten their lives and our universe.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer so he can be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. And he almost is, until the new girl in school, Leslie Burke, outpaces him. The two become fast friends and spend most days in the woods behind Leslie's house, where they invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs. It will take the love of his family and the strength that Leslie has given him for Jess to be able to deal with his grief.

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

When James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. When James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit and crawls inside, he meets wonderful new friends--the Old-Green-Grasshopper, the dainty Ladybug, and the Centipede of the multiple boots. After years of feeling like an outsider in his aunts' house, James finally found a place where he belongs. With a snip of the stem, the peach household starts rolling away--and the adventure begins!

Harriet the Spy by Lousie Fitzhugh

Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. In her notebook, she writes down everything she knows about everyone, even her classmates and her best friends. Then Harriet loses track of her notebook, and it ends up in the wrong hands. Before she can stop them, her friends have read the always truthful, sometimes awful things she's written about each of them. Will Harriet find a way to put her life and her friendships back together?

The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

Twelve-year-old Matt is left on his own in the Maine wilderness while his father leaves to bring the rest of the family to their new settlement. When he befriends Attean, an Indian chief's grandson, he is invited to join the Beaver tribe and move north. Should Matt abandon his hopes of ever seeing his family again and go on to a new life?

*To learn more about how Books Unite Us & Censorship Divides Us, visit these websites:

Banned Books Week

ALA information about the First Amendment and Censorship

The Freedom to Read Statement

The Library Bill of Rights

Happy Friday, and happy reading!

Nonfiction Spotlight: Timelines of Everything

It's time for another Nonficiton Spotlight! This week I'll be sharing about Timelines of History: From Wooly Mammoths to World Wars from Dorling Kindersley (DK) and the Smithsonian. 

The Facts:

Title: Timelines of Everything: From Wooly Mammoths to World WarsAuthor: Dorling Kindersley, Inc and Smithsonian InstititueIllustrator: Sam FalconerPublisher: DK PublishingPublication Date: 10/30/2018

Lexile: 1130L

Target Audience: Ages 8 and up

Summary:

Explore 13 billion years of history in the comfort of your own home! Journey through time and discover how some of the world’s greatest events unfolded.

From the Big Bang all the way through to the digital age, this incredible visual encyclopedia for children shows you just about everything that has ever happened in history.

Witness history come alive as you travel through more than 130 stunning timelines. Packed with fantastic photographs and illustrations, along with informative text and fun facts. The history book covers the rise and fall of empires to ground-breaking scientific breakthroughs and inventions that changed our lives.

This educational book is an imaginative way of illustrating world history for children age 8 and over. Throughout the pages, your child will get to meet the most bloodthirsty pirates of all time and discover what happened during the storming of the Bastille. It’s a fantastic book for young readers with a natural curiosity about history around the world.

Find your place in the world and understand where you fit in. Whether you want to discover the history of cinema, fashion, aviation, or espionage. There is something for everyone in this glorious guide through global history!

The History of Everything… Ever!

This fascinating reference book tells the story of a diverse range of subjects throughout history in an easily digested graphic format! After your kids dive into this book, you'll never hear them use the words "history" and "boring" in the same sentence again.

Take a trip back in time! This history book covers the following eras:

• Prehistory: Before 3000 BCE
• The Ancient World: 3000 BCE – 500 CE
• The Medieval World: 500 – 1450
• The Age of Exploration: 1450 – 1750
• The Age of Revolution: 1750 – 1914
• The Modern World: After 1914

The Experts Say:

A Starred Review from School Library Journal, "The volume, produced by Smithsonian and DK, traces the most notable developments of each era, from dinosaurs and the dawn of humanity to the invention of the wheel to ancient Greece and Egypt, from famous empires and revolutions to modern wars, technology and politics-it's all here in capsule form. Smithsonian rarely undertakes anything small, and this hefty volume is no exception. To say that this work is an undertaking of epic proportions is an understatement-it provides time lines from prehistory (before 3,000 BCE) to what it calls the "modern world" (1914 and after). It's a lot to take in, but DK's signature design breaks the content into reasonably digestible sections. It's a beautifully illustrated work, if a bit condensed owing to the necessary brevity. A glossary describes potentially challenging words and concepts (apartheid, glasnost, tsar, paganism), and the pages are eye-catching, with notable highlights and appropriate illustrative materials."

Miss Kate Says:

If you are a visual learner and love history then this is the book for you.  Even if you don't love history, this book may push you to start loving it! Filled with beautiful pictures and illustrations, this book will walk you through Prehistory (before 3000 BCE) all the way up to The Modern World. While all timelines are history, you can learn about art, robotics, crime detection, photography, medicine, weapons and armor and the internet. 

This may not be one of those books where you read every word but you can flip to the periods of time that interest you or look through specific topics of interest. Each timeline is specific to the topic. The timeline of skyscrapers shows the height progression from 1885-2020. The photography timeline shows the events as if they're hanging up to dry in a dark room. The history of music is on notes on a music staff. With thousands of pictures working their way through history there is something everyone will enjoy!

If you'd like to read more on timelines, there are lots of other timeline books available at the library or you can check out some online resources like the World History Timelines from FactMonster or this huge list of timelines from Soft Schools. 

Fast Five Fiction: Hispanic Heritage Month

It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. Hispanic Heritage Month started this week and we'll be celebrating at BPL with various displays and programs, including a custom BPL Lotería game with both English and Spanish versions. Stop in sometime today to make a Sombrero Cookie! In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, today I'll be sharing a little bit about it's history and five middle grade books written by Latinx authors.

Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week” under President Lyndon Johnson, but it was later extended to a month during President Ronald Reagan's term in 1988. It's now celebrated each year from September 15 - October 15th. It honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries.

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

Sal & Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez

When Sal Vidon meets Gabi Real for the first time, it isn't under the best of circumstances. Sal is in the principal's office for the third time in three days, and it's still the first week of school. Gabi, student council president and editor of the school paper, is there to support her friend Yasmany, who just picked a fight with Sal. She is determined to prove that somehow, Sal planted a raw chicken in Yasmany's locker, even though nobody saw him do it and the bloody poultry has since mysteriously disappeared.

Sal prides himself on being an excellent magician, but for this sleight of hand, he relied on a talent no one would guess . . . except maybe Gabi, whose sharp eyes never miss a trick. When Gabi learns that he's capable of conjuring things much bigger than a chicken--including his dead mother--and she takes it all in stride, Sal knows that she is someone he can work with. There's only one slight problem: their manipulation of time and space could put the entire universe at risk.

A sassy entropy sweeper, a documentary about wedgies, a principal who wears a Venetian bauta mask, and heaping platefuls of Cuban food are just some of the delights that await in this mind-blowing novel gift-wrapped in love and laughter.

Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya

Marcus Vega is six feet tall, 180 pounds, and the owner of a premature mustache. When you look like this and you're only in the eighth grade, you're both a threat and a target. Marcus knows what classmates and teachers see when they look at him: a monster.

But appearances are deceiving. At home, Marcus is a devoted brother. And he finds ways to earn cash to contribute to his family’s rainy day fund. His mom works long hours and his dad walked out ten years ago—someone has to pick up the slack.

After a fight at school leaves him facing suspension, Marcus and his family decide to hit the reset button and regroup for a week in Puerto Rico. Marcus is more interested in finding his father, though, who is somewhere on the island. Through a series of misadventures that take Marcus all over Puerto Rico in search of the elusive Mr. Vega, Marcus meets a colorful cast of characters who show him the many faces of fatherhood. And he even learns a bit of Spanish along the way.

Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish is a novel about discovering home and identity in uncharted landscapes.

Charlie Hernandez & the League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo

Charlie Hernández has always been proud of his Latin American heritage. He loves the culture, the art, and especially the myths. Thanks to his abuela’s stories, Charlie possesses an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the monsters and ghouls who have spent the last five hundred years haunting the imaginations of children all across the Iberian Peninsula, as well as Central and South America. And even though his grandmother sometimes hinted that the tales might be more than mere myth, Charlie’s always been a pragmatist. Even barely out of diapers, he knew the stories were just make-believe—nothing more than intricately woven fables meant to keep little kids from misbehaving.

But when Charlie begins to experience freaky bodily manifestations—ones all too similar to those described by his grandma in his favorite legend—he is suddenly swept up in a world where the mythical beings he’s spent his entire life hearing about seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Hispanic folklore and into his life. And even stranger, they seem to know more about him than he knows about himself.

Soon, Charlie finds himself in the middle of an ancient battle between La Liga, a secret society of legendary mythological beings sworn to protect the Land of the Living, and La Mano Negra (a.k.a. the Black Hand), a cabal of evil spirits determined to rule mankind. With only the help of his lifelong crush, Violet Rey, and his grandmother’s stories to guide him, Charlie must navigate a world where monsters and brujas rule and things he couldn’t possibly imagine go bump in the night. That is, if he has any hope of discovering what’s happening to him and saving his missing parents (oh, and maybe even the world).

 

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya

Save the restaurant. Save the town. Get the girl. Make Abuela proud. Can thirteen-year-old Arturo Zamora do it all or is he in for a BIG, EPIC FAIL?

For Arturo, summertime in Miami means playing basketball until dark, sipping mango smoothies, and keeping cool under banyan trees. And maybe a few shifts as junior lunchtime dishwasher at Abuela's restaurant. Maybe. But this summer also includes Carmen, a poetry enthusiast who moves into Arturo's apartment complex and turns his stomach into a deep fryer. He almost doesn't notice the smarmy land developer who rolls into town and threatens to change it. Arturo refuses to let his family and community go down without a fight, and as he schemes with Carmen, Arturo discovers the power of poetry and protest through untold family stories and the work of José Martí.

Funny and poignant, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is the vibrant story of a family, a striking portrait of a town, and one boy's quest to save both.

Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers by Celia C. Perez

The story of four kids who form an alternative Scout troop that shakes up their sleepy Florida town.

When three very different girls find a mysterious invitation to a lavish mansion, the promise of adventure and mischief is too intriguing to pass up.

Ofelia Castillo (a budding journalist), Aster Douglas (a bookish foodie), and Cat Garcia (a rule-abiding birdwatcher) meet the kid behind the invite, Lane DiSanti, and it isn't love at first sight. But they soon bond over a shared mission to get the Floras, their local Scouts, to ditch an outdated tradition. In their quest for justice, independence, and an unforgettable summer, the girls form their own troop and find something they didn't know they needed: sisterhood.

Happy Friday & happy reading!

Fast Five Fiction: Remember September 11th

It's Friday and time for Fast Five Fiction! Each week I share five fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. As tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of September 11th it seemed fitting to share some stories of the events of September 11, 2001. If you keep reading to the bottom there's a photo filled nonfiction recommendation and a link to the website for the National Day of Service and Remembrance. May we never forget.

Click the title to be directed to the book in our catalog. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

When her fifth-grade teacher hints that a series of lessons about home and community will culminate with one big answer about two tall towers once visible outside their classroom window, Deja can't help but feel confused. She sets off on a journey of discovery, with new friends Ben and Sabeen by her side. But just as she gets closer to answering big questions about who she is, what America means, and how communities can grow (and heal), she uncovers new questions, too. Like, why does Pop get so angry when she brings up anything about the towers?

Branches of Hope: A Story about the 9/11 Survivor Tree by Ann Magee

The journey of the Callery pear tree rescued from Ground Zero and replanted ten years later is presented alongside a wordless story following a girl and her firefighter uncle who is a 9/11 hero. Includes author's notes.

Ground Zero by Alan Gratz

It's September 11, 2001. Brandon, a 9-year-old boy, goes to work for the day with his dad . . . at the World Trade Center in New York City. When two planes hit the towers, Brandon and his father are trapped inside a fiery nightmare as terror and confusion swirl around them. Can they escape -- and what will the world be like when they do?
In present-day Afghanistan, Reshmina is an 11-year-old girl who is used to growing up in the shadow of war, but she has dreams of peace and unity. When she ends up harboring a wounded young American soldier, she and her entire family are put in mortal danger. But Reshmina also learns something surprising about the roots of this endless war.

I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001 by Lauren Tarshis

On the day that shocks the world, one boy just wants to find his family.
The only thing Lucas loves more than football is his Uncle Benny, his dad's best friend at the fire department where they both work. Benny taught Lucas everything about football. So when Lucas's parents decide the sport is too dangerous and he needs to quit, Lucas has to talk to his biggest fan.So the next morning, Lucas takes the train to the city instead of the bus to school. It's a bright, beautiful day in New York. But just as Lucas arrives at his uncle's firehouse, everything changes -- and nothing will ever be the same again.

All We Have Left by Wendy Mills

A haunting and heart-wrenching story of two girls, two time periods, and the one event that changed their lives—and the world—forever.
Now:
Sixteen-year-old Jesse is used to living with the echoes of the past. Her older brother died in the September 11th attacks, and her dad has filled their home with anger and grief. When Jesse gets caught up with the wrong crowd, one momentary hate-fueled decision turns her life upside down. The only way to make amends is to face the past, starting Jesse on a journey that will reveal the truth about how her brother died.
Then:
In 2001, sixteen-year-old Alia is proud to be Muslim... it's being a teenager that she finds difficult. After being grounded for a stupid mistake, Alia is determined to show her parents that that they must respect her choices. She'll start by confronting her father at his office in downtown Manhattan, putting Alia in danger she never could have imagined. When the planes collide into the Twin Towers Alia is trapped inside one of the buildings. In the final hours she meets a boy who will change everything for her as the flames rage around them...
Interweaving stories past and present, full of heartbreak and hope, two girls come of age in an instant, learning that both hate and love have the power to reverberate into the future and beyond.

If you'd like to check out a nonfiction book to remember or discuss with your family I'd recommend: A Nation Challenged: A Visual History of 9/11 and its Aftermath, Young Readers Edition from the New York Times. Or look through the website for the National Day of Service and Remembrance.