The Button War by Avi is a historical fiction novel set in Poland during World War I, focusing on a group of boys who engage in a competition involving the collection of the buttons of soldiers. The story follows the protagonist, a boy named Patryk, as he experiences the war among countries as well as among his friends. The Button War has themes of loyalty, ambition, the destructive nature of war and the loss of innocence.
Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service directed by Hayao Miyazaki is a fantastical tale of a young witch named Kiki starting a new adventure alongside her faithful cat, Jiji. Kiki sets off, beginning a customary tradition for witches to leave their homes for one year to pursue and train magical skills. When Kiki lands in a bustling city on the water, she forms a delivery service as her special talent.
E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web is a heartwarming classic about friendship, kindness, and the circle of life. The story follows Wilbur, a young pig who is terrified when he learns he is being raised for slaughter. However, his life changes when Charlotte, a wise and caring spider, decides to save him by spinning words into her web that convince the farmer that Wilbur is special. With the help of Charlotte and other barnyard friends, Wilbur learns the power of love and friendship.
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King follows Andy Dufresne, a banker wrongly convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, as he endures life in Shawshank Prison. Over decades, he becomes friends with Red, a longtime inmate who smuggles contraband, and quietly works on an escape plan while maintaining hope through small acts of defiance.
They Both Die at the End is an emotional rollercoaster that explores life, death and the power of human connection. With its beautifully created characters and thought-provoking beliefs, this novel is both heartbreaking and inspiring. The story follows two teenagers, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio who live in a world where people are notified on the day they will die. They both receive alerts on the same day.
Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner masterfully explores themes of social injustice, betrayal, and the enduring quest for redemption. Through rich imagery and poignant foreshadowing, the story unfolds around Amir, a young boy growing up in a rigidly structured Afghan society. Amir's friendship with Hassan, who belongs to the marginalized Hazara community, is at the heart of the narrative.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a book that follows a boy by the name Harry Potter through his journey into the wizarding world and community. This is the first book in a seven book series, all of which follow the same character as he grows. Harry is an orphan who has been looked after by his aunt and uncle. This family is ruthless to Harry, especially when strange things happen around him. When discovering his heritage, Harry must change his worldview and face challenges no one could ever imagine.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second book in the world acclaimed Harry Potter series. This book follows Harry in his second year at Hogwarts as he continues to fall into strange adventures, face new foes and develop his magic. Suddenly messages written in blood start showing up on the walls of Hogwarts corridors, and people seem to think Harry is to blame. With his friends Ron and Hermione, he sets off to investigate the threats.
An RV trip over spring break with friends to the beach, what could possibly go wrong? Eighteen-year-old Red is on an RV trip with her friends, and everything is going pretty well until the group loses signal and gets lost trying to navigate to the campsite. With no means of getting help, they attempt to get out of the RV and figure things out. Just as they’re confident about getting back on the road, shots are fired at them and it’s clear that the gunman has an agenda and is after the friend group in particular.
If He Had Been with Me is a realistic fiction teen romance novel that follows Autumn, through her high school years. Her neighbor and childhood best friend, Finny, has finally grown apart and she doesn’t know how to feel about it. Instead, she falls in love with a boy on the Steps of Nowhere and makes the closest friends she’s ever had, besides Finny. Their families still spend holidays together, but it’s not the same.
