Thorndike Press youth large print middle reader

"11-year-old Kofi Offin dreams of water. Its mysterious, immersive quality. The rich, earthy scent of the current. The clearness, its urgent whisper that beckons with promises and secrets. Kofi has heard the call on the banks of Upper Kwanta, in the village where he lives. He loves these things above all else: his family, the fireside tales of his father's father, a girl named Ama, and, of course, swimming. Some say he moves like a minnow, not just an ordinary boy so he's hoping to finally prove himself in front of Ama and his friends in a swimming contest against his older, stronger cousin. But before this can take place, a festival comes to the villages of Upper and Lower Kwanta and Kofi's brother is chosen to represent Upper Kwanta in the wrestling contest. Encircled by cheering spectators and sounding drums, the two wrestlers from different villages kneel, ready to fight. You are only fine, until you are not. The match is over before it has barely begun, when the unthinkable--a sudden death--occurs. The river does not care how grown you are. As his world turns upside down, Kofi soon ends up in a fight for his life. What happens next will send him on a harrowing journey across land and sea, and away from everything he loves"--Provided by publisher.

On December 7, 1941, thirteen-year-old Frank and his Japanese American best friend Stanley battle for survival when Pearl Harbor comes under attack.

Since her father's death, Cat has taken care of her brother, Chicken, for their hardworking mother but while spending time with grandparents they never knew, Cat has the chance to be a child again.

After her arrival in a wildlife sanctuary with friends Ivan and Bob, Ruby is reunited with a beloved caretaker from the elephant orphanage in Africa where she was raised. With Ivan and Bob there for support, Ruby relates her happy and sad memories from her time in the African savanna.

Every day passes by just like every other day in Fawn Creek, Louisiana--at least, that's how best friends-since-forever Dorothy Doucet and Greyson Broussard feel. The two girls consider themselves outside the typical seventh-grade groups--especially the self-proclaimed God Squad, and the Fawn Creek Royalty, and the Jocks--and that suits them just fine, since they have each other. Dorothy and Greyson have no reason to believe this year will be any different, until some new kid from Somewhere Else comes to town.