Burlington Public Library

When a boy with a terrible secret moves to town there is a sudden increase in dust storms, and asthmatic Avalyn theorizes the storms are linked to his emotions and tries to help as she struggles to breathe.

In 1791 after her family's journey from Pennsylvania, ten-year-old Lizzie suffers from the disease of asthma in her new home in the Southwest Territory (present day Tennessee).

Despite Carrie's asthma, her parents present her brother Alex with a pet mouse, but the mouse has magic powers and creates havoc by summoning up the ghosts of all the animals that have ever lived in the house.

This is a wonderful story which conveys the resourcefulness of children. More than that, Michael provides a view from within the Inuit culture. He illuminates for those of us who did not grow up on the Arctic Circle what it is to live in that harsh environment. At the same time, he shows us how alike we all are: enjoying the holidays and a good baseball game with friends.

With a new boyfriend, asthma attacks that come when least expected, and a pesky younger brother, fifteen-year-old Savannah's summer vacation takes many unexpected twists and turns.

Monty, a quiet first-grader continues to come into his own--playing the part of a tree in a comically miscued school play, sharing his enthusiasm for ants at an outdoor birthday party, and even signing up for karate class despite his asthma.