Inventing Victoria by Tonya Bolden
Published 1/8/19
As a young black woman in 1880s Savannah, Essie's dreams are very much at odds with her reality. Ashamed of her beginnings, but unwilling to accept the path currently available to her, Essie is trapped between the life she has and the life she wants. Until she meets a lady named Dorcas Vashon, the richest and most cultured black woman she's ever encountered. When Dorcas makes Essie an offer she can't refuse, she becomes Victoria. Transformed by a fine wardrobe, a classic education, and the rules of etiquette, Victoria is soon welcomed in the upper echelons of black society in Washington, D. C. But when the life she desires is finally within her grasp, Victoria must decide how much of herself she is truly willing to surrender.
“I liked this book because the plot was great. Essie is a compelling character. It displayed the life of black people after the Civil War.”
—Erin, age 13
“I enjoyed this book. I thought the storytelling and plot was interesting. It is believable historical fiction. The descriptions of places and people were good, and overall it was a nice and satisfying read.”
—Neya, age 13
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
Published 1/8/19
Five years. That's how long Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have lived on the road in an old school bus, criss-crossing the nation. It's also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters in a car crash. Coyote hasn't been home in all that time, but when she learns that the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished--the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box--she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state in four days...without him realizing it.
“I loved this book because every opportunity to make the book better they utilized. The story kept introducing new characters. It was interesting learning about life on a bus.”
—Avery, age 14