Ordinary Jack (1977), by Helen Cresswell.
In this first book about the extraordinarily talented and eccentric Bagthorpe family, poor Jack is distressed by his own lack of talent. He doesn't sing, paint, write poetry, do crossword puzzles or excel at sports or schoolwork. Even his dog is boring (and that's why he's called Zero). Luckily Jack's Uncle Parker has a plan to make Jack extraordinary, too. With a little planning and careful work, Jack will soon emerge as a seer of visions. Will Jack finally impress his family? In a household where even a birthday party ends with the arrival of the Fire Brigade, his performance will have to be spectacular.
This British import is laugh-out-loud reading for ages 11 and up.
Story for a Black Night (1982), by Clayton Bess.
A power failure begins this African story of trouble which visits Momo's house
on another dark night in his childhood. A stranger comes knocking at the door, asking
for shelter along with her mother and sick baby. In the morning the women are gone,
leaving a baby with smallpox behind. Momo's grandmother wants to kill the baby, but
his Christian-educated mother insists they keep it. The smallpox spreads, Ma's baby
dies, and Ma is disfigured. With dignity and humility, Momo's mother continues to do
what she must, even under criticism from her family. This is a powerful narrative with
direct, honest relationships at its core.
A novel for ages 11 and up.