msjamgochian'sinfinitebooklist

GIT is full of unforgettable scenery: a tiny Chinese girl and her mother in a NYC apartment in winter without central heating, huddled in front of the oven as cockroaches and mice scurry around the subzero room; a pack of underage sweatshop workers slammed into a squat toilet, sweating all over each other while they hide in the small space as inspectors tour the factory; a girl in a locker room ensconced in a stall to prevent her fellow students from seeing her humiliatingly homemade underwear. When Kimberly Chang arrives in NYC at the age of 12 with her mother, they are taken advantage of by mom's sister Paula, who sets them up in illegal housing and forces them to work at her factory in order to pay back their immigration expenses. Kim quickly realizes the only way out is through education and slowly proves herself to be academically gifted. Although there are many other immigrant stories out there, Kim's authentic and strong voice makes GIT a standout choice. Perfect for boo...

The year? 2083. The illegal substance? Chocolate. Yes, chocolate. Anya Balanchine is the sixteen-year-old daughter of a dead Russian mafia crime boss slash chocolate overlord. She's running the show at home, taking care of her slow older brother Leo, her super genius younger sister Natty, and her slowly dying elderly grandmother Nana, and in general trying to create a sense of normalcy and control in the aftermath of her parents' double murder at the hands of rival gangs. When Anya meets Win, son of an up-and-coming wealthy politician, the plot thickens. ATTID will appeal to fans of Kathy Reich's Virals and readers who like a bit of romance in their fast-paced-adventure-romance-futuristic fiction. Check out the extras on Ms. Zevin's fanpage. Grade 8+

"Okay," the teacher said, smiling just a little. "You might be J in your other classes, but this is photography, we strive for accuracy, for telling the truth in pictures. That's why we're not doing digital work here - so nothing can be altered. So in this class, I think it's important for you to be as honest as the subjects you're photographing. You'll be exactly who you are- no deception, no fooling. In my class, you'll be Jenifer. Roberto will be Roberto, Frances will be Frances. No changes, no alterations, no lies. It's an important part of the learning process. Understood?" J is a seventeen-year old boy trapped in a girl's body. His best friend, Melissa, has her own set of issues (cutting), and his parents only see him as their daughter. When the myriad motions he goes through every day to hide his unmatched pieces become unbearable, he leaves home in search of a solution. A poignant, captivating, and real portrait of a teen s...