Summertime & The Livin’ is Easy is a short story based on the daily summertime life of a 10-year-old girl named Jasmine and her family. Jasmine and her family live a tough life as they suffer from poverty and the loss of her father, In the summer, Jasmine works with her mother to clean the home of a wealthy family, while her stepdaddy and older brother work to clean windows. Jasmine’s stepfather is unhappy with life and takes out his frustration on his stepchildren through physical abuse.
The Boy at the Back of the Class is an emotional drama based on the journey of a young nine-year-old Syrian refugee who is separated from his family and struggles to find a safe place to survive. As Ahmet finds solace with his foster mother, he cannot cover up the mental trauma in his interactions with teachers and kids at school. After learning about Ahmet’s situation, a group of kids in Ahmet’s class embark upon an adventure that makes waves throughout England, in hopes of reuniting Ahmet with his family.
Ellen is a brave 13-year-old girl living in Brooklyn, New York. As the date for her Bat Mitzvah gets closer, Ellen begins to worry about what kind of woman she wants to be. When everybody in school starts to change their looks and personality to fit in with the crowd, Ellen stays true to herself and her personality. One of her female role models is her mother. Ellen feels that her mother focuses more on others than her. In fact, Ellen’s parents begin having fights because her dad is angered by the fact that her mom is never home.
Maria Singh is a courageous nine-year-old girl living in California. It is 1945, and with the World War II situation, things are not so great for Maria’s family. Her family is about to lose their farm. In these tough times, the one thing Maria wants to do is play on her school's first-ever girls’ softball team. Maria’s father (Papi) is from India where people did not approve of girls running around in shorts and playing sports. Further, her challenges are compounded by racial bullying in schools.
Cooper is a rescue dog who is unlike other dogs. He does everything like a human besides walking and talking. Cooper has a zeal for travel and adventure. This book is all about how adventurous Cooper explores with his loving family. This book was a funny and engaging read.
