Kids Book Index
Deborah Ellis
Ten short stories introduce young people in a range of places, including comfortable middle-class homes and refugee detention centers. Each character is at the point of turning eleven when a personal choice must be made. The collection treats these choices as steps toward the future and says they change the children in ways that may be either large or small.
This book appears on 1 reading list across 1 edition.
Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster HunterZoraida CórdovaAfter an Orü puma kills their father, Valentina and her two siblings rescue an Orü egg. The egg faces destruction from monster hunters, and its fate threatens wider chaos. Valentina must act before the hunters do, alongside her siblings. The story follows a family confronting grief while protecting a mythical creature and its egg from people determined to destroy it.Nine to TwelveWord Count 72253On the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details
ThirstVarsha BajajMinni lives in a poor area of Mumbai where communal water taps operate only for a few hours each day and people wait in long lines. Severe shortages worsen when thieves steal water, a crime Minni sees one night. At the high-rise where she has begun working, she encounters plentiful running water and a rooftop pool. While studying for exams and handling family responsibilities, Minni investigates the theft ring affecting her neighborhood.Nine to TwelveLexile Text Measure 700LATOS Book Level 4.4On the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details
StormNicola SkinnerFrankie’s ghost remains angrily bound to her family home, which has become a tourist attraction. She discovers that she can hurl objects, but this ability draws the attention of a threatening force. The story follows Frankie as she is stuck in the place that was once her home and deals with the consequences of her new power. It is a ghost story centered on a haunting, a family house, and a dangerous source drawn to Frankie’s actions.Nine to TwelveOn the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details