BOOKS

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Calpurnia Tate is an ordinary young girl who holds a special bond with nature. Her constant wonder about the earth and its creatures lead her to reconnect with her wise granddaddy. With this newfound companion, Calpurnia searches for the answers to her environmental questions and tries desperately to trade her housewife fate for her passion for nature.

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

This story combines your typical teen problems (bullying, fitting in) with one boy’s unique fight for creatures in danger. The adults plan to build a pancake house that would destroy a family of burrowing owls, and they’re not going to let anything get in their way. In this ecological mystery, can Roy and his new pals stick up for what they believe in…and save some owls while they’re at it?

The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich

Omakayas is a 7-year-old girl who lives on an island in the mid-1800s. Using her family’s rich culture as inspiration, Omakayas survives the extremes of the earth’s seasons by embracing her world instead of being afraid of it. But when a foreign visitor comes to the sacred land, he brings along something that will change the islanders’ lives forever.

City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende

What if you had the chance to discover the most legendary beast of the Amazon? In this exciting tale, Alex Cold gets to do just that. When the 15-year-old accompanies his grandmother on an International Geographic search for the Yeti, he comes face to face with thrilling experiences and adventure.

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Enjoy the world you have, because you never know how quickly it can change! In Life As We Knew It, an asteroid knocks the moon closer to our planet, and all of earth’s balance is thrown off. In a world where tsunamis, volcanoes and earthquakes are taking over, high school sophomore Miranda will need to cling to her family, friends and faith to survive.

Girlwood by Claire Dean

Polly Greene may struggle in the social world, but when she’s surrounded by the enchanting nature of the woods, she couldn’t be happier. This comes in handy when Polly’s older sister, Bree, disappears into the forest. It will take Polly’s unusual insights and natural connection to save her sister and her beloved hidden grove.

Jackie’s Wild Seattle by Will Hobbs

Shannon and her little brother, Cody, begin the adventure of a lifetime as they spend the summer at their uncle Neal’s wildlife center. Encountering the most unthinkable, craziest, sometimes humorous situations, the sibs discover the value in all living creatures.