J/F/AARON
Aaron, ChesterLackawanna
Willy is abandoned by his family during the height of the Depression and joins a group of train-hopping children who take care of each other. 210 p., Grades 5 – 8

J/F/AYRES
Ayres, KatherineMacaroni Boy
Mike’s life is full of problems. His dad’s grocery business is in trouble, he’s being tormented by the class bully and his job of family rat catcher leads to a discovery about a strange illness in the neighbor-hood. 182 p. Grades 4 – 7

J/F/BLACKWOOD
Blackwood, Gary L.Moonshine
Thad’s keeping secret the fact that the extra money he brings home to help out his mother comes from selling bootleg whiskey for a local moonshiner. 158 p., Grades 5 – 8

J/F/CURTIS
Curtis, Christopher PaulBud, Not Buddy
Bud runs away from his abusive foster home, determined to find his father whom he believes is the great jazz musician, Herman E. Calloway. Winner of the 2000 Newbery Award. 245 p., Grades 4 – 7

J/F/DEAR
Durbin, WilliamThe Journal of C.J. Jackson: A Dust Bowl Migrant
After the crops fail in Oklahoma, C.J.’s journal tells of his family’s difficult journey to California and the harsh realities of his new life as a migrant worker. 169 p., Grades 4 – 7

J/F/DEFELICE
DeFelice, Cynthia C.Nowhere to Call Home
Frances’ privileged life ends when her father loses his money in the stock market crash and commits suicide. Rather than live with a stern aunt, Frances disguises herself as a boy and hops a train to live the life of a hobo. 199 p., Grades 5 – 8

J/F/HENDERSON
Henderson, Aileen KilgoreHard Times for Jake Smith
When MaryJake’s sharecropper parents abandon her on the side of the road, she transforms herself into Jake Smith, determined to make her own way in the world. 192 p., Grades 5 – 8

J/F/HESSE
Hesse, KarenOut of the Dust
In a tragic, poetically written story, Billie Jo uses her journal to deal with the many misfortunes in her life. Winner of the 1998 Newbery Award. 227 p., Grades 5 – 8

J/F/Horvath
Horvath, PollyThe Happy Yellow Car
Betty’s father spends her college fund ($80.00!) on a bright yellow car, but rumors of a hidden treasure buried on the family farm just might solve all of her problems. 151 p., Grades 4 – 7

J/F/PECK
Peck, RichardA Long Way from Chicago
Each summer, Joey and his sister visit their eccen-tric grandmother in rural Illinois. And each year, their adventures become more and more outrageous. 148 p., Grades 4 – 8

J/F/PORTER
Porter, TraceyTreasures in the Dust
Best friends Annie and Violet are as different as night and day, but their friendship makes it easier for them to face the dust storms, droughts and hard-ships that affect their lives. 148 p., Grades 4 – 7

J/F/THESMAN
Thesman, JeanThe Storyteller’s Daughter
Quinn’s father has always been the most charming, popular person in the neighborhood. But after he loses his job, she fears that he has become involved in some shady activities to support the family. 180 p., Grades 5 – 8

J/F/WHITMORE
Whitmore, ArvellaThe Bread Winner
With both her parents out of work, Sarah Ann desperately searches for a way to help pay the rent. Can she save her family from the poorhouse with her prizewinning homemade bread? 138 p., Grades 3 – 6

J/F/WILLIS
Willis, PatriciaThe Barn Burner
Ross is living on the road, catching rides in boxcars and sleeping in barns. When he’s seen fleeing from a burning barn, he’s accused of arson. Now, he needs to lie low while he tries to clear his name. 196 p., Grades 5 – 8

Prepared by Brian Crawford, September 2004