Meet these new characters with big challenges!

I'm a big fan of Linda Sue Park, so when I saw she had a new book, I couldn't wait to read it!  You might have read some of her other middle grade fiction, like "Long Walk to Water" or the Newbery award winning "The Single Shard".  Her latest one is called "Prairie Lotus" and it's a terrific combination of historical fiction and modern activism.  Hanna is 14 and she and her dad are traveling to an expansion town in South Dakota in hopes of settling there.  They are leaving California, where although the family had a successful business there, it cost them Hanna's mother.  Hanna's mom was injured during a riot and massacre of Chinese people and never fully recovered.  Hanna and her dad are trying to build a new life.  Hanna is hoping to go to school to get a diploma, something her mother wanted badly for her.  Hanna is also a talented dressmaker and she would like to pursue that as a career.  The new town has an ally-a friend of her dad's from a long time ago, so when racism against the Chinese rears it's ugly head, there's someone in their corner.  Hanna is allowed attend school but most of the other students quit in protest.  There are snide comments made about anti-Chinese tropes but Hanna perseveres.  This is a really interesting story in so many ways.  The idea that people who aren't African American can be affected by racism is one that would surprise my students (and I can't wait to surprise them!).   The idea that you can stand up to people who are behaving in a racist way and point out their racism in a calm way would also surprise them.   The sexism displayed in the book is also pronounced (and in keeping with the times) but that would make an excellent conversation as well.  I also appreciated the notes at the end of the book, where Park describes how the story came about and her connection (and the book's) to Laura Ingalls Wilder's books.  I think the kids are going to like this story about a girl who wants to work hard, be taken seriously, and be a part of the community is just terrific.

J.L. Esplin is a brand new author (congratulations!!!).  Her new book "96 miles" is compelling dystopian fiction.  It's about John and his younger brother Stewart who are staying by themselves for a few days while their dad goes on a business trip.  Their close neighbors are keeping tabs on them to make sure they are ok but when the power goes out, they are less prepared than they had hoped.  John and Stew's dad had taken care to stock their house carefully with extra water, food and fuel for at least 6 months.  But when the power outage continued for weeks, other desperate people came looking for their supplies.  After being robbed at gun point, John and Stew decide they have to try to make it 96 miles to their friends' house through the desert.  Stew and John are bickering about this as well as how to make do with their last source of water, when two other kids show up.  They all decide to start walking.  This was such a compelling story, I read it all in one sitting.  It will remind you of some other stories of kids trying to cross deserts like "Long Walk To Water" or "Dry" by Neal Shusterman.  The characters are interesting and likable and there are some really great plot twists along the way.  I think the kids are going to be mesmerized by this one!