Fiction

Bear Feels Sick

Bear is not feeling well at all; he is achy, sneezy, wheezy and sick and in no shape to go outside to play. Mole, Hare, Mouse and the rest of the gang try to make Bear feel as comfortable as possible in his cave. Under the care of his friends, Bear starts to get better but as soon as Bear is well, guess what happens? All of his friends get sick!

Fever 1793

On the heels of her acclaimed contemporary teen novel Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson surprises her fans with a riveting and well-researched historical fiction. Fever 1793 is based on an actual epidemic of yellow fever in Philadelphia that wiped out 5,000 people--or 10 percent of the city's population--in three months. At the close of the 18th century, Philadelphia was the bustling capital of the United States, with Washington and Jefferson in residence. During the hot mosquito-infested summer of 1793, the dreaded yellow fever spread like wildfire, killing people overnight. Like specters from the Middle Ages, gravediggers drew carts through the streets crying "Bring out your dead!" The rich fled to the country, abandoning the city to looters, forsaken corpses, and frightened survivors.

In the foreground of this story is 16-year-old Mattie Cook, whose mother and grandfather own a popular coffee house on High Street. Mattie's comfortable and interesting life is shattered by the epidemic, as her mother is felled and the girl and her grandfather must flee for their lives. Later, after much hardship and terror, they return to the deserted town to find their former cook, a freed slave, working with the African Free Society, an actual group who undertook to visit and assist the sick and saved many lives. As first frost arrives and the epidemic ends, Mattie's sufferings have changed her from a willful child to a strong, capable young woman able to manage her family's business on her own. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell

During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out.

Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie's world upside down. At her feverish mother's insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon discovers that the sickness is everywhere, and Mattie must learn quickly how to survive in a city turned frantic with disease.

Running Out of Time

Run For Your Life

Jessie lives with her family in the frontier village of Clifton, Indiana, in 1840 -- or so she believes. When diphtheria strikes the village and the children of Clifton start dying, Jessie's mother reveals a shocking secret -- it's actually 1996, and they are living in a reconstructed village that serves as a tourist site. In the world outside, medicine exists that can cure the dread disease, and Jessie's mother is sending her on a dangerous mission to bring back help.

But beyond the walls of Clifton, Jessie discovers a world even more alien and threatening than she could have imagined, and soon she finds her own life in jeopardy. Can she get help before the children of Clifton, and Jessie herself, run out of time?

Drums, Girls, And Dangerous Pie

Thirteen-year-old Steven has a totally normal life: he plays drums in the All-Star Jazz band, has a crush on the hottest girl in the school, and is constantly annoyed by his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey. But when Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia, Steven's world is turned upside down. He is forced to deal with his brother's illness and his parents' attempts to keep the family in one piece. Salted with humor and peppered with devastating realities, DRUMS, GIRLS, AND DANGEROUS PIE is a heartwarming journey through a year in the life of a family in crisis.

The Lemonade Club

Everyone loves Miss Wichelman’s fifth-grade class—especially best friends Traci and Marilyn. That’s where they learn that when life hands you lemons, make lemonade! They are having a great year until Traci begins to notice some changes in Marilyn. She’s losing weight, and seems tired all the time. She has leukemia—and a tough road of chemotherapy ahead. It is not only Traci and Miss Wichelman who stand up for her, but in a surprising and unexpected turn, the whole fifth-grade class, who figures out a way to say we’re with you.

In true Polacco fashion, this book turns lemons into lemonade and celebrates amazing life itself.

Allie the Allergic Elephant: A Children's Story of Peanut Allergies

"Allie the Allergic Elephant" helps children learn about food allergies and how to be a good friend when you can't share snacks. "Allie" explains peanut allergies in a way that parents, teachers and children themselves can talk about allergies and understand them better.

Changing Jamie

JamieÂ’s pretty much your average gay teenager. HeÂ’s not out with his folks, heÂ’s got a crush on a fellow high school athlete, and his life isnÂ’t perfect. ItÂ’s a good thing he has his friend, Billy, to take his mind off things, and to show him that all things are possible. Billy seems to be all Jamie isnÂ’t. BillyÂ’s openly gay, he has enough money to follow fashion trends, and heÂ’s got dates all the time. Lots of them. With older men. When Billy starts acting weird and hiding things from him, JamieÂ’s whole life seems to tilt off its axis. His stepfather, who has never been the greatest role model, escalates his behavior until Jamie dreads going home. His English teacher assigns him tutoring sessions with the object of his crush, the gorgeous track star Dylan. JamieÂ’s not even sure he can talk to Dylan, let alone tutor him, but itÂ’s impossible to talk to Billy about it. BillyÂ’s too wrapped up in a very dangerous game they call bug chasing: trying to catch HIV. Learning about BillyÂ’s risk-taking nearly shatters their friendship, and forces Jamie to look at the world in a whole new way. Can Jamie try to keep Billy safe and still stay on top of homework, a new boyfriend, and keeping his step-father in line?

Last Dance

Sarah and Puffle: A Story for Children About Diabetes

Sarah has diabetes - and she' s very angry about it. One day, she learns that life can be fun, even with diabetes, when her stuffed lamb Puffle "wakes up" able to talk, dance and make up silly songs. Puffle is a charmer who helps Sarah learn to have a normal, happy life with diabetes.

Zooallergy : A Fun Story About Allergy and Asthma Triggers

This colored illustrated 32 page book for elementary age children helps them learn about allergy testing and asthma and allergy triggers. Justin goes to the doctor to get tested for allergies, and afterwards, he and his friend, Ashley, go to the zoo. While there, they make a game of discovering things like animal fur, dust, and dander that would trigger their allergy and asthma.