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It’s not really winter anymore, but it’s not spring either. I’m seven-years-old and in second grade. Mrs. Head is my teacher. She taught us how to color really pretty with crayons, and we made plaques with Indian corn. But I haven’t been at school every day. Last year, I…

It’s dark when we pull off US Highway 2 onto the private street. There are no street lights. We don’t need them. We’ve traveled down this street so many times, we could do it in our sleep.We always plan to arrive earlier. But the drive alone is eight hours, and stops...

The front door opens. I hear the smooch of the rotting rubber seal give way and the hinges creak. I don’t have to look at the clock to know what time it is. 3am. The bar is closed. She goes to the kitchen and gets out a glass. I hear a clink as she selects three...

It’s ironic when you think about it. ADD, ADHD, ODD, OCD. All the alphabet soup acronyms that were swirling around. It’s October 2003. My husband has been gone for 8 months - deployed to Iraq. I’m so lonely and overwhelmed. My oldest son is in first grade. It’s not...

My husband’s engineering unit was a MRB (Multi-role bridge) company. They deployed to the Middle East in February of 2003. I’d been able to believe that they would be out of danger - far from the frontlines - until the first of their troops was lost. Three more men...

Have you ever noticed how much our society thinks about boxes? We look forward to getting them on the front step. We want people to think outside the box. Brad Pitt screamed, “What’s in the box?!” Even though he knew the answer. Curt Cobain sang about a Heart-Shaped...

The lights have been out for two days now. Grandpa says it’s on purpose. He says they don’t try real hard to help the families out here in the sticks. Grandma shushes him. She turns the knob on the stove and lights a match. The flame catches and she blows out the...

Lightning strikes out on the lake. I count. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Thunder crashes. I should be at home. In bed. Where my mother and step-monster think I am. But I snuck out tonight. Actually, there was no sneaking. I walked right out the front door. They are at...

Hello friends!  Happy February!  Let’s start the month out with my final book list!  I have given these books a lot of thought.  I’m interested in what you think too, so make sure to find the comment button below and share your takes on these and other good books.

Welcome back, friends! This is a continuation of my lists. Today’s list contains books for the middle grades. I have advised caution with some of these books; but please don’t take them off your child’s reading list forever! Exercise caution if appropriate; but these books can be revisited when your child is in high school, or even after!