Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor. Published by Penguin Group, 2011.

Sunny is almost used to being different. She lives in Nigeria but was born in New York. She looks West African but is an albino with blonde hair, white skin and hazel eyes. She is athletic but can’t go outside to play sports because of her skin. Her classmates and even her brothers make fun of her.

Now, Sunny is learning things about herself that explain some of these contradictions. She has magical abilities and is a “free agent”. Although she is powerful, she hasn’t been educated in the use of magic. She has to quickly learn (she is only twelve years old, but she is behind) shape-shifting, dimensional travel and spell casting.

The tricky thing is, she has to do all this while keeping it a secret from her family and classmates. She now has magical schoolwork to do in addition to her regular work. She has to practice her new skills and she goes with her friends on trips (some of which are pretty dangerous).

This is all very exciting until Sunny and her friends are asked to find a serial killer. A serial killer who has already passed the highest level tests which have increased his power. A serial killer the adult authorities haven’t been able to kill. A magical, powerful killer who may threaten all of their existence!

Recommended for grades 9 and up. 

Visit Nnedi Okorafor's website.

Orchards

Orchards by Holly Thompson. Published by Delacorte Press, 2011.

Missed signs of a classmate’s mental anguish. 8^th grade girls labeled as mean. A loss that is forever.

Half-Japanese, half-Jewish American Kana is being sent to Japan after the suicide of a classmate. Although she is bilingual and has met her mother’s family on previous visits, she is unhappy about this sudden plan. She doesn’t want to live with people she barely knows while attending a nearby public school during her summer vacation. Working in the family’s mikan orange orchards will fill any of Kana’s spare time.

Her family isn’t trying to punish her. But she is cut off from her friends, computers and TV. She isn’t even supposed to have her iPod (but she does). The new school is okay but she doesn’t really fit in there and doesn’t make any new friends. Her mother’s family is constantly correcting her manners and posture.

Kana finds the work in the orchards challenging. It is hot and physically demanding but she finds it a good distraction from thinking too much. She has more in common with her family than she expected and is developing good relationships with them. She gains insights about her mother and her grandfather. She knows the high emotional cost of her mother’s decision to leave Japan and move to the United States. Kana also learns about her classmates, her family and herself. Just like her family before her, she loves the rhythm of life working amidst the mikan orchards.

This realistic fiction is recommended for grades 7 and up. 


Visit author Holly Thompson's website 

Paper Covers Rock

Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard. Published by Delacorte Press, 2011.

Alex’s life at a boarding school in North Carolina is pretty boring. No girls. Teachers (mostly male) live on campus and eat with the students. There are very few chances to interact with anyone outside of school. Consequently, the boys take any opportunity to have a break in the routine.

One afternoon Alex and a couple of friends named Glenn and Thomas get drunk and decide to go swimming. Thomas doesn’t surface after diving off a rock. After unsuccessfully trying CPR, Glenn stays with Thomas while Alex runs to get help. On the other side of the lake, Miss Dovecott, emerges, but no one can save Thomas.

Alex and Glenn aren’t sure what Miss Dovecott saw, but they know they must hide the evidence of the alcohol or face expulsion. The lie about drinking leads to other lies and many complications. Alex begins to develop feelings for Miss Dovecott. At the same time, he begins to dislike and distrust Glenn. Glenn is a jerk and he blackmails Alex into setting up Miss Dovecott to get fired.

Alex’s poetic side is encouraged by Miss Dovecott and she coaches him with his writing. As he explores famous authors and works to develop his craft, he finds himself reflecting on the truth about what happened that day at the lake.

This realistic, intense novel is recommended for grades 9 and up.

Visit author Jenny Hubbard's website