(Hidden) Witch Boy** by Molly Knox Ostertag
In Aster’s family only girls can witches and boys grow up to be shapeshifters but at 13 he still hasn’t shifted and is very intrigued by witchery even if it is against the rules.
1984 by George Orwell
Written in 1949 and set in a grim London of the future, Orwell’s now-classic novel of Big Brother and the Thought Police is still chilling. Winston Smith, a worker at the Ministry of Truth, is gravely endangered simply because he has a memory.
A Boy and a Bear in a Boat by Dave Shelton
The Boy wishes to get to the other side of the water. The Bear, captain of the rowboat Harriet, is happy to take him across. So begins a journey, like no other. Will they make it to their destination, despite high seas, half a comic book and ... hunger?
A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix
Raised in privilege as a Prince, Khemri is humbled to find out he is only one of hundreds of candidates who are being tested to lead an intergalactic empire.
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban
Zoes ambition to be a famous concert pianist gets off to a rocky start when her father buys her a Perfectone D-60 electric organ instead of the baby grand piano of her dreams.
A Faraway Island ** by Annika Thor
Two sisters are sent to Sweden to escape persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany. Stephie, the older, has a hard time adjusting. Her strict foster mother expects her to accept the local Pentecostal Christian tradition, and classmates taunt her for being foreign. Almost worse, her younger sister is adapting so easily to their new life that she seems to be forgetting their family and where they come from. The girls’ story continues in two sequels as they grow up.
A Game for Swallows: To Die, to Leave, to Return by Zeina Abirached
Zeina lives in divided and war-torn Beirut. The story takes place during a single evening when Zeina’s parents are stranded somewhere outside the apartment and a bombardment starts. She and her brother are not alone
because their apartment is the safest in their building, where all the neighbors gather. Each of them has an interesting, sometimes tragic, story.
A Girl Called Faithful Plum by Richard Bernstein
Zhongmei is determined to audition for entrance to the Beijing Dance Academy, which trains the best professional dancers in China. A farm girl from the countryside, she has almost no chance against thousands of other eager applicants from all over the country. In this inspiring true story, Zhongmei embodies the saying of Chairman Mao: “Dare to struggle; dare to win!”
A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars by Seth Fishman
This mind-bending exploration of humongous numbers travels from outer space to subterranean Earth. A clever and playful presentation of number estimation and comparison.
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Sara Crewe is the richest girl at Miss Minchin’s boarding school in London, until she’s suddenly orphaned and left penniless. Forced to live in the attic and work as a maid for the school, Sara is determined to behave with the dignity and graciousness of a real princess.
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
When Salva’s village in Sudan is attacked, he and the other boys run away to escape the fighting. Many boys are separated from their families this way and band together on a long, dangerous walk to safety. Many years later, Nya spends the entire day, every day, walking back and forth to a pond to supply her family with water. Eventually the stories of Nya and Salva come together.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Fantasy illuminates stark reality in this story about Conor, whose mother is sick with cancer. As his life takes a turn in a direction he dreads, Conor is visited by nightmares. Then, unbelievably, a threatening monster, as large as a tree, visits Conor in real, waking life and makes a terrifying demand.
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
Many stories by the Brothers Grimm including scary, gory parts often left out of retellings are woven together to create an exciting new adventure for Hansel and Gretel.
A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman
Veda knows she was born to dance. Since earliest childhood, she has heard music and felt rhythm in everything around her. Even before losing part of her right leg in a traffic accident, she wondered if rigorous training and competition might be squeezing the soul out of her art. Her road to recovery involves finding a new way to dance.
A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson
This memorial to the teen-age victim of a racially motivated murder is composed in the strict form of a heroic crown of sonnets. The last line of each poem becomes the first line of the next. The illustrations echo the dignified and somber tone of the poems.
A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler
It’s summer as usual for Jenni. Her little brother is about to get carsick and her very best friend is waiting for her at the hotel where they spend a carefree week with their families each year. However, it will all soon change as Jenni is catapulted one year ahead and horrible events have taken place. Will Jenni be able to change the course of history? Dip into this suspenseful tale of friendship and time travel to find out.
A Year Without Mom by Dasha Tolstikova
While her mother studies in the US. Dasha stays with her grandparents in Moscow. Missing her mom, Dasha goes through the ups and downs of a whole year: academic pressure, girl drama, and boy crushes.
Abominables by Eva Ibbotson
Yetis, or Abominable Snowmen, are forced to leave their home due to global warming. As they make their way to England, there are many exciting adventures involving very confusing behavior by humans. Once in England,
they discover home turns out to be a big game preserve where THEY are the big game!
Acceleration by Graham McNamee
Duncan’s summer working underground in the Toronto Transit System’s Lost and Found Department turns unexpectedly suspenseful when he discovers the diary of a stalker. Duncan becomes convinced that the unidentified writer of the diary fits the profile of a serial killer and is on the verge of committing a horrible act.
Ada’s Violin by Susan Hood
The remarkable true story of a world-renowned children's orchestra in Paraguay, where all the instruments are made from recycled trash.
Adventures in Cartooning by James Sturm
A knight, a dragon with a sweet tooth, a magic elf, and a princess are all gathered together in this book to tell a funny story AND show you how graphic novels work.
Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut: Bowling Alley Bandit** by Laurie Keller
Arnie is a doughnut-dog, Mr. Bing Arnie is a doughnut-dog, Mr. Bing’s pet and best friend. Silly humor and dynamic illustrations make this
lighthearted mystery a winner.
Akata Witch** by Nnedi Okorafor
A Nigerian born in America, and an albino, Sunny is used to not fitting in. After her family returns to Nigeria, she discovers she has hereditary powers that bind her to a group of magically gifted people.The elders assign her, together with another girl and two boys, to unravel a dangerous mystery.
Al Capone Does My Shirts** by Gennifer Choldenko
This often humorous historical novel is set on the island of Alcatraz in 1935, when the families of guards used to live in a village near the high security penitentiary.
Alabama Moon by Watt Key
Moon has been raised by his anti-government father away from society in a shelter in the woods. After his father dies, Moon starts to question his beliefs, but unpleasant encounters with the authorities make him determined to stay self-sufficient.
Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians** by Brandon Sanderson
Alcatraz Smedry has had a rough start in his first 13 years He has moved from foster home to foster home, disaster and catastrophe following him along the way. However, he soon discovers his destiny and his powerful talent to break things. He must harness this powerful talent to battle the Evil Librarians who control the world we know.
Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Attention food lovers! Here is an inspiring picture book introduction to the life of world-famous chef Alice Waters, owner of Chez Panisse and founder of the Edible Schoolyard movement.
All Stations Distress! by Don Brown
THE "UNSINKABLE" MEETS THE UNTHINKABLE -- A gripping account of the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic.
All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon
Introduces children to the water cycle through poetic text and dynamic illustrations.
All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
Meet the All-of-a-Kind Family -- Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie -- who live with their parents in New York City at the turn of the century.
Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has a long name. This heart-warming tale shares the discovery of her name story.
Almost Astronauts by Tanya Lee Stone
In the 1960s, thirteen skilled female pilots passed rigorous tests to prove they had the ability to serve on space missions, but NASA never permitted them to become astronauts.
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
Amal dreams of becoming a teacher but those hopes are dashed when she is forced into indentured servitude. Nevertheless, through this misfortune she learns the importance of working with others to achieve her dreams.
Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart by Vera B. Williams
Sisters Amber and Essie share their talents, joys, and struggles.
American Dragons by Laurence Yep, ed.
Yep gathers together poems and short stories by a number of authors all reflecting on what it is to be young and Asian American, bringing one’s ‘inner dragon’ to sometimes highly discordant experiences. Some entries are heart-wrenching, some humorous; all are touching.
Anna Hibiscus** by Atinuke
_Anna Hibiscus lives in amazing Africa with her mother, her father, her baby twin brothers, and lots and lots of her family. A wonderful chapter book series for younger readers.
Arabel and Mortimer by Joan Aiken
A funny story about a girl and her pet raven, told in a highly opinionated first person voice.
Aru Shah and the End of Time** by Roshani Chokshi
Using Hindu mythology, Chokshi weaves together an action-packed adventure story. Caught in a lie, Aru Shah tries to prove herself by lighting a supposedly cursed ancient lamp. When an ancient demon is released, it is up to Aru to save the day.
As An Oak Tree Grows by G. Brian Karas
This clever picture book tells history from the unique perspective of a two hundred year old oak tree. A wonderful introduction to history and ecology.
As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins
Looking for cell phone reception, Ry unwisely gets off a stopped train in the middle of nowhere, and it leaves without him. Furthermore, the summer program he was headed to is called off and his parents are out of the country. This is the start of a chain of calamities and surprising adventures for Ry.
Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch
Rose’s family immigrates to New York in 1911, but meet so many hardships that they decide to return to Ireland. Sixteen year-old Rose and her younger sister persuade their parents to let them stay. After difficult work in a sweatshop, they are pleased to find jobs in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, which is now remembered as the scene of a terrible fire.
Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies by Andrea Beaty
At Camp Whatsitooya, campers have to face off against large, rabbit-like creatures from outer space. They love sugar, but may be a danger to campers too.
Aurora County All Stars by Deborah Wiles
In a tiny town in Mississippi, House Jackson lives for baseball. His team gets to play against another team once a year, but the game might get cancelled because of a pageant directed by a girl who once broke his arm.
B for Buster by Iain Lawrence
Kak is excited and proud to join a bomber crew. The glamour fades fast when he flies his first few operations aboard the battered WWII aircraft named B for Buster and realizes that his chances of surviving the war are very small.
Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCoola
Relying on skills learned from her beloved grandma, Masha faces a series of tests to become an assistant to the legendary Russian witch and get her annoying stepsister home safely.
Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse by David Kelly
A must read for all Red Sox fans! Part biography and part history of the
Baby Monkey, Private Eye by
Baby Monkey may be a baby (and a monkey) but he has a full-time job as a private eye. Help solve the mysteries in this innovative early chapter book.
Babymouse: Queen of the World!** by Jennifer and Matthew Holm
Babymouse and Wilson are very best friends, but what happens when sassy Babymouse goes to popular Felicia Furrypaw
Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins
Chiko wants to become a teacher to help educate the people of Burma, but his dreams are shattered when he’s tricked into joining the army and sent to fight the Karenni people near the border with Thailand. On a failed mission, he encounters Tu Reh, an angry young man on the opposite side of the conflict.
Bandit’s Moon by Sid Fleischman
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Barack Obama: Out of Many, One by Shana Corey
An excellent biographical introduction to Barack Obama, written in clear and accessible language.
Bat Boy and His Violin by Gavin Curtis
Papa is the manager of the worst baseball team in the Negro League. He wants his son Reginald to be the bat boy. Reginald is a wonderful violin player but a terrible athlete.
Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
Vera just wants to go to a cool summer camp like all her friends, but her family can’t afford it. Instead, she gets sent to a Russian, Jewish Orthodox sleepaway camp. She is not prepared!
Beauty and the Beak : How Science, Technology, and a 3D-Printed Beak Rescued a Bald Eagle by Deborah Lee Rose
Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs
Henry the Hippo, FunJungle’s trademark, was a disgusting, obnoxious animal, but he didn’t deserve to be murdered. Teddy, who lives in the theme park because his parents are animal researchers, forms an unlikely alliance with the park owner’s celebrity daughter to find out who’s responsible.
Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas!** by Philippe Coudray
In witty and inventive cartoon panels, Benjamin Bear, accompanied by his faithful rabbit friend, shares his observations and questions about the world around him.
Beowulf by Gareth Hinds
Hinds’ graphic novel helps young readers access this Old English epic poem. Perfect for those who love action and horror.
Better Nate Than Ever ** by Tim Federle
Nate Foster has runaway from his small-town home in rural Pennsylvania to fulfill his big city dreams of becoming a Broadway star. With the help of his best friend, Nate has just enough time to get to his audition for E.T.: The Extraterrestrial - The Musical before his parents get back from their weekend getaway. Will he make it?
Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston
A freak accident on a solo climb leaves the author pinned by the arm to a canyon wall by an immense immovable rock. After five days, he resorts to a dramatic means of escape. This gripping true story offers much to ponder about the nature of courage and the drive to take risks in the outdoors.
Bink and Gollie** by Kate DiCamillo
Two roller-skating best friends—one tiny, one tall—share three comical adventures in this vividly illustrated early reader series.
Binky the Space Cat** by Ashley Spires
Binky is an ordinary house cat, but in his imagination he is daring space cat. His mission: to blast off into outer space (outside), explore unknown places (the backyard) and battle aliens (bugs).
Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle
Now an old man, Ruben recalls a boyhood adventure. After discovering a dead body on the beach, he became involved in the dangerous rivalry between two liquor smuggling gangs during Prohibition and the mystery of who shot the crewmen aboard the legendary rum-runner Black Duck.
Blackout by John Rocco
In this visually inventive picture book, a busy family’s activities (and technology devices!) come to a halt because of a blackout, but they discover they enjoy spending time together.
Bliss** by Kathryn Littlewood
Rosemary Bliss’s family has been keeping their magical cookbook a secret for centuries. When a mysterious stranger arrives at the Bliss family’s home while her parents are away, Rosemary’s eccentric aunt whips up some magical recipes. After this, all normal food just seems so, normal. Rosemary and her siblings start experimenting with some of the recipes, after all what could go wrong?
Bluefish by Pat Schmatz
Travis starts a new school, with low expectations for himself and everyone else. Right away he’s adopted by a smart, funny girl who calls herself Velveeta. Then the English teacher takes an interest in him. Travis is used to just getting by, but his new friends seem to think he can do better.
Bomb: The Race to Build - And Steal - the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
As fascinating as any thriller, this true story of espionage, science, and politics describes the race to create the first nuclear weapon.
Book of Dust by Philip Pullman
This prequel to the highly acclaimed Golden Compass fantasy series features its heroine Lyra as a baby who needs to be saved. Two young new friends will go on an incredible journey to protect her.
Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman
This is the story of how two teenage boys created a superhero that came to be known around the world.
Brave. Black. First by Cheryl Hudson & Erin K. Robinson
Made with the help of the National Museum for African American History learn about more than 50 amazing women who led the way for young people in following generations.
Bread and Roses, Too by Katherine Paterson
Rosa, diligent student and daughter of Italian immigrants, is thrown together with homeless orphan Jake in the tumult of a 1912 mill strike, as workers unite in the struggle for better wages and conditions.
Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin
Sasha is a good Russian Communist who can’t wait to join the Young Pioneers. But as the long awaited day draws near, everything starts to go terribly and absurdly wrong.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Jess makes a new friend, Leslie, with whom he creates an imaginary world of play. Then he loses her, but his life has been changed forever.
Brown Girl Dreaming [E] by Jacqueline Woodson
Jacqueline Wilson has a talent for writing convincingly about all sorts of characters. In this memoir, she writes about herself — universal experiences that anyone can connect with, like moving to a new place and struggling in school; and more unique experiences such as witnessing the beginning of the Civil Rights movement in both the North and the South. [ebook]
Building Our House by Jonathan Bean
A warm-hearted story for kids who love tools, trucks, construction sites and family.
Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery by Deborah Howe by Deborah Howe
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Caminar by Skila Brown
Written in poetic verse, Caminar is a story of survival in worn-torn Guatemala set in 1981. Carlos is forced to leave his childhood behind as he attempts to keep his village and his family safe from the approaching Communist rebels.
Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins
Using the experiences of a few endangered species as examples, this non-fiction picture book highlights the ways human behavior can either threaten or conserve the amazing animals that share our planet.
Canned by Alex Shearer
Fergel collects cans without labels. When he decides to open one, what he discovers inside leads him on a quirky adventure full of suspense.
Carbonel: The King of the Cats by Barbara Sleigh
Snooty Carbonel is under a spell. He is a cat who is linked to a broom. Whoever owns the broom owns the cat. He must convince the newest owner to help him break the curse.
Carver: A Life in Poems by Marilyn Nelson*
A biography, told in poems, of George Washington Carver, gifted botanist, artist, and teacher, born a slave. Many of the poems are in the imagined voices of Carver and various people in his life. Brief historical notes and small photographs accompany the poems in chronological order.
Castle Waiting by Linda Medley
The story follows the adventures of the inhabitants of an abandoned castle which provides refuge to a makeshift family, including a runaway girl, a nun of the helpful Solicitine Order, a broken-hearted blacksmith, and several other people and creatures.
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Holden Caulfield, a rebellious, mixed-up, independent school drop-out, loses and then finds himself in the wilds of New York City. This well known coming-of-age book is rich in humor and self-discovery.
Catwings** by Ursula Le Guin
Four kittens are born in a dumpster in the city. They are very special because they all have wings. Their mother asks them to fly away from their dangerous neighborhood and find a safer home.
Chains** by Laurie Halse Anderson
Isabel and her little sister are cheated out of their promised freedom and sold to a Loyalist husband and wife. Isabel serves as a spy and looks for opportunities on both sides of the growing American rebellion to win back her dream of freedom.
Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman
The love story of Charles Darwin a scientist and Emma Darwin a devout Christian shows us the opposites really do attract. When Charles Darwin published Origin Species which introduced the idea of evolution it sparked a lot of tension between the scientific and the religious community, but brought Charles and Emma even closer together.
Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson
A true thriller about the conspiracy to assassinate President Lincoln and the twelve day chase to catch John Wilkes Booth after he ran from Fords Theater.
Chew On This by Eric Schlosser
This provocative book delves into all aspects of the fast food industry.
Chickadee** by Louise Erdrich
One book in the acclaimed series about an Ojibwe family in the mid 1800’s. Chickadee and Makoons are eight year old inseparable twins until Chickadee is kidnapped.
Chicken Feathers by Joy Crowley
Children of Blood and Bone** by Tomi Adeyemi
Magic has left the land and the ruthless king has killed all maji. Now Zelie has the chance to bring magic back strike against the monarchy which took her mother away from her.
Children of the Longhouse by Joseph Bruchac
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China’s Long March by Jean Fritz
Here are the events leading up to and during the historic Long March of the Chinese Communist Army in 1934-1935. Historically accurate and adventurous, this is an exciting book to read.
Chopsticks by Amy Rosenthal
A pair of chopsticks are inseparable, but a traumatic moment eventually teaches the two friends the valuable lesson of independence. By the authors of Spoon, this is a humorous tale with equally clever illustrations.
Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
A book of wonder and possibilities, follow Micah Tuttle’s as he searches for a powerful magician named the Lightbender, who owes his dying grandfather a miracle.
City Boy by Jan Michael
Sam, a boy in Malawi, Africa, begins a new life at his aunt’s house after his mother dies of AIDS. Accustomed to the city, Sam is upset by the simplicity of traditional life in a small village, and the pressure to share his few belongings with his cousins, especially the running shoes with blinking lights that his mother gave him for his birthday.
Claudette Colvin: Twice toward Justice by Philip Hoose
More like a novel than a history book, this is the true story of a girl who took a courageous stand when the Civil Rights Movement was new and most grown-ups were afraid to believe in change.
Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming
_A poor boy struggles to deliver a birthday present worthy of the princess. A delightful and original story.
Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
After escaping Memphis and her mother’s scary Elvis impersonator ex-boyfriend, Foster and her mother end up in the tiny town of Culpepper. Both of them have dreams: Mama wants to be a lead singer and Foster wants to star in her own TV cooking show. Can dreams come true in a place like Culpepper?
Cloud Tea Monkeys by Mal Peet
In China, people are hired to harvest tea. When Shenaz’s mother becomes ill, Shenaz tries to help the family by gathering tea, but she is too little to do the work. She tells her troubles to a monkey friend, who brings her a basket of rare and valuable tea.
Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
Historical fiction based on the Navajo who joined military in World War II and used their language to create an uncrackable code for communicating during war times.
Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals
_A rhyming recipe of ingredients (from A to Z!) explains how to make earth-friendly compost.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
In this visual retelling of the popular novel, a girl moves into an apartment and discovers a spooky mirror world next door.
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Twelve-year-old Liam is very tall and has a talent for acting grown-up. He gets into trouble for attempting to drive a car and impersonating a teacher, but that’s nothing compared to what happens when he enters The Greatest Dad Ever Contest and gets lost in space on board a rocket ship.
Countdown by Deborah Wiles
Franny misses her college age sister, fights with her brother, and is hurt by her best friend. These ordinary problems play out against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis during several tense days in 1962. Advertisements, newspaper clippings, and other period ephemera are used to recreate the flavor of the time.
Counting by 7s by Holly Sloan
With help from strangers and new friends, Willow learns to cope with the sudden death of her parents. The story is told with unexpected humor from the perspectives of Willow, an unusual and often misunderstood girl whose genius level brain processes everything uniquely; and Dell Duke, her hopelessly inept school counselor and intellectual opposite.
Crack in the Sea by H.M. Bouwman
This fantasy novel that reads like a classic folktale tells the story of three siblings who have passed to a “second world” through a magical portal in the ocean. A compelling story of immigration and its turmoil.
Crash by Jerry Spinelli*
Crash Coogan is a junior high super-jock who thrives on making underdogs squirm. He is making things particularly hard for Penn Webb when life suddenly becomes very complex.
Crossing Stones by Helen Frost
WWI changes the lives of four young people in a farming community. The boys enlist and are sent overseas, leaving their sisters to cope at home. When Muriel begins to question the war, rebellious feelings inspire her to travel to Washington DC to help her suffragist aunt.
Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Josh and his twin brother Jordan both love basketball and are coached by their former star basketball player father. But can they keep their bond through first loves, loss, and competition.
Crown by Derrick Barnes
An exuberant tribute to the significance of a haircut and the barbershop for a young black boy.
Crunch by Leslie Connor
A fuel shortage strands Mom and Dad on a trip, leaving Dewey in charge of the small family bike repair business, which is booming. In addition to running a business and getting along with his siblings, Dewey worries about a series of mysterious break-ins in the neighborhood.
Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
A black, South African minister witnesses the tragedy that befalls his son who has gone to find wealth in the city and in the mines. Instead, he finds the evils of apartheid and falls into crime. An intensely sad and beautifully written story.
Dare to Disappoint by Samanc
Growing up in Turkey against a backdrop of conflict, government repression, and economic turmoil, Osje faces a choice familiar to many young people: should she work hard and sacrifice her true passions to win a secure job, or should she follow her dreams?
Dark Life by Kat Falls
To escape the overcrowded conditions brought about by loss of land due to global warming, pioneers like Ty and his family are settling the ocean floor. To Ty, the deep sea is a land of beauty and opportunity, even though the settlers face unjust government demands and many dangers, including the raids of a sinister band of outlaws.
Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson
Melis' secure and comfortable life in Kosovo comes to an end in the spring of 1998, when her brother is picked up by the Serbian police. Eventually her family is forced to flee their home, live the life of refugees, and start over in the United States.
Dazzle Ships by Chris Barton
Deadweather and Sunrise ** by Geoff Rodkey
Egg (short for Eggbert) lives with his horrible family on unattractive Deadweather Island, which, as it turns out, might hide a secret treasure. Egg’s adventures begin when the rest of the family disappears in a freak accident. Friends turn out to be enemies and unlikely people become friends as Egg runs for his life and tries to figure out why he became the target of powerful villains.
Dealing With Dragons** by Patricia C. Wrede*
Finding it difficult to be a proper princess, Cimorene runs off to become the protegee of a fascinating and exacting dragon and finds herself involved with disreputable wizards. Wry humor combines with fantasy in this first of four related novels.
Death and the Arrow** by Chris Priestley
This classically structured mystery, set in London in 1715, involves a murderer who seems to disappear into thin air, and who leaves behind a calling card with a picture of a skeleton holding an arrow.
Deep Down Popular by Phoebe Stone
When handsome, athletic Conrad Parker Smith experiences a dip in popularity in the sixth grade, two of the most awkward kids in class offer true friendship.
Delicious: The Life and Art of Wayne Thiebaud by Susan Goldman Rubin
How does a former farmer and restaurant dishwasher become a famous American painter? How does an artist who paints everyday things like gum-balls, shoes and doughnuts convince the art world these things are worth painting? To find out read,
Digby O’Day In the Fast Lane by Shirley Hughes
Digby O’Day loves his car, and he is excited to compete in a road race with best friend Percy. However, disaster and peril wait around every corner. Will Digby O’Day win the race, or even finish? Short chapters and numerous illustrations make this a winning early chapter book.
Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder by Jo Nesbo
Tiny eleven year old Nilly has just moved to Oslo, Norway. With his new friend Lisa they meet Dr. Proctor, inventor of some remarkable powder that causes farts powerful enough to send people into outer space. When some dastardly twins discover the powder Nilly and Lisa must do everything possible to keep the super powder from falling into the wrong hands.
Dodger by Terry Pratchett
A wily street boy in Victorian London rescues a damsel in distress, and is immediately thrust into intrigue on an international scale. He applies his natural talents and intimate knowledge of the London underground sewer system to solve a mystery and make a fortune, with some help from Charles Dickens and other notable people of the time.
Dodsworth in London by Tim Egan
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Doll Bones by Holly Black
Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends forever. Together, they play a complex game of pirates, robbers and evil royalty using action figures and a mysterious china doll that is locked away in a cabinet. Middle school has changed things and the friendship between the trio is growing thin. Suddenly Poppy begins having ominous dreams about the porcelain doll and forces the gang to get back together to uncover the mystery.
Dominic by William Steig
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Dory Fantasmagory *** by Abby Hanlon
Dory is a little sister (and a little rascal!) with a great imagination. This early chapter book series smartly integrates text and illustration, and the results are hilarious.
Double Vision by F. T. Bradley
Lincoln, class goof-off and troublemaker, is expelled for liberating abused chickens during a field trip. To help pay for damages, he reluctantly participates when government agents recruit him to impersonate a junior secret agent look-alike who has disappeared.
Drowned City by Don Brown
This multi-faceted account of Hurricane Katrina describes racism and incompetence, and also portrays the courage and resilience of people coping with the disaster.
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick
As his family operates under the stress caused by his little brother’s serious illness, Steven tries to hold together a normal life. Music, friends, family affection, and a sense of humor help him through the tough times.
Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliffe
Roman Centurion Marcus Flavius Aquila tries to solve the mystery of the disappearance in Britain of his father and the Ninth Legion Hispana, last heard from near Hadrian’s Wall. Aquila also hopes to locate the Ninth Legion’s military standard, the missing Eagle, and return it safely to Rome.
Echo by Pam Mu Ryan
This page-turning book follows multiple stories, from Germany to California, linked together by a magical harmonica which inspires and protects the people who possess it. Each story pauses at a cliff-hanger before interweaving with the next story, urging readers to discover how it all turns out.
Egg and Spoon [E] by Gregory Maguire
The story begins when an young lady French-Russian aristocrat and a peasant girl accidentally switch places and end up, for different reasons, traveling to see the Tsar. In a humorous, action filled adventure, they hunt for a mythical firebird’s egg and encounter a large and colorful cast of characters, including the legendary Russian witch Baba Yaga. [ebook]
Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman*
Freedman is an artful biographer of fascinating historical figures. This is a compelling portrait of the courageous and principled presidential first lady who was an enormously influential leader in American life and politics.
Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas by Lynne Cox
A delightfully true story about an elephant seal who makes a most unusual home in the middle of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. The perfect book for any animal lover.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Levine*
Ella’s blessing—to be always obedient—turns out to be a curse and, after battling ogres and wicked stepsisters, she makes a huge sacrifice. Levine entwines and expands the original Cinderella tale in this spirited, funny book.
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
After a traffic accident, Liz finds herself in a place called Elsewhere. At first nothing, not even meeting her favorite rock star, can lift her depression. Gradually she realizes that she must get on with her life, even though it’s actually her death.
Emily’s Fortune by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
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Emma Dilemma : Big Sister Poems by George Kristine O'Connell
Through a series of connected poems, the sibling “dilemma” of ambivalence and deep loyalty is touchingly explored.
Enchanted Air by Margarita Engle
During childhood summers, the author falls in love with the magical tropical island of Cuba. When she’s almost old enough to enjoy the long awaited promise of summer horseback riding, Cuba and the United States become enemies. The two places she loves are full of hate for each other. The summer visits end, and Cuba becomes a distant dream.
Encyclopedia Brown** by Donald Sobol
Leroy Brown, nicknamed Encyclopedia, solves ten mini-mysteries and, by putting the solutions at the back of the book, challenges the reader to do the same.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card*
Ender Wiggin is so smart he is being groomed as a boy genius destined to save the Earth from attack by the alien ‘buggers.’ In a plot full of twists and turns, his brother and sister attempt to wrest his power from him.
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
In the Empire of the Celestial Dragons it is the beginning of the New Year. Eon has trained for this moment for four years worked relentlessly for this chance to be one of 12 boys to compete for the honor and power of becoming an apprentice to the ascendant Rat Dragon. However, Eon is hiding a deadly secret: she is 16 and female. If she and her trainer are found out, they will be killed. Dragged into politics and intrigue with life and death consequences this Australian book is a true page-turner.
Epic by Conor Kostick
Everyone is a gamer in New Earth, where war and violence have been banned for centuries and all disputes are settled in a fantasy world called Epic. Erik and his friends use the game to challenge the committee that controls Epic and everything else.
Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman
A magician himself, the author brings great appreciation and understanding to the life of one of the world
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza lives like a princess on an estate in Mexico until a terrible misfortune happens to her family. She is forced to immigrate to California, where she becomes a farm worker. Family love and the help of friends make the hardships bearable.
Everybody Paints: The Lives and Art of the Wyeth Family by Susan Goldman Rubin
_Three generations of painters, all famous, all from New England, read about how their remarkable and beautiful story.
Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath
Primrose Squarp has problems:her parents are lost at sea, and she is the only one who believes they are alive; her Uncle Jack, who takes her in, is perfectly nice, but rather busy; Miss Perfidy, her paid babysitter, smells like mothballs and doesn
Facing the Lion by Joseph Leukuton
The author of this autobiography is a member of the Maasai, a nomadic people whose life in Northern Kenya centers around the ownership and care of cows. He describes how the experiences of village life, such as going on a lion hunt to prove his bravery, contrasted with his life at school, where his academic success eventually led him to college in the US.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
In this well-known political science fiction novel, a young man dares to defy the book-burning laws of his totalitarian government.
Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino
This exciting picture book biography introduces young readers to Jacques Cousteau, the world
Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going
Troy is an unhappy, overweight nobody and Curt is a punk rock musical genius. Troy can hardly believe that someone like Curt wants to befriend him and make him part of a band, but Curt sees in Troy the qualities of a decent musician and a good friend.
Fault Line by Janet Tashjian
Becky meets Kip at the comedy club where they are both practicing their routines. He’s handsome, funny, and he even likes her freckles. They become close as they support each other’s progress on the comedy performance circuit, but Becky learns that Kip can be jealous and controlling. The points of view of both teens are incorporated into this story of an increasingly violent relationship.
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick
_The 2016 Caldecott winner. The remarkable but true tale of the black bear that inspired the legendary children
Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems by Paul Janeczko
A wonderful collection of poems that captures the essence of the seasons. The playful illustrations neatly support the poetic meanings.
Fish by L.S. Matthews
Tiger’s parents are aid workers in a desolate village in an unnamed country. When the family is forced by civil war to escape to the border by a difficult desert route, Tiger brings along a fish rescued from a mud puddle.
Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson
_An evil heart of stone is made for a power hungry warrior. It causes much heartache and distruction and then is lost for 1000s of years. When a loving farmer chances upon it and is turned to a cruel and brutal man, his son, daughter and dog set out to free him from the curse. The world they enter to save their father is full of talking animals, fairy banquets, and much good natured magical trouble. Can the children save the day?
Flip-Flop Girl by Katherine Patterson
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Flyest Fables by Morgan Givens
An interconnected anthology starts when Antoine is running away from bullies and he finds a magical book that takes him into the new world of Princess Keisha who is on a quest to save her mother and the entire kingdom.
Fool’s Crow by James Welch
While the protagonist grows from a boy into a man, more and more whites intrude themselves into traditional Blackfoot life. The tragic dissolution of the Blackfoot culture is set against the protagonist’s struggle to keep it alive.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Young Frankenstein creates a living, yet imperfect creature which, in turn, seeks revenge by pursuing its creator and all that he loves. A terrifying and most thought-provoking tale, especially for students reading Hawthorne’s Rappaccini’s Garden or Dickens’s Great Expectations.
Free Baseball by Sue Corbett
Felix knows that his father is a superstar ballplayer in Cuba. His mother, who has struggled since he was a baby to make a new life for them in Florida, will tell him no more. When a visiting Cuban team mistakes him for their new batboy, Felix jumps at the chance to learn about his father and his past.
Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown
An accessible introduction to the work of Frida Kahlo, especially her love of animals.
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Partly to annoy a teacher, Nick makes up a new word for pen: frindle. Soon the word takes on a life of its own.
Frogs** by Nic Bishop
_Stunning photographs by Bishop and appealing narratives characterize this non-fiction animal series.
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Two children have a unique plan for running away — they camp out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where they become involved in the mystery of a statue that may or may not have been made by the famous Michelangelo.
Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton
When Mimi moves from California to a small Vermont town in 1969, town residents stare coldly at her family: a black father, a Japanese mother, and a daughter who is some of each and looks like no one else. Her new life is challenging, but Mimi’s father has taught her to be persistent, like raindrops wearing away granite.
Fun Things to Do with Egg Cartons by Kara Laughlin
Get crafty! Recycled egg cartons are the main ingredient in ten craft projects that have a reassuringly low degree of difficulty.
Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Toatiuh
Artist Jose Guadalupe Posada became famous for his prints of dressed up skeletons engaged in ordinary activities, called calaveras. His art made quietly witty statements about vanity, foolish pride, and people in power.
Galapagos George by Jean Craighead George
A story of the Galapagos Islands and of Lonesome George, a giant tortoise who lived to be one hundred years old and was once known as the rarest creature in the world.
George by Alex Gino
Everyone else thinks George is boy, but if she could just get the part of Charlotte in the school’s production of Charlotte’s Web, everyone will see her for the girl she really is.
George Washington, Spymaster by Thomas B. Allen
George Washington was the secret spy-master of the Revolutionary War and delighted in espionage tricks such as planting false information for the enemy to discover. Read about spies, counter spies, double agents, codes and ciphers, and other tools and tricks of the trade.
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
Ghost finds himself on an elite running team having no formal training. He learned how run fast by running with his mom for his life. Ghost wants to be the fastest but he can only stay on the team if he can stay out of trouble.
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Jerome is a 12-year-old black boy who is playing with a toy gun when he is shot and killed by a white police officer. Jerome’s ghost witnesses the aftermath for both his family and the police officer’s family. He and the other Ghost Boys try to stop history from always repeating itself.
Giant Squid by Candace Fleming
A close encounter with the legendary, and virtually unknown, giant squid. Dramatic text and appropriately awesome illustrations evoke the adventure of deep ocean exploration.
Giants Beware! by Rafael Rosado
Claudette wants nothing more than to slay a giant but her little village is too safe and quiet. Equal parts action and humor, this graphic novel is a winner!
Girls Resist: A Guide to Activism, Leadership, and Starting a Revolution by KaeLyn Rich
A teen girl's guide to activism from picking a cause to planning a protest. It includes quotes and tips from female activists along with reading suggestions.
Golden and Grey by Louise Arnold
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Gone Crazy in Alabama ** by Rita Williams Garcia
The Gaither sisters spend the summer in Alabama, where the Black Panther activism they learned the previous summer (One Crazy Summer) is out of place. Instead, from their grandmother and great grandmother, they learn about their family
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Katsas special power, or grace, is the ability to strike people dead, and this makes her valuable as an assassin for the king. Struggling to escape that role and gain control of her own life, Katsa meets a prince who is also specially gifted, and together they undertake a dangerous mission.
Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka
A lighthearted treasury of haiku poems that celebrates the experience of the outdoor world, from splashing in puddles to skipping rocks.
Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell
It’s tough to be a princess. No doubt about it. Tilda hates it and is convinced her subjects hate and fear her. But when her greedy cousin plots to overthrow her mother’s rein, Tilda is thrown into the adventure of a life time with two would be dragon slayers. Will she be able to save the kingdom she isn’t even sure she wants to be part of, or will she be eaten by a dragon first?
Hands of the Rain Forest by Rachel Crandell
Photographs and stories introduce children to the Emberá people of Panama, who use their hands to transform the gifts of the tropical rain forest.
Hannah’s Winter by Kierin Meehan
Hannah comes from Australia to spend a winter in Kanazawa, a Japanese town with beautiful temples, gardens, and ancient twisty streets. Hannah and her new friends Miki and Hiro try to figure out the meaning of a mysterious message in an old toy box, and gradually realize that it is from the ghost of a boy who needs a favor from them.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
After a plane crash, Brian spends fifty-four days in the Canadian wilderness, with only one tool, a hatchet, to help him survive.
Heart of a Samurai by Margie Preus
This is an imaginative retelling of the incredible true story of the Japanese boy Manjiro, who was shipwreckedand rescued by an American whaling ship at a time in the 1840s when the Japanese had a deep distrust of foreigners. Manjiro became friends with the captain, lived in the United States, and traveled places none of his countrymen had ever seen.
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
Magnificent illustrations anchor this tribute to the daily and the dramatic aspects of lighthouse life.
Henry and the Cannons by Don Brown
A visually exciting account of how bookseller Henry Knox moved 59 cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston during the Revolutionary War, helping Americans to a pivotal victory.
Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch
An eleven year old troll fighting Orthodox Jewish girl wins her sword in this unlikely superhero story.
Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
The princes from those four classic fairytales (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White & Rapunzel) are in trouble. They’ve been kicked out by their princesses and have stumbled upon a plot that threatens all of their kingdoms. They must dig deep, fight off dragons, troll, witches and the like. Shed their Prince Charming label and get to saving the world.
Heroes in Training: Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom** by Joan Holub
When ten-year-old Zeus is kidnapped, he discovers he can defend himself with a magical thunderbolt. An exciting series about mythological gods as children.
Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka
Growing up with an addict mother who is in out of his life, Jarrett is raised by his grandparents. Early on he finds art as a way to help him survive. The graphic novel format is perfect for this memoir.
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
A picture book tribute to the African American female mathematicians who, despite many historical challenges, helped NASA send the United States into space for the first time.
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
The Story of four African American women who help launch the United States into Space.
Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth *** by Judd Winick
D.J. and Gina are ordinary kids, but their lives dramatically change when they befriend Hilo, a robot boy who falls to Earth from outer space. A dynamic tale of epic friendship and intergalactic adventure.
Hoodoo by Roland L. Smith
This atmospheric Southern gothic mystery won the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe award for new talent. Hoodoo has not yet lived up to his name by displaying the family gift for folk magic, but when a sinister stranger shows up in town, Hoodoo is urgently motivated to activate his conjuring ability.
Hot Pink: the Life and Fashions of Elsa Schiaparelli by Susan Goldman Rubin
From a somewhat stifling childhood, through an adventurous and unconventional young life, to eventual success as a hard working designer who made fashion her art, Schiaparelli’s life story, like the hot pink fashion color she invented, holds our attention. A lively layout and fascinating photos add to the fun of this informative biography.
Hothead by Carl Ripken
Why has all-star Connor Sullivan suddenly started throwing temper tantrums during his beloved baseball games?
Hound Dog True by Linda Urban
Mattie and her mother move often. She hates the moment when she must introduce herself to a new class. This time, it helps that her uncle is the school custodian. Maybe he
How Angel Peterson Got His Name: and Other Outrageous Tales of Extreme Sports by Gary Paulsen
Back in the days before extreme sports were popular, Paulsen and his friends invented pastimes such as automobile skiing and bicycle jumping. The author reminisces about how they managed to escape with their lives.
How I Resist by Maureen Johnson
This guidebook for young activists has essays, interviews and songs from celebrities, activists and top YA authors.
How I, Nicky Flynn, Finally Get a Dog and a LIfe by Art Corriveau
After his parents divorce, Nicky and his mom move from pleasant Concord to a grittier neighborhood in Charlestown. Nicky always wanted a dog, but not the one his impractical mother finally adopts for him: a former guide dog with a mysterious past who is much too big for their apartment and too expensive for her salary.
How the Cookie Crumbled by Gilbert Ford
An informative and entertaining history of the invention of the chocolate chip cookie. A tasty tale of Massachusetts ingenuity!
How Tia Lola Came to Visit/Stay by Julia Alverez
Miguel is still trying to settle into his new home in Vermont, where he is the only Latino in the school, when his colorful aunt comes to visit from the Dominican Republic. At first Miguel is a little embarrassed by her eccentricities, but she works a sort of magic wherever she goes.
How to Catch a Bogle by Catherine Jinks
_Birdie is a street-smart orphan who is apprenticed to a Bogler. Bogler
Hush by Jacqueline Woodson*
New town, new school, new friends a move is hard enough, but Evie also has a new name and a made-up history. Her family has been relocated by the federal witness protection program, leaving their former happy life far behind.
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsberg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy
A rousing account of the life of the second woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosin
Celeste lives in Valparaiso, Chile, a magical place, busy, colorful, and permeated by the fragrance of flowers. But when warships enter the harbor and the military dictatorship seizes power, life becomes fearful and full of secrets. Celeste
I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912** by Lauren Tarshis
The I Survived Series takes true events from history and tells a page turning, can't put the book down story.
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
_In this outrageously clever picture book, a bear almost gives up his search for his missing hat until he remembers something important.
I Will Always Write Back by Alifirenka & Ganda
The true story of a girl in Pennsylvania and a boy in Zimbabwe who become pen pals in middle school. Overcoming distance and vast cultural differences, they progress beyond cheerful, superficial letters to a deep, genuine friendship that eventually extends to their families and influences what they become in life.
Illegal by Eoin Colfer
Colfer’s graphic novel chronicles one boy’s hazardous journey from Ghana to Europe.
In Aunt Lucy’s Kitchen by Cynthia Rylant
_For three cousins, a cookie company seems the perfect way to make money over the summer. It also turns out to be an opportunity to meet some special neighbors.
In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall
On a special summer vacation road trip, Jimmy McClean visits sites memorializing Crazy Horse, his famous ancestor, and listens to his Grandfather’s enthralling stories about the tribal warriors’ desperate attempts to keep their land and protect their people. He learns that, like himself, Crazy Horse was once teased and bullied by other Navajos for having light skin and hair.
In the Wild by David Elliott
Beautiful pictures and words celebrate some of the earth's wildest places.
Incarceron** by Catherine Fisher
In a completely sealed off prison, a failed social experiment from a previous century, four prisoners develop a vision of escape, although they’re not even sure the outside exists. Meanwhile, outside, the Warden’s daughter searches for a lost prince whose existence would save her from a dreaded arranged marriage.
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Ha, her mother, and three older brothers flee Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War and end up in Alabama. The hardest part of their new life for Ha is that people assume she’s stupid because she makes mistakes while learning the new language and customs. Fortunately, her three brothers, in their different ways, help make the adjustment easier.
Inspector Flytrap ** by Tom Angleberger
Be prepared for wacky and wild adventures with a Venus fly trap detective and his goat assistant. Mysteries will be solved, flies and trash will be eaten!
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
_Little Red Chicken wants Papa to read her a bedtime story, but she interrupts him almost as soon as he begins each tale.
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
This is the chilling story of the ill-fated expedition to the summit of Everest in May 1996, told in Krakauer’s eyewitness account. Readers experience an unforgettable connection to the dynamics of a challenge fraught with peril and ending in tragedy.
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
A young African American
Island: A Story of the Galapagos by Jason Chin
_A unique visual biography of the Galapagos Island, meticulously researched.
Jack by A.M. Homes
Jack deals with his parents’ separation and comes to accept the fact that his dad is gay. A realistic depiction of teenage friendships, crises, and changeful feelings.
Jaden Toussaint, the Greatest *** by Marti Dumas
An energetic early chapter book series. With the encouragement of his loving family, Jaden uses his intelligence and problem-solving skills to navigate the trickiest dilemmas. Ninja dance parties also help!
Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli
Inseparable twins, Jake and Lily have just turned eleven and their parents have declared it is time for each to have their own bedroom. This marks the beginning of many changes for the pair. Jake has found a gang of boys to hang out with and Lily is feeling more than left out. She’s mad. Follow along as Lily finds a new place in the world and Jake learns to take on trouble without the help of his sister.
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key** by Jack Gantos
There’s no knowing what Joey will do when he’s feeling wired. He’s not a bad kid, but his crazy behavior keeps spinning out of control.
John Brown: His Fight for Freedom by John Hendrix
This is the story of John Brown, a man who believed that slavery should be abolished and fought for all people to be treated equally.
John Henry by Julius Lester
A classic African-American folk tale, beautifully retold and illustrated.
Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell
Josephine Baker was a jazz performer who was born in the early 1900’s. She was known for her amazing dancing, but had to move from America to France in order to be truly appreciated. This is her wild and colorful story.
Judy Scuppernong by Brenda Seabrooke
A group of summer friends gradually discovers Judy
Junonia by Kevin Henkes
Alice is traveling with her family to Sanibel Island, Florida, where they go every year. She will be celebrating her tenth birthday, and has plans to find the very rare junonia shell. But the celebratory week might be ruined because things are very, very different this year.
Just Desserts by Hallie Durand
Inspired by a comment from her third grade teacher, Dessert decides to start a revolution against siblings. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned.
Just Juice by Karen Hesse
Juice is good at many things, including cheering up her father after he loses his job, but she just can’t learn how to read. Only her father understands how hard reading is for her. Their secret is that he has the same problem.
Just Mercy: A True Story of the Fight for Justice by Bryan Stevenson
Bryan Stevenson is an acclaimed lawyer and social justice activist. He tells about his work with those wrongly imprisoned and his fight to get them freedom.
Keeper by Mal Peet
El Gato, the world’s best soccer goalkeeper, tells the incredible story of how he developed his skills growing up in a remote rain forest in South America. A supernatural mystery embedded in a great sports story, this is a summer reading favorite.
King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats ** by Dori Butler
An early reader mystery series entertainingly told from the dog's perspective.
King of the Screwups by K.L. Going
Like his mother, a star model, Liam has great fashion sense and lots of charm; but he never fails to disappoint his demanding father. Finally Liam gets kicked out of the house and does something completely different: his uncle, a gay glam-rocker who lives in upstate New York, agrees to take him in, and Liam lives in a trailer and goes to a small town high school.
Kit’s Wilderness by David Almond
13-year-old Kit moves to the town of his ancestors and becomes involved in a game called ‘Death,’ a spin-the-knife, pretend-to-die game that is hosted by a classmate in a deep hole dug in the earth, with candles, bones, and carved pictures of the children of the old families of Stoneygate.
Labracadabra by Jessie Nelson
Zach's long wait for a pet dog does not end the way he wants, but when magical and amazing things being to occur, there may be more to the dog than meets the eye.
Labyrinth Lost** by Zoraida Cordova
Alex is a bruja and the most powerful witch of her generation. When she tries to rid herself of her magic, it backfires and results in her family’s disappearance. To get her family back she will have to team up with a brujo boy who she’s not sure she can trust.
Lailah’s Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi
Lailah is finally old enough to fast during Ramadan, but she is concerned that her new American school will not understand. A thoughtful and child-centered introduction to the Muslim month of fasting.
Last Shot** by John Feinstein
Aspiring journalists Steven and Carol discover a conspiracy to fix the last game of the NCAA Final Four men’s basketball tournament. This same pair of sleuths solves many other mysteries at major sporting events.
Legend Days by Jamake Highwater
A Plains Indian girl gains the skills of a man, yet must perform as a traditional woman in a land which is increasingly violated by white officials. Highwater successfully blends Native American legends with historical realities.
Legends of the Lost Causes by Brad McLelland
A band of orphans must go on a race through the Wild West to find a magical stone while also avoiding zombies.
Lemonade, and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word by Bob Raczka
These clever poems find words within a single word to capture scenes from a child’s daily life. Fun to read and a challenge to write!
Leon’s Story by Leon Walter Tillage
Tillage grew up as a sharecropper’s son in the South, soon becoming a civil-rights protester. He matter-of-factly explains the realities of segregation, his own and others’ mistreatment and his ideas of nonviolent protest. A black custodian in a Baltimore private school, Tillage records his recollections with spare dignity.
Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver
Liesl is a girl whose wicked stepmother keeps her in an attic. Po is a ghost who can’t find his way to Beyond. Will is an unhappy alchemist’s apprentice. When they are most in need, they find each other.
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Miranda is leading the life of a typical high school student in Pennsylvania when a meteor hits the moon. No one expected the astrological event to be a catastrophe, but when volcanoes erupt and tsunamis hit the coasts, it becomes clear that nothing will ever be the same. Abruptly, Miranda and her family find themselves struggling to survive as civilization breaks down worldwide.
Life in Motion: An unlikely ballerina by Misty Copeland
The story of Misty Copeland, the first African American principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater. Though she started late compared to most ballerinas Misty’s natural talent and perseverance would take her far, making her one of the most well known ballerina’s in America.
Like Vanessa by Tami Charles
Nessy Martin wants a different life and a beauty pageant is the last place she pictured herself finding one, but through this unexpected experience she finds the strength to make her dreams come true.
Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same** by Grace Lin
Ling and Ting are identical twins that people think are exactly the same, but time and again they prove to be different. A refreshing and original early reader (let’s hope for more!).
Lions of Little Rock [E] by Kristin Levine
To get a good education, Liz, a determined African American girl, passes for white in a segregated school in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1958. She is discovered and expelled, but not before she befriends Marlee, an extremely shy white classmate. Hurt and confused about why their friendship cannot continue, Marlee finds her voice. Winner of the 2015 Massachusetts Children's Book Award.
Listen Slowly by Thanhha Lai
Mai reluctantly accompanies her grandmother on a summer trip to Vietnam. Although she loves her grandmother, she would much rather be at home on a California beach with her friends. While her parents are away and busy at important jobs, Mai is expected to help her grandmother resolve difficult emotions and a mystery left over from the war. Encounters with her Vietnamese relatives are touching and sometimes hilarious.
Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan
When Rachel’s missionary parents die in a flu epidemic in Kenya, her new guardians trap her in an evil scheme. She travels to England under a false identity to trick an elderly man into giving her an inheritance.
Little Robot by Ben Hatke
An original graphic novel, filled with adventure, friendship, a positive female role model, and inventive robot language!
Little Sister by Margaret Gaan
A girl comes to live with her grandparents in Shanghai at the time of the May 30, 1925, workers’ uprisings. Told from several points of view, the story chronicles the turmoil experienced by one family during this major political upheaval.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
A family story of 4 girls coming of age during and just after the civil war.
Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
Ten-year-old Lonnie
Look Both Ways in the Barrio Blanco by Judith Robbins Rose
Jacinta is proud that her
Lord of the Deep by Graham Salisbury
Mikey adores his stepfather Bill and is thrilled to be allowed to help out as deck hand on Bill
Lost Girl Found by Leah Bassoff
Although her life in a village in Southern Sudan is hard, Poni
Lost! A Dog Called Bear** by Wendy Orr
_The first book in the Rainbow Street Shelter series. When Logan
Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper
Sprinkled with Spanish phrases and drawn in red, blue, and black ballpoint pens by Raul the Third, this book features a talented team of friends who want to enter a car contest for prize money to start their own garage to work on cars. They discover and recover a car
Lucky Beans by Becky Birtha
_During the Great Depression, Marshall, an African American boy, bravely overcomes discrimination and enters a bean-counting contest to try to win a new sewing machine for his mother.
Lucy by Randy Cecil
A homeless dog, a loving girl, a juggler with stage fright. How these stories eventually intersect is a rewarding reading adventure.
Lulu and the Duck in the Park** by Hilary McKay
Lulu, who loves animals, brings an abandoned duck egg to school, even though her teacher disapproves. A charming series for young readers.
LumberJanes** by Noelle Stevenson
A vibrant and funny graphic novel about five girls who are different but all totally kick-butt, keep on stumbling across strange happenings at their camp
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute*** by Jarrett Krosoczka
She serves lunch, she serves justice! A unique and entertaining graphic novel series about a crime fighting school lunch lady. Fish-stick Nunchucks and Lunch-Tray Laptops are just examples of her ingenious gadgets.
Mad about Monkeys by Owen Davey
_Learn fascinating facts about over 250 species of monkeys from around the world, and enjoy delightful illustrations.
Madame Pamplemousse by Rupert Kingfisher
Madeleine is sent to work in Paris in her vile uncle
Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt
While visiting Maddi's apartment, Sofia learns that her family does not have enough money to buy food. Sofia promises Maddi that she won't tell anyone, but can she keep this promise? A compassionate look at the issue of childhood hunger.
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
Seemingly impossible dreams can come true, as they did for Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space. A delightful and inspiring picture book biography.
Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer** by Rick Riordan
After Magnus Chase’s mom dies he spends a year homeless on streets that is until he dies in a battle, but lucky for him a Valkyrie saw his brave deed in he is taken to Valhalla home of Norse heroes. On top that he finds out that he is not an orphan as he thought but the son of the god of summer.
Make Way Dyamonde Daniel ** by Nikki Grimes
Dyamonde Daniel is a gem waiting to be discovered in this spirited early chapter book series filled with age-appropriate dilemmas about friendship, family, school, and life!
Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai
An accessible picture book introduction to the inspirational life story of the youngest Nobel laureate. A testament to the transformational power of words and education.
Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan
A boy who seeks the answers to impossible questions…
A mythical land and a town with an aura of secrecy…
A tale of helping those who are the most desperate and who have no place to go…
A belief in the promise of tomorrow, but is it only a dream?
This is the enchanting story that unfolds in Mañanaland
Many Stones by Carolyn Coman
After her sister is murdered in South Africa, Berry finds comfort in lap swimming, an undemanding boyfriend, and a ritual of collecting small stones. Apprehensive but hopeful, she agrees to travel to South Africa with her estranged father on a journey of healing.
Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth by Nicola Davies
A streamlined narrative and impressively detailed illustrations tell the story of diversity on Earth. An important message of environmental interconnectedness and stewardship.
March, Book One by John Lewis
This first book in a trilogy drew inspiration from an influential 1950s comic book about Martin Luther King. Lewis, a Congressman and civil rights activist, along with co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell, describes his early years, and brings the struggle for civil rights in the 1950s and 60s to life for a new audience.
March** by John Lewis
This timely graphic memoir by the renowned civil rights leader powerfully illustrates the messages and actions of the people involved in the civil rights movement. An inspiring tale of words preached, hearts sung, and feet marching for equality.
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach by Carmen Agra Deedy
A hilarious retelling of a classic Cuban folktale. The audiobook is also a winner.
Masterminds* [E] by Gordon Korman
In the southwestern town of Serenity, everything is perfect. Everyone has a pool and all the electronic devices they want. Everyone is perfectly honest and follows all the rules, until one kid discovers that things aren
Masterpiece by Elise and Kelly Murphy Broach
Two families. Two children. Both are living in one New York City apartment. One child is largely ignored except when put on display for grown-ups. The other is over protected and feeling a little stifled by all the adult attention. The two come together, one human, one beetle, when a pen and ink drawing set comes into their lives. The boy gets the credit for the artistically talented beetles drawing and from there the two become good friends trying to solve the case of a stolen painting.
Material Girls [E] by Elaine Dimopoulis
In a society driven by consumerism and the recruitment of teenage workers in fashion and entertainment, Marla and Ivy have attained ultimate success and happiness, or so they think. Marla, a fashion trendsetter, begins to question the system when she
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda is a very nice child. However, when she discovers that Mrs. Trunchbull, the mean headmistress, is being unfair to Miss Honey, Matilda uses her talents to seek justice for her kind teacher.
Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey
An accessible introduction to the life and achievements of Asian-American artist-architect Lin, highlighting her astonishing design for the Vietnam War memorial in Washington, D.C.
Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm by Jon katz
Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy by Rey Terciero
A twist on the on the Little Women story. Tells of the trials and tribulations of 4 sister growing up in a blended family in New York
Mercy Watson to the Rescue** by Kate DiCamillo
Series: Mercy Watson
Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France by Mara Rockliff
Ben Franklin get’s top billing in the title, but this is also about Franz Mesmer and Austrian doctor who was curing people in France by hypnotizing them. It is also about the beginning of science as a field of study and the scientific method. With great illustrations, this is a tale of mystery and intrigue.
Michael Vey: Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
Michael
Miles Morales, Spider-man by Jason Reynolds
Miles Morales is trying to focus on high school, but it is kind of hard to do with his Spidey sense always going off in history class. Meanwhile, Miles is trying to find a way to talk to the beautiful and smart poet at school and trying to establish a relationship with his cousin who’s in jail.
Mimi by John Newman
Mimi’s mother is killed in a bicycle accident. Her father won’t get out of his pajamas, her brother doesn’t talk to anyone, and her sister has run away from home. Mimi is trying to figure out how to get her family back.
Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Jacob’s grandfather is an adventurous man who tells fantastic stories about monsters and special children on a magical island. Maybe this is his way of dealing with the trauma of growing up in an orphanage after escaping
the Nazis. But when something awful happens to Grandpa, Jacob decides to investigate. Could the stories possibly be true? Fiction mixes with photography in this story where truth is found in the most peculiar places.
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Caitlin and her father are trying to make sense of their world after Caitlin’s brother Devon was tragically killed. It’s a struggle for them both. The father is drowning in grief, and Caitlin, who has Asperger’s syndrome, has trouble navigating everyone’s emotions. The story is told from Caitlin’s point of view, with humor and affection.
Monsoon Summer by Mitali Perkins
Fifteen year old Jazz reluctantly leaves behind a possible romance and a successful business venture in Berkeley to accompany her family on a summer trip to India, where her mother wants to establish a clinic next to the orphanage from which she was adopted by Jazz’s grandparents.
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
Steve Harmon is standing trial for driving the getaway car from a holdup where someone was killed. He might be sentenced to twenty-five years in jail. Is he a monster, as the prosecutor claims, or a good kid who made a bad choice? You won’t know until you reach the end of the story.
Montmorency ** by Eleanor Updale
Montmorency is a small time thief until he discovers the possibilities of London’s new underground sewer system. He develops a split identity: Scarper, the virtuoso thief who escapes crime scenes through the sewers; and Montmorency, a gentleman with fine taste and a better developed sense of honor. This is the first of four books in a popular mystery/spy series.
Moon Bear by Gill Lewis
Near his home in the mountains of Laos, on a dare, Tam tries to steal a bear cub from its den, and barely escapes alive. Many changes then happen to Tam: his village relocates, tragedy strikes his family, and he must work at a bear farm, where bears are kept in cruel captivity. When the very same cub reappears as a prisoner in the bear farm, Tam does his best to protect it.
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
In 1938, during the Great Depression, Abilene’s father decides she’s too old for their hobo life on the road and sends her to stay in Manifest, a town that was once important to him. Abilene spends a summer listening to stories, uncovering secrets, and solving mysteries about the town’s past and her father as a young man.
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca
Mortal Engines** by Philip Reeve
In a futuristic, desolate world of Traction Cities, London and other municipalities move across the landscape on giant caterpillar tracks. Larger cities hunt and absorb smaller ones. Struggling to survive after they are cast off the city of London, Tom and Hester discover a plot to reactivate an ancient weapon of mass destruction.
Moxie Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-You Notes by Peggy Gifford
Murder Afloat by Jane Leslie Conly
The life of Ben Orville, a young gentleman in 1860s Baltimore, changes abruptly when he’s kidnapped and forced to join an oyster fishing crew. The oystering business is lawless and violent, and the work so hard and dangerous that only desperate men do it by choice.
My Brother Sam is Dead by Christopher Collier
Sam Meeker was sixteen when he ran away to fight in the American Revolution. In this popular historical novel, the compelling story of the tragedy that strikes the Meeker family when Sam joins the rebel forces is told by Sam’s younger brother, Tim.
My Corner of the Ring by Jesselyn SIlva
A memoir of 12 year old Jesselyn as she fights her way to success in the male-dominated sport of boxing.
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durell
Durell left England as a boy of ten to live on the Greek island of Corfu for five years. His recollections are very, very funny as he introduces a procession of kooky characters—human and otherwise.
My life as a Book by Janet Tashjian
Derek hates to write, and hates to read. Stuck over the summer with having to do both, he finds a way to keep track of new vocabulary words with small hilarious line drawings. You can follow along on this funny and warm hearted summer adventure.
My Life in Pictures (Bea Garcia) by Deborah Zemke
Bea Garcia is an artist. She draws anywhere and everywhere—but mostly in her own notebook (which is this book!). A brand-new chapter book series and a must-read for doodlers everywhere.
My Mother the Cheerleader by Robert Sharenow
Every morning Louise’s mother dresses up and goes to stand with a group of neighborhood women known as the Cheerleaders, who taunt six-year old Ruby Bridges as she enters the elementary school. Louise never questions
the situation in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans until a likable New Yorker with radical views becomes a boarder in their house.
My Seneca Village by Marilyn Nelson
Through an assortment of poetic forms, this collection brings to life a long lost neighborhood in Manhattan, giving personalities and stories to names from history.
Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature by Sarah Campbell
A lively, photographic explanation and exploration of fractal patterns in nature. Also includes biographical information about the man who named fractals, Benoit Mandelbrot.
Naked Bunyip Dancing by Steven Herrick
When 6C starts the school year, the students aren’t sure what to think about their bearded, guitar playing, poetry loving teacher. Told in verse format and many voices, this quirky story follows one Australian sixth grade class, through highs and lows, from a tentative beginning to a strong finish.
Nameless City** by Faith Erin Hicks
A city that is conquered by a new outside ruler every couple of year has many names and not one at all. A boy named Kaidu of the current ruling group, Dao travels to the city to learn how to be a soldier but is much more interested in learning from Rat, a native of the city, a looked down upon group. He will discover things that could affect the whole future of the city.
Neighborhood Sharks by Katherine Roy
This terrific informational picture book cleverly explains the life cycle, biology and habitat of the ocean’s most fearsome and famous predator. Beautifully, at times alarmingly, illustrated.
Nest by Esther Ehrlich
The events of Naomi Orensteinn’s extraordinarily difficult sixth grade year unfold against the background of beautiful marshes and beaches in Cape Cod, her home. Facing unhappiness at home and no relief at school, Naomi finds comfort in nature and a hard won friendship with the boy next door.
Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs** by Katherine Applegate
First book in the Roscoe Riley Rules series.
Never Smile at a Monkey by Steve Jenkins
New Found Land by Alan Wolf
Thick but full of white space, this unusual book tells the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition in many voices including Lewis, the explorer;Clark, the gentleman,Sacagawea, the bird woman ; and other participants in the dramatic voyage of discovery, known by such names as the hunter,the drinker,and the fiddler.Even the dog Seaman contributes an important point of view.
New Shoes by Susan Meyer
Set in the South during the time of segregation, this picture book brings the civil rights era to life for contemporary readers as two young girls find an inventive way to foil Jim Crow laws.
Nic Bishop Frogs by Nic Bishop
Stunning photographs by Bishop and appealing narratives characterize this non-fiction animal series.
Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz
A fairy loses her wings in a run-in with a bat. She is dropped in a garden and has to be clever and brave and make new friends in order to survive.
No Ordinary Day by Deborah Ellis
Set in current day India, this story follows Valli, a homeless child, as she makes her way from a small coal mining village to the streets of a big city. Valli
No Talking by Andrew Clements
Norman, Speak! by Caroline Adderson
A family
North by Donna Jo Napoli
Stifled by his over protective mother and inspired by his hero, Matthew Henson, Alvin strikes out on his own to see how far North he can get from Washington D.C. His adventure takes him farther than he imagined possible.
Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero by Marissa Moss
Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks
_Oggie has a special talent. He can charve cheese. What? He can take a slice of cheese and with tiny bites make it into whatever shape he likes. Donnica is a sneaky cheerleader who wants to steal Oggie
Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
The story follows Doug Swieteck, a character in Schmidt’s previous Vietnam era book The Wednesday Wars, as he moves to a new town and develops purpose in life, in contrast to his thuggish father and bullying brothers.
Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes
During a summer spent at her grandmother’s seaside house, Olive experiences a few of life’s milestone events.
Olivia’s Birds: Saving the Glf by Olivia Bouler
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
Georgie doesn’t believe that her sister is dead. Determined to discover what happened to her sister Agatha after she left with a group of pigeoners, Georgie sets out after her. Will she uncover the mystery of her sister’s disappearance?
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Delphine’s father sends her and her two younger sisters to Oakland to spend the summer with their mother, who has very little interest in them. It’s the restless summer of 1968, and the girls spend their time in a youth center sponsored by the revolutionary Black Panthers.
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
In this autobiographical novel, Solzhenitsyn describes a typical day in one of Stalin’s forced-labor camps. Clear and persuasive writing enables the reader to see the horrors of camp life and to appreciate the resilience of human beings.
One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson
_Hal
One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath
Jane wants adventure to take her away from her family and tumble-down seaside house. She gets her wish but not quite in the way she anticipates. Balloon rides, unpredictable road trips with a wacky bible selling preacher and baby sitting peanut butter covered children are just a few of the adventures her summer brings.
One last word by Nikki Grimes
Travel to the time and place of the Harlem Renaissance through Grimes’ original poems inspired by the poets of this great literary movement.
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of Gambia by Miranda Paul
A thought-provoking tale of ecological awareness and recycling.
Only One Year by Andrea Cheng
Sharon and Mary are shocked when their parents tell them that they are sending their younger brother to live with relatives in China for one year.
Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue by Jon Agee
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder
The island gives them everything they need, but there can only be nine on the island at a time or else the sky will fall. When Jinny’s best friend leaves she begs him not go, but he must. When it is her time to leave, will she?
Otto’s Orange Day by Frank Cammuso
Out of the Woods by Rebecca Bond
An original picture book about a great fire in an early 20th-century Ontario logging community. Highly detailed illustrations convey as much information as the story.
Outcasts United: the Story of a Refugee Soccer Team That Changed a Town by Warren St. John
The Fugees are a soccer team of boys from all over the world whose families fled conflict and disaster in their home countries. Resettled in Clarkson, Georgia, they struggle to stay in school, find jobs, and live safely in crime-filled neighborhoods. With her own brand of tough love, the Fugees’ enigmatic female coach helps her talented players achieve success on and off the field.
Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky
From the introduction: This book is an adventure story: It tells how a small group of young people saved Yiddish books from extinction. It
Over Sea, Under Stone ** by Susan Cooper
While on vacation, three children discover an old map which tells of an ancient treasure linked to King Arthur. Hidden ‘over sea, under stone,’ the treasure is the key to containing the ancient forces of evil which were once so powerful in the world.
Pa Lia’s First Day by Michelle Edwards
Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge
Paige
Payback Time by Carl Deuker
Mitch didn’t get the editor’s job on the school newspaper, but sports reporting turns out to be much more exciting, especially when a remarkably talented new player appears on the football team, just in time to play defense in the championship playoffs, and the coach appears to be covering up his real identity.
Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes
_Penny feels guilty after taking a beautiful blue marble that she sees in Mrs. Goodwin
Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson
Jade goes to a suburban private school in Oregon and all she wants to do is go on a language trip, but instead she gets chosen for a mentorship program. It seems like neither her mentor, her friends nor her teachers can understand that she doesn’t always want to be helped but also wants to help others.
Pigs Might Fly by Dick King-Smith
Daggy Dogfoot, the runt of the litter, proves he has unusual talents when he learns to swim and fly.
Play, Louis, Play!: The True Story of a Boy and His Horn by Muriel Harris Weinstein
You will not only learn about the amazing jazz musician Louis Armstrong in this book but you will learn about his amazing life in a jazzy style.
Poem-Mobiles: Crazy Car Poems by J. Patrick Lewis
Fanciful illustrations and inventive poems make for a fun read. Be inspired to create your own crazy car!
Pop by Gordon Korman
New in town, Marcus aims for quarterback on the high school team. While practicing in the park he meets Charlie, who helps him prepare for the tryouts. Charlie is an eccentric, sometimes childlike middle aged man who happens to be an incredibly skilled football player. When school starts, Marcus figures out the mystery of Charlie, and also discovers that Charlie’s son is his rival on the team.
Pop! The Accidental Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy
Powerful Words by Wade Hudson, ed.
From a colonial letter to a hip-hop recording, this book contains powerful words in many forms, written and spoken by African-Americans over the course of two hundred years. Sidebars of biographical and historical information accompany excerpts from literature, letters, and speeches.
Preaching to the Chickens by Jabari Asim
A fascinating glimpse into the childhood of civil rights leader John Lewis. Faith, humor, and purposeful action are equally present in this stunningly illustrated biography.
Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz
An overly protected princess finds unexpected freedom in the gift of a pet crocodile! A very silly story with an even bigger heart.
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
Thomas Peaceful lied about his age to follow his much admired older brother to join the fighting in World War I. During a long, lonely night on the front line, waiting for a dreaded event the next morning, he reflects on his life and the war.
Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park
Julia and Patrick do a project for the state fair. Patrick, who is fascinated by Julia’s Korean heritage, persuades her to raise silkworms, although Julia wants to do something more American. Between chapters, the main character enters into conversation with the author.
Puddlejumpers by Mark Jean
A baby is kidnapped by an elf-like clan who believe he has a role in their destiny. As the boy grows, his life takes many twists and turns, including a return to the place of his birth, which of course he doesnt recognize.
Pug and other Animal Poems by Valerie Worth
An elegantly illustrated collection of small moment poems about foxes, cats, rabbits, pugs, and other animals
Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg
In 1901 Annie Edson Taylor crawled in a wooden barrel and rode over Niagara Falls. She was the first person to ever attempt such a feat. Find out how and why this former charm school teacher took on this death-defying adventure.
Rad American Women A-Z by Kate Schatz
You don’t have to be a girl to be inspired by this ABC of female change-makers who broke the mold and shaped history. From Angela Davis to Zora Neale Hurston, read about gritty, zestful Americans who meet the definition of “rad” — grassroots organizers, fighters for social justice, innovators, artists, athletes, and performers.
Radioactive: How Irene Curie & Lise Meitner Revolutionized Science and Changed the World by Winifred Conkling
The story of two women making groundbreaking discoveries in science, a field dominated by men. THis narrative nonfiction reads like a suspense thriller.
Rain, Reign by Ann Martin
Rose can function only with structure in her life, which she finds in her collection of homonyms, her watchfulness about following rules, and her regular routine with her dog Rain. The shaky order of her home life is destroyed when a hurricane comes and Rain is lost, but Rose turns out to be unexpectedly courageous.
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
Ramona is making new friends and trying to sort our how to manage 3rd grade on her own.
Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang
This is a memoir of Jiang’s growing up in the midst of the Cultural Revolution in China in the late 1960s. Old customs, old culture, old ideas and old habits were dismissed; family heritage and education were suspect. Jiang was caught squarely between politics and personal and family values.
Red Sings from Tree Tops: A Year of Colors by Joyce Sidman
Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall
A blue crayon mistakenly labeled as “red” suffers an identity crisis. A colorful picture book about finding the courage to be true to your inner self.
Redwoods by Jason Chin
Regarding the Fountain** by Kate Klise
Plans for constructing a new water fountain for their school lead a fifth grade class to uncover a criminal plot. The story is told humorously in the form of letters, faxes, and sketches.
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley
In this graphic novel memoir of growing up in a food loving family, the author recalls the tastes, smells, and associations of various meals and dishes. Every chapter includes a recipe.
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
This artfully interwoven story brings the past into the present when Andi, on the edge of an emotional meltdown, is dragged by her father to Paris to work on a senior thesis that might salvage her disastrous year at a high-achieving New York prep school. She discovers an old diary that draws her into the mystery of Louis Charles, the lost boy king of the French Revolution.
Revolution is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine
Ling, the only daughter of two doctors, leads a happy and comfortable life in the city of Wuhan until the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in 1972. The family is forced to share their apartment with an official of the Communist Party, food and supplies become scarce, and worse hardships follow.
Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip through the Motown Sound by Andrea Pinkney
Narrated by The Groove, the Motown beat personified, the book is structured like a road trip that cruises through Detroit and a few other places, meeting lots of people along the way. The story centers around Berry Gordy, a songwriter who got tired of seeing the profits from black music go to white record company owners, and started Motown Records, which worked like an assembly line for producing hits.
Ricksaw Girl by Mitali Perkins
Rise Up! The Art of Protest by Jo Rippon
Using the art of posters from protests across the last hundred years this book looks at many kinds of activism and encourages young people to “speak truth power” Made in collaboration with Amnesty international
Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl
Take six well know fairytales, add some rhyming, some surprise endings and the fantastic illustrations of Quentin Blake and you have yourself a story party.
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
Everyone believes that Sophie is an orphan, except Sophie. After barely escaping a trip to a London orphanage, Sophie discovers that there are strange and hidden worlds and societies in the city’s underbelly. Together with the new “rooftopper” friends she uncovers, Sophie embarks on an adventure to try to find her mother.
Ruby On the Outside by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Ruby is starting middle school where no one knows her mom is in prison. As Ruby makes friends with the new girl in her building, Margelit, Ruby is not sure she can tell Margalit about her mother, especially since she suspects there may be a connection between Margalit’s family and her mother’s imprisonment.
Sabriel ** by Garth Nix
Not for the faint of heart, this is the riveting story of Sabriel, who must take on the task of her necromancer father: to put the disturbed dead back to rest. The modern and magical medieval worlds entwine in this page-turner.
Sadie and Ratz by Sonya Hartnett
An inventive story about Hannah and her hands, named Sadie and Ratz, which regularly get into trouble, especially when the younger brother is around.
Sam and Charlie (and Sam too!) by Leslie Kimmelman
In this appealing series, each book contains short stories that emphasize elements of friendship, including sharing, kindness, and saying sorry.
Same Sun Here by House & Vaswani
This is the story of a pen pal friendship between a coal miner’s son in Kentucky and an Indian immigrant girl in New York City. Learn through their letters (written by two different authors) how much they have in common and how much they have to learn from each other.
Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief** by Wendelin Van Draanen
First book in a series about a thirteen-year-old girl whose curiosity and tendency to speak her mind involve her in the solving of mysteries.
Save Me a Seat by Gita Varadarajan and Sarah Weeks
Starting school in New Jersey, Ravi expects the same kind of success and popularity he had as a top student in Bangalore. To his shock, he’s seen as an outsider. His accent, formal manners, and the spicy food in his lunch box set him apart. Worst of all, he’s sent to remedial English Language Learning, with Joe, a student with learning issues. Ravi and Joe have nothing in common except that both are targets of mean and sneaky Dillon, who will do anything to be the center of attention.
Saving Montgomery Sole by Mariko Tamaki
Montgomery Sole is the president of the Mystery Club. This is not a genre specific book club rather one that looks at the mysteries of the universe. The other members of the club are her only friends in a school of jocks. When an ultraconservative christian moves to town she feel her family of her sister and two moms might be at direct risk. Can the Eye of Know make it all better?
Savvy** by Ingrid Law
Mibs is turning 13 and her special talent or savvy is about to be revealed to her. Not only does she have to discover what her new power is, she will also spend the next few years away from the world learning how to control it. Her attempts to understand her savvy leads her on a wild adventure that includes a trailer park, a kidnapping, a renegade bible delivery bus and talking tattoos.
Sea of Trolls** by Nancy Farmer
In a story that draws on the legend of Beowolf, Jack and his little sister are kidnapped by Vikings. Jack faces trolls and dragons, and eventually finds things to admire about the fierce Viking culture.
Secret Identity** by Wendelin vanDraanen
Nolan Byrd takes on the secret identity of Shredderman in order to expose the truth about a bully the kids call Bubba, in this first book in the Shredderman series.
See How They Run : Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race ... by Susan E. Goodman
Complicated information about the electoral process becomes understandable and fun when you read this lighthearted explanation with humorous illustrations.
Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
An important account of how Sylvia Mendez and her parents helped end school segregation in California, almost ten years before Brown vs. Board of Education.
Serafina’s Promise by Ann Burg
Eleven-year-old Serafina has dreamt of becoming a doctor her entire life but their are many obstacles that stand in her way. She lives in a rural village outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti where her family is very poor and constant chores keep her from chasing her dreams. When a devastating flood and earthquake ravages her home, Serafina’s dreams seem impossibly far away. She must find a way to survive and maintain her hope.
Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older
Before her amazed eyes, Sierra sees strange things happening in her Brooklyn neighborhood, like murals that cry real tears. No one is able or willing to tell her what’s going on until she meets Robbie, a fellow artist, and learns about a mysterious kind of magic that gives form to the benevolent ghosts of ancestors. But something has gone terribly wrong with the magic, and Sierra finds herself in the middle of a ghoulish conflict she barely understands.
Shark Beneath the Reef by Jean Craighead George
Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton
Ship Breaker ** by Paolo Bacigalupi
In a dystopian future America, Nailer survives by crawling through the dangerous wrecks of ancient oil tankers on the Gulf coast collecting scrap metal. After a storm, he and a friend find the wreck of a modern luxury ship and think their fortune is made, until they discover a survivor, the wealthy ship owner’s daughter.
Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Army brat Jaime Dexter is frustrated and jealous that her brother TJ is going to Vietnam where all the excitement and action is. TJ is a photographer and instead of letters home he sends film for his younger sister to process and print. Through these images Jaime leans about the grim realities of war and comes to understand herself, her family and the nature of the Army a little better.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sacher
Sight by Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Dylan has a terrible psychic gift — her visions lead police to murder sites where the victims were children. Can she use her special sight to stop a murder that hasn’t yet happened?
Silverwing** by Ken Oppel
Shade, a young bat, gets lost in a storm during migration. He tries to rejoin the rest of the colony, but many dangers arise along the way.
Sitting Bull: Lakota Warrior and Defender of His People by S. D. Nelson
_Using illustrations and photographs, this biography tells about the life of the great Lakota/Sioux leader and warrior Sitting Bull. Beginning with his childhood, through his war against the U.S. Army, this amazing and brave story will leave you wanting more.
Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant
Before Louis Braille, the blind were shut off from reading and writing. This remarkable picture book biography highlights Braille's youthful ingenuity and his innovative spirit inspired by necessity,
Slam! by Nick Hornby
Things are going great for Nick until his ex-girlfriend Alicia gives him the worst possible news. When in need of advice, Nick talks to his imaginary friend, the legendary Tony Hawk as he is pictured on a poster in Nick’s room.
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
This memoir describes how several full years of growing up experiences were made even more complicated by endless uncomfortable dental procedures the author went through after tripping and seriously damaging her two front teeth.
Sneaky Art by Marthe Jocelyn
_Presents simple handicraft projects that can be sneakily placed into everyday places.
Snow White by Matt Phelan
A graphic novel rendition of Snow White taking place from the Roaring Twenties to the Great Depression. After Snow’s father survives the stock market crash but then suddenly dies, “the seven,” a group of street urchin children help take care of her.
Soccer Hero by Matt Christopher
Rob Lasher is a solid soccer player, but when he saves the coach's life he becomes the town hero. Suddenly he is getting way more credit than he deserves.
Solo by Kwame Alexander
This free verse novel is the perfect format to tell the story of Blade, who is trying to escape the celebrity fame brought on by his rock star, drug addicted father. Blade’s journey to find himself will take him on a soul journey from Hollywood to Ghana.
Sona and the Wedding Game by Kashmira Sheth
Sona
SPHDZ Book #1! by Jon Scieszka
Spaceheadz series
Sports Camp by Rich Wallace
Soon after arrival, Riley realizes he’s the youngest kid at highly competitive Camp Olympia, and he’s going to have to work hard to earn respect.
Spot the Plot: A Riddle Book of Book Riddles by J. Patrick Lewis
Squish, Super Amoeba by Jennifer Holm
Squish is a comic book loving, twinkie eating amoeba just trying to get through a day of school. Follow his adventures in this graphic novel series as he makes his way around bullies, the principal, and his family.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X Kendi
Tells the history of racism in this country. This book will help students understand why we are where we are right now when it comes to race and racism. Once you can recognize racism you have the power to practice anti racism.
Stand Straight, Ella Kate: The True Story of a Real Giant by Kate Klilse
Star Wars: The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight by Tony DiTerlizzi
A rapid-fire retelling of the classic tale of good and evil set in a galaxy far, far away. The illustrations are the original concept art designed for the movies, never before collected in a picture book.
Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore
Lolly prides himself on building Legos according to the exact instructions, but then he is given a bag of random Legos where there are no rules. Similarly, as he mourns the death of his brother, he wonders if he should follow the rules and join a crew like his brother did or break off and create a path of his own.
Stella by Starlight by Stella Draper
During childhood summers, the author falls in love with the magical tropical island of Cuba. When she’s almost old enough to enjoy the long awaited promise of summer horseback riding, Cuba and the United States become enemies. The two places she loves are full of hate for each other. The summer visits end, and Cuba becomes a distant dream.
Stick Dog** by Tom Watson
Stick Dog is on an epic quest to find the perfect burger. You will laugh at the zany adventures and the hilarious drawings.
Stink: Solar System Superhero by Megan McDonald
Stinkbomb & Ketchup-Face and the Badness of Badgers * by John Dougherty
If you like silly, messy, and funny books you will like this book about a brother and sister who are able to turn any event into an epic adventure.
Stone Giant: Michelangelo’s David and How He Came to Be by Jane Sutcliffe
A fascinating story about how Michelangelo created his great sculpture of David. For art and history fans.
Stop the Train! by Geraldine McCaughrean
Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan
This graphic novel combines tall tale with an historically accurate portrayal of Kansas during the severe drought that caused the Dust Bowl. Young Jack feels uselesstheres no farm work to help with, and he has trouble standing up to the boys who bully him. Eventually he confronts a huge test of his courage.
Storm Runners by Roland Smith
Chase warns the principal not to send kids home on the school bus in the hours before Hurricane Emily makes landfall, and he should know. His father makes a living providing emergency services after weather disasters. Unfortunately, the principal doesn
Storm Warriors by Elisa Carbone
Nathan, the son of a fisherman, wants more than anything to become a member of the life-saving station on Pea Island in North Carolina. Although he helps with dangerous rescues, his dream is out of reach because jobs at the all African-American life-saving station are passed from father to son.
Strong As Sandow by Don Tate
Eugen Sandow, the father of modern-day bodybuilding, was a larger-than-life figure. This entertaining biography also contains helpful exercises for kids!
Stuff You Should Know by
Explain the science of concepts.
Swear to Howdy by Wendelin van Draanen*
Joey befriends and renames Rusty, the new kid, informing him, You aint never gonna survive around here with a name like Russell. The two boys get into many scrapes together, and each time they swear never to tell, especially not Joeys father. Finally Rusty must decide if keeping secrets is the best thing he can do for his friend.
Sword of the Samurai: Adventure Stories from Japan by Eric Kimmel
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny ** by John Himmelman
Bunjitsu Bunny's greatest weapon is her mind! Follow her through a series of humorous martial arts adventures.
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Paul wears thick glasses and thinks of himself as a nerd, but he sees well enough to play on the undefeated Tangerine Middle School soccer team. He also sees hidden things, like the sinister side to his older brother, the family
Tell All the Children Our Story: Memories and Mementos of Being Young and Black by Tonya Bolden
The story of African-American children throughout the nation’s history is told and celebrated, with abundant historical photographs and lots of visual interest.
Terrible Typhoid Mary: the True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
This real life account gives many sides to the story of an Irish immigrant cook in the early 1900s who unknowingly spread the deadly disease among her New York employers. It covers the flurry in the press over her story and the fight to detect the causes of typhoid fever and eliminate it.
Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Amy tries to avoid taking part in any of the good magic practiced by her family of witches, preferring to live like a normal person. While taking care of her aunt’s ranch, she’s drawn into a mystery which, unfortunately, appears to involve the supernatural world she’s trying to ignore.
The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
Andy and Terry are best friends who live in the most unbelievable treehouse, and with each new book in the series, the treehouse gets 13 stories taller! Hilarious writing and clever illustrations are a compelling combination.
The 57 Bus: A true story of two teenagers and the crime that changed their lives by Dashka Slater
Sasha is a white middle class private school kid and Derek is a black public school kid from a poor neighborhood full of crime-- two different worlds that cross paths on the 57 bus. One day, a skirt, a lighter, and a reckless decision will change both of their lives forever.
The 9 Lives of Alexander Baddenfield by John Bemelmans Marciano
Alexander Baddenfield is bad. He comes from a long line of bad relatives. Alexander Baddenfield is also rich and the very last of a long line of Baddenfield. He has decided to transfer the 9 lives of his devoted cat to himself. He then sets about having all sorts of diabolical, dangerous and deadly adventures. It's funny too.
The Adrian Mole Diaries by Sue Townsend
Adrian Mole records his daily impressions and misadventures with teenage angst in this whimsical, sharp, and funny first-person account of growing up.
The Adventures of Shola by Bernardo Atxaga
Entertainment for all ages, a great read aloud, this charming book from Spain includes three stories about Shola, a small dog with a big personality. Shola is frequently wrong about her own heroic nature, but facing her shortcomings never bothers her for long, or distracts her from the next escapade.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Tom Sawyer, the American ‘trickster,’ thwarts his aunt’s plans to civilize him and has one adventure after another, often with his friend, Huck Finn. Tom exhibits almost fantastic freedoms in a society characterized by respectable convention.
The Amazing Harry Kellar: Great American Magician by Gail Jarrow
Harry Houdini called Harry Kellar America’s finest magician. From his famous floating women to his escape from knotted ropes Kellar made a name for himself. In a book filled with pictures, posters and fascinating facts, you will learn all about this master showman.
The Amulet of Samarkand** by Jonathan Stroud
This witty, action-packed story, full of inventive magical creatures and devices, tells of a rivalry between a powerful magician and a precocious magician’s apprentice.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley
Malcolm X’s story is one of courage, intelligence, struggle, personal magnetism, and leadership. Here we see the beginnings of Black Power and of Muslim eminence.
The Baby Tree by Sophie Blackall
An utterly charming and original story about a young boy who poses an age-old question to the adults in his life: “Where do babies come from?”
The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow
Karl, a Jewish teenager in Berlin, builds strength and confidence as a protege of the world famous boxer Max Schmeling. As the Nazis assert their power, daily existence for Karl and his family becomes increasingly stressful and dangerous.
The Bermuda Triangle by Jim Whiting
The Best Man by Richard Peck
A fun story about a boy and his family relationship during his grade 5 and 6 years.
The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan
After two years of forced labor on a cacao plantation in the Ivory Coast, Amadou thinks of nothing but meeting the daily quota and protecting his younger brother. Then an unlikely new prisoner arrives, a fiery town girl who is determined to escape. Her anger awakens sparks of compassion and hope in Amadou.
The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Boy goes on a journey with a mysterious pilgrim, hoping that he can find a relic to cure him of his hump. This historical fiction novel is a thrilling medieval adventure.
The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel
In the shadow of his daring, successful father, Will seeks an adventure of his own. He finds it aboard a gigantic train hurtling across the wilds of Northern Canada, carrying thousands of passengers — including a band of thieves and a circus troupe, a well guarded treasure hoard, and a car of exotic animals.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
William Kamkwamba and his family barely survived a famine in Malawi, which left them so short of money that William couldn’t go to school. These hardships inspired him to use his talent for tinkering to improve conditions in his family and village. By finding ingenious uses for trash and scrap, William earned a reputation as an inventor and connections to scientists and innovators worldwide.
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose
Knud Pedersen, who provided the information for this true story, was furious when the government in Denmark cooperated with the Nazis instead of fighting, like its neighbors Norway and Great Britain. He and several high school friends decided to fight the Nazis themselves, starting with destroying German traffic signs, then rapidly escalating their daring acts of resistance.
The Bravest Woman in America by Marissa Moss
The Breaks of the Game by David Halberstam*
Halberstam’s compelling study of the Portland Trail Blazers provides an excellent view of the many people and needs involved in professional basketball, as well as in other professional sports.
The Cardturner by Louis Sacher
This uniquely unpredictable story is 95% realistic with a twist. Its about the world of competitive bridge, a forty year old romance, and a kid who develops a special bond with his uncle, whose heart is said to be as cold as a brick.
The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett
Steve Brixton, a fan of detective books, stumbles into a real adventure when he is mistaken for someone else by an elite group of undercover intelligence agents.
The Case of the Missing Marquess** by Nancy Springer
When her mother disappears, Enola Holmes becomes reacquainted with her estranged, much older brothers, Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. Shocked by her feminist upbringing, they make plans to send her to boarding school. She escapes to London and discovers her own talents as a sleuth.
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
Like the tale of King Midas, this story reminds us to be careful about what we wish for.
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
In this complex and chilling book, Cormier examines the effects on Jerry Renault when he refuses to submit to the tyranny of a teacher who requires that he sell chocolates for the school
The Chosen by Chaim Potok
Struggling with his father’s powerful religious and family beliefs, the son of an Hasidic rabbi ultimately chooses to study psychology and join the secular world. For a long time he must live with his father’s silence. This thought-provoking novel contains an engrossing plot.
The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron
Styron recreates and explains the Southampton Slave Insurrection by using the voice of its leader, Nat Turner. An extraordinary book which appeared at the height of the U.S. Civil Rights movement.
The Crow-Girl** by Bodil Bredsdorff
A girl and her grandmother live in an abandoned fishing village. When the grandmother dies of old age, the girl starts on a journey to find new people. She encounters both kind and unkind strangers, those who are helpful, and others in need of help. With courage and cleverness, she builds a new family.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Christopher, an autistic teenager, finds his neighbor
The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn and Hal Iggulden
This collection of boy lore and how-to information includes The Greatest Paper Airplane in the World, Slingshots, Timers and Tripwires, Famous Battles, and much more. The book was a big hit in England before arriving recently in the U.S. If you enjoy it, you might also likeThe American Boys Handy Book, by Daniel Carter Beard, a boy
The Dark is Rising** by Susan Cooper
A challenging read, this is the first of a series about Will Stanton, who is drawn into the eternal conflict between good and evil.
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
A laugh out loud story in which crayons write persuasive letters complaining about their traditional coloring roles.
The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer’s Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors by Chris Barton
_Day-Glo or neon color wasn
The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
Tired of hearing about her family’s history, Hannah is given the opportunity to live it when time-travel sends her back fifty years. Retaining her own memories, Hannah lives as her namesake and experiences Nazi-occupied Poland.
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Outraged that she is excluded from her boarding school’s underground boys-only club, Frankie decides to subvert the club’s agenda, which is to stage highly visible pranks.
The Doll Who Knew the Future by Catherine Dexter
The Emerald Atlas** by John Stephens
Kate, Michael, and Emma grew up in orphanages, never understanding why their parents abandoned them, until they are sent to the blighted town of Cambridge Falls. There they make friends with a magician, join the townspeople in fighting a sorceress, travel back and forth in time, and discover that they have been named in a prophecy connected to three ancient books of magic.
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya
Arturo’s family has a restaurant in a fast developing area of the city. Arturo only has weeks to figure out a way to save the restaurant, save the town, and get the girl.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
A young girl explore the naturals world around her.
The Examination by Malcolm Bosse
Two brothers—one brilliant but a dreamer and the other reckless but cunning—make a perilous journey across sixteenth-century China in pursuit of their destinies. A superb and stimulating adventure story.
The Fairy’s Mistake by Gail Carson Levine
Series: Princess Tales
The Falconer’s Knot by Mary Hoffman
Wrongly accused of a murder, Silvano, a young nobleman in 16th century Italy, takes sanctuary in a monastery, where he learns to make pigments for artists painting frescoes in a nearby cathedral. Soon a murder takes place in the monastery and Silvano is once again a prime suspect.
The Family Romanov [E] by Candace Fleming
This gripping true story starts with the coming of age of Tzar Nicholas of Russia and describes his family life with Alexandria; their daughters, the four young Grand Duchesses; and their extremely ill son, heir to the throne. The family remained unaware of how their excessive way of life contributed to revolutionary fervor. The account concludes with the tragic end of the tsar and tsarina and their almost grown children, and unravels some of the mystery surrounding their fate.[ebook]
The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
The first rule of punk is be yourself. This can be hard when you’ve moved to a new city and have to make all new friends. A quick novel that integrates chapters with zines.
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm
In this humorous and thought-provoking story, Ellie bonds with her cranky grandfather when an unlikely event occurs in their lives. Ellie’s grandfather is often at odds with her mother, an actress, and appreciates that Ellie shares his interest in the possibilities and wonders of science.
The Frog Scientist** by Pamela S. Turner
Part science, part biography, this beautifully photographed book describes the work of biologist Tyrone Hayes. An African-American from South Carolina with a lifelong passion for amphibians, he studies the effects of pesticides on frogs, with a team of graduate students at UC Berkeley he calls the Frog Squad. This book is part of the Scientists in the Field series.
The Girl is Murder** by Kathryn Miller Haines
Without his approval, Iris tries to help her father, a wounded war veteran, in his struggling private-eye business. Her investigation of the disappearance of a classmate takes her between her former Manhattan private school and her new public high school on the Lower East Side. 1940s urban teen culture provides a vivid setting.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
YES. There is a witch in the woods. There has always been a witch. So begins the enthralling tale of Xan the witch, rescuer of sacrificed babies, doer of good, companion of the poet swamp monster, Glerk, and tiny dragon, Antain. This modern fairytale is about family, the power of love, the potency of secrets and the complexities of becoming one’s self.
The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth by Jean Patrick
The Giver ** by Lois Lowry
A twelve-year-old boy becomes the ‘receiver of memory’ in his dysfunctional, cold society where no one feels pain or discomfort. As he learns of the perverseness of his world, he revolts.
The Golden Compass** by Philip Pullman*
This extraordinary fantasy is set in an alternate universe where each human has a personal daemonthe manifestation of the soul in animal form. Curious Lyra Belaqua finds herself in possession of a compasslike device that might help her defeat the formidable Gobblers.
The Good Liar by Gregory Maguire
The Good, the Bad, the Barbie by Tanya Lee Stone
A balanced account of the fifty year history of the famous and controversial doll.
The Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami
Dini and Maddie are best friends and huge fans of Bollywood movies made in India. They are devastated when they learn that Dini will be moving to India for two years, but, just like in the movies, every cloud has a silver lining and even the worst difficulties can lead to a happy ending.
The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson
Jackson Greene has promised to reform from his middle school career as a con man, until he learns that the school election is rigged — by the principal! With a team of friends talented in computer programming, lock-picking, and other useful skills, he plans an elaborate scheme to make sure the elections are fair.
The Haunted Library ** by Dori Butler
Kaz is an ordinary ghost who gets separated from his family and carried off to a library far away. Can his new human friends, a little girl and her grandmother librarian, help him find his way back home? This new mystery series includes a helpful glossary of ghostly terms.
The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
After her father burns her precious books, Joan runs away from the harsh life on their struggling farm to pursue her dream of getting an education. A hard worker who looks older than fourteen, she finds a job with a future: cooking and cleaning for $6 a week. Her cultured Jewish employers open her eyes to many new ideas, but do not always understand her dramatic youthful romanticism.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
A delightful constellation of characters (Zaphod Beeblebox, Trillian, Veet Voojagig, Ford Prefect, and Arthur Dent, to name just a few) partake in Adams’s galactic adventure, a wry and very funny commentary on the human, as it were, condition.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
In this exciting story, the Hobbits of Middle Earth begin the adventures that will be expanded upon in the classic trilogy, The Lord of the Rings.
The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
A Mexican American girl lives in a dingy house in Spanish Chicago. In short, poetic, and beautifully written chapters, reveals her feelings about herself, her family, and her neighborhood.
The Hunger Games** by Suzanne Collins
In a future United States, absolute rulers exert power and control through the annual Hunger Games, a televised reality show in which participants compete until only one remains alive. Each of the subjugated districts is required to send two young people. Katniss volunteers to go in place of her little sister, hoping that her hunting skills will give her a chance of survival.
The Inquisitor’s Apprentice by Chris Moriarty
Why is a nice Jewish boy like Sasha apprenticing with the police department to root out magical crime? Well, for one thing, he can see witches.
The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz
Who knew a book set in 13th century France would be such a page turner? Destined to be a classic, this is a tale of three persecuted children and their dog, coming together to fight injustice and intolerance, while also saving one another. The book is beautifully constructed as well.
The Jumbies by Tracy Baptiste
They say don’t go into the woods because there could be jumbies. But Corinne La Mer isn't afraid of anything. An exciting new tale based on Caribbean folklore.
The King Must Die by Mary Renault
As a youth, Theseus carries out two quests: one for his father, the King of Athens, and an other for the Minotaur to whom Athenian children have been sacrificed.
The Kingdom of Wrenly ** by Jordan Quinn
A prince and a seamstress's daughter team up for fantastical adventures throughout the Lands of Wrenly.
The Kite That Bridged Two Nations by Alexis O'Neill
A dramatic account of the story of Homan Walsh, a young man who dreamed of flying his kite across the Niagara, linking America to Canada.
The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter
The Hardscrabble children discover a brief letter crumpled in the trash which offers a possible clue to the disappearance of their mother. Although this story is contemporary and completely realistic, it includes a castle, a secret passage guarded by a fiendish creature, and a legendary wild boy.
The Last Dragon by Silvana de Mari
Going against his own nature and the tradition of his people, an elf child bonds with two adult humans. With great difficulty and many misunderstandings, they help him in his quest to fulfill a prophecy.
The Legend of Spud Murphy** by Eoin Colfer
It’s summer, and three brothers have nowhere to go except the library, with the meanest, scariest librarian on the
face of the earth.
The Lemonade War** by Jacqueline Davies
Evan and his smart little sister Jessie are usually good friends, until Evan learns that Jessie will skip a grade and start next fall in his class. They develop a not very friendly competition to see who can earn the most money selling lemonade over the summer.
The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary by Candace Fleming
With the look and feel of an old fashioned newspaper, this wide ranging look at the Lincolns uses photographs, period documents and original text to chronicle the life and times of both Mary Todd and Abraham. By using all different types of primary source material, a full picture is created of the people and events of a critical time in our countrys history. Good for history buffs and browsers alike.
The Lion Who Stole My Arm by Nicola Davies
Pedru wants to be a great hunter like his father, but after a lion takes his arm, he worries that his dream won't come true.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Four English school children find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia.
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
Two siblings take their visiting cousin sightseeing to the London Eye. They watch him go into the ride, and they watch all the passengers leave, but their cousin has disappeared.
The Lord of the Rings (trilogy) by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo, an aging hero, bequeaths a magic ring to Frodo, who, with his faithful friend Samwise, must return it to a treacherous and evil creature dwelling in the distant mountains. Their journey is one of terror, courage, and beauty. Tolkien
The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge
On a volcanic island nation, a mysteriously talented people called the Lost are all murdered, and the secretive people of the Lace district are blamed. A young Lace girl struggles to protect her sister, possibly the last surviving Lost, and overcome violent prejudice against her village.
The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl
The Gregg family hunts just for fun, to the disgust of the girl next door. After trying politely to change their attitude, she gets mad and turns her magic finger on them.
The Magic Thief** by Sarah Prineas
Conn is a curious and talented thief from the wrong side of town. He picks the pocket of a powerful wizard and unknowingly steals his magical stone. Surprisingly, Conn survives this usually fatal act. This begins a tumultuous relationship between the wizard and boy as well as an adventure involving evil and a crumbling city that is mysteriously loosing its magical power.
The Mammoth Academy by Neal Layton
Mammoth Academy students are just like students anywhere: some like studying, some like sports, some experiment with not bathing. But when danger comes in the form of the two footed humans, the big adventure begins.
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
Deza is proud of her close and spirited family. They are blessed with talents, including her brother’s singing voice and her own success in school. But the hopes of even such a strong, happy family may not survive the hardships of the Great Depression and the racial barriers of the 1930s.
The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux
A New England farm family is transported to the jungles of Honduras by Charlie’s eccentric father Allie. Survival becomes foremost in this bizarre, entertaining novel.
The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Regan Barnhill
Jack’s mother delivers him to into the care of an elderly aunt and uncle in a small Iowa town, and then seems to forget about him completely. Struggling to hold onto normal life, Jack resists learning the dangerous secrets of the strange town and the truth about why he is there.
The Mysterious Benedict Society** by Trenton Lee Stewart
Reynie Muldoon, an orphan, is one of the children who responds to an advertisement for gifted children looking for special opportunities.After passing a series of strange tests, he joins an undercover operation to prevent a master criminal from carrying out an evil plan.
The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization by Daniel Pinkwater
If you’re looking for fast paced, this is not your book. However, if you are interested in a boy, a train ride across the country in 1940, old movies and a clay turtle which might just possibly be the key to saving the world you are in luck. To give you the flavor of this story, Melvin, the shaman gives over the clay turtle to Iggy and offers this advice, “Chillax, baby shaman. You’re destined to save the world, so whatever you do—even when you’re doing things wrong—is working towards that destiny. Go eat a donut. Hang out with your friends. Visit the circus. It’s all good.” It is all good indeed.
The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
A parentless brother and sister take jobs in a remote manor house in a spooky forest. Although they soon become aware of danger, they are trapped by their desperate need for somewhere to live. They discover a powerful evil force growing inside an indestructible tree, which exerts a destructive power over the family who owns the house.
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith
Natural wisdom and understanding of human nature equip Precious Ramotswe to be Botswana’s first and only private lady detective. Don’t expect action and suspense; gentle humor, satisfying resolutions to human problems, and a glimpse into African culture are some of the rewards of reading this intriguing series of mystery stories.
The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds
The famous adventures of Odysseus are retold in graphic novel form with powerful water color illustrations.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma for Kids: The Secrets Behind What You Eat by Michael Pollan
The author challenges readers to understand the effects of modern food production on health, the environment, and animal welfare, and to make conscious decisions about what we eat.
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Ivan the gorilla lives at The Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. With his friend, the elderly elephant Stella, he is the main attraction. Life isn’t the best, but he has Stella and Bob, a stray dog, to keep him company. Everything changes when a baby elephant named Ruby arrives and starts to ask questions.
The One-Eyed Giant (Tales from the Odyssey) by Mary Pope Osbourne
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Written by Hinton at age sixteen, this novel about teenage gangs has an authentic voice. When ‘greasers’ Ponyboy and Johnny accidentally kill a ‘soc,’ a member of the rival gang from the rich part of town, they flee from the culture of violence that has engulfed them.
The Paperboy [E] by Vince Vawter
A debilitating stutter has made 11-year old “Little Man’s” life difficult. His best friend, Rat, is on vacation for the month of July and has asked that Little Man take his route. Little Man knows that it will be tough with to communicate with customers due to his stutter, but with the encouragement of his beloved housekeeper Nan, he’s determined to make it work. Despite his enthusiasm bullies, thieves and delinquent customers stand in the way of his route. [ebook]
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
An old letter found in an old house contains a puzzle that leads to a treasure that might correct an historical injustice. To solve this mystery two kids will dig deep into the their town’s past.
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
Crew members of the swordfish boat the Andrea Gail were lost in a ‘perfect storm’ off the coast of New England in 1991. Junger works from radio dialogues and eyewitness accounts to weave together the ferocious truth of their story.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
A tollbooth suddenly appears in Milo’s bedroom, and thus begins an inventive and hilarious journey through The Doldrums toward Dictionopolis. Milo meets numerous memorable characters along the way, including Officer Short Shrift and Tock the watchdog.
The Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin
Before Jackie Robinson and Rosa Parks, before Brown vs the Board of Education of Topeka, there was Port Chicago. This is gripping nonfiction about a WWII incident when 50 sailors — most of them still teenagers — protested unfair treatment by the Navy after an explosion on an ammunition loading dock, and were charged with mutiny.
The Princess in Black** by Shannon Hale
Who says princesses don’t wear black? With her black cape and ninja-like outfit, Princess Magnolia fearlessly wages battle whenever the monster alarm sounds.
The Raucous Royals by Carlyn Beccia
Was Prince Dracula a vampire? Did Anne Boleyn have six fingers? Even in the old days, celebrities attracted rumors and gossip. This book helps you separate historical truth from falsehood.
The Red Bicycle by Jude Isabella
This informative and fascinating story follows the journey of a donated bike from North America to Burkina Faso. An excellent choice for helping kids think globally.
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Lucia is more interested in clothes and parties than politics, but the Communist takeover of Cuba becomes very real when her father loses his job. Believing rumors that their children might be taken away, Lucia’s parents send her and her brother to the United States, hoping that the family will someday be reunited.
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
The town of Gentry is a strange little place where the citizens routinely use charms to appease the faerie folk. Mackie and his loving family know that he is a changeling, a faerie who was exchanged for a stolen human child. As Mackie grows, he increasingly feels the sinister pull of the dark faerie world.
The Return by Sonia Levitin
Blamed as the cause of famine and drought and caught in the 1980s ethnic strife in Ethiopia, Dista, a young Ethiopian-Jewish girl, struggles to protect herself and her family from religious persecution and to escape to a new homeland in Israel.
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant
Extraordinary illustrations and lyrical text combine in this award-winning picture book biography of Peter Mark Roget, creator of Roget
The River by Gary Paulsen
The Roar ** by Emma Clayton
In this fast-paced, futuristic story, Ellie is abducted by the government for a special project and discovers that government officials are deceiving and betraying the citizens. Meanwhile, her twin brother Mika cooperates with a government program because he knows it will help him find Ellie.
The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon
Their father is a civil rights leader who believes that patient, nonviolent work will lead to change, but in the angry summer of 1968 in Chicago, Spike and Sam are swept up in the Black Panther movement.
The Rover Adventures by Roddy Doyle
"Chapter Six. Which should probably be called Chapter Five is another of these chapters where nothing much happens except for one very exciting thing at the end." If you like this chapter title, it’s a good bet you will like these three stories where small creatures called Gigglers try and get a man to step in a big pile of dog poo.
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
Jessica is the star runner on the track but after a tragic accident leaves her without one of her legs she will have to reevaluate her life plans.
The Scarecrow and His Servant by Phillip Pullman
A scarecrow miraculously comes to life after being struck by lightening and befriends a resourceful boy who agrees to be his servant. They set out on a string of adventures, pursued the whole time by a sinister lawyer named Mr. Cercorelli, who knows a secret about the Scarecrow.
The Schwa Was Here by Neal Shusterman
Calvin Schwa is a boy who is so unnoticeable he’s practically invisible. His friend Antsy starts taking bets on what Calvin can do without being seen. The scheme works well until they try to sneak into the house of an eccentric recluse who turns out to be a formidable old man. They get caught and are obliged to make amends.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
On the isolated island of Thisby,wild horses emerge from the sea every autumn. They are carnivorous and dangerous, but island men capture them to ride in the annual high stakes Scorpio Races. Sean, the defending champion, and Puck, the first ever female contender, each have a desperately good reason for needing to win.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Almost all Lily has of her late mother’s is a mysterious picture of a black Madonna with the words Tiburon, South Carolina written on the back. Rosaleen, the beloved servant who helped raise Lily, angers some white men when she tries to register to vote. Lily decides to flee town with Rosaleen, and they chose Tiburon as their destination.
The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson
Great Britain’s gump (a grassy bump that’s really a hidden door) is located under platform 13 in an abandoned train station. Every nine years it opens for nine days, revealing a tunnel to another world. This year a rescue mission is sent to recover an infant prince kidnapped nine years before.
The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall
For reasons he can’t clearly explain, Arthur throws a brick and injures Mr. Hampton, an old man who collects junk from neighborhood trash cans. Arthur goes to juvenile detention and his life appears to be falling apart, until Mr. Hampton himself offers an unusual opportunity for a second chance.
The Sinking of the Vasa by Russell Freedman
Like the Titanic, the Vasa was built to be the crown jewel warship of the Swedish Navy, but it sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. This meticulously illustrated picture book explores the history of the Vasa and her recovery from the seas in 1961.
The Snows by Sharelle Byars Moranville
In each of these four interwoven stories, a member of the Snow family of Jefferson, Iowa, makes a pivotal decision at the age of sixteen. The events take place over four generations, spanning the Great Depression, the World War II and Vietnam War eras, and a time close to the present.
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka
If you think you know your fairy tales, think again. Follow along as Jack the Narrator runs through a number of stories, making a hilarious mess as he goes.
The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino
There is a world of wonder in every snowstorm. Learn how snowflakes form and how to build a snow observation stage.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
Dwight, the most out-of-step kid in sixth grade, speaks through an origami Yoda finger puppet which gives amazingly accurate advice to his classmates. Tommy investigates the question of how Yoda can be so wise when his friend Dwight is so clueless.
The Streak: How Joe Dimaggio Became America’s Hero by Barb Rosenstock
A winning account of Dimaggio’s historic 56-game hitting streak, a record that still stands!
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Natasha believes in science and fact but refuses to accept the fact that her family is about to be deported back to Jamaica. Daniel is a dreamer and a poet trying to live up to his parents high expectations. The universe has brought them together for one day.
The Superheroes Employment Agency by Marilyn Singer
Not all superheroes are well known. That’s where S.E.A. comes in, Superheroes Employment Agency. Through funny poems you will learn about Blunder Woman, the Verminator and every kid’s favorite Cajoler.
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie** by Alan Bradley
Set in 1950 and dense with eccentric details of British country life, the story follows Flavia de Luce, a precocious young chemistry enthusiast and busybody, as she untangles the mystery of the body that appeared in the garden of her family’s manor house.
The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White
Wart, unaware of his identity as the future King Arthur, is nurtured by a wily wizard named Merlyn in White’s classic story.
The Thief** by Megan Whalen Turner
Gen gets involved in a mysterious attempt to recover a precious stone in this adventure novel with the flavor of Greek mythology. The adventures continue in The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia.
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
Lost in grief over the death of her former best friend in a swimming accident, Suzy refuses to accept the explanation that “sometimes things just happen.” She becomes absorbed in researching a rare poisonous jellyfish she believes could be the cause of Franny’s death. This strange focus leads, in unexpected ways, toward healing.
The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas
This swashbuckling classic captures the flavor of 17th century France—court intrigues, romance, duels, sieges, and so on.
The Trolls by Polly Horvath
Aunt Sally comes to stay with the Anderson family. She brings tales of trolls and makes eating string beans fun.
The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt
Raccoon brothers Bingo and J’miah are newly recruited scouts who are attempting to protect Sugar Man swamp from a band of hungry, marauding hogs. Twelve-year old Chap Brayburn is also trying to protect the swamp but from an alligator wrestler who wants to turn the land into a world-class wrestling facility. When the raccoons cross paths with Chap, they team up to devise a plan to save their beloved swamp for certain destruction.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
A young girl travels by ship to join her family in America in the 1800s. The cruel captain is faced with mutiny, and the voyage is marked by betrayal and murder. With its surprise ending, this exciting story is well worth reading.
The Turtle Watchers by Pamela Powell
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene DuBois
A dedicated traveler, daring to fly across the Pacific Ocean in a giant air balloon is marooned, in a sense, on the island of Krakatoa.
The Unforgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Is a demon after Chingas and his younger brother? These two recent immigrants from Mongolia are convinced of it. When Julie who is chosen to be their Good Guide, a high honor for which she is tasked with showing the new comers the ways of their new home finds her life changed as the pull of a far off land weaves it’s magical spell.
The Unsinkable Walker Bean by Aaron Renier
The War That Changed My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Ada’s mother is so ashamed of Ada’s twisted foot that she never lets her go outside. Ada sneaks out to join her brother Jamie in an evacuation of London slum children to escape WWII bombing. Relocated to the countryside, they encounter life-changing new activities and opportunities, but their cruel and neglectful mother wants them back.
The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf
A thick book with a lot of white space, this unusual novel tells the riveting story of the Titanic disaster in many voices. Participants in the mounting drama include the ship builder, the captain, the millionaire, the socialite, the immigrant, the entree cook, the tailor’s young son, and several others. Even a tiny-brained ship rat and the omniscient iceberg contribute points of view.
The Watcher : Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps by Jeanette Winter
The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
The only kid who doesnt leave on Wednesday afternoon for Catholic or Jewish religious instruction, Holling is stuck in school with Mrs. Baker. Even worse, she makes him read Shakespeare. Eventually Holling becomes aware of Mrs. Bakers unexpected talents and some of her troubles, especially the stress of waiting for her husbands return from Vietnam.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Turtle Wexler and neighboring heirs to an eccentric millionaire’s fortune find themselves compelled to unravel a strange and clever murder mystery, full of word games and aliases. Only one person in the story (plus the reader) has all the clues and stands to inherit the fortune, if the mystery is solved.
The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John
Maritine’s life is changed forever after a terrible accident kills her mother and father. Before she knows what’s happening, she finds herself living on an animal reserve in Zimbabwe. There she encounters the wondrous white giraffe that people only whisper about. Together the giraffe and Maritine find a way to heal each other.
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
ROZZUM unit 7134 is shipwrecked on a remote island and accidentally activated by curious otters. Programmed to learn, Roz figures out how to survive in the wilderness, how to communicate with wildlife, and, eventually, how to be a good neighbor to the island
The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
This hilarious novel makes fun of elements of many classic children’s stories, including orphans, clueless adults, a baby on a doorstep, a mysterious millionaire living in a crumbling house and, of course, a no nonsense nanny. The glossary at the back is the full of big juicy words riotously defined. Also included is a synopsis of each of the lampooned children’s books.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham
Mole, Toad of Toad Hall, Ratty, Badger… These are characters you don’t want to miss. Consider reading this classic aloud to anyone who will listen.
The Witch’s Boy by Kelly Regan Barnhill
Aine and Ned, children from separate kingdoms, are brought together by the magic that Ned’s mother protects and Aine’s father wants to steal. They develop an uncertain trust in each other as they attempt to cross an enchanted forest, restore the magic to its rightful place, and stop the war brewing between their kingdoms. [ebook]
The Worst Witch** by Jill Murphy
Mildred is the worst witch at her school. None of her spells turn out right, and she’s always in some mess or another.
The Year Money Grew on Trees by Aaron R. Hawkins
Against his better judgement, Jackson makes a deal with a less than trustworthy widow to revive her late husbands apple orchard in exchange for the deed to the land if he earns over $8,000 in one season. The deal is a gamble and Jackson has no clue how to grow apples, but hes a resourceful boy.
The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
It is the Chinese Year of the Dog. Grace is supposed to use the year to understand herself, which she tries to do within her family and with her friends.
The Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings
In this classic boy-and-his-pet story, young Jody longs for a pet and finds one in a motherless fawn. Jody must decide the fate of his pet when his family can no longer afford it. This tender story continues to touch each generation of young readers.
This Bridge Will Not Be Gray by Dave Eggers
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most famous architectural and natural monuments in the world. Eggers’ clever story is educational and fun.
Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards
A society girl in love with a coal miner’s son; a girl who, after a personal tragedy, devotes her life to the nursing profession; rich industrialists who put money and success ahead of family and community: these stories unfold against the backdrop of the Johnstown flood of 1889, one of America’s greatest catastrophes.
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
In an atmospheric small town full of quirky characters, Mo and her friend Dale work on two mysteries. Where is Mo’s birth mother, from whom she was separated as a baby during a terrible storm? And who murdered Jesse Tatum, a mean and solitary man who nevertheless didn’t deserve a violent end?
Timeless Thomas: How Thomas Edison Changed Our Lives by Gene Barretta
_This visually delightful biography looks at the ideas of Thomas Edison and shows some of his inventions such as record players, batteries, and movie cameras.
Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes by Nicola Davies
A perfect elementary introduction to microbes, the tiniest lives doing some of the biggest jobs in the world. An intellectual and visual delight.
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson
Drawing on historical sources, this gripping, authentic account recreates real peoples’ experiences on that fateful night, through the eyes of passengers of all classes, children, ship’s officers, crew, and rescuers. Many photos, diagrams, and maps add visual excitement.
Tituba of Salem Village by Ann Petry
Sold to a greedy minister, Tituba and her husband move to the Bay Colony. Tituba becomes one of many accused of witchcraft. This story provides a good picture of the witchcraft hysteria that plagued Salem, Massachusetts, in the late 1600s.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
In this classic American novel, Scout and her brother try to unravel the mystery of Boo Radley, their reclusive next-door neighbor. Meanwhile, their father, Atticus, defends a local black citizen on false charges of rape. A favorite novel since the 1950s, this remains a suspenseful and powerful reading experience.