GRADE 6
ADVENTURE
100 Most Dangerous Things on the Planet
Anna Claybourne
How to survive avalanches, tornadoes, rattlesnakes,
sharks, falling down a well and more. (nonfiction)
Calamity Jack Shannon Hale
A graphic novel interpretation of "Jack and the
Beanstalk.”
Everything for a Dog Ann Martin
Bone, an orphaned dog, finds and loses a series of
homes; Molly, a family pet, helps Charlie deal with
grief; and lonely Henry pleads for a dog of his own.
Hatchet Gary Paulsen
After a plane crash, Brian spends 54 days in the
wilderness, learning to survive initially with only the
aid of a hatchet given him by his mother, and learning
also to survive his parents' divorce.
Oracles of Delphi Keep Victoria Laurie
Three orphans go to Morocco to locate six silver
boxes before the ancient prophecies they contain are
found by the evil Demogorgon's offspring.
The Pirates of Crocodile Swamp Jim Arnosky
Kidnapped by their father, two boys escape into the
mangrove swamps of Key Largo, Florida, where they
learn to live on their own among the wildlife.
The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, Bk. 1)
Rick Riordan
The gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of
them--Set--is coming after the Kane family.
The Sea of Trolls Nancy Farmer
Jack and his little sister Lucy are captured by Viking
berserkers and Jack is forced to undertake a
dangerous quest to the home of the trolls. Sequels:
The Land of Silver Apples, The Islands of the Blessed.
School of Fear Gitty Daneshvari
Conquer your fears in just six weeks--or find out just
how terrifying failure can be.
Swindle Gordon Korman
Cheated out of a valuable baseball card, a band of
misfits plan a heist to steal the card back.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Grace Lin
An adventurous girl from a poor village buys a
magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot
fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon.
Wild Man Island Will Hobbs
Fourteen-year-old Andy, stranded on a wild Alaskan
island, meets up with bears, wolves, and a hermit,
and makes an amazing archaeological discovery.
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY
10 Explorers Who Changed the World
Clive Gifford
Tells about daring explorers from Marco Polo to
Jacques Yves Cousteau. (nonfiction)
The Doggy Dung Disaster & Other True Stories
Garth Sundem
Thirty true stories profile young people who have
made a difference in the world, from saving the
environment to standing up for themselves, helping
others, overcoming challenges, and using talents and
creativity. (nonfiction)
The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous,
Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum
Candace Fleming
Learn about the founder of the Barnum & Bailey
circus. (nonfiction)
Jeff Corwin: A Wild Life Jeff Corwin
An autobiography, with color photos, of wildlife
biologist and TV star Jeff Corwin. (nonfiction)
The Kid Who Named Pluto Marc McCutcheon
Profiles of young people whose scientific inventions
made an impact on the world; for example, Louis
Braille, who discovered a way for the blind to read
and write. (nonfiction)
CLASSICS
The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins and his friends set out on a dangerous
adventure to reclaim a stolen fortune from a dragon.
Oh My Gods! A Look-It-Up Guide to the Gods of
Mythology Megan E. Bryant
A lively, updated look at various characters from
Greek mythology. (nonfiction)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Mildred D. Taylor
An African American family fights to stay together
despite brutal racist attacks, illness, poverty and
betrayal in the Deep South of the 1930s.
Tales of the Greek Heroes Roger Lancelyn Green
A retelling of the legends of famous Greek gods and
mortals.
Wild at Heart: Animal Stories Michael Morpurgo
Classic short stories about animals of all kinds from
such authors as Jack London and Rudyard Kipling.
A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L’Engle
Meg and her friends become involved with unearthly
strangers and a search for Meg's father, who has
disappeared while engaged in secret work for the
government. Newbery Medal winner.
CONTEMPORARY FICTION
Everything on a Waffle Polly Horvath
Primrose, who lives in a fishing village in British
Columbia, recounts her experiences and all that she
learns about human nature and the unpredictability of
life in the months after her parents are lost at sea.
The Heart of a Chief Joseph Bruchac
A boy living on a Penacook reservation faces a
controversy surrounding plans for a casino on a tribal
island, and insensitivity toward Native Americans in
his school and nearby town.
Hoot Carl Hiaasen
Roy, who is new to his small Florida community,
becomes involved in another boy's attempt to save a
colony of burrowing owls from a proposed
construction site.
Kimchi & Calamari Rose Kent
A 14-year-old Korean boy adopted by an Italian
family searches for his roots.
The Misfits James Howe
A funny, touching story about how four misfit
students who have been teased for years decide to run
for student council on a “no name-calling” platform.
Operation Yes Sara Lewis Holmes
Miss Loupe uses improvisational acting exercises
with her 6th-grade students at an Air Force base
school, and when she experiences a family tragedy,
her class members use what they have learned to help
her, her brother, and other wounded soldiers.
Rules Cynthia Lord
Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, Catherine
longs for a normal existence, but her world is further
complicated by a friendship with a young paraplegic.
When You Reach Me Rebecca Stead
As her mother prepares to be a contestant on a TV
game show, a 12-year-old New York City girl tries to
make sense of a series of mysterious notes received
from an anonymous source that seems to defy the
laws of time and space.
HISTORICAL FICTION
Dragon’s Gate Lawrence Yep
When he accidentally kills a Manchu, a 15-year-old
Chinese boy goes to America to join his father and
build a tunnel for the transcontinental railroad
through the Sierra Nevada mountains in 1867.
Exiled: Memoirs of a Camel Kathleen Karr
A first-person narrative from a camel's viewpoint
about being sent from Egypt to serve in the United
States Camel Corps, and life on the Mojave Desert
before and during the Civil War.
Feathers Jacqueline Woodson
When a new, white student nicknamed "The Jesus
Boy" joins her 6th-grade class in the winter of 1971,
Frannie's growing friendship with him makes her
start to see some things in a new light.
The Invention Of Hugo Cabret Brian Selznick
A unique illustrated novel about an orphan who
secretly lives in a Paris train station in the 1930s, and
comes across a mysterious clockwork invention.
The Time Travelers (The Gideon Trilogy, #1)
Linda Buckley-Archer
Peter and his new friend, Kate, are accidentally
transported back in time to 1763 England where they
are befriended by a reformed thief.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963
Christopher Paul Curtis
The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of
the Watsons, a family living in Flint, Michigan, are
drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in
Alabama in the summer of 1963. Newbury Award.
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit Judith Kerr
Recounts the adventures of a Jewish girl and her
family in the early 1930s as they travel from
Germany to England.
HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY
Adventures on the Ancient Silk Road
Priscilla Galloway
Introduces the network of trade routes between China
and India and points west through three travelers: the
Chinese monk Xuanzang; the warrior Genghis Khan;
and the merchant Marco Polo. (nonfiction)
Escapes! Laura Scandiffio
Thrilling tales of daring escapes through the ages,
featuring people who were enslaved, oppressed, or
fleeing enemy armies, from Spartacus in 73 B.C. to
World War II and modern-day escapes. (nonfiction)
If Stones Could Speak: Unlocking the Secrets of
Stonehenge Marc Aronson
Investigates why Stonehenge might have been built,
and how archeologists have studied it. (nonfiction)
Middle East Philip Steele
An illustrated look at the peoples and places of the
Middle East. (nonfiction)
Mysterious Messages: A History of Codes and
Ciphers Gary Blackwood
An engaging, illustrated account of cryptology.
(nonfiction)
Show Me the Money Alvin Hall
A history of money, explaining the barter system,
supply and demand, and how money works
differently around the world. (nonfiction)
We Troubled the Waters Ntozake Shange
Powerful poems about people who fought for civil
rights.
HUMOR
101 Ways to Bug Your Parents Lee Wardlaw
When his parents call off the family vacation and
enroll their son in a creative writing class instead,
Steve comes up with a wacky money-making project.
The Fast and the Furriest Andy Behrens
The overweight and unathletic son of a famous
former football star discovers that his equally fat and
lazy dog want to compete in dog agility contests.
How to Survive Middle School Donna Gephart
David dreams of being a TV superstar, like Jon
Stewart--and then his YouTubes videos go viral.
The Penderwicks Jeanne Birdsall
While vacationing with their father in the Berkshire
Mountains, four sisters share adventures with a local
boy, much to the dismay of his snobbish mother.
Science Fair: A Story of Mystery, Danger,
International Suspense and a Very Nervous Frog
Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
Terrorists plot to infiltrate the school science fair in
order to take over the US government, but when Toby
sets out to win the fair, the terrorists' plans go awry.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
Tom Angleberger
Can a paper finger puppet of Yoda really predict the
future?
MYSTERY
The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl Graphic Novel)
Eoin Colfer
A young genius searches for his kidnapped father in
this illustrated novel. (intermediate)
We the Children (Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of
the School, #1) Andrew Clements
Ben must help save his school from greedy
developers.
Griff Carver, Hallway Patrol Jim Krieg
Griff and his new friends tackle the case of
counterfeit hall passes.
The London Eye Mystery Siobhan Dowd
Salim disappears from the London Eye ferris wheel,
and his cousins must work together--Ted with his
brain that is "wired differently" and impatient Kat--to
try to solve the mystery of what happened to him.
Murder at Midnight Avi
Falsely accused of plotting to overthrow King
Claudio, Mangus the magician and his servant boy,
Fabrizio, face deadly consequences unless they can
track down the real traitor by the stroke of midnight.
Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars
Tracy Mack & Michael Citrin
A group of orphaned children living on London’s
streets works with the famous detective and Watson
against Holmes’s long-time nemesis, Moriarty.
The Switch Anthony Horowitz
When wealthy, spoiled Tad wishes he were someone
else, he awakens as Bob, the poor son of carnival
workers, and as he begins a life of crime he begins to
discover truths about himself and his family.
SCIENCE
Crime Scene Detective Carey Scott
Become a forensics sleuth, with do-it-yourself
activities. (nonfiction)
ER Vets Donna M. Jackson
Share the excitement and drama of life in an animal
emergency room as the ER vets work to heal the
creatures we consider part of our families.
(nonfiction)
The Human Machine: An Owner's Guide to the
Body Richard Walker
Looks at the body as a machine with different parts
and mechanical systems, with information on how
they work and how to fix and maintain them.
(nonfiction)
Predators (Insiders series)
John Seidensticker & Susan Lumpkin
Describes the behavior of deadly hunters such as
bears, wolves, crocodiles and hawks. (nonfiction)
Quest for the Tree Kangaroo Sy Montgomery
Follow a group of explorers and scientists as they
travel to Papua New Guinea to find a type of
kangaroo that lives in trees. (nonfiction)
The Secret of the Yellow Death: A True Story of
Medical Sleuthing Suzanne Jurmain
A real-life medical mystery that tells how four
American doctors launched an all-out war against the
yellow fever in Cuba in 1900. (nonfiction)
SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
100 Cupboards N.D. Wilson
Hidden doors in Henry’s attic room lead to other
worlds, revealing family secrets and releasing an evil
witch. Sequels: Dandelion Fire, The Chestnut King.
Alienated Andrew Auseon
Gene and Vince expose aliens in their newspaper and
land in the middle of an intergalactic conflict.
Ask the Bones Arielle North Olson
A collection of scary folk tales from China, Mexico,
Spain, the U.S., and more. Sequel: More Bones.
The City of Ember Jeanne DuPrau
In the year 241, 12-year-old Lina trades jobs on
Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new
places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even
to glimpse Unknown Regions.
Coraline Neil Gaiman
Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a
creepy world where she must challenge a gruesome
entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the
souls of three others.
The Crossroads Chris Grabenstein
When Zack moves to Connecticut with his father and
new stepmother, they must deal with the ghosts left
behind by an accident, as well as another kind of
ghost from Zack's past.
Ghost Mysteries: Unraveling the World's Most
Mysterious Hauntings Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
A history of ghosts and their place in literature,
movies and TV. (nonfiction)
Inkheart Cornelia Funke
Meggie learns that her father can "read" fictional
characters to life when one of those characters
abducts them and tries to force him into service. First
in a series.
The Merchant of Death D.J. MacHale
Bobby can travel through time and space; in this first
volume of the Pendragon series he lands in a
medieval world and must help free enslaved people.
The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 1)
John Flanagan
Will becomes the reluctant apprentice to the
mysterious Ranger Halt, and winds up protecting the
kingdom from danger.
Simon Bloom, The Gravity Keeper
Michael Reisman
Simon finds a book that enables him to control the
laws of physics, but when two thugs come after him,
he needs the formulas in the book to save himself.
The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance (Candle Man,
Bk. 1) Glenn Dakin
Theo discovers he is the descendant of the Candle
Man, a Victorian vigilante with the ability to melt
criminals with a single touch.
SPORTS
Basketball (Or Something Like It) Nora R. Baskin
Four players must deal with family pressure, coaches
with very different personalities and agendas, and
what it means to be a team, and a friend.
Crash Jerry Spinelli
Crash Coogan, a 7th grader, is a jock who bullies
gentle Penn; when it comes down to a race between
them at the end, who will win?
Football Champ Tim Green
Troy's gift for predicting plays is a secret weapon for
the Atlanta Falcons, until a reporter sets out to shred
the reputations of Troy and the star linebacker.
The Greatest Moments in Sports Len Berman
Presents 25 sports highlights, such as breaking the
curse of the Bambino and the “miracle on ice,” with
photos, statistics and an audio disk. (nonfiction)
Million-Dollar Throw Mike Lupica
Nate gets a chance to win a million dollars if he can
complete a pass during the halftime of a New
England Patriots' game.
Offsides Erik Esckilsen
High school soccer star Tom is uncomfortable with
his new team’s stereotypical mascot: should he
boycott the team, or betray his Mohawk heritage?
Pelé (DK Biography) James Buckley
Tells about the life and career of the famous Brazilian
soccer player, with photos. (nonfiction)
Sports Shorts Tanya Dean, ed.
Eight autobiographical tales by various authors tell
about sports disasters and victories, big and small.
(nonfiction)
The Toilet Paper Tigers Gordon Korman
When his Little League team gets a coach who knows
nothing about baseball, 7th-grader Corey is dismayed
to see the team taken over by the coach's pushy 12year-old granddaughter.
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League
Baseball Kadir Nelson
Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, artist
Kadir Nelson relates the history of Negro League
baseball, with stunning illustrations. (nonfiction)
GRADE 7
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.
ADVENTURE
Artemis Fowl Eoin Colfer
Artemis Fowl is a genius, a criminal mastermind, and
a millionaire--and he's only 12. When he kidnaps
Captian Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit, he comes
up against armed and dangerous fairies.
Crocodile Tears (Alex Rider series)
Anthony Horowitz
Alex spies on a GM crop plant and is kidnapped by a
bad guy who plans an ecological disaster in Africa.
The Death-Defying Pepper Roux
Geraldine McCaughrean
Pepper runs away on his 14th birthday in an attempt
to elude his fate, assumes another identity, and tries
to outrun death, no matter the consequences.
I f You' re Reading Thi s , I t ' s Too Lat e
Pseudonymous Bosch
Cass and Max-Ernest discover the Museum of Magic,
unscramble coded messages, and solve mysteries in
their attempt to thwart the Terces Society's ambitions
of discovering immortality.
The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark
Ridley Pearson
Five teens have been transformed into holograms to
be guides for visitors to Disney World, and must save
the park from a scheming witch.
Malice Chris Wooding
Three friends get trapped in the world of a deadly
comic book.
The Other Side of the Island Allegra Goodman
Honor lives in a highly regulated colony; she and her
friend uncover a terrible secret about their island and
the corporation that runs everything.
The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, Bk. 1)
Rick Riordan
The gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of
them--Set--is coming after the Kane family.
Tunnels Roderick Gordon & Brian Williams
Will finds a frightening world under the city of
London when he sets out to find his missing
archaeologist father. Sequels: Deeper, Freefall.
Z. Rex (The Hunting, Book 1) Steve Cole
Adam must elude police while being hunted by a
dinosaur come to life from a virtual reality game
invented by his father, who has gone missing.
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Everybody's Revolution: A New Look At the
People Who Won America's Freedom
Thomas J. Fleming
A history of the American Revolution that focuses on
the roles played by African Americans, Native
Americans, women and young people. (nonfiction)
The Groundbreaking, Chance-Taking Life of
George Washington Carver and Science and
Invention in America Cheryl Harness
The inspiring story of a man who rose from slavery
to great fame as America’s Plant Doctor. (nonfiction)
The Many Rides of Paul Revere
James Cross Giblin
An illustrated look at the life of Paul Revere,
including his role in the American Revolution.
(nonfiction)
Marley, A Dog Like No Other John Grogan
A funny, touching account of a very special yellow
Lab, “the world’s worst dog.” (nonfiction)
Real Boys’ Voices
William S. Pollack with Todd Shuster
Writings by boys give insight into their emotional
lives. (nonfiction)
CLASSICS
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Mark Twain
Growing up in a small Missouri town, Tom and his
best friend, Huckleberrry Finn, find adventure and
buried treasure on the banks of the Mississippi River.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
You and Dr. Watson can attempt to figure out all the
clues that the great detective Sherlock Holmes uses to
solve his puzzling cases.
Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths
Bernard Evslin
Retellings of the ancient myths, in four sections: the
Gods, Nature Myths, Demigods, and Fables.
Swiss Family Robinson Johann David Wyss
The adventures of the Robinson family, shipwrecked
and washed ashore on a tropical isle in the early
1800s.
White Fang Jack London
A brave half-dog, half-wolf and his master risk their
lives to protect a peaceful Native American tribe
from a ruthless gang of land-grabbing gold miners.
CONTEMPORARY FICTION
13 Jason Robert Brown
Evan learns what it means to be a man when his
parents separate and he and his mother move from
New York City to Appleton, Indiana, right before his
bar mitzvah.
Adam Canfield, Watch Your Back!
Michael Winerip
After being mugged by bullies for his snowshoveling
money, Adam becomes the focus of major
media attention just as his co-editors at the school
paper, The Slash, are launching a contest to out
bullies at their school.
The Fizzy Whiz Kid Maiya Williams
Moving to Hollywood, Mitch feels like an outsider in
his school where everyone has connections to the
entertainment industry, until he is cast in a soda
commercial that launches a popular catchphrase.
Flipped Wendelin Van Draanen
Does Bryce still want Juli to back off? In alternating
chapters, two teenagers describe how their feelings
about themselves, each other, and their families have
changed over the years.
If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period
Gennifer Choldenko
Two 7th-graders at an elite private school alternate
telling how race, wealth, weight, and other issues
shape their relationships as they and other misfits
stand up to a mean but influential classmate.
Secret Saturdays Torrey Maldonado
Twelve-year-old boys living in a rough part of New
York confront questions about what it means to be a
friend, a father, and a man.
HISTORICAL FICTION
Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam
Cynthia Kadohata
A young soldier in Vietnam bonds with his bombsniffing
dog.
Elijah of Buxton Christopher Curtis
In 1859, Elijah uses his wits and skills to try to bring
to justice the lying preacher who has stolen money
that was to be used to buy a slave family's freedom.
Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor &
the Merrimac Avi
Tom's job as an assistant to Captain John Ericsson,
the inventor of the Monitor, makes him a target of
Confederate spies during the Civil War.
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
Rodman Philbrick
Homer, a poor but clever orphan, runs away from his
evil uncle to rescue his brother, who has been sold
into service in the Civil War.
New Found Land: Lewis and Clark's Voyage of
Discovery Allan Wolf
Relates the journey of the famous explorers in poetry.
Sacrifice Kathleen Brenner Duble
Two sisters are accused of witchcraft in Andover,
Mass., in 1692 and await trial in a miserable prison
while their mother tries to obtain their freedom.
Wednesday Wars Gary Schmidt
During the 1967 school year, on Wednesday
afternoons, 7th-grader Holling stays in Mrs. Baker's
classroom and learns some funny, unusual lessons
about Shakespeare and his own family and world.
Woods Runner Gary Paulsen
From his 1776 Pennsylvania homestead, 13-year-old
Samuel sets out toward New York City to rescue his
parents from the band of British soldiers and Indians
who kidnapped them.
HISTORY
The Adventurous Life of Myles Stanish and the
Amazing-But-True Survival Story of Plymouth
Colony Cheryl Harness
The experiences of the Pilgrims and their military
advisor, Myles Standish, in America, describing the
people they met, the hardships they overcame, and
the many successes they achieved. (nonfiction)
Before Columbus: The Americas of 1491
Charles C. Mann
The people of North and South America lived in
enormous cities, raised pyramids hundreds of years
before the Egyptians did, engineered corn, and
farmed the rain forests. (nonfiction)
George Washington, Spymaster: How the
Americans Outspied the British and Won the
Revolutionary War Thomas P. Allen
An exciting tale of espionage, with details of
invisible ink, codes, and double agents. (nonfiction)
Mr. Lincoln's High-Tech War
Thomas B. Allen & Roger MacBride Allen
Subtitle:"How the North Used the Telegraph,
Railroads, Surveillance Balloons, Iron Clads, HighPowered Weapons, and More to Win the Civil
War." (nonfiction)
A Savage Thunder: Antietam and the Bloody
Road to Freedom Jim Murphy
In September 1862, two great armies faced each other
across Antietam Creek. (nonfiction)
The Smart Aleck’s Guide to American History
Adam Selzer
An irreverent look at U.S. history that debunks
common myths. (nonfiction)
HUMOR
101 Ways to Bug Your Teacher Lee Wardlaw
Steve "Sneeze" Wyatt tries to defeat his parents' plan
to have him skip 8th grade, but he has bigger
problems when his friends disappear and Mrs.
"Fierce" Pierce threatens to keep him from the
Invention Convention.
The Amazing Life of Birds Gary Paulsen
A painfully funny diary chronicling one boy’s attempt
to survive the awkward embarrassments of being 12.
Cosmic Frank Cottrell Boyce
Twelve-year old Liam looks like he's 30, and he cons
his way into being the adult chaperone on the first
space ship to take civilians into space--and then the
ship gets stuck.
Out of Patience Brian Meehl
Jake can't wait to escape the small town of Patience,
Kansas, until the arrival of a cursed toilet plunger
causes him to reevaluate his feelings toward his
family and its history.
I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to
be Your Class President Josh Lieb
Oliver has everyone convinced that he is stupid and
lazy; he’s actually an evil genius, and when he
decides to run for office, nothing stands in his way.
The True Meaning of Smekday Adam Rex
When her mother is abducted by aliens on Christmas
Eve (or "Smekday" Eve since the Boov invasion), 11
year-old Tip hops in the family car and heads south to
find her and meets an alien Boov mechanic who
agrees to help her and save the planet from disaster.
Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?
Jerry Spinelli
Sibling rivalry? More like sibling homicide, when it
comes to Megan (“Megamouth”) and Greg
(“Grosso”). Will they ever get along?
MYSTERY
The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets Nan Springer
Enola Holmes finds clues in floral bouquets as she
searches for the missing Doctor Watson, a companion
of her older brother, Sherlock.
Danger in the Dark: A Houdini & Nate Mystery
Tom Lalicki
Nathaniel, aided by the magician Harry Houdini,
plots to unmask a phony spirit advisor attempting to
relieve the boy's great-aunt of her fortune. First in a
series.
The London Eye Mystery Siobhan Dowd
When Ted and Kat's cousin Salim disappears from
the London Eye ferris wheel, the two siblings must
work together--Ted with his brain that is "wired
differently" and impatient Kat--to try to solve the
mystery of what happened to Salim.
Powerless Matthew Cody
Daniel learns that his new friends have super powers
that they will lose when they turn 13, unless he can
use his brain power to protect them.
Quid Pro Quo Vicki Grant
Cyril uses his knowledge of the law to save his
kidnapped mother’s life in this funny, suspenseful
tale.
Silverfin (Young Bond, Book 1) Charlie Higson
Meet James Bond, 007, when he's just started
boarding school in England and is about to become
involved in his first adventure.
SCIENCE
All of the Above Shelley Pearsall
Five urban middle school students, their teacher, and
other community members relate how a school
project to build the world's largest tetrahedron affects
everyone involved; based on a true story.
Astronomy: Out of This World! Dan Green
Introduces astronomy through profiles in which the
Solar System, the planets, stars, and the Milky Way
galaxy introduce themselves. (nonfiction)
Hurricane Force: In the Path of America’s
Deadliest Storms Joseph B. Treaster
A photo-essay on Hurricane Katrina, and a look at the
science of hurricanes and the devastation they wreak.
(nonfiction)
Mission to the Moon Alan Dyer
A detailed account of what took place during the
Apollo mission in the summer of 1969, including the
first lunar landing and moonwalk. (nonfiction)
Rocks and Minerals: A Gem of a Read Dan Green
Brings the world of geology to life, with wacky
characters to explain rocks, gems, crystals, fossils,
and more.(nonfiction)
Volcanoes & Earthquakes (Insiders) Ken Rubin
Tells about famous volcanoes and earthquakes,
explaining why and where they occur and how they
are measured and studied. (nonfiction)
SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
All the Lovely Bad Ones Mary Downing Hahn
While spending the summer at their grandmother's
Vermont inn, two prankster siblings awaken young
ghosts from the inn's distant past who refuse to "rest
in peace.”
The Doom Machine Mark Teague
When a spaceship lands in a small town in 1956,
juvenile delinquent Jack Creedle and prim, studious
Isadora Shumway form an unexpected alliance as
they try to keep a group of extraterrestrials from
stealing eccentric Uncle Bud's space travel machine.
The Fire Within Chris D'Lacey
A college student rents a room in an unusual
boardinghouse full of clay dragons: he has no idea
that they, along with some lively squirrels, will help
jumpstart his writing career.
Grip of the Shadow Plague (Fablehaven series)
Brandon Mull
In this suspenseful entry in the series, a mysterious
illness is turning tiny magical beings into sinister
creatures, and Seth and Kendra try to stop it.
The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman
Nobody Owens is a normal boy, except that he has
been raised by ghosts in a graveyard. Newbury Award
winner.
A Living Nightmare: Cirque du Freak Darren Shan
Two boys visit an illegal freak show, where an
encounter with a vampire and a deadly spider forces
them to make life-changing choices. First in a series.
Savvy Ingrid Law
Recounts the adventures of Mibs, whose 13th
birthday has revealed her "savvy"--a magical power-just as her father is injured in a terrible accident.
The Sight David Clement-Davis
In Transylvania during the Middle Ages, a pack of
wolves sets out on a perilous journey to prevent a
wolf named Morgra from obtaining the power to
control all animals. Sequel: Fell.
Syren (Septimus Heap, Book 5) Angus Sage
Wolf Boy is sent on a Task by Aunt Zelda, while
Septimus and the dragon, Spit Fyre, fly off to bring
their friends home, but they all wind up on an island
whose secrets are as dangerous as its inhabitants.
Thirteenth Child (Frontier Magic) Patricia C. Wrede
Eff must finally get over believing she is bad luck
and accept her power to combat magical creatures
that threaten settlements on the western frontier.
SPORTS
Airball: My Life in Briefs L.D. Harkrader
Uncoordinated Kansas 7th-grader Kirby braves his
coach's ire and becomes captain of the basketball
team in order to help him prove that NBA star Brett
McGrew is the father he has never known.
The Big Field Mike Lupica
Hutch feels threatened by the arrival of a new
baseball teammate named Darryl, and tries to work
through his insecurities about both Darryl and his
remote father, who was once a great ballplayer.
Change-Up: Mystery at the World Series
John Feinstein
Teenage sports reporters investigate a rookie pitcher
whose evasive answers during an interview reveal
more than a few contradictions in his life story.
Crackback John Coy
Miles barely recalls when football was fun after
being sidelined by a new coach, criticized by his
father, and pressured to take steroids.
Dragon Road Laurence Yep
In 1939, long-time friends Cal Chin and Barney
Young tour the country as members of a Chinese
American basketball team.
Football Hero Tim Green
When Ty's older brother, Thane, is recruited to play
for the New York Jets, their Uncle Gus uses Ty to get
insider information for his gambling ring, landing Ty
and Thane in trouble with the Mafia.
Goal: The Dream Begins Robert Rigby
A young Mexican American goes to England to try
out for the Newcastle United soccer team.
Roy Morelli Steps Up to the Plate
Thatcher Heldring
When Roy's divorced parents find out he is failing
history, they ban him from playing on his beloved allstar
baseball team, and, even worse, he winds up
being tutored by his father's new girlfriend.
Tangerine Edward Bloor
Paul moves to Florida, where he is determined to
play soccer, despite being blind, and he forces his
family to face the truth about his brother, a brutal
football star.
Tom Brady, Ladainian Tomlinson
Richard J. Brenner
Biographies, with photos, of two football superstars.
(nonfiction)
The Warriors Joseph Bruchac
Jake, who grew up on an Iroquois reservation, is a
star on his boarding school’s lacrosse team, though he
is disturbed by the coach’s failure to understand the
Native American approach to the game.
GRADE 8
ADVENTURE
H.I.V.E. Mark Walden
Otto, a new student at a sinister school that teaches
villainry, soon realizes that leaving is not an option.
The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins
In a future North America, teens from each district
are pitted against each another, and Katniss's skills
are put to the test when she takes her younger sister's
place. Sequels: Catching Fire, Mockingjay (Aug. 24).
Incarceron Catherine Fisher
The prison itself is alive: can Finn find a way out?
Leviathan Scott Westerfield
In an alternate 1914 Europe, Alek, an Austrian prince
on the run, forms an uneasy alliance with Deryn, who
is learning to fly genetically engineered beasts.
Max Cassidy: Escape From Shadow Island
Paul Adam
A young professional escape artist tries to clear his
mother of murdering his father, who has disappeared.
The Maze Will Hobbs
Rick escapes from a juvenile detention center and
ends up in Canyonlands National Park, where he
helps reintroduce condors to the wild, learns to hang
glide, and contends with villains.
Nation Terry Pratchett
After a devastating tsunami, an island boy and an
aristocratic English girl, with a few refugees, must
rebuild a whole society.
The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, Bk. 1)
Rick Riordan
The gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of
them--Set--is coming after the Kane family.
Thieves Like Us Stephen Cole
A mysterious benefactor hand-picks a group of teen
geniuses to follow a set of clues leading to the secrets
of everlasting life, secrets which they must steal and
for which they risk being killed. First in a series.
Tiger Moon Antonia Michaelis
Farhad the thief and his companion, Nitish the white
tiger, travel across India to retrieve a famous jewel
that will save a kidnapped princess from becoming
the bride of a demon king.
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Bill Gates Marc Aronson
Presents the life and accomplishments of the
billionaire computer software engineer who founded
the Microsoft Corporation. (nonfiction)
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
Phillip Hoose
This Alabama teenager played an integral but littleknown
role in the Montgomery bus strike of
1955-1956. 2010 National Book Award. (nonfiction)
Diary of a Young Girl Anne Frank
The inspiring memoir of a Jewish teenager who, with
her family, hid from the Nazis in a cramped annex in
Amsterdam for two years. (nonfiction)
Genius: A Photobiography of Albert Einstein
Marfe Ferguson Delano
From the Big Bang to black holes, Delano discusses
the power of Einstein's ideas and their wide-ranging
influence. (nonfiction)
Leonardo da Vinci Kathleen Krull
A lively portrait of the Renaissance scientist and
artist. (nonfiction)
Reaching Out Francisco Jimenez
A Mexican American boy from a family of migrant
workers tells about heading off to college.
(nonfiction)
CLASSICS
Dracula Bram Stoker
Having discovered the double identity of the wealthy
Transylvanian nobleman, Count Dracula, a small
group of people vow to rid the world of the evil vampire.
The Children's Homer Padraic Colum
A retelling of the events of the Trojan War and the
wanderings of Odysseus, based on Homer’s Iliad and
Odyssey.
Ender's Game Orson Scott Card
To combat aliens, the world government is breeding
military geniuses and then training them in war
games--at which Ender Wiggins excels.
A Lesson Before Dying Ernest J. Gaines
An uneducated young man convicted of a murder he
didn't commit is visited on death row by a teacher
who tries to convince him of his worth.
Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson
Cabin boy Jim Hawkins must outwit a cunning pirate
to stay alive.
CONTEMPORARY FICTION
After Ever After Jordan Sonnenblick
Teens help each other deal with the aftereffects of
cancer treatments in a tale both tragic and funny.
The Client John Grishman
Mark happens on information that puts his life in
danger: the Mafia is after him, and he goes to a
lawyer for help in this suspenseful legal thriller.
Cheater Michael Laser
Karl gets involved in an elaborate cheating operation
at his school, one with unexpected complications.
Dope Sick Walter Dean Myers
Jeremy "Lil J" Dance flees into a house after a drug
deal goes wrong and meets a weird man who shows
different turning points in Lil J's life when he could
have made better choices.
Eighth-Grade Super Zero
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
After an embarrassing start to the school year, Reggie
("Pukey") tries to be invisible, but then runs for
school office on a platform of making a difference.
Red Glass Laura Resau
Sophie discovers her true strength during a journey
through Mexico, where the orphan her family hopes
to adopt was born, and to Guatemala, where her
would-be boyfriend hopes to find his mother.
Trouble Gary Schmidt
To honor his brother Franklin's dying wish, Henry
sets out to hike Maine's Mount Katahdin with his best
friend and dog. But fate adds another companion--the
Cambodian refugee accused of fatally injuring
Franklin--revealing troubles that predate the accident.
You Don't Even Know Me: Stories and Poems
About Boys Sharon Flake
Tales and free-verse poems by teenaged boys about
love, fear, fun, anger, sorrow and growing up African
American.
HISTORICAL FICTION
Al Capone Shines My Shoes Gennifer Choldenko
Moose, who lives on Alcatraz where his father is a
prison guard, is frightened when he discovers that the
gangster Al Capone, a prisoner there, wants a favor
from him.
The Book Thief Markus Zusak
A German girl’s book-stealing and story-telling
talents in World War II help sustain her family and
neighbors and the Jewish man they are hiding.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas John Boyne
Bruno's family moves from Berlin to “Out-With,”
where his father has been promoted to commandant,
and Bruno makes friends with a boy on the other side
of a fence.
Come Juneteenth Ann Rinaldi
Luli and her family face tragedy after failing to tell
their slaves that President Lincoln's Emancipation
Proclamation made them free.
Fallen Angels Walter Dean Myers
Richie, age 17, is in Vietnam, finding nothing to be
what he had expected, trying to conquer his fears and
to come out alive.
The Killer Angels Michael Shaara
A riveting fact-based novel about the bloody Civil
War battle of Gettysburg. Pulitzer Prize winner.
New Boy Julian Houston
At a boarding school in the late 1950s, a young black
man witnesses the persecution of another student,
while back home in Virginia his friends are getting
involved in the civil rights movement.
Out of the Dust Karen Hesse
In a series of poems, Billie Jo relates the hardships of
living on her family's wheat farm in Oklahoma
during the dust bowl years of the Depression, in the
1930s. Newbery Medal winner.
The Rock and the River Kekla Magoon
In 1968 Chicago, 14-year-old Sam is caught in a
conflict between his father's nonviolent approach to
seeking civil rights for African Americans and his
older brother, who’s joined the Black Panther Party.
Run, Boy, Run Uri Orlev
Based on the true story of a boy who escaped the
Warsaw Ghetto and survived World War II in the
Nazi-occupied Polish countryside.
Weedflower Cynthia Kadohata
Sumiko and her Japanese-American family are
relocated from their California flower farm to an
internment camp on a Mojave reservation in Arizona
during World War II.
HISTORY
Air Raid--Pearl Harbor! Theodore Taylor
Examines from both the American and Japanese
points of view the political and military events
leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. (nonfiction)
Alphabet Soup: New Deal America, 1932-1939
Tonya Bolden
A lively look at Franklin D. Roosevelt’s postDepression program initiatives, such as the WPA:
were they a "good deal, raw deal, or a misdeal?”
Illustrated with period photos. (nonfiction)
Flyboys James Bradley
The harrowing true story of nine American airmen
shot down in the Pacific in 1945. (nonfiction)
Marching for Freedom Elizabeth Partridge
Recounts the three months of protest that took place
before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s landmark march
from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery to promote
equal rights and help African Americans earn the
right to vote. (nonfiction)
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the
Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley Sally M. Walker
An amazing tale of an engineering marvel lost in
1864 and only recently found. (nonfiction)
Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting
Jim Murphy
In 1914, during World War I, in defiance of their
officers' orders, soldiers on opposing sides engaged
i n a Ch r i s tma s c e l e b r a t i o n wi t h t h e i r
"enemies." (nonfiction)
Vietnam: The Bloodbath at Hamburger Hill
John DiConsiglio
The soldiers at Hamburger Hill fought for eight
straight days to capture a tiny piece of Vietnam’s
countryside. (nonfiction)
HUMOR
Death by Eggplant Susan Heyboer O'Keefe
Bertie tries to keep his dream of becoming a worldclass
chef a secret, especially from his mortal enemy,
Nick.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams
When the Earth is destroyed to make way for a
cosmic freeway, Arthur Dent is flung into wild
adventures across the universe.
Project Sweet Life Brent Hartinger
Dave and his two best friends are being forced by
their fathers to get summer jobs, but the three teens
are determined to scam their way out of working.
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie David Lubar
Scott chronicles his first year of high school as he
awaits the birth of his new baby brother, loses old
friends and gains some unlikely new ones, and hones
his skills as a writer.
Slot Machine Chris Lynch
Elvin goes to a camp where he’s supposed to find a
sport that suits him, with awful yet funny results.
Sequel: Extreme Elvin.
Son of the Mob Gordon Korman
It’s hard to take a girl out on a date when there’s a
body in the trunk of the car; Vince’s father is a
powerful mobster, but Vince wants nothing to do with
the family business. Sequel: Hollywood Hustle.
MYSTERY
Borderline Allan Stratton
Despite their strained relationship, Sami risks his life
to uncover the truth when his father is implicated in a
terrorist plot.
Creature of the Night Kate Thompson
Bobby lives a reckless life in Dublin, so his mother
moves the family to the country, but Bobby suspects
their cottage might not be as quaint as it seems.
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin Josh Berk
Will transfers from his all-deaf school into a
mainstream high school and tackles a mystery
surrounding the death of a football player in his class.
The Day of the Jackal Frederick Forsyth
A suspenseful thriller about a high-priced
international assassin hired to kill French president
Charles de Gaulle.
Peeled Joan Bauer
In an upstate New York farming community, a high
school reporter looks into a series of strange
occurrences at a house rumored to be haunted.
Skeleton Creek Patrick Carman
Ryan and Sarah investigate strange events: while
Ryan records everything in his journal, Sarah uses her
videocam for clips readers can access on a website.
Steel Trapp: The Challenge Ridley Pearson
Steven "Steel" Trapp, who has a photographic
memory, becomes embroiled in a kidnapping and
bribery plot that may have links to terrorists. First in
a series.
SCIENCE
Can You Feel The Force? Richard Hammond
How fast can you go? A lively introduction to
physics, explaining the physical forces that make our
world what it is. (nonfiction)
Future Tech: From Personal Robots to Motorized
Monocycles Charles Piddock
Meet machines that can think, cars that drive
themselves, and robots that borrow their nature from
nature itself. (nonfiction)
The Periodic Table: Elements With Style
Arian Dingle
Web-style "homepages" introduce each of the
chemical elements from the periodic table, with witty
profiles written by the elements themselves.
(nonfiction)
Physics: Why Matter Matters Dan Green
Mixes science and art to bring the world of physics to
life, with a gaggle of wacky characters to explain the
building blocks of our universe. (nonfiction)
The Radioactive Boy Scout: The Frightening True
Story of a Whiz Kid and His Homemade Nuclear
Reactor Ken Silverstein
David Hahn, working on his Atomic Energy badge
for the Boy Scouts, got a little carried away...
(nonfiction)
This is Rocket Science: True Stories of the RiskTaking Scientists Who Figure Out Ways to
Explore Beyond Earth Gloria Skurzynski
The past, present and future of rocket technology.
(nonfiction)
SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal
Nicholas Flamel Michael Scott
Twins find themselves caught up in the deadly
struggle between alchemists over an ancient book
holding secret formulas for alchemy and everlasting
life. First in a series.
Demonkeeper Royce Buckingham
When Nat, the weirdest boy in Seattle, leaves for a
date with the plainest girl in town, chaos breaks out
in the houseful of demons he guards. Sequel:
Goblins.
Escape From Earth: New Adventures in Space
Jack Dann & Gardner Dozois
Six novellas about space travel.
Grimpow: The Invisible Road Rafael Abalos
Grimpow finds a stone on a dead knight and embarks
on a life-changing quest.
Killer Pizza Greg Taylor
It’s a more than a fast-food place--it's a front for a
monster-hunting organization!
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment
James Patterson
Young people with wings battle evil Erasers--halfmen,
half-wolves--when one of their “flock” is
kidnapped. First in a series.
Saga Conor Kostick
On Saga, a world based on a video role-playing
game, the Dark Queen plans to enslave the people
and those of New Earth, and Ghost and her friends
must stop her. Sequel to Epic.
The Shadow Project Herbie Brennan
A young English thief joins a super-secret operation
that trains teenagers in remote viewing and astral
projection techniques for use on dangerous spying
missions.
Stoneheart Charlie Fletcher
When George accidentally decapitates a stone statue
he falls into a parallel dimension where he must
battle ancient "live" statues and solve a dangerous
riddle. Sequels: Ironhand, Silvertongue.
SPORTS
Friday Night Lights H.G Bissinger
A season in the life of Odessa, Texas, and how the
Permian High School football team helps keep the
hopes and dreams of the town alive. (nonfiction)
Ironman Chris Crutcher
While training for a triathalon, Bo attends an anger
management group that leads him to examine his
relationship with his father.
Night Hoops Carl Deuker
Nick, who is trying to prove that he is good enough
to be on his high school's varsity basketball team,
must also deal with his parents' divorce and the
erratic behavior of a troubled classmate.
Over the Wall John H. Ritter
Tyler, who has trouble controlling his anger, spends a
summer in New York City, playing baseball and
sorting out how he feels about the Vietnamese
conflict that killed his grandfather.
Samurai Shortstop Alan M. Gratz
At a prestigious Japanese boarding school in 1890,
Toyo receives traditional samurai training, which
effect both his baseball game and his relationship
with his father.
Season of Life: A Football Star, A Boy, A Journey
to Manhood Jeffrey Marx
Joe Ehrmann, a former NFL star and volunteer coach
for the Gilman high school football team, teaches his
players the importance of empathy, integrity, and
serving others. (nonfiction)
Toby Wheeler, 8th Grade Benchwarmer
Thatcher Heldring
When Toby joins the basketball team, he doesn’t
anticipate the changes that will occur in his
relationship with his best friend JJ, the team's star
player, as well as in other areas of his life.
Why a Curveball Curves: The Incredible Science
of Sports Frank Vizard & Robert Lipsyte
What does Bernoulli's law have to do with
curveballs? Will "gene doping" produce super
athletes? Find the answers in these articles from
Popular Mechanics. (nonfiction)
Wrestling Sturbridge Rich Wallace
Ben, a high school senior, makes a bid for state
wrestling champ as a way out of small-town
Sturbridge, but he must go up against his teammate
and friend.