Fiction

Since her mother died, twelve-year-old Lily has struggled to care for her severely autistic half-brother, Adam, in their Miami home, but she is frustrated and angry because her oncologist step-father, Don, expects her to devote her time to Adam, and is unwilling to admit that Adam needs professional help. When Adam bonds with a young dolphin with cancer Lily is confronted with another dilemma: should her family's happiness take precedence over the dolphin's need for freedom?

Maya lives and breathes musicals. When her chance to finally be a part of the summer musical program at the community theater comes up, Maya is convinced she will get the lead. After all, who knows The Drowsy Chaperone better than she does? However, things don't turn out exactly the way Maya's planned, and the summer turns out to be jam-packed with problems: dealing with her best friend's move, her parents' busy jobs, and—since her autism diagnosis—the ongoing puzzle of how to be Maya in Public.

Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public" — in order to head off David's embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?

The "Spy School" series by Stuart Gibbs follows Ben Ripley, a seemingly ordinary middle schooler, who is recruited into a secret CIA spy academy, facing challenges, espionage, and personal growth as he navigates the world of espionage. 

The main idea of the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke revolves around the magic of books and the power of reading, where characters from stories can come to life, and a young girl, Meggie, discovers her own unique abilities to navigate this fantastical world. 

Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she's been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules--like "no making waves," "avoid eating in public," and "don't move so fast that your body jiggles." And she's found her safe space--her swimming pool--where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. It's also where she can get away from her pushy mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie's weight will motivate her to diet.

A new coach's flagrant racism, a teammate's endless sabotage, and local media interest make it difficult for Andi Carillo and Jeff Michaels to keep both of their basketball teams on track.

During a massive blackout in rural Nevada, two brothers struggle to survive without their self-reliance-obsessed dad and without enough water cross the desert for help.

Thirteen-year-old Nita, tormented by a gang of bullies because she will not fight back, finds the help she needs in a library book on wizardry which guides her into another dimension.

Considered by many to be mentally challenged, a brilliant, impatient fifth-grader with cerebral palsy discovers a technological device that will allow her to speak for the first time.