Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Program Booktalks 2014-2015
Grades 6-8
The Water Castle by Megan Frazer Blakemore
Moving to Crystal Springs, Maine from New York is difficult, and since Dad had the
crippling stroke, nothing is as it was. There is something mysterious about the old family
estate that begs to be explored. There are rumors and legends in the town about cryptic
happenings in the old buildings. When Ephraim finds the bottles with the enigmatic
label, he is sure that he will find the Fountain of Youth and save his father.
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Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvyzp5v7Ujs
Author page http://www.meganfrazer.com/ includes study guides and activities
Lexile Level: 690
Ghost Hawk by Susan Cooper
Little Hawk is sent into the woods with only a bow and arrows to help him survive the
winter and become a man. When he returns to his village, he is not prepared for what
awaits him there. This historical fiction novel describes what life was like in the 1620’s
when European settlers first came to the America’s with their greed for land and
resources, and their diseases. Little Hawk tries to help John Wakeley’s father when a tree
falls on him, and in return, he is cold-bloodedly murdered, and young John is sworn to
secrecy. Years later, John is visited by the spirit of Little Hawk, who tries to teach him to
love and respect for the land and its resources.
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Author website: http://www.thelostland.com/
Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-l43nqg6VY
Lexile Level: 940
Stolen into Slavery: the true story of Solomon Northrup, by Judy and Dennis Fradin.
Solomon longed for home, he missed wife and children, but most of all he missed his
“freedom”. Born and educated in the North, he was sold into slavery during a business
trip to Washington, D.C. Follow Solomon as he suffers and endures the life of a slave on
a southern plantation. This story, which started as a 19th century autobiography, ended as
a 21st century Oscar winning movie. If you are interested in this time period there are
many other fiction and non-fiction books available at your local library. Try: Letters
from a Slave Girl by Mary E. Lyons or To Be a Slave compiled by Julius Lester.
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Biography http://www.biography.com/people/solomon-northup21333433#awesm=~oCG5tDhXPwPXCC
Lexile Level: 1060
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Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Program Booktalks 2014-2015
Grades 6-8
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein.
Kyle lives in a town that hasn’t had a public library in twelve years. All that’s about to
change as Mr. Lemoncello, a former resident of the town, and now famous creator of
board games, is about to open a new library in the former town bank. Keeping in the
spirit of his love of games, Mr. Lemoncello has created a contest. He invites the twelve
year olds of the town to be the first to enter the library. They will stay the night and
participate in an adventure they can’t even begin to imagine. Kyle will need all his
gaming skills to win the prize and solve the puzzles and games that are all part of the
library’s opening. Rumor has it there is even a puzzle not in the plot that if reader’s can
solve it, they could win a fantastic prize…
 Author’s website with activity guide and book trailer:
http://www.chrisgrabenstein.com/kids/escape-from-mr-lemoncellos-library.php
 Game you can download and play in your library!
http://www.chrisgrabenstein.com/kids/escape-from-mr-lemoncellos-librarygame.php
 Book Trailer:
https://www.schooltube.com/video/7ff9e2c3fdbe416c9906/Book%20Trailer%20f
or%20Escape%20from%20Mr.%20Lemoncello's%20Library
 Lexile Level: 720
Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz
Life during the Holocaust was a terrifying experience for ten year old Jewish school boy,
Yanek Gruener. During the next six years he was transferred to 10 different Nazi camps
and survived. The author based this fiction book on the true story of Jack Gruener,
whose will to live enabled him to endure unspeakable hardships. If this story intrigues
you look for other personal accounts of Holocaust survivors, the Diary of Anne Frank
being the most famous. Also try the Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson. Mr.
Leyson was one of those fortunate to be on “Oskar Schindler’s List” of essential workers.
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Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJHJKu3lx9s
Author website: http://alangratz.blogspot.com/
Lexile Level: 790
Force Out by Tim Green
Joey and Zach are best friends and looking forward to the championship baseball game.
The next step is for the boys to both make the All-Star team. Mr. Katz schedules an extra
credit field trip for the same day as the championships and the boys make a decision to
vandalize the teacher’s car so the trip gets cancelled. Joey and Zach discover there is only
ONE spot on the All-Stars team so they go from being best friends to biggest rivals while
keeping a huge secret from everyone, especially Joey’s mom who is the sheriff’s deputy.
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Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Program Booktalks 2014-2015
Grades 6-8
 www.timgreenbooks.com
 Lexile Level: 840
Breathing Room by Marsha Hayles
In the 1940’s, tuberculosis was a deadly disease. Thirteen-year-old Evvy Hoffmeister is
taken to Loon Lake Sanatorium to be cured. She is put in a room with three other girls.
There are very strict rules. The girls’ cure starts with complete bed rest which means no
talking, moving, reading or visits from family, but drinking plenty of milk. Very slowly
they progress to sitting in bed, reading, sitting in a wheelchair and then walking. The
book also describes some of the medical treatments used at the time such as removing a
rib to allow a lung to collapse and heal. Surprisingly, the girls become good friends and
find ways to entertain and bring cheer to their strictly regulated lives.
 www.marshahayles.com
 Lexile Level: 800
One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Carley has grown up in Las Vegas with her mother and has never known a stable family
life. That is until she ends up with a foster family after her new stepfather puts her and
her mother in the hospital. Can the Murphys show Carley what forgiveness, love, and
family really mean before she destroys herself or them? Will Carley choose to stay with
the Murphys or go back with her mother? Read this touching, emotional, realistic fiction
story to find out.
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From the author’s website:
http://www.lyndamullalyhunt.com/book_murphys.php
 Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBFUPBw7KLI
 Lexile Level: 520
Ungifted by Gordon Korman
Donovan is quite gifted when it comes to pulling a prank. After he pulls the prank of the
century and destroys the school gym, he is caught by the Superintendent. Instead of
being punished, he ends up by mistake in the Academy of Scholastic Distinction. Now
Donovan is really out of his league. These kids are true geniuses. Donovan may not be
a genius, but he brings the robotic team together and helps instill a sense of fun in their
serious project. He’s the only one who can use a joystick! When the principal realizes
that the robotic team has not taken the Human Growth and Development course,
Donovan solves the problem. Instead of going to summer school, the class focuses on his
sister Katie who is seven months pregnant. They get so involved they become her birth
coaches. The characters help tell the story. We learn that it may be difficult to be gifted:
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Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Program Booktalks 2014-2015
Grades 6-8
Chloe world like to be more “normal. Noah wants to “flunk: out, but the teachers won’t
allow it.
 Book trailer http://hmsraiderreviews.blogspot.com/2013/02/ungifted-by-gordonkorman.html
 Author page http://gordonkorman.com/
 Lexile Level:
Wake up Missing by Kate Messner
In this science fiction adventure, several teenagers are being treated at a renowned clinic
for concussions. From the start, things seem a little odd about the clinic and the teens
soon realize that the doctors are not just treating their concussions. The doctors, with evil
intentions in mind, have plans to genetically alter the teens’ DNA so they will become
outstanding scientists from history. Can the teens escape before being transformed and
be reunited with their families, or will the doctors succeed with their evil plan that they
are willing to pursue at any cost?
 From the author’s website: http://www.katemessner.com/wake-up-missing/
 Lexile Level: 660
Road Trip by Gary and Jim Paulsen.
Take a road trip on a mission of mercy to rescue a puppy. Take a cast of misfit characters,
including an opinionated old border collie, a few thugs, an aspiring actress, and a broken
down truck. Mix this with snarky teenage attitude and you have a winning combination
for a humorous exploit. United by their love of dogs, this father and son team has written
an unusual adventure story. How it will end is anyone’s guess. Don’t forget to check out
the interview with Gary and Jim and find out how they wrote the book.
 http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/55019q-a-with-gary-paulsen-and-jim-paulsen.html
 Lexile Level: 700
Eruption: Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch;
photographs by Tom Uhlman
Learn about volcanoes and what is being done to monitor their eruptions by the Volcanic
Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP). It’s fun to learn about volcanoes from a safe
distance. This book combines facts with fabulous photographs as it follows the VDAP on
location, monitoring volcanic activity and saving lives and property. As we read this
book, some of these emergencies are taking place in the southern Pacific!
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Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Program Booktalks 2014-2015
Grades 6-8
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Author website: http://www.elizabethrusch.com/
Link to Mount Saint Helens information:
http://www.elizabethrusch.com/MyBooks/AllBooks/WillItBlow/WillItBlowCool
Stuff/tabid/70/Default.aspx
 Lexile Level: n/a
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Twelve-year-old Willow lives in Bakersfield, California. She is different, gifted, and
adopted. These things don’t mean much to Willow, until her parents are killed in a car
accident and she has nowhere to go. That’s when her school counselor and her feisty new
friend save the day. With some creative rearranging, Willow has a place to stay and a
new family. But does she fit in? Counting by 7s is about fitting in, being a misfit, and
making things fit.
 Author website: http://hollygoldbergsloan.com/aboutcountingby7s.html
 Lexile Level: 770
From Hardships to Championships (Good Sports) by Glenn Stout
Read the true stories of baseball champions Babe Ruth, Jimmy Piersall, Ron LeFlore, Joe
Torre, and Torii Hunter and how they were able to overcome hardships such as abuse,
neglect, prison, and mental illness to be the champions they were. An inspiring book of
triumph that will encourage you to keep pursuing your dreams no matter what life throws
at you.
 http://kidsbiographer.com/2013/06/10/meet-the-biographer-glenn-stout/
 Lexile Level: 1060
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
In this historical fiction, adventure mystery, follow Georgie as she pursues the truth of
her sister’s disappearance. Set in Placid, Wisconsin in 1871, during the largest recorded
pigeon migration, Agatha has run off after misguided words by Georgie. The sheriff later
finds a body wearing Agatha’s dress. Convinced that it could not really be her sister,
Georgie takes off herself to find the truth and along the way runs into several hair-raising
adventures. It’s a good thing that Georgie is really good with a shotgun but can she
outwit them all to find the truth and return home?
 From the author’s website: http://amytimberlake.com/about-one-came-home/
 Book Review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvZq8rD9AJA
 Lexile Level: 690
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Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Program Booktalks 2014-2015
Grades 6-8
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