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The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
10-year-old Lucky has seen hard times in Hard Pan, California. Her mother died two years ago and she has never met her father. But, she has a best friend, Lincoln, who loves to tie knots, and who may actually be president of the U.S. one day; she has her dog, HMS Beagle; and, she has her guardian, Brigitte. A problem arises when Lucky finds a passport and Brigitte’s suitcase in the kitchen, she becomes convinced that Brigitte wants nothing more than to move back to France and leave Lucky all alone. So, she works out a plan to keep Brigitte in Hard Pan. But Lucky didn’t plan on a really bad dust storm, an annoying five-year-old tag-along, and a pesky ear-invading bug. Will this run-away adventure convince Brigitte to stay? Will Lucky even survive this run-away adventure?

Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
Comfort Snowberger knows death. Her family owns the only funeral home in the small town of Snapfinger, Mississippi. She has been to 247 funerals. She has written the handy Top Ten Tips for First-rate Funeral Behavior and is composing a book of Fantastic (and Fun) Funeral Food for Family and Friends. Comfort knows that death is a part of life. But this is not always easy for people to accept. And, Comfort is about to find out what it is like to loose family members that are very close to her.