ForsythCounty
Suggestions for Middle School Readers
/ Abdel-Fattah, Randa. Does My Head Look Big In This? Year eleven at an exclusive prep school in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, would be tough enough, but it is further complicated for Amal when she decides to wear the hijab, the Muslim head scarf, full-time as a badge of her faith--without losing her identity or sense of style. AR 4.9 Lexile 850/ Alcott, Louisa May. Little Women. The classic story of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy in nineteenth-century New England. AR 7.9
/ Alexie, Sherman. Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. 14-year-old Arnold “Junior” Spirit, a Spokane Indian, is regularly the target of bullies, and loves to draw. He expects disaster when he transfers from the reservation school to the rich, white school in Reardan, but soon finds himself making friends with both geeky and popular students and starting on the basketball team. Meeting his old classmates on the court, Junior grapples with questions about what constitutes one's community, identity, and tribe. AR 4.0 Lexile 600
/ Bell, Hilari. Shield of Stars. Pickpocket-turned-law-clerk Weasel has two weeks to save his employer from execution. With girl-adventurer Arisa Benison, Weasel goes in search of reinforcements for a jail break. Although Weasel's oft-stated philosophy of looking out for number one is never credible, Bell soon dispenses with it and settles down to a good old-fashioned trickster caper. This offering sustains Bell's reputation for thought-provoking light fantasy. AR 5.6 Lexile 830
/ Bingham, Kelly. Shark Girl. Conversations, letters, and prose poems tell the story of fifteen-year-old artist Jane's recovery from a shark attack and adjustment to life as an amputee. We read letters from sympathizers (after a bystander's video is televised) and feel the sting of pity. Jane's slowly growing comfort with herself is realistically portrayed. Nicely drawn relationships round out the involving, affecting story. AR 3.5
/ Boniface, William. TheHero Revealed -The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy, Book 1. Ordinary Boy is the only resident of Superopolis who doesn't have superpowers. His personal hero is the Amazing Indestructo, the self-proclaimed greatest hero of Superopolis. When the Junior Leaguers get the opportunity to help the Amazing Indestructo foil the sinister plans of villainous Professor Brain-Drain, Ordinary Boy realizes that even without superpowers, he can still do extraordinary things. AR 6.1 Lexile 890.
/ Buchanan, Andrea. Daring Book for Girls. The Daring Book for Girls is the manual for everything that girls need to know—and that doesn't necessarily mean sewing buttonholes! Whether it's female heroes in history, science projects, friendship bracelets, double dutch, cats cradle, the perfect cartwheel or the eternal mystery of what boys are thinking, this book has it all. But it's not just a guide to giggling at sleepovers—although that's included, of course! Whether readers consider themselves tomboys, girly-girls, or a little bit of both, this book is every girl's invitation to adventure. (Non-fiction).
/ Cabot, Meg. Avalon High. Avalon High seems like a typical high school, attended by typical students: There's Lance, the jock. Jennifer, the cheerleader. And Will, senior class president, quarterback, and all-around good guy. But not everybody at Avalon High is who they appear to be ... not even, as new student Ellie is about to discover, herself. What part does she play in the drama that is unfolding? What if the bizarre chain of events and coincidences she has pieced together means -- as with the court of King Arthur -- tragedy is fast approaching Avalon High? Worst of all, what if there's nothing she can do about it? AR 5.1 Lexile 800
/ Cabot, Meg. Shadowland (#1 in The Mediator Series). Sixteen-year-old Susannah Simon, a liaison between the living and the dead, hopes to be able to live as a normal teenager after moving from New York to California with her mom and new stepfather, but on the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind ... and Suze happens to be in the way. AR 4.9
/ Carbone, Elisa. Blood on the River: Jamestown 1607. Includes bibliographical references. Traveling to the New World in 1606 as the page to Captain John Smith, twelve-year-old orphan Samuel Collier settles in the new colony of James Town, where he must quickly learn to distinguish between friend and foe. AR 5.3 Lexile 830
/ Coombs, Kate. The Runaway Princess. A young princess conspires to nullify a contest for her hand in marriage by rescuing the dragon, witch, and bandits named in the challenge--despite the horde of determined princes that stand in her way. With a wry humor that embraces modern sensibilities but sidesteps anachronisms, this delightfully devious girl-power fantasy cheerfully undercuts every fairy-tale convention it encounters. AR 4.3 Lexile 700
/ Cummings, Priscilla. Red Kayak. Living near the water on Maryland's Eastern Shore, thirteen-year-old Brady and his best friends J.T. and Digger live an idyllic life, spending their days crabbing and fishing. When a community issue starts to gain momentum--the watermen and environmentalists are at odds--the three friends become divided. At the story's climax, J.T. and Digger devise a prank involving a kayak that kills an innocent child, and Brady wrestles with ethical responsibility to tell the truth. Lexile 800
/ Curtis, Christopher Paul.Elijah of Buxton. Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman, the first free-born child in Buxton, Canada, which is a haven for slaves fleeing the American South in 1859, uses his wits and skills to try to bring to justice the lying preacher who has stolen money that was to be used to buy a family's freedom. AR 5.4 Lexile 1070
/ Dahlberg, Maurine F. The Story of Jonas. Thirteen-year-old slave Jonas must accompany his master's cruel son from their home in Missouri to the KansasTerritory gold fields. They join a wagon train led by a kindly man with abolitionist leanings who puts thoughts of freedom into Jonah's head. Though Jonah's naiveté is tiresome, his conflicting emotions are believable, given his situation. An author's note provides more information. AR 4.9 Lexile 820
/ Dowell, Frances O’Roark. Phineas L. MacGuire …Erupts! When science-minded Mac's best friend unexpectedly moves away, he is assigned another partner for the upcoming school science fair--the obnoxious new boy. Told in fourth-grader Mac's open, humorous, and self-effacing voice, the straightforward story is simple without being simplistic. The amusing tale and frequent illustrations are perfect for fans of MartinBridge and the Julian stories. AR 5.0 Lexile 810.
/ Draper, Sharon. Double Dutch. Three eighth-grade friends, preparing for the International Double Dutch Championship jump rope competition in their home town of Cincinnati, Ohio, cope with Randy's missing father, Delia's inability to read, and Yo Yo's encounter with the class bullies. Lexile 760. AR 4.9
/ Duprau, Jeanne. The City of Ember. The city of Ember has no natural light, and the blackouts of its antiquated electrical grid are coming more and more frequently: "disaster was right around the corner." So thinks Doon, a curious twelve-year-old who, along with his spirited schoolmate Lina, determines to save the city. The writing is agreeably spare and remarkably suspenseful; fans will be pleased to know that there's plenty of room for a sequel. AR 5.0 Lexile 680.
/ Gauthier, Gail. Happy Kid. All he wants is to get through seventh grade unnoticed. On the night before school starts, his mother gives him a book to help him counteract his negativity, claiming that Happy Kid: A Young Person's Guide to Satisfying Relationships and a Happy and Meaning-filled Life just screamed his name when she saw it. But the book seems to have a plan of its own, falling open to the parts that are pertinent to the zany situations that Kyle finds himself in, although sometimes offering advice that makes his life more complicated. AR 4.9
/ Graff, Lisa. The Thing About Georgie. The novel introduces its main character by having readers touch their left ears with their right hands, something Georgie cannot do because he is a dwarf. What could have been heavy-handed becomes a way for readers to empathize with Georgie as he faces sibling rivalry and a falling-out with a friend. Graff has created a likable, realistic fourth grader. AR 4.3 Lexile 770
/ Grimes, Nikki. Bronx Masquerade. Open Mike Friday is everyone's favorite day in Mr. Ward's English class. On Fridays, his 18 high-school students dare to relax long enough to let slip the poets, painters, readers, and dreamers that exist within each of them. By book's end, all the voices have blended seamlessly into a multicultural chorus laden with a message that is probably summed up best by one student’s comment, "I am not a skin color or a hank of wavy hair. I am a person, and if they don't get that, it's their problem, not mine." AR 4.5 Lexile 670
/ Henkes, Kevin. Olive’s Ocean. This powerful coming-of-age novel starts with twelve-year-old Martha Boyle preparing for a two week vacation on the New England coast . Before she departs, Martha receives a visit from the mother of her deceased classmate, Olive Boyle. Mrs. Boyle presents Martha with a page taken from Olive's diary; on this page Olive expresses her dream of one day seeing the ocean, becoming a writer and her hope to become a friend of Martha's. Although Martha is initially puzzled as to why this girl she hardly knew desired a friendship, she is touched nonetheless. During her vacation, Martha undergoes growing pains as she confronts her own mortality, and experiences her first crush and her first betrayal. Throughout it all, Martha often returns to the soothing words of Olive as she confronts the many changes in her life. AR 4.7 Lexile 680
/ Hiaasen, Carl. Flush. In his second children's book, Hiaasen hits his stride, offering a great action adventure without a hint of the didacticism that crept into Hoot (rev. 11/02). As is his trademark, he sets this eco-mystery in Florida and peoples it with crooks (Dusty Muleman, who dumps sewage from his gambling boat into Florida's waters); idealists (Paine Underwood, who sinks Muleman's boat in an effort to call attention to the illegal waste disposal); everyday heroes (Noah and Abbey, Paine's children, who finally reveal Muleman's operation and validate their dad's noble gesture); and oddball characters (an old "pirate" who shows up throughout the story and a tattooed, hard-living card dealer). While the plot offers enough twists and turns to satisfy even the most serious adventure junkies, it is the multidimensional characters who give the novel its vitality. Hiaasen always shows rather than tells, and that showing creates individuals who are simultaneously noble and petty, quirky and realistic, decent and wayward. Horn Book. AR 5.0 Lexile 830
/ Hill, Kirkpatrick. Do NotPass Go. In his small Alaskan town, Deet is certain that everyone in his school will learn that his stepfather has been jailed for drug possession. He faces his classmates with trepidation, but even more intimidating is the prison, where Deet goes to visit his stepdad. Through these visits, Deet comes to know some of the prisoners and gains insight into their stories. Most of these insights are explained in Deet's homework assignment for English class, and he forms a friendship with a fellow student whose brother is also in jail. Hill is a master of the telling detail; she conveys the atmosphere of the visitor's center of the jail, for example, in a few vivid sentences. Best is her portrait of Deet, a strong, thoughtful teenager, forced through circumstances to hold things together for his family. There's not a great deal of action here, but the story is compelling nonetheless. AR Lexile 850
/ Hobbs, Valerie. Defiance. Toby Steiner, age 11, doesn't want to go back to the cancer hospital. He doesn't want to "puke up his guts" or "make . . . friends with kids who disappeared." So he's not going to tell anyone about the hard marble-sized lump that just reappeared in his side. Instead, while on a country vacation, he's going to ride a bike, view the heavens through his telescope and enjoy being a regular kid. What happens in this stirring evocative tale is that Toby strikes up an unlikely acquaintanceship with an elderly lady who lives nearby, a once famous poet who has been "losing her vision" both physically and metaphorically. Hobbs manages to wring genuine emotion from the reader despite a somewhat pat ending. The feisty, life-affirming, lesson-teaching elder is a familiar character in children's literature, but Hobbs breathes new life into the situation, giving the character some problems of her own and making the intersection of these two souls both real and poignant. AR 4.0 Lexile 640
/ Hobbs, Will. Crossing the Wire. When falling crop prices threaten his family with starvation, fifteen-year-old Victor Flores heads north in an attempt to "cross the wire" from Mexico into the U.S. so he can find work and send money home. But with no money to pay the smugglers who sneak illegal workers across the border, Victor must struggle to survive as he jumps trains, stows away on trucks, and hikes through the Arizona desert. His journey is fraught with danger. Through Victor's often desperate struggle, Will Hobbs brings to life one of the great human dramas of our time. AR 4.3 Lexile 670
/ Hoffman, Alice. Incantation. During the Spanish Inquisition, sixteen-year-old Estrella, brought up a Catholic, discovers her family's true Jewish identity. When their secret is betrayed by Estrella's best friend, the consequences are tragic. AR 5.0
/ Holmes, Sara Lewis. Letters from Rapunzel. A girl deals with her poet father's institutionalization for clinical depression by writing letters to an unknown recipient, whom she thinks must be her father's muse. In the process, she discovers more about herself and uncovers the hidden facts of her father's situation. The main character offers a fresh, interesting--albeit a little too precocious--voice. AR 5.3 Lexile
/ Howe, James. The Misfits. Bobby Goodspeed is not your typical 12-year-old. He's probably the world's youngest tie salesman. He also meets his friends at the local Candy Kitchen for regular "forums." When his pals decide they need to create a third political party for the school election, Bobby gets an idea that could really change PaintbrushFallsMiddle School. It is an upbeat, reassuring novel that encourages preteens and teens to celebrate their individuality. AR 5.2 Lexile 960
/ Iggulden, Conn. Dangerous Book for Boys. Intentionally old-fashioned, this eclectic collection addresses the undeniable boy-appeal of certain facts and activities. Dozens of short chapters cover a wide range of topics. Simple instructions for coin tricks and paper airplanes alternate with excerpts from history such as Famous Battles and facts about ancient wonders of the world and astronomy. The dangerous aspect is more apparent in such chapters as Making Cloth Fireproof, and Hunting and Cooking a Rabbit, but also applies to the overall premise that action is fun and can be worth the risks. (Non-fiction)
/ Lombard, Jenny. Drita, My Homegirl. Fourth-graders Drita and Maxie alternate telling the story of their friendship. Drita and her family have come to New York City from war-torn Kosova and are struggling to adjust, especially Drita's mother, who becomes more and more depressed. Maxie is still dealing with her mother's accidental death years before. Though weighed down with many serious issues, the story is ultimately moving. AR Lexile 690.
/ Lord, Cynthia. Rules. "No toys in the fish tank"is one of many rules that 12-year-old Catherine shares with her autistic younger brother, David, to help him understand his world. Lots of the rules are practical. Others are more subtle and shed light on issues in Catherine's own life. Torn between love for her brother and impatience with the responsibilities and embarrassment he brings, she strives to be on her parents'radar and to establish an identity of her own. At her brother's clinic, Catherine befriends a wheelchair-bound boy, Jason, who talks by pointing at word cards in a communication notebook. Her drawing skills and additional vocabulary cards--including "whatever"(which prompts Jason to roll his eyes at his mother)--enliven his speech. The details of autistic behavior are handled well, as are depictions of relationships: Catherine experiences some of the same unease with Jason that others do in the presence of her brother. In the end, Jason helps Catherine see that her rules may really be excuses, opening the way for her to look at things differently. AR 3.9 Lexile 390
/ Lowery, Linda. Truth and Salsa. Having moved temporarily from Michigan to live with her grandmother in Mexico, thirteen-year-old Hayley tries to sort out her feelings about her parents' separation while also helping some townsmen who have run into trouble while working in the United States.