Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District
Port Chester Middle School
113 Bowman Avenue
Port Chester, New York 10573
914.934.7930
Mr. Patrick Swift
Principal
www.portchesterschools.org
June 2014
Dear Parent or Guardian:
We would like to share with you our Summer Reading Program, which is required of all students. The
most important components of the program are you and your child. Your child will need your support
to successfully complete the Summer Reading Program. Reading during the summer months will lay
the groundwork for your child’s academic achievement in the coming school year.
Summer Reading Requirements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Students must read at least two books of their choice.
Students must have a parent or guardian’s signature on the tally sheet for each book.
Students must complete the attached assignment for each book that they read.
Students must bring either a copy of their books to school or pictures of their books’
front covers, the tally sheet, and the assignment on the first day of school in
September. They should be prepared to discuss one of their books with their ELA class.
Students who complete the Summer Reading Program will be invited to a special school event.
Students who read more than two books will receive Special School Recognition.
Attached is a suggested reading list with a wide variety of titles. Students may also read books that are
not on the list. Visit www.readkiddoread.com or the local public library to find more books of interest.
You can access the Summer Reading Program materials on the Middle School website
(www.ms.portchesterschools.org). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you
in advance for your support of your child and the Summer Reading Program.
Sincerely,
Mr. Patrick Swift
Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District
Port Chester Middle School
113 Bowman Avenue
Port Chester, New York 10573
914.934.7930
www.portchesterschools.org
Mr. Patrick Swift
Principal
junio 2014
Estimado padre/guardián:
Su niño o niña está preparando para septiembre en la escuela, nosotros queremos presentarles con
nuestro Programa de Lectura del Verano.
Durante los meses del verano, las dos partes importantes del programa van a ser usted y su niño o
niña. Su niño o niña necesita su ayuda y apoyo para tener éxito en el Programa de Lectura del
Verano. Leyendo durante los meses del verano va a facilitar un fundamento de éxito académico para
su niño o niña
Requisitos de Lectura del Verano:
1. Estudiantes tienen que leer no menos de dos libros de su opción.
2. Estudiantes tienen que completar la tarea adjuntada para cada libro leído. También,
debe tener una firma del padre o madre en el papel del registro para cada libro leído.
3. Estudiantes tienen que entregar la tarea en el primer día de la escuela en septiembre.
4. Estudiantes tienen que traer una copia de sus libros o unas fotos de las cubiertas de sus
libros.
5. Estudiantes deben preparar a discutir un libro con su clase en el primer día de la
escuela en septiembre.
Estudiantes que completan el Programa de Lectura del Verano van a recibir una invitación a un
evento especial. Estudiantes que leen más de dos libros van a recibir Reconocimiento Especial de la
Escuela.
Adjuntada es una lista de lectura recomendada con una variedad de títulos, autores y géneros. Por
favor, note que es una lista recomendada; estudiantes pueden leer libros que no están en la lista. Usted
y su niño o niña pueden visitar el sitio de web www.readkiddoread.com o la biblioteca pública para
más libros de interés.
El Programa de Lectura del Verano es necesario para todos los estudiantes de la escuela. También
puede encontrar materiales del Programa de Lectura del Verano en el sitio de web de la escuela
(www.ms.portchesterschools.org).
Si tiene preguntas, no dude en ponerse en contacto con nosotros.
Gracias en antemano por su apoyo del Programa de Lectura del Verano.
Sinceramente,
Sr. Patrick Swift
Port Chester Middle School
Summer Reading Book Tally Sheet
Date
Started
Title and Author
Date
Finished
Parent/Guardian
Signature
PCMS Summer Reading Assignment
Complete this sheet by filling in the boxes. Be sure to use textual evidence
(details) from the book to support your responses.
Book Title and Author:
Describe one important event in this book.
Tell why you think this event is
important.
How did this book relate to your personal life, something you read, or something you
saw on TV or in a movie? Explain at least one connection you made with the book.
Did you enjoy this book? Why or why not? Give specific examples from the book of
things you did or did not like.
What was your favorite scene in the book? Draw it here and write a caption (sentence)
underneath the drawing telling what it is.
PCMS Summer Reading Assignment
Complete this sheet by filling in the boxes. Be sure to use textual evidence
(details) from the book to support your responses.
Book Title and Author:
Describe one important event in this book.
Tell why you think this event is
important.
How did this book relate to your personal life, something you read, or something you
saw on TV or in a movie? Explain at least one connection you made with the book.
Did you enjoy this book? Why or why not? Give specific examples from the book of
things you did or did not like.
What was your favorite scene in the book? Draw it here and write a caption (sentence)
underneath the drawing telling what it is.
PCMS Suggested Summer Reading List*
Realistic Fiction
After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson
176 pages/750 Lexile
The day D Foster enters Neeka and her best friend’s lives, the world opens up for them. Suddenly they’re aware
of things beyond their block in Queens, things that are happening in the world—like the shooting of Tupac
Shakur—and in search of their Big Purpose in life. When D’s mom swoops in to reclaim her, and Tupac dies,
they are left with a sense of how quickly things can change and how even brief connections can touch deeply.
Alice the Brave by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
176 pages/890 Lexile
For Alice, spending the summer around the pool should be ideal, but instead her secret fear of drowning is
revealed when a group of boys tries to throw her into the pool. (Part of the “Alice” series.)
Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading by Tom Greenwald
240 pages/830 Lexile
Charlie Joe Jackson is proud to say that he's never read an entire book from cover to cover. Sure, he's glanced
at the first chapter and last chapter and maybe even read the flap copy, but when it comes to actually reading
what's in the middle, Charlie counts on his friend Timmy McGibney to do the reading for him in exchange for an
ice cream sandwich. But when Timmy decides that his price has gone up to three ice cream sandwiches,
Charlie Joe Jackson is faced with two very unappealing options: let himself be blackmailed or read an entire
book. What's an enterprising non-reader to do? (There are more fun “Charlie Joe Jackson” books!”)
Drive-By by Lynne Ewing
96 pages/560 Lexile
Jimmy is dead now -- gunned down in front of his little sister, Mina, and his brother, Tito. Now a gang claims that
Jimmy was their Ace Man. They say Tito must take his place and resolve some unfinished business. They give
him a gun. "You need protection. It's not safe on the street." What path will he choose? He knows one leads to
safety and one to death . . . but which is which?
Frindle by Andrew Clements
112 pages/830 Lexile
Fifth grader Nick Allen knows just how to make school more cool. In third grade, he transformed Miss Deaver's
room into a tropical paradise with some paper palm trees and a sandy beach. In fourth grade, he taught his
classmates to mimic the high-pitched calls of blackbirds. But now, in fifth grade, he's come up with his most
ingenious idea yet. After learning about the origins of words, he decides to change the word pen to frindle. At
first, it seems like a harmless prank, a way to annoy his dictionary-obsessed teacher. Then the whole class
starts using the new word, and the joke spreads across town like wildfire. Suddenly Nick finds himself in the
middle of a media frenzy over frindle. Will Nick emerge from the controversy a troublemaker or a hero?
How to Beat the Bully Without Really Trying by Scott Starkey
272 pages/690 Lexile
Rodney Rathbone is standing on the playground at his new school, about to be pounded into oblivion by Josh,
the nastiest bully ever, when a baseball flies out of nowhere and slams into Josh's head, knocking him out cold!
All the kids (including the bully himself) think Rodney delivered the blow that took the bully down. Only Rodney
knows the truth: that he's a complete coward when it comes to bullies…or anything scary, for that matter. Now
he'll have to live with the consequences of a weird accident, and the tough-guy reputation he did nothing to
deserve! The rest of the kids think he's a hero. Can he even pretend to be tough?
How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor
192 pages/700 Lexile
One day Georgina has a home, a best friend, and plenty to eat. The next, she's living in a car with her mother
and brother. Carrying on as usual isn't possible: washing up in a restaurant bathroom, doing homework by
flashlight, losing her friend. Mom works two jobs, but it's not enough, so impatient Georgina decides to steal a
dog, hoping to collect a reward. She picks her furry victim and makes careful plans--but she doesn't count on
her conscience.
Loser List by H.N. Kowitt
224 pages/480 Lexile
When Danny gets caught trying to cross his name off the "geek" list in the girls' bathroom, he's sent to detention.
Bullies torment him mercilessly, until they discover that Danny can draw. He enjoys his new "bad boy" status,
supplying tattoos and graffiti, until he's unknowingly drawn into a theft. Turns out the bullies took a comic book
from Danny's favorite store. Can he steal it back before they get caught — and break off with the bullies before
he gets in too deep?
The Misfits by James Howe
288 pages/960 Lexile
Skeezie, Addie, Joe, and Bobby call themselves the Gang of Five. Wonder why? Their name is a welcoming to
any other kid out there who may find himself to be a misfit. Together, they want to survive the seventh grade
and the one-word jokes their classmates have tried to reduce them to. By the end of the school year, they have
survived. They have also learned to see themselves as the full, complicated human beings they truly are.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
320 pages/830 Lexile
In a coma Mia treis to decide whether to fight to live. With memories of the past and struggling to understand
the present, she reflects on relationships with family and friends, including her punk-rock boyfriend, Adam.
Were She Went is the sequel written from Adam’s piont of view.
Iris, Messenger by Sarah Deming
730 pages/730 Lexile
After discovering that the immortals of Greek mytholgoy reside in her hometown twelve-year-old Iris listens to
their stories gaining wisdom and revleations about her past.
Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff by Jennifer Holm
128 pages/720 Lexile
During seventh grade Ginny accidently turns her hair pink, gets detention for trowing frogs in class, and loses
the lead role in a dance recital to her ex-best friend. Here’s the story of one girl’s worst year ever –told
completely through her stuff.
Schooled by Gordon Korman
224 pages/ 740 Lexile
Homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Capricorn (Cap) Anderson has never watched television or tasted
pizza. When his grandmother lands in the hospital, Capi s forced to move in with a school counselor and attend
the local middle school.
The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
176 pages/870 Lexile
Four students, with their own individual stories, develop a special bond and attract the attention of their teacher,
a paraplegic, who chooses them to represent their sixth-grade class in the Academic Bowl competition.
Ungifted by Gordon Korman
288 pages/730 Lexile
Due to an administrative mix-up, troublemaker Donovan Curtis is sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction,
a special program for gifted and talented students, after pulling a major prank at middle school.
We Could Be Brothers by Derrick Barnes
176 pages/600 Lexile
Robeson Battlefield and Pacino Clapton meet in detention, where they discover they both had scuffles with the
same person, Tariq. Although the boys have different mannerisms (Robeson is more respectful of the girl
sharing detention with them) and lifestyles (Pacino lives in a sketchy part of town; Robeson lives in a huge wellto-do house), they become friends. As the tension with Tariq intensifies, Robeson is conflicted about what to do.
His father insists on nonviolence, but Tariq will have none of that. And the final confrontation is fast approaching.
The Year My Parents Ruined My Life by Martha Freeman
160 pages/700 Lexile
Kate Somers is stunned when her parents announce that their family is moving from sunny California to
Belletoona, Pennsylvania. Kate can't bear leaving her friends, her cool surfer boyfriend, and the beach. But
maybe, just maybe, Belletoona won't be so bad. Forget it. All it ever does is snow in Belletoona -- and Kate's
already in trouble with the principal and half her class. What's worse is her younger sister, who acts like Miss
Perfect. Kate's had it. Nothing will stop her from going back to California where she belongs.
Sports
Athlete vs. Mathlete by W.C. Mack
208 pages/No Lexile available
Owen Evans lights up the scoreboards. His brother, Russell, rocks the school boards. These twin brothers
couldn't be more different. They've long kept the peace by going their separate ways, but all that is about to
change. The new basketball coach recruits Russell for the seventh grade team and a jealous Owen has to fight
to stay in the game. When someone tries to steal Russell's spot as captain of the mathlete team, will the two be
able to put aside their differences in order to save his position? Or will they be sidelined?
Babe and Me by Dan Gutman
176 pages/600 Lexile
On October 1, 1932, during Game Three of the Chicago Cubs/New York Yankees World Series, Babe Ruth
belted a long home run to straightaway center field. According to legend, just before he hit, Babe pointed to the
center field bleachers and boldly predicted he would slam the next pitch there. Did he call that shot, or didn't he?
Witnesses never agreed. Joe Stoshack knows there's one way to solve the mystery — slip back seventy years
and see for himself.
Chief Sunrise, John McGraw and Me by Timothy Totcher
168 pages/820 Lexile
Fifteen-year-old runaway Hank Cobb hops a freight and discovers Chief Sunrise, "the greatest Indian to ever
step on a baseball diamond." At least that's what he says. Chief is determined to try out for John McGraw,
famed manager of the 1919 New York Giants, and baseball-crazy Hank decides to tag along. The pair's
adventures take them from a dusty baseball lot in Gainesville, Florida, to New York City's famed Polo Grounds.
Finding Buck McHenry by Alfred Stole
256 pages/500 Lexile
Jason loves baseball — playing it, watching it, and collecting baseball cards. When he first learns about the
Negro leagues, where African-American players were relegated before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier,
he starts collecting those cards, too. Then Jason gets cut from his team. If he wants to play, he'll have to join the
new Little League expansion team — the reject team, which doesn't even have a coach yet. Jason's spirits lift
when he realizes he knows the perfect person to coach: Mack Henry, a school custodian who's given Jason
some pointers before. Jason is convinced that Mr. Henry is really Buck McHenry, who was once a star pitcher in
the Negro leagues.
Football Genius by Tim Green
272 pages/800 Lexile
Troy, a sixth-grader with an unusual gift for predicting football plays before they occur, attempts to use his ability
to help his favorite team, the Atlanta Falcons, but he must first prove himself to the coach and players.
Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica
256 pages/960 Lexile
What would you do with a million dollars, if you were 13? Nate Brodie is nicknamed 'Brady" not only for his arm,
but also because he's the biggest Tom Brady fan. He's even saved up to buy an autographed football. And
when he does, he wins the chance for something he's never dreamed of: to throw a pass through a target at a
Patriots game for one million dollars. Nate should be excited. But things have been tough lately. His dad lost his
job and his family is losing their home. It's no secret that a million dollars would go a long way. So all Nate feels
is pressure, and just when he needs it most, his golden arm begins to fail him.
Historical Fiction
The Giant and How He Humbugged America by Jim Murphy
112 pages/ 1210 Lexile
When a stone giant is found on a farm in upstate New York, William Newell sees the chance to get rich quickly.
Soon long lines of people are lined up willing to pay to see the marvel. Murphy explores one of the biggest
hoaxes of the 19th century.
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
336 pages/780 Lexile
As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom. Promised freedom
upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate, become the property of a
malicious New York City couple, the Locktons. The Locktons have no sympathy for the American Revolution
and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages
her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the
unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with
freedom.
House of Tailors by Patricia Reilly Giff
160 pages/750 Lexile
When 13-year-old Dina leaves her small town in Germany to join her uncle's family in Brooklyn, she turns her
back on sewing. Never again! But looking for a job leads her right back to the sewing machine. Why did she
ever leave home? Here she is, still with a needle and thread — and homesick to boot. She didn't know she
could be this homesick, but she didn't know she could be so brave either, as she is standing up to an epidemic
or a fire. She didn't know she could grow so close to her new family or to Johann, the young man from the
tailor's shop. And she didn't know that sewing would reveal her own wonderful talent — and her future.
Lyddie by Katherine Patterson
192 pages/860 Lexile
After her father abandons the family, ten-year-old Lyddie Worthen's mother hires the young girl out to pay his
debts. This impoverished Vermont farm girl is determined to gain her independence by becoming a factory
worker in Lowell, Massachusetts, in the 1840s.
The Ransom of Mercy Carter by Caroline Cooney
249 pages/730 Lexile
Deerfield, Massachusetts is one of the most remote, and therefore dangerous, settlements in the English
colonies. In 1704 an Indian tribe attacks the town, and Mercy Carter becomes separated from the rest of her
family. At first Mercy's only hope is that the English government in Boston will send ransom for her and the other
white settlers. But days turn into months and Mercy, who has become a Kahnawake daughter, thinks less and
less of ransom, of Deerfield, and even of her "English" family. She slowly discovers that the "savages" have
traditions and family life. Mercy begins to wonder: If ransom comes, will she take it?
Seaward Born by Lea Wait
160 pages/730 Lexile
Thirteen-year-old Michael knows he is lucky. Few slaves in 1805 Charleston are where they want to be. But
Michael works on the docks and ships in Charleston Harbor, close to the seas he longs to sail. Life seems good.
But when Michael's protective mistress dies, everything changes, and Michael's friend Jim encourages him to
run away. Michael is torn. Should he risk everything for a chance at freedom in some unknown place?
The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox
192 pages/970 Lexile
Snatched from the docks of New Orleans, 13-year-old Jessie is thrown aboard a slave ship where he is
sickened by the horrible practices of the slave business. But they are nothing compared to the one final horror
that Jessie will witness. Can the cruelty be stopped before it’s too late?
The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
224 pages/1000 Lexile
The year is 1963, and self-important Byron Watson is the bane of his younger brother Kenny's existence.
Constantly in trouble for one thing or another, from straightening his hair into a "conk" to lighting fires to freezing
his lips to the mirror of the new family car, Byron finally pushes his family too far. Momma and Dad finally make
good on their threat to send him to the Deep South to spend the summer with his tiny, strict grandmother. Soon
the whole family is packed up, ready to make the drive from Flint, Michigan, straight into one of the most chilling
moments in America's history: the burning of the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church with four little girls inside.
White Star: A Dog on the Titanic by Marty Crisp
150 pages/780 Lexile
Sam Harris is on the trip of a lifetime. He's traveling from England to New York on the first voyage of the
greatest ocean liner in history: the Titanic. Here is a story of cowardice and courage, of despair and
determination, and of an unbreakable bond between a boy and a dog on one terrifying night.
Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman
224 pages/550 Lexile
The year is 1964, and Alice Ann Moxley's FBI-agent father has been reassigned from Chicago to Jackson,
Mississippi, to protect black people who are registering to vote. Alice finds herself thrust into the midst of the
racial turmoil that dominates current events, especially when a Negro girl named Valerie Taylor joins her sixthgrade class -- the first of two black students at her new school because of a mandatory integration law.
Fantasy
Flip by Martyn Bedford
272 pages/No Lexile available
One December night, 14-year-old Alex goes to bed. He wakes up to find himself in the wrong bedroom, in an
unfamiliar house, in a different part of the country, and it's the middle of June. The family at the breakfast table is
total strangers. And when he looks in the mirror, another boy's face stares back at him. Unless Alex finds out
what's happened and how to get back to his own life, he may be trapped forever inside a body that belongs to
someone else.
The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker
224 pages/710 Lexile
Princess Emeralda a.ka. Emma isn't exactly an ideal princess. Her laugh is more like a donkey's bray than
tinkling bells, she trips over her own feet and she does "not" like Prince Jorge, whom her mother hopes she will
marry. But if Emma ever thought to escape her troubles, she never expected it to happen by turning into a frog!
When convinced to kiss a frog so he might return to being a prince, somehow the spell is reversed and Emma
turns into a frog herself!
Hidden Talents by David Lubar
224 pages/630 Lexile
Thirteen-year-old Martin, a new student at an alternative school for misfits and problem students, falls in with a
group of boys with psychic powers and discovers something surprising about himself.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
224 pages/940 Lexile
A once peaceful world inhabited by Fauns, Dwarves, Giants, and Talking Beasts, Narnia has been frozen into
perpetual winter by the fiendish White Witch who rules over it. Before long, Edmund steps into the wardrobe,
and, in spite of himself, into Narnia, where he has a chilling encounter with the seductive White Witch. Soon, all
of the children become embroiled in an adventure that includes themes of betrayal, forgiveness, death, and
rebirth.
Matched by Ally Condie
400 pages/680 Lexile
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to
believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal
mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society
tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with
Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the
Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's
known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler
224 pages/600 Lexile
For as long as she can remember, twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap has lived on a boat. And, oddly enough, for
just as long, her mother has seemed anxious to keep her away from the water. But when Mom finally agrees to
let her take swimming lessons, Emily makes a startling discovery - about her own identity, the mysterious father
she's never met, and the thrilling possibilities and perils shimmering deep below the water's surface.
Mystery
The Dead Man in Indian Creek by Mary Downing Hahn
144 pages/820 Lexile
When Parker Pettengill and Matt Armentrout find a dead man at the edge of Indian Creek, their camping trip
comes to a close -- and a detective hunt begins. Evans, the creepy new boyfriend of Parker's mom was seen at
the place of the crime, but there's no solid evidence that he committed the murder. Parker is convinced that his
mom's boyfriend is to blame, and he will not rest until he has proof. And when Parker and Armentrout hide out in
Pam's antique store and spy on Pam and Evans, they find out more than they bargained for....
The Ghost of Fossil Glen by Cynthia DeFelice
192 pages/710 Lexile
Eleven-year-old Allie Nichols is climbing in the steep and rocky Fossil Glen when she discovers she is in a
dangerous predicament. A ghostly voice — one that Allie feels she can trust — guides her down the cliff face to
safety. Soon, however, the ghost returns to ask Allie for help. Along with her friend Dub, she sets off on an
adventure to discover who this ghost is and why it needs help. Little does Allie know the dangerous and
mysterious world of ghosts and criminals she is entering!
NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue and Defense Society by Michael Buskley
352 pages/760 Lexile
A group of unpopular students run a spy network from inside their school. With the help of cutting-edge science,
they transform their nerdy qualities into incredible abilities! Their enemies are an array of James Bond–style
villains, each with an evil plan more diabolical and more ridiculous than the last.
Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
192 pages/710 Lexile
Sammy was just killing time when she looked across the avenue with the binoculars. She certainly didn't
imagine that she would see a thief in the act of stealing something from one of the rooms at the Heavenly Hotel.
The worst part is that the thief saw Sammy spying! And what did "smart" Sammy do then? She waved at the
thief! Now Sammy is in loads of trouble. Can she solve the mystery of the hotel thief before the thief finds her
and before the police discover that she has been living illegally with her grandmother? (The first in the “Sammy
Keyes” series)
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
192 pages/750 Lexile
When sixteen people are called together for the reading of wealthy Sam Westing's will, they are surprised to
learn that the will is actually a contest in which they are all to participate. Working with partners, the potential
heirs take their clues to try to find the elusive answer to the Westing game and thus take their shares of the twohundred-million-dollar prize.
Adventure
Dogsong by Gary Paulsen
192 pages/930 Lexile
In Paulsen's Newbery Honor novel, 14-year-old Russel Susskit leads a dog team on an arduous trek across the
frozen Alaskan wilderness on a life-altering journey haunted by dreams of an ancient warrior whose life oddly
parallels his own.
Earthquake Terror by Peg Kehret
144 pages/690 Lexile
After Jonathan's mother breaks her ankle on a family camping trip, Jonathan and his younger sister Abby are
left alone on a deserted island. Then a devastating earthquake hits — and suddenly, Jonathan and Abby are
fighting for their lives. Fast-paced and frighteningly believable, this is a sure bet for fans of wilderness
adventures and thrillers alike.
Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret
160 pages/750 Lexile
Kyle's perfect vacation becomes a nightmare while he's babysitting his sister, BeeBee. An earthquake hits the
coast and starts afire in their hotel. While fighting their way through smoke and flame, Kyle remembers seeing a
sign at the beach that said after an earthquake everyone should go uphill and inland, as far from the ocean as
possible. Tsunamis, giant waves that often follow earthquakes, can ride in from the sea and engulf anyone who
doesn't escape fast enough. Can Kyle and BeeBee outwit and outrun nature’s fury to save themselves from
tsunami terror?
Point Blank by Anthony Horowitz
304 pages/610 Lexile
Alex Rider, the reluctant teenage super-spy, must infiltrate Point Blanc, a private reform school for superwealthy teens. His mission: to stop an evil mad scientist from taking over the world.
Nonfiction
An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of
1793 by Jim Murphy
176 pages/1130 Lexile
History, science, politics, and public health come together in this dramatic account of the disastrous yellow fever
epidemic that hit the nation's capital more than 200 years ago. Drawing on firsthand accounts, medical and nonmedical, Murphy re-creates the fear and panic in the infected city, the social conditions that caused the disease
to spread, and the arguments about causes and cures.
Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850 by Susan Campbell
Bartoletti
192 pages/1040 Lexile
This is the story of men, women, and children who defied landlords and searched empty fields for scraps of
harvested vegetables and edible weeds to eat, who walked several miles each day to hard-labor jobs for
meager wages and to reach soup kitchens, and who committed crimes just to be sent to jail, where they were
assured of a meal. It's the story of children and adults who suffered from starvation, disease, and the loss of
family and friends, as well as those who died. It's also the story of how the Irish people held on to hope.
Blizzard! The Storm that Changed America by Jim Murphy
144 pages/1080 Lexile
Jim Murphy tells the story of the Great Blizzard of 1888 through the eyes and words of survivors and victims
alike. They will learn about the men, women, and children who battled the storm head-on, the many problems
that developed when it finally stopped, and how life in the United States was forever changed by one of the most
devastating natural disasters in its history.
Born to Fly: The Heroic Story of Downed U.S. Navy Pilot Lt. Shane Osborn by Shane
Osborn
192 pages/No Lexile available
When Shane Osborn graduated from the naval ROTC program at the University of Nebraska and joined the
navy, his dream of becoming a pilot became a reality. For five years, Osborn practiced rigorous training
exercises, working day in and day out until he advanced from navy pilot to mission commander. When a
Chinese F-8 II fighter jet collided with his EP-3E ARIES II plane during a U.S. surveillance mission through
international airspace, the lieutenant had to put all his flying skills to the test.
Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson
144 pages/980 Lexile
This fast-paced thriller is about the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth and involves a wild twelve-day
chase through the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia.
Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-year-old GI by Ryan Smithson
352 pages/No Lexile available
Ryan Smithson joined the Army Reserve when he was just out of high school. At age nineteen he was deployed
to Iraq. His year in combat changed his life. His story will change the way you feel about what it means to be an
American.
The Great Fire by Jim Murphy
208 pages/1130 Lexile
The Great Fire of 1871 was one of the most colossal disasters in American history. Overnight, the flourishing
city of Chicago was transformed into a smoldering wasteland. The damage was so profound that few people
believed the city could ever rise again. By weaving personal accounts of actual survivors together with the
carefully researched history of Chicago and the disaster, Jim Murphy constructs a riveting narrative that
recreates the event with drama and immediacy.
No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War by Anita Lobel
288 pages/750 Lexile
Anita Lobel was barely five years old when World War II began and the Nazis burst into her home in Kraków,
Poland. Her life changed forever. She spent her childhood in hiding with her brother and their nanny, moving
from countryside to ghetto to convent—where the Nazis finally caught up with them.
*Note: Lexile levels reflect reading difficulty; the higher the Lexile level, the more difficult the reading.