Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

I can’t rave enough about Gary D. Schmidt. He exposes the pain of human frailty, but balances it perfectly with the beauty of human strength and kindness. In Okay for Now it is the summer of 1968 and Doug Swieteck and his family move to Marysville, New York. Doug struggles with an abusive father, a delinquent older brother, and a judgmental community in ‘stupid Marysville.’ But as Doug continues his Saturday grocery deliveries, he begins to see value and even encouragement and love in his new hometown. Told from Doug’s endearing ‘skinny thug’ point of view, Okay for Now is a powerful coming of age story that will touch all ages. Readers will laugh, cry, and even scream along with Doug through adventures large and small. This is a wonderful audio book, but reads just as beautifully on your own. One of my new favorites! Recommended ages--10 and up

Secrets in the Snow by Michaela MacColl

This lighthearted mystery stars Jane Austen as the main character rather than the author. MacColl combines bits of Jane Austen’s actual life history with a story of her own imagining to give more life to the well-loved author. This is a fun story and an interesting perception of Jane’s life. Each chapter also starts with an Austen quote that ties the fictional story to Austen’s novels. Secrets in the Snow is an entertaining read for Austen lovers. The mystery itself is a little weak, but the recreation of Austen’s world is well done and makes up for what the plot lacks. So if you love Jane Austen, try this author’s attempt to make her a character like she wrote about. Recommended ages--12 and up.

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

In Echo, Pam Muñoz Ryan shares three different stories of young people during World War II. Friedrich battles to save himself and his family from the influence of Hitler in Germany. As an orphan in struggling America, Mike fights to stay with his brother Frankie. Ivy faces the pain of prejudice and division that comes in wartime. The three stories are unique, but masterfully intertwined. Echo is excellent historical fiction with a hint of magic. The characters and their stories are as perfectly harmonized as the music they love. As usual, Pam MuñozRyan tackles difficult and somewhat dark subjects, but leaves her readers with hope and inspiration. This thought-provoking book is a good introduction to World War II for tween readers or more mature children. Recommended ages--11 and up