The Thingamabob by Il Sung Na

A cute, short little story about an elephant who finds an object and can't figure out what it is used for until it rains. Although short, and lacking much development, the story is cute and the illustrations are unique. The text is large and simple, enough that an early reader could attempt it with some parental help.

-Jenny

Anything But Typical by Nora Baskin

A facinating look into the minds of autistic children. Written from the point of view of Jason, an austic 12 year old, who knows he is different, and understands how hard it is for others to accept that. The one place Jason feels normal and even looked up to is on an online forum for young writers, where he meets Rebecca, a writer like him, but a "nuerotypical."

Not many people understand what Autism is and very few of us understand what an Autistic child goes through in everyday life. This is a great book for understanding what that trouble might be. The reader can understand how Jason feels about his friends and family, but they can also see how hard it is for his friends and family to have that same understanding.

It is also a great read for perspective writers. Writing is a passion for Jason and Anything But Typical spends a great deal of time on the writing process.

-Jenny

Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers

Inspiring and unique. A goosebump inducing book! Looking Like Me encourages you to define yourself by all the things you are, a brother, sister, runner, dancer, writer, or reader. The illustrations are wild, a mixture of photography and paper cutouts of odd and whimsical things with a slight jazzy feel to it. The language is very simple with a simple rhyming pattern, but it isn't just simple type like most books but art unto itself. Different fonts, styles, colors, and placement, make reading it even more engaging and eye grabbing to kids. Very neat and artistic book. A celebration to the self.

-Jenny

The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

A beautiful version of the classic Aesop's fable. The illustrations are vibrant, detailed, and cover the entire page. Although there are no words in this book, it encourages the imagination of kids to fill in the story for themselves. Especially since most people know this story already, limiting the words allows for more focus to be on the illustrations and the action happening on the page.

-Jenny

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

A future in the aftermath of a pro-life, pro-choice war. The outcome: unwinding. Children must be kept until the age of 16, when the parents have the option to donate all their body parts to people in need of them. In this way, the children aren't being thrown away or killed, but kept alive as the rest of society uses their parts.

Unwind takes the point of view of three different kids sentenced to be unwound, but for different reasons. Connor is a trouble maker and his parents can no longer tolerate him. Risa is part of an over crowded orphanage. And Lev is a religious sacrafice, who has lived his entire life knowing he will be unwound when he comes of age. Together, the three run away and hide, in hopes that they will not be found until they reach 18, when they can no longer be unwound.

A classic dystopian novel that covers many of our societies issues from abortion, to our "throw away" lifestyle, to suicide bombing. And as different and unrelated as those topics may seem, Shusterman relates them beautifully without seeming to rant or preach about any of the topics. A great read, but another story you must take with a grain of salt.

-Jenny

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson

After being in a coma for a year, Jenna Fox no longer remembers anything of her past, let alone her own beliefs and feelings before the "accident." Her family seems supportive enough trying to help her regain her memory, but the also seem a bit distant, especially her grandmother. As Jenna pieces together her own identity, she learns more about her own family, and the world she has woken up into.

An intriguing, futuristic novel about what makes us human, and the limits science might face in the future. I wouldn't say a dystopian novel, but definitely a novel about the dangers of the future if science goes unchecked. You can't really classify Jenna as a physically strong female character, but in her ambition and determination despite her ailments, Jenna stands out.

-Jenny

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

A surprisingly realistic and suspenseful adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat. However, Hunger Games is definitely not one for the weak of heart. In a future where America has fallen and an all controlling government has taken over the few remaining districts that survive, the Hunger Games is the one thing that unites them all. A brutal televised event where two children from each district battle to the death in a carefully controlled arena until only one remains. So be prepared for some bloodshed and tragedy. If these traits are fine with you, the Hunger Games will be a great read! It is a great dystopian novel with a strong female lead and of course, the secondary love plot. Have the sequal Catching Fire on hand though, the ending will force you to pick it up immediately. :)

-Jenny