top of page

Big Island Heluhelu Quiz Bowl Book Summary 2024-2025

Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna, Alda P. Dobbs (Gr 3-7, 2022 Pura Belpre Award)
From Follett
Based on a true story, the tale of one girl's perilous journey to cross the U.S. border and lead her family to safety during the Mexican Revolution - Provided by publisher.

 

City Spies, James Ponti (Gr 3-7, 2024 Nēnē Award)
From Follett
Sara Martinez is facing years in the juvenile detention system for hacking into the foster care computer system to prove that her foster parents are crooks. But then she gets a second chance when a mysterious man offers her a chance to join a group of MI6 affiliated spies - Provided by publisher.

 

Eagle Drums, Nasugraq Rainey Hopson (Gr 4-6, 2024 Newbery Honor)
From Follett
In preparation for winter, a skilled young hunter embarks on a perilous journey up the mountain to gather obsidian, where he encounters the fearsome eagle god Savik and is presented with a life-altering choice.

 

Elf Dog and Owl Head, M.T. Anderson (Gr3-7, 2024 Newbery Honor)
From the publisher
Clay has had his fill of home life. A global plague has brought the world to a screeching halt, and with little to look forward to but a summer of video-calling friends, vying with annoying sisters for the family computer, and tuning out his parents'; financial worries, he's only too happy to retreat to the woods. From the moment the elegant little dog with the ornate collar appears like an apparition among the trees, Clay sees something uncanny in her. With this mysterious Elphinore as guide, he'll glimpse ancient secrets folded all but invisibly into the forest. Each day the dog leads Clay down paths he never knew existed, deeper into the unknown. But they aren't alone in their surreal adventures. There are traps and terrors in the woods, too, and if Clay isn't careful, he might stray off the path and lose his way forever. Graced with evocative black-and-white illustrations by Junyi Wu, Elf Dog and Owl Head is heartfelt and exhilarating, wry and poignant, seamlessly merging the fantastic and the familiar in a tale both timely and timeless.

​​

Freewater, Amina Luqman-Dawson, (Gr 5-8, 2023 Newbery medal)

From Follett

After fleeing the plantation where they were enslaved, siblings Ada and Homer discover the secret community of Freewater, and work with freeborn Sanzi to protect their new home from the encroaching dangers of the outside world.

 

Frizzy, Claribel A. Ortega, (Gr 4-7, graphic novel, 2023 Pura Belpre medal)

From Follett

Tired of going to the salon to have her curls straightened every weekend, Marlene slowly learns to embrace her natural curly hair with the help of her best friend and favorite aunt - Provided by publisher.

 

Hoops, Matt Tavares, (Gr 3-7, graphic novel, recommended by Meg Medina)

From Follett

Inspired by a true story, this graphic novel about the ongoing battle of women striving for equality in sports follows the Wilkins Regional High School girls' basketball team in 1975 Indiana, as they push through to improbable victory after improbable victory despite their disadvantages.

 

Invisible, Gonzalez, Epstein, & Pien, (Gr 3-7, 2024 Nēnē Graphic Novel Award)

From Follett

Text mostly in English with some Spanish. Can five overlooked kids make one big difference? There's George: the brain, Sara: the loner, Dayara: the tough kid, Nico: the rich kid, and Miguel: the athlete. And they're stuck together when they're forced to complete their school's community service hours. Although they're sure they have nothing in common with one another, some people see them as all the same--just five Spanish-speaking kids. Then they meet someone who truly needs their help, and they must decide whether they are each willing to expose their own secrets to help--or if remaining invisible is the only way to survive middle school - Provided by publisher.​​

​

Iveliz Explains It All, Andrea Beatriz Arango ( Gr 5-8, 2023 Newbery honor)

From Follett

Text mainly in English, with some Spanish.;Includes bibliographical references (page 266). Twelve-year-old Iveliz is trying to manage her mental health and advocate for the help and understanding she deserves, but in the meantime her new friend calls her crazy and her abuela Mimi dismisses the therapy and medicine Iveliz needs to feel like herself.

 

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone, Tae Keller (Gr 4-7)

From Follett

Mallory Moss knows the rules of middle school. The most important one? You have to fit in to survive. But then Jennifer Chan moves in across the street, and that rule doesn't seem to apply. Jennifer doesn't care about the laws of middle school . . . then Jennifer goes missing. Using clues from Jennifer's journals, Mallory goes searching. But the closer she gets, the more Mallory has to confront why Jennifer might have run . . . and face the truth within herself - Provided by publisher.

 

Lei and the Fire Goddess, Malia Maunakea, (Gr 3-7, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year)

From the publisher

Curses aren't real.

At least, that's what twelve-year-old, part-Hawaiian Anna Leilani Kamaʻehu thinks when she listens to her grandmother's folktales about sacred flowers and family guardians. Anna's friends back home in Colorado don't believe in legends, either. They're more interested in science and sports--real, tangible things that stand in total contrast to Anna's family's embarrassing stories.

 

So when Anna goes back to Hawaiʻi to visit her Tūtū, she has no interest in becoming the heir to her family's history; she's set on having a touristy, fun vacation. But when Anna accidentally insults Pele the fire goddess by destroying her lehua blossom, a giant hawk swoops in and kidnaps her best friend, and she quickly learns just how real these moʻolelo are. In order to save her friends and family, Anna must now battle mythical creatures, team up with demigods and talking bats, and evade the traps Pele hurls her way.

 

For if Anna hopes to undo the curse, she will have to dig deep into her Hawaiian roots and learn to embrace all of who she is.

 

Mexikid, Pedro Martin (Gr 5-9, graphic novel, 2024 Newbery Honor, 2024 Pura Belpre Award)

From Follett

Pedro Martin grew up in the U.S. hearing stories about his legendary abuelito, but during a family road trip to Mexico, he connects with his grandfather and learns more about his own Mexican identity in this graphic memoir. - Provided by publisher.

​

Odder, Katherina Applegate (Gr 4 – 7)

From Follett

Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she's known. She's a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself--and about the humans who hope to save her - Provided by publisher

​

Rez Dogs, Joseph Bruchac, (Gr 3-6)

From Booklist 

Malian, a Wabanaki girl, can’t go home to her parents in Boston because she must shelter in place with her grandparents on the rez, thanks to being caught there by the COVID-19 pandemic during a weekend visit. She loves her grandparents but is often bored. That changes one morning when she wakes up and sees the rez dog outside, just as she had dreamed he would be. When it becomes obvious that he has adopted the family and become its self-appointed protector, Malian names him Malsum, the old name for a wolf.

 

Seen and Unseen, Elizabeth Partridge and Lauren Tamaki ( Gr 4-8 2023 Siebert medal)

From Follett

Legendary photographers Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams all photographed the Japanese American incarceration, but with different approaches-and different results. This nonfiction picture book for middle grade readers examines the Japanese-American incarceration-and the complexity of documenting it-through the work of these three photographers - Provided by publisher.

 

Small Spaces, Katherine Arden (Gr 4-7, 2023 Nēnē award)

From Follett

After eleven-year-old Ollie's school bus mysteriously breaks down on a field trip, she has to take a trip through scary woods, and must use all of her wits to survive. She must stick to small spaces - Provided by publisher.

 

Swim Team, Johnnie Christmas, (Gr 3-6, graphic novel)

From Follett

Bree can't wait for her first day at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home to the Mighty Manatees until she's stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, yet she's forced to dive headfirst into one of her greatest fears. Lucky for her, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building and former swim team captain, is willing to help - Provided by publisher.

 

The Blackbird Girls, Anne Blackman (Gr 4-7)

On a spring morning, neighbors Valentina Kaplan and Oksana Savchenko wake up to an angry red sky. A reactor at the nuclear power plant where their fathers work--Chernobyl--has exploded. Before they know it, the two girls, who've always been enemies, find themselves on a train bound for Leningrad to stay with Valentina's estranged grandmother, Rita Grigorievna. In their new lives in Leningrad, they begin to learn what it means to trust another person. Oksana must face the lies her parents told her all her life. Valentina must keep her grandmother's secret, one that could put all their lives in danger. And both of them discover something they've wished for: a best friend. But how far would you go to save your best friend's life? Would you risk your own? - Amazon.com.

​

The Eyes and the Impossible, Dave Eggers (Gr 3-7, 2024 Newbery Medal)

From Follett

Johannes, a free dog, lives in a park hemmed in on three sides by dense human neighborhoods, and on one side by the ocean. His job is to be the Eyes--to see everything that happens within the park and report to the park's elders, three ancient bison who ensure the Equilibrium. His friends--a stalwart seagull, a mordant raccoon, a one-eyed squirrel, and a pelican who can read work with him as the Assistant Eyes, observing the humans and other animals who share the park and making sure everything is in balance. But changes are afoot - Provided by publisher.

​

The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn, Sally J. Pla (Gr 5-6, 2024 Schneider Family Book Award)

From Follett

Maudie always looks forward to the summers she spends in California with her dad. But this year, she must keep a troubling secret about her home life, one that her mom warned her never to tell. Maudie wants to confide in her dad about her stepdad's anger, but she's scared.

 

When a wildfire strikes, Maudie and her dad are forced to evacuate to the beach town where he grew up. It's another turbulent wave of change. But now, every morning, from their camper, Maudie can see surfers bobbing in the water. She desperately wants to learn, but could she ever be brave enough?

 

As Maudie navigates unfamiliar waters, she makes friends--and her autism no longer feels like the big deal her mom makes it out to be. But her secret is still threatening to sink her. Will Maudie find the strength to reveal the awful truth--and maybe even find some way to stay with Dad--before summer is over? - provided by publisher.

 

The Last Mapmaker, Christina Soontornvat, (Gr 4-8)

From Follett

Joining an expedition to chart the southern seas, twelve-year-old mapmaker's assistant Sai, posing as a well-bred young lady with a glittering future, realizes she's not the only one on board harboring secrets when she discovers the ship's true destination.

​

The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams, Daniel Nayeri (Gr 3-7, 2024 Newbery Honor)

From Follett

This is the tale of an exciting journey along the Silk Road with a young Monk and his newfound guardian, Samir, a larger than life character and the so-called "Seller of Dreams." The man is a scammer; his biggest skill being the ability to talk his way into getting what he wants. While that talking did save Monkey's life, it has left a lot of people furious with Samir--furious enough to hire assassins. Monkey decides to try and save Samir from the attempts on his life--as a way to pay off his debt! If he can save Samir six times, he'll be a free man...but will they all survive that long? - Provided by publisher.

​

The Midnight Children, Dan Gemeinhart, (Gr 4-6) 

From Follett

When lonely Ravani Foster discovers his new friend Virginia and her six mysterious runaway companions are in danger, he must fight to keep them safe, or lose the only person who has ever understood him.

​

The Mona LIsa Vanishes: a Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity, Nicholas Day with art by Brett Helquist (Gr5-9, 2024 Siebert Medal)

From Follett

A narrative nonfiction about how the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre, how the robbery made the portrait the most famous artwork in the world--and how the painting by Leonardo da Vinci should never have existed at all - Provided by publisher.

 

The Silver Arrow, Lev Grossman, (Gr 3-7)

From Follett

Kate's humdrum life is transformed when her eccentric Uncle Herbert brings her a colossal locomotive train, the Silver Arrow, as her eleventh birthday gift, leading her and her younger brother on a mysterious quest.

 

Tumble, Celia C. Perez, (Gr 4-7, Pura Belpre honor)

From Follett

Before she decides whether to accept her stepfather's proposal of adoption, twelve-year-old Adela Ramirez reaches out to her estranged biological father who is in the midst of a career comeback as a luchador--and the eccentric extended family of wrestlers she has never met, bringing Adela closer to understanding the expansive definition of family.

 

When Stars Are Scattered, Victoria Jamieson (Gr 4-8, graphic novel, National Book Award finalist)

From Follett

Omar and his younger brother Hassan live in a refugee camp, and when an opportunity for Omar to get an education comes along, he must decide between going to school every day or caring for his nonverbal brother in this intimate and touching portrayal of family and daily life in a refugee camp - Provided by publisher.

​

Wink, Rob Harrell, (Gr 4-7)

From Follett

After being diagnosed with a rare eye cancer, twelve-year-old Ross discovers how music, art, and true friends can help him survive both treatment and middle school.

Legacy Titles

 

Flora & Ulysses: the illuminated adventures, Kate DiCamillo, (Gr 3-7, 2014 Newbery Medal)

From Follett

A girl named Flora and a squirrel named Ulysses, whose life was saved by Flora after he was involved in an incident with a vacuum cleaner, team up to use Ulysses' superpowers to conquer villains and protect the weak.

 

Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (Gr 5-7, 1990 Newbery Medal)

From the Publisher

As the German troops begin their campaign to "relocate" all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen's family takes in Annemarie's best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family.

​

Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war.

flwrhi.org

You may contact FL-WR at info@flwrhi.org

​

The Friends of the Library-Waikoloa Region is a

IRS Not For Profit tax-exempt organization 501(c) (3).

Updated 01/09/2025

Time Volunteered for
Website Assistance Courtesy of

www.VegaBlast.com

©2023 by flwrhi.org.

bottom of page