About Average / Andrew Clements - As the end of sixth grade nears, Jordan Johnson, unhappy that she is only average in appearance, intelligence, and athletic ability, reveals her special skills when disaster strikes her central Illinois elementary school.
Abraham Lincoln & Frederick Douglass / Russell Freeman - (Nonfiction) Freedman tells the story of a friendship between two men who shared many characteristics. Lincoln and Douglass were both self-educated, born into poverty, and through relentless effort and hard work, reached great success.
Absolutely Normal Chaos / Sharon Creech - A prequel to the Newbery Medal-winning Walk Two Moons, this book chronicles the daily life of 13-year-old Mary Lou Finney during her most chaotic and romantic summer ever. Mary Lou's summer journal -- which she begins grudgingly as a dreaded assignment for school -- becomes a hilarious chronicle of the circle of people and events that make her summer. There is Carl Ray, the mysterious and troublesome cousin that comes to visit; Beth Ann Bartels, her best friend who's recently gone boy crazy; Alex Cheevy, the boy that makes Mary Lou's brains "mushy;" and, of course, the Finney clan, her "normally strange family." What follows is the story of a summer filled with lessons and observations on love, death, friendship, and family.
Aldabra / Sylvana Gandolfi - In Venice, Italy, ten-year-old Elisa finds she must deal with all the unexpected consequences of her beloved eccentric grandmother's transformation into a giant Aldabra tortoise, native to a small group of coral islands in the Seychelles.
Alone in the Universe/ Lynne Rae Perkins - Debbie is dismayed when her best friend Maureen starts spending time with ordinary, boring Glenna.
Amelia's War/ Ann Rinaldi - When a Confederate general threatens to burn Hagerstown, Maryland, unless it pays an exorbitant ransom, twelve-year-old Amelia and her friend find a way to save the town.
Amisted: A Long Road to Freedom/ Walter Dean Myers - A history of the 1839 uprising of African captives aboard the slave ship Amistad, telling of their three-year imprisonment in the United States and their eventual acquittal by the Supreme Court.
Angus Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging/ Louise Rennison - Presents the humorous journal of a year in the life of a fourteen-year-old British girl who tries to reduce the size of her nose, stop her mad cat from terrorizing the neighborhood animals, and win the love of handsome hunk Robbie.
Artemis Fowl/ Eoin Colfer - Artemis Fowl creates an extraordinarily powerful computer with stolen fairy technology, but his business deal hopes go sour when a Chicago businessman steals his invention and mortally wounds Artemis's loyal bodyguard.
Because of Winn-Dixie/ Kate DiCamillo - Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni describes her first summer in the town of Naomi, Florida, and all the good things that happen to her because of her big ugly dog Winn-Dixie.
The Big Wander/ Will Hobbs - As he searches for his uncle through the rugged Southwest canyon country, fourteen-year-old Clay becomes involved with a group of Navajo Indians who are trying to save some of the last wild mustangs.
Blue Jasmine/ Kashmira Sheth - When twelve-year-old Seema moves to Iowa City with her parents and younger sister, she leaves friends and family behind in her native India but gradually begins to feel at home in her new country.
Brian's Winter/ Gary Paulsen - Instead of being rescued from a plane crash, as in the author's book Hatchet, this story portrays what would have happened to Brian had he been forced to survive a winter in the wilderness with only his survival pack and hatchet.
Bridge to Terabithia / Katherine Paterson - An extraordinarily powerful tribute to friendship, this Newbery Award-winning novel recounts the unlikely friendship of a country boy, Jess, and his neighbor, an uprooted city girl named Leslie. When Leslie is killed during a storm while trying to reach Terabithia, their secret hiding place, Jess must gather all his strength to come to terms with his loss and find a way to heal.
Bud, Not Buddy/ Christopher Paul Curtis - Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression, escapes a bad foster home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father--the renowned bandleader, H.E. Calloway of Grand Rapids.
Buried Alive / Elaine Scott - (Nonfiction) This book describes the 2010 mining accident in San José, Chile, in which thirty-three men became trapped underground for over sixty days and details the rescue efforts and the worldwide media coverage of the event.
Captain Nobody / Dean Pitchford - Newt Newman has always been in his big brother’s shadow. When a football injury sends his brother into a coma, Newt is noticed even less by his too-busy parents. Along with some quirky friends, Newt creates a Halloween costume that creates an alter ego for him – Captain Nobody – the defender of the little guy.
Catherine Called Birdy/ Karen Cushman - The daughter of an English country knight keeps a journal in which she records the events of her life, particularly her longing for adventures beyond the usual role of women and her efforts to avoid being married off.
Charlie Bone and the Time Twister/ Jenny Nimmo - While at Bloor's Academy, Charlie Bone gets a surprise when Henry Yewbeam arrives from the year 1916 and needs Charlie's help to stay alive.
Chasing Vermeer/ Blue Balliett – Outsiders Petra and Calder become friends as they try to find out what happened to a missing Vermeer painting.
Children of the Wolves/ Jane Yolen - In 1920 India two children that have been raised by wolves are discovered and brought to an orphanage to be taught human behavior again.
The City of Ember/ Jeanne DuPrau - In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions.
Clover/ Dori Sanders - After her father dies within hours of being married to a white woman, a ten-year-old black girl learns with her new mother to overcome grief and to adjust to a new place in their rural African-American South Carolina community.
The Complete Chronicles of Narnia / C.S. Lewis - Enter the magical land of Narnia, where enchanted creatures live and battles are fought between good and evil!
Crispin/ Avi - Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant boy in fourteenth-century England flees his village and meets a larger-than-life juggler who holds a dangerous secret.
The Crow-Girl/ Bodil Bredsdorff - After the death of her grandmother, a young orphaned girl leaves her house by the cove and begins a journey which leads her to people and experiences that exemplify the wisdom her grandmother had shared with her.
Darth Paper Strikes Back / Tom Angleberger - Harvey is upset when his Darth Paper finger puppet brings humiliation and gets Dwight suspended. Origami Yoda asks Tommy and Kellan, now in seventh grade, to make a new casefile to persuade the School Board to reinstate Dwight.
Dogs on Duty/ Dorothy Henshaw Patent - (Nonfiction) The invaluable contributions of Military Working Dogs are well documented in this book. Patent discusses their special attributes such as the night vision and sense of smell that help these dogs keep their human partners safe. The roles they have played in World Wars I and II, in Vietnam, and in Iraq and Afghanistan are highlighted. Brief histories of individual dogs such as Stubby from World War I and Eli in Afghanistan are told.
Doll Bones / Holly Black - Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for ever. They love playing with their action figure toys, imagining a magical world of adventure and heroism. Just when it looks like the three might be growing up and leaving the game behind, Poppy reveals she is being haunted. Reality and make-believe begin to blend, and the three head out on an adventure they will never forget.
Each Kindness / Jacqueline Woodson - When a newcomer is shunned by the popular girls, their teacher shows them how small acts of kindness can change the world. It is too late to undo the harm they have caused, but these students will take this anti-bullying message to heart.
The Egypt Game / Zilpha Keatley Snyder - Even to Melanie, who knew that you could never predict what a new kid would be like, April Hall was something of a surprise. One look at her stringy upswept hair, false eyelashes, and ragged fox-fur collar, convinced Melanie that April was not going to be easy to integrate into the sixth grade at Wilson School. Within a month, April and Melanie had developed a common interest in ancient Egypt and had begun to develop a land of Egypt in an abandoned storage yard. Complications arose when other people joined the original Egyptians, when a murderer ranged the neighborhood, and when an oracle predicted strange things. But it was all in the game, which gave even April a fall and winter to remember.
Ella Enchanted/ Gail Carson Levine - In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.
Ellie Ever / Nancy Ruth Patterson - After losing her father and all their possessions in a hurricane, nine-year-old Ellie and her mother move to a small apartment on a horse farm in Virginia. There her new classmates think that she lives in a mansion and is a princess.
Esperanza Rising/ Pam Munoz Ryan - Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
Fair Weather/ Richard Peck - In 1893, thirteen-year-old Rosie and members of her family travel from their Illinois farm to Chicago to visit Aunt Euterpe and attend the World's Columbian Exposition which, along with an encounter with Buffalo Bill and Lillian Russell, turns out to be a life-changing experience for everyone.
Far North/ Will Hobbs - After the destruction of their floatplane, sixteen-year-old Gabe and his Dene friend, Raymond, struggle to survive a winter in the wilderness of the Northwest Territories of Canada.
Fever 1793/ Laurie Halse Anderson - In 1793 Philadelphia, sixteen-year-old Matilda Cook, separated from her sick mother, learns about perseverance and self-reliance when she is forced to cope with the horrors of a yellow fever epidemic.
Fish/ L. S. Matthews - As fighting closes in on the village where Tiger's parents have been working, the three of them and a mysterious guide set out on a difficult journey to safety.
The Folk Keeper/ Franny Billingsley - Orphaned Corinna disguises herself as a boy to pose as a Folk Keeper, one who keeps the Evil Folk at bay, and discovers her heritage as a seal maiden when she is taken to live with a wealthy family in their manor by the sea.
Getting Near to Baby / Audrey Couloumbis - Although thirteen-year-old Willa Jo and her Aunt Patty seem to be constantly at odds, staying with her and Uncle Hob helps Willa Jo and her younger sister come to terms with the death of their family's baby.
Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women / Catherine Thimmesh and Melissa Sweet -(Biography) This book tells how women throughout the ages have responded to situations confronting them in daily life by inventing such items as correction fluid, space helmets, and disposable diapers.
The Giver / Lois Lowry - Eleven-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. There is no war or pain, and there are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12, he is chosen to receive special training from The Giver himself -- a man who alone holds the key to the true pain and pleasure of life: memories. Now it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. What will Jonas do once he experiences the power of deep emotions? This gripping and provocative Newbery Award-winning novel keeps readers turning the pages and exploring the special qualities that make us each human.
Ghost Canoe/ Will Hobbs - Fourteen-year-old Nathan, fishing with the Makah in the Pacific Northwest, finds himself holding a vital clue when a mysterious stranger comes to town looking for Spanish treasure.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone/ J.K. Rowling - Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Hatchet/ Gary Paulsen - After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the wilderness, learning to survive initially with only the aid of a hatchet given him by his mother, and learning also to survive his parents' divorce.
The House of Dies Drear / Virginia Hamilton - A family of five moves into an enormous house once used as a hiding place for runaway slaves. Mysterious sounds and events and discoveries of secret passageways make the family believe they are in grave danger.
How Angel Peterson Got His Name: and Other Outrageous Tales about Extreme Sports/ Gary Paulsen - Author Gary Paulsen relates tales from his youth in a small town in northwestern Minnesota in the late 1940s and early 1950s, such as skiing behind a souped-up car and imitating daredevil Evel Knievel.
How Oliver Olson Changed the World / Claudia Mills - Oliver has a problem…his parents are way too protective and to top it off, they won’t even let him do school projects by himself. When his teacher proclaims that anyone can change the world with a good idea, Oliver is skeptical but hopeful that it is true.
I Funny / James and Chris Grabenstein - Wheelchair-bound Jamie Grimm resolves to become the world's greatest stand-up comedian despite less-than-funny challenges in his life. He endures bullying from his mean-spirited cousin and hopes he will be fairly judged when he enters a local comedy contest.
I Heard the Owl Call My Name / Margaret Craven - Amid the grandeur of the remote Pacific Northwest stands Kingcome, a village so ancient that, according to Kwakiutl myth, it was founded by the two brothers left on earth after the great flood. The Native Americans who still live there call it Quee, a place of such incredible natural richness that hunting and fishing remain primary food sources. But the old culture of totems and potlatch is being replaces by a new culture of prefab housing and alcoholism. Kingcome's younger generation is disenchanted and alienated from its heritage. And now, coming upriver is a young vicar, Mark Brian, who has two years to live. Sent to this Indian parish in British Columbia, Mark embarks on a journey of discovery that can teach him -- and us -- about life, death, and the transforming power of love.
Ida B./ Katherine Hannigan - In Wisconsin, fourth-grader Ida B spends happy hours being home-schooled and playing in her family's apple orchard, until her mother begins treatment for breast cancer and her parents must sell part of the orchard and send her to public school.
Island of the Blue Dolphins/ Scott O’Dell - Records the courage and self-reliance of an Indian girl who lived alone for eighteen years on an isolated island off the California coast when her tribe emigrated and she was left behind.
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key/ Jack Gantos - To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers, Joey has trouble paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription meds wear off and he starts getting worked up and acting wired.
The Journal of Biddy Owens: the Negro Leagues/ Walter Dean Myers - Teenager Biddy Owens' 1948 journal about working for the Birmingham Black Barons includes the games and the players, racism the team faces from New Orleans to Chicago, and his family's resistance to his becoming a professional baseball player. Includes a historical note about the evolution of the Negro Leagues.
Julius Caesar/ Samuel Willard Crompton - A biography of the Roman general and statesman whose brilliant military leadership helped make Rome the center of a vast empire.
Just Ella/ Margaret P. Haddix - In this continuation of the Cinderella story, fifteen-year-old Ella finds that accepting Prince Charming's proposal ensnares her in a suffocating tangle of palace rules and royal etiquette, so she plots to escape.
The Kite Rider: A Novel/ Geraldine McCaughrean - In thirteenth-century China, after trying to save his widowed mother from a horrendous second marriage, twelve-year-old Haoyou has life-changing adventures when he takes to the sky as a circus kite rider and ends up meeting the great Mongol ruler Kublai Khan.
The Legend of Luke/ Brian Jacques - When Martin the Warrior leaves Redwall Abbey and embarks upon a journey to the place of his birth, he learns about the brave and noble deeds of his father Luke, a real Warrior Chieftain.
The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians/ Rick Riordan - Percy, expelled from six schools for being unable to control his temper, learns the truth from his mother that his father is the Greek god Poseidon, and is sent to Camp Half Blood where he is befriended by a satyr and the demigod daughter of Athena who join him in a journey to the Underworld to retrieve Zeus's lightning bolt and prevent a catastrophic war.
Locomotion/ Jacqueline Woodson - Inspired by his teacher, eleven-year-old Lonnie begins to write about his life in a series of poems in which he discusses his feelings about his friends, his foster mom, his little sister Lili, and the death of his parents.
Love That Dog/ Sharon Creech - A young student, who comes to love poetry through a personal understanding of what different famous poems mean to him, surprises himself by writing his own inspired poem.
Maniac Magee / Jerry Spinelli - When Jeffrey Lionel Magee wanders into Two Mills, Pennsylvania, a legend is in the making. Before too long, stories begin to circulate about how fast and how far he can run and about feats so incredible they earn him the nickname "Maniac."
Matilda Bone/ Karen Cushman - Fourteen-year-old Matilda, an apprentice bonesetter and practitioner of medicine in a medieval English village, tries to reconcile the spiritual and practical aspects of her life.
Mick Harte Was Here/ Barbara Park - Thirteen-year-old Phoebe recalls the death of her younger brother Mick in a bicycle accident, which might not have been fatal had he been wearing his helmet, and how she and her family reacted to the tragedy.
Midnight for Charlie Bone/ Jenny Nimmo - Seemingly ordinary Charlie Bone suddenly discovers that he can hear the thoughts of people in photographs, a talent that dour Grandma Bone and her three baleful sisters work to bend to their own ends by sending him to Bloor's and to its sinister headmaster. It's not an easy year for Charlie despite the friends he makes. Too many people have it in for him as he's swept into an age-old battle being waged by descendants of a powerful king of long ago.
The Midwife’s Apprentice/ Karen Cushman - In medieval England, a nameless, homeless girl is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife, and in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.
The Million Dollar Kick/ Dan Gutman - Thirteen-year-old Whisper, who hates sports, is torn when she gets a chance to win a million dollars by kicking a goal against a local soccer hero.
Miracle Boys/ Jacqueline Woodson - Twelve-year-old Lafayette's close relationship with his older brother Charlie changes after Charlie is released from a detention home and blames Lafayette for the death of their mother.
Mossflower/ Brian Jacques - Martin the warrior mouse and Gonff the mousethief set out to find the missing ruler of Mossflower, while the other animal inhabitants of the woodland prepare to rebel against the evil wildcat who has seized power.
My Louisiana Sky / Kimberly Willis Holt - Growing up in Saitter, Louisiana, in the 1950s, twelve-year-old Tiger Ann struggles with her feelings about her stern, but loving grandmother, her mentally slow parents, and her good friend and neighbor, Jesse.
My Side of the Mountain / Jean Craighead George - A young boy relates his adventures during the year he spends living alone in the Catskill Mountains including his struggle for survival, his dependence on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate realization that he needs human companionship.
Number the Stars / Lois Lowry - Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think about life before the war. But it's now 1943, and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching in their town. When the Nazis begin "relocating" the Jews of Denmark, Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family. And as Annemarie helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis and embarks on a dangerous mission, she learns how to be brave and courageous -- to save her best friend's life.
The 100-Year-Old Secret / Tracy Barrett - An American brother and sister living in London, discover that Sherlock Holmes was their great-great-great grandfather. They are inducted into the Society for the Preservation of Famous Detectives and given his unsolved casebook. They attempt to solve the case of a famous missing painting.
The Other Side: Shorter Poems / A collection of poems reminiscent of growing up as an African-American girl in Shorter, Alabama.
Outrageously Alice / Phyllis Reynolds Naylor - Alice is in the eighth grade, and while she wants her life to be exciting and outrageous, she also wants to feel protected and safe.
Park’s Quest / Katherine Patterson - Eleven-year-old Park makes some startling discoveries when he travels to his grandfather's farm in Virginia to learn about his father who died in the Vietnam War.
The Phantom Tollbooth / Norton Juster - This ingenious fantasy centers around Milo, a bored ten-year old who comes home to find a large toy tollbooth sitting in his room. Joining forces with a watchdog named Tock, Milo drives through the tollbooth's gates and begins a memorable journey. He meets such characters as the foolish yet lovable Humbug, the Mathemagician, and the not-so-wicked "Which," Faintly Macabre, who gives Milo the "impossible" mission of returning two princesses to the Kingdom of Wisdom. Along his journey, Milo learns the importance of words and numbers -- and learns to appreciate life.
Pictures of Hollis Woods / Patricia Reilly Giff - A troublesome twelve-year-old orphan, staying with an elderly artist who needs her, remembers the only other time she was happy in a foster home, with a family that truly seemed to care about her.
Red Kayak / Priscilla Cummings - Living near the water on Maryland's Eastern Shore, thirteen-year-old Brady and his best friends J.T. and Digger become entangled in a tragedy which tests their friendship and their ideas about right and wrong.
Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex / Nathaniel Philbrick - Recounts the 1820 sinking of the whaleship "Essex" by an enraged sperm whale and how the crew of young men survived against impossible odds. Based on the author's adult book "In the Heart of the Sea."
The River / Gary Paulsen - In this exciting sequel to Hatchet, 15-year-old Brian Robeson, who survived alone in the wilderness for 54 days, returns to the wilderness at the request of a government survival school. This time, however, he won't be alone: Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist, will accompany him to observe and take notes. But during a freak storm, Derek is hit by lightning and falls into a coma. Afraid that Derek will die of dehydration unless he can get him to a doctor, Brian's only hope is to build a raft and try to transport Derek a hundred miles down the river to a trading post.
Rodzina / Karen Cushman - A twelve-year-old Polish American girl is boarded onto an orphan train in Chicago with fears about traveling to the West and a life of unpaid slavery.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry / Mildred D. Taylor - The Logans, a black family living in the South during the 1930s, are faced with prejudice and discrimination which their children don't understand. It takes the events of one turbulent year -- the year of the night riders and the burnings, the year a white girl humiliates Cassie in public simply because she is black -- to show Cassie that having a place of their own is the Logan family's lifeblood. It is the land that gives the Logans their courage and pride, for no matter how others may degrade them, the Logans posess something no one can take away.
The Roman Army / Dyan Blacklock - Presents an illustrated history of the Roman Army, including information about its composition, organization, training, methods, weapons, and campaigns.
The Romeo and Juliet Code / Phoebe Stone - During World War II, eleven-year-old Felicity is sent from London to Bottlebay, Maine, to live with her grandmother, aunt, uncle, and a reclusive boy. He helps her decode mysterious letters that contain the truth about her missing parents.
Seymour Simon's Extreme Oceans / Seymour Simon - (Nonfiction) Seymour Simon investigates the most extreme environments, animals, plants, and weather in the ocean. Imagine exploring the most extreme parts of our amazing oceans— the tallest waves, the darkest depths, and the largest and most dangerous sea creatures on Earth. Interesting facts and stunning photographs make for an exciting underwater expedition!
The Silent Boy / Lois Lowry - Katy, the precocious ten-year-old daughter of the town doctor, befriends a retarded boy.
Silent to the Bone / E.L. Konigsburg - When he is wrongly accused of gravely injuring his baby half-sister, thirteen-year-old Branwell loses his power of speech and only his friend Connor is able to reach him and uncover the truth about what really happened.
So B. It / Sarah Weeks - After spending her life with her mentally retarded mother and agoraphobic neighbor,
twelve-year-old Heidi sets out from Reno, Nevada, to New York to find out who she is.
Sounder / William Howard Armstrong - A young boy's world is shattered when his father, a poor black sharecropper, is jailed for stealing food for his family.
Spider Boy / Ralph J Fletcher - After moving to another state, seventh grader Bobby deals with the change by telling people at school made-up stories and then retreating into his world of pet spiders and books about spiders.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda / Tom Angleberger - Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight. They try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future.
Summer of My German Soldier / Bette Greene - The summer that Patty Bergen turns 12 is a summer that will haunt her forever. When her small hometown in Arkansas becomes the site of a camp housing German prisoners during World War II, Patty learns what it means to open her heart. Even though she's Jewish, she begins to see a prison escapee, Anton, not as a Nazi, but as a lonely, frightened young man with feelings not unlike her own. In Anton, Patty finds someone who softens the pain of her own father's rejection and who appreciates her in a way her mother never will. While patriotic feelings run high, Patty risks losing family, friends -- even her freedom -- for this dangerous friendship. It is a risk she has to take and one she will have to pay a price to keep.
The Summer Before Boys / Nora Raleigh Baskin - Julia and Eliza are lifelong friends who have shared everything until one develops her first real crush. The girls find themselves drifting apart until Eliza does something drastic to win Julia back.
Tonight, by Sea / Frances Temple - As governmental brutality and poverty become unbearable, Paulie joins with others in her small Haitian village to help her uncle secretly build a boat they will use to try to escape to the United States.
Trouble-Maker / Andrew Clements - When his older brother gets in serious trouble, sixth-grader Clay decides to change his own mischief-making ways, but he cannot seem to shake his reputation as a troublemaker.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle / Avi - As the lone "young lady" on a transatlantic voyage in 1832, Charlotte learns that the captain is murderous and the crew rebellious.Under the Same Sky / Cynthia DeFelice - While trying to earn money for a motor bike, fourteen-year-old Joe Pederson becomes involved with the Mexicans who work on his family's farm and develops a better relationship with his father.
Walk Two Moons / Sharon Creech - After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother's route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also left.
The Wanderer / Sharon Creech - Thirteen-year-old Sophie and her cousin Cody record their transatlantic crossing aboard the Wanderer, a forty-five foot sailboat, which, along with uncles and another cousin, is en route to visit their grandfather in England.
The Waterstone / Rebecca Rupp - Twelve-year-old Tad, finding that he holds an ancient wisdom and the power to draw beings together, embarks on a quest to seek a powerful crystal which, when retrieved from the evil Nixie, will restore balance to the world.
Where the Red Fern Grows / Wilson Rawls - A young boy living in the Ozarks achieves his heart's desire when he becomes the owner of two redbone hounds and teaches them to be champion hunters. Together, the three of them experience danger, adventure, love, and sorrow.
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town / Kimberly Willis Holt - During the summer of 1971 in a small Texas town, thirteen-year-old Toby and his best friend Cal meet the star of a sideshow act, 600-pound Zachary, the fattest boy in the world.
The Wish Giver, Three Tales of Coven Tree / Bill Brittain - The people of Coven Tree are no strangers to magic. In fact, the town's very name comes from a gnarled old tree where covens of witches used to gather. Even now, imps and fiends continue to appear, frightening the townfolk with their devilish pranks. Usually these creatures are easy to spot. They have a particular smell, sound, or way of moving that betrays their dark nature. But Thaddeus Blinn showed none of these signs when he came to Coven Tree. He was just a funny little man who drifted into town with a strange tale about being able to give people whatever they wished -- for only 50 cents. There was nothing scary about him. At least, not until the wishing began....
Witness / Karen Hesse - A history-inspired novel, told in the voices of eleven characters, about two young girls, one Jewish and the other African-American, who come to the attention of the newly formed Ku Klux Klan in a small Vermont town in 1924.
The Wolves in the Walls / Neil Gaiman - Lucy is sure there are wolves living in the walls of her house, although others in her family disagree, and when the wolves come out, the adventure begins.
Words of Stone / Kevin Henkes - While exploring the countryside outside of his home, 10-year-old Blaze Werla spots a devastating message on the side of a hill. Ultimately, Blaze's summer takes a turn toward mystery and adventure when he meets the boisterous and irresistible Joselle.
Wonder / R.J. Palacio - Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan. There he endures the taunting and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student.
Wringer / Jerry Spinelli - As Palmer comes of age, he must either accept the violence of being a wringer at his town's annual Pigeon Day or find the courage to oppose it.
A Year Down Yonder / Richard Peck - During the recession of 1937, fifteen-year-old Mary Alice is sent to live with her feisty, larger-than-life grandmother in rural Illinois and comes to a better understanding of this fearsome woman.
Abraham Lincoln & Frederick Douglass / Russell Freeman - (Nonfiction) Freedman tells the story of a friendship between two men who shared many characteristics. Lincoln and Douglass were both self-educated, born into poverty, and through relentless effort and hard work, reached great success.
Absolutely Normal Chaos / Sharon Creech - A prequel to the Newbery Medal-winning Walk Two Moons, this book chronicles the daily life of 13-year-old Mary Lou Finney during her most chaotic and romantic summer ever. Mary Lou's summer journal -- which she begins grudgingly as a dreaded assignment for school -- becomes a hilarious chronicle of the circle of people and events that make her summer. There is Carl Ray, the mysterious and troublesome cousin that comes to visit; Beth Ann Bartels, her best friend who's recently gone boy crazy; Alex Cheevy, the boy that makes Mary Lou's brains "mushy;" and, of course, the Finney clan, her "normally strange family." What follows is the story of a summer filled with lessons and observations on love, death, friendship, and family.
Aldabra / Sylvana Gandolfi - In Venice, Italy, ten-year-old Elisa finds she must deal with all the unexpected consequences of her beloved eccentric grandmother's transformation into a giant Aldabra tortoise, native to a small group of coral islands in the Seychelles.
Alone in the Universe/ Lynne Rae Perkins - Debbie is dismayed when her best friend Maureen starts spending time with ordinary, boring Glenna.
Amelia's War/ Ann Rinaldi - When a Confederate general threatens to burn Hagerstown, Maryland, unless it pays an exorbitant ransom, twelve-year-old Amelia and her friend find a way to save the town.
Amisted: A Long Road to Freedom/ Walter Dean Myers - A history of the 1839 uprising of African captives aboard the slave ship Amistad, telling of their three-year imprisonment in the United States and their eventual acquittal by the Supreme Court.
Angus Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging/ Louise Rennison - Presents the humorous journal of a year in the life of a fourteen-year-old British girl who tries to reduce the size of her nose, stop her mad cat from terrorizing the neighborhood animals, and win the love of handsome hunk Robbie.
Artemis Fowl/ Eoin Colfer - Artemis Fowl creates an extraordinarily powerful computer with stolen fairy technology, but his business deal hopes go sour when a Chicago businessman steals his invention and mortally wounds Artemis's loyal bodyguard.
Because of Winn-Dixie/ Kate DiCamillo - Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni describes her first summer in the town of Naomi, Florida, and all the good things that happen to her because of her big ugly dog Winn-Dixie.
The Big Wander/ Will Hobbs - As he searches for his uncle through the rugged Southwest canyon country, fourteen-year-old Clay becomes involved with a group of Navajo Indians who are trying to save some of the last wild mustangs.
Blue Jasmine/ Kashmira Sheth - When twelve-year-old Seema moves to Iowa City with her parents and younger sister, she leaves friends and family behind in her native India but gradually begins to feel at home in her new country.
Brian's Winter/ Gary Paulsen - Instead of being rescued from a plane crash, as in the author's book Hatchet, this story portrays what would have happened to Brian had he been forced to survive a winter in the wilderness with only his survival pack and hatchet.
Bridge to Terabithia / Katherine Paterson - An extraordinarily powerful tribute to friendship, this Newbery Award-winning novel recounts the unlikely friendship of a country boy, Jess, and his neighbor, an uprooted city girl named Leslie. When Leslie is killed during a storm while trying to reach Terabithia, their secret hiding place, Jess must gather all his strength to come to terms with his loss and find a way to heal.
Bud, Not Buddy/ Christopher Paul Curtis - Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression, escapes a bad foster home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father--the renowned bandleader, H.E. Calloway of Grand Rapids.
Buried Alive / Elaine Scott - (Nonfiction) This book describes the 2010 mining accident in San José, Chile, in which thirty-three men became trapped underground for over sixty days and details the rescue efforts and the worldwide media coverage of the event.
Captain Nobody / Dean Pitchford - Newt Newman has always been in his big brother’s shadow. When a football injury sends his brother into a coma, Newt is noticed even less by his too-busy parents. Along with some quirky friends, Newt creates a Halloween costume that creates an alter ego for him – Captain Nobody – the defender of the little guy.
Catherine Called Birdy/ Karen Cushman - The daughter of an English country knight keeps a journal in which she records the events of her life, particularly her longing for adventures beyond the usual role of women and her efforts to avoid being married off.
Charlie Bone and the Time Twister/ Jenny Nimmo - While at Bloor's Academy, Charlie Bone gets a surprise when Henry Yewbeam arrives from the year 1916 and needs Charlie's help to stay alive.
Chasing Vermeer/ Blue Balliett – Outsiders Petra and Calder become friends as they try to find out what happened to a missing Vermeer painting.
Children of the Wolves/ Jane Yolen - In 1920 India two children that have been raised by wolves are discovered and brought to an orphanage to be taught human behavior again.
The City of Ember/ Jeanne DuPrau - In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions.
Clover/ Dori Sanders - After her father dies within hours of being married to a white woman, a ten-year-old black girl learns with her new mother to overcome grief and to adjust to a new place in their rural African-American South Carolina community.
The Complete Chronicles of Narnia / C.S. Lewis - Enter the magical land of Narnia, where enchanted creatures live and battles are fought between good and evil!
Crispin/ Avi - Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant boy in fourteenth-century England flees his village and meets a larger-than-life juggler who holds a dangerous secret.
The Crow-Girl/ Bodil Bredsdorff - After the death of her grandmother, a young orphaned girl leaves her house by the cove and begins a journey which leads her to people and experiences that exemplify the wisdom her grandmother had shared with her.
Darth Paper Strikes Back / Tom Angleberger - Harvey is upset when his Darth Paper finger puppet brings humiliation and gets Dwight suspended. Origami Yoda asks Tommy and Kellan, now in seventh grade, to make a new casefile to persuade the School Board to reinstate Dwight.
Dogs on Duty/ Dorothy Henshaw Patent - (Nonfiction) The invaluable contributions of Military Working Dogs are well documented in this book. Patent discusses their special attributes such as the night vision and sense of smell that help these dogs keep their human partners safe. The roles they have played in World Wars I and II, in Vietnam, and in Iraq and Afghanistan are highlighted. Brief histories of individual dogs such as Stubby from World War I and Eli in Afghanistan are told.
Doll Bones / Holly Black - Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for ever. They love playing with their action figure toys, imagining a magical world of adventure and heroism. Just when it looks like the three might be growing up and leaving the game behind, Poppy reveals she is being haunted. Reality and make-believe begin to blend, and the three head out on an adventure they will never forget.
Each Kindness / Jacqueline Woodson - When a newcomer is shunned by the popular girls, their teacher shows them how small acts of kindness can change the world. It is too late to undo the harm they have caused, but these students will take this anti-bullying message to heart.
The Egypt Game / Zilpha Keatley Snyder - Even to Melanie, who knew that you could never predict what a new kid would be like, April Hall was something of a surprise. One look at her stringy upswept hair, false eyelashes, and ragged fox-fur collar, convinced Melanie that April was not going to be easy to integrate into the sixth grade at Wilson School. Within a month, April and Melanie had developed a common interest in ancient Egypt and had begun to develop a land of Egypt in an abandoned storage yard. Complications arose when other people joined the original Egyptians, when a murderer ranged the neighborhood, and when an oracle predicted strange things. But it was all in the game, which gave even April a fall and winter to remember.
Ella Enchanted/ Gail Carson Levine - In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.
Ellie Ever / Nancy Ruth Patterson - After losing her father and all their possessions in a hurricane, nine-year-old Ellie and her mother move to a small apartment on a horse farm in Virginia. There her new classmates think that she lives in a mansion and is a princess.
Esperanza Rising/ Pam Munoz Ryan - Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
Fair Weather/ Richard Peck - In 1893, thirteen-year-old Rosie and members of her family travel from their Illinois farm to Chicago to visit Aunt Euterpe and attend the World's Columbian Exposition which, along with an encounter with Buffalo Bill and Lillian Russell, turns out to be a life-changing experience for everyone.
Far North/ Will Hobbs - After the destruction of their floatplane, sixteen-year-old Gabe and his Dene friend, Raymond, struggle to survive a winter in the wilderness of the Northwest Territories of Canada.
Fever 1793/ Laurie Halse Anderson - In 1793 Philadelphia, sixteen-year-old Matilda Cook, separated from her sick mother, learns about perseverance and self-reliance when she is forced to cope with the horrors of a yellow fever epidemic.
Fish/ L. S. Matthews - As fighting closes in on the village where Tiger's parents have been working, the three of them and a mysterious guide set out on a difficult journey to safety.
The Folk Keeper/ Franny Billingsley - Orphaned Corinna disguises herself as a boy to pose as a Folk Keeper, one who keeps the Evil Folk at bay, and discovers her heritage as a seal maiden when she is taken to live with a wealthy family in their manor by the sea.
Getting Near to Baby / Audrey Couloumbis - Although thirteen-year-old Willa Jo and her Aunt Patty seem to be constantly at odds, staying with her and Uncle Hob helps Willa Jo and her younger sister come to terms with the death of their family's baby.
Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women / Catherine Thimmesh and Melissa Sweet -(Biography) This book tells how women throughout the ages have responded to situations confronting them in daily life by inventing such items as correction fluid, space helmets, and disposable diapers.
The Giver / Lois Lowry - Eleven-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. There is no war or pain, and there are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12, he is chosen to receive special training from The Giver himself -- a man who alone holds the key to the true pain and pleasure of life: memories. Now it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. What will Jonas do once he experiences the power of deep emotions? This gripping and provocative Newbery Award-winning novel keeps readers turning the pages and exploring the special qualities that make us each human.
Ghost Canoe/ Will Hobbs - Fourteen-year-old Nathan, fishing with the Makah in the Pacific Northwest, finds himself holding a vital clue when a mysterious stranger comes to town looking for Spanish treasure.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone/ J.K. Rowling - Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Hatchet/ Gary Paulsen - After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the wilderness, learning to survive initially with only the aid of a hatchet given him by his mother, and learning also to survive his parents' divorce.
The House of Dies Drear / Virginia Hamilton - A family of five moves into an enormous house once used as a hiding place for runaway slaves. Mysterious sounds and events and discoveries of secret passageways make the family believe they are in grave danger.
How Angel Peterson Got His Name: and Other Outrageous Tales about Extreme Sports/ Gary Paulsen - Author Gary Paulsen relates tales from his youth in a small town in northwestern Minnesota in the late 1940s and early 1950s, such as skiing behind a souped-up car and imitating daredevil Evel Knievel.
How Oliver Olson Changed the World / Claudia Mills - Oliver has a problem…his parents are way too protective and to top it off, they won’t even let him do school projects by himself. When his teacher proclaims that anyone can change the world with a good idea, Oliver is skeptical but hopeful that it is true.
I Funny / James and Chris Grabenstein - Wheelchair-bound Jamie Grimm resolves to become the world's greatest stand-up comedian despite less-than-funny challenges in his life. He endures bullying from his mean-spirited cousin and hopes he will be fairly judged when he enters a local comedy contest.
I Heard the Owl Call My Name / Margaret Craven - Amid the grandeur of the remote Pacific Northwest stands Kingcome, a village so ancient that, according to Kwakiutl myth, it was founded by the two brothers left on earth after the great flood. The Native Americans who still live there call it Quee, a place of such incredible natural richness that hunting and fishing remain primary food sources. But the old culture of totems and potlatch is being replaces by a new culture of prefab housing and alcoholism. Kingcome's younger generation is disenchanted and alienated from its heritage. And now, coming upriver is a young vicar, Mark Brian, who has two years to live. Sent to this Indian parish in British Columbia, Mark embarks on a journey of discovery that can teach him -- and us -- about life, death, and the transforming power of love.
Ida B./ Katherine Hannigan - In Wisconsin, fourth-grader Ida B spends happy hours being home-schooled and playing in her family's apple orchard, until her mother begins treatment for breast cancer and her parents must sell part of the orchard and send her to public school.
Island of the Blue Dolphins/ Scott O’Dell - Records the courage and self-reliance of an Indian girl who lived alone for eighteen years on an isolated island off the California coast when her tribe emigrated and she was left behind.
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key/ Jack Gantos - To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers, Joey has trouble paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription meds wear off and he starts getting worked up and acting wired.
The Journal of Biddy Owens: the Negro Leagues/ Walter Dean Myers - Teenager Biddy Owens' 1948 journal about working for the Birmingham Black Barons includes the games and the players, racism the team faces from New Orleans to Chicago, and his family's resistance to his becoming a professional baseball player. Includes a historical note about the evolution of the Negro Leagues.
Julius Caesar/ Samuel Willard Crompton - A biography of the Roman general and statesman whose brilliant military leadership helped make Rome the center of a vast empire.
Just Ella/ Margaret P. Haddix - In this continuation of the Cinderella story, fifteen-year-old Ella finds that accepting Prince Charming's proposal ensnares her in a suffocating tangle of palace rules and royal etiquette, so she plots to escape.
The Kite Rider: A Novel/ Geraldine McCaughrean - In thirteenth-century China, after trying to save his widowed mother from a horrendous second marriage, twelve-year-old Haoyou has life-changing adventures when he takes to the sky as a circus kite rider and ends up meeting the great Mongol ruler Kublai Khan.
The Legend of Luke/ Brian Jacques - When Martin the Warrior leaves Redwall Abbey and embarks upon a journey to the place of his birth, he learns about the brave and noble deeds of his father Luke, a real Warrior Chieftain.
The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians/ Rick Riordan - Percy, expelled from six schools for being unable to control his temper, learns the truth from his mother that his father is the Greek god Poseidon, and is sent to Camp Half Blood where he is befriended by a satyr and the demigod daughter of Athena who join him in a journey to the Underworld to retrieve Zeus's lightning bolt and prevent a catastrophic war.
Locomotion/ Jacqueline Woodson - Inspired by his teacher, eleven-year-old Lonnie begins to write about his life in a series of poems in which he discusses his feelings about his friends, his foster mom, his little sister Lili, and the death of his parents.
Love That Dog/ Sharon Creech - A young student, who comes to love poetry through a personal understanding of what different famous poems mean to him, surprises himself by writing his own inspired poem.
Maniac Magee / Jerry Spinelli - When Jeffrey Lionel Magee wanders into Two Mills, Pennsylvania, a legend is in the making. Before too long, stories begin to circulate about how fast and how far he can run and about feats so incredible they earn him the nickname "Maniac."
Matilda Bone/ Karen Cushman - Fourteen-year-old Matilda, an apprentice bonesetter and practitioner of medicine in a medieval English village, tries to reconcile the spiritual and practical aspects of her life.
Mick Harte Was Here/ Barbara Park - Thirteen-year-old Phoebe recalls the death of her younger brother Mick in a bicycle accident, which might not have been fatal had he been wearing his helmet, and how she and her family reacted to the tragedy.
Midnight for Charlie Bone/ Jenny Nimmo - Seemingly ordinary Charlie Bone suddenly discovers that he can hear the thoughts of people in photographs, a talent that dour Grandma Bone and her three baleful sisters work to bend to their own ends by sending him to Bloor's and to its sinister headmaster. It's not an easy year for Charlie despite the friends he makes. Too many people have it in for him as he's swept into an age-old battle being waged by descendants of a powerful king of long ago.
The Midwife’s Apprentice/ Karen Cushman - In medieval England, a nameless, homeless girl is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife, and in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.
The Million Dollar Kick/ Dan Gutman - Thirteen-year-old Whisper, who hates sports, is torn when she gets a chance to win a million dollars by kicking a goal against a local soccer hero.
Miracle Boys/ Jacqueline Woodson - Twelve-year-old Lafayette's close relationship with his older brother Charlie changes after Charlie is released from a detention home and blames Lafayette for the death of their mother.
Mossflower/ Brian Jacques - Martin the warrior mouse and Gonff the mousethief set out to find the missing ruler of Mossflower, while the other animal inhabitants of the woodland prepare to rebel against the evil wildcat who has seized power.
My Louisiana Sky / Kimberly Willis Holt - Growing up in Saitter, Louisiana, in the 1950s, twelve-year-old Tiger Ann struggles with her feelings about her stern, but loving grandmother, her mentally slow parents, and her good friend and neighbor, Jesse.
My Side of the Mountain / Jean Craighead George - A young boy relates his adventures during the year he spends living alone in the Catskill Mountains including his struggle for survival, his dependence on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate realization that he needs human companionship.
Number the Stars / Lois Lowry - Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think about life before the war. But it's now 1943, and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching in their town. When the Nazis begin "relocating" the Jews of Denmark, Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family. And as Annemarie helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis and embarks on a dangerous mission, she learns how to be brave and courageous -- to save her best friend's life.
The 100-Year-Old Secret / Tracy Barrett - An American brother and sister living in London, discover that Sherlock Holmes was their great-great-great grandfather. They are inducted into the Society for the Preservation of Famous Detectives and given his unsolved casebook. They attempt to solve the case of a famous missing painting.
The Other Side: Shorter Poems / A collection of poems reminiscent of growing up as an African-American girl in Shorter, Alabama.
Outrageously Alice / Phyllis Reynolds Naylor - Alice is in the eighth grade, and while she wants her life to be exciting and outrageous, she also wants to feel protected and safe.
Park’s Quest / Katherine Patterson - Eleven-year-old Park makes some startling discoveries when he travels to his grandfather's farm in Virginia to learn about his father who died in the Vietnam War.
The Phantom Tollbooth / Norton Juster - This ingenious fantasy centers around Milo, a bored ten-year old who comes home to find a large toy tollbooth sitting in his room. Joining forces with a watchdog named Tock, Milo drives through the tollbooth's gates and begins a memorable journey. He meets such characters as the foolish yet lovable Humbug, the Mathemagician, and the not-so-wicked "Which," Faintly Macabre, who gives Milo the "impossible" mission of returning two princesses to the Kingdom of Wisdom. Along his journey, Milo learns the importance of words and numbers -- and learns to appreciate life.
Pictures of Hollis Woods / Patricia Reilly Giff - A troublesome twelve-year-old orphan, staying with an elderly artist who needs her, remembers the only other time she was happy in a foster home, with a family that truly seemed to care about her.
Red Kayak / Priscilla Cummings - Living near the water on Maryland's Eastern Shore, thirteen-year-old Brady and his best friends J.T. and Digger become entangled in a tragedy which tests their friendship and their ideas about right and wrong.
Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex / Nathaniel Philbrick - Recounts the 1820 sinking of the whaleship "Essex" by an enraged sperm whale and how the crew of young men survived against impossible odds. Based on the author's adult book "In the Heart of the Sea."
The River / Gary Paulsen - In this exciting sequel to Hatchet, 15-year-old Brian Robeson, who survived alone in the wilderness for 54 days, returns to the wilderness at the request of a government survival school. This time, however, he won't be alone: Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist, will accompany him to observe and take notes. But during a freak storm, Derek is hit by lightning and falls into a coma. Afraid that Derek will die of dehydration unless he can get him to a doctor, Brian's only hope is to build a raft and try to transport Derek a hundred miles down the river to a trading post.
Rodzina / Karen Cushman - A twelve-year-old Polish American girl is boarded onto an orphan train in Chicago with fears about traveling to the West and a life of unpaid slavery.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry / Mildred D. Taylor - The Logans, a black family living in the South during the 1930s, are faced with prejudice and discrimination which their children don't understand. It takes the events of one turbulent year -- the year of the night riders and the burnings, the year a white girl humiliates Cassie in public simply because she is black -- to show Cassie that having a place of their own is the Logan family's lifeblood. It is the land that gives the Logans their courage and pride, for no matter how others may degrade them, the Logans posess something no one can take away.
The Roman Army / Dyan Blacklock - Presents an illustrated history of the Roman Army, including information about its composition, organization, training, methods, weapons, and campaigns.
The Romeo and Juliet Code / Phoebe Stone - During World War II, eleven-year-old Felicity is sent from London to Bottlebay, Maine, to live with her grandmother, aunt, uncle, and a reclusive boy. He helps her decode mysterious letters that contain the truth about her missing parents.
Seymour Simon's Extreme Oceans / Seymour Simon - (Nonfiction) Seymour Simon investigates the most extreme environments, animals, plants, and weather in the ocean. Imagine exploring the most extreme parts of our amazing oceans— the tallest waves, the darkest depths, and the largest and most dangerous sea creatures on Earth. Interesting facts and stunning photographs make for an exciting underwater expedition!
The Silent Boy / Lois Lowry - Katy, the precocious ten-year-old daughter of the town doctor, befriends a retarded boy.
Silent to the Bone / E.L. Konigsburg - When he is wrongly accused of gravely injuring his baby half-sister, thirteen-year-old Branwell loses his power of speech and only his friend Connor is able to reach him and uncover the truth about what really happened.
So B. It / Sarah Weeks - After spending her life with her mentally retarded mother and agoraphobic neighbor,
twelve-year-old Heidi sets out from Reno, Nevada, to New York to find out who she is.
Sounder / William Howard Armstrong - A young boy's world is shattered when his father, a poor black sharecropper, is jailed for stealing food for his family.
Spider Boy / Ralph J Fletcher - After moving to another state, seventh grader Bobby deals with the change by telling people at school made-up stories and then retreating into his world of pet spiders and books about spiders.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda / Tom Angleberger - Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight. They try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future.
Summer of My German Soldier / Bette Greene - The summer that Patty Bergen turns 12 is a summer that will haunt her forever. When her small hometown in Arkansas becomes the site of a camp housing German prisoners during World War II, Patty learns what it means to open her heart. Even though she's Jewish, she begins to see a prison escapee, Anton, not as a Nazi, but as a lonely, frightened young man with feelings not unlike her own. In Anton, Patty finds someone who softens the pain of her own father's rejection and who appreciates her in a way her mother never will. While patriotic feelings run high, Patty risks losing family, friends -- even her freedom -- for this dangerous friendship. It is a risk she has to take and one she will have to pay a price to keep.
The Summer Before Boys / Nora Raleigh Baskin - Julia and Eliza are lifelong friends who have shared everything until one develops her first real crush. The girls find themselves drifting apart until Eliza does something drastic to win Julia back.
Tonight, by Sea / Frances Temple - As governmental brutality and poverty become unbearable, Paulie joins with others in her small Haitian village to help her uncle secretly build a boat they will use to try to escape to the United States.
Trouble-Maker / Andrew Clements - When his older brother gets in serious trouble, sixth-grader Clay decides to change his own mischief-making ways, but he cannot seem to shake his reputation as a troublemaker.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle / Avi - As the lone "young lady" on a transatlantic voyage in 1832, Charlotte learns that the captain is murderous and the crew rebellious.Under the Same Sky / Cynthia DeFelice - While trying to earn money for a motor bike, fourteen-year-old Joe Pederson becomes involved with the Mexicans who work on his family's farm and develops a better relationship with his father.
Walk Two Moons / Sharon Creech - After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother's route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also left.
The Wanderer / Sharon Creech - Thirteen-year-old Sophie and her cousin Cody record their transatlantic crossing aboard the Wanderer, a forty-five foot sailboat, which, along with uncles and another cousin, is en route to visit their grandfather in England.
The Waterstone / Rebecca Rupp - Twelve-year-old Tad, finding that he holds an ancient wisdom and the power to draw beings together, embarks on a quest to seek a powerful crystal which, when retrieved from the evil Nixie, will restore balance to the world.
Where the Red Fern Grows / Wilson Rawls - A young boy living in the Ozarks achieves his heart's desire when he becomes the owner of two redbone hounds and teaches them to be champion hunters. Together, the three of them experience danger, adventure, love, and sorrow.
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town / Kimberly Willis Holt - During the summer of 1971 in a small Texas town, thirteen-year-old Toby and his best friend Cal meet the star of a sideshow act, 600-pound Zachary, the fattest boy in the world.
The Wish Giver, Three Tales of Coven Tree / Bill Brittain - The people of Coven Tree are no strangers to magic. In fact, the town's very name comes from a gnarled old tree where covens of witches used to gather. Even now, imps and fiends continue to appear, frightening the townfolk with their devilish pranks. Usually these creatures are easy to spot. They have a particular smell, sound, or way of moving that betrays their dark nature. But Thaddeus Blinn showed none of these signs when he came to Coven Tree. He was just a funny little man who drifted into town with a strange tale about being able to give people whatever they wished -- for only 50 cents. There was nothing scary about him. At least, not until the wishing began....
Witness / Karen Hesse - A history-inspired novel, told in the voices of eleven characters, about two young girls, one Jewish and the other African-American, who come to the attention of the newly formed Ku Klux Klan in a small Vermont town in 1924.
The Wolves in the Walls / Neil Gaiman - Lucy is sure there are wolves living in the walls of her house, although others in her family disagree, and when the wolves come out, the adventure begins.
Words of Stone / Kevin Henkes - While exploring the countryside outside of his home, 10-year-old Blaze Werla spots a devastating message on the side of a hill. Ultimately, Blaze's summer takes a turn toward mystery and adventure when he meets the boisterous and irresistible Joselle.
Wonder / R.J. Palacio - Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan. There he endures the taunting and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student.
Wringer / Jerry Spinelli - As Palmer comes of age, he must either accept the violence of being a wringer at his town's annual Pigeon Day or find the courage to oppose it.
A Year Down Yonder / Richard Peck - During the recession of 1937, fifteen-year-old Mary Alice is sent to live with her feisty, larger-than-life grandmother in rural Illinois and comes to a better understanding of this fearsome woman.
