樱桃视频

Twelve-year-old Ana wants to be a writer. She writes stories and poems inspired by the bittersweetness and beauty of her life in the Dominican Republic. Her mother worries for her, and warns her that silence is safer, that writers have died for using words that challenge the government. When tragedy comes to Ana鈥檚 family, she learns how powerful words are. This is a wonderful book to read aloud because of the beauty of the language and because there are many opportunities in the book to inspire conversation with your child about growing up, social justice, and the love of family.

Perfect for: Kids with a social conscience.

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When Stargirl 鈥� as she currently calls herself 鈥� arrives at Mica High, she is unlike anyone else. Homeschooled until she was 15, Stargirl wears pioneer dresses, sings “Happy Birthday” to students in the lunchroom while strumming a ukulele, and carries around a pet rat. At first the students stare and whisper, then assimilate her into their peer groups when they consider her entertaining. Eventually, however, everyone begins to shun her for her differences. Her boyfriend, Leo, experiences firsthand the perils of true nonconformity and finds he can’t endure the pressures of being different. Although Jerry Spinelli’s Stargirl character may be an exaggeration, the essence of his story rings true and will encourage readers to give thought to tolerance and the price of popularity.

Perfect for: Kids who are different.

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Malcom’s parents are innkeepers in a parallel-universe version of England, one that is populated with humans and their talking spirit-companion daemons and ruled by a repressive religious regime. When he’s not waiting tables at the inn, Malcom runs errands for the nuns at the nearby priory, who need more help than ever now that they’ve taken in a baby girl. When mysterious gossip hints at a dangerous threat and a spy for the Resistance turns up dead, 11-year old Malcom finds himself on a desperate canoe ride in a biblical flood to protect the baby everyone is looking for. Fans of Pullman鈥檚 His Dark Materials series will want to know that this baby is Lyra Belaqua, whose fate is at the center of that trilogy. Parents will want to know that this book is darker than His Dark Materials and contains reference to sexual violence.

Perfect for: Fans of the His Dark Materials series.

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Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban, on a bus in Pakistan, when she was 15 years old, because she advocated for girls鈥� education. She survived. This inspirational autobiography describes how Malala鈥檚 home in the beautiful Swat Valley was taken over by extremists, portrays her courageous, tight-knit and supportive family, and depicts how a single committed individual can create positive change in the world. Malala became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Her charismatic personality infuses the book with compassion, humility, wit, and wisdom. Her bravery is clear but unassuming.

Perfect for: Kids with I-want-to-save-the-world idealism, those interested in Middle Eastern turmoil, those interested in modern history, and anyone who enjoys family adventures.

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The hook: Beginning with The Hunger Games, this three-book series follows Katniss Everdeen, a reluctant hero in a post-apocalyptic future. Each year, as penance for past rebellion against the Capital, citizens of the 12 districts of Panem must choose two children to fight to the death in the televised Hunger Games. When Katniss鈥檚 little sister, Prim, is chosen, Katniss volunteers to take her place. Her bravery sets off a chain of events that will determine the future of Panem. A taut storyline and engaging characters make this series hard to put down for tween and teen readers, though parents should know the books contain mature themes and violence.

Want to see the movie? Check out the four film adaptations, starting with The Hunger Games, which closely follow the plot of the trilogy.

Perfect for: Tweens and teens who admire strong female characters.

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It鈥檚 1942. Bruno is a naive 9-year-old raised in a privileged Berlin household. Bruno鈥檚 father is a commandant in Hitler鈥檚 army. When the family moves within 50 feet of Auschwitz, Bruno is curious about the fence he can see from his bedroom window. He doesn鈥檛 know what horrors are happening on the other side of the fence, or what his father鈥檚 role is. In his explorations, he befriends Shmuel, a boy in the camp, and their friendship comes to a tragic end. For sixth graders who are familiar with the historical details of the Holocaust, this book is a powerful addition to Holocaust fiction, and an example of the multiple perspectives a narrative can take — in this case, the perspective of a young bystander.

Want to see the movie? The 2008 adaptation merits its PG-13 rating for the mature content depicting life in a concentration camp.

Perfect for: Kids who like historical fiction.

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After a car accident, 18-year-old Bruce Wayne has to do community service at Arkham Asylum, where he becomes fascinated by a beautiful, mysterious prisoner. Madeleine is the leader of the Nightwalkers, a gang that is killing Gotham City鈥檚 richest residents. When a riot breaks out and Madeleine escapes, Bruce and his high school friends, with the help of some cool WayneTech gadgets, must save the city. A short, fun read, this book is a YA coming-of-age follow-up to Batman鈥檚 dark origin story.

Perfect for: Kids who love comic books and superheroes.

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Julia鈥檚 older sister Olga is the 鈥減erfect Mexican daughter鈥� to their immigrant parents. She鈥檚 the opposite of Julia, who is angry and defiant, and often in trouble. The book begins just after Olga has been killed in a tragic accident. Julia, who wants to move away and go to college, struggles with depression and her family鈥檚 expectations. Some of the elements of Julia鈥檚 story, including losing her virginity and attempting suicide, may be intense for sensitive readers.

Perfect for: Kids who feel like they don鈥檛 fit in.

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Thomas wakes up in an elevator, unable to remember anything except his name. He鈥檚 trapped in a maze with a group of teenage boys. They鈥檙e the subjects of a creepy experiment in which the Creators subject the boys to violent trials, killing some of them. Thomas becomes a 鈥渕aze runner鈥� whose job is to scout a way out. This is the first book in an action-packed dystopian trilogy that will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games.

Want to see the movie? The action-packed adaptation from 2014 is great, but may be a bit scary for some kids.

Perfect for: Kids who like dystopian thrillers.

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The hook: In a desperate attempt to win a century-long war with an alien race, Earth breeds genetically modified geniuses to train as child soldiers. Ten-year-old Ender Wiggins excels at the simulated tactical war games used in military training. But when he resists his role in saving the human race, the adults must decide how far to push him. This riveting series raises compelling questions about empathy and morality and is a good gateway to reading for pleasure, particularly for older tween boys who would rather be playing video games. Parents should note that the books contain violence, bullying, and some mild profanity.

Want to see the movie? The 2013 film starring Harrison Ford adapts the futuristic sci-fi plot of the first book to the big screen.

Perfect for: Video game lovers.

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Ever since 15-year-old Xiomara Batista鈥檚 body began to change, she has been the target of harassment and unwanted attention in her Harlem neighborhood. At home, her devoutly religious mother is abusive and repressive. When Xiomara falls for a boy in her class, her only outlet for her explosive feelings is writing verses she chants to herself when she鈥檚 feeling unheard. Then her English teacher suggests she join the school鈥檚 slam poetry club, where she gets the chance to perform her poems. This book-in-verse by an award-winning slam poet is about finding your voice and the power of words. It鈥檚 also a hard and emotionally raw exploration of family, faith, and love.

Perfect for: Kids experiencing any stage of puberty.

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