Grounded The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison*

Co-created by Ruth Virkus
While holding true to the original Rapunzel story, Ms. Morrison adds dimension to the characters and explores answers to "why".
Why would a witch take children so she can remain youthful?
Why would Jack make a bargain with a giantess?
Why would Rapunzel be content in her tower all of these years?

Rapunzel loves witch and all that she provides for her.   Then when Jack invades her tower (no prince or valiant warrior has been able to), she is appalled by his accusations against witch.  She and Jack set out on an adventure across the land of Tyme where Rapunzel discovers that the land dwellers are not all evil and ordinary life can be magical.
Yet she remains loyal to Witch, urgently wanting to return to the tower to save her from Geguul.  Can she trust Witch or will she erased all of Rapunzel's adventure memories?
Very exciting!  Will appeal to girls who love adventure (boys will even like this story too, I think.).
*Highly recommend for junior high and older.
-Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level: Y (6th grade)
Warning: Rapunzel is very naive.  She does not understand the concept of parents and them having children together.  The author states that Jack has to explain it to her  (and is quite embarrassed as he tries to educate her!).  He also has to explain what happens at childbirth (the labor, how a child comes into the world). So if the parent has not explained reproduction yet, the reader may be asking questions.
This book also makes the reader feel sorry for witch who has done so much evil.  A good discussion about forgiveness and justice could ensue the reading of this book.
Book #2-Disenchanted: The Trials of Cinderella was published this past Oct (2016).

All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Berg*

A Novel in Verse
Wow.  A powerful novel.
I read this book in basically one sitting.
Matt was ten  years old when his mother sent him with American soldiers to escape war-torn Vietnam.  In the United States he is adopted by two loving parents.  Yet he cannot forget the horror of Vietnam, his mother and his younger brother.
As his adoptive parents continue to love him and reach his inner-most parts, baseball, piano and veterans bring forth his secrets and ultimately provide healing.
Beautiful language.  Each word has been carefully selected to make a lasting impression.
Points to discuss: prejudice, war/Vietnam, adoption, guilt
Guided Reading Level: Y (6th and up)
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.2
**Highly, highly recommend.
The library labeled this book "young adult".

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen*

Cole Matthews should be in jail for beating Peter Driscal so severely that Peter has slight brain damage.  Yet the Circle Justice, based on the Native American traditions to bring healing for the perpetrator, the victim, and the community, has given him an opportunity to change by banishing him to a remote Alaskan island.  On this island he is let go of his anger, take responsibility for his actions and realize that once something is done, there are eternal consequences.  But Cole is a con and deceives the Circle Justice.  He does not want to change and plans his escape from the island.
Then he encounters Spirit Bear (a huge white bear only known to exist off the coast of British Columbia).  The Spirit Bear is not afraid of him.  How dare the bear not be afraid of Cole Matthews!  Cole, of course, with his anger and rage, attacks the bear.  The bear leaves him for dead.  As he wallows in mud and endures a raging thunderstorm, the storm within his soul rages and slowly dissipates as he faces his anger, loneliness and death.
A very compelling book.  Action packed.  Although Mr. Mikaelsen exposes a Cole's feelings and shares his transformation over a span of a year, he knows how to keep the story moving and makes each word count.  Reluctant older readers will be drawn into the book.
*Highly recommend for teenage readers (although the reading level is fifth grade, the subject manner is not appropriate for this age group.).
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.4
Guided Reading Level: Y (6th grade and older)
Warnings: Very violent and descriptive at times (Cole beating up Peter; the bear mauling; Peter attacking Cole at the end of the book), Cole's angry thoughts are shocking. Cole's parents are alcoholics. Cole's father abused him physically.  Word "d" is used a couple of times.
This book was highly recommended in Dr. Steven Layne's book In Defense of Read-Aloud  Sustaining Best Practices.
Strategies: asking questions, synthesizing, analyzing characters

One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt*

Carley, twelve years old, finds herself living in a foster home, the Murphys.  Her own mother is in the hospital recovering from an abusive husband (Carley's stepfather). As Carley processes the fact that her own mother held her foot so the stepfather could beat her, her toughness cannot overcome the kindness Mrs. Murphy pours on her each day.
Carley learns to take two worlds-her mother's world where being tough is supreme-and the Murphys where love and stability abound- and create an unique one for herself.
A very real portrayal of fostering families and the challenge they and the foster child may face.
I wanted the book to end differently . . .but Ms. Hunt presented an authentic picture of foster care.

Warning/Points to discuss: The scene where the stepfather beats Carley and her mother is described; lying; the youngest Murphy child has a seizure and it is described

*Highly recommend.

Guided Reading Level: Y (above 6th grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 5th

I am looking forward to Ms. Hunt's new book Fish in a Tree about a girl who has dyslexia.