Chapter Books
Diamond Willow by Helen Frost
Twelve-year-old Diamond Willow, a part-Athabascan girl, accidentally injures her family’s beloved sled dog and embarks on a journey of guilt, discovery, and healing. Told in diamond-shaped poems with hidden messages, the story weaves in ancestral voices through animal spirits, revealing the strength of family, cultural identity, and intergenerational connection.
Book Details: Contemporary Novel, Fiction; Publisher, Date: Frances Foster Books, 2008; Number of pages: 109; Age level: 8-12
Family Theme Highlight: Explores intergenerational storytelling and the hidden connections between ancestors and present-day family.
Related Activity: Create diamond-shaped poems inspired by your own family stories or memories. Encourage students to bold a sentence in the center that reveals an emotional truth, just like in the book.
Bo at Ballard Creek by Kirkpatrick Hill
Set in a 1920s Alaska mining town, this heartwarming story follows Bo, a young girl joyfully raised by two gold miners after being abandoned. Surrounded by a close-knit community and the rich traditions of Native and immigrant families, Bo's life is filled with love, laughter, and a strong sense of belonging.
Book Details: Historical Fiction; Publisher, Date: Henry Holt & Company, 2014; Number of pages: 282; Age level: 8-12
Family Theme Highlight: Celebrates chosen family and the love found in nontraditional caregiving relationships.
Related Activity: Draw a map of a fictional town based on a chosen family or community. Include key places like homes, a school, and gathering spots, then write short descriptions of who lives there and how they’re connected.
The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill
In a remote Athabascan village, a new teacher named Miss Agnes arrives and transforms the lives of her students through compassion, respect, and creativity. Told from the perspective of ten-year-old Fred, the story celebrates the bond between teacher and students and shows how education and community are deeply connected to family values.
Book Details: Historical Fiction; Publisher, Date: Margaret McElderry Books, 2000; Number of pages: 115; Age level: 8-12
Family Theme Highlight: Shows how a teacher can become a caring and influential figure within a tight-knit village community, reinforcing family and cultural values.
Related Activity: Interview a grandparent, elder, or family member and write a short story or create a poster about something they taught you. Include a portrait or illustration of that person.
Alaska Harvest by Elsa Pederson
Alaska Harvest by Elsa Pedersen is a realistic fiction novel for grades 5–8 that follows a family's life on a boat in Kachemak Bay as they fish for crabs to help their mother and save for a home. Through teamwork, gratitude, and new friendships, Alec, Mary, and Bruce McClain learn the value of perseverance and connection. Set in Seldovia with soft pencil illustrations, the story offers a gentle introduction to Alaskan coastal life and family resilience.
Book Details: Realistic Fiction, Classical Literature; Publisher, Date: Abingdon Press, 1960; Number of pages: 192; Age level: 10-14
Family Theme Highlight: Explores the strength and unity of family through change and adaptation in a remote setting.
Related Activity: Invite students to write a short journal entry from the perspective of a young person moving to a new place with their family. What are their fears, hopes, and what do they learn from each other along the way?
A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry
Based on the true story of a wolf who journeyed over 1,000 miles, this gripping animal adventure is told from the wolf’s perspective. As he searches for a new home after being separated from his pack, Wander’s story reflects themes of survival, instinct, and the importance of family and connection in the wild.
Book Details: Animal Fantasy, Adventure Fiction; Publisher, Date: Greenwillow Books, 2019; Number of pages: 235; Age level: 8-12
Family Theme Highlight: Illustrates the deep emotional bonds and loyalty between siblings and the longing for family connection.
Related Activity: Have students draw a map of Wander’s journey and then write a letter from Wander to his lost pack, expressing what he misses and what he’s learned. This helps connect emotional growth with the theme of family.
