The Wanderer by Sharon Creech

Young Sophie joins a surly crew of her three uncles and two cousins on a tireless and physical and emotional journey across the Atlantic as they seek their places in the world--and Sophie unlocks the secrets to her past. - SBCL

The story unfolds in journal entry form, alternating between the voices of orphan Sophie and her cousin Cody. Readers join Sophie on an ocean journey across the Atlantic from Connecticut to her new home in England. With the help of her new family of uncles and cousins, Sophie learns to deal with her pain while she bond and builds respect for the others on the voyage. - CDE

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech

Run run run. That's what twelve-year-old Annie loves to do. When she's barefoot and running, she can hear her heart beating... Thump-THUMP, thump-THUMP. It's a rhythm that makes sense in a year when everything's shifting: Her mother is pregnant, her grandfather is forgetful, and her best friend, Max, is always moody. Everything is changing, just like the apple Annie's been assigned to draw a hundred times. Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech masterfully weaves this story about a young girl beginning to understand the many rhythms of life and how she fits within them. - SBCL

Life has rhythms in the life of twelve-year-old Annie, who loves to run, as she ponders the many progressions of adolescence. Each heartbeat in this free-verse novel reflects her journey as a runner and the obstacles that she must overcome in the self-discovery process. Readers will take pleasure in this tender portrait of Annie. - CDE

Author: Sharon Creech