Firegirl by Tony Abbott
"Tom's a normal seventh-grader, negotiating a slightly prickly stage in his long friendship
with Jeff...The arrival of new girl Jessica Feeney, however, changes everything; Jessica,
who is attending a local hospital for treatment, has been badly burned by a fire, and her
terrible disfigurement shocks the class into confusion. This isn't the usual book about
adjustment to difference; instead, Abbott brilliantly explores the kids' struggle to manage
the intrusion of abnormality in their lives...this is a thoughtful exploration of a brief
interlude's lasting impact."
Nothing But the Truth by Avi
Ninth grader Philip Malloy is forbidden to join the track team because of his failing grades
in English class. Convinced that the teacher just doesn't like him, Philip concocts a plan to
get transferred into a different homeroom. Instead of standing silently during the national
anthem, he hums along. And ends up on trial.
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very
This summer the Penderwick sisters have a wonderful surprise: a holiday on the grounds of a
beautiful estate called Arundel. Soon they are busy discovering the summertime magic of
Arundel’s sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes
the best gingerbread in Massachusetts. But the best discovery of all is Jeffrey Tifton, son
of Arundel’s owner, who quickly proves to be the perfect companion for their adventures.
The icy-hearted Mrs. Tifton is not as pleased with the Penderwicks as Jeffrey is, though,
and warns the new friends to stay out of trouble. Which, of course, they will—won’t they?
One thing’s for sure: it will be a summer the Penderwicks will never forget.Interesting Boy
(National Book Award for Young People's Literature) by Jeanne Birdsall
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Paul Fisher is in seventh grade when his family moves to Tangerine County, Florida, land of
muck fires, koi-stealing ospreys, mosquito swarms, daily lightning strikes, and sinkholes. Paul
feels like the outsider in his family. His mother quickly becomes absorbed in the
homeowner's association in their housing development at Lake Windsor Downs, and his
father is fully occupied with older brother Erik's football career the "Erik Fisher Football
Dream," as Paul says. Paul's eyesight was damaged in a mysterious accident when he was
five, and he wears "Coke-bottle" glasses, but he has clearer vision than the rest of his
family and most of the people in Lake Windsor Downs. He sees through the "nice-guy" front
his brother puts on and the snobbishness of his Lake Windsor Downs neighbors, especially
after he transfers to the working-class Tangerine Middle School
Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume
No one ever told Margaret Simon that eleven-going-on- twelve would be such a hard age.
When her family moves to New Jersey, she has to adjust to life in the suburbs, a different
school, and a whole new group of friends. Margaret knows she needs someone to talk to
about growing up-and it's not long before she's found a solution.
Are you there God? It's me, Margaret. I can't wait until two o'clock God. That's when our
dance starts. Do you think I'll get Philip Leroy for a partner? It's not so much that I like
him as a person God, but as a boy he's very handsome. And I'd love to dance with him... just
once or twice. Thank you God.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants) by Ann Brashares
Carmen got the jeans at a thrift shop. They didn’t look all that great; they were worn, dirty,
and speckled with bleach. On the night before she and her friends part for the summer,
Carmen decides to toss them. But Tibby says they’re great. She’d love to have them. Lena
and Bridget also think they’re fabulous. Lena decides they should all try them on. Whoever
they fit best will get them. Nobody knows why, but the pants fit everyone perfectly. Even
Carmen (who never thinks she looks good in anything), thinks she looks good in the pants.
Over a few bags of cheese puffs they decide to form a sisterhood, and take the vow of The
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants . . . the next morning, they say good-bye. And now the
journey of the pants–and the most memorable summer of their lives–begins.
Notes from a Liar and Her Dog by Gennifer Choldenko
How could Ant MacPherson possibly tell her parents the truth all of the time? They never
understand anything! The only person in her family Ant admits to being related to is her
little dog, Pistachio. She writes notes in her journal to her "real mom" and tells people at
school that she's adopted. But when a concerned teacher sees the truth about Ant and her
lies, it seems that Ant may be in for a big change. . . .
Lunch Money by Andrew Clements
Greg Kenton has always had a natural talent for making money -- despite the annoying
rivalry of his neighbor Maura Shaw. Then, just before sixth grade, Greg makes a discovery:
Almost every kid at school has an extra quarter or two to spend almost every day.
Multiply a few quarters by a few hundred kids, and for Greg, school suddenly looks like a
giant piggy bank. All he needs is the right hammer to crack it open. Candy and gum? Little
toys? Sure, kids would love to buy stuff like that at school. But would teachers and the
principal permit it? Not likely.
But how about comic books? Comic books might work. Especially the chunky little ones that
Greg writes and illustrates himself. Because everybody knows that school always encourages
reading and writing and creativity and individual initiative, right?
A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements
Mark didn't ask to move to New Hampshire. Or to go to a hick school like Hardy Elementary.
And he certainly didn't request Mr. Maxwell as his teacher. Mr. Maxwell doesn't like rich
kids, or slackers, or know-it-alls. And he's decided that Mark is all of those things. Now the
whole school is headed out for a week of camping - Hardy's famous Week in the Woods. At
first it sounds dumb, but then Mark begins to open up to life in the country, and he decides
it might be okay to learn something new. It might even be fun. But things go all wrong for
Mark. The Week in the Woods is not what anyone planned. Especially not Mr. Maxwell. With
his uncanny knack to reach right to the heart of kids, Andrew Clements asks - and answers questions about first impressions, fairness, loyalty, and courage - and exactly what it takes
to spend a Week in the Woods.
Millions by Boyce Cottrell
It was a one-in-a-million chance. A bag crammed with cash comes tumbling out of the air and
lands right at Damian's feet. Suddenly the Cunningham brothers are rich. Very rich. They
can buy anything they want. There's just one problem -- they have only seventeen days to
spend all the money before it becomes worthless. And the crooks who stole the cash in the
first place are closing in -- fast.
Ruby Holler By Sharon Creech
"Trouble twins" Dallas and Florida are orphans who have given up believing there is such a
thing as a loving home. Tiller and Sairy are an eccentric older couple who live in the
beautiful, mysterious Ruby Holler, but they're restless for one more big adventure. When
they invite the twins to join them on their journeys, they first must all stay together in the
Holler, and the magic of the place takes over. Two pairs of lives grow closer, and are
changed forever.
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
“How about a story? Spin us a yarn." Instantly, Phoebe Winterbottom came to mind. "I could
tell you an extensively strange story," I warned."Oh, good!" Gram said. "Delicious!"
And that is how I happened to tell them about Phoebe, her disappearing mother, and the
lunatic.
As Sal entertains her grandparents with Phoebe's outrageous story, her own story begins to
unfold--the story of a thirteen-year-old girl whose only wish is to be reunited with her
missing mother.
The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous by Suzanne Crowley
Merilee leads a Very Ordered Existence. V.O.E., for short.
Her schedule (which must not be altered) includes, among other entries:

School (horrendous)

Litter patrol (30 minutes daily)

Lunch (PB&J and a pickle)

Bottle return (Friday only at the Piggly Wiggly)

Dame Fiona’s meditation show (Saturday only, 6:00 AM)
The V.O.E. is all about precision.
Merilee does not have time for Biswick O’Connor.
Merilee does not have time for Miss Veraleen Holliday.
He with his annoying factoids and runny nose. She with her shining white shoes as big as
sailboats. Both of them strangers who, like the hot desert wind that brings only bad news,
blow into town and change everything.
P.S. Longer Letter Later by Ann Martin and Paula Danziger
If opposites really do attract, this explains why Elizabeth and Tara*Starr are best
friends. Not only are their personalities different, but their family backgrounds are a
lesson in socio-economic diversity. When Tara*Starr's family moves to another town, the
letters that she and Elizabeth write regularly become even more important. Their
correspondence chronicles the joys, hopes, fears, and sometimes pain, of two girls coming of
age.
Snail Mail, No More by Ann Martin and Paula Danziger
Best friends Elizabeth and Tara*Starr are still corresponding regularly - how, via e-mail. As
they deal with big changes in their lives, their long- distance friendship is put to the test.
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
The summer Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the
Winn-Dixie supermarket—and comes out with a dog. A big, ugly, suffering dog with a
sterling sense of humor. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixie, the preacher
tells Opal ten things about her absent mother, one for each year Opal has been alive. WinnDixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known, and together they meet
the local librarian, Miss Franny Block, who once fought off a bear with a copy of WAR AND
PEACE. They meet Gloria Dump, who is nearly blind but sees with her heart, and Otis, an excon who sets the animals in his pet shop loose after hours, then lulls them with his guitar.
Opal spends all that sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking
about her mother. But because of Winn-Dixie or perhaps because she has grown, Opal learns
to let go, just a little, and that friendship—and forgiveness—can sneak up on you like a
sudden summer storm.
The Secret Language of Girls by Frances O'Roark Dowell
In the old days, when Kate had no interest in romance, she never cared what other people
thought. Now, it appeared, love was turning her into a rotten human being.
Eleven-year-old Kate Faber wishes she could talk to her best friend, Marylin, about this.
But Marylin is no longer her best friend. Or is she? Kate and Marylin were always the kind
of best friends who lived on the same block for their entire lives, and who agreed on what
kinds of boys were worth kissing and who should be invited to their sleepover. The kind of
best friends who didn't need words to talk, but who always just knew.
But lately Marylin has started to think that Kate can be a bit babyish. And Kate thinks
Marylin is acting like a big snob. Somehow nothing is the same, but secretly Kate and Marylin
both wish it could be...
Beanball by Gene Fehler (note not yet released, but Advanced Reader edition available at
HA library)
A compelling sports story told in stark, powerful free verse. It's the worst sound I've ever
heard in all my years of umping. Oh, I've heard pleanty of pitches hit a helmet. But
this...this fastball, up and in. This one hit bone, right in the face. Not even a scream or grunt
from the kid. He went down like he was shot. --Tim Burchard, umpire It's the last inning of
a high school baseball game between archrivals Oak Grove and Compton. Center fielder Luke
"Wizard" Wallace steps up to the plate-and is hit by a beanball, a wild pitch that shatters
his skull, destroys the vision in his left eye, and changes his life forever. In this riveting
novel, the events surrounding this pivotal moment are recounted through free-verse
monologues by 28 different voices, including those of Luke and his Oak Grove team-mates;
the pitcher, Kyle Dawkins, and other Compton players; the two coaches; Luke's family
members and teachers; and Sarah Edgerton, a new classmate who seems more affected by
Luke's injury than his girlfriend is. With its unusual format, gripping subject matter, and
economy of language, "Beanball" is a thought-provoking, fast-paced read.
Seedfolks by Sid Fleischman
A vacant lot, rat-infested and filled with garbage, looked like no place for a garden.
Especially to a neighborhood of strangers where no one seems to care. Until one day, a
young girl clears a small space and digs into the hard-packed soil to plant her precious bean
seeds. Suddenly, the soil holds promise: To Curtis, who believes he can win back Lateesha's
heart with a harvest of tomatoes; to Virgil's dad, who sees a fortune to be made from
growing lettuce; and even to Maricela, sixteen and pregnant, wishing she were dead.
Thirteen very different voices -- old, young, Haitian, Hispanic, tough, haunted, and hopeful - tell one amazing story about a garden that transforms a neighborhood.
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (Joey Pigza series) by Jack Gantos
Joey Pigza can't sit still. He can't pay attention, he can't follow the rules, and he can't help
it -- especially when his meds aren't working. Joey's had problems ever since he was born,
problems just like his dad and grandma have. And whether he's wreaking havoc on a class
trip or swallowing his house key, Joey's problems are getting worse. In fact, his behavior is
so off the wall that his teachers are threatening to send him to the special-ed center
downtown.
Joey knows he's really a good kid, but no matter how hard he tries to do the right thing,
something always seems to go wrong. Will he ever get anything right?
Ida B: and her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World
by Katherine Hannigan
Who is Ida B. Applewood? She is a girl like no other, living a life like no other, with a voice
like no other, and her story will resonate long after you have put this book down. How does
Ida B cope when outside forces -- life, really -- attempt to derail her and her family and her
future? She enters her Black Period, and it is not pretty. But then, with the help of a
patient teacher, a loyal cat and dog, her beloved apple trees, and parents who believe in the
same things she does (even if they sometimes act as though they don't), the resilience that
is the very essence of Ida B triumph...and Ida B. Applewood takes the hand that is extended
and starts to grow up.
Football Genius by Tim Green
Troy White has a phenomenal gift. He can predict football plays before they happen. Any
position. Any player. Any team.
When Troy's single mom gets a job working in public relations for the Atlanta Falcons, Troy
figures it's his chance to prove what he can do. But first he has to get to the Falcons—and
with tight security and a notoriously mean coach, even his mom's field passes aren't much
help.
Then Troy and his best friends devise a plan to get the attention of star linebacker Seth
Halloway. With Seth's playing and Troy's genius, the Falcons could be unstoppable—if
they'll only listen.
Bestselling author and former NFL player Tim Green scores a touchdown with this
exhilarating novel, his first for young readers. Football Genius is an action-packed adventure
with gripping suspense, a hero you can really root for, and an insider's look at the world of
professional football.
Marley, A Dog Like No Other by John Grogan
Marley, a lovable Labrador retriever, is always getting himself into trouble. Some may say
he is the world's worst dog. But those who know and love Marley understand that nothing
can stop his loyalty, exuberance, and passion—not even the Grogans' screen door! How this
big, rambunctious dog becomes the heart of the Grogan family is the story of Marley.
The Kid Who Ran for President by Dan Gutman
With his friend as campaign manager and his former babysitter as running mate, twelveyear-old Judson Moon sets out to become President of the United States.
Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes
Sometimes life can change in an instant
Martha Boyle and Olive Barstow could have been friends, but they weren't. Weeks after a
tragic accident, all that is left are eerie connections between the two girls, former
classmates who both kept the same secret without knowing it. Now, even while on vacation
at the ocean, Martha can't stop thinking about Olive. Things only get more complicated when
Martha begins to like Jimmy Manning, a neighbor boy she used to despise. What is going on?
Can life for Martha be the same ever again?
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Unfortunately, Roy’s first acquaintance in Florida is Dana Matherson, a well-known bully.
Then again, if Dana hadn’t been sinking his thumbs into Roy’s temples and mashing his face
against the school-bus window, Roy might never have spotted the running boy. And the
running boy is intriguing: he was running away from the school bus, carried no books, and–
here’s the odd part–wore no shoes. Sensing a mystery, Roy sets himself on the boy’s trail.
The chase introduces him to potty-trained alligators, a fake-fart champion, some burrowing
owls, a renegade eco-avenger, and several extremely poisonous snakes with unnaturally
sparkling tails. Roy has most definitely arrived in Carl Hiaasen’s Florida.
Defiance by Valerie Hobbs
Eleven-year-old Toby Steiner wants to do normal things on his vacation: he wants to hike
and race his bike down the hill and learn to fish out on the lake. The last thing he wants is to
return to the children’s hospital where his painful cancer treatment finally ended. When
Toby starts spending time with Pearl, a spunky old woman who lives on a nearby farm, and
Blossom, her broken-down cow, he sees all the more reason to keep the new lump on his side
a secret from his parents. From Pearl he discovers the beauty of poetry, and from Blossom
he just might uncover the meaning of life.
Eleven-year-old Toby Steiner wants to do normal things on his vacation: he wants to hike
and race his bike down the hill and learn to fish out on the lake. The last thing he wants is to
return to the children’s hospital where his painful cancer treatment finally ended. When
Toby starts spending time with Pearl, a spunky old woman who lives on a nearby farm, and
Blossom, her broken-down cow, he sees all the more reason to keep the new lump on his side
a secret from his parents. From Pearl he discovers the beauty of poetry, and from Blossom
he just might uncover the meaning of life.
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt
Nothing ever happens in Toby’s small Texas town. Nothing much until this summer that’s full
of big changes.
It’s tough for Toby when his mother leaves home to be a country singer. Toby takes it hard
when his best friend Cal’s older brother goes off to fight in Vietnam. Now their sleepy town
is about to get a jolt with the arrival of Zachary Beaver, billed as the fattest boy in the
world. Toby is in for a summer unlike any other, a summer sure to change his life.
Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horwath
My name is Primrose Squarp. I am eleven years old. I have hair the color of carrots in
apricot glaze (recipe to follow), skin fair and clear where it isn't freckled, and eyes like
summer storms.
Readers will know right from the start that the narrator of Everything on a Waffle is going
to tell her story straight and pull no punches. Primrose's parents have been lost at sea, but
she believes without an iota of doubt that they are still alive, somewhere. She moves in with
her Uncle Jack, but feels generally friendless. Her only real refuge is a local restaurant
called The Girl on the Red Swing, where the owner, Miss Bowzer, serves everything on
waffles -- except advice and good sense, which come free of charge and are always reliable.
Food in general plays an important role in Primrose's journey toward peace and
understanding (a recipe dictated in her unmistakable voice is appended to each chapter),
and readers will eagerly cheer her on through this funny, bittersweet novel.
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E.L. Konigsburg
The summer she's twelve -- the same year that Cabbage Patch dolls are popular, that Sally
Ride becomes the first American woman in space, that El Niño affects weather patterns
worldwide and causes disasters on almost every continent of the planet Earth -- Margaret
Rose Kane must confront a catastrophe brewing in her own backyard.
Freshly rescued from a miserable experience at Camp Talequa, where she was housed with
seven cruel cabin mates, Margaret is looking forward to spending the rest of her summer
with her beloved great-uncles, Morris and Alexander. Little does she know, the Uncles
themselves are in need of a rescue.
For the last forty-five years, the Uncles have been building three giant towers in their
backyard from scrap metal and shards of glass and porcelain. But now, bowing to pressures
from some powerful home owners, the towers have been declared a blight on the
neighborhood. Even worse, the city council has voted to have them destroyed.
Margaret Rose is outraged. She knows the towers for what they truly are: irreplaceable
works of art. To Margaret, the towers sing. They sing of the joy of making something big
and beautiful out of bits and pieces; of integrity; but perhaps most important of all, they
sing of history. And Margaret Rose is determined to make sure they always will.
The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
Four sixth-graders are chosen by their teacher, Mrs. Olinski, to be the class
representatives for the Academic Bowl team. When the team goes on to perform amazing
feats of erudition, including winning the state championship, people keep asking Mrs. Olinski
how she chose the participants. Although the questioners never get a real answer, the
story, told from different perspectives, lets readers in on the secret.
Swindle – Gordon Korman (note: not yet published – but Advanced Reader’s Edition available
in HA Library)
After a mean collector named Swindle cons him out of his most valuable baseball card,
Griffin Bing must put together a band of misfits to break into Swindle's compound and
recapture the card. There are many things standing in their way -- a menacing guard dog, a
high-tech security system, a very secret hiding place, and their general inability to drive -but Griffin and his team are going to get back what's rightfully his . . . even if hijinks ensue
How I Survived Middle School (series) by Nancy Krulik
After spending the night studying the Joyce Kilmer Middle School Handbook, Jenny
McAfee feels totally prepared to start sixth grade. But Jenny has another reason to feel
confident. She'll have her best friend, Addie Wilson, right there by her side.
When Jenny and Addie meet at their lockers the next morning, Jenny finds out that Addie
has other plans--and they don't include her. Could Addie really be ditching her for The
Pops--the coolest seventh graders in the school?
Do the Math: Secrets, Lies and Algebra by Wendy Lichtman
In the eighth grade, 1 math whiz < 1 popular boy, according to Tess's calculations. That is,
until she has to factor in a few more variables, like:
1 stolen test (x),
3 cheaters (y),
and 2 best friends (z) who can't keep a secret.
Oh, and she can't forget the winter dance (d)!
Then there's the suspicious guy Tess's parents know, but that's a whole different problem.
Can Tess find the solutions?
Anastasia Krupnik series by Lois Lowry
To Anastasia Krupnik, being ten is very confusing. For one thing, she has this awful teacher
who can't understand why Anastasia doesn't capitalize or punctuate her poems. Then,
there's Washburn Cummings, a very interesting sixth-grade boy who doesn't even know she
is alive. Even her parents have become difficult. They insist she visit her 92-year-old
grandmother who can never remember Anastasia's name. On top of that, they're going to
have a baby -- at their age! It's enough to make a kid want to do something terrible.
Anastasia knows that if she didn't have her secret green notebook to write in, she would
never make it to her eleventh birthday.
Spelldown: The Big-Time Dreams of a Small-Town Word Whiz by Karon Luddy
Thirteen-year-old Karlene Bridges is the best speller in her family, her hometown, and
maybe even all of Shirley County, South Carolina. The trouble is, every time she makes it to
the final round of a spelling bee, she chokes. But when Mrs. Harrison, the new Latin teacher,
offers to coach her, Karlene's spelling jinx miraculously disappears. The year 1969 is
turning out to be her best ever, especially since she develops a surprising crush on her best
friend, Billy Ray.
But as soon as Karlene aims to compete in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D. C., her
father's drinking begins to spell trouble. How is a girl supposed to hold her family together,
savor her first kiss, and become the best speller in America before the end of eighth
grade?
Travel Team by Mike Lupica
Danny Walker may be the smallest kid on the basketball court, but no one has a bigger love
of the game, or a better sense of how to hit the open player with the perfect pass. Then
the local travel team—the same travel team Danny’s dad, Richie Walker, led to the national
championship on ESPN when he was a kid— cuts Danny because of his height. But Danny isn’t
about to give up on basketball. It turns out that he’s not the only kid who was cut for the
wrong reasons. Now Danny and his dad are about to give all the castoffs a second chance
and prove that you can’t measure heart.
Heat by Mike Lupica
Michael Arroyo has a dream of pitching in the Little League World Series, and a pitching
arm that throws serious heat. But that firepower is nothing compared to the heat Michael
faces in his day-to-day life. Newly orphaned after his father led the family's escape from
Cuba, Michael has no one to watch out for him except his older brother Carlos, who is only
17, and if Social Services hears of the boys situation, they will be separated in the foster
care system-or even worse, sent back to Cuba. So the boys their best to carry on alone,
dodging bills and anyone who asks to many questions. Until, that is, someone questions how a
12-year-old boy could possibly throw with as much power as Michael Arroyo throws and
Michael has no way to prove his age, no birth certificate, and no parent to fight for his
cause. Suddenly Michael's secret world is blown wide open-and he discovers that family can
come from the most unexpected sources. A baseball and coming-of-age story worth
cheering for, culminating in a dream come true for any boy: Michaelm poor orphan of the
Bronx, NY, steps onto the most hallowed of spaces-the Yankee stadium pitching mound.
Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica
Josh Cameron is MVP of the championship Boston Celtics and a media darling with a spotless
reputation. He has it all . . . including a daughter he never knew. When twelve-year-old Molly
Parker arrives in his life, claiming to be his daughter, she catches him off guard. Molly says
her mom, Jen, revealed his identity before losing her battle with cancer. Josh isn’t so sure
about this girl—she must be trying to scam him for his money. Still, there’s something about
Molly that reminds him so much of Jen. But as Molly gets to know the real Josh, the one the
camera never sees, she starts to understand why her mother never wanted her to know her
dad. Josh has room in his heart for only two things: basketball and himself. Does Molly
really want this man for a father? Together, these two strangers learn that sometimes, for
things to end up the way you want them to, you have to fire up a prayer at the buzzer and
hope it goes in.
Summer Ball by Mike Lupica
The sequel to the #1 bestseller Travel Team.
When you're the smallest kid playing a big man's game, the challenges never stop-especially
when your name is Danny Walker. Leading your travel team to the national championship may
seem like a dream come true, but for Danny, being at the top just means the competition
tries that much harder to knock him off. Now Danny's leaving Middletown for the summer
and heading to Right Way basketball camp, where he's out of his element and maybe out of
his league. The country's best ballers are in attendance, and Danny will need to raise his
game if he wants to match up. But it won't be easy. Old rivals and new battles leave Danny
wondering if he really has what it takes to stand tall.
Hot Hand: Mike Lupica’s Comeback Kids series by Mike Lupica
It’s simple. All Billy Raynor wants to do is shoot. After all, he is one of the best shooters in
the league. But with his dad as his coach, and his parents newly separated, somehow
everything’s become complicated. His brother Ben, the piano prodigy, hardly talks anymore.
His mom is always traveling on business. And his dad is always on his case about not being a
team player. But when Ben’s piano recital falls on the same day as the championship game, it
is Billy who teaches his dad the true meaning of being a team player.
Two Minute Drill: Mike Lupica’s Comeback Kids series by Mike Lupica
Chris Conlan is the coolest kid in sixth grade—the golden-armed quarterback of the football
team, and the boy all the others look up to. Scott Parry is the new kid, the boy with the
huge brain, but with feet that trip over themselves daily. These two boys may seem like an
odd couple, but each has a secret that draws them together as friends, and proves that the
will to succeed is even more important than raw talent.
Larger than Life Lara by Dandi Daley Mackall
When Lara Phelps walks into Laney Grafton’s fourth-grade class, Laney feels the air change.
Lara is fat. Really fat. Finally, there will be someone else for the boys to pick on, Laney
thinks. But as the class prepares for the school play, Lara doesn’t act the way a fat kid
should. She’s confident. She’s happy. And nothing, it seems, can change her positive
attitude. Until one day, when Laney’s classmates do the unthinkable.
Main Street series by Ann M. Martin
Book 1: Welcome to Camden Falls
Flora and Ruby do not want to move to Camden Falls. But they don't really have a choice -their parents are dead and their grandmother, Min, is taking them in. It's strange to be in a
new place. But luckily, it's a very welcoming place.
Min runs a sewing store, Needle & Thread, at the heart of Main Street in Camden Falls.
There, Flora and Ruby become friends with Olivia, who likes to organize things, and Nikki,
who lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Even if Flora and Ruby never expected it to,
Camden Falls becomes their home . . . and its stories become a part of their stories.
Ten Ways to Make My Sister Disappear by Norma Fox Mazer
Everything ten year-old Sprig wants, her older sister Dakota already has. Everything Sprig
does, Dakota does better. And anytime Sprig complains, Dakota just grins and calls her a
baby. It’s enough to make a kid wish her sister would disappear.
But in a year when Sprig’s father is away, her favorite neighbor is ill, and the class bully is
acting almost like, well, a boyfriend, Sprig discovers that allies come in unexpected shapes.
Sometimes they’re even related to you.
Saffy's Angel and others in series by Hilary McKay
The four Casson children, whose mother, Eve, is a fine-arts painter, have all been given the
names of paint colors. Cadmium (Caddy), is the eldest; then Saffron (Saffy); Indigo, the
only boy; and Rose, the youngest. When Saffy discovers quite by accident that she has been
adopted, she is deeply upset, though the others assure her that it makes no difference at
all. Saffy is the daughter of Eve's twin sister, who lived in Siena, Italy, and died in a car
crash. Grandad brought Saffy, as a very small child, back from Siena.
At Grandad's death he leaves something to each of the children. To Saffy, it is "her angel,"
although no one knows its identity. How Saffy discovers what her angel is, with the help of
an energetic new friend, lies at the heart of this enchanting story. Unforgettable
characters come alive in often deeply humorous and always absorbing events to be
treasured for a long, long time.
Makeovers by Marcia part of series by Claudia Mills
Pretty, popular Marcia Faitak is not her usual self. Over the summer she gained five pounds,
and when school begins, Marcia, desperate for an invitation from Alex Ryan to the October
dance, goes on a diet. In art class, she's supposed to bring a red apple to life on paper, but
all she wants to do is eat it. Mr. Morrison doesn't like her work anyway: disdainfully, he calls
her drawing of a beautiful girl "Barbie." Worse than art is social studies. This is the year
that kids have to choose their community service project. When Ms. Williams signs up
Marcia to work at the local nursing home, she's aghast. What can she possibly do for a
bunch of old people in wheelchairs? Since experimenting with makeup is Marcia's favorite
activity, her half sister suggests "Makeovers by Marcia."
The Boys Start the War (Boy/Girl Battle) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Just when the Hatford brothers were expecting three boys to move into the house across
the river, where their best friends, the Bensons, used to live, the Malloys arrive instead.
Wally and his brothers decide to make Caroline and her sisters so miserable that they'll
want to go back to Ohio, but they haven't counted on the ingenuity of the girls.
From dead fish to dead bodies, floating cakes to floating heads, the pranks and tricks
continue--first by the boys, then the girls--until someone is taken prisoner! Will the Malloys
leave West Virginia? Will the Bensons come back? Trust the four Hatford boys and the
three Malloy girls to do anything to get one up on each other in this fun-filled war of the
wits.
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
When Marty Preston comes across a young beagle in the hills behind his home, it's love at
first sight‹and also big trouble. It turns out the dog, which Marty names Shiloh belongs to
Judd Travers who drinks too much and has a gun‹and abuses his dogs. So when Shiloh runs
away from Judd to Marty, Marty just has to hide him and protect him from Judd. But
Marty's secret becomes too big for him to keep to himself, and it exposes his entire family
to Judd's anger. How far will Marty have to go to make Shiloh his?
Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park
How could someone like Mick die? He was the kid who freaked out his mom by putting a
ceramic eye in a defrosted chicken, the kid who did a wild dance in front of the whole
school--and the kid who, if only he had worn his bicycle helmet, would still be alive today.
But now Phoebe Harte's twelve-year-old brother is gone, and Phoebe's world has turned
upside down. With her trademark candor and compassion, beloved middle-grade writer
Barbara Park tells how Phoebe copes with her painful loss in this story filled with sadness,
humor--and hope.
Keeping Cool in Middle School and others in series by Agnes Parker
Middle school is going to take some getting used to. The halls are hectic, the unspoken rules
are baffling, and the eighth-grade boys are one big gang of bullies. Agnes’s best friend
Prejean has jumped in and decided to run for class president, but Agnes would rather try to
be invisible. That’ll be especially difficult now that Prejean has asked Agnes to be her
campaign manager. And then there’s the problem of Aram, a boy in Agnes’s art class who
seems to have a crush on her. He’s smart and funny, and Agnes feels comfortable with him.
But is he such an odd duck that she’ll seem odd by association?
Brian’s Winter and others by Gary Paulsen
In Hatchet, 13-year-old Brian Robeson learned to survive alone in the Canadian wilderness,
armed only with his hatchet. Finally, as millions of readers know, he was rescued at the end
of the summer. But what if Brian hadn't been rescued? What if he had been left to face his
deadliest enemy--winter?
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
At eleven, Gilly is nobody's real kid. If only she could find her beautiful mother, Courtney,
and live with her instead of in the ugly foster home where she has just been placed! How
could she, the great Gilly Hopkins, known throughout the county for her brilliance and
unmanageability, be expected to tolerate Maime Trotter, the fat, nearly illiterate widow
who is now her guardian? Or for that matter, the freaky seven-year-old boy and the
shrunken blind black man who are also considered part of the bizarre "family"? Even cool
Miss Harris, her teacher, is a shock to her
Criss Cross (Newbery Medal Book) by Lynne Rae Perkins
She wished something would happen. Something good. To her.Looking at the bright, fuzzy
picture in the
magazine, she thought, Something like that. Checking her wish for loopholes, she found one.
Hoping it wasn't
too late, she thought the word soon. She wished something would happen. Something good.
To her. Looking at the bright, fuzzy picture in the magazine, she thought, Something like
that. Checking her wish for loopholes, she found one.Hoping it wasn't too late, she thought
the word soon.
The Young Man and the Sea by Rodman Philbrook
Twelve-year-old Skiff Beaman's mom just died, and his fisherman dad is too depressed to
drag himself off the couch and go to work. So these days Skiff has to take care of
everything himself. But when his dad's boat sinks, Skiff discovers it will cost thousands to
buy a new engine. Skiff's lobster traps won't earn him enough, but there are bigger fish in
the sea -- bluefin tuna. If he can catch one of those monster fish, Skiff just might save the
boat -- and his family.
Missing May by Cynthia Rylant
Since summer was six years old she lived with dear Aunt May and Uncle Ob. Now, six years
later, Aunt May has died. Summer, who misses May with all her might, is afraid something
will happen to Ob. Most days Ob seems like he doesn't want to go on.
But then Ob feels May's spirit around him and he wants to contact her. Cletus Underwood, a
strange boy from school, reads about someone who could help him do that. Summer wants to
hear from May too.
Ob and Summer don't know what to expect when they set off on their search for some sign
from May. They only know they need something to ease their sorrow and give them strength
to go on living--always knowing they will never stop missing may.
Becoming Naomi Leon (Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature.
Commended) by Pam Munoz Ryan
Naomi Soledad León Outlaw has had a lot to contend with in her young life, her name for
one. Then there are her clothes (sewn in polyester by Gram), her difficulty speaking up, &
her status at school as "nobody special." But according to Gram's self-prophecies, most
problems can be overcome with positive thinking. Luckily, Naomi also has her carving to
strengthen her spirit. And life with Gram & her little brother, Owen, is happy & peaceful.
That is, until their mother reappears after 7 years of being gone, stirring up all sorts of
questions & challenging Naomi to discover who she really is.
Blue Jasmine by Kashmira Sheth
When twelve-year-old Seema Trivedi learns that she and her family must move from their
small village in India to Iowa City, USA, she realizes she will say good-bye to the only home
shes ever known. India is home to the purple-jeweled mango trees and sweet-smelling
jasmine, to the monsoon rains and the bustling market. Most important, it is home to her
beloved family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins . . . all of whom shell have to leave
behind. Yet the adventure of moving to America unfolds before her like the bloom of a new
flower. A world of new experiences and challenges lies in wait.In time, will she begin to plant
roots in the foreign soil that feels so strange?
The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
Gary D. Schmidt offers an unforgettable antihero in THE WEDNESDAY WARS-a
wonderfully witty and compelling novel about a teenage boys mishaps and adventures over
the course of the 1967-68 school year. Meet Holling Hoodhood, a seventh-grader at Camillo
Junior High, who must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the
rest of the class has religious instruction. Mrs. Baker doesnt like Holling-hes sure of it.
Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside class? But
everyone has bigger things to worry about, like Vietnam. His father wants Holling and his
sister to be on their best behavior: the success of his business depends on it. But how can
Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with? A bully demanding cream
puffs; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to
appear in a play in yellow tights! As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds
Motivation-the Big M-in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace
his destiny, in spite of himself.
Crash by Jerry Spinelli
Newbery medalist Jerry Spinelli tackles the tale of cocky seventh-grade super-jock Crash
Coogan, who got his nickname the day he used his first football helmet to knock his cousin
Bridget flat on her backside. And he has been running over people ever since, especially
Penn Webb, the dweeby, vegetarian Quaker kid who lives down the block. Through the eyes
of Crash, readers get a rare glimpse into the life of a bully in this unforgettable story about
stereotypes and the surprises life can bring.
Loser by Jerry Spinelli
Just like other kids, Zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his
dad when he grows up. But Zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips
over his own feet, and falls down with laughter over a word like "Jabip."
Other kids have their own word to describe him, but Zinkoff is too busy to hear it. He
doesn't know he's not like everyone else. And one winter night, Zinkoff's differences show
that any name can someday become "hero."
Wringer by Jerry Spinelli
Palmer LaRue is running out of birthdays. For as long as he can remember, he's dreaded the
day he turns ten -- the day he'll take his place beside all the other ten-year-old boys in
town, the day he'll be a wringer. But Palmer doesn't want to be a wringer. It's one of the
first things he learned about himself and it's one of the biggest things he has to hide. In
Palmer's town being a wringer is an honor, a tradition passed down from father to son.
Palmer can't stop himself from being a wringer just like he can't stop himself from growing
one year older, just like he can't stand up to a whole town -- right?
Stargirl, Love Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the
hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with
just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of
Mica High are enchanted. At first.
Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her
different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing
that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry
Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and
inspiration of first love.
Eggs by Jerry Spinelli
Nine-year-old David has recently lost his mother to a freak accident, his salesman father is
constantly on the road, and he is letting his anger out on his grandmother. Sarcastic and
bossy 13-year-old Primrose lives with her childlike, fortuneteller mother, and a framed
picture is the only evidence of the father she never knew. Despite their differences, David
and Primrose forge a tight yet tumultuous friendship, eventually helping each other deal
with what is missing in their lives. This powerful, quirky novel about two very complicated,
damaged children has much to say about friendship, loss, and recovery.
Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of A Tree by Lauren Tarshis
Emma-Jean Lazarus is a lovable oddball who thinks she can use logic to solve the “messy”
everyday problems of her seventh-grade peers. It’s easy—she just follows the example of
her late father, a brilliant mathematician. Of course, the more Emma-Jean gets involved,
the messier her own life gets. Suddenly she’s no longer the person standing on the outside
of all social interactions. But perhaps that’s a good thing?
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan
Will anyone take on Jake Semple? Semple is notorious. Rumor has it he burned down his old
school and got kicked out of every school in his home state. Only one place will take him now,
and that's a home school run by the Applewhites, a chaotic and hilarious family of artists.
The only one who doesn't fit the Applewhite mold is E.D. -- a smart, sensible girl who
immediately clashes with the unruly Jake.
Jake thinks surviving this one will be a breeze . . . but is he really as tough or as bad as he
seems?
Listen! By Stephanie Tolan
Learning to walk again is the easy part.For twelve-year-old Charley, recovering from the
accident that shattered her leg is nowhere near as difficult as facing the solitude of a
summer without her best friend and with a father who does nothing, now, but work. Solitude
means time to think, time to hear for the first time the awful silence left in her world two
years ago by her mother's death.
But the summer holds a surprise for Charley, in the form of a mysterious dog who appears in
the woods across the lake from her home. In order to connect with this wild spirit she
names Coyote, Charley will have to do more than just walk. She will have to follow Coyote
into the heart of her memories: the woods her mother loved so much. And she will have to
learn to listen past the silence.
World Series (Odyssey Classic) by John R. Tunis
Roy Tucker and the rest of the Brooklyn Dodgers return to fight for and win the World
Series. “They make a reader want to get everything that’s in that grand world of old
baseball, and to get it a boy calls on tricks of intelligence he never knew he had.”—
Dicey’s Song and others in the Tillerman series by Cynthia Voight
At the beginning of summer, Momma had abandoned them and them later been traced to an
asylum where she lay unrecognizing, unknowing. So Dicey Tillerman, her brothers James and
Sammy, and her sister Maybeth had spent the summer on their own on a long and difficult
journey to find a home with the grandmother they'd never met before. Now that they'd
moved in with Gram, their troubles, Dicey hoped, would be over. Dicey had watched over the
younger kids and brought them through--now she wanted to be just a little bit selfish, to
refinish the old sailboat she'd found in Gram's barn, to earn a little spending money, to
adjust to Gram and to her new life in the Chesapeake Bay country that had once been her
momma's childhood home. Yet even with the building of new ties and a new life, old problems
and sorrows did not go away by themselves. None of the Tillermans, and especially not
Dicey, could forget about Momma. Nor could Dicey easily relinquish her need to watch and
worry over the three younger children. Though she felt a growing bond with feisty,
seemingly eccentric Gram, who talked of reaching out...and letting go, it took a crisis to help
Dicey understand what such things might mean. This story is a sequel to "Homecoming."
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
Heidi is on a quest. She doesn't know when her birthday is or who her father is. In fact,
everything about Heidi and her mentally disabled mother's past is a mystery. Then a
strange word in her mother's vocabulary begins to haunt her, Heidi sets out on a crosscountry journey in search of the secrets of her past. Far away from home, pieces of her
puzzling history come together. But it isn't until she learns to accept not knowing that Heidi
truly arrives.
Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan
Like many girls her age in India, thirteen-year-old Koly faces her arranged marriage with
hope and courage. But Koly's story takes a terrible turn when in the wake of the ceremony,
she discovers she's been horribly misled; her life has been sold for a dowry. In prose both
graceful and unflinching, this powerful novel relays the story of a rare young woman, who
even when cast out into a brutal current of time-worn tradition, sets out to forge her own
remarkable future.Inspired by a newspaper article about the real thirteen-year-old widows
in India today, this universally acclaimed best-selling novel, characterized by spare, lyrical
language and remarkable detail, transports readers into the heart of a gripping tale of hope.
Each Little Bird That Sings (Golden Kite Honors) by Deborah Wiles
Ten-year-old Comfort Snowberger has attended 247 funerals. But that's not surprising,
considering that her family runs the town funeral home. And even though Great-uncle Edisto
keeled over with a heart attack and Great-great-aunt Florentine dropped dead--just like
that--six months later, Comfort knows how to deal with loss, or so she thinks. She's more
concerned with avoiding her crazy cousin Peach and trying to figure out why her best friend,
Declaration, suddenly won't talk to her. Life is full of surprises. And the biggest one of all is
learning what it takes to handle them.
Aurora County All-Stars Deborah Wiles
Twelve-year-old House Jackson--star pitcher and team captain of the Aurora County AllStars--has been sidelined for a whole sorry year with a broken elbow. He's finally ready to
play, but wouldn't you know that the team's only game of the year has been scheduled for
the exact same time as the town's 200th-anniversary pageant. Now House must face the
pageant's director, full-of-herself Frances Shotz (his nemesis and perpetrator of the elbow
break), and get his team out of this mess. There's also the matter of a mysterious old
recluse who has died and left House a wheezy old dog named Eudora Welty--and a puzzling
book of poetry by someone named Walt Whitman. Through the long, hot month of June,
House makes surprising and valuable discoveries about family, friendship, poetry . . . and
baseball.
Hank Zipzer 1: Niagara Falls, Or Does It? (Hank Zipzer series ) by Henry Winkler, Lin
Oliver
For Hank, school does not start out on the right foot. First of all, he gets called to the
principal's office on the very first day of school. Then the first assignment his teacher
gives him is to write five paragraphs on "What You Did This Summer." Hank is terrifiedwriting one good sentence is hard for him, so how in the world is he going to write five whole
paragraphs? Hank comes up with a plan: instead of writing what he did on vacation, he'll
show what he did. But when Hank's "living essay" becomes a living disaster, he finds himself
in detention. Strangely enough, however, detention ends up becoming a turning point in his
life.
Millicent Min, Girl Genius (Sid Fleischman Humor Award) y Lisa Yee "
Millicent Kwan is having a bad summer. Her fellow high school students hate her for setting
the curve. Her fellow 11-year-olds hate her for going to high school. And her mother has
arranged for her to tutor Stanford Wong, the poster boy for Chinese geekdom. But then
Millie meets Emily. Emily doesn't know Millicent's IQ score. She actually thinks Millie is
cool. And if Millie can hide her awards, ignore her grandmother's advice, swear her parents
to silence, blackmail Stanford, and keep all her lies straight, she just might make her first
friend. What's it going to take? Sheer genius.
Stanford Wong Flunks Big-time by Lisa Yee
Stanford Wong is having a bad summer. If he flunks his summer-school English class, he
won't pass sixth grade. If that happens, he won't start on the A-team. If *that* happens,
his friends will abandon him and Emily Ebers won't like him anymore. And if THAT happens,
his life will be over. Then his parents are fighting, his grandmother Yin-Yin hates her new
nursing home, he's being "tutored" by the world's biggest nerdball Millicent Min--and he's
not sure his ballpoint "Emily" tattoo is ever going to wash off.
So Totally Emily Ebers by Lisa Yee
Lisa Yee charmed audiences with the hilarious MILLICENT MIN, GIRL GENIUS and
revealed another side of the story in STANFORD WONG FLUNKS BIG-TIME. Now readers
can meet Millie's best friend and Stanford's big crush! After her parents' divorce, Emily
had to move to California with her mom. Now she writes letters to her rock-star dad about
travel ("How did the pioneers do it? Did they have to ride with their mothers?"), her new
friends, and how much she misses him -- though she does still have his credit card.... Emily
Ebers may be starting over, but she's going to come out on top.