Rosco. Now there’s just the cramped place he shares with his grandpa and the dreaded routine of a new school. But that’s before Travis meets Mr. McQueen, who doesn’t take “pass” for an answer—a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking the ability to read. And it’s before Travis is noticed by a girl, whose wry banter and colorful scarves belie some hard secrets of her own. Travis is learning about trust and connection that make all the difference. The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt Meet Holling Hoodhood, a seventh grader at Camillo Junior High, who must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction. Mrs. Baker doesn’t like Holling—he’s sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside of class? Plus, he’s dealing with a bully; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to appear in a play in yellow tights! As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds motivation in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace his destiny, in spite of himself. The Skin I’m In by Sharon Flake Miss Saunders, whose skin is blotched with a rare skin condition, serves as a mirror to Maleeka Madison’s struggle against the burden of low self-esteem that many black girls face when they’re darker skinned. Miss Saunders is tough, and through this, Maleeka learns to stand up to tough-talking Charlese.
BRPARENTS.COM | MAY2025
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