St. Bede School
7th & 8th Grade
Book Report Book Summaries
Adler, C.S.: Ghost Brother
Wally has to come to terms with the accidental death of his older brother. He fails miserably when he attempts to do
things at which his brother excelled.
Alcott, Louisa May: Little Women
The March girls – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy manage to lead interesting lives despite their father’s absence and the
family’s lack of money. Using her own experience, Louisa May Alcott writes one of the first great family stories.
Asimov, Isaac: Fantastic Voyage
Four men and one woman journey into the living body of a man to save his life. They are reduced to microscopic
size and board a miniaturized sub to travel to a blood clot in the brain of scientist Benes.
Austen, Jane: Pride and Prejudice
Some wealthy, young and very eligible bachelors move into the neighborhood of five pretty, unmarried sisters. This
story takes place in 18th century England and tells the tale of courtship, love, and marriage.
Avi: The Man Who Was Poe
It is night and Edmund is all alone. His mother, sister, and aunt have disappeared. Who can he turn to for help?
Avi: True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
In 1832, Charlotte boards the brig, Seahawk. Charlotte discovers that she is alone among a dozen rough and crude
crewmen. She is the only passenger from England to the United States.
Bauer, Marion Dane: On My Honor
Promises are hard to keep, but this time breaking a promise resulted in the death of a best friend.
Bellairs, John: The Vengeance of the Witch Finder
Lewis and his uncle are in England visiting their cousin. Lewis accidentally unleashes the ghost of Malachiah
Pruitt. Can Lewis fight the maniacal wizard, or will all of the Barnavelts die?
Blos, Joan W.: A Gathering of Days
A story, written as a journal, of a young girl’s life in New England after the death of her mother.
Boom, Corrie ten: The Hiding Place
A true story of Corrie ten Boom and her family during the Nazi invasion and occupation of Holland. They join the
Dutch Underground, hiding Jewish people in their home and aiding their escape from the Nazi’s.
Bronte, Charlotte: Jane Eyre
A story of a girl growing up and all the disappointments and the triumphs she experiences. This is truly a classic.
Bunting, Eve: Someone is Hiding on Alcatraz Island
When fourteen-year-old Danny incurs the wrath of a local street gang, the flees in desperation to Alcatraz Island
hoping to blend in with the sightseers and lose the pursuing gang. Instead he is trapped there for the night.
Bunting, Eve: Spying on Miss Muller
Jessie and her best friends in boarding school have always loved their teacher, Miss Muller, who is half-German and
half-Irish. But now their country, Ireland, is at war with Germany. Can they trust Miss Muller, or is she really a
spy?
Card, Orson Scott: The Ender’s Game
Once again, the Earth is under attack. Alien “bugger” are poised for a final assault. The survival of the human
specie depends on a military genius who can defeat the buggers.
Clark, Clara Gillow: Nellie Bishop
Nellie's mother is very mean and plans to sell Nellie to any man to marry. Nellie wants no part of this. Would you?
Clements, Andrew: The Landry News
Cara Landry is a new kid in school and has a teacher that just likes to read the newspaper and drink coffee. Cara
decides to start her own newspaper in class- The Landry News. Is this going to cause trouble for her teacher?
Colfer, Eoin: Artemis Fowl, The Arctic Incident
At the start of his second adventure, Artemis is at boarding school in Ireland when he receives an urgent video email from Russia. In it is a plea from a man who has been kidnapped by the Russian Mafiya-a man Artemis had
thought he would never see again: his beloved father.
Collier, James L. and Christopher: Jump Ship to Freedom
This is an award winning historical trilogy that describes the troubles and triumphs in the Black experience during
the post-Revolutionary War period. A courageous young slave, Daniel Arabus, is trying to recover money earned
by his father. Money that will buy freedom for his mother and himself.
Collier, James L. and Christopher: War Comes to Willy Freeman
This story portrays the struggles of a young, free, Black girl who disguises herself as a boy while she searches for
her mother who has been captured by the British.
Collier, James L. and Christopher: The Winter Hero
Justin Conkey was too young to fight in the Revolutionary War, but now it’s 1787 and Justin is fourteen. There’s a
new war raging called Shay’s Rebellion. Justin is ready to fight and wants to be a hero. Will he be a hero or run
away? (By the authors of My Brother Sam is Dead.)
Collins, Suzanne: Catching Fire (2)
Against all odds, Katniss has survived the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are
miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be.
Gale holds her at a nicy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a
rebellion against the Capitol-a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Collins, Suzanne: Mocking Jay (3)
Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale escaped. Katniss’
family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new
leaders. A revolution is unfolding.
Collins, Suzanne: The Hunger Games (1)
In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival
competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's
skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.
Crane, Stephen: The Red Badge of Courage
A story of a young boy named Henry who goes to fight in the Civil War. In his first battle, will he run or fight?
Story of courage, fear, conflict and death.
Creech, Sharon: Walk Two Moons
Salmanca Tree Hiddle, proud of her country roots and the "Indianness" in her blood, travels from Ohio to Idaho with
her eccentric grandparents.
Cross, Gillian: Pictures in the Dark
Charlie is a student photographer. One night he takes the oddest picture.
Curtis: Bud, Not Buddy
Struggling to find his own identity, Bud, Not Buddy, must learn to survive after facing so many problems. Will he
ever find his father?
Dahl, Michael: The Worm Tunnel
Finnegan Zwake and his Uncle Stoppard are on an archaeological dig in Aguluar. Digging too deeply can stir up
trouble, not to mention murder.
DiCamillo, Katie: The Tiger Rising
Walking through the misty Florida Woods one morning, young Rob Horton discovers a large and very real tiger in a
cage. On the same extraordinary day, he meets Sistine Bailey, and begins to understand that some things-like
memories, and heartache, and tigers-can’t be locked up forever.
Dickens, Charles: A Tale of Two Cities
This great novel tells of the terror and suffering of a cast of characters during the French Revolution. “It was the
best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Dickens, Charles: Great Expectations
Truly a classic. This is the story of Pip, raised by his cranky old sister and her kind and loyal husband. Pip has a
plain, working life until one day he is summoned to the home of the rich, eccentric Mrs. Havisham.
Farmer, Nancy: The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm
It is 2194 in Zimbabwe. General Matsika’s three children sneak out of their house to go on an adventure. As soon
as they reach town they are in trouble—they’re kidnapped! The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm are hired to find General
Matsika’s children.
Farmer, Nancy: A Girl Named Disaster
Nhamo's mom has died and she is only 12. Her aunts wants her to marry this very cruel man. She doesn't want to
and runs away to find her father. She travels throughout Africa looking for him. Does she live long enough to find
him?
Fox, Paula: The Slave Dancer
Jessie, a young boy, is kidnapped and forced to play his fife on a slave ship. Horrors are faced each day on board
the Moonlight.
Funke, Cornelia: Dragon Rider (3)
After learning that humans are headed toward his hidden home, Firedrake, a silver dragon, is joined by a brownie
and an orphan boy in a quest to find the legendary valley known as the Rim of Heaven, encountering friendly and
unfriendly creatures along the way, and struggling to evade the relentless pursuit of an old enemy.
Funke, Cornelia: Inkheart (2)
Twelve-year-old Meggie learns that her father, who repairs and binds books for a living, can "read" fictional
characters to life when one of those characters abducts them and tries to force him into service.
Funke, Cornelia: Inkspell (4)
When Dustfinger, the fire-eater who was brought into being from words, finds a shady storyteller to read him back
into the medieval world, Farid, Dustfinger's apprentice, searches for Meggie and ends up stuck inside the book with
her.
Funke, Cornelia: The Thief Lord (1)
Two brothers, having run away from the aunt who plans to adopt the younger one, are sought by a detective hired by
their aunt, but they have found shelter with--and protection from--Venice's "Thief Lord."
Gaines, Ernest J.: The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman
This is a powerful novel of one women’s courageous battle for freedom.
George, Jean: My Side of the Mountain
City-bred Sam Gribley describes his year surviving as a runaway in a remote area of the Catskill
Mountains.
Giff, Patricia Reilly: Nory Ryan's Song
Historical fiction of the hard times in Ireland faced by a young girl during the potato famine. Great story!
Giff, Patricia Reilly: Pictures of Hollis Woods
A troublesome twelve-year-old orphan, staying with an elderly artist who needs her, remembers the only other time
she was happy in a foster home, with a family that truly seemed to care about her.
Gunther, John: Death Be Not Proud
This is a deeply moving book, written by the father of an intelligent boy’s fight for life after discovering a brain
tumor.
Hamilton, Virginia: The House of Dies Drear
Papa buys a huge isolated house in Ohio—Thomas wasn’t sure he was glad. Funny things keep happening,
frightening things. A hundred years ago, Dies Drear and two slaves he was hiding were murdered.
Hautzig, Esther: The Endless Steppe
A true story of the Rudomin family’s arrest and banishment to Siberia by the Russians during World War II. For
five years, Esther and her family struggle to survive. This is their story.
Hemingway, Ernest: The Old Man & the Sea
An old Cuban fisherman hooks a giant marlin and struggles for two days to catch him only to lose the marlin to
sharks.
Hesse, Karen: Letters from Rifka
Rifka and her family are leaving Russia because of the terrible treratment of Jews. They are fleeing to America.
Rifka is left behind as her family boards a ship to America. Will they ever be reunited?
Hinton, S.E.: Rumble Fish
Rusty James is the #1 tough guy among the junior high kids who hand out at Benny’s, a pool hall. Rusty James
wants to be just like his brother, Motorcycle Boy. This is their story.
Holm, Anne: North to Freedom
A story of a twelve-year-old boy raised in an Eastern European prison camp who remembers no other life. He
suddenly has an opportunity to escape. This begins his terrifying journey across Italy, Switzerland, France, and
Denmark.
Holm, Jennifer: Our Only May Amelia
Being a pioneer in the state of Washington in 1899 is hard and especially if you are the only girl ever born in the
settlement. May Amelia can't seem to ever act like a "proper young lady."
Holt, Kimberly Willis: Dancing in Cadillac Light
Jaynell Lambert loves to climb into old cars and pretend to drive away. It is 1968, Grandpa moves in, the road will
be paved, and men will walk on the moon. This is the story of Jaynell and her family's dream of turning their lives
into something grand? Will it happen?
Knowles, John: A Separate Peace
A story of Gene, a lonely intellectual, and Phineas, a handsome athlete, and what happened between them at school
during the early years of World War II.
Lawrence, Lain: The Wreckers
An evil village exists where the people lure ships into the bay to wreck upon their shores. Can John Spencer escape
after his boat is wrecked?
L’Engle, Madeline: An Acceptable Time
A time gate opens and drops Polly into a world that existed 3,000 years ago. Will she be able to get back to the
present, or will she face a group of people who believe in human sacrifice?
L’Engle, Madeline: Troubling a Star
Vicky Austin is going to take a trip—it’s the opportunity of a lifetime—to Antarctica. As she meets her fellow
travelers it become clear that some of them are not what they seem. Who can be trusted? This story is an adventure
into icy danger.
Levin, Gail Carson: The Wish
Wilma is an 8th grader at Claverford Middle School and is not at all popular. She wants to be the most popular girl
in school. Then one day she meets an old lady who grants her wish. What will happen?
Lowry, Lois: Gathering Blue
Lame and suddenly orphaned, Kira is mysteriously removed from her squalid village to live in the palatial Council
Edifice, where she is expected to use her gifts as a weaver to do the bidding of the all-powerful Guardians.
Magorian, Michelle: Goodnight, Mr. Tom
This is a story of an eight-year-old boy evacuated during the London Blitz to a small English village. This is a most
powerful novel of a young, abused boy who begins to heal with the help of a grumpy old man, Mr. Tom.
Matas, Carol: After the War
After WWII is over Ruth returns to her home only to find she is the only family member to survive the Holocaust.
She has nowhere to turn until she joins and underground organization.
Mazer, Norma Fox: Goodnight, Maman
In 1940 Karin Levi's world is a mess. The Nazis have occupied Paris where she lives. She and her family must
hide; they are Jews. Karin must leave her sickmother behind and travel to America. Will Karin make it? Will she
ever see her mother again?
McCaugherean, Geraldine: The Pirate's Son
England 1717! Thrown out of school and having to take care of his sister, Nathan Gull must learn to survive. The
travel by ship to Madagascar but run into pirates when they get there.
Nix, Garth: Seventh Tower-The Fall
Tal has lived in a castle of seven towers his whole life. With his father missing and his mother sick Tal must try and
save his family by stealing a sunstone. To do this he must leave the castle. Will he survive?
Nolan, Han: Dancing on the Edge
Miracle McCloy knows there is something different about her. She was born after her mother was struck and killed
by an ambulance. She is raised by her psychic grandmother Gigi. Miracle is an unforgettable story about finding
oneself.
O’Dell, Scott: The Black Pearl
A sixteen-year-old boy finds an oyster with a most fabulous pearl inside. But he has taken it from the cave of the
monster, Manta Diablo.
O’Dell, Scott: My Name is Not Angelica
An account of a great slave rebellion of 1733 is given by Raisha, an African girl who was kidnapped and taken
aboard a slave ship to St. John’s Island in the West Indies.
O’Dell, Scott: Zia
Zia, the niece of Karana, from the Island of the Blue Dolphin, wants to meet her aunt that was left so long ago. She
sets out to rescue her Aunt Karana.
Paterson, Katherine: Bridge to Terabithia
This is a story of two children who find friendship after being bullied by classmates. A wonderful but sad story and
that truly makes one think.
Paulsen, Gary: Brian’s Hunt
Two years after having survived a plane crash into the Canadian wilderness, a sixteen-year-old returns to the wild to
befriend a wounded dog and hunt a rogue bear.
Paulsen, Gary: Canyons
Fifteen-year-old Brennan Cole becomes obsessed with a skull he finds while camping near Dog Canyon. What is
the mystery that holds Brennan?
Paulsen, Gary: The River
Brian Robeson once again is stranded in the wilderness but this time it is his choice. Derek Hotzer, a government
psychologist, accompanies him to observe survival techniques. Derek is struck by lightening and needs immediate
attention. Brian must do something or Derek will die. (If you read Hatchet, this is must read.)
Peck, Robert Newton: A Day No Pigs Would Die
A novel of life and death set among Shaker farmers in Vermont during the 1920s. It deals with a boy’s coming of
age at 13, his adventures, fears, and triumphs.
Pullman, Philip: The Ruby in the Smoke
Sally Lockhart is trying to solve the puzzle of her father’s death. To do this she needs to journey into the
underworld of Victorian London. Pursued by villains, this daring sixteen-year-old uncovers two dark secrets.
Pullman, Philip: The Amber Spyglass (3)
Lyra and Will find themselves at the center of a battle between the forces of the Authority and those gathered by
Lyra's father, Lord Asriel.
Pullman, Philip: The Golden Compass (1)
Accompanied by her daemon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from
becoming the subject of gruesome experiments in the Far North.
Pullman, Philip: The Subtle Knife (2)
As the boundaries between worlds begin to dissolve, Lyra and her daemon help Will Parry in his search for his
father and for a powerful, magical knife.
Regan, Dian Curtis: Princess Nevermore
Princess Quinella lives underground. She longs to travel to outer Earth which she views through the wishing pool.
One day, by accident, she gets her wish.
Reiss, Johanna: The Upstairs Room
When the German army occupied Holland, Annie and her family were in great danger because they were Jewish.
Fortunately, another family risked their lives to help them.
Rinaldi, Ann: An Acquaintance With Darkness
Fourteen teen old Emily is living in Washington, D.C. at the time of Lincoln's assassination. Is her friend's family
involved? What exactly does her Uncle Valentine, with whom she lives, really do? The city and Emily are reeling
with confusion, suspicion, and fear.
Rinaldi, Ann: Time Enough for Drums
Sixteen-year-old Jem and her servant struggle to keep things going at home in Trenton, New Jersey, when the family
men join the war for independence from the British king.
Riordan, Rick: The Battle of the Labyrinth (4)
When demonic cheerleaders invade his high school, Percy Jackson hurries to Camp Half Blood, from whence he and
his demigod friends set out on a quest through the Labyrinth, while the war between the Olympians and the evil
Titan lord Kronos draws near.
Riordan, Rick: The Last Olympian (5)
While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York
City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young
demigods to stop the Lord of Time.
Riordan, Rick: The Lightning Thief (1)
Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson learns he is a demigod, the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea. His
mother sends him to a summer camp for demigods where he and his new friends set out on a quest to prevent a war
between the gods.
Riordan, Rick: The Sea of Monsters (2)
When Camp Half-Blood, the only safe haven for demigods, comes close to being overrun by mythological monsters,
Percy must find his best friend Grover, who is prisoner on an island in the Bermuda Triangle, and then set out to
save the Camp.
Riordan, Rick: The Titan’s Curse (3)
When the goddess Artemis disappears while hunting a rare, ancient monster, a group of her followers joins Percy
and his friends in an attempt to find and rescue her before the winter solstice, when her influence is needed to sway
the Olympian Council regarding the war with the Titans.
Rowlings, J.K.: Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix (5)
When the government of the magic world and authorities at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry refuse to
believe in the growing threat of a freshly revived Lord Voldemort, fifteen-year-old Harry Potter finds support from
his loyal friends in facing the evil wizard and other new terrors.
Rowlings, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (7)
Burdened with the dark, dangerous, and seemingly impossible task of locating and destroying Voldermort's
remaining Horcruxes, Harry, feeling alone and uncertain about his future, struggles to find the inner strength he
needs to follow the path set out before him.
Rowlings, J. K.: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (4)
Harry Potter, a fourth-year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, longs to escape his hateful
relatives, the Dursleys, and live as a normal fourteen-year-old wizard, but what Harry does not yet realize is that he
is not a normal wizard, and in his case, different can be deadly.
Rowlings, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (6)
Sixth-year Hogwarts student Harry Potter gains valuable insights into the boy Voldemort once was, even as his own
world is transformed by maturing friendships, schoolwork assistance from an unexpected source, and devastating
losses.
Rowlings, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (3)
Sirius Black, an infamous wizard, has escaped from the dread fortress of Azkaban. He could be headed to
Hogwarts.
Rowlings, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (1)
Harry's miserable life with the Dursleys changes forever when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger. He
finds friends, magic, and destiny.
Rowlings, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2)
Harry returns to Hogwarts and real trouble begins when someone or something, starts turning students into stone.
During Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts a mysterious competition that hasn't occurred for 100 years has Harry and
his friends very curious.
Rylant, Cynthia: The Islander
Living with his grandfather on an island off British Columbia, orphaned ten-year-old Daniel feels deep loneliness
until the night he meets a mermaid whose identity he tries to learn.
Sachar, Louis: Holes
A young boy is wrongly accused of stealing a pair of shoes and is sent to a horrible detention home in the middle of
Texas to dig holes.
Shreve, Susan: The Gift of the Girl Who Couldn’t Hear
Eliza, a seventh grade girl and gifted singer, thinks she is fat and ugly when once she was just fine. She doesn’t
know what is happening to her. Tryouts are about to begin for the seventh grade musical that she has been dreaming
about since third grade. But she doesn’t want to tryout now. Lucy, her best friend who is deaf, is going to tryout.
Lucy shows Eliza the true gift of courage.
Smith, Betty: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Nolans live in the slums of Brooklyn in the early 1900'sw. This story tells of the struggles and of the
resourcefulness of a family to survive.
Snicket, Lemony: A Series of Unfortunate Events
This is a series of the events of the Baudelaire children and what happens to them after their parents are killed. You
may read any book in the series.
Spinelli, Jerry: Crash
Crash Coogan is the seventh grade football sensation. Penn Webb, his neighbor, has always been his favorite target
when making fun of someone. But Crash soon realizes Webb is a much better person than he is no matter how
many touchdowns he scores. Did a prank go too far?
Spinelli, Jerry: The Library Card
Mongoose finds a library card hidden among the candy he has shoplifted; his friend throws the card away, but the
card comes back. Then one hot summer day, Mongoose wanders into a library because it is air- conditioned. The
adventure begins.
Spinelli, Jerry: Stargirl
Who is Stargirl? Where did she come from? She is so different from everyone else at her high school. Can she fit
in? Does she even want to?
Steinbeck, John: The Pearl
Kino was a poor Indian fisherman who could barely support his wife and little son. Fate stepped in when Kino
found a large pearl in the sea.
Steinbeck, John: The Red Pony
Story of a boy, Josh, who lives on a farm with his mom, dad, and hired hand, Billy Buck. It tells of his beloved Red
Pony, birth of a colt, and his many dreams.
Taylor, Mildred: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
This story is about the life of a Black family in Mississippi during the Depression told through the eyes of Carrie
who experiences her first taste of social injustice and refuses to swallow it.
Taylor, Theodore: The Cay
When the freighter on which they are traveling is torpedoed by a German submarine during World War II, a twelveyear-old white boy, blinded by a blow on the head, and an old black man are stranded on a small desert island in the
Caribbean where the boy acquires a new kind of vision, courage, and love from his old companion.
Twain, Mark: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The classic tale of Tom Sawyer’s friend Huck Finn.
Voigt, Cynthia: The Callender Papers
Jean Wainwright is summoned by Mr. Theil to go through boxes of his wife’s family things—the Callenders. The
more she learned, the more danger she faced.
Wells, H.G.: The War of the Worlds
The world is at war with the invasion of Martians. This story is set in England in the late 19 th/early 20th centuries.
Yollen, Jane: The Devil’s Arithmetic
It is Passover and Hannah opens the door to symbolically welcome the prophet, Elijah. Suddenly she finds herself
in a Polish village in 1940. It is during the Holocaust. Dram or reality—which is it?
Zindel, Paul: The Pigman
Two high school sophomores, John and Lorraine, meet Mr. Pignati, a lonely man, through a prank telephone call.
This is their story.