Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

When Hanna and her father arrive in LaForge, South Dakota, Hanna hopes to finally go to school and get her Diploma like her mother always dreamed for her. Hanna also hopes to become a dressmaker in the shop she and her father are opening on Main Street. The main thing standing in the way of her dreams is that she is half-Chinese. This wasn’t so strange in Los Angeles where she came from, but in 1880 Dakota Territory she is the only one of her kind. And unfortunately, many people are opposed to what they consider different.

Hanna is a wonderful, spunky and determined character. Her struggle is painful at times, but her strength of will is inspiring. This is a well-crafted story and Linda Sue Park does excellent work putting the Chinese perspective into the Laura Ingalls Wilder setting that she loved as a child.

Recommended ages–10-14 years old

Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

Iris is a brilliant twelve-year-old who was born deaf. Her hearing classmates don’t understand her and even the ones who try to communicate with her don’t do it very well. In most cases, Iris escapes into her work with old radios, letting her fascination with old electronics drown out her loneliness. When her science teacher at school talks about Blue 55, a whale who sings a song no other whales understand, Iris feels a kinship with him. She is determined to find a way to sing back to Blue 55 and let him know he is heard.

What a fun delve into deaf culture, radio electronics, and marine biology all wrapped up in an intriguing story with a strong female lead character. This one has been on my to-read list for a while and I definitely understand the attention it has received. It covers so many different themes in a wonderful and sensitive way. The intended audience is tweens and young teens, but it is a great book for so many readers.

Recommended ages–all

Alone by Megan E. Freeman

When twelve-year-old Maddie plans a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she ends up with a bigger disaster than she ever could have imagined. After both friends cancel, Maddie stays at her grandparents’ empty apartment and wakes up to a deserted town. Due to an “imminent threat,” everyone is evacuated to an unknown distant location, but Maddie is left behind. With only the companionship of the neighbor’s rottweiler, George, Maddie has to find shelter, resources, and everything to survive on her own.

Written in verse, Alone deals with the trials of survival, but also the psychological trauma of growing up on your own. Maddie’s experience is difficult and terrifying, but she shows true intelligence and strength of spirit. Reading about her experience made me grateful for everyday conveniences as well as relationships. A captivating and intense look at survival.

Recommended ages–11-14 years old