FDR MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER READING LIST
“Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog it is hard to read.” –Groucho Marx
WHO WE ARE
Creech, Sharon
Walk Two Moons
After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take
a car trip retracing her mother's route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her
friend Phoebe, whose mother has also gone. Also Chasing Redbird. This book “is about a
girl named Zinny who discovers an ancient path and every day she encounters something
new. Also, the author describes Zinny’s personal life which is really interesting also.”
Holt, Kimberly Willis
Dancing in Cadillac Light
Jaynell's life in the town of Moon, Texas, changes when her eccentric Grandpap comes to
live with her family, teaching her how to live with compassion.
Mikaelsen, Ben
Touching Spirit Bear
After his anger erupts into violence, fifteen year-old Cole agrees to participate in a
sentencing alternative based on the Native American Circle Justice, and he is sent to a
remote Alaskan Island where an encounter with a huge Spirit Bear changes his life.
Naylor, Phyllis
The Fear Place
When he and his older brother Gordon are left camping alone in the Rocky Mountains,
twelve-year-old Doug faces his fear of heights and his feelings about Gordon--with the
help of a cougar.
Park, Linda Sue
Project Mulberry
Julia, a Korean-American, and her friend Patrick learn about tolerance, friendship, and
patience while working together on a project about silkworms.
Perkins, Lynne Rae
Criss Cross
Wishing for change, hoping for transformation, friends Debbie and Hector’s paths run
parallel, but will they cross?
THE WIDER WORLD
Choldenko, Gennifer
Al Capone Does My Shirts
A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards'
families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in
addition to life with his autistic sister. Also Notes from a Liar and her Dog
Cooper, Susan
King of Shadows
In London as part of an acting company preparing to perform Midsummer Night’s Dream
Nat, playing the part of Puck, finds himself performing in the Globe theater in the time of
Shakespeare. Also Green Boy
Hesse, Karen
Stowaway
A fictionalized journal relates the experiences of a young stowaway from 1768 to 1771
aboard the "Endeavor" which sailed around the world under Captain James Cook
“Very adventurous, lots of surprises, many interesting settings”
Lisle, Janet Taylor
The Art of Keeping Cool
Robert is forced to make his way in a family filled with tension and dominated by his
acerbic grandfather and the relentless pressures of anti-German sentiment in his coastal
Rhode Island town.
Magorian, Michelle
Good Night, Mr. Tom
A battered child learns to embrace life when he is adopted by an old man in the English
countryside during World War II.
Park, Sue
A Single Shard
Tree-ear, an orphan in medieval Korea, lives under a bridge near a potters' village, and
longs to learn how to throw the delicate celadon ceramics himself. Also When My Name
Was Keoko and Project Mulberry
O’Dell, Scott
Island of the Blue Dolphins
An Indian girl left alone on an island, demonstrates enormous courage and selfreliance. Also Sing Down the Moon
Salisbury, Graham
Under the Blood Red Sun
When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Tomi and his immigrant parents find themselves
enmeshed in a war they are unprepared to fight. This novel focuses on the Japanese
American perspective during World War II, the natural suspicions of the populous, and the
equally natural bewilderment of Japanese immigrants when they suddenly become the
enemy. Also Jungle Dogs
Whelan, Gloria
Homeless Bird
Thirteen-year-old Koly enters into an ill-fated arranged marriage and must either suffer a
destiny dictated by India's customs or find the courage to oppose tradition.
Wilson, Diane Lee
I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade
Oyuna tells her granddaughter of her girlhood in 14th century Mongolia and how love for
her horse enabled her to win an important race and bring good luck to her family.
FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION
Dickinson, Peter
Eva
After a critical accident, Eva is kept alive in the body of a chimpanzee. This is shocking
science fiction that comes very close to home, raising questions about what it means to be
human. Also A Bone from a Dry Sea
In two parallel stories, an intelligent female member of a prehistoric tribe becomes
instrumental in advancing the lot of her people, and the daughter of a paleontologist is
visiting him on a dig in Africa when important fossil remains are discovered
Farmer, Nancy
The Ear, the Eye and the Arm
Three children of diplomats escape from the idyllic protection of their home into a toxic
and dangerous futurist environment in Zimbabwe. Their parents hire three bumbling
detectives, the Ear, the Eye and the Arm, to bring them back. Also The House of the
Scorpion.
Funke, Cornelia
Inkheart
Twelve-year-old Meggie learns that her father Mo, a bookbinder, can "read" fictional
characters to life. Unfortunately, some of the characters are evil.
Haddix, Margaret Peterson
Among the Hidden
In a future where the Population Police limit a family to only two children, Luke lives lived
in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another "third" convinces him that the
government is wrong.
Hesse, Karen
Phoenix Rising
After an accident at a nuclear power plant when radiation poisoning is widespread, Nyle
and her grandmother open their home to two of the victims. Also The Music of Dolphins
Léngle, Madeleine
A Wrinkle in Time
Three delightful extraterrestrial beings take Meg and her friends to another world.
Lewis, C.S.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Lucy and Edmund, accompanied by their peevish cousin Eustace, sail to the land of Narnia
where Eustace is temporarily transformed into a green dragon because of his selfish
behavior and skepticism. Also, others of the Narnia series.
“It is a fun book that will entertain anyone who reads it. It is full of adventures, mainly for
people who like fantasy books.”
Lowry, Lois
Gathering Blue
Lame and suddenly orphaned, Kira is 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. Also The Giver
Paulsen, Gary
The Transall Saga
Hiking alone, Mark is transported to what seems to be a primitive world.
Pierce, Tamora
Wild Magic
Daine's "wild magic" is a finely tuned empathy with animals, in this epic fantasy in which
Daine is left with a baby dragon to raise. Sequels: Wolf-Speaker, Emperor Mage, Realms
of the Gods Also Pierce’s other series.
Yolen, Jane
Briar Rose
Rebecca Berlin has heard an unusual version of the fairy tale, the sleeping beauty, from
her grandmother. The story provides a clue to her grandmother's history. Also Dragon's
Blood
MYSTERY/ADVENTURE
Corder, Zizou
Lion Boy
A boy with the ability to speak the language of cats sets out from London to seek his
kidnapped parents and finds himself on a Paris-bound circus ship learning to train lions.
Wonderful adventure! Also Lion Boy: The Chase
Dowell, Frances O'Roark.
Dovey Coe: a novel
Accused of murder in her North Carolina mountain town in 1928, Dovey Coe, a strongedwilled twelve-year-old girl, comes to a new understanding of others, including her deaf
brother, as she attempts to clear her name.
Oppel, Kenneth
Airborn
Matt, a heroic young cabin boy aboard an airship and Kate a spirited young girl search for
mysterious winged creatures that had been recorded in her grandfather’s journal, while
dealing with pirates and other mishaps. Although this has elements of science fiction it is
placed here because of its similarity to Treasure Island. Wonderful read! Also
Skybreaker
Paulsen, Gary
Dogsong
Russell Suskitt takes a dog team and sled across Alaska to escape the modern ways of his
Eskimo village and to discover his heritage
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Treasure Island
After discovering a treasure map, Jim Hawkins joins the crew of a ship bound for
Treasure Island. Although the language takes getting used to, there is no equal to
Stevenson for pirates and thrilling adventure. Also Kidnapped
Thanks to Middle School English classes for their recommendations, to The Fenn School where as librarian I developed
similar lists which I have used as a model, and to the students of FDR whose enthusiasm for reading makes my job gratifying.
If you are an FDR student and would like to recommend other books for this list, Please e-mail ccorum at amersol.edu.pe