2014-2015 Elementary Battle of the Books List
Punished
by David Lubar (Review from GoodReads.com)
Logan and his friend Benedict run into the wrong guy at the library--literally. When
Logan slams into the reference guy in the basement and gives him a little lip, Logan gets
punished, really and truly punished. He has three days to complete three tasks before
Professor Wordsworth will lift the magical punishment that keeps getting Logan in even
more trouble.
Lawn Boy
by Gary Paulsen (Review from GoodReads.com)
One day I was 12 years old and broke. Then Grandma gave me Grandpa's old riding
lawnmower. I set out to mow some lawns. More people wanted me to mow their lawns.
And more and more. . . . One client was Arnold the stockbroker, who offered to teach me
about "the beauty of capitalism. Supply and Demand. Diversify labor. Distribute the
wealth." "Wealth?" I said. "It's groovy, man," said Arnold.
If I'd known what was coming, I might have climbed on my mower and putted all the
way home to hide in my room. But the lawn business grew and grew. So did my profits,
which Arnold invested in many things. And one of them was Joey Pow the prizefighter.
That's when my 12th summer got really interesting.
Capture the Flag
by Kate Messner (Review from GoodReads.com)
Three kids get caught up in an adventure of historic proportions!
Anna, José, and Henry are complete strangers with more in common than they realize.
Snowed in together at a chaotic Washington D.C. airport, they encounter a mysterious
tattooed man, a flamboyant politician, and a rambunctious poodle named for an ancient
king. Even stranger, news stations everywhere have announced that the famous flag that
inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner" has been stolen! Anna, certain that the culprits must
be snowed in too, recruits Henry and José to help catch the thieves and bring them to
justice.
But when accusations start flying, they soon realize there's more than justice at stake. As
the snow starts clearing, Anna, José, and Henry find themselves in a race against time
(and the weather!) to prevent the loss of an American treasure.
The Sinking of the Titantic, 1912 (I Survived #1)
by Lauren Tarshis (Review from GoodReads.com)
The most terrifying events in history are brought vividly to life in this new fictional
series! In book 1, ten-year-old George is trapped on the Titanic -- how will he survive?
Ten-year-old George Calder can't believe his luck -- he and his little sister, Phoebe, are
on the famous Titanic, crossing the ocean with their Aunt Daisy. The ship is full of
exciting places to explore, but when George ventures into the first class storage cabin, a
terrible boom shakes the entire boat. Suddenly, water is everywhere, and George's life
changes forever.
Lauren Tarshis brings history's most exciting and terrifying events to life in this new
fictional series. Readers will be transported by stories of amazing kids and how they
survived!
Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the True Story
of an American Feud
by Suzanne Jumain (Review from GoodReads.com)
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were good friends with very different personalities.
But their differing views on how to run the newly created United States turned them into
the worst of friends. They each became leaders of opposing political parties, and their
rivalry followed them to the White House. Full of both history and humor, this is the
story of two of America's most well-known presidents and how they learned to put their
political differences aside for the sake of friendship.
Each Kindness
by Jacqueline Woodson (Review from GoodReads.com)
Each kindness makes the world a little better
Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Maya is different--she wears
hand-me-downs and plays with old-fashioned toys. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe
and her gang, they reject her. Eventually, Maya plays alone, and then stops coming to
school altogether. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of
kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and
thinks about how much better it could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward
Maya.
Boy on the Porch
by Sharon Creech (Review from GoodReads.com)
From Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech comes a singular story that reminds us of
the surprising connections that bloom when unconditional love and generosity prevail.
For when a young couple finds a boy asleep on their porch, their lives take an
unexpectedly joyous turn.
When John and Marta found the boy on the porch, they were curious, naturally, as to why
he was there-and they didn't expect him to stay, not at first, but he did stay, day after day,
until it seemed as if he belonged, running and smiling and laughing his silent laugh,
tapping and patting on every surface as he made his music, and painting-with water, with
paint, with mud-those swirly swirls and swings and trees.
One day a young couple wakes to find a boy asleep on their porch. Unable to speak, the
boy cannot explain his history. What kind of person would leave their child with
strangers? All they know is that they have been chosen to care for this boy. And as their
connection to him grows, they embrace his exuberant spirit and talents. The three of them
blossom into an unlikely family, and John and Marta and the boy begin to see the world
in brand-new ways.
Nasreen's Secret School
by Jeanette Winter (Review from GoodReads.com)
Young Nasreen has not spoken a word to anyone since her parents disappeared.
In despair, her grandmother risks everything to enroll Nasreen in a secret school for girls.
Will a devoted teacher, a new friend, and the worlds she discovers in books be enough to
draw Nasreen out of her shell of sadness?
Based on a true story from Afghanistan, this inspiring book will touch readers deeply as it
affirms both the life-changing power of education and the healing power of love.
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
by Chris Grabenstein (Review from GoodReads.com)
Kyle Keeley is the class clown, popular with most kids, (if not the teachers), and an
ardent fan of all games: board games, word games, and particularly video games. His
hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, just so
happens to be the genius behind the building of the new town library.
Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of the first 12 kids in the library for an
overnight of fun, food, and lots and lots of games. But when morning comes, the doors
remain locked. Kyle and the other winners must solve every clue and every secret puzzle
to find the hidden escape route. And the stakes are very high.
Sidney and Sydney; Third Grade Mix-up
by Michele Jakubowski (Review from GoodReads.com)
When Sidney Fletcher moves to Oak Grove, things get a little strange for Sydney Greene.
Not only does Sydney share a name with a boy, but he's in her third-grade class! Firstday-of-school drama has them at odds, but Sidney and Sydney soon find out that they
share more than just their names. Can boys and girls actually be friends?!
14 Cows for America
by Carmen Agra Deedy (Review from GoodReads.com)
14 Cows for America In June of 2002, a ceremony begins in a village in western Kenya.
Hundreds of Maasai surround an American diplomat to bestow a gift on the American
people. The gift is as unsought and unexpected as it is extraordinary. A mere nine months
have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely as these
legendary warriors offer their gift to a grieving people half a world away.