Rochester School District
Book Shelf
The American Southwest in children's literature:

Treasures in the Dust by Tracey Porter (HarperCollins-1997) Ages 10 and up This historical novel traces the relationship between two girls who are living in Oklahoma during the Great Depression. One Girl's family stays in Oklahoma; the other moves to California.

Kokopelli's Flute by Will Hobbs (Atheneum-1995) Ages 10 and up
Set in Northern New Mexico, this innovative novel uses a magical bone flute to connect a modern boy to the ancient pueblo people who once inhabited this area.
 

My Land Sings: Stories from the Rio Grande by Rudolf Anya (Morrow Junior Book-1999) Ages 10 and up
The 10 stories collected in this volume take place in the Southwest and draw on Hispanic or Native American folklore.
 

Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell (Houghton-Mifflin-1970) Ages 10 and up
Told from the perspective of a Navaho girl, this historical novel recounts the events of 1864 when the United States government forced the Navaho people off their lands and relocated them to Fort Summer. Named a Newbury Honor Book.


Sports Books for Students:

Blue Star Rapture by James W. Bennett Ages 15 and up
The protagonist of this novel is a good student and decent basketball who is trying to guide his friend, a great player with low grades towards a suitable college. It features children who struggle with the exploitation of race and athletes, child abuse, single parenting and depression among teenagers.

Spike It by Matt Christopher Ages 9-12
Jane's father has announced that he is going to marry a woman who has a teenage daughter of her own. Jane begins to jealously protect her father and home life after her stepsister becomes a competing star on her volleyball team.

Second Stringer by Thomas Dygard Ages 12 and up
Kevin Taylor gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he replaces the injured star quarterback of the high school football team. This action-packed page-turner also incorporates conflict resolution and personal growth themes as Kevin learns to trust himself.


Russell Freedman:  Telling the Lives of Leaders
 
In a time when there is growing cynicism for our leaders, children see figures that they admire suddenly become involved in controversies that question their integrity, fairness and use of power.  Newbury award winning author, Russell Freedman explores the roles of leaders in many of his biographies.
 
Lincoln: A Photobiography (Clarion 1989) Ages 11-13
Freedman sought to show Lincoln as a complex and believable person who was concealed behind layers of "historical makeup."

Indian Chiefs (Holiday House 1987) Ages 9-12
Freedman recounts the lives of six men who fought for the rights of their people against the exploitation's of Europeans.

Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor (Clarion 1994)
Ages 9-12
Freedman tells of the life and work of a photographer who used his camera to expose the exploitation of child workers.  Hine photographed children working in cotton mills, factories, and coal mines.
 

 
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