Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Amalia longs to escape her tyrannical uncle and leave the small town of Dustwalk. When she poses as a boy and enters a shooting contest at the pistol pit, she believes she is on the road to freedom. However, events don’t go as she plans. Instead, she meets Jin and together they end up running from the Sultan’s soldiers. As they travel together, Amalia learns more about her kingdom and where she belongs.

In this cross between a middle eastern and wild west fantasy, Hamilton introduces an intriguing cast of characters and an interesting new world. Amalia and Jin are an exciting team in a setting both familiar and original. Rebel of the Sands is a compelling read for lovers of the gunslingers of the wild west or the djinni of the Arabian Nights.

Recommended ages--12 and up

Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson

Ms. Bixby is ‘one of the good ones’--a teacher who loves and inspires her students and makes learning fun. But then she announces to her class she has to leave the year early for cancer treatment. Even worse, her treatment is moved forward and the class will miss their last day celebration. Topher, Brand, and Steve won’t stand for it. They make a plan to give Ms. Bixby her dream last day, even if it means skipping school and traveling to the hospital to do it.

Told alternately through Topher, Brand, and Steve’s perspectives, the reader gets a clearer view of Ms. Bixby and what she really means to these students. This story is funny, heartbreaking, and inspiring all at once. A tribute to those teachers that give their hearts and touch their students in return. The characters are wonderful, but the content is definitely designed for older middle grade readers.

Recommended ages--10 and up

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

It’s true. I made it through high school, college, and years of working with children’s and young adult literature without reading The Outsiders. Now I finally understand why it has been a classic studied consistently for nearly fifty years. The voices of Hinton’s characters are so real and true that they continue to speak to kids from all generations. Ponyboy’s courage, loyalty, and compassion in the midst of a world of violence will always be inspiring. Dally will always be gallant in spite of being a criminal. Johnny will always be a flawed hero. The circumstances of the world change, but young people still recognize the value of perseverance and friendship. I would add this book to my list of ‘must reads’.

Ponyboy Curtis is caught in the middle. He is one of the ‘greasers’ living on the poor side of town. They are at odds with the Socs, a gang of rich kids that beat up greasers for fun. But Ponyboy can see both sides--the plight of the greasers and the pain of the Socs. Pony can hold his own in a fight, but he doesn’t really want to be fighting. But one night things go too far. Can Ponyboy hold on to his compassion when so much violence fills his world?

Recommended ages--12 and up