{"id":1704,"date":"2016-05-25T19:06:00","date_gmt":"2016-05-25T23:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/?page_id=1704"},"modified":"2016-06-06T15:10:46","modified_gmt":"2016-06-06T19:10:46","slug":"2016-summer-recommended-reading-for-rising-5th-and-6th-grade-students","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/2016-summer-recommended-reading-for-rising-5th-and-6th-grade-students\/","title":{"rendered":"2016 Summer Recommended Reading for Rising 5th and 6th Grade Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #333399\"><strong><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1758\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/files\/2016\/05\/Gene-Luen-Yangs-Reading-Without-Walls-poster-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"Gene-Luen-Yangs-Reading-Without-Walls-poster\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/files\/2016\/05\/Gene-Luen-Yangs-Reading-Without-Walls-poster-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/files\/2016\/05\/Gene-Luen-Yangs-Reading-Without-Walls-poster-768x968.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/files\/2016\/05\/Gene-Luen-Yangs-Reading-Without-Walls-poster-812x1024.jpg 812w, https:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/files\/2016\/05\/Gene-Luen-Yangs-Reading-Without-Walls-poster.jpg 1713w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/>Reading Without Walls<br \/>\nSummer Reading Challenge<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3>This year, the\u00a0National Ambassador of Young People\u2019s Literature, graphic novelist Gene Yang (<em>Boxers &amp; Saints<\/em>, <em>American Born Chinese<\/em>, <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender<\/em>, <em>Shadow Hero<\/em>, etc.) set up three goals for all young readers in the United States. \u00a0The Dalton Middle School Library supports these goals and want to challenge all our students to take this pledge:<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Read a book about a character who doesn\u2019t look like me\u00a0or live like me.<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Read a book about a topic I\u00a0don\u2019t know much about.<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Read a book in a format (or genre) that I\u00a0don\u2019t normally read for fun.<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Browse through\u00a0this recommended reading list or go to a bookstore or library and choose books that will meet these three challenges!<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#new\">Newly Added to the List<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#realistic\">Realistic and Historical Fiction<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#scifi\">Science Fiction<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#fantasy\">Fantasy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#humorous\">Humorous<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#thrillers\">Thrillers and Chillers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#poetry\">Poetry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#biography\">Nonfiction, Biography and Memoirs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a name=\"new\"><\/a>\u00a0<strong><em>NEWLY ADDED TO THE LIST<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Bartoletti, Susan Campbell.<br \/>\nTERRIBLE TYPHOID MARY (Nonfiction, Biography)<br \/>\nThis is a riveting true\u00a0story of the deadliest cook in American history, Mary Mallon. Because\u00a0of\u00a0her and others&#8217; ignorance of healthy virus\u00a0carriers and her stubbornness,\u00a0Mary\u00a0accidentally killed and continued to kill many people by cooking for them and infecting them with\u00a0the deadly typhoid disease.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Bertman, Jennifer Chambliss.<br \/>\nBOOK SCAVENGER (Mystery)<br \/>\n12-year-old Emily\u00a0has just moved to\u00a0San Francisco and is now following the clues of an online Book Scavenger game with her new friend James. \u00a0This ultimate Book Scavenger\u00a0will lead the players to a real treasure.\u00a0 Emily and James\u00a0are also trying to solve the mystery of who\u00a0attacked Mr. Griswold, the Book\u00a0Scavenger creator, and why the bad guys\u00a0are so desperately want to find the treasure before anyone else!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker.<br \/>\nTHE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE (Historical Fiction)<br \/>\nNine-year-old Ada&#8217;s mother is too embarrassed\u00a0by Ada\u2019s twisted foot to let her leave them one-room apartment in London. \u00a0When Ada&#8217;s little brother is went\u00a0out of London to escape the war, Ada sneaks out to join him and begins a new adventure with Susan Smith, the woman who has lost a loved one and is now taking care of these siblings. An adventurous tale of the transformational power of love and friendship.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Brown, Peter.<br \/>\nWILD ROBOT (Science Fiction)<br \/>\nROZZUM unit 7134 (Roz) is the only intact surviving robot after a cargo ship crashed against a remote island. \u00a0When she was accidentally activated by a group of otters, she\u00a0starts a long series of exciting adventures that make the island her home, all the animals her friends, and one of the animals her family. \u00a0Roz finally becomes content with her life as a Wild Robot &#8212; until when the Makers send the RECO units to capture her back to the factory!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">DeStefano, Lauren.<br \/>\nA CURIOUS TALE OF THE IN-BETWEEN (Ghost Story)<br \/>\nIf one is\u00a0born on the day that one&#8217;s\u00a0mother dies&#8230; what might happen to her\u00a0senses of the world? \u00a0Pram is one of such child and she can see both the living and the dead. \u00a0One of her longtime companion is Felix, the ghost by the pond and her new friend \u00a0wants her help to contact with his mother who died not long ago. \u00a0Together, they seek the help of Lady Savant, who turns out to have very bad intentions and the children are in mortal danger!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Engle, Margarita.<br \/>\nENCHANTED AIR: TWO CULTURES, TWO WINGS (Poetry, Memoir)<br \/>\nIn this poetic memoir, Margarita Engle, a girl from two worlds: Cuba and Los Angeles, California. \u00a0When a\u00a0revolution breaks out in Cuba. Margarita&#8217;s worlds collide in the worst possible ways. How can the two countries she loves hate each other so much? And will she ever get to visit her beautiful island again?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Fogliano, Julie.<br \/>\nWHEN GREEN BECOMES TOMATOES (Poetry Collection)<br \/>\nShort, descriptive, and evocative poems, accompanied by intricate and skillfully rendered illustrations, this poetry collection expresses the\u00a0awe and wonder everyone must feel at times about the passing of time and seasonal changes through the year.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Gino, Alex.<br \/>\nGEORGE (Realistic Fiction)<br \/>\nGeorge thinks she&#8217;ll have to keep the secret forever that she knows she is a girl even though she was born in a boy&#8217;s body. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be <em>Charlotte&#8217;s Web<\/em>. George really wants to be\u00a0Charlotte and also to reveal her long-held secret. \u00a0With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hale, Nathan.<br \/>\nTHE UNDERGROUND ABDUCTOR (Graphic Novel, Nonfiction, Biography)<br \/>\nThe life story and awesome achievements of Araminta Ross (Harriet Tubman) as a former slave who not only freed herself but went back to the South to help numerous others\u00a0are\u00a0told in this historical graphic narrative which honestly\u00a0depicts\u00a0the harsh conditions many had to face, sprinkled with the trade-mark humor by this graphic novelist of the\u00a0Hazardous Tales series of American history.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hunt, Lynda Mullaly.<br \/>\nFISH IN A TREE (Realistic Fiction)<br \/>\nEven though she is\u00a0not\u00a0able\u00a0to read, Ally\u00a0is\u00a0smart enough to fool a lot of people in school by creating clever distractions. \u00a0However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels tries to figure out why this smart and creative student is regarded as nothing but\u00a0a troublemaker. It turns out\u00a0Ally&#8217;s reading\u00a0issue is caused by dyslexia, a condition\u00a0that can be corrected with techniques and practices.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jung, Mike.<br \/>\nUNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT\u00a0(Science Fiction, Humorous Story)<br \/>\nChloe Cho, the only Korean American student in her school, is proud to be a stereotypical overachiever who plays the violin\u00a0and gets the best grades. She wants to be as closely linked to her Korean roots as possible, but oddly her parents never want to talk about Korea where they immigrated from. \u00a0It&#8217;s as if they didn&#8217;t know their own Korean heritage or past. \u00a0What Chloe finally finds out about her parents&#8217; backstory is quite a shocker!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oppel, Kenneth.<br \/>\nTHE NEST (Chiller, Magical Realism)<br \/>\nIn his eagerness to save his newborn brother from a mysterious illness, Steve strikes a bargain with the beings that have been visiting him in his dreams. \u00a0At first, he thinks\u00a0that they are\u00a0angels, but then he realizes that they are really large wasps who have been building a nest near Steve&#8217;s house. \u00a0The queen promises him to &#8220;fix&#8221; his baby brother. \u00a0What will Steve and his baby brother lose in this disturbing and dangerous bargain?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Riordan, Rick.<br \/>\nSWORD OF SUMMER (Fantasy)<br \/>\nSince his mother\u2019s mysterious death, Magnus Chase has lived on the streets of Boston, surviving on his wits and resourcefulness. \u00a0When Magnus\u00a0is killed and emerges in his fantastic room of Hotel\u00a0Valhalla, he has to accept the fact that he is a god of a Norse god. Fast-paced, magical\u00a0adventures ensue with a cast of likable and funny characters. This is the first book in the\u00a0<em>Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard\u00a0<\/em>series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Rundell, Katherine.<br \/>\nWOLF WILDER (Historical Fantasy)<br \/>\nWhen pet wolves are abandoned by their aristocratic owners because they cannot be tamed, Feodora and her mother take the wolves in and retrain them to survive in the snowbound woods of Russia. \u00a0When the hostile\u00a0Russian Army led by a murderous leader threatens Feodora&#8217;s mother and the wolves&#8217; safety,\u00a0Feo is left to figure out how to rescue her mother by standing up for the things she\u00a0loves and starting a revolution!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Selznick, Brian.<br \/>\nTHE MARVELS. \u00a0(Realistic Fiction)<br \/>\nTwo interconnected stories that span more than three centuries &#8212; one completely in pictures, the other in words &#8212; tell about The Marvels (a family of actors)\u00a0and young\u00a0Joseph who runs away from his boarding school and\u00a0discovers his personal connection with The Marvels by spying on\u00a0his\u00a0uncle&#8217;s\u00a0odd\u00a0behaviors and living in his uncle&#8217;s puzzling house in London.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Stead, Rebecca.<br \/>\nGOODBYE STRANGER (Realistic Fiction)<br \/>\nBridge is the survivor of a bad car accident and often\u00a0wonders\u00a0about life and death. She and her two best\u00a0friends\u00a0Emily\u00a0and\u00a0Tabitha have a pact to never fight with each other. But, then\u00a07th grade starts!\u00a0Each\u00a0of them is facing new challenges and when one of the three friends has done something against her friends&#8217; advice\u00a0that\u00a0gets her in trouble with the\u00a0school, how can\u00a0the three\u00a0remain close and keep their pact?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Smith, Ronald L.<br \/>\nHOODOO\u00a0(Chiller)<br \/>\nHoodoo Hatcher was born into a family that\u00a0practices folk magic hoodoo in the swamp land.\u00a0However, with the magical name, Hoodoo\u00a0is not able to cast a simple spell! \u00a0When Hoodoo is twelve,\u00a0a\u00a0mysterious man comes to town who is looking for a specific boy, a boy name Hoodoo. Hoodoo starts having weird dreams about the dead rising\u00a0and also realizes that if he does not quickly learn how to cast spells, the whole town might be in danger!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Williams-Garcia, Rita.<br \/>\nGONE CRAZY IN ALABAMA (Historical Fiction)<br \/>\nThe three sisters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern are off to Alabama to visit their grandmother and great grandmother.\u00a0\u00a0On the other side of town lives the half sister of their great grandmother. \u00a0These\u00a0two sisters harbor deep resentment against each other due to some\u00a0surprising and complicated family histories. When a big tragedy strikes, everyone\u00a0realizes that the bonds of family can rebuild\u00a0even the most adversary\u00a0relationships!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Yang, Gene Luen.<br \/>\nAVATAR: SMOKE AND SHADOW, parts\u00a01-3 (Graphic Novel, Fantasy)<br \/>\nThe young king of the Fire Nation Zuko faces a threat from the New Ozai Society that plots to overthrow him and reinstate his father as the leader of the nation. \u00a0Avatar Aang and his friends must solve the mysteries of missing children in\u00a0the Capitol and help defeat those who oppose Zuko.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a name=\"realistic\"><\/a><br \/>\n<em><strong>REALISTIC AND HISTORICAL FICTION<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Alexander, Kwame.<br \/>\nTHE CROSSOVER<br \/>\nFourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan have always been close, super close &#8212; until one of them develops a new interest in girls. \u00a0They struggle to remain best siblings and buddies on and off the basketball court and have to deal with the fact that their father&#8217;s health is declining. \u00a0Told in thythmic and skillfully\u00a0crafted short\u00a0poems, the story, character, and emotions all\u00a0ring true. \u00a0(2015 Newbery Award winner)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Applegate, Katherine.<br \/>\nTHE ONE AND ONLY IVAN<br \/>\nIvan, the show Gorilla at Big Top Mall near Exit 8, tells \u00a0his story of captivity and his yearning to be freed from the cage in simple and wise words.\u00a0 Ivan&#8217;s story is inspired by true events and will warm any reader&#8217;s heart. \u00a0This is the 2013 Newbery Award winner!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Avi.<br \/>\nCRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD<br \/>\nAfter his mother\u2019s death, Asta\u2019s son, the nameless boy, found out that he not only had a name, but a noble one, too. He also found that his life was in danger, being wanted for dead of a crime he did not commit. While running for his life, he encounters Bear, a juggler with a secret and dangerous mission. This exciting, fast paced story set in 14th century England is the 2003 Newbery Winner.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Burnett, Frances H.<br \/>\nTHE SECRET GARDEN<br \/>\nA lonely orphan girl comes to live with her uncle in England, discovers a secret garden, and finds friends and happiness. THE LITTLE PRINCESS is another excellent title.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Choldenko, Gennifer.<br \/>\nAL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS.<br \/>\n12-year-old Moose just moved to Alkatraz, a high security prison, where his father works. Set in the 1930s when Al Capone, the famous mobster, was imprisoned there, Moose\u2019s adventures are both hilarious and heart-warming, especially when he has to protect his older sister who has autism.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Cummings, Priscilla.<br \/>\nA FACE FIRST<br \/>\n12-year-old Kelley was horribly burned in an accident in the car driven by her mother. This thought-provoking novel allows the readers a glimpse into the painful process of rehabilitation of burn victims. An element of mystery gives another layer of intensity to the story.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Curtis, Christopher Paul.<br \/>\nBUD, NOT BUDDY<br \/>\nBud, 10, is on the run from the orphanage and from yet another mean foster family. His mother died when he was 6 and he wants to find his father. Set in Michigan during the Great Depression, this story is told with a lot of humor and warmth. This is the 2000 Newbery Award winner. Curtis\u2019s THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM, 1963 is also excellent.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Curtis, Christopher Paul.<br \/>\nTHE MIGHTY MISS MALONE<br \/>\nDuring the Depression era, 12-year-old Deza Malone, a star student, loving daughter and sister, and an aspiring writer, had to face many harsh truths in life: extreme poverty, a missing (presumed dead) father, and a big brother who didn&#8217;t seem to have much common sense. \u00a0Full of spirit and creativity, the mighty Deza helped her family get through the tough time and found light and joy in the darkest hours.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Cushman, Karen<br \/>\nCATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY<br \/>\nCatherine, the daughter of an impoverished knight, is in her fourteenth year when she begins a record of her daily life. Her diary of the year 1290 provides a revealing, amusing, and vivid picture of both Catherine\u2019s thoughts and Medieval life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">de Fombelle, Timoth\u00e9e; translated by Sarah Ardizzone.<br \/>\nVANGO: BETWEEN SKY\u00a0AND EARTH<br \/>\nA mysterious and athletic young man who, after surviving a shipwreck as an infant, lived on a small island until his home was invaded and his loved ones threatened. \u00a0Vango&#8217;s heart-pounding adventures (around the time when World War II was about to\u00a0begin,)\u00a0took him to the many places, including an airship, a hidden monastery, and a posh hotel in New York City. \u00a0Look for the sequel THE PRINCE WITHOUT A KINGDOM.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">DiCamillo, Kate.<br \/>\nFLORA AND ULYSSES: THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES (Humorous)<br \/>\nWhen a powerful vacuum cleaner turned a common squirrel (Ulysses) into a flying, poetry-writing super-squirrel, Flora, the girl who just moved into the neighborhood finds uncommon friendships with the squirrel and the blind boy next door. \u00a0This book won the 2014 Newbery Award for most distinguished American children&#8217;s book of the year.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Draper, Sharon.<br \/>\nOUT OF MY MIND<br \/>\n10 year-old\u00a0Melody has never spoken a word. She has a brilliant mind trapped inside an uncontrollable body suffering from cerebral palsy and yet, she is full of insights and never gives up. With the support and help of her loving family and a special teacher, Melody fights against the odds and triumphs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Federle, Tim.<br \/>\nBETTER NATE THAN EVER<br \/>\nNate Foster, a boy from small town Jankburg, Pennsylvania, only ever wants to be a STAR in a Broadway Musical in this humorous account of his escapades. \u00a0Will his passion, his strong will, and his friend Libby be able to propel him onto the big stage when an open casting call for E.T.: The Musical offers him the chance of a lifetime?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feiffer, Jules.<br \/>\nTHE MAN IN THE CEILING<br \/>\nThe failures and triumphs of the family of a young cartoonist are told through text and comic strips by renown humorist Jules Feiffer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Fine, Anne<br \/>\nTHE TULIP TOUCH<br \/>\nWhen Natalie\u2019s hotel-manager father moves the family into the sprawling Palace, Natalie makes friends with a strange and lonely girl, Tulip. Tulip monopolizes Anne and invents unpleasant games that eventually turn dangerous over the years.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Fitzhugh, Louise.<br \/>\nHARRIET THE SPY<br \/>\nThe thoughts and notebooks of a young girl who lives in New York City, is unhappy when her nurse leaves, and \u201cspies\u201d and writes about her classmates.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Fitzmaurice, Kathryn.<br \/>\nA DIAMOND IN THE DESERT<br \/>\nIn early 1940s, many Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes to live in large relocation centers (internment camps). \u00a0Testu Kishi, 12, had to get on the bus with his mother and sister to Gila River Camp, leaving behind their dog, his beloved baseball team, and his father, who was detained for question. In the following years, Tetsu had to combat the humiliation, sorrow, and lack of resources with dignity, hope, and his love of baseball.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">George, Jean Craighead.<br \/>\nJULIE OF THE WOLVES<br \/>\nAlone and lost in the Alaskan wilderness without food or a compass, Julie is accepted by a pack of wolves who help her struggle to survive.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Giff, Patricia Reilly.<br \/>\nPICTURES OF HOLLIS WOODS.<br \/>\n12-year-old Hollis Woods has been sent to one foster home after another all her life. She is an amazing artist. With descriptions of her drawings, Hollis tells a moving story of a deeply bonding relationship with her newest foster mother, artist Josie, and her dream of a perfect family.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Green, Tim.<br \/>\nFOOTBALL GENIUS<br \/>\n12-year-old Troy\u2019s uncanny ability to predict upcoming football plays landed him a job as a \u201csecret weapon\u201d for the Atlanta Falcons. Lots of NFL insider information from a former NFL player. This summer, also look for FOOTBALL HERO and other sports novels by this author.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Greenwald, Lisa.<br \/>\nMY LIFE IN PINK AND GREEN<br \/>\nIn this funny and sweet story, Lucy Desberg&#8217;s tries to save her family&#8217;s struggling drugstore by running a successful makeover business. \u00a0The sequels are MY SUMMER OF PINK AND GREEN and PINK AND GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hiassen, Carl.<br \/>\nSCAT<br \/>\nLike HOOT and FLUSH, SCAT is another humorous, environmentally conscious, and quick-paced mystery, set in Florida. \u00a0Another favorite title by the same author is CHOMP featuring gators, gator wranglers, reality survival TV shows, and friends who help each other in time of crisis.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Kadohata, Cynthia.<br \/>\nTHE THING ABOUT LUCK<br \/>\nWhen a family\u00a0emergency took her parents away back to Japan, Summer spends\u00a0her vacation working as a cook for wheat harvesters. \u00a0She\u00a0tries to please her old-fashioned and demanding grandparents, helps her friendless little brother fit in, and experiences\u00a0her first romance and heartache. This is the 2013 National Book Award winner.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Konigsburg, E.L.<br \/>\nFROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER<br \/>\nClaudia knows she has to run away, but grubby hideouts are not her style. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has all the elegance she wants &#8211; and much, much more.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Konigsburg, E.L.<br \/>\nTHE VIEW FROM SATURDAY<br \/>\nThis is a comic novel about four students who develop a special bond and attract the attention of their teacher, a paraplegic. She chooses them to represent their sixth-grade class and compete in the Academic Bowl. The 1997 Newbery Winner.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Lai, Thanhha.<br \/>\nINSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN<br \/>\nIn sparse and evocative verse, author Thanhha Lai retells her childhood experiences of the dangerous journey escaping the war-torn and politically dangerous Vietnam and finding her place and a second home in the United States with her family.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Levine, Gail Carson.<br \/>\nDAVE AT NIGHT<br \/>\nDave becomes an orphan and is sent to the Hebrew Home for Boys (or Hell Hole of Brats.) He never stops trying to escape and, sneaking out at night, he meets a mysterious old man who introduces him to a different life and world. He also becomes best buddies with other orphan boys.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Lin, Grace.<br \/>\nYEAR OF THE DOG<br \/>\nFrustrated at her seeming lack of talent for anything, a young Taiwanese American girl sets out to apply the lessons of the Chinese Year of the Dog, those of making best friends and finding oneself, to her own life. YEAR OF THE RAT is a 2008 follow-up of Pacy&#8217;s story.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Lupica, Mike.<br \/>\nHEAVY HITTERS<br \/>\nIn the first game of the all-star games, Ben gets hit by a pitch that really upsets him. \u00a0Not to mention that Justin, the best hitter on the team, is acting oddly and performs unevenly on the field. \u00a0As Justin&#8217;s teammate, Ben decides to help Justin with his hidden family problem. \u00a0Sports story fans will also enjoy: BATBOY, SHOOT OUT, HEAT, and many other titles.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Lyons, Mary.<br \/>\nLETTERS FROM A SLAVE GIRL<br \/>\nA fictionalized version of the life of Harriet Jacobs, told in the form of letters that she might have written during her slavery in North Carolina and as she prepared for escape to the North in 1842.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Martin, Anne and Danziger, Paula.<br \/>\nP.S. LONGER LETTER LATER: A NOVEL IN LETTERS<br \/>\nElizabeth and Tara*Starr are best friends. When Elizabeth moves away before their junior high years, they start corresponding and reporting to each other their respective lives in detail via letters. \u00a0The sequel is SNAIL MAIL NO MORE.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Mass, Wendy.<br \/>\nA MANGO-SHAPED SPACE<br \/>\nLiving with Synethesia (a mental condition that connects the five senses in unusual ways,) 13-year-old Mia sees colors in every letter of the alphabet, every number, and every note of music and feels alone and a complete outsider until she finds out that there are plenty of others in the world who share the same condition and experiences.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">McKay, Hilary.<br \/>\nSAFFY\u2019S ANGEL<br \/>\nSaffy finds out at the beginning of this humorous story that she was adopted into this very loving but quirky family of artists. She becomes obsessed with the idea to search for an angel statue in Italy which she remembers from the toddler days with her mother. This is the first in a 5-book series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds.<br \/>\nALICE IN RAPTURE SORT-OF<br \/>\nThe summer of 12 year old Alice is filled with excitement, including going on a first date with her best friend. Always entertaining and enlightening, this and the first book in the series, THE AGONY OF ALICE and the many sequels have been favorites of middle school students.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nicholls, Sally.<br \/>\nWAYS TO LIVE FOREVER<br \/>\n&#8220;My name is Sam. I am eleven years old. I collect stories and fantastic facts. I have leukemia. By the time you read this, I will probably be dead.&#8221; This moving story about a terminally ill boy who tries to live his remaining days to the fullest and thus leaving a mark forever will make you cry but also have so many hilarious scenes that will make you laugh and admire Sam and his friend Felix for their vibrant minds.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Palacio, R.J.<br \/>\nWONDER<br \/>\nWhen home-schooled Auggie goes to school for the first time (in fifth grade,) he has a lot to adjust to. \u00a0First, there are the stares and shocked faces all around him due to his facial deformity. \u00a0Then, there are other unexpected disappointments and delights with new friends and altered relationships at home. \u00a0Authentically told from many different perspectives, WONDER gives us a brave and funny young hero who faces life&#8217;s obstacles with gusto and with support from those who love him. \u00a0AUGGIE &amp; ME is the\u00a0companion volume of\u00a0views from other supporting characters.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Paterson, Katherine.<br \/>\nBRIDGE TO TERABITHIA<br \/>\nJess meets a neighbor girl named Leslie who leads him to the magical world of imagination. This power of imagination also helps him get through one of the most terrible things that will happen to him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Paulsen, Gary<br \/>\nBRIAN\u2019S WINTER (Companion book to HATCHET)<br \/>\nInstead of being rescued from a plane crash, as in the author\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Philbrick, W.R.<br \/>\nFREAK THE MIGHTY<br \/>\nAt the beginning of eighth grade, Max, a slow learner who is HUGE for his age and his new friend Freak, whose birth defect has affected his body but not his brilliant mind, find that when combining forces they make a powerful team.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Preller, James.<br \/>\nSIX INNINGS<br \/>\nJames Preller poured much of his passion for the game into a finely crafted story set in just ONE little league game: 6 innings, character sketches of 12 players of one visiting team. The format is a play-by-play report of the BIG game, but it is more than mere reporting. Readers will fall in love with the game, and further understand its relationship with the greater picture of Life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Ryan, Pam Mu\u00f1oz.<br \/>\nECHO<br \/>\nLost and alone in a forbidden forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters and suddenly finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica.\u00a0Decades later, Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California all become interwoven when the very same harmonica lands in their lives.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Rylant, Cynthia<br \/>\nMISSING MAY<br \/>\nAn eccentric cast of characters provide the focal point for this moving story, which grapples with the most important questions of all: Why do people die, and how do the survivors go on?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Sachar, Louis.<br \/>\nHOLES<br \/>\nStanley Yelnats (his name is a palindrome) is accused of stealing a baseball player\u2019s sneakers so he is sent to a \u201ccamp\u201d in the middle of the desert where he has to dig holes five-foot by five-foot by five-foot every day. He meets a boy named Zero. Together they try to escape the sinister warden and her cronies.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Selznick, Brian.<br \/>\nTHE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET<br \/>\nIn this heavily illustrated tale\u00a0of mystery, loss, friendship, and creativity, author illustrator Brian Selznick combined text and pictures to present a rich world in 1930s Paris where Hugo lives in the wall of a busy train station, tries to hide the fact that he&#8217;s an orphan and living along, and discovers the secrets of the automaton left behind by his dead father.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Speare, Elizabeth<br \/>\nTHE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND<br \/>\nKit, an orphan from Barbados, comes to live with her relatives in the Colony of Connecticut. When she befriends an old woman accused of witchcraft, Kit gets drawn into the hysteria of the great witch hunt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Spinelli, Jerry.<br \/>\nJAKE AND LILY<br \/>\nJake and Lily are twins and they have a secret that binds them even stronger together: their telepathic connection with each other, to feel each other&#8217;s feelings and sense each other&#8217;s surroundings. \u00a0But in the summer of their 11th birthday, things are not the same. \u00a0They are growing apart and losing their special bond. \u00a0Lily is desperate to reconnect while Jake \u00a0would rather spend the summer with the pack of boys who find great pleasure in picking on others.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Spinelli, Jerry.<br \/>\nMANIAC MAGEE<br \/>\nFunny and fantastic, Maniac Magee is the fastest runner in town. He\u2019s even better at showing people how to get along with one another.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Stead, Rebecca.<br \/>\nLIAR AND SPY<br \/>\n7th grader Georges (the S is silent) has to move to a new apartment because his father lost his job and his mother has to work extra shifts at the hospital. \u00a0Georges is left to make friends with a boy, Safer, upstairs and receives cryptic and sometimes dangerous &#8220;assignments&#8221; to spy on a supposed murderer who lives in their building.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Weeks, Sarah.<br \/>\nSO B. IT!<br \/>\nHeidi\u2019s mother suffers from severe mental illness and only knows 23 words. By chance, Heidi finds a clue in the drawer one day and that sets off her quest for her mother\u2019s and her own true identities.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Williams-Garcia, Rita.<br \/>\nP.S. BE ELEVEN<br \/>\nBack to Brooklyn from\u00a0the summer with their mother and the Black Panthers (as told in the first book of this historical fiction series, ONE CRAZY SUMMER,\u00a011-year-old Delphine had to face many challenges: from dealing with her father&#8217;s new girlfriend, shocked by an uncle changed by the Vietnam War, to adjusting to her two little sisters&#8217; increased independence, not to mention other more pressing issues: starting sixth grade, being the tallest girl in her class, and the upcoming school dance! \u00a0The third book is GONE CRAZY IN ALABAMA.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Wilson, Jacqueline<br \/>\nDOUBLE ACT<br \/>\nWritten in two but interlaced voices of a pair of identical twins, this is an amusing story about how Ruby and Garnet learn to grow apart but still remain best friends with each other. Some of the capers they get themselves into (going to London to be auditioned for a TV show, for example) are funny and memorable. Other titles by this witty author you might enjoy are: BAD GIRLS, THE LOTTIE PROJECT, THE SUITCASE KID, and ELSA, STAR OF THE SHELTER.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Woodson, Jacqueline<br \/>\nLOCOMOTION<br \/>\nIn this verse novel, Lonnie Collins Motion (LoCoMotion) tells with crystal clarity how life is like after losing his parents in a tragic fire, living with a foster mother, and missing his little sister who is sent to stay with a different foster family. \u00a0 The sequel, told in a series of letters, is PEACE, LOCOMOTION where Lonnie encounters a foster brother who has been wounded during the Iraqi war and suffers\u00a0from psychological damages.<br \/>\n<a name=\"scifi\"><\/a><br \/>\n<em><strong>SCIENCE FICTION<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Asimov, Isaac.<br \/>\nFOUNDATION (series)<br \/>\nIn this classic science fiction tale, the Foundations are created by Hari Seldon to preserve human culture after the collapse of the first galactic empire. The series follows the developments as the Foundations struggle to survive and fulfill the mission.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Card, Orson Scott.<br \/>\nENDER\u2019S GAME and ENDER\u2019S SHADOW (two series)<br \/>\nIn these two companion stories, Ender and Bean are two brilliant young children who are given the burden of saving humanity from the invading alien force. Action packed, these two titles are thoughtful and deal with human nature in a profound fashion.\u00a0(These books do not shy away from using realistic, and sometimes, offensive language or dealing with tough and rough situations. \u00a0More suitable for older and more mature readers.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Carman, Patrick<br \/>\nATHERTON: THE HOUSE OF POWER (series)<br \/>\nThis is an exciting adventure story set in a strange world that is in the process of collapsing. Edgar, a lonely boy and a gifted climber, discovers all kinds of secrets and mysterious history of the only home he\u2019d ever known.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">DuPrau, Jeanne<br \/>\nTHE CITY OF EMBER (series)<br \/>\nIt is the year 241 in the City of Ember. People are getting really desperate; the canned food supply which was believed to be endless is shrinking rapidly; the generator for electricity that is the only source of light for the entire city is faltering. 12-year-old Lina and Doon are determined to find a way out of Ember and save the City.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Falkner, Brian.<br \/>\nBRAIN JACK<br \/>\nIn a near-future New York City, fourteen-year-old computer genius Sam Wilson manages to hack into the AT&amp;T network and sets off a chain of events that have a profound effect on human activity throughout the world.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Farmer, Nancy.<br \/>\nTHE EAR, THE EYE, AND THE ARM<br \/>\nTendai is a boy who lives in Zimbabwe in 2194. His father General Matsika forbids him to leave his house. However, Tendai steals away with his brother and sister. In the city he is kidnapped by gangsters and wakes up in the land of the Ear, the Eye, and the Arm \u2013 three mutants with super powers who will help Tendai to avoid evils of the past and technology of the future to return home.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Haddix, Margaret Peterson.<br \/>\nAMONG THE HIDDEN (Shadow Children series)<br \/>\nIn a future U.S., when every family can only have two children, Luke, 12, the third boy in his farming family, has been hidden since birth, safe for the time being from the Population Police. Will Luke be able to change his world with the help of an underground organization?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Haddix, Margaret Peterson.<br \/>\nFOUND (The Missing series)<br \/>\nWhen Jonah and Chip, who are both adopted, learn they were discovered on a plane that appeared out of nowhere, full of babies with no adults on board, they realize that they have uncovered a mystery involving time travel and two opposing forces, each trying to repair the fabric of time. \u00a0There are eight books in the series, including SENT, SABOTAGED, TORN, etc.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">L&#8217;Engle, Madeleine.<br \/>\nA WRINKLE IN TIME (series)<br \/>\nMeg Murry, along with her brother and a good friend, embark on a journey through space and time, accompanied by a mysterious midnight visitor. \u00a0Their quest is\u00a0to find (and rescue?) Meg&#8217;s father, a physicist who disappeared while experimenting with time travel. \u00a0The sequels are A WIND IN THE DOOR, A SWIFTLY TILTING PLANET, and MANY WATERS.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">O\u2019Brien, Robert C.<br \/>\nMRS. FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH<br \/>\nMrs. Frisby, the widowed mouse, has a terrible situation and she has nowhere to turn to but the super-rats who keep to themselves. A 1972 Newbery Winner.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oppel, Kenneth.<br \/>\nAIRBORN and SKYBREAKER<br \/>\nMatt, a cabin boy aboard a luxury airship, saves a dying balloonist whose ship has been damaged. The balloonist\u2019s last words are about beautiful, winged creatures. One year later, the granddaughter of the balloonist takes passage on the airship, hoping to find the mysterious creatures. The third book, STARCLIMBER, was published in February 2009.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Paulsen, Gary.<br \/>\nTHE TRANSALL SAGA<br \/>\nWhile backpacking in the desert, thirteen-year-old Mark falls into a tube of blue light and is transported to a more primitive world. He must use his knowledge and skills to survive.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Reeve, Philip.<br \/>\nMORTAL ENGINES (The Hungry Cities series)<br \/>\nIn this original and fast-paced science fiction, set in a post-apocalypse future, cities of the world move around on tractor treads pursuing and scavenging each other.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Rex, Adam.<br \/>\nTHE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY<br \/>\nWhen her mother is abducted by aliens on Christmas Eve (or &#8220;Smekday&#8221; Eve since the Boov invasion), twelve-year-old Tip hops in the family car and heads south to find her and meets an alien Boov mechanic who agrees to help her and save the planet from disaster. \u00a0Inventive and full of witty remarks and observations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Sanderson, Stead, Rebecca.<br \/>\nWHEN YOU REACH ME<br \/>\n12-year-old Miranda has received some really odd notes from &#8220;You&#8221; and she knows that when &#8220;you&#8221; reaches her, something life-changing will happen to her.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Vande Velde, Vivian<br \/>\nHEIR APPARENT<br \/>\nGiannine, trapped in the mal-functioning virtual reality game of Heir Apparent, has to win the game before her body deteriorates and she dies. The game, set in a magical, medieval time, demands that she makes alliances with the right people, slays a dragon, solves riddles, and many other tasks. This page-turner is filled with true danger and humor on the side. A wonderful summer read.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Walden, Mark.<br \/>\nH.I.V.E.: Higher Institute of Villainous Education (series)<br \/>\nSummary: When they are swept away to a hidden academy for training evil geniuses, Otto, a brilliant orphan; Wing, a sensitive warrior; Laura, a shy computer specialist; and Shelby, an infamous jewel thief, plot to beat the odds and escape.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Wells, H.G.<br \/>\nTHE WAR OF THE WORLDS<br \/>\nThe Martians are landing on earth! They\u2019ve already destroyed London. Who or what can stop them from taking over the whole world? This classic story brings the hysteria and madness of a nightmare to life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Westerfeld, Scott.<br \/>\nLEVIATHAN (series)<br \/>\nThis science fiction takes place in an alternate Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. The countries are at war but one group of countries use mechanical weapons that are like Transformers and the other countries utilize genetically engineered, half machine, half animal composite weaponry. Many intriguing events bring Austrian Prince Alek and airman Deryn Sharp (a girl in disguise) together into exciting adventures.\u00a0 The sequels are\u00a0GOLIATH and BEHEMOTH.<br \/>\n<a name=\"fantasy\"><\/a><br \/>\n<em><strong>FANTASY<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Alexander, Lloyd.<br \/>\nPRYDAIN CHRONICLES (five books)<br \/>\nThe first title in the Chronicles of Prydain is THE BOOK OF THREE, in which Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper of Prydain becomes involved in a hazardous mission to save his country from the forces of evil.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Alexander, William.<br \/>\nGOBLIN SECRETS<br \/>\nThe City of Zombay is home to many fantastic creatures. \u00a0The witch Graba keeps a group of urchins to do her bidding. One of them is Rownie, who runs away to join the Goblin Theater group and to search for his missing older brother Rowan. \u00a0The many mysterious powers of the witch and the Goblins are entertwined with the fate of Zombay and Rownie\/Rowan might be the only people who could save the whole town.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Barron, T.A.<br \/>\nTHE LOST YEARS OF MERLIN (series)<br \/>\nA boy named Emrys finds himself washed up from the sea, almost dead. He doesn\u2019t remember anything about himself. When he grows up and finally decides to seek his fortune far way, he lands in Fincayra and meets new friends. He has to solve the riddle of the Land of the Giants and eventually learns his true identity and his true power.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Barry, Dave.<br \/>\nPETER AND THE STARCATCHERS (series)<br \/>\nThis adventurous story tells how Peter Pan became the boy-who-never-dies and how he and Captain Hook became mortal enemies.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Baum, L. Frank.<br \/>\nTHE WIZARD OF OZ (series)<br \/>\nThe adventure of a girl in a magical new world called OZ you have probably seen the movie but you don\u2019t know the book.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Collins, Suzanne.<br \/>\nGREGOR THE OVERLANDER (series)<br \/>\nGregor, a New York City boy, and his toddler sister, Boots, encounter a world of unlikely creatures: humans who have been underground for six hundred years and have become pale and purple-eyed; gigantic roaches who are helpers and enormous rats who will destroy their enemies at all cost! This series (five books altogether) offers both thrilling adventures and a thoughtful look at wars and relationships between different peoples.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Cooper, Susan<br \/>\nOVER SEA, UNDER STONE (series)<br \/>\nThe first of THE DARK IS RISING series in which the three Drew children find an ancient map in the attic and begin the search for a grail that will reveal the true story of King Arthur, and entrap them in a battle between the forces of Light and the forces of Dark. (Continue the series if you like the first one.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Corder, Zizou.<br \/>\nLIONBOY trilogy<br \/>\nA mother\/daughter team co-wrote this fast-paced thrilling tale. Charlie Ashanti runs away from his kidnapper and goes on a grand adventure trying to rescue his parents who were also kidnapped. On his way, Charlie, who can speak Cat, joins a floating grand circus and receives help from a host of alley cats, as well as lions and humans.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Cottrell Boyce, Frank.<br \/>\nMILLIONS<br \/>\nIn this sweet, fast-paced, funny novel set in England, fourth-grader Damien Cunningham and his older brother, Anthony, ponder what to do after a big bag of furnace-bound, pre-Euro pound notes is hurled from a train and lands at Damien\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Deutsch, Barry.<br \/>\nHEREVILLE: HOW MIRKA GOT HER SWORD (Graphic Novel)<br \/>\nIn this enchanting graphic novel, Mirka, an Orthodox Jewish girl with an unconventional dream to search and fight a Troll, engages in verbal sparring with her witty stepmother, battles a talking pig, and must master her knitting skills to defeat her final foe! The sequel\u00a0HEREVILLE: HOW MIRKA MET A METEORITE<em>\u00a0<\/em>finds Mirka\u00a0in an even more dangerous situation: she has to face a copy of herself who intends to replace and erase the real Mirka.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">DiTerlizzi, Tony.<br \/>\nTHE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (series)<br \/>\nAfter moving to a strange old house and finding a fascinating but dangerous book (Arthur Spiderwick\u2019s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You), the three children of the Grace family have to battle scary magical creatures and puzzle out their own family history. There are five books in this series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Ende, Michael.<br \/>\nTHE NEVER ENDING STORY<br \/>\nBastien steals a book and goes inside the book himself to experience fantastic adventures: riding a dragon and discovering the secrets of the various inhabitants in the story. He never suspects that his own life might be in peril once he gets into the land of the never ending story.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Farmer, Nancy.<br \/>\nTHE SEA OF TROLLS trilogy<br \/>\nJack\u2019s quest and wild adventures in Northern lands will satisfy readers who want a fast and exciting read. The outrageous characters include looting pirates, trolls, dragons, giant spiders, and fierce boars. The fantastic sequels are THE LAND OF SILVER APPLES and THE ISLANDS OF THE BLESSED.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Farrey, Brian.<br \/>\nTHE VENGEKEEP PROPHECIES<br \/>\nJaxter Grimjinx, 12, and a professional thief &#8212; so is his dad and his mom and his little sister and his grandmother. \u00a0Each of them has a special talent: forgery, lock-picking, pick-pocketing, etc. \u00a0Jaxter is no good at most regular thieving skills &#8212; but his talent at mixing anti-jinx potions and ability to solve mysteries will come in handy when the fake fatal prophecies come to live one by one, threatening to destroy not only his family, but the entire city.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Ferris, Jean.<br \/>\nONCE UPON A MARIGOLD trilogy<br \/>\nThis delightful fairy tale\u2019s main characters are Marigold, a princess, and Christian, a forest foundling, who form a great friendship because they both love reading and writing. In fact, they send p-mail (mail carried by pigeons) to each other before they even met in person. Lots of action and funny scenes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Fisher, Catherine.<br \/>\nTHE DARK CITY and sequels<br \/>\nThe first book in the Relics Master series (4 books, all set to be published this summer,) The Dark City is set in a futuristic world where the technologies of our world have become mysterious and magical relics of the past, and the Relic Masters who keep and use the powers from these relics are being hunted down and eliminated by The Watch.\u00a0 Raffi, a young Relic Master in training, has to help his mentor escape a terrible fate and to deal with a young woman who is a waffling spy sent by The Watch.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Flanagan, John.<br \/>\nRANGER&#8217;S APPRENTICE (series)<br \/>\nYoung Will becomes the Ranger&#8217;s Apprentice in the first book of this expansive adventure series where he and his cohorts have to face monsters and many severe conditions to keep the Kingdom of Araluen safe from invaders and traitors that come from near and far.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Funke, Cornelia. Inkheart. Translated by Anthea Bell.<br \/>\nINKHEART<br \/>\nMeggie, 12 years old, goes on a dangerous adventure in which she and her father are pursued by a group of sinister bandits, led by a man named Scorpio. Most intriguing are the identities of the bandits (who were fictional characters from story books) and the magical ability of Meggie\u2019s father who can \u201cread\u201d people, animals, and objects OUT of and INto books!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Gidwitz, Adam.<br \/>\nIN A GLASS GRIMMLY<br \/>\nJack and Jill, cousins from the Royal Court, left their homes and parents to seek for a better future and a place they could be accepted. \u00a0On tthe way, they have to combat man-eating giants, creepy mermaids, conniving goblins, and befriend a gigantic salamander, before their journey takes them back home. \u00a0Read all three titles for the full enjoyment: A TALE DARK AND GRIMM, IN A GLASS GRIMMLY, and THE GRIMM CONCLUSION.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hale, Shannon.<br \/>\nPRINCESS ACADEMY<br \/>\nMiri changes from an outcast and voiceless little girl into a strong, resilient, courageous leader of the Princess Academy, the school from which the prince must choose a bride.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hale, Shannon.<br \/>\nRAPUNZEL&#8217;S REVENGE (Graphic Novel)<br \/>\nSet in the Wild Wild West, this Rapunzel is courageous and resourceful beyond your imagination! Her long hair? It&#8217;s a handy weapon that she uses like a lasso to fight outlaws and finally free herself and her real mother from the evil clutch of the Witch. Great story accompanied by fabulous illustrations! The sequel is CALAMITY JACK.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Healy, Christopher.<br \/>\nTHE HERO&#8217;S GUIDE TO SAVING YOUR KINGDOM<br \/>\nIn this fractured and hilarious fairy-tale mashup, the four princes who saved\u00a0Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel are now outcasts of their own Kingdoms. \u00a0They find out about an evil plot that will ruin all their lands and have to overcome their own weaknesses and save their Kingdoms. \u00a0The sequels are also a lot of fun to read: THE HERO&#8217;S GUIDE TO STORMING THE CASTLE and THE HERO&#8217;S GUIDE\u00a0BEING AN OUTLAW.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hennesey, Carolyn.<br \/>\nPANDORA GETS JEALOUS (series)<br \/>\nPandy finally got something great to show her classmates at the Athena Maiden Middle School, in Ancient Greece. She has a certain &#8220;box.&#8221; But when she opens it, all sorts of unpleasant things come out and now it is up to her to get each of them back into the box. First up? Jealousy! \u00a0The sequels deal with heart, greed, fright, vainity, laziness, etc.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hunter, Erin.<br \/>\nPOWER OF THREE and WARRIORS (series)<br \/>\nThe clans of wild cats have been living in relative peace for generations, but now things are changing and many thrilling adventures and action-packed events take place.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jonell, Lynne.<br \/>\nEMMY AND THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING RAT<br \/>\nAfter inheriting a large mansion, Emmy\u2019s parents kept going away on vacations, leaving Emmy to cope in a new school and under the care of a villainous nanny. Her new found friends, a boy, a magical rat, and some other powerful rodents, will help her win back everything she has lost. \u00a0The two sequels are also fun to read: EMMY AND THE HOME FOR TROUBLED GIRLS and EMMY AND THE BATS IN THE BELFRY.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jones, Diana Wynne<br \/>\nA CHARMED LIFE (The Chrestomanci series)<br \/>\nMagic is an everyday affair in the charmed world of the story. It bubbles with invention and surprises. You\u2019ll meet Cat and Gwendolen and Chrestomanci \u2014 and you\u2019ll never know who may turn out to be a witch or an enchanter! \u00a0All the titles in the series are amusing and truly magical.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jones, Diana Wynne<br \/>\nHOWL\u2019S MOVING CASTLE and CASTLE IN THE AIR<br \/>\nIn these two stories, quite different in their settings, Jones weaves magic and humor to create the foremost entertainment for her readers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Juster, Norton.<br \/>\nTHE PHANTOM TOLL BOOTH<br \/>\nA story about a boy who goes through a toll booth and finds himself in a magical new world where he saves the day.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Law, Ingrid.<br \/>\nSAVVY<br \/>\nA &#8220;savvy&#8221; is a special supernatural power when you turn thirteen &#8212; if you are one of the Beaumont family members in the Midwest! Mibs&#8217; big day is coming and she cannot wait to discover what her savvy is and whether her new found power will be able to save her father. Cool magical abilities and a cast of likable characters will surely entertain any reader.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Levine, Gail Carson.<br \/>\nELLA ENCHANTED<br \/>\nA story about a noble girl, Ella, who suffers from a terrible curse from birth: the curse that forces her to obey anybody\u2019s command. This is a humorous and well-crafted retelling of the Cinderella story with a really likable main character. Another light fantasy by Carson is TWO PRINCESSES OF BAMARRE.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Lewis, C.S.<br \/>\nTHE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE (The Chronicles of Narnia)<br \/>\nA magic wardrobe allows three children to enter a perpetual wintry land ruled by the white witch. They embark on adventures that lead them through a commitment involving trust and sacrifice to find the only creature who can turn winter into spring. Part of the seven-book NARNIA series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Lowry, Lois<br \/>\nGOSSAMER<br \/>\nThe Littlest One, a young dream-giver, while learning to bestow dreams from loving memories, tries to save an eight-year-old boy from the effects of both his abusive past and the nightmares inflicted on him by the frightening Sinisteeds.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nesbit, E.<br \/>\nFIVE CHILDREN AND IT<br \/>\nWhen five brothers and sisters discover a Psammead (a sand fairy who is obliged to grant wishes that last a whole day) digging in the quarry near their summer cottage, the stage is set for wondrous adventures.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Paolini, Christopher.<br \/>\nERAGON, ELDEST, and BRISINGR<br \/>\nAt the beginning of the story, fifteen-year-old farm boy Eragon encounters magic and magical objects and quickly realizes that he is a gifted Dragon Rider. He takes on the dangerous and exciting task of fighting the evil powers that will destroy his Empire. This is Book One in the Inheritance series. ELDEST is its sequel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Pattou, Edith.<br \/>\nEAST<br \/>\nIn this retelling of a Scandinavian folk tale \u201cEast of the Sun, West of the Moon\u201d Rose saves her sister\u2019s life and the family fortune by agreeing to go and live far away with the white bear, in his wondrous cave. There are several narrators of this story \u2014 Rose, The White Bear, Rose\u2019s Father, The Troll Queen, and Rose\u2019s Brother. The reader pieces together a richly detailed, moving, imaginative story that is full of action and thrilling adventures.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Pearce, Philippa.<br \/>\nTOM\u2019S MIDNIGHT GARDEN<br \/>\nWhen the grandfather clock strikes thirteen, Tom is released from ordinary time. The boredom and loneliness of his summer vacation fade away as he escapes to nightly adventures in the midnight garden.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Pierce, Tamora.<br \/>\nALANNA: THE FIRST ADVENTURE (series)<br \/>\nEleven year old Alanna, who wishes to be a Knight, disguises herself as a boy and has exciting adventures. This is the first book in the SONG OF THE LIONESS quartet. Also read THE WILD MAGIC series, and the CIRCLE OF MAGIC series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Pullman, Philip.<br \/>\nTHE GOLDEN COMPASS (His Dark Materials trilogy)<br \/>\nLyra and her daemon Pantalaimon live in Jordan College, Oxford. Like other daemons of young children, Pantalaimon can change shapes and turn into any animal he wants to. When Lyra finds out some hidden secrets and gets involved with the grown-ups\u2019 and the Church\u2019s politics, her life makes a sharp turn and she is in constant danger and has many heart-stopping adventures.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Riordan, Rick.<br \/>\nTHE LOST HERO series<br \/>\nNot long after the end of the last Percy Jackson story, three fresh and powerful demi-gods are introduced: Jason, Piper and Leo.\u00a0 They take turns narrating the exciting story based on Greek and Roman mythologies but set in contemporary United States.\u00a0 At the end of this story full of cool magic and innovative gadgets, the readers cannot wait to continue the adventure in the Heroes of Olympus series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Riordan, Rick<br \/>\nPERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS series<br \/>\nPercy Jackson\u2019s (half-human, half-Greek God) action-packed and page-turning fun adventures in present day America have delighted many young readers. Now all five books are available, it is a great time to read the entire series!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Rowling, J.K.<br \/>\nHARRY POTTER series<br \/>\nUntil he turns age 11, Harry Potter lives the horrible life as an orphaned \u201cmuggle\u201d but this all changes magically when he\u2019s invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is famous and he is clueless about why he is so famous \u2013 until he starts exploring and discovering all sorts of incredible powers he has. This is the first book of an extremely popular 7-volume series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Sage, Angie.<br \/>\nMAGYK series<br \/>\nAfter learning that she is the Princess, Jenna is whisked from her home and carried toward safety by the Extraordinary Wizard, those she always believed were her father and brother, and a young guard known only as Boy 412\u2013pursued by agents of those who killed her mother ten years earlier. This is followed by FLYTE, PHYSIK, and the fourth title, out in 2008, QUESTE.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Sanderson, Brandon.<br \/>\nRITHMATIST<br \/>\nA Rithmatist defends, with geometric chalk patterns, against the mercilessly dangerous Wild Chalklings (that crawl around on 2-dimensional surfaces and can dissolve a person.) \u00a0Although Joel knows everything about Rithmatist, he has no magical ability to be trained as one. When students of the Academy start disappearing, Joel must combine force with a Rithmatist student to solve the deadly mystery.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Schlitz, Laura Amy.<br \/>\nSPLENDORS AND GLOOMS<br \/>\nClara Wintermute, the young daughter of a wealthy Victorian doctor, was bewitched and turned into a ballerina puppet by the evil wizard Grisin whose\u00a0tyrannic\u00a0control over Lizzie Rose and Parsefall, his two orphan apprentices, resulted in their running away with the puppets. \u00a0At Cassandra the witch&#8217;s castle, everything &#8212; spells, curses, the fight for power, and the search for happiness and home, all\u00a0came to a breathtaking and powerful conclusion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Smith, Jeff.<br \/>\nBONE series<br \/>\nThe adventure starts when cousins Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone are run out of Boneville and later get separated and lost in the wilderness, meeting monsters and making friends as they attempt to return home.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Stroud, Jonathan.<br \/>\nTHE RING OF SOLOMON<br \/>\nBartimaeous, the wise-cracking, powerful, but not always lucky djinni comes back in this prequel to the best-selling trilogy.\u00a0 This time, he has to accomplish the impossible job to steal the magical ring from King Solomon while in a reluctant alliance with a young female assassin. \u00a0The Bartimaeous trilogy leading up to the publication of this prequel is also highly recommended: THE AMULET OF SAMARKAND, THE GOLEM&#8217;S EYE, PTOLEMY&#8217;S GATE.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Tan, Shaun.<br \/>\nTALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA<br \/>\nFrom the author\/illustrator of THE ARRIVAL, this collection of short and unexpected stories with whimsical illustrations will delight, puzzle, and enlighten readers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Thompson, Kate<br \/>\nTHE NEW POLICEMAN<br \/>\nIrish teenager JJ Liddy discovers that time is leaking from his world into the land of the fairies, and as he attempts to stop the leak he finds out about his family history and a crime his great-grandfather possibly committed. Once you&#8217;ve finished this, don&#8217;t forget to get the sequel: THE LAST OF THE HIGH KINGS.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Tolkien, J.R.R.<br \/>\nTHE HOBBIT<br \/>\nThis is the prelude to The Lord of the Rings series, in which Bilbo Baggins is drawn from his quaint hobbit-hole to wondrous adventures involving elves, dwarfs, goblins and dragons in the far-off magic lands beyond the Misty Mountains.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Uehashi, Nahoko.<br \/>\nMORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT<br \/>\nSpear-wielding warrior woman Balsa takes on an almost impossible mission: to protect the Second Prince from being assassinated by the Emperor\u2019s hunters and from being eaten alive by the spirit monster Rarunga. This first installment of a popular Japanese series is very exciting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Wilson, N.D.<br \/>\n100 CUPBOARDS<br \/>\nStaying in the attic room of Uncle Frank\u2019s mysterious house, twelve-year-old Henry discovers one hundred cupboards of various sizes and designs which turn out to be portals to many magical worlds: some friendly, others sinister.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Wrede, Patricia.<br \/>\nDEALING WITH DRAGONS series<br \/>\nCimorene hates being a princess so she runs away to live with dragons. This is a fun read about Cimorene\u2019s adventures with the dragons. These adventures continue in SEARCHING FOR DRAGONS, CALLING ON DRAGONS and TALKING TO DRAGONS.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Yang, Gene Luen.<br \/>\nAVATAR: THE RIFT<br \/>\nIn this 3rd installment of the AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER graphic novel, Avatar Aang and his friends confront an ancient spirit determined to destroy a town on land sacred to the Air Nomads. \u00a0The Earth and Metal bender Toph and Aang find themselves on opposing sides in a battle of ideals.<br \/>\n<a name=\"humorous\"><\/a><br \/>\n<em><strong>HUMOROUS STORIES<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Angleberger, Tom.<br \/>\nFAKE MUSTACHE<br \/>\nLenny&#8217;s best friend Casper bought a special fake mustache (Heidelberg Handlebar Number Seven: made with real human hair) that gives him evil super powers.\u00a0Teamed up with the popular TV teen actress,\u00a0Jodie O&#8217;Rodeo, Lenny\u00a0tries to thaw Casper&#8217;s wild schemes: from robbing banks to winning the presidential election.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Angleberger, Tom.<br \/>\nTHE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA (series)<br \/>\nSixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future. Other titles in the series are DARTH PAPER STRIKES BACK, THE SECRET OF THE FORTUNE WOOKIEE, and more.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Appelt, Kathi.<br \/>\nTHE TRUE BLUE SCOUTS OF SUGARMAN SWAMP<br \/>\nRaccoons that scout for danger, a 12-year-old boy who struggles to maintain the family business (Paradise Pies Cafe,) a mysterious swamp god, some mean thugs and a group of even meaner hogs make for a hilarious, action packed, and heartwarming tall tale. A finalist at the National Book Awards of 2013.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Babbit, Natalie.<br \/>\nDEVIL\u2019S STORYBOOK.<br \/>\nA humorous book of stories about the Devil. Each short story is very funny and has a moral. I suggest this book for readers over the age of 8. The sequel is DEVIL\u2019S OTHER STORYBOOK.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Brooke, William.<br \/>\nA IS FOR AARRGH!<br \/>\nMog, a young boy living during the Stone Age, discovers words and language and teaches his fellow cave dwellers how to talk, thus altering the course of history.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Dahl, Roald.<br \/>\nROALD DAHL\u2019S REVOLTING RHYMES<br \/>\nDahl changes your view of fairy tales in this collection of short twisted tales\/rhymes by making them funnier, odder, and definitely more gruesome.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Enzensberger, Hans Magnus<br \/>\nTHE NUMBER DEVIL<br \/>\n12-year-old Robert is bored with math and can\u2019t stand his math teacher whose main interest in life is to secretly eat pretzels when his students are solving math problems. When the Number Devil starts to visit Robert in his dreams, however, Robert is intrigued and inspired by the funky things numbers can do! This is for both math lovers and people who dislike math with a passion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Gantos, Jack.<br \/>\nDEAD END IN NORVELT<br \/>\nIn a light-hearted and earnest voice, Jack Gantos, a 12-year-old boy in 1962 Norvelt, Pennsylvania, reports the many zany incidents of his summer vacation: from misfiring his father&#8217;s war rifle (and potentially caused a neighbor&#8217;s death,) to helping an old woman boil her hands in hot wax, to trying to solve the mystery of the rapid and unexpected series of deaths in the neighborhood. \u00a0This is the 2012 Newbery Award winner.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Gantos, Jack.<br \/>\nJOEY PIGZA SWALLOWED THE KEY series<br \/>\nJOEY PIGZA is a completely \u201cwired\u201d kid. When he doesn\u2019t take his meds, he often loses control over what he\u2019s doing, like accidentally snipped off the tip of his classmate\u2019s nose with a pair of scissors. In this 4-book series, Joey grows up and has to deal with an even weirder bunch of family members. Both extremely funny and deeply emotional, this is a highly regarded series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Horvath, Polly.<br \/>\nEVERYTHING ON A WAFFLE<br \/>\nPrimrose\u2019s dire predicment \u2014 losing her parents in a storm, combined with her humorous observations of the adults surrounding her, make this a quirky tale of faith, friendship, and growth. At the end of each chapter, there is a recipe that fits into the story. A Newbery Honor book of 2002.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jones, Kelly.<br \/>\nUNUSUAL CHICKENS FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL POULTRY FARMER (Humorous Stories)<br \/>\nTwelve-year-old Sophie Brown moves into the\u00a0farm the family\u00a0inherited from a great-uncle\u00a0and finds a roost of unusual chickens with super powers. \u00a0When a respected local farmer tries to steal them, Sophie must find a way to keep them and their superpowers safe. \u00a0Told in a series of letters, quizzes, doodles, etc., this is a delightful and unusual new book to enjoy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Kinney, Jeff<br \/>\nDIARY OF A WIMPY KID series<br \/>\nThis laugh-out-loud story, featuring comic illustrations, chronicles middle school student Greg Heffley&#8217;s year of mishaps and exaggerated incidents. This popular book is followed by more\u00a0titles, RODRICK RULES, THE LAST STRAW, THE UGLY TRUTH, etc.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Klise, Kate.<br \/>\nREGARDING THE FOUNTAIN: A TALE, IN LETTERS, OF LIARS AND LEAKS series<br \/>\nThis short, beautifully illustrated \u201cwatery\u201d story has so many twists and turns and so many word plays that it will amuse you on a hot summer day. There are many\u00a0other titles in the &#8220;Regarding&#8221; series, such as REGARDING THE BATHROOM and REGARDING THE TREES. \u00a0Another highly entertaining book by the same author is LETTERS FROM CAMP.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Mercado, Nancy, editor<br \/>\nTRIPPING OVER THE LUNCH LADY: AND OTHER SCHOOL STORIES<br \/>\nThis is an anthology of ten humorous short stories about life in school, written by well-known authors of children\u2019s books.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds.<br \/>\nTHE GRAND ESCAPE<br \/>\nMarco and Polo might have been content to stay housecats forever. But Marco has been \u201creading\u201d about ranches and wants to find one, while Polo longs to meet the mother he barely remembers. Together they set out on a journey and meet up with a gang of alley cats. They have to solve 3 mysteries of life in order to join the club.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Peck, Richard.<br \/>\nA YEAR DOWN YONDER<br \/>\nA rip-roaring story set against the backdrop of the Depression Era, features a grandmother who is a sharp shooter, bakes the most delicious pies, steals pumpkins from her neighbor\u2019s garden, plays tricks on Halloween pranksters, and is truly kind-hearted.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Rodkey, Geoff.<br \/>\nTHE TAPPER TWINS GO TO WAR: WITH EACH OTHER<br \/>\nThis\u00a0hilarious tale\u00a0features twelve-year-old fraternal twins, Claudia and Reese, who are each other&#8217;s best frenemy\u00a0and both want to come out on top in a &#8220;prank war!&#8221; But, when the situation gets\u00a0really\u00a0serious,\u00a0the twins have to decide if it is worth the price\u00a0to try to destroy each other. \u00a0Equally fun sequels are THE TAPPER TWINS TEAR UP NEW YORK and THE TAPPER TWINS RUN FOR PRESIDENT.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Russell, Rachel Renee.<br \/>\nDORK DIARIES series<br \/>\nIn the first book of the series, fourteen-year-old Nikki Maxwell writes in her diary of her struggle to be popular at her exclusive new private school, then of finding her place after she gives up on being part of the elite group. \u00a0This is a continuing series with eight books published.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Sachar, Louis.<br \/>\nDOGS DON\u2019T TELL JOKES<br \/>\nA boy named Goon wants to be a professional comedian. When a talent show comes around, he figures that it\u2019s his lucky day to make his dream come true. But it is not so easy to become a star, as he realizes. This is a very funny book that also has a few great football scenes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Sleator, William.<br \/>\nODD BALLS<br \/>\nThis is a collection of short stories of an odd ball family. In one story, a boy is hypnotized by his brother\u2019s friend and actually drinks out of the toilet bowl! Another time the children throw water balloons out of a window at people and are not even punished. This is a great funny book.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a name=\"thrillers\"><\/a><br \/>\n<em><strong>THRILLERS AND CHILLERS<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Anderson, M.T.<br \/>\nWHALES ON STILTS<br \/>\nThree resourceful children attempt to save the world from a mad scientist\u2019s evil plan involving mind-controlled whales-on-stilts. First in a series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Avi.<br \/>\nTHE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE<br \/>\nCharlotte leaves England in 1832 to rejoin her family and finds herself aboard a troubled ship sailing to Rhode Island under the brutal Captain Jaggery.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Avi.<br \/>\nWOLF RIDER<br \/>\nIn this psychological thriller, 15-year-old Andy risks his own safety trying to protect Nina, a young woman that Andy believes to be the future victim of a planned murder.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Bellairs, John.<br \/>\nTHE GHOST IN THE MIRROR<br \/>\nStrange things have been happening to Mrs. Zimmerman. It all started when she first saw the images in the mirror of the old dead witchcraft teacher. Now she and Rose Rita must go back in time and save the wise family from \u201cthe great wrong.\u201d Check out all of Bellairs tales of supernatural and mystery.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Brittain, Bill.<br \/>\nTHE WISH GIVER<br \/>\nAt the carnival in Coven Tree, four villagers received a wish card each from a mysterious little man. Their wishes came true, but all with unexpected maybe undesirable results.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Colfer, Eoin.<br \/>\nAIRMAN<br \/>\nWhen Conor Broekhart, teenage inventor and swordsman, is wrongfully jailed, he devices a daring escape from the island prison to clear his name and keep the kingdom from falling into evil hands. This is a very exciting new story from the popular author of the ARTEMIS FOWL series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Compestine, Ying Chang.<br \/>\nA BANQUET FOR HUNGRY GHOSTS<br \/>\nIn this collection of eight nightmare inducing, chilling and disturbing stories, all set in China, readers will also read about some customs and policies of current day China and learn to make some traditional dishes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Conrad, Pam.<br \/>\nSTONE WORDS \u2014 A GHOST STORY<br \/>\nZoe always knows that something is not quite right with the friend she has, another little girl also named Zoe \u2014 no one else seems to notice this Zoe\u2019s existence. In this ghost\/time-travel story, the Zoe of the present has to find a way to rescue the ghostly Zoe from the past.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Cooney, Caroline B.<br \/>\nTHE FACE ON THE MILK CARTON<br \/>\nA photograph of a missing girl from a long time ago on a milk carton leads Janie on a search for her real identity. This is the first book of a 4-book series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Delaney, Joseph.<br \/>\nTHE LAST APPRENTICE series<br \/>\nStarting with REVENGE OF THE WITCH, this dark and chilling series takes the readers into the world of Spooks: those who rid the villages of witches, ghosts, goblins, and other undesirable spirits. Timid readers do not try!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Gaiman, Neil<br \/>\nTHE GRAVEYARD BOOK<br \/>\nWhat happens when a baby is adopted by a graveyard full of (mostly) friendly ghosts? He learns all the ghostly knowledge and skills: fading, haunting, sliding from human sights. He also encounters strange and (often) frightening creatures: ghouls, sleers, hell hounds, and murderers. This is the 2009 Newbery Award winning title.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Grabenstein, Chris.<br \/>\nESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO&#8217;S LIBRARY<br \/>\nKyle wins a spot to be one of the first 12 kids in the new town library, designed by the genius Mr. Lemoncello, for an overnight of fun, food, and games.\u00a0However, the children discover the next morning that they are locked inside the library and unless they solve every clue and puzzle left for them, they will not be able to leave. \u00a0You might also enjoy the sequel MR. LEMONCELLO&#8217;S LIBRARY OLYMPICS.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hahn, Mary Downing.<br \/>\nWAIT TILL HELEN COMES<br \/>\nMolly saves her strange stepsister from the ghost of a child who haunts the cemetery behind their new home.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hiaasen, Carl<br \/>\nFLUSH<br \/>\nTeenager Noah and his sister Abbey try to help clear their father\u2019s name and rescue him from jail by catching the casino owner Dusty in his illegal actions. This action-packed mystery possesses the quirkiness and the concerns for the environment that so many readers have loved in Hiaasen\u2019s previous book, HOOT.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hoffman, Nina Kiriki.<br \/>\nA STIR OF BONES<br \/>\nSusan can communicate with her House. When she joins the group of new friends to venture into a haunted house, her ability to communicate with the House helps Susan wake up and befriend the ghost boy, Nathan, whose spirit has been trapped in the house where he died a long time ago. This book is just creepy enough, just romantic enough, and complex, but not confusing, for those who want to have a little bit of \u201cchilling\u201d sensation for a hot summer day!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hoobler, Dorothy.<br \/>\nTHE DEMON IN THE TEAHOUSE<br \/>\n14-year-old Seikei, the adopted son of Judge Ooka, a Japanese \u201cSherlock Holm\u201d is sent to solve the mystery of the fires and murders of Geishas in Edo and its nearby pleasure town? The first novel in this series is GHOST IN THE TAIKAIDO INN. The newest installment is IN DARKNESS, DEATH.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Horowitz, Anthony.<br \/>\nALEX RIDER series<br \/>\nAlex Rider, a 14-year-old orphan, has been trained by his uncle Ian to be superbly athletic and remarkably resourceful, the stuff that makes for a great spy.\u00a0 It turns out that Alex needs every skill he has, when, after Uncle Ian dies, he is forced to work for the British intelligence agency MI6 to be one of their youngest agents.\u00a0 In the series, Alex has to defeat notorious villains and gather intelligence for MI6 time and time again, relying on physical powers, smarts, and some really cool gadgets!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Martin, Ann M. and Laura Godwin.<br \/>\nTHE DOLL PEOPLE<br \/>\nAnnabelle Doll has been eight-years-old for over one hundred years. Being cooped up in the same dollhouse with the same people is boring\u2013until the pink plastic Funcrafts arrive. This is followed by THE MEANEST DOLL IN THE WORLD and the newest RUNAWAY DOLLS.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Mass, Wendy.<br \/>\nTHE CANDYMAKERS<br \/>\nWhen four twelve-year-olds, including Logan, who has grown up never leaving his parents&#8217; Life Is Sweet candy factory, compete in the Confectionary Association&#8217;s annual contest, they unexpectedly become friends and uncover secrets about themselves during the process.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Miller, Kristen<br \/>\nKIKI STRIKE: INSIDE THE SHADOW CITY<br \/>\nTwelve-year-old Ananka discovers an underground room in the park across from her New York City apartment, and meets a mysterious girl called Kiki Strike who becomes a mastermind of a group of super-talented girls that sets out to save the city from the impending destruction. Its sequels, KIKI STRIKE: THE EMPERESS&#8217;S TOMB and KIKI STRIKE: THE DARKNESS DWELLLERS are even more action-packed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Mulligan, Andy.<br \/>\nTRASH<br \/>\nIn an unnamed third-world country, living off of the garbage dump to barely survive, three young teens, Raphael, Gordo, and Rat, discovered an item that will lead them to a series of life-threatening events in a world of political corruption.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds<br \/>\nJADE GREEN<br \/>\nThis is a chilling ghost story in which an orphaned girl, Judith, moving in with her uncle, is confronted with the spirit (and the bloody severed hand) of a girl, Jade Green. Judith tries to solve the sinister mystery on her own.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nielsen, Jennifer A.<br \/>\nTHE FALSE PRINCE (Realistic)<br \/>\nSage, an orphan, who is a practiced thief and has incredible street smarts, suddenly finds himself, along with two other orphans, captured and trained by a nobleman to impersonate a long lost prince. \u00a0Only one of them will succeed &#8212; and those who don&#8217;t, will be disposed of to keep the secret. \u00a0Truths and lies, alliances and plots, false steps and triumphs make this action-packed story told from Sage&#8217;s first person point of view incredibly intriguing. \u00a0This is a first volume of a trilogy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nixon, Joan Lowery<br \/>\nTHE KIDNAPPING OF CHRISTINA LATTIMORE<br \/>\nChristina has a great life. She\u2019s rich, she goes to a good school, and she is popular. Then, she gets kidnapped and everything changes. What makes it worse is that her parents are convinced that she is an accomplice in her own kidnapping. What will happen to Christina and who is the real culprit? Read and find out.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Potter, Ellen.<br \/>\nOLIVIA KIDNEY<br \/>\nOlivia Kidney is a 12-year-old girl whose life changes from the ordinary to the completely bizarre: encountering a murderous ex-pirate, a world renowned psychic, and even a ghost.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Potter, Ellen.<br \/>\nPISH POSH<br \/>\nClara Francofile determines who\u2019s in and who\u2019s out at her parents\u2019 trendy restaurant Pish Posh, but when she encounters a 12-year-old jewel thief, she is led to meet a ghost and solve, unwittingly, a 200-year-old secret.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Preller, James.<br \/>\nSCARY TALES series<br \/>\nThe first title in this series is HOME SWEET HORROR: After the death of his mother, eight-year-old Liam and his father and sister move to a new house for a fresh start, but Liam soon discovers that the old house is haunted. \u00a0Other titles are: I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, GOOD NIGHT, ZOMBIE, and more.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Raskin, Ellen.<br \/>\nTHE WESTING GAME<br \/>\nSam Westing has died. 16 people came to hear his will. It turns out that they are all related. The will says that some one has murdered Westing and the heirs have to solve a puzzle game in order to inherit the huge amount of money left by him. This is a fun-filled mystery.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Roberts, Willo Davis<br \/>\nCAUGHT!<br \/>\nAfter a bus journey in search of their father, Vickie and her younger sister discover that he is missing and may need their help.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Selznick, Brian<br \/>\nTHE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET<br \/>\nHugo Cabret, a young boy in 1931 Paris, holds many secrets and has suffered many losses. In this beautifully told, both in words and pictures, story, Hugo finds his self-worth and a warm place in the world. This story is part mystery and part historical fiction and entirely charming.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Sherry, Maureen.<br \/>\nWALLS WITHIN WALLS<br \/>\nThis fun mystery of three NYC children solving a riddles and puzzles to find a treasure hidden somewhere in the city, is a perfect fit for readers from New York and are familiar with most of the landmarks referenced in the book and yet will be intrigued to know more about the hidden history of them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Snicket, Lemony.<br \/>\nA SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS series<br \/>\nThe three Baudelaire orphans\u2019 struggle against the evil Count Olaf is detailed in these thirteen highly original, dark, and yet humorous mystery stories.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Springer, Nancy<br \/>\nTHE CASE OF THE BIZARRE BOUQUETS: AN ENOLA HOLMES MYSTERY<br \/>\nIn this exciting sleuthing tale, Enola Holmes must decode the hidden messages in the strange bouquets by using the language of flowers in order to rescue Dr. Watson, her brother\u2019s friend and assistant.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Stewart, Trenton Lee.<br \/>\nTHE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY<br \/>\nFour extremely gifted and talented children are recruited by Mr. Benedict to go on a secret mission to thwart the plans of world domination by the evil genius Mr. Curtains at an isolated school on an island. The sequels, THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PERILOUS JOURNEY and THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PRISONER&#8217;S DILEMMA are every bit as exciting as the first one.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Stone, Jeff.<br \/>\nFIVE ANCESTERS series<br \/>\nThe young monks, highly trained in martial arts, must face their old friend who has betrayed them and murdered the other monks in his desire to become the most powerful martial arts master.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Stroud, Jonathan.<br \/>\nTHE SCREAMING STAIRCASE (Mystery\/Horror)<br \/>\nLockwood &amp; Co. is a Psychic Investigation\u00a0Agency to help the haunted living solve\u00a0ghostly cases. \u00a0When Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, joins the Agency, she finds herself on a mission that could result in her and her coworkers&#8217; terrifying\u00a0demise. This is the first in the Lockwood &amp; Co. series. \u00a0The second installment is THE WHISPERING SKULL.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Teitelbaum, Michael.<br \/>\nTHE\u00a0SCARY STATES OF AMERICA<br \/>\nTwelve-year-old Jason Specter introduces and presents his favorite stories of the paranormal&#8211;one from each state of the Union&#8211;submitted to the Web site he created after his own encounter with a ghost at school three years earlier.<br \/>\n<a name=\"poetry\"><\/a><br \/>\n<em><strong>POETRY<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Adoff, Arnold, ed.<br \/>\nMY BLACK ME: BEGINNING BOOK OF BLACK POETRY<br \/>\nA compilation of poems reflecting thoughts on being Black by such authors as Langston Hughes and Nikki Giovanni. Poet Adoff and his wife Virginia Hamilton have published many other worthwhile anthologies.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Agard, John, ed.<br \/>\nTHE CARIBBEAN DOZEN<br \/>\nThirteen Caribbean poets recount childhood experiences in poetry and prose. This collection is both a delight to the eye and the mind.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Bierhorst, John.<br \/>\nIN THE TRAIL OF THE WIND: AMERICAN INDIAN POEMS AND RITUAL ORATIONS<br \/>\nThis collection of Indian poetry originates from various tribes and is arranged by theme.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Brenner, Barbara (Editor)<br \/>\nVOICES: POETRY AND ART FROM AROUND THE WORLD<br \/>\nA sampler of traditional, ancient and modern poetry from six continents is interspersed with illustrations of world art and sculpture.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Bryan, Ashley.<br \/>\nASHLEY BRYAN\u2019S ABC OF AFRICAN AMERICAN POETRY<br \/>\nPoems ranging from the intense to the whimsical reflect the diverse voices of poets such as Rita Dove, Lucille Clifton, and Gwendolyn Brooks. The colorful illustrations add to the appeal of the collection.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Calmenson, Stephanie.<br \/>\nNEVER TAKES A PIG OUT TO LUNCH: and other funny poems about animals<br \/>\nHumorous poems and funny pictures will sure keep you laughing. A good book to share with a friend.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Carman, Bliss, ed.<br \/>\nTHE OXFORD BOOK OF CHILDREN\u2019S VERSE IN AMERICA<br \/>\nThree hundred more pages filled with American poems written for children or traditionally enjoyed by children, by Longfellow, Poe, Eugene Field, Dr. Seuss, Jack Prelutsky and many other poets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Demi, selec. &amp; illus.<br \/>\nIN THE EYES OF THE CAT: JAPANESE POETRY FOR ALL SEASONS<br \/>\nA selection of mostly haiku organized by season with corresponding illustrations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Eliot, T.S.<br \/>\nOLD POSSUM\u2019S BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS<br \/>\n\u201cThe naming of cats is a difficult matter\u2026\u201d So starts this classic which was turned into a musical.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feelings, Tom, ill.<br \/>\nSOUL LOOKS BACK IN WONDER<br \/>\nTom Feelings\u2019 stunning illustrations accompany the powerful poems by some of the most celebrated African American poets, including Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Margaret Walker.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Gollub, Matthew. Illustrated by Kazuko G. Stone.<br \/>\nCOOL MELONS \u2014 TURN TO FROGS: THE LIFE AND POEMS OF ISSA<br \/>\nThis is a collection of 33 haikus by an eighteenth-century Japanese poet. Both the English and the Japanese versions of each poem are presented.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hughes, Langston.<br \/>\nTHE DREAM KEEPER AND OTHER POEMS<br \/>\nA major African-American poet, Hughes\u2019 poetry is written in a spirit of racial pride and protest.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Kennedy, Caroline.<br \/>\nPOEMS TO LEARN BY HERAT<br \/>\nIn this new collection of more than 100 classic poems, the anthologist Caroline Kennedy (daughter of President and First Lady John and\u00a0Jacqueline Kennedy) invites us to enjoy the worthwhile challenge and unbound joy in memorizing and recite great poetry.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Koch, Kenneth and Kate Farrell, selec.<br \/>\nTALKING TO THE SUN: AN ILLUSTRATED ANTHOLOGY OF POEMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE<br \/>\nPoems from many countries organized by themes and illustrated by works from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Lear, Edward<br \/>\nA BOOK OF NONSENSE<br \/>\nThe Metropolitan Museum reprint captures all the nonsense and absurdity in verse and illustration of this master of the limerick. There are many other editions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nye, Naomi Shihab, ed.<br \/>\nTHIS SAME SKY: A collection of poems from around the world<br \/>\nA poetry anthology in which 120 poets from sixty-two different countries celebrate the natural world and its human and animal inhabitants. Elegantly designed and lovingly selected by poet Nye, this collection belongs on any poetry lover\u2019s shelf.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Opie, Iona, ed.<br \/>\nTHE OXFORD BOOK OF CHILDREN\u2019S VERSE<br \/>\nA standard collection of mainly British poems for children.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Park, Linda Sue.<br \/>\nTAP DANCING ON THE ROOF: SIJO POEMS<br \/>\nDescribing familiar topics such as breakfast, long division, seasons, and pockets, these poems, in the traditional Korean poetic form, the Sijo, are often funny and always surprising.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Prelutsky, Jack.<br \/>\nPIZZA THE SIZE OF THE SUN<br \/>\nA collection of whimsical short poems illustrated by James Stevenson. If you like Shel Silverstein, you will enjoy this collection, too. Also other collections by Prelutsky, including THE DRAGONS ARE SINGING TONIGHT, A. NONNY MOUSE WRITES AGAIN, MONDAY\u2019S TROLL.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Scieszka, Jon.<br \/>\nSCIENCE VERSE<br \/>\nThe power duo of humorous writings for children did it again \u2014 Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith created this collection of poetry and song parodies that actually deliver reliable scientific facts!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Sidman, Joyce.<br \/>\nDARK EMPEROR AND OTHER POEMS OF THE NIGHT<br \/>\nIn this 2011 Newbery honor title, twelve beautifully crafted poems about the nocturnal experiences are accompanied by informational text about night-time plants and animals.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Stevenson, Robert Louis.<br \/>\nA CHILD\u2019S GARDEN OF VERSES<br \/>\nThere are many different editions of this collection \u2014 pick out one with great illustrations and enjoy the rich flavor of these timeless poems.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Whipple, Laura, ed.<br \/>\nCELEBRATING AMERICA: A COLLECTION OF POEMS AND IMAGES OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT<br \/>\nMore than 60 poems portrays the \u201cLand,\u201d the \u201cStories,\u201d the \u201cHeart,\u201d the \u201cPeople,\u201d and the \u201cSpirit\u201d of America. Each is carefully paired with a piece of suitable art work from the Art Institute of Chicago. This anthology gives insightful glimpses to the U.S. history.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Wissinger, Tamera Will.<br \/>\nGONE FISHING: A NOVEL IN VERSE (Poetry)<br \/>\nThis story of a nine-year-old boy\u2019s eventful day of fishing told in\u00a0a wide variety of poetic forms\u00a0exploring sibling rivalry, the love of\u00a0father and son, and the excitement \u2013 and difficulty &#8212; of fishing.<br \/>\n<a name=\"biography\"><\/a><br \/>\n<em><strong>NONFICTION, BIOGRAPHY and MEMOIRS<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Bell, Cece.<br \/>\nEL DEAFO<br \/>\nCece Bell, author and artist of this Graphic Novel Memoir,\u00a0recounts in delightful panel art and witty dialog and internal monologue her experiences with hearing loss at a young age, including using a bulky hearing aid, learning how to lip read, and determining her &#8220;superpower.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Blumberg, Rhoda.<br \/>\nSHIPWRECKED<br \/>\nA true and dramatic account of the very first Japanese man who came to the United States after his fishing boat was shipwrecked in the 1800\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Booth, Ben.<br \/>\nSWORDS: An Artist&#8217;s Devotion<br \/>\nIntricate, breathtakingly beautiful illustrations are accompanied by carefully researched information about the history of swords from many cultures and through hundreds of years. This is a great book to re-visit over and over again in order to obtain better understanding of the artistic and practical aspects of this weapon.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Fleischman, Sid<br \/>\nTHE ABRACADABRA KID: A WRITER\u2019S LIFE<br \/>\nA rollicking autobiographical journey follows Fleischman from budding magician to award winning author.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Freedman, Russell<br \/>\nELEANOR ROOSEVELT: A LIFE OF DISCOVERY<br \/>\nThe marvelously rich and full life of this legendary first lady is profiled in an excellent photo-biography. A Newbery Honor Book.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Gourse, Leslie<br \/>\nDIZZY GILLESPIE AND THE BIRTH OF BEBOP<br \/>\nThis is the story of jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, his passion for music and how he charted new territory and won recognition for one of America\u2019s greatest original art forms.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Lawlor, Laurie.<br \/>\nHELEN KELLER: REBELLIOUS SPIRIT<br \/>\nThis carefully researched and fluidly written biography on Helen Keller portrays her as a distinctive and sometimes flawed individual.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Losure, Mary.<br \/>\nFAIRY RING<br \/>\nFrances (9) and Elsie (15) were cousins. \u00a0During the summer when Frances stayed with Elsie in 1917, the two girls took photographs of what looked like fairies, dancing or resting in the meadow near Elsie&#8217;s house. \u00a0These photographs became a sensational story that made many people believe the existence of fairies, including the famous author and spiritualist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Lowry, Lois.<br \/>\nLOOKING BACK: A BOOK OF MEMORIES<br \/>\nUsing family photographs and quotes from her books, the very popular author (of THE GIVER and the ANASTASIA KRUPNIC stories) provides glimpses into her life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Marcus, Leonard.<br \/>\nSIDE BY SIDE<br \/>\nFive teams of picture books authors and illustrators are interviewed and their stories of collaboration are documented in this informative and delightful collection.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Montgomery, Sy.<br \/>\nTEMPLE GRANDIN<br \/>\nAn internationally renowned animal scientist and engineer who was born with autism, Temple Grandin has taken down many barriers and opened many doors: she has designed much more humane slaughter houses, consulted with multi-national fast food chains on how to better treat animals, and has been able to bring much greater understanding of how an autistic mind functions to the world at large.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Napoli, Donna Jo.<br \/>\nTREASURY OF EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY (Nonfiction)<br \/>\nThis ample collection of Egyptian mythological stories accompanied by historical, cultural, and geographic context on the sidebars will not only entertain readers but also provide fascinating historical information.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Partridge, Elizabeth.<br \/>\nMARCHING FOR FREEDOM<br \/>\nThis photo-documentary presents the passionate and sometimes deadly three months of protests that led to the famous march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965, focusing on the courageous young people who faced terrifying violence to fight for the right to vote.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Paulsen, Gary.<br \/>\nGUTS: THE TRUE STORIES BEHIND HATCHET AND THE BRIAN BOOKS<br \/>\nGary Paulsen records in (often quite gory) details many dangerous situations he experienced and wove into his Brian books, including the chilling close-up knowledge of heart attacks, the tragedy of a child killed by two kicks from the razor-sharp hooves and many others.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Peet, Bill.<br \/>\nAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY<br \/>\nThis picture book with autobiographical text follows Peet from early boyhood memories to his work for Disney studios and to the creation of his own picture books. Familiar characters from his books and movies appear often.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Porcellino, John.<br \/>\nTHOREAU AT WALDEN (Graphic Novel)<br \/>\nThoreau was a famous American thinker and writer in the 19th century. This graphic treatment provides young readers a tangible interpretation of Thoreau&#8217;s experiences living in harmony with nature. A wonderful book that should be shared by the whole family.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Say, Allen.<br \/>\nDRAWING FROM MEMORY<br \/>\nCaldecott Award winner Allen Say recounts his childhood in Japan during World War II when he was kicked out of his home by his father due to his desire to become a cartoonist and when he found a master cartoonist as his mentor who became a second father to him.\u00a0 This beautifully rendered memoir in text and drawings allows the readers to experience Say&#8217;s sorrows and joyous moments in his young life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Sheinkin, Steve.<br \/>\nBOMB:\u00a0\u00a0THE RACE TO BUILD &#8211; AND STEAL &#8211; THE WORLD&#8217;S MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON<br \/>\nThe stage is World War II; the characters are scientists, government officials, and spies; the drama is one of scientific triumphs, international espionage, and the race to win the war. \u00a0The stakes couldn&#8217;t have been higher and the storytelling couldn&#8217;t have been more compelling in this stellar, award-winning nonfiction.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Sis, Peter.<br \/>\nTHE TREE OF LIFE: A BOOK DEPICTING THE LIFE OF CHARLES DARWIN NATURALIST, GEOLOGIST AND THINKER.<br \/>\nDarwin\u2019s unique Life and work is presented in a vsually stunning, complex and appealing manner that begs multiple readings.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Spinelli, Jerry.<br \/>\nKNOTS IN MY YO-YO STRING<br \/>\nSpinelli, author of MANIAC MAGEE and WRINGER, turns regular happenings in his life, like sidewalk races and his first kiss, into hilarious episodes in this autobiography.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Stone, Tanya Lee.<br \/>\nTHE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE BARBIE: A DOLL&#8217;S HISTORY AND HER IMPACT ON US<br \/>\nThe internationally famous Barbie Doll has a fascinating history.\u00a0 This entertaining and often enlightening nonfiction details the many lives and faces through decades and examines the impacts Barbie has on art, feminist movement, and the general population.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Telgemeier, Raina.<br \/>\nSMILE<br \/>\nAn autobiography in graphic novel format shows\u00a0how Raina\u00a0lost two of her front teeth in an accident when she was twelve and her struggles with various all sorts of dental procedures\u00a0throughout her adolescence.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Uchida, Yoshika<br \/>\nTHE INVISIBLE THREAD<br \/>\nIn her autobiography, the author Yoshiko Uchida describes growing up in California as a Nisei, a second-generation Japanese American, and the story of her family\u2019s internment in a Utah concentration camp during World War II.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Warren, Andrea<br \/>\nSURVIVING HITLER: A BOY IN THE NAZI DEATH CAMP<br \/>\nThis is a powerful story of Jack Mandelbaum. As a teenager during WWII, he spent three horrific years in a concentration camp, and as a grown-man, he chose the path of tolerance and forgiveness.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Woodson, Jacqueline.<br \/>\nBROWN GIRL DREAMING<br \/>\nIn this verse memoir, vivid poems capture the joy of finding her own\u00a0voice through writing stories and reflect on what it was like to grow up African American in the 1960s and 1970s Brooklyn, New York and Greenville, South Carolina. (2015 Newbery Honor book)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading Without Walls Summer Reading Challenge This year, the\u00a0National Ambassador of Young People\u2019s Literature, graphic novelist Gene Yang (Boxers &amp; Saints, American Born Chinese, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Shadow Hero, etc.) set up three goals for all young readers in the United States. \u00a0The Dalton Middle School Library supports these goals and want to challenge [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1704","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1704"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1704\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dalton.org\/mslibrary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}