Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Temple Grandin is a woman who grew up dealing with the challenges of autism in a world that did not yet know about the disease. As an adult, she has used her special talents to design ways to make treatment of animals in food production more humane. This book is written in a way that kids will be able to easily read and gain some insight into both autism and the world of food production.

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World on a String

World on a String by Larry Phifer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Charlie's red balloon is his best friend. They go everywhere together and do everything together. A storm comes along and the balloon is lost, leaving Charlie to deal with loss. A great simply told story to help kids deal with loss with amazing artwork.

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Don't Feed the Boy

Don't Feed the Boy by Irene Latham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Whit knows about the zoo because his life is the zoo. He lives at the zoo that his parents run and even though they love the zoo, he does not. He is homeschooled by a private tutor so he never leaves the zoo. When he's given a summer assignment to study a species in the zoo, he chooses a girl that frequents the zoo often. Bird Girl, he eventually learns, chooses to escape to the zoo when Whit is trying to escape from the zoo. The two become friends and learn that life is not perfect on either side of the fence.

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Prairie Evers

Prairie Evers by Ellen Airgood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Prairie's family is moving from their home in rural North Carolina to a farm in New York. But when Prairie's grandma decides the move isn't for her, Prairie is forced to go to public school since her grandma has been her homeschool teacher for her whole life. Prairie has trouble fitting in and doesn't like her new home, but finally finds a friend in Ivy. The girls learn about the problems each must deal with and learn the value of friendship.

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One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carley is used to her life with her fun loving mother, though her clothes may come from the dumpster behind the Goodwill store and her meals may not be what other people would consider great meals. When she and her mother end up in the hospital as a result of mom's boyfriend's actions, Carley must go to a foster family because her injuries require much less hospital time than her mother's. The Murphy family has a mom, dad, and three kids. Carley has trouble fitting in to this "normal" family's lifestyle, where the mom makes lunch for the kids and takes her shopping at the mall for clothes. When Carley starts fitting in with her foster family, she must deal with the guilt that she feels for betraying her mom. Carley must decide what her life is supposed to be after experiencing two very different worlds.

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The Graduation of Jake Moon by Barbara Park
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wonderful realistic fiction story about a middle school age boy who must deal with living with his grandfather who has Alzheimer's disease. Jake tells the day to day of his life, things kids can relate to. But as his grandfather's struggle with Alzheimer's worsens, Jake gives up the regular kid stuff that most kids enjoy because it is easier that way.

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Buddy

Buddy by M.H. Herlong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A stray dog...a boy who wants a dog...a hurricane that destroys a city. These elements make for an awesome book! Lil T wants a dog, but his family can't afford one. When they are driving to church and hit a dog, causing the dog to have a leg amputated, Lil T sacrifices to make the dog his own. When Hurricane Katrina threatens, Lil T must leave his dog, Buddy, behind. With a few unexpected twists, this book will leave readers in tears!

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Summer of the Gypsy Moths

Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stella lives with her great aunt, Louise, while her mother is trying to get her life together. Readers learn that Stella's mom has spent most of her life trying to get it together but 12 year old Stella has hope that this time will be different than the rest. Stella isn't alone at Louise's house--Louise has also taken in another 12 year old girl as a foster child. When Louise unexpectedly passes away, the girls hide the fact she is dead so they can avoid ending up in the foster care system. They take care of the summer cottages and find ways to survive on their own. While not fully plausible (I would hope) it's still a great story!

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The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Jacob is left on John and Marta's porch with nothing more than a note pinned to him, the childless couple isn't sure what to do. Jacob can't speak so he can't help solve what's going on. An excellent story about a couple that takes care of a boy not knowing what the next day might bring.

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