Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

The book Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling is a heartfelt story about a thirteen-year-old girl named Aven Green. 
Aven lives in Kansas with her parents. Aven Green loves to tell people about how she lost her arms like losing them from fighting an alligator or losing them in a wildfire but actually she was born without them.  Her parents get a job in Arizona at Stagecoach Pass, an old theme park, so they end up moving there. Aven finds two friends, one named Connor who has Tourette's syndrome and the other named Zion who is teased for being overweight. Together the three friends find a shed that holds secrets. Aven faces her fears, helps a friend and solves a mystery that changes her life forever. I recommend this book to 4th graders and up.  

The Thing About Jellyfish

A book about adventure, The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin, is a page-turner. A New York Times Bestseller, The Thing About Jellyfish is about 12 year old Suzy Swanson and her best friend Franny. 
During the summer Franny and her family were on vacation in Maryland. While Franny was playing in the ocean she drowned.
Everyone thinks she drowned but Suzy isn't convinced because she knows that Franny was an amazing swimmer. While she is on a field trip to an aquarium Suzy sees an exhibits of many types of jellyfish including the Irukandji jelly. Once she does more and more research she is convinced that the Irukandji stung Franny. She wants to prove that Franny got stung by a jellyfish and didn't drown. So she starts planning to travel across the globe to meet someone who she hopes will give her answers. Suzy is planning this adventure on her own. Will Suzy succeed? Will Suzy get caught? I recommend this book to 5th graders and up. If you like this book make sure to look at The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin.

A Night Divided

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a breathtaking book about a 12 year old girl named Gerta.
Gerta lives on the East coast of Berlin with her two older brothers, her mother and her father. When her brother, Dominic and father leave to go to the West to find jobs, the Berlin Wall comes up one night and Gerta and her family find themselves divided. Gerta, her oldest brother, Fritz, and her mom live in the East controlled by the Soviets while Dominic and Gerta's father live in the West. One day when Gerta is walking to school she spots her father and brother, Dominic, on top of a building. Her father spots her in return and sends her signals and eventually a picture leading Gerta to a tunnel. With the help of Fritz they dig. Time is running out, at any time they can get caught and if they get caught it can lead to death. Will Gerta and Fritz finish in time? Will they finish the tunnel and reunite with their father and brother? I recommend this book to 5th graders and up.

Wishtree

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate is a book about a tree named Red. 

Red is a two hundred and sixteen year old oak tree. She is a wishtree and every May 1st people write down wishes and hang them on Red's branches. Red is home to opossums, skunks, raccoons, owls and his best friend Bongo, a crow. When a new family moves close by everything changes. The girl who is new named Samar goes over to Red one day and makes a wish. The wish is: I wish for a friend. Red wants to make this wish come true so she and Bongo do everything to make the wish come true. Will Samar's wish come true? I recommend this book to 3rd graders and up.

Shouting At The Rain

Written by the same author as Fish in a Tree, Shouting At The Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is a book about a twelve year old girl named Delsie McHill and the hardships she overcomes. 
Delsie is an orphan who lives with Grammy in Cape Cod. Delsie's mother left her when she was little and she has never met her dad. Delsie and her grandmother live in a small neighborhood with only 5 houses, well if you include the one abandoned house. Her best friend Brandy arrives for the summer and soon dumps Delsie for a new friend named Tressa. Tressa picks on Delsie and worse, Brandy doesn't do anything to stop Tressa. Brandy goes along with Tressa! When Delsie meets Ronan, a boy who is kind, brave, and loyal they become good friends. Together Delsie and Ronan uncover all different things around the Cape Cod coast. I recommend this book to 4th graders and up. 

13 and Counting

A spectacular book, 13 and Counting is the 3rd and final book in the series. 
In this book the reader will get both Kaylan and Ari's perspectives.     Ari and Kaylan are now making a list of thirteen goals to make their friendship as amazing as they can before they go to separate sleep away camps for the summer. When their list of goals reveals some issues with some of their friends they don't know what they should do.Will Kaylan and Ari help with these problems or will just pretend like they didn't even know about them? Will they finish their goals in time? I recommend this book to 4th graders and up. 

12 Before 13

A suspenseful book, 12 Before 13 by Lisa Greenwald is the second book in the series.
Ari and Kaylan are excited to start another friendship list, and some  of the goals are difficult. Ari is at jewish camp. When she meets a boy Jonah Malkin (His nickname is Golfy) from her camp she starts having a crush on him. Does he like her too? Also, Ari has made a lot of close friends at camp. When Ari returns, Kaylan is hanging out with some different girls and Ari feels left out. Ari is planning her Bat Mitzvah with her mom and is nervous for when Kaylan will meet her friends from camp. Will the girls accomplish all 12 goals before age 13? I recommend this book to 4th graders and up.  

11 Before 12

Do you have a strong friendship with someone? Interested in reading about one? Then look no farther! 11 Before 12 by Lisa Greenwald is about two girls, Ariana and Kaylan who are best friends.

Ariana (her nickname is Ari) and Kaylan decide to make a list of 11 things to do before they turn 12 because their birthdays are so close. They start in the summer and their deadline is November second. When they get into a disagreement they start working on the list by themselves, which isn't easy when you're alone, especially when you can't talk to your BFF about it. Will Ari and Kaylan finish the list in time? Will they forgive each other or will their friendship be ruined? I recommend this book to 4th graders and up.