River Readers

Alexander Karpenko is no ordinary child, and from an early age, it is clear he is destined to lead his countrymen. But when his father is assassinated by the KGB for defying the state, he and his mother will have to escape from Russia if they hope to survive. At the docks, they are confronted with an irreversible choice: should they board a container ship bound for America, or Great Britain? Alexander leaves that choice to the toss of a coin. In a single moment, a double twist decides Alexander's future.

Ebo has lost his entire family. All he has left is his brother Kwame. So when Kwame leaves Ebo decides to follow. They are finally reunited and work to get enough money for passage to the coast. They have to make their way across the desert to the port city. This is a dangerous journey and very few make it. In the port they have to work for passage on a boat to Europe. Their boat ends up being a dangerous rubber dingy. They quickly run out of food and water and the boat springs a leak. They are lucky enough to be spotted by an overloaded ship heading to Europe as well.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER . In this powerful novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel tells the story of two World War II concentration camp survivors, the life they build together, and the son who faces struggles of his own as a first generation American determined to be his own person and achieve success.

Mia is a recent immigrant from China. She and her parents came to America for a better life, but haven't really found it. They are working as hotel managers for Mr. Yao. It seemed like a good deal at the time. They live in the hotel for free and get a cut of all the people staying there. Unfortunately, Mr. Yao is not the most honest of bosses and Mia's family doesn't make much. What they do find is a community of people who stay in the hotel. The "weeklies" become like family and they discover they can let Chinese immigrants who need a hand stay for a night for free. 

What happens when you put six special kids in a room, once a week, without a teacher to monitor their conversation? That is the premise of this beautiful book, Harbor Me by Jaqueline Woodson. The six students call the room the ARTT (A Room to Talk) and it becomes their safe space to talk about all that is going on in their lives. This book covers alcoholic parents, incarceration, immigration, racism and many other important topics, as they affect the lives of these twelve year olds.

Xiomara is conflicted. She wants to hide and avoid the attention she draws by men and boys yet she seeks to find a voice. She wants to matter. Her over zealous religious mother has her pegged as a "bad" girl and strives to keep her chaste and protected but she comes off as angry with Xiomara for who she is and things she has no control over. She begins to pour her feelings out in poetry. When her Language Arts teacher asks her to join the poetry club, Xio yearns to but can't without skipping confirmation classes which is something her mother would never agree to.

Immediately after World War II, many Jewish refugees fled to British Palestine. Often they were held in interment camps as they were considered "illegal" immigrants. Day After Night is based on the true story of the liberation of one of these camps known as Atlit. It follows four women who found themselves at Atlit. All had survived the Holocaust and each had their own story of survival.

Journey back in time to the opulent days of St. Louis in the Gilded Age and discover the true story of the Lemp family and its rise to power, wealth and extravagance. It's a story that has become legend over the years but one that few people truly know. Despite the fact that the Lemps, and their legendary mansion, have inspired books, ghost stories and television shows, the true story of their tragic lives has become a confusing and convoluted mess of myths, misconceptions, legends and outright lies, making it nearly impossible to separate fact from fiction - until now.

When Thomas Birdsey cuts his own hand off in a library to protest the Iraqi War, his twin brother, Dominick is at a loss as to what to do. Thomas's mental illness has gotten progressively worse, making it difficult to care for him but institutionalization is not what Dominick wants for his brother.

This book traces the history of these brothers and their family to attempt unravel the mysteries in their lives, including who their father is.