Amira has a dream that feels simple and enormous at the same time: she wants to go to school. In her Sudanese village, she is growing older, taking on more responsibility, and hoping for a future shaped by learning.
Then violence shatters her home. Forced to flee to a refugee camp, Amira carries grief, fear, and unanswered questions with her. Life at the camp is hard, but a red pencil becomes more than a small gift. It gives her a way to imagine, express, and reach toward possibility again.
Written in verse with spare, powerful language, The Red Pencil is a deeply moving novel for older middle grade and teen readers. It explores war, displacement, education, resilience, and the quiet strength of a girl finding her voice.
9-12 Years
13-18 Years
414 Pages
N/A
/5
A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
Lillian is one hundred years old, and today is voting day. As she makes the long, steep climb up the hill to her local polling place, her journey becomes a powerful walk through her own family history. With every step, she remembers the incredible struggles her ancestors faced to secure the right to vote. She recalls her great-grandfather casting his first ballot after the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment, her parents attempting to register in a deeply divided country, and her own brave march from Selma to Montgomery. This deeply moving story shows the heavy price paid for civil rights and the fierce determination required to make your voice heard. You will walk alongside Lillian and witness the historical milestones that paved the way for equality, reminding us all why the right to vote is a precious and hard-won privilege.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
41 Pages
N/A
/5
