by Avi
Genre: Historical Fiction/AR 4.5
An ALA Notable Book
At 9 years old, Benjamin was sent away to school to fulfill the promise of his dying mother and the promise of an intellectual mind that all in the family (except Ben) believe sets him apart from the rest. Benjamin, however, believes he can do great things on the farm with his family. He proves it when his father gets sick and he convinces his brother and sister to help him build a barn that he believes will make his father want to live again.
by Jennifer Armstrong
Genre: Historical Fiction/AR 5.1
Susan and her parents have moved to the prairie to stake their claim. Living in a sodhouse so depresses her mother with her memories of the fine homes and luxuries she once had in Ohio. It is up to Susan and her father to help her mother realize the beauty and splendor of the open plains. It's a hard task because the open fields can grip even Susan with the loneliness. This is a great book for those who love the Little House series.
by William H. Armstrong
Genre: Historical Fiction/AR 5.3
Newbery Award
This is the story of a sharecropper family. The book takes its title from the name of the father's hound dog, the only character with a name in the book. When the boy's father is taken to jail for stealing food to feed his family, Sounder tries to follow and receives what should have been a deadly shot to the head. Sounder eventually recovers and returns to the family, but he has lost his powerful voice. The boy goes in search of his father every year trying to find where they have sent him to work off his sentence. The struggle for survival, sacrifices made to obtain an education and reunite a family, and the oppressive prejudice make this an emotionally difficult book to read. Read it anyway. You won't be sorry.
