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1978

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (HarperCollins, $12.76, seventh-grade level). ISBN: 0690013590	The Medalist An artistic young boy who gets no encouragement from his family becomes best friends with a remarkable little girl. She dies in an accident and he has to deal with his anguish. Excellent story about imagination, dying, friendship and being different. This book would make for excellent bibliotherapy for kids who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Teachers can find many books to connect with this classic, including the C.S. Lewis books that inspired its title.
Ramona and her Father by Beverly Cleary (William Morrow, $12.76, fourth-grade level). ISBN: 0s688221149	Honor Book Ramona, a second grader, learns her dad's moods when he loses his job and has to take care of her at home. Good lessons about smoking and unemployment and their effect on kids. Good lessons about family dynamics and father/daughter relations. Good mix of the serious and the funny. This book of course is the first in a long line of Ramona books, two of which earned Newbery honors.
Anpao: An American Odyssey by Jamake Highwater (Econo-Clad, $14.50, seventh-grade level). ISBN: 0833579436	Honor Book A story about the founding of the human race (a creation myth) as related in Native American mythology. The author creates a composite myth from many Native American sources and uses a writing style that could best be described as a variation of magic realism. The story is at times hard to follow, but he writes with great lyricism and feel for the language.

Copyright David Ross 2003