Adventure
Far North, Hobbs, Will – Stranded in Canada’s Northwest Territories in winter
Animals
A Different Kind of Beauty – A dog trainer finds love in an unusual place.
Asian Topics
So Far From the Bamboo Grove, Kawashawa Watkins, Y. – Post WWII Japan
Ties the Bind, Ties that Break, Namioka, L. – A girl’s struggle against tradition
Classic Fiction
The Pearl, Steinbeck, John. – A poor man deals with the dangers of wealth
Family
That Was Then, This is Now, Hinton, S.E. – Two brothers growing apart
Framed in Fire, Patneaude, D. – A boy’s struggle with his step-father
Our Only May Amelia, Holm, J. –Young girl doesn’t want to become proper lady
Love Among the Walnuts, Ferris, Jean – Brothers’ evil plot against family
Al Capone Does My Shirts, Choldenko, Gennifer – Help comes from the strangest places
Gates of Paradise, Adrews, V.C. – A girl discovers her mother’s dark past
Fantasy Fiction
City of the Beasts, Allende, I. – Adventures in South America
Deep Wizardry, Duane, D. – Kids with powers answer the call of nature
Demon in My View, Atwater-Rhodes, Amelia – Young author’ stories come to life
The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm, Famer, Nancy – Unique detective group seeks three lost children
Thirsty, Anderson, M.T. – A boy struggles with his transformation to vampirism
The Wayfinder, Pattison, Darcy – Boy and his dog quest to solve kingdom’s problems
Hero’s Song, Pattou, Edith – A boy’s mystical journey to find his kidnapped sister
Gangs
Scorpions, Myers, Walter Dean – A young boy is pushed to become the leader of a gang
Rumble Fish, Hinton, S.E. – Gang life and a boys struggle to cope with it
Girls’ Books
Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging, Rennison, Louise – Boys, school, and makeup
Our Only May Amelia, Holm, J. –Young girl doesn’t want to become proper lady
Princess in the Spotlight, Cabot, Meg – Girl finds out she’s a princess
The Year of Secret Assignments, Moriarty, Jaclyn – Pen pals from a rival school
Notes from a Liar and Her Dog – Choldenko, Gennifer – Girl tells lies to get of trouble
All-American Girl, Cabot, Meg – How does life change after you save the president?
The Dating Game, Standiford, Natalie – Girls develop online quiz to see if boy are sex-crazed
Hispanic Topics
Esperanza Rising, Munoz, P., A Mexican girl’s fall from riches
Historical Fiction
Fallen Angels, Myers, Walter Dean – A Vietnam experience
Amaryllis – Crist-Evans, Craig – By dealing with his brother away at Vietnam
Flames of the Tiger, Wilson, John – Brother and sister fight to survive the Holocaust
In My Father’s House, Rinnaldi, Ann – Girl tries to keep her family together during the Civil War
Out of the Dust, Hesse, Karen – Girl struggles through her life during the Great Depression
Mystery/Murder
Beach House, Stine, R.L. – Murder at a mysterious beach home
The Big Four, Christie, Agatha – Detective’s quest to prevent world domination
And Then There Were None, Christie, Agatha – 10 people’s fate is tied a to a nursery rhyme
Native American Topics
The Beaded Moccasins – A girl’s adventure as a Native American captive
The Warriors, Bruchac J. (lacrosse) – Native American struggles in new school
Relationships
Worst Enemies/Best Friends, Bryant, A. – Being the new girl at school isn’t easy
Hard Love, Wittlinger, E. – Two friends discover themselves
A Different Kind of Beauty, McNicoll, S. – You can find love anywhere
The Pigman, Zindel, P., Kids learn a life lesson from Mr. Pignati
Science Fiction
Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card – Frequently tops best science fiction lists
Things Not Seen, Clements, A. – Feeling invisible, and being it!
Alas, Babylon, Frank, Pat – Nuclear war tears a small town apart
Series Books
Redwall, Jacques, Brian – Medieval adventure
Social Issues
Speak, L.H. Anderson – A young girl’s struggle after being raped
Annie on My Mind, Garden, N.
Corner of the Universe, Martin, A., Hattie’s copes with her uncle’s “condition”
Lucky, Sebold, Alice – A young girl tries to put her rape behind her
Don’t You Dare Read This Mrs. Dunphrey, Peterson Haddix, Margaret – Some secrets are just too
hard to share
My Abnormal Life, McClain, Lee – A foster kids needs to prove she is normal
Al Capone Does My Shirts, Choldenko, Gennifer – Help comes from the strangest places
Cut, McCormick, Patricia – A girl struggles through rehab and her desire to cut herself
Both Sides Now, Pennebaker, Ruth – A family struggles with cancer
Katie.com, Tarbox, Catherine – Internet friendship holds much mystery
Go Ask Alice, Anonymous – Adventures in the life of a teenage addict
Sports
The Warriors, Bruchac, J. (lacrosse) – Native American struggles in new school
Travel Team, Lupica, M. (basketball) – Boy’s quest to live up to his famous father
Anything to Win, Miklowitz, G. (football) – A boy’s struggle with steroids
Bull Catcher, Carter, Alden R. (baseball) – Boy’s struggle with life and baseball
Adrenalin Ride, Withers, Pam (biking) – Bike trailblazing adventures
Hoops, Myers, Walter Dean (basketball) – Can a washed up coach lead the team to victory?
A Sporting Proposition, Aldridge, James (horses) – Two young people both love the same horse
Imitate the Tiger, Cheripko, Jan (football) – Boy struggles with his alcohol addiction
Slam, Myers, Walter Dean (basketball) – Boy struggles both on the court and off
Taming the Star Runner, Hinton, S.E. (horses) – Just released from jail, boy seeks stability
Running Loose, Crutcher, Chris (football) – Louis has it all, until life takes hold