Every Hero Has a Story

Summer Reading is here! Stop by your local library to sign up for this free program, and read books that tie into the New York State themes of Every Hero Has a Story (ages birth-12) and Unmask! (ages 13-18). Need suggestions? Move over, Frankenstein.

My Grandma’s a Ninja Written by Todd Tarpley & Illustrated by Danny Chatzikonstantinou NorthSouth Books, 2015, hardcover, $17.95 Ages 4-6

Grandma may wear pearls, but don’t let that fool you. She still flies down zip lines, demonstrates karate, and impresses the kids at show-and-tell…until her ninja moves pop their soccer ball. Maybe having a ninja grandma isn’t so great? The humorous ending makes readers want a ninja grandma of their own…or maybe they already have one?

Hero Dad Written by Melinda Hardin & Illustrated by Bryan Langdo Two Lions, 2010, hardcover, $12.99, Ages 3-5

Combat boots, parachutes, and night vision goggles are some of the tools this dad uses for his job in the armed forces. Simple text and illustrations of American soldiers make this picture book a great choice for young children with someone close to them in the military.

Kung Pow Chicken: Heroes on the Side By Cyndi Marko Scholastic, 2014, paperback, $4.9, Ages 5-7

Gordon and his little brother have secret identities: Kung Pow Chicken and sidekick Egg Drop! In New Yolk City, Ticklebeak and his Bad Eggs have escaped from jail, kidnapped other sidekicks, and must be stopped by our heroes who are anything but chicken. The puns throughout this chapter book are hilarious, and the comic book style gives readers lots to look for on each page. Don’t miss books 1-3 in this series!

El Deafo By Cece Bell Amulet, 2014, paperback, $10.95, Ages 8-12

At age four, Cece gets sick and loses her hearing. As she grows up and changes schools, meets new teachers, and makes new friends, she figures out how to take her hearing aids from an embarrassment to a superpower. This memoir in comic format is full of relatable experiences no matter what one’s ability or disability.

The Shadow Hero Written by Gene Luen Yang & Illustrated by Sonny Liew First Second, 2014, paperback, $17.99, Ages 12-18

At the age of nineteen, Hank inherits his father’s shadow spirit and becomes The Green Turtle, a masked superhero who fights for justice in Chinatown. This comic featuring a reluctant hero is easy to follow and wonderfully illustrated. A fabulous story with life and depth about the first Chinese superhero to grace American comics.

The Lies We Tell Ourselves By Robin Talley Harlequin Teen, 2014, hardcover, $17.99, Ages 12-18

It is 1959, and Jefferson High School in Virginia is mandated to desegregate. Sarah, a black student who is attending Jefferson for the first time, and Linda, a white student who is convinced that “separate but equal” is the way schools should be, are forced to be partners in French class. Prejudice, fear, anger, and finally love surround the two young women as they navigate their senior year of high school. This is an important, emotional story about our nation’s history that deserves to be read and remembered.

What Remains By Helene Dunbar Flux, 2015, paperback, $9.99, Ages 12-18

After a car accident, Cal is severely injured and his best friend Lizzie is dead. What remains? Lizzie’s heart, now beating in Cal’s chest, gives him a second chance at life. Organ donors and those who perform these operations are the backstory heroes in this novel of friendship, love, and hope. 

Every Hero Has a Story