JFIC Stand Alone Books

"In a warlike land of wind and sunlight, "ringed by a restless sea," live Rhaskos and Melisto, spiritual twins with little in common beyond the violent and mysterious forces that dictate their lives. A Thracian slave in a Greek household, Rhaskos is as common as clay, a stable boy worth less than a donkey, much less a horse. Wrenched from his mother at a tender age, he nurtures in secret, aided by Socrates, his passions for art and philosophy. Melisto...

"When a wildfire breaks out on her watch, twelve-year-old Opal, a fourth-generation fire lookout-in-training, must face her fears in order to save the forest she loves and her family"--

Alex, a neurodiverse seventh grader, works to convince his teachers and parents that he is ready to leave his self-contained classroom and join his grade's mainstream science class. Told in verse format.

Through the eyes of her family and friends we see the young Rachel as she explores nature and overcomes obstacles to write about harmful chemical practices and launch the global environmental movement. Written in blank verse.

3.7 stars

Jack is studying poetry again in school, and he continues to write poems reflecting his understanding of famous poems and how they relate to his life. Jack's studying poetry again in school, where he continues to write poems reflecting his understanding of famous poems and how they relate to his life.

3.6 stars

Through a series of poems, a young girl chronicles the life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave Vietnam and resettle in Alabama.

From failed football tryouts to helping the new Syrian refugee student, seventh-grader Kareem attempts to navigate the social complexities of seventh grade, which are further complicated when his mother is unable to return home from Syria due to an executive order.

Best friends and sixth-graders Bumble and Lizard go on a quest to save the severely endangered language, Guernésiais, partly to impress Bumble's linguist mother.

Unable to find their rhythm, once-close twin sisters Maya and Chaya make a bet: they'll switch places at summer camp and whoever can keep the ruse going the longest will get to make a life-changing decision, which isn't as easy as it sounds.

5 stars

Recently diagnosed with depression, fifth-grader Pearl struggles with self-care and self-love amidst a sea of changes.