Those shoes by
Jeremy, who longs to have the black high tops that everyone at school seems to have but his grandmother cannot afford, is excited when he sees them for sale in a thrift shop and decides to buy them even though they are the wrong size.
A good trade by
In a small Ugandan village, Kato wakes early to start the long, barefoot trek beyond his village and along fields dotted with cattle and guarded by soldiers. His destination is the village well, where he will pump a day's supply of water into two jerry cans. But this is no ordinary day. The aid-worker's truck has come to the village square, and in the back is a gift so special, the little boy rushes home to look for something to repay the aid-worker.
Vingt sous pour un kilo by
Au fil d'un dialogue poétique, une jeune fille et sa mère discutent sur une plantation à café. La femme est courbaturée par son travail acharné, elle obtient vingt sous par kilo de café amassé et elle compte utiliser cet argent pour permettre à sa fille d'aller étudier et d'obtenir une vie descente. La jeune fille accepte, mais promet de lui rendre visite aussi souvent qu'elle pourra.
L'homme à la barbe hirsute by
Un jeune garçon pose des questions à sa mère au sujet d'un sans-abri qu'il observe.
Amari and the night brothers by
Thirteen-year-old Amari, a poor Black girl from the projects, gets an invitation from her missing brother to join the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and join in the fight against an evil magician.
Crenshaw by
A story about a homeless boy and his imaginary friend that proves in unexpected ways that friends matter, whether real or imaginary.
Looking for X by
Smart and independent, 11-year-old Khyber lives with her mom, Tammy, a former stripper, and her autistic twin brothers in a poor Toronto neighborhood. Though she doesn't have a lot in common with her classmates, Khyber does have wonderfully eccentric friends: Valerie, Toronto's meanest waitress, and X, a homeless woman in hiding from "the secret police." Despite having to deal with pompous social workers who make her mother cry and ignorant kids who make remarks about her brothers, Khyber manages to enjoy herself, poring over atlases, planning exotic journeys, and taking peanut butter sandwiches to X. But when Tammy decides to move her sons to a group home for proper care, Khyber's world starts to crumble. She fights with her mom and then gets expelled from school. To make matters worse, X suddenly disappears. Khyber sets out to find her in a wild all-night odyssey of self-discovery.
Outside in by
Lynn own life is full with choir practice, school, shopping for the perfect jeans, and dealing with her free-spirited mother. Then one day her life is saved by a mysterious girl named Blossom, who introduces Lynn to her own world and family are both more bizarre, yet somehow more sane, than Lynn. Blossom own family is a small band of outcasts and eccentrics who live secretly in an ingenious bunker beneath a city reservoir. Lynn is enchanted and amazed. But when she inadvertently reveals their secret, she is forced to take measure of her own motives and lifestyle, as she figures out what it really means to be a family and a friend. This novel is smart, rich, engaging and insightful.
No fixed address by
Felix Knuttson, twelve, is an endearing kid with an incredible brain for trivia. His mom Astrid is loving but unreliable; she can't hold onto a job, or a home. When they lose their apartment in Vancouver, they move into a camper van, just for August, till Astrid finds a job. September comes, they're still in the van; Felix must keep "home" a secret and give a fake address in order to enroll in school. Luckily, he finds true friends. As the weeks pass and life becomes grim, he struggles not to let anyone know how precarious his situation is. When he gets to compete on a national quiz show, Felix is determined to win -- the cash prize will bring them a home. Their luck is about to change! But what happens is not at all what Felix expected.
Holes by
As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself.
The rent collector : adapted for young readers from the best-selling novel by
Sang Ly lives at Cambodia's city dump where survival is a daily struggle, but when she develops an unlikely friendship with the ill-tempered rent collector, Sopeap, who teaches her to read, Sang embarks on a life-changing journey to give her son, Nisay, a better life and future.
Front desk by
Recent immigrants from China and desperate for work and money, ten-year-old Mia Tang's parents take a job managing a rundown motel in Southern California, even though the owner, Mr. Yao is a nasty skinflint who exploits them; while her mother (who was an engineer in China) does the cleaning, Mia works the front desk and tries to cope with demanding customers and other recent immigrants--not to mention being only one of two Chinese in her fifth grade class, the other being Mr. Yao's son, Jason.
Invisible: a Graphic Novel by
For fans of New Kid and Allergic, a must-have graphic novel about five very different students who are forced together by their school to complete community service... and may just have more in common than they thought. 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. With text in English and Spanish, Invisible features a groundbreaking format paired with an engaging, accessible, and relatable storyline. This Breakfast Club-inspired story by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, award-winning author of Concealed, and Gabriela Epstein, illustrator of two Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel adaptations, is a must-have graphic novel about unexpected friendships and being seen for who you really are.
Enterrer la lune by
La jeune Latika habite un village en Inde où il n'y a pas de toilettes. Dès qu'elle aura douze ans, elle sera en âge de devenir une mère et devra quitter l'école. Elle déteste le champ de la Honte, où les femmes se rendent la nuit pour faire leurs besoins. D'ailleurs, il est interdit d'en parler, car le sujet est tabou dans la communauté. Alors, quand un important représentant du gouvernement vient au village pour répondre à un besoin de la population, Latika voudrait pouvoir donner son avis, mais sa condition de jeune femme la contraint à se taire. Néanmoins, elle trouvera le courage de parler à Monsieur Samir de son problème, lié à l'absence de toilettes, en lui expliquant pourquoi elle aimerait pouvoir enterrer la lune.
On our street : our first talk about poverty by
Using illustrations, full-color photographs and straightforward text, this nonfiction picture book introduces the topics of homelessness and poverty to young readers.
A Duet for Home by
From the New York Times best-selling creator of the Vanderbeekers series comes a triumphant tale of friendship, healing, and the power of believing in ourselves, told from the perspectives of two biracial sixth graders living in a homeless shelter. At first, June can't believe it: their new home is a homeless shelter? When she's told she can't bring her cherished viola inside, she's convinced the worst luck in the world landed her at Huey House. But Tyrell has lived at Huey House for three years, and he knows all the good things about it: friendship, hot meals, and the music from next door drifting through the windows. With his help, June begins to see things differently. Just as she's starting to understand how Huey House can be a home, a new government policy threatens all the residents. Can June and Tyrell work together to find a way to save Huey House as they know it?
The Dutch house by
At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves. Cyril's son Danny and his older sister Maeve are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another.
The rent collector : a novel by
Sang Ly struggles to survive by picking through garbage in Cambodia's largest municipal dump. Under threat of eviction by an embittered old drunk who is charged with collecting rents from the poor of Stung Meanchey, Sang Ly embarks on a desperate journey to save her ailing son from a life of ignorance and poverty.
Black girl unlimited : the remarkable story of a teenage wizard by
From age six through her high school valedictory speech, believing she and her mother are wizards helps young Echo cope with poverty, hunger, her mother's drug abuse, and much more.
Trash by
A group of fourteen-year-old boys, who make a living picking garbage from the outskirts of a large city, finds something special and mysterious that brings terrifying consequences.
No fixed address by
Felix Knuttson, twelve, is an endearing kid with an incredible brain for trivia. His mom Astrid is loving but unreliable; she can't hold onto a job, or a home. When they lose their apartment in Vancouver, they move into a camper van, just for August, till Astrid finds a job. September comes, they're still in the van; Felix must keep "home" a secret and give a fake address in order to enroll in school. Luckily, he finds true friends. As the weeks pass and life becomes grim, he struggles not to let anyone know how precarious his situation is. When he gets to compete on a national quiz show, Felix is determined to win -- the cash prize will bring them a home. Their luck is about to change! But what happens is not at all what Felix expected.
Free lunch by
Instead of giving him lunch money, Rex's mom has signed him up for free meals. As a poor kid in a wealthy school district, better-off kids crowd impatiently behind him as he tries to explain to the cashier that he's on the free meal program. The lunch lady is hard of hearing, so Rex has to shout. Free Lunch is the story of Rex's efforts to navigate his first semester of sixth grade--who to sit with, not being able to join the football team, Halloween in a handmade costume, classmates and a teacher who take one look at him and decide he's trouble--all while wearing secondhand clothes and being hungry. His mom and her boyfriend are out of work, and life at home is punctuated by outbursts of violence. Halfway through the semester, his family is evicted and ends up in government-subsidized housing in view of the school. Rex lingers at the end of last period every day until the buses have left, so no one will see where he lives. Unsparing and realistic, Free Lunch is a story of hardship threaded with hope and moments of grace. Rex's voice is compelling and authentic, and Free Lunch is a true, timely, and essential work that illuminates the lived experience of poverty in America.
La nuit sort les dents by
En longeant le canal Lachine, Alex tombe sur un cadavre. Comble de malchance, une auto de police apparaît au coin de la rue. Paniqué, Alex se met à courir. Il n'en fallait pas plus pour être pris en chasse, arrêté et emmené au poste. Alex clame son innocence, et comme son père est avocat, il est rapidement libéré. Mais Alex n'a pas tout dit à la police. En effet, il a reconnu le couteau planté dans l'abdomen du cadavre tout comme le blouson de la personne qui fuyait la scène. Ils appartiennent à Océane, son amie rebelle dont il est secrètement amoureux. Il ne peut croire qu'elle a fait une telle chose et refuse de l'incriminer. Aussi, il décide de garder pour lui ces informations, mais fait lui-même sa petite enquête. C'est ainsi qu'il plonge dans le passé et dans l'univers du cirque d'où vient la famille d'Océane; à la recherche d'indices qui pourraient l'aider à reconstituer les circonstances du meurtre de Matteo Arlindo, un ancien lanceur de couteaux et ivrogne notoire bien connu dans le coin.
Biscuits chinois by
Grâce à ses fortes aptitudes pour plusieurs matières scolaires, Romie a obtenu une bouse pour intégrer une école privée plutôt élitiste. Comme elle a fait son secondaire 1 dans un établissement de quartier en compagnie de sa meilleure amie Flavie, qui habite le même immeuble qu'elle, l'adolescente se sent dépaysée dans cet immense collège où elle peine à retenir les noms de ses camarades de classe, où elle doit porter un uniforme et où tous les clans semblent déjà formés. Au lieu de s'asseoir chaque midi à la table des rejets, Romie opte pour un tête-à-tête avec le rouleau de papier de toilette des cabines du deuxième étage. Les choses changent cependant quand sa mère, s'inquiétant pour son intégration sociale difficile, propose à une dame qui l'a engagée comme femme de ménage d'inciter sa fille à la présenter à ses copines. La dénommée Abigaëlle se démontre gentille et silencieuse, mais Romie se sent à l'écart lorsque son groupe d'amies parle de leurs cours de ski et de la nourriture bio que leurs parents leur imposent, puisqu'elle ne jouit pas du même mode de vie aisé. Tirant son courage dans les messages des biscuits chinois qu'elle se plaît à collectionner, Romie trouvera néanmoins le moyen de s'épanouir en s'inscrivant à la radio étudiante de son école.
La vie au Max by
Max est fort heureusement doué car il doit survivre à son père, à la pauvreté, aux moqueries, etc.
Les vélos n'ont pas d'états d'âme by
Jérémie se heurte à une nouvelle élève jolie et hautaine, à la polyvalente. Laure Lupien qui partage certains de ses cours, vient d'être parachutée d'un collège privé huppé à une école publique ordinaire. Elle est distante avec Jérémie, mais celui-ci est à la fois attiré et intrigué par le personnage. Dans le désir de connaître son histoire, il interroge, s'informe, découvre le drame de Laure et l'aide à s'en sortir. Sa copine de toujours, Tanya, trouve moins drôle cette amitié naissante. Jérémie, le spécialiste du vélo s'explique mal le comportement de celle-ci: "Contrairement aux filles, les vélos n'ont pas d'états d'âme". Finalement, grâce à son intervention, Laure fait la paix avec son passé, avec elle-même, accepte son nouveau statut social et se tourne vers l'avenir. Jérémie renoue avec Tanya et avoue que: "... les filles c'est quand même mieux que les vélos. Parce que... les vélos n'ont pas d'états d'âme". -- Ce roman est bien construit, sans temps mort. Les éléments secondaires, loin du remplissage, s'imbriquent bien dans la trame où ils trouvent leur sens véritable. Les personnages sont sains, bien campés et leurs comportements, réalistes. Un récit tonique qui baigne dans l'amitié. Palmarès Communication-jeunesse des livres préférés des jeunes 1999-2000, catégorie 12 ans et +, 6e position.
Enlève la nuit by
On peut venir au monde à tout âge. Pour Markus, cela se passe au début de la vingtaine, quand il s'enfuit de la communauté fermée qui l'a vu naître et qui l'étouffe. Le voici donc plongé dans le "Frais Monde", dans la jungle urbaine, au risque de se noyer. Il doit s'inventer à partir de rien. Il doit apprendre à se nourrir, à se trouver un toit, un travail. Il doit découvrir tous les codes de la vie libre, dont celui de la séduction, car rien ne l'attire plus que les "Mignonnes" du Frais Monde, toutes plus pimpantes les unes que les autres, toutes déshabillées là où ça rend fou de les regarder. Ce n'est pas un hasard si Markus se retrouve à aider les plus mal pris de la ville, pas un hasard non plus si Abbie et Raquel, deux vestiges de son ancienne vie, viennent s'échouer chez lui. Car Markus est différent. Malgré son intense désir d'intégration, Markus est dévoré par une flamme qui le pousse à éclairer ceux qui semblent souffrir d'obscurité et ils sont nombreux. Comment trouver sa place sans perdre son âme? Où se terre la Mignonne ultime, l'âme sœur qui lui fait si cruellement défaut? Et qui est cette ombre bienveillante qui veille sur lui depuis le début, ce vieil homme mystérieux que Markus surnomme "Maître K", et qui se dérobe chaque fois qu'il l'approche? Cette histoire, c'est Markus qui nous la raconte, en jouant comme un enfant émerveillé avec la nouvelle langue qu'il a apprise. Ce sont les mots et les yeux candides de Markus qui nous dévoilent les désastres ambulants partout, et l'aveuglement du monde libre qui court, qui court pour se fuir lui-même.
Hockey de rue by
Après le décès de sa mère et le départ précipité de son beau-père qui le laisse seul à payer le loyer, Jonathan, 12 ans, se retrouve à la rue. Heureusement, le garçon trouve refuge dans un bâtiment abandonné que les jeunes marginaux nomment la "cave". Au prix de 50 sous par jour, Jonathan peut dormir dans cet endroit relativement protégé. Il peut aussi compter sur Lewis, 16 ans, qui l'a pris sous son aile. Rebaptisé "Souris", Jonathan fait des courses et distribue des colis; le reste du temps, il mendie pour pouvoir payer son loyer et s'acheter un petit pain. La chance de sortir de cette misère lui vient sous la forme d'un équipement de hockey volé. À la patinoire du coin, il fait la rencontre des "réglos" (enfants vivants avec leur famille). Il se lie d'amitié avec certains garçons, dont Rasheed, qui l'invitent à joindre leur équipe. Jonathan accepte sachant qu'il ne pourra jamais leur révéler sa vraie condition d'enfant de la rue. Jouer au hockey s'avère gratifiant pour Jonathan, il est un excellent joueur qui compte des buts. Mais garder secret sa double vie se révèle beaucoup plus difficile et dangereux qu'il ne l'avait imaginé au départ.
La fourmilière by
Sam, 17 ans, s'est enfui de chez lui, pour des raisons que l'on devine très graves, mais que l'on ne connaîtra qu'à la fin. Il emménage dans un minuscule studio dans un immeuble délabré de Londres, et vivote tant bien que mal grâce à un petit boulot. Ce que ce garçon en fugue, originaire de la campagne anglaise, est venu chercher dans la grande ville: l'anonymat et la solitude. Mais c'est sans compter sur Isabel, l'amicale dame du rez-de-chaussée, qui se mêle de tout et de tous. Donc, difficile de vivre tranquille pour Sam, d'autant plus qu'une gamine de 10 ans, Bohémia, nouvelle locataire et tout aussi seule, a jeté son dévolu sur son jeune voisin. Laissé à elle-même, sa junky de mère la délaissant jour et nuit pour faire les quatre cents coups, Bohémia a besoin d'un ami et c'est Sam qu'elle a choisi.
Why nations fail : the origins of power, prosperity, and poverty by
Examines the factors that influence whether a nation is rich or poor, explains the economic institutions that underlie economic success in the twenty-first century, and discusses China and its growth, America's future, and an effective way to help millions overcome poverty.
Shelter : homelessness in our community by
There are 150 million people experiencing homelessness worldwide, and that number is increasing every year. Homelessness is not a choice, yet it exists in almost every community. But why are people homeless? Who are they? What can you do? In Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community, readers will get answers to these complex questions. They'll learn about the root causes of homelessness and its effects, and what people and organizations around the world are doing to address the problem. It shares the personal stories of people who live on the street and the adults and kids who work with them. As a former homeless-shelter worker, author Lois Peterson encourages young people to approach the issue with knowledge and compassion. She dispels some of the myths about homelessness and makes the case for why everyone deserves a safe, permanent place to call home.
From the ashes : my story of being Métis, homeless, and finding my wa by
From the Ashes is a remarkable memoir about hope and resilience, and a revelatory look into the life of a Métis-Cree man who refused to give up. Abandoned by his parents as a toddler, Jesse Thistle briefly found himself in the foster-care system with his two brothers, cut off from all they had known. Eventually the children landed in the home of their paternal grandparents, but their tough-love attitudes meant conflicts became commonplace. And the ghost of Jesse's drug-addicted father haunted the halls of the house and the memories of every family member. Struggling, Jesse succumbed to a self-destructive cycle of drug and alcohol addiction and petty crime, spending more than a decade on and off the streets, often homeless. One day, he finally realized he would die unless he turned his life around. In this heartwarming and heartbreaking memoir, Jesse Thistle writes honestly and fearlessly about his painful experiences with abuse, uncovering the truth about his parents, and how he found his way back into the circle of his Indigenous culture and family through education. An eloquent exploration of what it means to live in a world surrounded by prejudice and racism and to be cast adrift, From the Ashes is, in the end, about how love and support can help one find happiness despite the odds.
The glass castle : a memoir by
Journalist Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary and their four children lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family. When the money ran out, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town Rex had tried to escape. As the dysfunction escalated, the children had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they found the resources and will to leave home. Yet Walls describes her parents with deep affection in this tale of unconditional love in a family that, despite its profound flaws, gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life.
Behind the beautiful forevers : life, death, and hope in a Mumbai undercity by
Profiles everyday life in the settlement of Annawadi as experienced by a Muslim teen, an ambitious rural mother, and a young scrap metal thief, illuminating how their efforts to build better lives are challenged by religious, caste, and economic tensions.
It's Trevor Noah : born a crime : stories from a South African childhood ; adapted for young readers by
The comedian traces his coming of age during the twilight of apartheid in South Africa and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed, offering insight into the farcical aspects of the political and social systems of today's world.
The 57 bus : a true story of two teenagers and the crime that changed their lives by
One teenager in a skirt. One teenager with a lighter. One moment that changes both of their lives forever. If it weren't for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued flatlands and attended a large public one. Each day, their paths overlapped for a mere eight minutes. But one afternoon on the bus ride home from school, a single reckless act left Sasha severely burned, and Richard charged with two hate crimes and facing life imprisonment. The case garnered international attention, thrusting both teenagers into the spotlight.
The glass castle : a memoir by
Journalist Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary and their four children lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family. When the money ran out, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town Rex had tried to escape. As the dysfunction escalated, the children had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they found the resources and will to leave home. Yet Walls describes her parents with deep affection in this tale of unconditional love in a family that, despite its profound flaws, gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life.
The glass castle : a memoir by
Journalist Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary and their four children lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family. When the money ran out, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town Rex had tried to escape. As the dysfunction escalated, the children had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they found the resources and will to leave home. Yet Walls describes her parents with deep affection in this tale of unconditional love in a family that, despite its profound flaws, gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life.
The Hawthorne Legacy by
Rumors spread that Tobias Hawthorne's lost son may still be alive, casting doubt on seventeen-year-old Avery's inheritance and changing the rules of the game.
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by
Vance, a former marine and Yale Law School graduate, provides an account of growing up in a poor Rust Belt town that offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of America's white working class. The decline of this group, a demographic of our country that has been slowly disintegrating over forty years, has been reported on with growing frequency and alarm. J. D. Vance tells the true story of what a social, regional, and class decline feels like when you were born with it hung around your neck. The Vance family story begins hopefully in postwar America. J. D.'s grandparents were "dirt poor and in love," and moved north from Kentucky's Appalachia region to Ohio in the hopes of escaping the dreadful poverty around them. They raised a middle-class family, and eventually their grandchild (the author) would graduate from Yale Law School, a conventional marker of their success in achieving generational upward mobility. But as the family saga of Hillbilly Elegy plays out, we learn that this is only the short, superficial version. Vance's grandparents, aunt, uncle, sister, and, most of all, his mother, struggled profoundly with the demands of their new middle-class life, and were never able to fully escape the legacy of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma so characteristic of their part of America.
True Stories of Teen Homelessness by
Nearly two million teens face homelessness a year in the United States alone. This book shares the stories of teens who are homeless and live on the streets or in shelters, with or without their families. Readers are presented with relatable facts about a vulnerable population. They will learn what can be done to address homelessness, and how to remedy the long-lasting consequences of the epidemic.
