*=more difficult read
Disclaimer: These lists are merely suggested titles to help students decide on a book to read for completing outside reading requirements for the year. Although I have read and approved a majority of the books on these lists, parents and students may not be ready for some of the content. I would suggest previewing the titles of these books before you read by going to one of the following websites:
1.
This Christian website offers a plot summary of each book along with information about the following categories: Christian Beliefs, Authority Roles, Other Belief
Systems, Profanity/Graphic Violence, Kissing/Sex, Awards, and Discussion Topics.
This website will be helpful when deciding whether or not a book is appropriate for you or your student.
2.
.
This website is a secular resource. After searching the title of a book that you or your student wishes to read, you will be directed to a summary of the book’s plot as well as given a rating on a scale of 1-5 for the following content present within the book: educational value, positive messages, positive role models, violence & scariness, sexy stuff, language, drinking & drugs, and consumerism. Included at the bottom of each review are lists of questions that families, parents, and children can talk about regarding the book’s content.


th
Students will read at least ONE outside reading book each semester and complete an accompanying book project. See tentative due dates for projects below.
Project templates and explanations are on my website,
.
1.
Project #1:
a.
b.
c.
“Outside-of-the-box” Book Report
Any Genre (peer recommendation)
See my website, www.mrsfreitasclass.weebl.com
for project details.
Project #2:
a.
“Mystery Book Report in a Bag” b.
Genre: mystery or adventure c.
Project rubric and explanation are on my website (and on Cornerstone), www.mrsfreitasclass.weebly.com
under the “Book Projects/List” tab.

th
See tentative due dates for projects below. Project templates and explanations are on my website,
.
1.
Project #1:
a.
b.
c.
“Outside-of-the-box” Book Report
Any Genre (peer recommendation)
See my website, www.mrsfreitasclass.weebly.com
for project details
2.
Project #2:
a.
“Body Biography” Project OR “Fakebook” Project b.
Genre: Biography or memoir i.
See my website, www.mrsfreitasclass.weebly.com
for project details
3.
Project #3:
a.
Genre: Greek Mythology (see book list for recommendations that accompany our
Greek Mythology unit) c.
Assignment: Students will need to have their books read by March 16 th . In class, they will be given a writing assignment to complete in order to reflect on what their reading and respond to the text. This will be done IN CLASS on the due date.

A biography (or autobiography) includes many details and generally begins with the person’s birth or even that of the parents or grandparents. It is usually only interesting when about someone famous. A memoir, on the other hand, is a collection of anecdotes (little stories) a person experienced which reveal the patterns in someone’s life or makes sense of who they are now. You may select any book in the following list you’ve not yet read this year. For other bios, visit http://www.biography.com/
 * Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy’s Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard by Mawi Asgedom This is a memoir, written about his own life, about leaving the
Sudan with his family, and moving to Chicago. This is an amazing story and very well written! Fair warning: a few parts are emotional, and there is a descriptive scene regarding bullying.

God’s Smuggler, John Sherrill. The amazing story of Brother Andrew’s conversion and life’s work smuggling Bibles, and with them, hope, into Communist countries.
Andrew’s life is evidence of God’s tremendous power when His servants fully yield to
His guidance.

Joni, Joni Eareckson Tada. The true account of Joni’s life after the accident which broke her neck and paralyzed her for the rest of her life. Knowing that she has spent the intervening 50 years serving the Lord and the needy around the world makes her account of life immediately after her accident as a teenager even more inspiring.

Jumping Through Fires, David Nasser. The story of a most-unlikely Christ-follower, this is riveting and beautifully told. Nasser begins in the fires of the 1979 Iranian revolution and ends in the American South, detailing his transition from hating religion to possessing a living faith.
 The Other Side of the Sky, Farah Ahmedi. This chronicles an Afghani girls’ journey from her peaceful early life through the destruction wrought by the Mujahideen and
Taliban. She endures losing her leg to a landmine, but presses on courageously.
 Tim Tebow: Through My Eyes, Tim Tebow. Good story about how Tebow and his family followed God’s leading as Tim strove to be the best athlete, scholar and man he could be. You should really, really like football as the middle of the book describes many football games.
 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, William Kawkwamba. An excellent story of
William’s life in Malawi, Africa. It is particularly gripping when his family endures a famine. With no money for school, William teaches himself through books in the library about his obsession, science. He decides that he’s tired of reading by candlelight, so he builds a small generator so he can have an electric bulb in his room, which seems so logical, but is also amazing. He later gains prominence and does a TED

talk and gets a scholarship to study in England and America. Really interesting book, especially for anyone who likes science and building things or has a heart for Africa.

*Chinese Cinderella. Adeleine Yen Mah. Chinese Cinderella is the perfect title for this compelling autobiography in which, like the fairy-tale maiden, her childhood was ruled by a cruel stepmother. Teens, with their passionate convictions and strong sense of fair play, will be absorbed in the injustice of Adeline Yen Mah's story.

The Diary of Anne Frank, Anne Frank. The classic story of Anne Frank whose family is forced to go into hiding as the Nazis begin rounding up Jews like them in Holland. Less a book about the Holocaust and more a book about growing up in extreme isolation and how it might feel to be a teenager with no one to interact with besides your immediate family and a small group of strangers.
 Kira-Kira, Cynthia Kadohata. The Japanese-American Takeshima family moves from
Iowa to Georgia in the 1950s when Katie, the narrator, is just in kindergarten. Though her parents endure grueling conditions in the poultry plant where they work, they create a loving, stable home for their children. When Katie’s sister, Lynn, develops lymphoma, Katie does her best to remember Lynn’s “kira-kira” (glittery) outlook on life.
 A Step from Heaven, An Na. A Step from Heaven is an account of a young Korean girl named Ju who moves from Korea to America. Ju does not speak or understand
English, so growing up is difficult. As Ju grows older, it becomes harder and harder to balance her new American identify with the Korean identity of her past. This will give adolescents a better understanding of what others in their school may be going through and will help them better relate to new students from other countries/cultures.

Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board,
Bethany Hamilton, Sheryl Berk, and Rich Bundschuh.

I Never Had It Made, Jackie Robinson. A man of talent and character tells how he became one of baseball’s – and history’s greats.

Within Reach: My Everest Story, Mark Pfetzer & Jack Galvin.
In May 1996 the media scrambled to document the gripping story of sixteen-year-old Mark Pfetzer's expedition to Mount
Everest. He was the youngest climber to ever attempt reaching the summit. Within Reach is
Mark's extraordinary account of this experience and of his triumphs over several other challenging peaks. At once triumphant and tragic, this story will be an inspiration to climbers, athletes, and armchair enthusiasts alike.

Boy: Tales of Childhood, Roald Dahl Autobiography.
In Boy, Roald Dahl recounts his days as a child growing up in England. From his years as a prankster at boarding school to his envious position as a chocolate tester for Cadbury's, Roald Dahl's boyhood was as full of excitement and the unexpected as are his world-famous, best-selling books. Packed with anecdotes -- some funny, some painful, all interesting -- this is a book that's sure to please.


The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkein. This fantasy novel follows the quest of Bilbo Baggins, a small hobbit living in Middle Earth. Accompanying a band of dwarves, the hobbit sets out to take back the treasure stolen from dwarves by the great dragon, Smaug. Throughout the adventure, Bilbo and the others meet elves, travel through the Mirkwood Forest, and battle creatures from Middle Earth.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis. Lucy and her three siblings find their way through an old closet into the magical land of Narnia.

Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer. Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is the most ingenious criminal mastermind in history. With two trusty sidekicks, he devises a cunning plot to rid the fairyfolk of their pot of gold.
 Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine. This is a retelling of the Cinderella story. As a baby, a fairy magically bestowed upon Ella the gift of obedience. Unfortunately, Ella has no choice but to be obedient to anyone who tells her to do something…This story follows
Ella’s journey in breaking free from this unfortunate spell.

Eragon, Christopher Paolini. This is the story of a teenage boy who happens upon a dragon’s egg and finds that he is the last of the Dragon Riders.
 Inkheart, Cornelia Funke. Meggie’s father, Mo, has the ability to bring characters from books to life. On the flip side, Mo can also bring in people from real life INTO the books! Meggie does not know about her father’s talent, but she is pulled into some evil plots against Mo that send her on a series of challenging adventures.
 The Lightning Thief series, Rick Riordan. Percy Jackson feels like a misfit, but he never guesses that the reason could lie in his being half-mortal/half Greek god. This series is filled with action, adventure, and plenty of mythological creatures!
 The Indian in the Cupboard, Lynn Reid Banks

Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt. 10-year-old Winnie Foster doesn’t realize that the fountain of youth is on her family’s property. This discovery forces her to make an almost impossible decision about her future.

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a
Spool of Thread, Kate DiCamillo


Among the Hidden, Margaret Maddix Peterson. Born third in his family at a time when having more than two children per family is illegal, Luke has spent all of his twelve years in hiding. To what extent will he go to in order to defy the government and have a life worth living?

A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle
 The Uglies, Scott Westerfield. Tally Youngblood lives in a futuristic society that conditions its citizens to believe that they are ugly until the age of sixteen when they’ll undergo an operation to make them “pretty.” This dystopic novel explores the human desires for beauty and conformity as well as individuality and free will.
 The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins. Sixteen-year-old Katniss does all she can to help her family survive in their post-apocalyptic world, even taking her sister’s place in the dangerous Hunger Games.
 The Animorphs series, K.A. Applegate

The Giver, Lois Lowry. Jonas is an eleven-year-old boy who lives sometime in the future. He lives in a controlled community where here is no suffering, hunger, color, sex, music, love, etc. When a person turns twelve years old, he or she is assigned a job.
Jonas is selected to become the new “Receiver of Memory.” Jonas becomes the apprentice of the old Receiver and begins to receive memories about the past from him. Through the memories, Jonas gets to experience good things such as color, snow, sun, etc.; but he also experiences bad things like pain, loss, warfare, and death. Jonas finds out a secret about the community that causes him to devise a plan to escape the in order to find safety for a baby named Gabriel.

This list is designed with a sneaky intention: you only have to read one, but my secret plan is that you will find yourself completely addicted to this book list and feel compelled to read every title here! Mwahaha. Some are Christian, some are not; nearly all are fantasy, so if that’s not a genre you like: try it! I have only read the first book in these series; choose with your parents’ guidance.
These are listed in the following format: Series Title/Book Title/Author.
 Homelanders/The Last Thing I Remember/Andrew Klavan. Thomas Nelson is the publisher, and while this isn’t a Christian book, church attendance, prayer and faith are normal parts of high school senior Charlie West’s life. However, his life has been turned upside down: the last thing he remembers is going to bed at home, and now he is strapped to a chair being tortured with his very life on the line, and absolutely no memory of how he arrived at this perilous moment. Good thing he’s a black belt in karate, because he’ll need those skills to navigate the treacherous situations he finds himself in. A clean, Jason Bourne-like thriller. Warning: order all 5 at once to avoid the trek back to the library or bookstore.

Artemis Fowl/Artemis Fowl/Eion Colfer. Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit.
These aren’t the fairies of bedtime stories; these fairies are armed and dangerous. My kids from ages 8 – 15 have loved this series. Funny, well-written, exciting.
 Chronicles of Prydain/The Book of Three/Lloyd Alexander. These are the adventures of Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper and his quest to become a hero. Taran is joined by an engaging cast of characters that includes Eilonwy, the strong-willed and sharptongued princess; Fflewddur Fflam, the hyperbole-prone bard; the ever-faithful Gurgi; and the curmudgeonly Doli--all of whom have become involved in an epic struggle between good and evil that shapes the fate of the legendary land of Prydain. Funny, fast, delightful, and the model for many of the fantasy series on this list.
 The Dark is Rising/Over Sea, Under Stone/Susan Cooper. Throughout time, the forces of good and evil have battled continuously, maintaining the balance. Whenever evil forces grow too powerful, a champion of good is called to drive them back. Now, with evil's power rising and a champion yet to be found, three siblings find themselves at the center of a mysterious war. Jane, Simon, and Barney Drew have discovered an ancient text that reads of a legendary grail lost centuries ago. The grail is an object of great power, buried with a vital secret. As the Drews race against the forces of evil, they must piece together the text's clues to find the grail -- and keep its secret safe until a new champion rises. One book in this series won a Newberry Award, another

the Honor. Cooper isn’t a Christian, but many of the themes (heroism, family, saving the world) of this story reflect a Christian worldview.

Swipe Series/Swipe/Evan Angler. From Christian publisher Thomas Nelson, though typical Christian ideas (Bible reading, church, etc) aren’t in this series. Set in a future
North America that is struggling to recover after famine and global war, Swipe follows the lives of three kids caught in the middle of a conflict they didn’t even know existed.
United under a charismatic leader, every citizen of the American Union is required to get the Mark on their 13th birthday in order to gain the benefits of citizenship. It’s almost Logan Langly’s 13th birthday and he knows he should be excited about getting the Mark, but he hasn’t been able to shake the feeling he’s being watched. Not since his sister went to get her Mark five years ago . . . and never came back. Exciting, a little predictable for my taste, but likeable.

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles/Dealing with Dragons/Patricia Wrede. Cimorene, princess of Linderwall, is a classic tomboy heroine with strengths that everyone else believes are defects. Cimorene, tired of etiquette and embroidery, runs away from home and finds herself in a nest of dragons. Now, in Cimorene's world--a world cleverly built on fragments of dozens of fairy tales --princesses are forever being captured by dragons. The difference here is that Cimorene goes willingly. She would rather keep house for the dragon Kazul than be bored in her parents' castle. With her quick wit and her stubborn courage, Cimorene saves the mostly kind dragons from a wicked plot. This series is on many “must read” lists for junior high for homeschool and public school students.
 *Mark of the Lion/A Voice in the Wind/Francine Rivers. Rivers is one of the best
Christian authors writing today, but her audience is adult women, so her books are for mature readers (or a good one for a parent to read along with his or her child). That said, I always get requests for this series, so here it is: A Voice in the Wind brings readers back to the first century and introduces them to a character they will never forget--Hadassah. Torn by her love for a handsome aristocrat, this young slave girl clings to her faith in the living God for deliverance from the forces of decadent Rome.

Inheritance/Eragon/Christopher Paolini. Eragon, a young farm boy, finds a marvelous blue stone in a mystical mountain place. Before he can trade it for food to get his family through the hard winter, it hatches a beautiful sapphire-blue dragon, a race thought to be extinct. Eragon bonds with the dragon, he discovers that he is the last of the Dragon Riders, fated to play a decisive part in the coming war between the human but hidden Varden, dwarves, elves, the diabolical Shades and their neanderthal
Urgalls, all pitted against and allied with each other and the evil King Galbatorix. The
Lord of the Rings fans will like this. (Paolini was 15 when he wrote the draft of this book, so that alone makes it worth the read in my eyes!) This is a classic heroic quest story, which is a biblical genre though this is not a Christian book.


The Last Dragon Chronicles/The Fire Within/Chris D’Lacey. When college student
David Rain begins rooming at the home of Liz Pennykettle and her 11-year-old daughter, Lucy, he becomes aware of a variety of unusual happenings connected to the clay dragons that Liz creates and sells. As David slowly learns about the family's past and abilities, he has to decide whether to accept Gadzooks, the special dragon Liz made for him. Lucy's attempts to save the neighborhood squirrels from a scheming neighbor are a second plot focus. A fictional story David writes for Lucy about these animals mirrors real developments in their lives, creating an unusual story-within-astory. In spite of the dragon's eye staring out from the cover, readers should anticipate an amazing story set in the real world.

The Ranger’s Apprentice/The Ruins of Gorlan/John Flanagan. Will hopes to become a knight; instead, he winds up as a Ranger's apprentice, joining the secretive corps that uses stealth, woodcraft, and courage to protect the kingdom. His aptitude and bravery gradually earn the respect of his gruff but good-hearted master. When the kingdom is attacked by evil magic forces, Will helps track down and defeat a couple of particularly nasty beasts. This closing episode sets the stage for a good-versus-evil war that will likely be at the heart of future volumes. In this opener, though, most of the story focuses on the learning process that Will goes through as an apprentice. Descriptions of Ranger craft are fascinating. Exciting confrontations with bullies and wild boars help to establish the boy's emerging character and side stories involving a rival Battleschool apprentice and the identity of Will's father are woven in smoothly.
 *Little Women/Little Women/Louisa May Alcott. I realize I am swimming against the stream of popular culture, but it saddens me to think that girls will pass through adolescence without reading this amazing, heartbreaking, romantic, excellent book. It is just SO GOOD. This is the story of the March sisters: talented tomboy and authorto-be Jo, frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War.

The Uglies, Pretties, and Specials/ The Uglies/ Scott Westerfield. I read this series in middle school and loved it! If you are interested in futuristic novels, then this is the book for you. The series follows Tally, a young girl who lives in a dystopian society.

River of Time Series/ Waterfall/ Lisa T. Bergren. This series follows teenage sisters
Gabi and Lia and their adventures during one summer in rural Tuscany. Traveling with their archeologist parents, Gabi and Lia are become bored one day and go exploring in an ancient tomb. Gabi places her hand atop a handprint on the side of the ancient tomb and finds herself in 14 th century Italy! Themes of romance, war, and love for one’s family runs throughout this series. Lisa T. Bergren is a Christian author that lives in Colorado Springs, CO (while in college, my sister actually did some nannying for
Bergren’s little girls).

Chasing Yesterday/Awakening/Robin Wasserman.
 Shadow Children/Among the Hidden/Margaret Peterson Haddix.


The Chronicles of Narnia/The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe/C.S. Lewis.
 Matched series, Ally Condie

Epic Order of the Seven series/The Amazing Tales of Max and Liz/ by by Jenny L. Cote
.
“
The Epic adventure begins with the two-book prequel series: The Amazing Tales of Max & Liz, where the Maker begins building his team of animals to be his envoys through pivotal points of history. Max, Liz, Kate and Al launch the adventure in The Ark, and are joined by their British mouse friend, Nigel, in The Dreamer. With book three, The Prophet, the Shepherd, & the Star, the team of seven animals is finally complete, and known forevermore as the Order of the Seven.
Working behind the scenes in the lives of Noah, Joseph, Isaiah, Daniel, those in the Christmas story, Jesus, the Disciples, Paul and the early church, the team will pass through Biblical and world history up to modern times with Patrick Henry and the Revolutionary War, and C.S. Lewis and
World War II.” (GoodReads.com)
Assignment: Select one of the following books. Parents, please note some of these books have issues of language or content, but the book’s value surpasses these drawbacks in my mind.
(Please note that some of these are old Newberry award winners, and they will contain nothing objectionable; the newer titles often do.) These books are all available at the public library or through Amazon.com or downloads. Get the book as soon as possible.
 Leonardo’s Shadow, Christopher Grey. Servant and orphan Giacomo performs chores and errands for his master, the famous Leonardo da Vinci, as the master struggles to overcome obstacles to finishing the last supper. Giacomo is a witty and lively narrator, and scenes make life in Milan, Italy, during the Renaissance come alive. Contains some mild language in dialogue.

Parade of Shadows, Gloria Whelan. Excellent scenes of the Ottoman Empire (look at a map – it’s huge! And it lasted 600 years, more than any other empire except Rome).
16 year old Julia Hamilton is restless, so follows her widower father on a trip across the ancient lands of Morocco, North Africa and Turkey. Despite the female protagonist, boys will also enjoy the intrigue and mystery surrounding the traveling party.

The Trumpeter of Krakow, Eric Kelly. (1929 Newberry Award Winner) The dramatic story of Joseph Charnetski is set in Poland in 1461. His family hides an incredibly valuable treasure, and they get involved with marauding Tartars, strange scholars and even alchemists (scientists dedicated to the effort to turn basic metal into gold).
Fights, intrigue, fires, treachery, evil. . . it’s all there, but you need to get past page 40 for the story to really take off.
 The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Avi. (2004 Newberry Honor) Another great book for both boys and girls. On a long, grueling trip by ship across the Atlantic Ocean in the 1700s, 12 year old Charlotte changes from prim and proper – and guillible – to

something else entirely. It’s would give away too much to tell you more about this exciting book. Despite the female protagonist, not a “girl’s book” at all.

Adam of the Road, Elizabeth Gray Vining. (1942 Newberry Award Winner) Eleven year old Adam loves to travel about England in the 1200s with his dog, Nick, and his father, a famous wandering minstrel (the only entertainment available in the day).
The book details his adventures while making the time period come alive, and I loved
Adam’s positive, hopeful attitude while on his quest. Highly readable and enjoyable.
 Crispin: The Cross of Lead, Avi (Newberry Medal 2002). Cripin’s life as “Asta’s son” ends with her death, and the boy is forced to flee his village. This story of his perilous journey as the slave of a giant man, Bear, is thrilling, but the backdrop is so real that the 1300s come alive. A few mild swear words, mostly in words that were considered swearing at the time, such as “God’s blood.”

Blood Red Horse, KM Grant. Hosanna may be small and oddly colored as far as war horses go. But Will is about to join King Richard I in a Crusade to Jerusalem and sees in this stallion a soulful presence. Together the young knight and horse travel to the
Mideast witnessing bloodshed and the terrors of war. Exciting.

Letters from Rifka, Karen Hesse. Rifka flees Russia with her family; her only memento a book of Pushkin poetry. Using the blank pages, she chronicles her journey including a detour through Polish hospitals and a Hebrew charity in Belgium. This is not a good choice for strong readers.

Catherine, Called Birdy, Karen Cushman. (Newberry Honor, 1995) Catherine feels trapped in Medieval England. Her father is determined to marry her off to a rich man-any rich man, no matter how awful. But by wit, trickery, and luck, Catherine manages to send several would-be husbands packing. A similar book, The Midwife’s Apprentice, by Cushman (Newberry Winner, 1996), also demonstrates historical accuracy, funny dialogue, fast-paced action, and interesting, original characters.

Flygirl, Sheri Smith. Eighteen year old Ida Mae Jones longs to be a pilot like her cropdusting father, but in 1941, being a woman, and more importantly, black, meant there was no chance for her to get her license. After WWII begins and her beloved brother enlists in the Army, light-skinned Ida Mae decides she will attempt to “pass,” or pretend to be white, in order to fly with the Women’s Air Auxiliary. Exciting, moving story. At least one racial swear word.
 Heart of a Samurai, Margi Preus. In 1841, a Japanese fishing vessel sinks. Its crew is forced to swim to a small, unknown island, where they are rescued by a passing
American ship. Japan’s borders remain closed to all Western nations, so the crew sets off to America, learning English on the way. After many exciting adventures throughout the years, Manjiro returns to Japan; he may even achieve his unlikely dream of becoming a samurai. Based on a true story.
 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred D. Taylor


Number the Stars, Lois Lowry. Number the Stars is a Newbery Award-winning classic.
The story is about a young girl living in Denmark and her experience during the Nazi
Regime. It reminds us of human decency during a time of terror and war. It is an incredibly moving story and a must read for all. The students would love the book and it would widen their understanding of the people affected by the war.

*Johnny Tremain, Esther Forbes

The Book Thief, Marcus Zusak
 Kira-Kira, Cynthia Kadohata

Milkweed, Jerry Spinelli

Nothing to Fear, Jackie French Koller
 The Watson’s Go to Birminghand-1963, Christopher Paul Curtis

Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis
 The Westing Game, Ellen Raskin-This is an unusual tricky mystery with zany characters, lots of clues, and a smattering of word play.

Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene
 The Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Found (The Missing, Book 1) by Maragaret Peterson Haddix. “ One night a plane appeared out of nowhere, the only passengers aboard: thirty-six babies. As soon as they were taken off the plane, it vanished. Now, thirteen years later, two of those children are receiving sinister messages, and they begin to investigate their past. Their quest to discover where they really came from leads them to a conspiracy that reaches from the far past to the distant future—and will take them hurtling through time. In this exciting new series, bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix brings an element of suspense that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.” (Amazon review)

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham. “I n the small city of Strattenburg, there are many lawyers, and though he’s only thirteen years old, Theo Boone thinks he’s one of them. Theo knows every judge, policeman, court clerk—and a lot about the law. He dreams of being a great trial lawyer, of a life in the courtroom. But Theo finds himself in court much sooner than expected. Because he knows so much—maybe too much—he is suddenly dragged into the middle of a sensational murder trial. A coldblooded killer is about to go free, and only Theo knows the truth.The stakes are high, but Theo won’t stop until justice is served.” (Amazon review)


The Incredible Journey, Sheila Burnford

Running Out of Time, Margaret Peterson Haddix
 Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson

The Yearling, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. When Jody adopts an orphaned fawn, he makes it a part of his family. However, life in the Florida backwoods is harsh, and so, as his family fights off wolves, bears, and alligators, Jody must decide whether or not to part with her dear animal friend.

My Side of the Mountain, Jean Craighead George. Young Sam Gribley adventures all the way to the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. There he sets up house in a huge hollowed-out tree, with a falcon and weasel for companions.

The Call of the Wild, Jack London
 Hatchet series, Gary Paulsen. Brian is a thirteen-year-old boy on his way to see his father in Canada. While traveling on a small plane, the pilot of the plane has a heart attack and dies. Brian managed to crash-land the plane without getting seriously hurt.
Luckily, Brian’s mother had given him a hatchet before he left home. Throughout the novel, Brian is able to find food and create shelter and warmth all with the help of his hatchet. In the end, Brian is able to recover a transmitter from the plane (which had sunk to the bottom of a lake when it crashed) and he is rescued. Adolescent boys will find Brian’s quick thinking and resourcefulness very interesting!

Peak, Roland Smith
 The Last Shot, Darcy Frey

Slam, Walter Dean Myers

Toby Wheeler, Eighth Grade Benchwarmer, Thatcher Heldring
 Friday Night Lights, H. G. Bissinger

Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories, Chris Crutcher
 Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (free verse poetry)

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein


The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein

Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems by Kristine O’Connell George
 Close to Famous by Joan Bauer – this is a fun, new novel about a girl who is dyslexic and her struggle to read. There is much more to the story as well, and it is a great novel for those who love to bake, as the main character loves baking and describes various desserts (especially cupcakes) she bakes!
 *A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett. Sara Crewe has only known life as the pampered daughter of a rich man, but while she is away at boarding school, her father dies leaving her a poor orphan who must now live as a servant at the school.
 The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
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Little House on the Prairie series, Laura Ingalls Wilder
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*Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
 *To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee. In a small Alabama town, young Scout Finch and her brother, Jem, grow to understand that prejudice is a very real aspect of their world no matter how subtle it seems. Through their neighborhood wanderings, and by watching their father defend a black man in court, they learn that the world isn’t always fair.
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Autobiography of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie. Arnold Spirit, growing up on a
Spokane Indian reservation, expects disaster when he transfers from the reservation school to the rich, white school nearby. He begins to form friendships and joins the basketball team. Meeting his old classmates on the basketball court, Arnold questions what constitutes one’s community, identity, and tribe.
 Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
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The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd
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Holes, Louis Sachar. Stanley Yelnats is in the wrong place at the wrong time when he is blamed for stealing a pair of shoes worn by a famous athlete. As punishment, the judge at his trial sends him to Camp Green Lake. Unlike its name, the camp is dry and barren. Every day, Stanley and the others are expected to dig holes that are 5 feet deep and 5 feet wide and are told that digging will help them build character. When
Stanley finds an old lipstick tube while digging, he slowly begins to discover the real reason for why they are digging holes.
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Pictures of Hollis Woods, Patricia Reilly Giff
 The Wringer, Jerry Spinelli
 Hoot, Carl Hiaasen. Roy finds himself strangely entangled in a conflict with Mother
Paula’s Pancake House and a young boy who wants to save the burrowing owls that make their home on the land where the future pancake house is to be built.
 Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli

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Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
 Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
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Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson. Jess is a fifth-grade boy who lives in a small town called Lark Creek. He has a hard family life and is lonely in his own home. After being beaten in a running race by a girl named Leslie, Jess and Leslie become good friends. Jess and Leslie spend most of their time together. The two create an imaginary land called Terabithia and cross the creek to get to it whenever possible.
After raining a great deal in the spring, going to Terabithia becomes dangerous because of the rising water at the creek. Leslie goes to Terabithia alone while Jess is on a field trip with his teacher. Jess comes home to find that Leslie died while trying to cross the creek. This book is a good read for anyone coming to terms with the death of a loved one and anyone who feels like an outsider.
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Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech
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A Year Down Yonder, Richard Peck
 The View from Saturday, E.L. Konigsburg
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A Long Way from Chicago, Richard Peck
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Freak the Mighty, Rodman Philbrick. Freak the Mighty follows the story of two eighth grade boys. Maxwell has a hard home life (his father is in jail for the murder of his mother), is ostracized for his large size and undetermined learning disability, and because of these things, he has a low self-esteem. Kevin, on the other hand, is quite genius for his age, but has Morquio Syndrome, which causes him to wear leg braces and use crutches. The two boys become best friends and use their strengths to find value in themselves and each other.
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Esperanza Rising, Pam Munoz Ryan
 Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli. Jeffery Magee’s parents are killed when he is three years old. Because of this, he is forced to live with his aunt and uncle. He does not have a good experience at his relatives’ house, so he runs away when he is eleven years old. He runs until he reaches a town called Two Mills, Pennsylvania. Two Mills is a divided town separated by Hector Street. Jeffery doesn’t realize it, but the town is divided into two communities: one black and one white. Jeffery goes back and forth between the two communities and when a black girl named Amanda Beale realize that
Magee is homeless, her family takes him in. Once the white community discovers that a white boy is living with a black family they become very unhappy and Maniac runs away to avoid any more trouble. After moving in with two other families, Amanda finds him and calls him to come back home. Maniac has finally found it: a home with others who love him. This book would be a great way to get students thinking about racism.
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Summer of the Monkeys, Wilson Rawls
 Zach’s Lie, Roland Smith’
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*Homeless Bird, Gloria Whelan

This is a list of Newberry Award and Honor books (most of which I have read and believe are appropriate for 6 th grade students). However, none of these are considered Christian literature, and you may want to still preview them for your own discernment. I tried to give a VERY brief idea of what the book is about; please go online to amazon.com and search for the book for more information or go to the library to preview them. Some of these novels are at a lower reading level than 6 th grade, but it is worth noting that they all won the Newberry Award or at least were honorary winners. Some of these novels I recently read, others I tried to recall from reading years ago, but here is at least a list to get you started in finding other books for your child to read this year.
(2013) The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate -Interesting perspective from a gorilla in a small zoo
(2012) Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai – written in a journal-like style; a young girl’s perspective of the Vietnam War
(2011)
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool- historical fiction of difficult times in Kansas in 1936, following a young girl who is left by her father in a small town. *One of the major characters is a diviner, so special discussion on this would be important*
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm – historical fiction taking place in Florida in 1935; comical, entertaining story of a young girl in Key West, FL
One Crazy Summer by Rita Willaims-Garcia – discusses events regarding the Black Panther party in 1968; told from a humorous point of view
(2010) When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead –interesting story of Miranda and her friend, Sal; there is a puzzle of sorts that you are trying to solve along the way
(2009) Saavy by Ingrid Law- a family that each member has a “saavy”- similar to a super-power- that they use only for good; fun fantasy book
(2005) Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko –a young boy moves to Alcatraz for his father’s job; deals with some history of Alcatraz and his sibling who has autism
(2004) The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo –fantasy, adventures of a mouse trying to rescue a princess
(2003) Hoot by Carl Hiassen – fun story about a peculiar friendship and how the young boy finds the correct way to stand up for an environmental issue

(2001)
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck –drama and humor of a young girl’s, Mary Alice, summer with her grandmother in Illinois
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
(2000) Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis- the story of a young African American’s journey during the Great Depression; told with humor and from a ten year old boy’s perspective
(1999)
Holes by Louis Sachar
A long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck –various stories of two children’s trip visiting their grandmother during the summer (this is the prequel for A Year Down Yonder)
(1996) The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis- historical fiction, story about a loving family taking a trip to Birmingham; entertaining and humorous, but also factual
(1992) Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor- a tale about a young boy and a dog that he loves, but is owned by a horrible man
(1991) The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi – during an ocean voyage a young girl, age 14, finds herself with a mutinous crew (takes place in 1802) and accused of murder. Very well written and adventurous, along with historical facts
(1990) Number the Stars by Lois Lowry- a young girl’s life during the Holocaust
Before 1990 winners (You can search for a synopsis online):
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
Rascal: A Memoir of a Better Era by Sterling North
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
th
Select one book; brief descriptions are provided and any concerns at the end. Please refer to moredetailed descriptions on Amazon.com.
Percy Jackson or Heroes of Olympus series, Rick Riordan. These books are excellent introductions to
Greek and Roman mythology. I’ve read the first book of each series, so I can’t vouch for every one, but parents’ complaints have fallen into the “I can’t believe I have to buy all these books he’s wanting” rather than concerns about content. Any of the titles that students have NOT PREVIOUSLY READ are great for this assignment. Costco has the newest book in the Heroes of Olympus series and boxed sets and most libraries have dozens of copies of every book in both series. (Note: the Kane Chronicles about
Egyptian myths are interesting, but since we will be reading Greek and Roman stories, don’t pick from them.)
Wolf Brother, Michelle Paver. 12 year old Torak’s father is dead, killed by a demon-possessed bear, and
Torak must fulfill a promise to go to the mountain where he will receive the information necessary to save all the clans. Along the way, he meets Wolf, a cub whose point of view the reader is allowed to see through interspersed chapters. Not a particularly well-written book, but exciting, easy to read and an excellent example of a quest story. Animal worship is the primary belief system of the clans, and
Torak is driven by visions and assistance from his animal totems.
Halo, Zizou Corder. Washed ashore as a baby in ancient Greece, Halo is raised by a family of Centaurs.
A turn of events causes Halo to enter the cities of Sparta and Athens where she encounters – and joins - famous warriors and statesmen. Violence is mostly during warrior training and is mild; many vague references to religious beliefs in gods and goddesses.
The Light Beyond the Forest, Rosemary Sutcliff. An expressly Christian take on the Legend of King
Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. When the mysterious Galahad comes to Camelot, he pulls the sword from the stone – a feat only the world’s best knight can do. When the Holy Grail appears, the
Knights of the Round Table disperse to find the relic. Each chapter is the journey and experience of a different knight. Some students will struggle to follow the episodes in each chapter; it would help them to think about it as a series of interlinked short stories.
Peter and the Starcatchers, Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Another quest story, this is a long but fastpaced and funny prequel to Peter Pan in which we learn how he came to Neverland Island, why he can fly, who is Captain Hook, and who is Wendy’s mom. A great deal of cartoonish violence (they actually use the word “Pow!”) and some faux swearing (using words that aren’t technically swear words but we know where they’re going).