Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Julia Marks wouldn’t call herself short, because she hates that word and refuses to use it. She also hates that everyone sees her that way and makes her feel like she doesn’t fit in. Things only get worse when Julia’s mother forces her to audition for the local theater’s production of The Wizard of Oz. How can she be a Munchkin when she can’t sing or dance?

As Julia spends more time with the theater company, she begins to see the world and her place in it differently. Julia makes some interesting new friends. They teach her that being herself and even being different can be a good thing. Julia is an adorable narrator and her view of life is heartwarming. Short is a perfect story for all theater lovers as well as anyone who might not feel like they fit in. It is a perfect story for tweens, but could be enjoyed by all ages.

Recommended ages--9 and up

Soundless by Richelle Mead

Fei lives in a small town at the top of a mountain where for generations no one has been able to hear. Trapped by a rockslide with no fertile land available, the villagers rely on food delivered daily by a zipline. They receive food in exchange for precious metals they mine from the mountain. However, now the villagers are beginning to lose their sight as well as their hearing and mining is more difficult. With fewer metals to send down the mountain, there is less food and starvation seems imminent.

When one night Fei wakes to a horrible noise, her sense of hearing is restored. Sound becomes her weapon and Fei sets off on a journey to save her people. Fei’s experience documents the interesting psychological aspects of regaining a lost sense. The story also explores the ideas of prejudice and exploitation. Although the character building is a little weak, the story has an interesting twist and remains age appropriate.

Recommended ages--11 and up

Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Starting two days before September 11, this story follows the lives of four kids in different parts of the country. Each have their own story and their own struggles. Sergio, living in Brooklyn, is angry with his absent father. Will misses his father recently killed in an accident. As a Muslim in a new school, Naheed feels self-conscious about her head scarf. Aimee misses her mother who has to fly to New York on business. The events of September 11, will tie these children together in a way they never expected.

Baskin’s characters and their lives will give readers insight into a variety of situations. The story deals with some hard issues, but it is a gentle look at this point in history that stays appropriate for children. My only suggestion would be to make sure young readers have some background about the events and its significance. For those of us who lived it, the significance is obvious, but young readers might need additional information to process the whole story.

Recommended ages--9 and up