This book landed in our collection of read-alouds as a gift from my Uncle Mark, who thought my two boys would love a good old-fashioned story about two brothers on the adventure of a lifetime. Set in the 1900s, this book was different than anything we’ve read previously, and it was a hit.

Bud & Me is the true story of two young brothers, Louis (“Bud”) and Temple Abernathy, who – inspired by books like Mark Twain’s Roughing It that their father read to them – decide to journey on horseback from their home in Oklahoma to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Their father, a U.S. Marshal with his own exciting tales of adventures, opens a $100 checking account for the boys for necessities and sends the 9- and 5-year-old on their way. It was fascinating to follow the young brothers as they self-sufficiently worked their way from town to town, cared for themselves and one another, and dealt with adversity. 

After a successful first trip, the boys make an even bolder horseback trek across the country, traveling from the Atlantic to the Pacific. News of the young pair’s mission precedes them, and the boys experience celebrity status at their stops along the way. 

Bud & Me offers a glimpse at life over 100 years ago – when a trek across the country meant riding horseback, carrying a map in a knapsack with canned beans, tomatoes and a canteen, vs. a temperature-controlled vehicle with a GPS and fast food drive throughs every few miles. It definitely provoked a lot of “imagine what that would be like” kinds of conversations!

I decided to borrow Wishtree from our local library after my fourth grader loved reading Crenshaw, also by Katherine Applegate. I was so glad we checked it out, and my only regret was not having read both Crenshaw and Wishtree with my now eighth grader when he was younger.

Wishtree is written in the voice of Red, an old oak tree that for generations has hosted quirky creatures and witnessed the lives of the neighborhood’s families. Red’s branches are filled with wishes written on strips of cloth, a long-standing neighborhood tradition. The requests vary in significance, but when a lonely little girl whispers that she wishes for a friend, Red feels compelled to take on a bigger role than simply providing the branch on which the wish hangs. 

Applegate developed the character of Red in a really captivating way, with human-like emotions, a sense of purpose, and a heartfelt mission. She takes as much care with the animal characters that live in and around Red, giving them whimsical personalities and using clever naming schemes. 

I thought Wishtree was a great read-aloud choice, and my son and I really looked forward to checking in with Red each night. 

This book is an absolute home run for kids who like baseball. I read it with my older son a few years back and just re-read it with my baseball-playing fourth grader. He liked it so much he asked if I was going to feature it on this blog, and he recently came home from school having discovered another book in the series. 

Honus and Me is the first in a series of baseball card adventures that follow 12-year-old Joe Stoshack, a kid from Louisville who can travel back in time to meet actual baseball players from history simply by holding their baseball cards.  Joe’s life-changing adventures begin when he discovers an old, extremely rare Honus Wagner baseball card while cleaning out an elderly neighbor’s attic. Honus first appears in Joe’s room, and then invites Joe to travel back to the 1909 World Series when his Pittsburgh Pirates battled the Detroit Tigers in a seven-game series. Joe gets a chance to play in a historic game and discovers he, too, can be a great ballplayer if he believes in himself.

The book is an easy length, about 135 pages, and it being presented as historical fiction offers an entertaining way to learn some really interesting baseball history. We also enjoyed the book’s historic photos.

Esperanza Ortega lives a beautiful, privileged life on her family’s bountiful ranch in Mexico. Her world is turned upside down on the eve of her thirteenth birthday when bandits ambush and kill her father. Though her father leaves the stunning family home to Esperanza and her mother, he wills the thousands of acres of profitable land the home is built upon to her greedy uncle, who tries to force Esperanza’s mother to marry him.

Not wanting to live under the heavy hand of the calculating uncle, Esperanza and her mother migrate to California during the Great Depression to start a new, much more humble life working as field hands.

Esperanza Rising guides young readers through a journey illustrating the many challenges faced by the hopeful families who migrate to the United States. It is a story of starting over, sticking by family, and finding community. Though my son and I read Esperanza Rising together, it would be a great choice for a middle grade independent read.

This moving story of hardship, friendship and resilience was a quick, engaging read for my seventh grader and me. Its 187 pages were so captivating that we had trouble putting the book down.

The Bridge Home tells the story of two runaway sisters, living in Chennai, India, who flee from a life destined to be filled with abuse from their father. Out on their own, they survive by finding odd jobs and eating what scraps they can find. When they settle for a night in an abandoned bridge, they meet two boys who become like family. Together they bravely navigate the streets, work together to make it through each day and find hope amidst the darkness.

This is an amazing book and both my son and I recommend it. Because of the nature of the story, there are some sad parts, but it is truly a great read.  

My seventh grader absolutely loved this book, and he’s not alone, as it is a New York Times bestseller.

This present-day story is set in a Pakastani village, where 12-year-old Amal lives with her family and studies diligently in hopes of becoming a teacher. Her dream is put on hold when her mother has another baby and she has to stay home from school to help out. 

During an outing to the market, an outspoken Amal has an unfortunate run-in with Jawad Sahib, a ruthless member of the ruling Kahn family. As punishment, she is forced to live as a servant in his estate and work off her family’s previously accumulated debit. 

Amal refuses to accept her position as her final fate and vows to become free again. Her unwavering courage and commitment to bringing justice to those who have controlled the destiny of her fellow villagers for years creates an inspirational story both my son and I highly recommend.