Book picks similar to
Hatchet: A Novel Teaching Pack by Margaret Whisnant


childhood-favorites
fiction-and-humor
realistic-fiction
the-art-of-manliness

Haunts Haven


Joan Sowards - 2009
    But Callie doesn’t believe in ghosts, and she plans to turn the inn into a bed and breakfast. Then things start to happen—strange, spooky things— and she begins to wonder if there is some truth to the ghost stories. If that weren’t bad enough, Callie discovers a mysterious grave in the cellar. As she confronts the inn’s tragic secrets, she also faces her lonely past and learns to embrace her heritage. But it takes a handsome cowboy and a harming rancher to prove that Callie’s long-guarded heart can love again.

All started with a dare


infinetely finite
    "I dare you, Jade Elsie Brooke, to break into Trystan Woods's house and steal a pair of his boxers without him finding out." Jade Brooke was the daredevil who had never turned down a dare, no matter how bad it was. So when a simple game of truth or dare ends up flipping her life upside down in the form of a dare, she has no one to blame but herself. Trystan Woods was the boy out of reach for most, who stood at the top of the high school food chain. Everyone loves him, and he was the football team captain. Jade had never interacted with him, until the day she was dared to break into his house and steal his underwear. The only flaw in the plan? When he catches her in his room holding his boxers.

From Victim to Hero: The Untold Story of Steven Stayner


Jim Laughter - 2010
    Steven’s story inspires and exemplifies the goodness and strength within the human spirit. The trauma experienced by the family is shared, giving insight of the impact on the marriage, children, and friends. Whether in abuse or abduction, From Victim to Hero portrays the grooming, lying and strategies used by predators to convince and coerce their victims into compliance. This book reiterates the three principles victims must realize – 1. Nobody has the right to hurt you. 2. It’s not your fault. 3. You don’t have the right to hurt others. Buy this book. Share it with your children. Keep them safe.Ed Smart (father of kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart)President, Surviving Parents CoalitionIn this book, From Victim to Hero, Jim Laughter expresses Steven’s heart and brings to light the extraordinary spirit of a young man that endangered himself because he believed rescuing Timmy White was the right thing to do.Diane L Brown, Founder/DirectorSafety Kids, Inc.

Why Me?


Deborah Kent - 1992
    In this timely, sensitive novel, thirteen-year-old Rachel discovers she has kidney disease and is forced to find her biological mother for a kidney transplant.

Abraham's Men (Birch Harbor, #2)


Kristen Selleck - 2012
    College sophomore Chloe Adams returns to Birch Harbor determined to find the remnants of the secret society known as Abraham's Men.Yet, the only clues she has are the words 'find Ian Rose' and a strange coded journal that once belonged to her father.No longer able to hear the voices that have plagued her for most of her life, and finally having the loving home she has always dreamed of, Chloe struggles to define what she wants--Until fate and her mentor conspire to offer her the chance to discover the truth.Unfortunately, the truth might kill her.

I Escaped The World's Deadliest Shark Attack


Scott Peters - 2019
    Can he escape? From multi-award-winning Ellie Crowe and Scott Peters.16-year-old Josh is thrilled to be a crew member aboard the mighty USS Indianapolis. But when a Japanese torpedo strikes in the middle of the night, it tears the warship in half. Josh is thrown from the deck and plunged deep into the black ocean. In horror, he watches the massive vessel begin its death plunge, threatening to pull him down with it. Josh is no swimmer. He's a baseball player from San Antonio, Texas. He's way out of his element. Soon, hundreds of sharks begin to circle. He's living his worst nightmare, but for how long? Can he survive without a lifeboat, food or water in a sea of countless hungry sharks? Every hour is a fight because if he gives up, he'll never make it home. But does he have what it takes to survive? With no rescue team in sight, can Josh ever hope to escape?On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed at 15 minutes past midnight. It sank in 12 minutes. The survivors spent four days fighting off the deadliest shark attacks in history.This is the 3rd children's book in the I Escaped Series about brave kids who face real-world challenges and find ways to escape. Sure to appeal to fans of books like I Survived by New York Times Bestseller Lauren Tarshis, stories about the Titanic, and readers of Alan Gratz.A study guide is available at bit.ly/sharkescapeAn adrenaline-charged tale of bravery and friendship during a terrible tragedy in American history.

Pepperland


Mark Delaney - 2004
    Star) is sixteen when her mother dies of breast cancer. Star is angry that her mother has died and left her, and nothing seems to make her feel better: Not talking to her shrink. Not playing rock music with her best friend Dooley. Not even listening to her mother's old familiar Beatles albums.It is not until Star finds an unsent letter addressed to John Lennon and a broken-down vintage Gibson guitar that she begins to find a way out of her grief...and maybe even a way to take care of some unfinished business left by her mother.Written as homage to the Beatles and the healing power of music, Mark Delaney's unforgettable novel offers a realistic and poignant look at a difficult period in a teenager's life and the process of finding one's self.

Coldfall


Dirk Patton - 2017
    The FBI claims the men were part of an anti-government militia group, but Joseph and Tanya know that wasn't the case. They join forces to find the truth as a cabal of the wealthy and political elite work to create a false crisis in order to justify the suspension of the US constitution. Finding evidence that proves their fathers’ innocence and exposes the lie told to the American people, they are forced to flee a team of the Cabal's hired mercenaries. Now, they must stay alive as a group of former special forces soldiers races to save them and reveal the truth to the world.

The iAmerican (Michael Bennit, #4)


Mikael Carlson - 2014
     "We came here to make Congress effective again, and that is bigger than any one man." Some people see a conspiracy behind everything, only this time there was one. While coming to grips with the discovery of who tried to have him assassinated, Michael Bennit must make the decision that will define his character - make a deal with the devil to save his political career or risk losing everything he has worked for.As party allegiances crumble in Washington, the new president is desperate to advance his own agenda with or without the help of Congress. Heeding the calls of a disgruntled public, he plans to act unilaterally and fundamentally change the face of the American government. Now the former soldier and teacher and his staff must race to do the impossible and unite the Legislative Branch against an egomaniacal president.With enemies mobilizing against him, the media no longer on his side, and most of his former students no longer able to help, the stakes have never been higher for Michael Bennit - he must succeed in his quest to bring change to Washington or watch as the center of national political power permanently shifts to the White House forever.The fourth book in The Michael Bennit Series, The iAmerican follows the plight of four people caught in the crucible of the greatest power struggle the nation has ever witnessed. Friendships will be tested and careers destroyed, but can the integrity of one man be strong enough to save the government from itself and restore the confidence of the American people? The Michael Bennit Series (in order): 1. The iCandidate2. The iCongressman3. The iSpeaker4. The iAmerican ˃˃˃ More Than Just a Plain Vanilla Political Novels The Michael Bennit Series books are more than just another political novels. Although the books are set against the backdrop of a politics, the themes they explore the about social media and society, education in America, and how we react to a pervasive media culture are important to learn about and discuss. ˃˃˃ A Glimpse Into the Future!Social media is everywhere today! It is a powerful tool, but are we too trusting of it? This must read series of books examines that question in a fun and entertaining way. Read the first three books in the series first, then purchase a copy today!

Esio Trot & The Minpins


Roald Dahl - 2003
    Little Billy vanquishes the worst monster of all and becomes a hero to the Minpins.

Cages of Glass, Flowers of Time


Charlotte Culin - 1979
    Fourteen-year-old Claire, a victim of child abuse, gradually finds love in the world with the help of two unlikely friends.

Amazing Gracie


Ann Edwards Cannon - 1991
    Practical Gracie has been the one to manage their lives. Then Mom remarries, suddenly, and they move to Salt Lake City, where Gracie has to share a room with her six-year-old stepbrother, Sinjian. But in some ways the move is good for Gracie. She meets Tiimo, her first boyfriend, explores the city, and even begins to enjoy Sinjian's company. But for Mom, it's a disaster. When her mother attempts suicide, it's up to Gracie to hold her new family together.

Every Family Has One (All Things D #2)


Joanna Warrington - 2015
    The attacker, unimaginably, is her trusted parish priest. Terrified, Kathleen never tells her pious Catholic mother, and when she discovers she is pregnant, she pays a terrible price for her silence. Her mother believes Kathleen to be a fallen child and sends her to have her ill-begotten baby in Ireland. Kathleen toils in a notorious Magdalene Laundry, where heartless nuns dole out merciless penance on shamed girls. Kathleen never recovers from her trauma, and years later she’s become the overprotective, paranoid mother of a second child. Meanwhile, Faye, a widowed mother of three worries about her teenage son, Tim. He’s increasingly withdrawn, but when several parcels are mysteriously delivered the shocking truth about what is going on in his life is slowly revealed. She turns to an old flame believing he is at the root of Tim’s problems and as the couple rekindles their love, Tim’s troubles deepen. Faye pours out her sorrows in letters to a friend, and slowly, shocking family secrets and interwoven relationships reveal themselves. As it turns out, Kathleen isn’t the only fallen one in this story of love, forgiveness, and powerful family ties. Every Family Has One is the anticipated sequel to The Catholic Woman’s Dying Wish. It can be read as a stand-alone sequel.

Luna Freed: Beyond the Wall


Margaret McHeyzer - 2019
     After my first escape, I realized that everything I'd believed, everything the Elders told us, and everything I thought I knew were all calculated lies. Now I know the truth will set me free.

The Alternate Ending


M.J. Thompson - 2014
    I swear if he is cheating, I'll chop it off myself." After Nate leaves for college together with his twin and Hope’s brother, the couple struggles to uplift their relationship. They try to survive through phone calls and skype video chats, but it wasn’t enough to quench her longing for him. To remedy this, Hope plans a trip with Heather and Dean to surprise her boyfriend and their brothers. But as it turns out, they were the ones in for a surprise…