Check out PJ Our Way’s choices for August! In this month’s choices, a girl researches her family history and discovers some surprises along the way. Two kids move from Russia to New York to search for their father – with the help of a dragon named Snigger. A boy’s experiences during the Six-Day War are both exciting and emotional. Last but not least, a pair of siblings teams up to seek justice against an alleged thief. Find fantasy, history, excitement, and adventure in this month’s four amazing selections.

Searching for Lottie  By Susan L. Ross

Ages 10+

170 pages

When seventh grader Charlie is assigned a family research project at school, she becomes fascinated by the story of her namesake, Charlotte (Lottie), the mysterious child prodigy violinist who disappeared from Hungary during the Holocaust. Charlie is an aspiring violinist too, and she’s inspired and more than a little intimidated by Lottie’s musical success. Highlighting a lovely generation-to-generation connection, Charlie reaches out to her beloved Nana Rose to learn more about her long-lost older sister. This sweet and poignant book offers a soft, age-appropriate look into pre-war life in Vienna and the personal family tragedies of the Holocaust through the eyes of a modern young teen. It is based on the true story of the author’s family.

Mrs. Kaputnik’s Pool Hall and Matzo Ball Emporium 
By Rona Arato

Ages: 9+

192 pages

Ruth Kaputnik and her two children, Shoshi (age ten) and Moshe (age eight), are living hand to mouth in a tiny Russian village as Papa chases his fortune in America. When a mysterious peddler’s egg hatches into a fire-breathing dragon they name Snigger, their luck begins to change. They travel by ship to New York in search of their father, have many exciting adventures, and meet some really quirky characters. The story ends happily, with the whole family reunited … dragon and all.

The Six-Day Hero By Tammar Stein

Ages: 11+

256 pages

This thrilling, beautifully written coming-of-age novel vividly captures the spirit of Israel during the Six-Day War through the eyes of twelve-year-old Motti, who lives in Jerusalem, just a few meters from the Jordanian border. The entire country is suspended in a state of tense anticipation, Motti’s brother and father have been drafted and his best friend has fled the country. Motti dreams of playing the hero and is frustrated that he’s too young to help, until the reality of war teaches him that courage and daring are not exactly synonymous. Kids will be unable to put down this fast-paced and poignant novel as they join Motti in navigating through this inspiring and difficult era of recent Israeli history, so rarely documented for this age group. The Six-Day Hero has been chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection.

The Lemonade Crime By Jacqueline Davies

Ages: 9+

165 pages

Fourth grade isn’t off to a great start for Evan Treski. His younger sister Jessie skipped a grade and is now in his class, and when he hears that Scott Spencer has a brand-new video game console, he’s certain that Scott bought it with money he stole from Evan. Meanwhile, Jessie is trying to find her place as the youngest student in the fourth grade. As Jessie becomes increasingly convinced that Scott stole the money from Evan, she decides to take matters into her own hands and arranges a mock trial on the playground. The other students serve as judge, jury, and attorneys. But when the outcome of the trial doesn’t go the way Evan and Jessie had hoped, can they still find out the truth? This is the sequel to The Lemonade War but also works well as a standalone book.

What do you think of this month’s books? Comment below to let us know.