Shannon in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller (ISBN-13: 9780593486054 Publisher: Random House Children’s Books Publication date:, Ages 10-12)Īfter Shannon accidentally lands a lead role in the summer musical, she realizes she has bigger things to worry about than stage fright in this contemporary middle-school novel about strained friendships, the positive power of theater, and the realities of being a tween with OCD. She might have to sell her beautiful horses, starting with a dangerous chestnut that has caused tragedy in the past and injures her stableman shortly after Bea arrives.īut wrestling with her own hurts and fears, Bea understands the chestnut’s skittish distrust. She sees hope in the powerful jumper-if he can compete at horse shows, they might save the farm, and maybe Bea can even win a place in Mrs. Scott’s money and Virginia farm are drying up in a drought and the Great Depression, too. Scott to take in two stray children? Mrs. How is Bea supposed to convince the imposing Mrs. Elliott is a moving tale of the spirit of American persistence, found family, and the magical partnership between girl and horse.īea wakes to Daddy’s note in a hayloft, where he abandoned her with her little sister after the stock market crash took everything: Daddy’s job at the bank, their home, Mama’s health and life. This lyrical middle grade historical novel set during the Great Depression from award-winning author L.

Elliott (ISBN-13: 9780063219007 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Publication date:, Ages 10-12)

Transmogrify! by g. haron davis