Eight Cousins

Rose is a dainty 13-yr. orphan under the care of two coddling aunts. Then Uncle Alex, her true legal guardian, comes back from his travels around the world. Uncle Alex is appalled by Rose's pale demeanor and quiet manners. He assumes care and attempts to nurture her into a strong, healthy, educated young woman. His approach entails adventures to far away places and allowing Rose to play with her seven energetic male "cousins" (not blood related).  Uncle Alex's views on raising women seem outlandish to Rose's Aunts, but Rose begins to shine under new regimen.

n.

Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope

March 10th is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Ana's story is speaks directly to women, particularly the rising generation. Ana was born with HIV, an odd thing for a child to wrap their mind around. Jenna Bush Hager  (President Bush's daughter) retells Ana's narrative of growing up as an orphan in Latin America, sexual and physical abuse, teenage pregnancy, and the unforeseen hope which emerged as a result. Ana's Story brings home the AIDS pandemic while empowering readers with the courage to live positively regardless of the circumstances. 

Maniac Magee

He's a kid on the run. This orphan-turned-miracle-worker leaves no life untouched, especially the racially divided community in small town America. I like the way Publishers Weekly reviewed it:

Publishers Weekly

In this modern-day tall tale, Spinelli ( Dump Days ; Jason and Marceline ) presents a humorous yet poignant look at the issue of race relations, a rare topic for a work aimed at middle readers. Orphaned as an infant, Jerry Magee is reared by his feuding aunt and uncle until he runs away at age eight. He finds his way to Two Mills, Pa., where the legend of ``Maniac'' Magee begins after he scores major upsets against Brian Denehy, the star high school football player, and Little League tough guy, John McNab. In racially divided Two Mills, the Beales, a black family, take Maniac in, but despite his local fame, community pressure forces him out and he returns to living at the zoo. Park groundskeeper Grayson next cares for the boy, but the old man dies and Maniac moves into the squalid home of the McNabs, who are convinced a race war is imminent. After a showdown with his nemesis, Mars Bar, Maniac bridges the gap between the two sides of town and finally finds a home. Full of snappy street-talk cadences, this off-the-wall yarn will give readers of all colors plenty of food for thought. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)

Reading Level from Lexile: 0820L

The Boxcar Children #1

“No one knew them.

 No one knew where they had come from” (Chandler Warner, 1942, p.7).

Now that's how you begin a story. Gertrude Chandler Warner pulls you into the life of one family of four orphans: two brothers and two sisters. Initially homeless, the kids miraculously find shelter in an old red boxcar. Situated in the midst of the woods, these resourceful children make a comfortable living for themselves. Then the unforeseen strikes, threatening to unravel the world which they worked so hard to weave together.

My eight year old imagination was captivated by the adventures of the Boxcar children. I don't know where I found this book, but I was an instant fan. Even though my West African upbringing differed considerably from that of the protagonists, I was able to relate to the themes of orphan-hood, adoption, being a stranger, and family. The Boxcar is just the beginning, meant to introduce Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. The razor sharp children go on to solve dozens of mysteries, such as The ---

                                              actually, you just GO READ about it for yourself!

Warner, G. C. (1977).The boxcar children. Chicago: Albert Whitman.

Age Range:7 to 11 Reading Level from Lexile: 0490L