The Eleventh Trade

The Eleventh Trade
by Alyssa Hollingsworth

When his grandfather's beloved rebab is stolen, Sami is determined to recover the missing instrument they brought with them when they escaped from Afghanistan.    With the help of a new friend, he is able to locate the rebab in a store, however he must pay $700 to get the instrument back.   Unable to pay, Sami soon discovers a creative method of raising the money: trading items.   Through a series of trades, Sami begins to raise the money he needs, but will he make enough in time to get the rebab back?

The Eleventh Trade is a powerful story about a young man facing challenges in a new country while struggling with the heartbreaks of his past.   This is an amazing selection from the current MSBA list!

Author's website: https://alyssahollingsworth.com/https://alyssahollingsworth.com/

You Go First

You Go First
by Erin Entrada Kelly

Charlotte and Ben live more than a thousand miles apart and have never met.    However, they are connected through their regular online Scrabble games.  When Ben faces an unexpected challenge at home, he feels the need to connect more with Charlotte, unaware that she has also recently encountered struggles of her own.   This story, which alternates between the two narrators, tells of the difficulties that Charlotte and Ben face at school and home over the course of a week. 

This is a powerful story and many readers will be able to connect to the different challenging situations, including struggles with family, school, and friends, that Charlotte and Ben deal with. 


Author's website: http://www.erinentradakelly.com/