Iâve always been fascinated by the intensity of friendships, whether they last a few months or a lifetime. For me, unlikely friendships have always been the most interesting, whether it be differences in class, age, hobbies, etc. I think all people can find common ground if they just listen to one another and talk for a minute. I love books featuring unlikely duos and almost always include them in my own novels. I hope you enjoy these books as much as I do, and they remind you of the best friends youâve ever had.
Because Youâll Never Meet Me is a YA novel that takes quirky friendships to a different level. Ollie is allergic to electricity and Moritz suffers from a rare heart condition. He was also born without eyes. Because of their medical issues, Ollie and Moritz can never meet. Ollieâs mom and doctor urge him to befriend someone like him and he and Moritz become long-distance pen pals. Their friendship is brought to life through the heartfelt letters they write to each other. Thereâs also a dark secret about their past and where they came from.
Ollie and Moritz are two teenagers who will never meet. Each of them lives with a life-affecting illness. Contact with electricity sends Ollie into debilitating seizures, while Moritz has a heart defect and is kept alive by an electronic pacemaker. If they did meet, Ollie would seize, but turning off the pacemaker would kill Moritz.
Through an exchange of letters, the two boys develop a strong bond of friendship which becomes a lifeline during dark times - until Moritz reveals that he holds the key to their shared, sinister past, and has been keeping it from Ollie all along.
Me and a Guy Named Elvis is a book I couldnât put down. My sister and I took a road trip to Graceland years ago and ever since weâve been a bit fascinated by Elvis. Jerry is a regular guy who happens to meet Elvis right before he becomes a star. Jerry is several years younger, but that doesnât matter. What ensues is a decades-long friendship that takes Jerry on many adventures -- some out of this world and some heartbreaking. Itâs an inside look at Elvis the superstar as well as Elvis the âregular guy.â
On a lazy Sunday in 1954, twelve-year-old Jerry Schilling wandered into a Memphis touch football game, only to discover that his team was quarterbacked by a nineteen-year-old Elvis Presley, the local teenager whose first record, "That's All Right," had just debuted on Memphis radio. The two became fast friends, even as Elvis turned into the world's biggest star. In 1964, Elvis invited Jerry to work for him as part of his "Memphis Mafia," and Jerry soon found himself living with Elvis full-time in a Bel Air mansion and, later, in his own room at Graceland. Over the next thirteen yearsâŚ
Taking only what they can quickly pack, 11-year-old Mardella and her mom secretly move away from their abusive home to start a fresh life in Haven, MN. But Mardellaâs sure she's to blameâif only she hadnât dialed 911, her dad wouldnât be in jail, her mom wouldn't have been fired,âŚ
This YA novel is a page-turner about an unlikely friendship that sounds crazy but just works. Teenage Maggie is blind until the day she suddenly starts seeing Ben, a ten-year-old boy. Ben is the only person she can see and over time they develop a strong bond. I love this book because Iâve had friendships with people who are 5, 10, and 15 years older than me. Iâm a firm believer that two people donât necessarily have to be the same age to share a special connection and this book delivers on that idea.
Maggie Sanders might be blind, but she won't invite anyone to her pity party. Ever since losing her sight six months ago, Maggie's rebellious streak has taken on a life of its own, culminating with an elaborate school prank. Maggie called it genius. The judge called it illegal.
Now Maggie has a probation officer. But she isn't interested in rehabilitation, not when she's still mourning the loss of her professional-soccer dreams, and furious at her so-called friends, who lost interest in her as soon as she could no longer lead the team to victory.
I normally avoid reading books with an element of fantasy, but I loved this one by Katherine Applegate. Jackson has an imaginary friend named Crenshaw who is a giant cat. He hasnât seen Crenshaw in a while but one day Crenshaw reappears to help him through a difficult time. Even though I knew Crenshaw wasnât real, Applegateâs writing makes him come alive. This book will make you believe in magic and the power of friendship.
The heart-warming new story about family and friendships from Newbery Medal-winner Katherine Applegate.
Life is tough for ten-year-old Jackson. The landlord is often at the door, there's not much food in the fridge and he's worried that any day now the family will have to move out of their home. Again.
Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken and he's imaginary. He's come back into Jackson's life to help him but is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?
A heart-warming story about family and friendships from Newbery medal winner Katherine Applegate.
"Witches take on the patriarchy in this epic feminist fantasy." Spirit Sight book 1 volume 1 is an award-winning debut epic fantasy novel written by Ross Hightower, the first in the six-book Spirit Song series. Winner of numerous awards, including the Readers Favorite Fantasy Finalist and the Eric B HofferâŚ
I love dogs so Iâm probably biased, but Marley & Me is a life-affirming story about John and his unruly dog Marley. Since Iâve had dogs who are smart but donât necessarily listen all the time, I could relate to this book. Marley wreaks havoc on Johnâs life but also brings his family joy and unconditional love. John and Marleyâs story will make you laugh, and probably cry but in a happy way.
One Night is a contemporary YA romance novel about teen angst, unrequited love, and self-discovery set to the beat of Elvis Presley's music.
Thompson is miserable. Even though Caroline broke his heart, he wants her back. With his mind on her, his life takes an unexpected turn. Johnny Lee Young, Hawaiiâs Favorite Elvis Impersonator, gives him a job. Thompson knows nothing about celebrity impersonators, but he does know social media. Will he get Caroline back and find his true love? One Night is a delightful coming-of-age tale perfect for fans of John Green and Maureen Johnson. Itâs an unforgettable story of friendship and finding yourself, of heartache and healing, and of the remarkable turns a life can take in One Night.
Jera Fowler is hardly excited about having to keep a journal for ninth-grade English class. âWhat can happen in a day?â she grumps as she chronicles the 1984-85 school year. She doesnât realize that a single day can be the dividing line between life and death. Forty years later, whileâŚ
Bernardine's Shanghai Salon
by
Susan Blumberg-Kason,
Meet the Jewish salon host in 1930s Shanghai who brought together Chinese and expats around the arts as civil war erupted and World War II loomed on the horizon.
Bernardine Szold Fritz arrived in Shanghai in 1929 to marry her fourth husband. Only thirty-three years old, she found herself inâŚ