Welcome to the New World
By Jake Halpern and Michael Sloan
Genre: Graphic Novel–Realistic Fiction
No part of this story is easy. Syria is in the midst of a civil war and the Aldabaan Family feared for their lives. So, they make the decision to leave and come to America, but they must leave some family behind. They come to a country that is totally foreign to them—it is cold, they get bullied, discriminated against and even over time they get death threats because they are Muslim. Now they are wondering why they left. I am glad to hear the story of heroes that come in and help this family—no easy task to help them overcome so many obstacles. I felt the struggle and it pulled at my heartstrings, but I found the story somewhat choppy and disjointed. Then the story just kind of ends —no conclusion and no real resolution. But still this book is a good example of the fear, distress, distrust and agony that families undergo when they choose to come to the United States.
and out of his life as she tried to deal with her addiction. Jarrett could never count on her; but he could count on his grandparents—Shirley and Joe. Shirley and Joe were rough around the edges; smokers, drinkers and cursed like drunken sailors. But Jarrett knew that they loved him even though it was never said. Jarrett had a difficult time in school and his grandparents enrolled him in art classes at the local library and this is what saved Jarrett. He later got noticed at school by staff and students and Jarrett finally found his identity. What I love about this book is that the author uses real newspaper clippings, his original elementary school drawings, letters from his mother and family photos which are incorporated into his graphic illustrations which are beautiful! I have this in the YA section because of content matter and language issues. Every teen and adult should read this book!
ho has come of age to marry and a young dressmaker, Frances who was a low-level seamstress who dreams of making runway dresses. Prince Sebastian parents are pressuring him to find a wife but he has a secret that he has not shared with anyone Frances is doomed to a life of dull dressmaking—they both are filled with a sense of dread. Then one day a bored client asks for a dress that will make her look like the “devils wrench”. When Frances breaks the mold and she gets noticed and a mysterious man comes in and hires her away. Then Frances and Sebastian meet but can the secret that Sebastian hold tight be shared with a friend? I am keeping this book in my YA section as deals with gender issues, but it is filled with friendship, identity and parental pressures. This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel. 
loved to draw and was good at. Grandparents enrolled him in some art classes, which is where he committed himself to becoming an artist. Life never got easier as a kid, but Jarrett has proven that your past does not predict your future! He is the author and illustrator of this great memoir. I loved the author’s note and the art note at the end of the book. Not to be missed graphic novel!
scholarships for a Russian Summer Camp—here students do all the regular camp stuff and polish up their Russian and learn a little more about their home country.
inseparable every summer—they even have “summer fun cards” to prove it. This summer is different, Austin has been acting strange and Bina struggling through boredom and trying tange and white/black. 
when her father is taken to prison for teaching and having “illegal” books in the home. Parvana needs to take action but because she is a girl she has no rights—she must cover herself, cannot be out alone, cannot earn money. So she takes matter into her own hands—she cuts her hair, dresses as a boy and takes on a boy’s name. She brings money home for her family and tries to get her father out of jail but then civil war once again breaks out. This a beautifully illustrated graphic novel of a story that needs to be told so that women everywhere no longer have their human rights violated.
Reading in the Middle 