MIDDLE GRADE
“Nancy Drew Clue Book:
Turkey Trot Plot”
by Carolyn Keene,
illustrated by Peter Francis
The Nancy Drew Clue Books feature Nancy,
Bess and George as elementary school
students, investigating mysteries in a format
that invites readers to help solve the case.

For this year’s turkey trot race, the friends
hope to win the costume contest and get
the chocolate turkey prize. But when the
turkey goes missing, the owner of the fancy
new chocolate shop bans kids from her store
forever, unless Nancy and her friends can
find the real thief.

“If You Lived During the
Plimoth Thanksgiving”
by Chris Newell,
illustrated by Winona Nelson
In this accessible book written by a member
of the Passamaquoddy tribe, the facts and
myths surrounding relations between the
Wampanoag and English colonists and
the story of the first Thanksgiving are
thoroughly explored and examined. While
focusing on life in and around the Plimoth
colony, the story also covers the creation
of the national Thanksgiving holiday and
similar celebrations in other cultures.

several ideas for ways teen readers can also
get involved in the solutions.

“A Smart Girl’s Guide: Making a
Difference: Using Your Talents and
Passions to Change the World”
by Melissa Seymour,
illustrated by Stevie Lewis
Full of lists, quizzes, tips and inspiration,
this book is a complete guide to finding
what readers are interested in and how they
can use their talents to make a difference in
their communities and the wider world. By
breaking down the steps and providing plenty
of guidance along the way, middle-grade
students can turn the otherwise daunting
task of “changing the world” into realistic and
doable actions.

“Dear Haiti, Love Alaine”
by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
After a school presentation gone wrong ends
up with Alaine getting suspended, she’s shipped
off to Haiti—a land she knows from her
parents’ stories but has never explored herself.

While there, she spends her days volunteering
for her aunt’s charity, which helps children in
economic need in stark juxtaposition with the
estate Alaine’s family lives on. Along the way,
she gains a deeper knowledge and appreciation
for Haiti and learns more than she imagined
about her family’s past.

TEENS “It’s Your World: Get Informed,
Get Inspired & Get Going”
by Chelsea Clinton
Chelsea Clinton dives into several issues
facing the world today, including poverty,
global warming and gender equity. After
a data-filled introduction to an issue, she
shows how young people are currently
working to alleviate the problems and has
“Be a Changemaker: How to Start
Something That Matters”
by Laurie Ann Thompson
Thompson uses her experience in nonprofit
work to create a practical guide for teens who
want to give back to their communities. In
addition to inspiration and tips for helping
readers find what they want to do, Thompson
outlines items like business plans, fundraising
and legal issues they may need to know.

Discover this guide that inspires readers while
not shying away from the small details. P
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