Category Archives: Conditional Recommendation

Front Desk (#1)

by Kelly Yang

Conditional Recommendation: Chinese immigrants Mia Tang and her family work hard to run a motel and achieve the American Dream while confronting obstacles like prejudice with determination, hope, and kindness.

Age: Middle Grade
Series: Front Desk, Book One
Pages: 320
Published: 2018
Genre: Contemporary, Autobiographical Fiction

Awards: 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature

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The Dragonet Prophecy (Wings of Fire #1)

by Tui T. Sutherland

Conditional Recommendation: Told from the perspective of Clay the MudWing, the dragonets of destiny come out of hiding and enter the world only to discover it more dangerous and violent than they were expecting.

Age: Middle Grade
Series: Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy, Book One
Pages: 336
Published: 2012

Genre: Fantasy

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Where the Red Fern Grows

by Wilson Rawls

Conditional Recommendation: An engaging tale of friendship and adventure shared by a boy and his two hound dogs.

Age: Middle Grade
Series: Stand Alone
Pages: 249
Published: 1961
Genre: Adventure, Animal, Autobiographical Fiction

Awards: Massachusetts Children’s Book Award (1987), North Dakota Children’s Choice Award (1981).

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Tuesdays at the Castle (Castle Glower #1)

by Jessica Day George

Conditional Recommendation: 11-year-old Princess Celie and her siblings strive together within their magical castle to protect themselves and their kingdom.

Age: Middle Grade
Series: Castle Glower, Book One
Pages: 225
Published: 2011
Genre: Fantasy

Awards: Utah Book Award for Children’s (2011), Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award for Grades 3-6 (2013), California Young Readers Medal for Intermediate (2015), Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award (2015)

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Skybreaker (Matt Cruse #2)

by Kenneth Oppel

Conditional Recommendation: Matt Cruse’s adventures continue as he, Kate and a gypsy race to recover the ghost ship Hyperion and its treasures before falling prey to deadly high-altitude life forms and other sailors who seek its riches.

Age: Young Adult
Series: Matt Cruse, Book Two
Pages: 464
Published: 2005
Genre: Adventure

Awards: Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award for Adult Middle Reader (2006), OLA Forest of Reading Red Maple Award for Fiction (2006)

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I Will Always Write Back

by Caitlin Alifirenka, Martin Ganda, with Liz Welch

Conditional Recommendation: A young American girl and a young Zimbabwean boy become pen pals and build a friendship through letters that changes both of their lives for the better.

Age: Young Adult
Series: Stand Alone
Pages: 392
Published: 2015
Genre: Memoir

Awards: The Magnolia Award for 9-12 (2017), Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award (2018)

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The Sorcerer of the North (Ranger’s Apprentice #5)

by John Flanagan

Conditional Recommendation: Now a fully fledged ranger, Will is assigned to his own territory but it’s not long before he’s sent on a mission to unravel the mystery of the sorcerer of the north.

Age: Young Adult
Series: Ranger’s Apprentice, Book Five
Pages: 304
Published: 2008
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy

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Warriors: Into the Wild (The Prophecies Begin #1)

by Erin Hunter

Conditional Recommendation: A house cat joins a clan of wild cats and becomes a part of their traditions, opposing threats from neighboring clans, and their battle for survival.

Age: Middle Grade
Series: Warriors: The Prophecies Begin, Book One
Pages: 272
Published: 2003

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

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