Franklin Middle School Librarian/Teacher Recommended Book List
Summer Reading 2016 7th & 8th grade
List is organized by genre and includes Lexile and Guided reading levels where applicable. Students from either grade 7 or 8 may choose books from this list.
Classic Literature
The HobbitJRR Tolkein– 1000L/GR – Z
Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure.
Lord of the Rings JRR Tolkein – 810L-920L/GR – n/a
Saga of a group heroes who set forth to save their world from evil. A brotherhood of 'hobbits,' elves, dwarves, and people is formed to combat evil forces.
20000 Leagues Under the SeaJules Verne– 1030L/GR – Z+
Follow along on this fantastic voyage as Professor Arronax, Ned, and Beth set out to capture a terrifying sea monster--before it captures them.
Little WomenLouisa May Alcott– 1300L/GR – Z
Here are talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, tragically frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War.
War of the Worlds H.G Wells– 1170L/GR – Z
The first-person narrative of the adventures of an unnamed protagonist and his brother in Surrey and London as Earth is invaded by Martians.
Sleepy HollowWashington Irving– 860L/GR – O
A ghost story about a mysterious Headless Horseman who roams the town of Sleepy Hollow at night striking horror in the heart of the locals
And Then There Were NoneAgatha Christie– 570L/GR – n/a
A timeless tale of suspense in which ten strangers, each with a dark secret, are mysteriously invited to a house on an uninhabited island and killed off, one by one.
Realistic Fiction
WonderRJ Palacio– 790L/GR – U
August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can't get past Auggie's extraordinary face.
Ill Give you the SunJandy Nelson– HL740L/GR – n/a
Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking.
WintergirlsLaura Halse Anderson– 730L/Z+
Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in fragile bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the thinnest. But then Cassie suffers the ultimate loss-her life-and Lia is left behind, haunted by her friend's memory and racked with guilt for not being able to help save her.
MockingbirdKatherine Erskine– 630L/GR – W
Caitlin has Asperger's. The world according to her is black and white; anything in between is confusing. Before, when things got confusing, Caitlin went to her older brother, Devon, for help. But Devon was killed in a school shooting, and Caitlin's dad is so distraught that he is just not helpfu
Impossible Knife of MemoryLaura Halse Anderson– HL720L/Z
For the past five years, Hayley Kincaid and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school.
Ungifted Gordon Kormen– 730L/GR - V
When Donovan Curtis pulls a major prank at his middle school, he thinks he’s finally gone too far. But thanks to a mix-up by one of the administrators, instead of getting in trouble, Donovan is sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction, a special program for gifted and talented students.
If a Tree Falls at Lunch PeriodGenniferCholdenker 530L/GR – Z
Two seventh-graders--Kirsten, who is white, and Walk, who is black, learn they have a whole lot more in common than their "brilliance.”
Monster Walter Dean Myers 670L/GR – Z
Young, black 16-year-old Steve Harmon, an amateur filmmaker, is on trial for the murder of a Harlem drugstore owner and could face the death penalty. Steve copes by writing a movie script based on his trial. But despite his efforts, reality is blurred until he can no longer tell who he is or what the truth i
Does My Head Look Big In this Randa Abdel-Fattah 850L/GR- n/a
Sixteen-year-old Amal makes the decision to start wearing the hijab full- time and everyone has a reaction. Her parents, her teachers, her friends, people on the street. But she stands by her decision to embrace her faith and all that it is, even if it does make her a little different from everyone else.
Ask My Mood Ring How I feelDiana Lopez 700L/GR – Z
When thirteen-year-old Erica "Chia" Montenegro finds out her mother has breast cancer, she makes a "promesa" to raise money for breast cancer awareness and discovers that when family and friends work together, miracles can happen.
Out of My Mind Sharon Draper 710L/GR – S
Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there's no delete button. She's the smartest kid in her whole school, but no one knows it. Most people — her teachers and doctors included — don't think she's capable of learning, and until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows...but she can't, because Melody can't talk. She can't walk. She can't write.
Basmati Bat Mitzvah Paula Freedman 690L/GR- W
Amid all this drama, Tara considers how to balance her Indian and Jewish identities and what it means to have a bat mitzvah while questioning her faith.
Fantasy/Dystopian
Harry Potterseries JK Rowling– 980L/GR – V
Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Shadow and Bone LeighBardugo- 800L/GR – n/a
Alina Starkov is shocked to possess a luminous new power. If she learns to control it, she could free her country from a growing darkness called the Shadow Fold.
Tiger Lily Jodi Lynn Anderson- 850L/GR –n/a
In this retelling of Peter Pan, Tiger Lily is the heroine; Wendy is an interloper; and Tinker Bell, the all-seeing narrator.
Maze Runner SeriesJames Dashner– HL770L/GR – X
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.
The Iron TrialHolly Black & Cassandra Clare– 830L/GR – Y
Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial. Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail. All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him. So he tries his best to do his worst -- and fails at failing.
Clockwork Angel Cassandra Clare – 780L/GR – Z
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Rot and Ruin Jonathan Mayberry – 780L/GR - Z
In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human
Land of Stories Chris Colfer – 720L/GR – X
Goldilocks: wanted dead or alive for burglary, thievery, and running from the law. Little Red Riding Hood: a queen with her own kingdom. Cinderella: pregnant with her and Prince Charming's first child. Ever after is here, and Alex and Conner are smack dab in the middle of it.
Historical Fiction
Codename VerityElizabeth Wein– 1020L/GR – Z
Oct. 11th, 1943: A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.
CodeTalkerJoseph Bruchac– 910L/GR – n/a
The riveting fictional tale of Ned Begay, a sixteen-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker. Throughout World War II, in the conflict fought against Japan, Navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the U.S. effort, sending messages back and forth in an unbreakable code that used their native language. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with their code, they saved countless American lives.
Fever 1793 – 580L/GR – Z
During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out.
Jefferson’s Sons: Kimberly Bradley- 600L/GR –M/O
This story of Thomas Jefferson's children by one of his slaves, Sally Hemings, tells a darker piece of America's history from an often unseen perspective-that of three of Jefferson's slaves-including two of his own children. As each child grows up and tells his story, the contradiction between slavery and freedom becomes starker, calling into question the real meaning of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Boy in the Striped Pajamas– John Boyne – 1080L/GR – n/a
Berlin, 1942: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance.
Corner of Bitter and Sweet Jamie Ford – 850L/GR n/a
When artifacts from Japanese families sent to internment camps during World War II are uncovered in Seattle, Henry Lee embarks on a quest that leads to memories of growing up Chinese in a city rife with anti-Japanese sentiment.
Nonfiction/Biography/Memoir
March Vol. I/Vol. IIJohn Lewis(graphic novel) - 760L/GR – W
March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis' lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis' personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement.
Dogs of WarSheila Keenan(graphic novel) – 490L/GR – Z
A graphic novel that tells the stories of the canine military heroes of World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War. This collection of three fictional stories was inspired by historic battles and real military practice. Each story tells the remarkable adventures of a soldier and his service dog and is rendered with fascinating and beautiful detail, bringing to life the faithful dogs who braved bombs, barrages, and battles to save the lives of countless soldiers.
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster Mutiny and the Fight For Civil Rights – Steve Sheinkin950L/GR – n/a
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated Navy base at Port Chicago, California, killing more than 300 sailors who were at the docks, critically injuring off-duty men in their bunks, and shattering windows up to a mile away. On August 9th, 244 men refused to go back to work until unsafe and unfair conditions at the docks were addressed. When the dust settled, fifty were charged with mutiny, facing decades in jail and even execution.
Three Little WordsAshley Rhodes-Courter - 810L/GR - V/W
“Sunshine, you're my baby and I'm your only mother. You must mind the one taking care of you, but she's not your mama." Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent nine years of her life in fourteen different foster homes, living by those words. As her mother spirals out of control, Ashley is left clinging to an unpredictable, dissolving relationship, all the while getting pulled deeper and deeper into the foster care system.
Believe: The Victorious Story of Eric LeGrand Eric Legrand & Mike Yorkey- 830L/GR -V/W
The profoundly moving story of Eric LeGrand, the former defensive tackle for the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights football team, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury and was left paralyzed by a crushing on-field tackle during a heated game with Army
Breaking NightLiz Murray– GR- X/Y/Z
The stunning memoir of a young woman who at age fifteen was living on the streets, and who eventually made it into Harvard.
Life in Motion, an unlikely ballerina Misty Copeland – 1040L/GR – Z
When she discovered ballet, Misty was living in a shabby motel room, struggling with her five siblings for a place to sleep on the floor. A true prodigy, she was dancing en pointe within three months of taking her first dance class and performing professionally in just over a year: a feat unheard of for any classical dancer. But when Misty became caught between the control and comfort she found in the world of ballet and the harsh realities of her own life (culminating in a highly publicized custody battle), she had to choose to embrace both her identity and her dreams, and find the courage to be one of a kind.
Tuesdays with Morrie Mitch Albom 830L/GR- not rated
Thirty-seven-year-old Mitch Albom shares his warm, moving account of his last visits with his very special, and dying, seventy-eight-year-old college professor, Morrie Schwartz.
Brown Girl Dreaming – Jacqueline Woodsen - 990L GR – n/a
Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement.