Central Kansas Library System

"A story about a homeless boy and his imaginary friend that proves in unexpected ways that friends matter, whether real or imaginary"--

This is the author's story of starting middle school on the free lunch program. During the first semester in sixth grade, Rex and his baby brother often went hungry, wore secondhand clothes, and were short of school supplies, and Rex was on his school's free lunch program. Grounded in the immediacy of physical hunger and the humiliation of having to announce it every day in the school lunch line, this is a story of a more profound hunger - that of...

Eleven-year-old Maurice must beg for change in order to eat, but when Laura stops to help, they begin a years-long friendship that gives each a new perspective and hope. Includes a list of agencies that help children in need and suggested acts of kindness.

Artistically talented but socioeconomically underprivileged, a fifth-grade boy has built a wall of defense to protect himself from the pain of human relationships--a wall which begins to crumble when a dynamic and compassionate classmate decides to interfere in his life.

Taken in by a poor family in a rural village after the death of her father, Sunflower bonds with the family's only child, Bronze, who has not spoken since being traumatized by a terrible fire.

Reggie has never felt destined for greatness. He dreams about basketball brilliance all day and night, but the hard truth is that he's a benchwarmer for the West Bottom Badgers the worst team in the league. Even their mysterious new coach, Rolabi Wizenard, can't seem to help them end their losing streak. Reggie is willing to train tirelessly to improve his game, but the gym itself seems to be working against him in magical ways. Before Reggie can...

During the Depression, a rural Black family deeply attached to the forest on their land tries to save it from being cut down by an unscrupulous white man.