by Jules Verne. Ships from several countries spot a mysterious sea monster which some suggest to be a giant narhwal. The United States government finally assembles an expedition to track down and destroy the creature . Professor Pierre Aronnax, an expert marine biologist from France is the narrator of the story. He recounts the tale of his journey with the complicated Captain Nemo. They venture to mysterious and dangerous locations under the oceans of the world.

by Katherine Paterson. Losing a best friend is probably one of the toughest things to go through in life, no matter how old or young you are. Before Leslie dies, she and Jess create a world so personal and powerful, it helps Jess cope and move on past the tragedy. But Jess gains so much from his friendship with Leslie – the kinds of life-changing support that almost can’t be put into words – that their mutual transformation is more significant than the fact they only had a little time together. Reading about Jess’s loss and how he deals with it – how he chooses to be brave, look forward, and honor his friend – helps prepare us to deal with future sadness, or honor people close to us who are no longer here. –Schmoop University

Anne Frank. Although she would have preferred to return to her previous life of school and freedom, Anne’s new reality of being forced to hide was teaching her things about herself, her family and the world around her, a world she could no longer participate in. Anne and her family were Jewish, and during WWII and Adolph Hitler’s murderous campaign to control the world though ethnic cleansing, their faith was enough for them to be hunted and rounded up like animals and shipped off to the concentration camps and gas chambers. This book is Anne’s diary that she kept while she was secreted away in a small attic with her family, just trying to survive by staying hidden, long enough.