Beyond The Classroom
Summer Reading List 2010
Prekindergarten and Kindergarten
Grades 1 and 2
Grades 3 and 4
Grade 5 Summer Reading Information Letter
Grade 6 Summer Reading Information Letter
Grade 7 Summer Reading Information Letter
Grade 8 Summer Reading Information Letter
Grades 5 and 6 | Grades 7 and 8
Grades 5 & 6 Reading Log
Grades 7 & 8 Reading Log
Grade 7 Summer Reading Guide
Grade 8 Summer Reading Guide
Students Entering
PreKindergarten and Kindergarten
Sharing books with your child is an enjoyable and rewarding experience which can help to build life-long reading habits. Although it is difficult in these busy times, it is suggested that a "story time" be arranged as often as possible.
The following list of suggested books is offered simply as an aide in selecting books to read with your child. There is no required reading for children entering PreKindergarten or Kindergarten. In addition to the books listed below, there are many other fine books available for children in this age group. Also consider reading other books by the same authors and illustrators as those listed here.
All of the titles included should be available at area bookstores or your local library where you can find further guidance in selecting books for your young child.
Giraffes Can’t Dance – Andreae
A story about a giraffe that desperately want to dance but can’t quite find his rhythm until his friend the cricket helps him find his groove.
To the Beach – Ashman
A rhyming story about a family and their trip to the beach.
Old Black Fly - Aylesworth
Rhyming text and illustrations follow a mischievous old black fly through the alphabet as he has a very busy, bad day landing where he should not be.
Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones - Barton
A cast of characters looks for, finds, and assembles some dinosaur bones.
Madeline - Bemelmans
Madeline, smallest and naughtiest of the twelve little charges of Miss Clavel, wakes up one night with an attack of appendicitis.
Clifford the Big Red Dog - Bridwell (and other “Clifford” books)
A pet dog bigger than a two-story house brings many adventures to his young owner, Emily Elizabeth.
Arthur’s Nose - Brown (and other “Arthur" books)
Unhappy with his nose, Arthur visits the rhinologist to get a new one.
Goodnight Moon - Brown
Before going to sleep, a little rabbit says goodnight to all his familiar possessions as his big, green bedroom slowly darkens.
The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant - Brunhoff
An orphaned baby elephant goes to live in the city with an old lady who gives him everything he wants, but he eventually returns to the forest where he is crowned king of the elephants.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel - Burton
When Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, Mary Ann, lose their jobs to the gasoline, electric, and diesel motor shovels, they go to a little country town where they find that one new job leads to another.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Carle
Follows the progress of a hungry little caterpillar as he eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food until, full at last, he forms a cocoon around himself and goes to sleep. Die-cut pages illustrate what the caterpillar ate on successive days.
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed - Chodos-Irvine
Despite the advice of others in her family, Ella Sarah persists in wearing the striking and unusual outfit of her own choosing. (2004 Caldecott Honor Book)
The Tub People - Conrad
The Tub People, seven wooden toys that line up in the same order on the side of the tub every day, wonder if they will ever see the Tub Child again after he disappears, as the water drains from the tub.
Freight Train - Crews
Brief text and illustrations trace the journey of a colorful train as it goes through tunnels, by cities, and over trestles.
Strega Nona - De Paola (retells and illustrates)
When Storage Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works. (1976 Caldecott Honor Book)
Are You My Mother - Eastman
Never having seen his mother, a baby bird makes humorous mistakes trying to find her.
The Gingerbread Boy - Egielski (retells and illustrates)
A woman with no children of her own decides to bake a Gingerbread Boy who jumps out of the hot oven and through an open window and is chased by all that meet him along the way.
Color Zoo - Ehlert
Introduces colors and shapes with illustrations of shapes on die-cut pages that form animal faces when placed on top of one another.
Go Away, Big Green Monster! - Emberley
Die-cut pages through which bits of a monster are revealed are designed to help a child control nighttime fears of monsters.
Olivia - Falconer (Others in "Olivia" series)
Whether at home getting ready for the day, enjoying the beach, or at bedtime, Olivia is a feisty pig who has too much energy for her own good.
Bark George - Feiffer
George's mother takes George to the vet because he makes the sounds of other animals when he tries to bark.
In The Small, Small Pond - Fleming
Illustrations and rhyming text describe the activities of animals living in and near a small pond as spring progresses to autumn.
Corduroy - Freeman (and other Corduroy stories)
A toy bear in a department store wants a number of things, but when a little girl finally buys him he finds what he has always wanted most of all.
Millions of Cats - Gag
How can an old man and his wife select one cat from millions and trillions?
Henny Penny - Galdone (retells and illustrates)
A cumulative tale about Henny Penny and her barnyard friends who were literally outfoxed on their journey to tell the king the sky was falling.
Little Toot - Gramatky
Little Toot the tugboat conquers his fear of rough seas when he single-handedly rescues an ocean liner during a storm.
Owen - Henkes
Owen's parents try to get him to give up his favorite blanket before he starts school, but when their efforts fail, they come up with a solution that makes everyone happy.
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse - Henkes
Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, but when he asks her to wait a while before showing her new purse, she does something for which she is very sorry later.
I Read Signs - Hoban
Introduces signs and symbols frequently seen along the street.
Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores - Howe
Three mice friends learn that the best clubs include everyone.
Rosie’s Walk - Hutchins
Although she is unaware that a fox is after her as she takes a walk around the farmyard, Rosie the hen still manages to lead him into one accident after another.
The Doorbell Rang - Hutchins
Each time the doorbell rings, there are more people who have come to share Ma's wonderful cookies.
Little Red Riding Hood - Hyman (retells and illustrates)
On her way to deliver a basket of food to her sick grandmother, a little girl encounters a sly wolf.
What Do You Do With A Tail Like This? - Jenkins
Through exquisite cut-paper collage, this innovative guessing book delivers a fun and playful science lesson on 30 animals' body parts. (2004 Caldecott Honor Book)
Harold and the Purple Crayon - Johnson
Harold goes for an adventurous walk in the moonlight with his purple crayon.
Mama, Do You Love Me? - Joosse
A child living in the Arctic learns that a mother's love is unconditional.
Whistle for Willie - Keats
A little boy wishes so much he could whistle.
Leo the Late Bloomer - Kraus
Leo, a young tiger, finally blooms under the anxious eyes of his parents.
The Carrot Seed - Krauss
Despite everyone's dire predictions, a little boy has faith in the carrot seed he plants.
The Story of Ferdinand - Leaf
Ferdinand likes to sit quietly and smell the flowers, but one day he gets stung by a bee and his snorting and stomping convince everyone that he is the fiercest of bulls.
It’s Mine - Lionni
Three selfish frogs quarrel over who owns their pond and island, until a storm makes them value the benefits of sharing.
George and Martha - Marshall
Short stories depict the experiences of two hippopotamuses that find that friendship has its own problems and rewards.
Hansel and Gretel - Marshall (also other updated fairy tales by this author)
Abandoned in the woods by their parents, two young children discover a witch's house made of cookies and candy as they try to find their way back home.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - Martin
An alphabet rhyme/chant that relates what happens when the whole alphabet tries to climb a coconut tree.
There’s A Nightmare in my Closet - Mayer
At bedtime, a boy confronts the nightmare in his closet and finds him not so terrifying after all.
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie – Numeroff (and other similar stories by Numeroff)
Relating the cycle of requests a mouse is likely to make after you give him a cookie takes the reader through a young child's day.
My Very First Mother Goose - Opie
A collection of more than sixty nursery rhymes including "Hey Diddle Diddle," "Pat-a-Cake," "Little Jack Horner," and "Pussycat, Pussycat".
The Peace Book - Parr
Neighbors in a community work together to make the world a peaceful place. Includes people of all colors and occupations.
The Rainbow Fish - Pfister
The Rainbow Fish, very beautiful because of his sparkling scales, must decide what is more important: his beautiful scales or having friends, when a little blue fish asks him to share his scales.
Noah’s Ark - Pinkey (illustrator)
Retells the biblical story of the great flood and how Noah and his family faithfully responded to God's call to save life on earth.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit - Potter (and other stories by Beatrix Potter)
Peter disobeys his mother by going into Mr. McGregor's garden and almost gets caught.
Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young - Prelutsky
A collection of more than 200 short poems by both known and anonymous American and English authors.
Ruby the Copycat - Rathmann
Ruby insists on copying Angela, until her teacher helps her discover her own creative resources.
Curious George - Rey
The curiosity of a newly captured monkey gets him into considerable trouble.
My Friend Rabbit - Rohmann
Something always seems to go wrong when Rabbit is around, but Mouse lets him play with his toy plane anyway because he is his good friend.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt - Rosen
Brave bear hunters go through grass, a river, mud, and other obstacles before the inevitable encounter with the bear forces a headlong retreat.
The Relatives Came – Rylant
Strong family relationships are created along with fun and happy memories when relatives visit during the summer season. (1986 Caldecott Honor Book)
Where the Wild Things Are - Sendak
A naughty little boy, sent to bed without his supper, sails to the land of the wild things where he becomes their king.
Horton Hatches the Egg - Dr. Seuss (and other books by Dr. Seuss)
When a lazy bird hatching an egg wants a vacation, she asks Horton, the elephant, to sit on her egg--which he does through all sorts of hazards until he is rewarded for doing what he said he would.
No, David - Shannon
Five-year-old David is told "No" over and over again for the mischievous things he does in this very humorous Caldecott Honor book. (1999)
Caps for Sale - Slobodkind
A band of mischievous monkeys steals every one of a peddler's caps while he takes a nap under a tree.
Three Pebbles and a Song - Spinelli
As his mouse family endures a long, cold winter, Moses’ contributions of a dance, a juggling act, and a little song prove more useful than he had supposed.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble - Steig
In a moment of fright, Sylvester the donkey asks his magic pebble to turn him into a rock but then cannot hold the pebble to wish himself back to normal again.
A Child’s Garden of Verses - Stevenson
This is a classic collection of poems that evoke the world and feelings of childhood.
There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly - Taback
In a traditional nonsense poem, an old woman swallows a fly, a spider, a bird, a cat, a dog, and a horse.
The Three Robbers - Ungerer
Three robbers terrify the countryside until they are subdued by the charm of a little orphan girl named Tiffany.
Lyle, Lyle Crocodile - Waber
Lyle is perfectly happy living with the Primms on East 88th St. until irritable Mr. Grumps next door changes all that.
Shy Charles - Wells
Being painfully timid and shy does not keep a young mouse from rescuing his babysitter in an emergency situation.
Bunny Money (and other books about Max and Ruby) - Wells
Max and Ruby take the bus downtown to buy a birthday gift for their grandma, but they spend so much money on emergencies that they don't have enough for bus fare home.
Noisy Nora - Wells
Feeling neglected, Nora makes more and more noise to attract her parents' attention.
Yoko – Wells
A little kitten name Yoko brings sushi in her lunch and her friends tease her. Her teacher steps in and introduces international day and Yoko’s mom brings in sushi to share with all her friends.
"More, More, More," Said the Baby - Williams
Three babies are caught up in the air and given loving attention by a father, grandmother, and mother.
Bear Feels Sick – Wilson
A rhyming story about a brown bear and his animal friends.
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! - Willems
A persistent pigeon asks, pleads, cajoles, wheedles, connives, negotiates, demands and uses emotional blackmail in attempts to get behind the wheel. (A 2004 Caldecott Honor Book)
The Napping House - Wood
In this cumulative tale, a wakeful flea atop a number of sleeping creatures causes a commotion with just one bite.
The Wheels on the Bus - Zelinsky (adapter and illustrator)
The wheels on the bus go round, the wipers go swish, the doors open and close, and the people go in and out in this rollicking version of the classic song. Features pop-up and movable illustrations.
Grades 1 and 2
The summer reading program is designed to serve two functions: to maintain and/or strengthen reading skills and to promote enjoyment of books. Many books will help to fulfill both of these functions, and the attached list contains recommended titles, not required. In selecting books with your child, please feel free to choose books other than those on the list. If a book cited on the list is not available, select another title by that same author.
The Carnegie Library in Oakland and its branches have excellent children’s book collections, and the librarians can provide further guidance in selecting books for your child.
SUGGESTED TITLES FOR STUDENTS ENTERING GRADES 1 and 2
PICTURE BOOKS
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears - Aardema
In this African folk tale, a mosquito's lie sets off a series of reactions in the jungle that results in Mother Owl's refusal to wake the sun and King Lion's decision to call a meeting of the animals.
America’s Champion Swimmer : Gertrude Ederle - Adler
Describes the life and accomplishments of Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel and a figure in the early women's rights movement.
Anno’s USA - Anno
In wordless panoramas, a lone traveler approaches the New World from the West in the present day and journeys the width of the country backward through time, departing the East Coast as the Santa Maria appears over the horizon.
Where the Forest Meets the Sea - Baker
On a camping trip in an Australian rainforest with his father, a boy thinks about the history of the plant and animal life around him and wonders about their future.
Madeline’s Rescue - Bemelmans
A hound rescues a schoolgirl from the Seine, becomes a beloved school pet, is chased away by the trustees, and returns with a surprise. (other “Madeline” books)
The Trouble with Trolls - Brett
While climbing Mount Baldy, Treva outwits some trolls who want to steal her dog.
Verdi - Cannon
A young python does not want to grow slow and boring like the older snakes he sees in the tropical jungle where he lives.
The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth - Cole
On a special field trip in the magic school bus, Ms Frizzle's class learns at firsthand about different kinds of rocks and the formation of the earth. (other Magic School Bus books)
Miss Rumphius - Cooney
As a child, Great-Aunt Alice Rumphius resolved that when she grew up, she would go to faraway places, live by the sea in her old age, and do something to make the world more beautiful--and she does all those things, the last being the most difficult of all.
Sing a Song of Popcorn: Every Child's Book of Poems - DeRegniers
A collection of 115 poems by a variety of well known authors with illustrations by nine Caldecott medalists.
The Story about Ping - Flack
A little duck finds adventure on the Yangtze River when he is too late to board his master's houseboat one evening.
Roller Coaster - Frazee
Twelve people set aside their fears and ride a roller coaster, including one who has never done so before.
Harry and the Terrible Whatzit - Gackenback
When his mother goes to the cellar and doesn't return right away, Harry goes down to search for her and confronts the terrible two-headed Whatzit.
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers - Gerstein
A lyrical evocation of Philippe Petit's 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers. (Caldecott Medal 2004)
Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl - Hamilton
In this retelling, using Gullah speech, of a familiar story, the wily Brer Rabbit outwits Brer Fox who has set out to trap him.
Wemberly Worried - Henkes
A mouse named Wemberly, who worries about everything, finds that she has a whole list of things to worry about when she faces the first day of nursery school.
Henry Hikes to Fitchburg - Johnson
While his friend works hard to earn the train fare to Fitchburg, young Henry Thoreau walks the thirty miles through woods and fields, enjoying nature and the time to think great thoughts. Includes biographical information about Thoreau.
A Rose for Pinkerton - Kellogg
Pinkerton's family decides he needs a friend, but is a cat named Rose really suitable?
John Henry - Lester
Retells the life of the legendary African American hero who raced against a steam drill to cut through a mountain.
How I Became a Pirate - Long
Jeremy Jacob joins Braid Beard and his pirate crew and finds out about pirate language, pirate manners, and other aspects of their life.
The Ghost-Eye Tree - Martin
Walking down a dark lonely road on an errand one night, a brother and sister argue over who is afraid of the dread Ghost-Eye tree.
The Funny Little Woman - Mosel
A Japanese folk tale about a woman who encounters talking statues and wicked creatures is retold in this Caldecott Medal-winning book.
Sam Bangs and Moonshine - Ness
Sam’s father calls her imaginative stories MOONSHINE, but she tries to learn the difference between good and bad MOONSHINE before she brings harm to her friend, Thomas.
Kate and the Beanstalk - Osborne
A plucky girl named Kate defeats a giant and restores stolen treasures to the rightful owner in this version of the classic fairy tale.
Chicken Sunday - Polacco
To thank Miss Eula for her wonderful Sunday chicken dinners, three children sell decorated eggs to buy her a beautiful Easter hat.
It’s Raining Pigs & Noodles - Prelutsky
A collection of humorous poems such as "The Dancing Hippopotami," "You Can't Make Me Eat That," "My Father's Name is Sasquatch," and "Dear Wumbledeedumble." (Other poetry collections by author)
Ruby the Copycat - Rathman
Ruby insists on copying Angela, until her teacher helps her discover her own creative resources.
Tar Beach - Ringgold
A young girl dreams of flying above her Harlem home, claiming all she sees for herself and her family. Based on the author's quilt painting of the same name.
The Relatives Came - Rylant
The relatives come to visit from Virginia and everyone has a wonderful time.
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs - Scieszka
The wolf gives his own outlandish version of what really happened when he tangled with the three little pigs.
Doctor DeSoto - Steig
Doctor De Soto, a mouse dentist, copes with the toothaches of various animals except those with a taste for mice, until the day a fox comes to him in great pain.
It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folk Tale - Zemach
Unable to stand his overcrowded and noisy home any longer, a poor man goes to the Rabbi for advice.
BEGINNING READING BOOKS
Cam Jansen and the Birthday Mystery - Adler
When Cam's grandparents are robbed on their way to her parents' surprise birthday party, Cam uses her photographic memory to solve the mystery. (Others in series)
The Fire Cat - Averill
When firemen rescue Pickles, a yellow cat with black spots, from a tree, he goes to live at the firehouse.
The Case of the Scaredy Cats - Bonsall
Chronicles the series of events occurring after the girls take over the boys' club house.
The Color Wizard - Brenner
Rhymed text and illustrations relate how Wizard Gray changed his very gray world with color.
Arthur’s Mystery Envelope - Brown
Arthur receives a confidential envelope from the principal that he is to give to his mother. He worries about what is in the envelope and what kind of trouble he might be in. (other Arthur chapter books)
My Brother, Ant - Byars
In four separate stories, Ant's older brother gets rid of the monster under Ant's bed, forgives Ant for drawing on his homework, tries to read a story, and helps Ant write a letter to Santa.
Penrod’s Picture - Christian
Follows the humorous antics of Penrod Porcupine and Griswold Bear as they hang a picture, go camping, plant a garden, and have a garage sale. (Others in series)
First Graders from Mars Episode I: Horus' Horrible Day - Corey (Others in series)
As the school year begins on Mars, Horus the Martian gets off to a rocky start, but soon discovers that first grade is not really as bad as he thought.
Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown - Danziger
Amber is nervous about starting second grade with a new teacher, but despite being in the same class as mean Hannah Burton, things turn out just fine.
Pinky and Rex - Howe
Rex and her best friend Pinky find their visit to the museum and its gift shop complicated by Pinky's little sister Amanda. (Others in series)
Fox and His Friends - Marshall
Fox's plans to have fun with his friends are interrupted on three different occasions when he chooses to be faithful to his responsibilities, which include taking care of his little sister and being on duty for traffic patrol.
Amelia Bedelia - Parish
When Amelia Bedelia takes on a housekeeping job, her literal interpretation of instructions causes confusion. (Others in series)
Dragon Gets By - Pilkey
A blue dragon takes on daily chores--housework, yard work, and shopping--with humorous results. (Others in series )
Mr. Putter & Tabby Feed the Fish - Rylant
When he brings home goldfish from the store, Mr. Putter discovers that Tabby has a problem with fish. Can Tabby control her twitchy tail, or will Mr. Tabby have to find the fish a new place to live? (Others in series)
Henry and Mudge: The First Book - Rylant
Henry, feeling lonely on a street without any other children, finds companionship and love with a big dog named Mudge. (Others in series)
Nate the Great - Sharmat
When Annie loses the picture she painted of her dog, Fang, Nate must find clues to solve the case. (Others in series)
Good Night, Good Knight - Thomas
What can the Good Knight do when three little dragons ask him for help one night? Fanciful drawings add to the simple text.
Tales of Amanda Pig - Van Leeuwen
Amanda Pig, her brother Oliver, and their parents share a busy day, working and playing
together from breakfast to bedtime. (Others in series)
Commander Toad in Space - Yolen
The intrepid crew of the spaceship the "Star Warts" lands on a water-covered planet inhabited by Deep Wader, a horrible, hungry monster. (Others in series)
Grades 3 and 4
All students entering Grade 3 are required to read one book over the summer break chosen from the series listed below. Your child’s classroom teacher will assist in recommending an appropriate selection. Your child may select any title of interest from the series.
The Grade 4 required reading book is Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. This book will be the basis for discussion, writing and projects when school resumes in September. It is recommended that students take notes on characters, plot development, and the author's purpose.
Students are encouraged to read as much as possible, and while the books on the suggested list are recommended, there are many other fine books that students might select. There is no specific number of books that a student must read except for the one(s) listed for his/her grade.
REQUIRED READING FOR ALL STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 3
Select one book from these series based upon the recommendation of your child’s second grade teacher.
_____The Horrible Harry Series by Suzy Kline
_____The Cam Jansen Series by David A. Adler
_____The Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne
_____The A to Z Mysteries Series by Ron Roy
_____The Boxcar Children Series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
_____The Encyclopedia Brown Series by Donald J. Sobol
_____ Percy Jackson and the Olympian Series by Rick Riordan
_____ Children of the Red King Series (Charlie Bone) by Jenny Nimmo
REQUIRED READING FOR ALL STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 4
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Winn-Dixie is the story of a scruffy, yet adorable dog adopted by a young girl named Opal, and the heart-warming events surrounding this new relationship.
SUGGESTED TITLES FOR STUDENTS ENTERING GRADES 3 and 4
These titles are only suggestions for independent reading. Students should feel free to read any book they might enjoy. Many of the authors noted below have several titles that may be read in place of, or in addition to the title listed.
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Aiken
Bonnie and her cousin Sylvia are left in the care of a cruel governess when Bonnie's parents go on a sea voyage. Besieged by wolves without and the terrible Miss Slighcarp within, how are they to reclaim Willoughby Chase?
The Wizard in the Tree - Alexander
Mallory, an orphaned housemaid, saves Arbican, a wizard who has been swallowed by a tree. His magical powers are needed to save the village from an evil squire, but his powers seem to be rusty.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins - Atwater
The unexpected delivery of a large crate containing an Antarctic penguin changes the life and fortunes of Mr. Popper, a house painter obsessed by dreams of the polar regions.
Poppy - Avi
Poppy the deer mouse urges her family to move next to a field of corn big enough to feed them all forever, but Mr. Ocax, a terrifying owl, has other ideas.
Voices at Whisper Bend - Ayres (other books by this author)
In their Pennsylvania town in 1942, twelve-year-old Charlotte and her classmates collect scrap metal for the war effort only to have it disappear from the school basement.
The Eyes of the Amaryllis - Babbitt
When eleven-year-old Jenny goes to stay with her widowed grandmother who lives by the sea side, she learns a great deal about the nature of love and the ways of the sea.
The Enormous Egg - Butterworth
Twelve-year-old Nate Twitchell tells of the preposterous events that occurred after his pet chicken hatched a dinosaur egg.
Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism - Byng
Unlucky and unloved, Molly Moon, living in a dreary orphanage in a small English town, discovers a hidden talent for hypnotism and hypnotizes her way to stardom in New York City.
The Blossoms and the Green Phantom - Byars
Junior has finally created the ultimate invention--the Green Phantom--and the whole family makes a promise to ensure its success. (Other books by author)
Ramona’s World - Cleary
Fourth grade has more adventures for Ramona as she gains a new best friend and works on the detested subject of spelling. (Other “Ramona” books )
The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet - Cameron
A mystery man inspires two boys to build a spaceship that takes them to the planet of Basidium to help the Mushroom People.
The Chocolate Touch - Catling
Like King Midas and gold, everything that John Midas touches turns to chocolate.
My Teacher Is an Alien - Coville
Uneasy about her new substitute teacher, Susan Simmons' suspicions about Mr. Smith are
confirmed when she discovers he is an alien determined to bring some sixth-grade specimens back to his planet.
Aliens Don’t Wear Braces - Dadey
The kids at the Bailey School begin to suspect that their art teacher, a strange woman with white hair and braces, is an alien. (Other titles in the Bailey School Kids series)
Esio Trot - Dahl
Mr. Hoppy is madly in love with Mrs. Silver, but she is interested only in her pet tortoise. When Mrs. Silver complains about Alfie's small size, Mr. Hoppy seizes the opportunity to do something heroic and win his lady's heart in the process.
The Witches - Dahl
A boy is turned into a mouse by The Grand High Witch herself when he accidentally overhears the witches' secret meeting. Will he become a boy again, or be forced to live life as a mouse?
The Courage of Sarah Noble - Dalgliesh
An eight-year-old girl finds courage to go alone with her father to build a new home in the Connecticut wilderness, and to stay with the Indians when her father goes back to bring the rest of the family.
Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon - Danziger
The year she is in the third grade is a sad time for Amber because her best friend, Justin, is getting ready to move to a distant state. (Other titles in Amber Brown series)
The Ghost of Fossil Glen - De Felice
Allie knows it's not her imagination when she hears a voice and sees in her mind's eye the face of a girl who seems to be seeking her help.
The Tale of Despereaux - DiCamillo
The adventures of Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin. (2004 Newbery Medal)
Time and the Clock Mice, Etcetera - Dickinson
An old man who is called to fix the huge, elaborate Branton Town Hall Clock built by his grandfather nearly 100 years ago discovers an intelligent group of mice living inside the clock.
The Great Brain - Fitzgerald
Ten-year-old Tom D. Fitzgerald uses his great brain to come up with money-making schemes, to help people in trouble, and occasionally to seek revenge on those who have wronged him.
Bandit’s Moon - Fleischman
Twelve-year-old Annyrose Smith and her brother, Lankly Lafayette Smith, head to California during the Gold Rush in the 1850s. Annyrose finds herself in the care of a horrible old woman, but when Joaquín Murieta and his band of outlaws arrive at the farm, they provide Annyrose with a chance for freedom and adventure.
And Then What Happened Paul Revere? - Fritz
Paul Revere's exciting adventures during the Revolutionary War are related through enjoyable text which exposes his busy life as a silversmith and a spy.
Coraline - Gaiman
Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.
Stone Fox - Gardiner
In spite of tremendous odds, a ten-year-old boy and his dog are determined to win a dogsled race and the five-hundred-dollar prize that will save his grandfather's farm from the tax collector.
The Beast in Mrs. Rooney’s Room - Giff
Richard "Beast" Best has to face the embarrassment of going through second grade again while his old classmates have moved on to third grade. But when Mrs. Paris comes to give Richard and some other students special help in reading, Richard's attitude starts to change. (Other titles in the Polk Street School series)
Osceola : Memories of a Sharecropper’s Daughter - Govenar
Osceola Mays grew up a sharecropper's daughter in Texas. In this book, she recalls stories from her childhood. (biography)
On the Dog (Andrew Lost #1) - Greensburg
When Andrew’s latest invention, the Atom Sucker, goes haywire, Andrew and Judy are shrunk down to microscopic level and find themselves lost on their neighbor’s dog, where they encounter everything from colossal fleas to crab-like eyelash mites. (Other titles in the Andrew Lost series)
Seeds of Hope: The Gold Rush Diary of Susanna Fairchild - Gregory
This book traces fourteen-year-old Susanna Fairchild's voyage to California, during which she loses her mother. When her father gives up medicine to join the Gold Rush, she and her sister Clara must learn to survive in a mining town. (Other titles in the Dear America series)
Sable - Hesse
Tate Marshall is delighted when a stray dog turns up in the yard one day, but Sable, named for her dark, silky fur, causes trouble with the neighbors and has to go.
Everything on a Waffle - Horvath
While eleven-year-old Primrose Squarp waits for her lost-at-sea parents to be rescued, many eccentric and amusing characters make their way in and out of her life.
Bunnicula - Howe
Is the baby rabbit found at the movies by the Monroes a vampire? After they find a dry, white tomato in the kitchen, Chester the cat and Harold the dog try to find the answer.
The Hot and Cold Summer - Hurwitz
Two inseparable ten-year-old boys discover there is room in their friendship for another person, and it really doesn't matter that she is a girl. (Other books by author)
Pigs Might Fly - King-Smith
Having been coached in swimming by a duck and an otter, a runt piglet with deformed front feet becomes a hero when their farm is flooded.
Horrible Harry and the Ant Invasion - Kline
Horrible Harry of classroom 2B cuts back on his mischievous pranks after falling for Song Lee. (Other titles in the Horrible Harry series)
Just So Stories - Kipling
In a humorous collection of short stories, Rudyard Kipling offers many reasons why animals look the way they do, including how the Elephant's nose grew long and how the Camel received his hump.
The Dragon in the Ghetto Caper - Konigsburg
Andy finds a sidekick for his detective work when he meets Edie Yakots. The two spend most weekday afternoons together, never realizing that a crime is being committed right under their noses.
Rabbit Hill - Lawson
New folks are coming to live in the Big House. The animals of Rabbit Hill wonder if they will plant a garden and thus be good providers.
Strawberry Girl - Lenski
When Birdie Boyer and her family move to the backwoods of Florida, they find that the farming life is not easy. Along with trouble from the weather, the Boyers have problems with the Slaters, neighbors who seem set on having a feud.
Tales of Uncle Remus - Lester
This book is a retelling of the Afro-American tales about the adventures and misadventures of Brer Rabbit and his friends and enemies. (Folktale)
Betsy-Tacy - Lovelace
There are no little girls the same age as Betsy on Hill Street, so when a new family moves into the house across the street, Betsy hopes they will have a little girl she can play with. Sure enough, they do--a little girl named Tacy. They become such good friends that everyone thinks of them as one person--Betsy-Tacy. (Other books in series)
Sarah Plain and Tall - MacLachlan
When their father invites a mail-order bride to come live with them in their prairie home, Caleb and Anna are captivated by their new mother and hope that she will stay.
The Doll People - Martin
Annabelle the doll wonders what life is like outside the dollhouse and what has happened to Auntie Sarah, who had mysteriously disappeared forty-five years before.
Judy Moody - McDonald
Although Judy Moody is in a bad mood on the first day of school, her third-grade teacher inspires her to use her imagination in designing a Me collage. (Others in series)
Too Many Murphys - McKenna
Collette Murphy, who is eight years old, wishes she were an only child, and is surprised when her wish comes true for a day.
7 x 9 = Trouble - Mills
Third grader Wilson Williams struggles to pass his timed multiplication tests by the deadline.
Shiloh - Naylor
Eleven-year-old Marty finds an abused dog while walking near his West Virginia home. Marty decides not to return the dog, which he has named Shiloh, and has to lie to keep his secret.
Day of the Dragon King - Osborne
Jack and Annie are now Master Librarians, and this adventure takes them to ancient China to rescue the first writing of a Chinese legend. Find out if they are successful and return safely!
The Sign of the Chrysanthemum - Paterson
After the death of his mother, Muna sets out in search of his father and learns about himself instead.
Pink and Say - Polacco
Say Curtis describes his meeting with Pinkus Aylee, a black soldier, during the Civil War, and their capture by Southern troops.
The Best School Year Ever - Robinson
The six horrible Herdmans, the worst kids in the history of the world, cause mayhem throughout the school year.
Keep the Lights Burning Abbie - Roop
In the winter of 1856, a storm delays the lighthouse keeper's return to an island off the coast of Maine, and his daughter, Abbie, must keep the lights burning by herself.
Young Merlin - SanSouci
After being captured by evil King Vortigern's knights, young Merlin befriends the future King Aurelius and his brother. After King Aurelius's death, Merlin magically creates his tomb, which is thought to be the legendary Stonehenge. (Legend)
Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman - Schroeder
Harriet Tubman, named Minty as a child, learned many things from her father that would one day help her escape from slavery. (biography)
Knights of the Kitchen Table - Scieszka
Joe and his friends, Fred and Sam, are transported back to the Middle Ages after opening a book sent by Joe's uncle. Will the three boys ever return to their own time? More important, can they survive in the Middle Ages long enough to try? (Other titles in The Time Warp Trio series)
Heartland - Siebert
This book evokes the land, animals, and people of the Middle West in poetic text and illustrations. (poetry)
A Light in the Attic - Silverstein
This classic collection of poems and drawings features an assortment of characters, including Almost Perfect Mary Hume and The Turnable Twistable Man. (other poetry books by author)
Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Dead Eagles - Sobol
Ten cases that involve the reader's crime-solving participation present the remarkable boy detective working on his own and helping his police chief father with Idaville's more serious problems. (Others in Encyclopedia Brown series)
Lewis and Clark: In Their Own Words - Sullivan
When explorers Lewis and Clark set off on a mission ordered by President Thomas Jefferson, incredible hardships in an unknown wilderness became their destiny. Native Americans, wild animals, and the Rocky Mountains all had to be encountered before they reached their goal: the Pacific Ocean.
Graveyards of the Dinosaurs - Tanaka
Learn what happens when a herd of Centrosauruses panics while crossing a river. Read what happens as a mother Oviraptor desperately tries to save her young. Be there when a Herrerasaurus defends his catch. Discover, in this book, the evidence found in dinosaur graveyards that inspired these stories.
All-of-a-Kind Family - Taylor
Five sisters living in New York City during the early 1900s find many interesting adventures awaiting them nearly every day. Mama keeps the girls busy, and Papa's shop offers the chance to see his peddler friends and to find an occasional surprise.
The Boxcar Children - Warner
Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny--who are orphans--decide to live in a boxcar that they discover in the woods. (Other titles in the Boxcar Children series)
Charlotte’s Web - White
Wilbur, a young pig has the typical grim future associated with most pigs, until Charlotte, the barn spider, decides to make it her goal to save him from the farmer's axe.
The Dollhouse Murders - Wright
While staying with her aunt in an old country house, thirteen-year-old Amy discovers that the dollhouse in the attic, a perfectly detailed miniature replica of the country home, is haunted.
Grades 5 and 6
Students entering Grade 5 and 6 are asked to read ONE required title and FOUR additional self-selected titles. Complete the Summer Reading Log also found in the Upper School menu on the website. Each time a book is read, record the Title, Author and Date Completed. Have your parent sign your Summer Reading Log. Return your Summer Reading Log to your English teacher on the first day of school .
All students entering Grade 5 are required to read Abel's Island by William Steig, while those entering Grade 6 must read The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman. These books will be the basis for discussion and writing when school resumes in September. It is recommended that students take notes on characters, plot development, theme and the author's purpose.
Students are encouraged to read as much as possible, and while the books on the suggested list are recommended, there are many other fine books that students might select. Select four books, either from the list below or titles of your choice, to read in addition to the Required Reading selections.
REQUIRED READING FOR ALL STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 5
Abel's Island - William Steig
Castaway on an uninhabited island, Abel, a very civilized mouse, finds his resourcefulness and endurance tested to the limit as he struggles to survive and return to his home.
REQUIRED READING FOR ALL STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 6
The Midwife’s Apprentice – Karen Cushman
Set in England in the Middle Ages, this book is about a young timid, homeless girl who learns to adapt to become a self-assured young woman.
SUGGESTED TITLES FOR STUDENTS ENTERING GRADES 5 and 6
The titles below are suggestions for independent reading. Students should feel free to read any age-appropriate book they might enjoy. Many of the authors noted below have several titles that may be read in place of, or in addition to, the title listed.
The Book of Three - Alexander
Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper to a famous oracular sow, sets out on a hazardous mission to save Prydain from the forces of evil. (First book in the Chronicles of Prydain)
The High King- Alexander
In this fifth and final Chronicle of Prydain the forces of good and evil meet in ultimate confrontation.
The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen - Alexander
Bearing six unusual gifts, young Prince Jen embarks on a perilous quest and emerges triumphantly into manhood.
Fever, 1793 - Anderson
In 1793 Philadelphia, sixteen-year-old Matilda Cook, separated from her sick mother, learns about perseverance and self-reliance when she is forced to cope with the horrors of a yellow fever epidemic.
Beyond the Western Sea - Avi
Driven from their impoverished Irish village, fifteen-year-old Maura and her younger brother meet their landlord’s runaway son in Liverpool while all three wait for a ship to America; their fates continue to intertwine on board ship and in the new world.
Crispin: The Cross of Lead - Avi
Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant boy in fourteenth-century England flees his village and meets a larger-than-life juggler who holds a dangerous secret.
The Fighting Ground - Avi
Thirteen-year-old Jonathan goes off to fight in the Revolutionary War and discovers the real war is being fought within himself.
Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor & the Merrimac: a Civil War Novel - Avi
Thirteen-year-old Tom Carroll takes his place as head of the family after his father dies fighting for the Union; but his job at the local ironworks, where he helps build an iron ship for the Union army, and his loyalty comes into question when he is approached by Confederate spies to sell secrets about the ship to the South.
Nothing But the Truth - Avi
A ninth-grader's suspension for humming "The Star-Spangled Banner" during homeroom becomes a national news story.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle - Avi
As the only passenger, and the only female, on a transatlantic voyage in 1832, thirteen-year-old Charlotte finds herself caught between a murderous captain and a mutinous crew.
Macaroni Boy - Ayres
In Pittsburgh in 1933, sixth-grader Mike Costa notices a connection between several strange occurrences, but the only way he can find out the truth about what's happening is to be nice to the class bully. Includes historical facts.
North by Night: A Story of the Underground Railroad - Ayres
Presents the journal of a sixteen-year-old girl whose family operates a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Chasing Vermeer - Balliett
When seemingly unrelated and strange events start to happen and a precious Vermeer painting disappears, eleven-year-old Petra and Calder combine their talents to solve an international art scandal.
Peter and the Starcatchers – Barry
Peter, an orphaned by, and his friend Molly fight off thieves and pirates in order to keep the secret safe away from the diabolical Black Stache and his evil associate Mister Grin.
Hope was here - Bauer
When sixteen-year-old Hope and the aunt who has raised her move from Brooklyn to Mulhoney, Wisconsin, to work as waitress and cook in the Welcome Stairways diner, they become involved with the diner owner’s political campaign to oust the town’s corrupt mayor.
Peeled - Bauer
In an upstate New York farming community, high school reporter Hildy Biddle investigates a series of strange occurrences at a house rumored to be haunted.
Rules of the Road - Bauer
Sixteen-year-old Jenna gets a job driving the elderly owner of a chain of successful shoe stores from Chicago to Texas to confront the son who is trying to force her to retire, and along the way Jenna hones her talents as a saleswoman and find the strength to face her alcoholic father.
The Curse of the Blue Figurine - Bellairs
Johnny Dixon is plunged into a terrifying mystery-adventure when he removes a blue figurine called a ushabt from church.
The Trolley to Yesterday - Bellairs
Johnny Dixon and Professor Childermass discover a trolley which transports them back to Constantinople in 1453 as the Turks are invading the Byzantine Empire.
The Penderwicks: a Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits and a a Very Interesting Boy - Birdsall
While vacationing with their widowed father in the Berkshire Mountains, four lovable sisters, ages four through twelve, share adventures with a local boy, much to the dismay of the snobbish mother.
Tangerine - Bloor
Twelve-year-old Paul, who lives in the shadow of his football hero brother Erik, fights for the right to play soccer despite his near blindness and slowly begins to remember the incident that damaged his eyesight.
The Children of Green Knowe - Boston
Tolly comes to live with his great-grandmother at the ancient house of Green Knowe and becomes friends with three children who lived there in the seventeenth century. (Other titles in the Boston series)
The Prophecy of the Stones - Bujor
Three girls, known as the Stones of Prophecy, are drawn to a land called Fairytale,where they and a man called the Chosen One seek Oonagh, a magical creature who explains their role in a battle between Good and Evil.
A Little Princess - Burnett
Sara Crewe, a pupil at Miss Minchin’s London School, is left in poverty when her father dies, but is later rescued by a mysterious benefactor.
The Secret Garden - Burnett
Ten-year-old Mary comes to live in a lonely house on the Yorkshire moors and discovers an invalid cousin and the mysteries of a locked garden.
The Wizard Heir - Chima
Sixteen-year-old Seph McCauley is sent to the Havens, a boys’ school in Maine, after being kicked out of several private schools for his untrained magical powers; but his headmaster, Gregory Leicester, has his own mysterious agenda when he agrees to help Seth channel his magic.
Colibri - Cameron
Kidnapped when she was very young by an unscrupulous man who has forced her to lie and beg to get money, a twelve-year-old Mayan girl endures an abusive life, always wishing she could return to the parents she can hardly remember.
The Return of the Twelves - Clarke
A young boy's discovery of twelve wooden soldiers that once belonged to the Brontë children leads to an exciting adventure. (Awarded the 1962 Carnegie Medal for the outstanding children's book by an English author.)
The Goats - Cole
Stripped and marooned on a small island by their fellow campers, a boy and a girl form an uneasy bond that grows into a deep friendship when they decide to run away and disappear without a trace.
Gregor the Overlander - Collins
When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger an epic battle involving humans, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by ancient prophecy.
The Dark is Rising – Cooper
On his eleventh birthday Will Stanton discovers that he is the last of the Old Ones to triumph over the evil forces of the Dark. (Second book in The Dark is Rising series)
Over Sea, Under Stone - Cooper
Three children on vacation in Cornwall find an ancient manuscript that sends them on a dangerous quest that entraps them in the eternal battle between the forces of the Light and the Dark. (First book in The Dark is Rising series.)
Lion Boy: The First Book in a Trilogy – Corder
In the near future, a boy with the ability to speak the language of cats sets out from London to seek his kidnapped parents and find himself on a Paris-bound circus ship learning to train lions.
Bloomability - Creech
When her aunt and uncle take her from New Mexico to Lugano, Switzerland, to attend an international school, thirteen-year-old Dinnie discovers an expanding world and her place within it.
Ruby Holler - Creech
Thirteen-year-old fraternal twins Dallas and Florida have grown up in a terrible orphanage but their lives change forever when an eccentric but sweet older couple invites them each on an adventure, beginning in an almost magical place called Ruby Holler.
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup - Creech
With the help of her wise old grandmother, twelve-year-old Rosie manages to work out some problems in her relationship with her best friend, Bailey, the boy next door.
Ordinary Jack - Cresswell
Tired of being the only unexceptional member of the talented Bagthorpe family, eleven-year-old Jack decides to distinguish himself as a self-proclaimed prophet in this humorous story.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham -1963 - Curtis
The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African-American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma Sands in Alabama in the summer of 1963.
Catherine, Called Birdy - Cushman
The daughter of an English country knight keeps a journal in which she records the events of her life, particularly her longing for adventures beyond the usual role of women and her efforts to avoid being married off.
Boy: Tales of Childhood - Dahl
This book presents humorous anecdotes from the author's childhood, which includes summer holidays in Norway and an English boarding school.
Danny, the Champion of the World - Dahl
A young English boy describes his relatrionship with his father and the special adventure they share together.
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit - Danziger
When thirteen-year-old Marcy's favorite teacher is suspended from teaching because she refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance, Marcy meets new friends and becomes more confident in herself while fighting to have Ms. Finney reinstated.
The Journal of Curious Letters – Dashner
Thirteen-year-old Atticus “Tick” Higginbottom begins receiving mysterious letters from around the world signed only “M.G.”, and the clues contained therein lead him on a journey to the perilous 13th Reality and a confrontation with evil Mistress Jane.
The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread - DiCamillo
The adventures of Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.
The Twenty-One Balloons - Du Bois
Relates the incredible adventures of Professor William Waterman Sherman who in1883 sets off in a balloon across the Pacific, survives the volcanic eruption of Krakatoa, and is eventually picked up in the Atlantic.
The City of Ember - DuPrau
In the city of Ember, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions.
The Number Devil: a Mathematical Adventure - Enzenberger Annoyed with his math teacher who assigns word problems and won’t let him use a calculator, twelve-year-old Robert finds help from the number devil in his dreams.
The Ear, the Eye and the Arm: a Novel – Farmer In 2194 in Zimbabwe, General Matsika’s three children are kidnapped and put to work in a plastic mine while three mutant detectives use their special powers to search for them.
Ellis Island: Gateway to the New World - Fisher
A history of immigration through the port of New York, with special focus on the processing at Ellis Island.
The Ruins of Gorlan- Flanagan
When fifteen-year-old Will is rejected by battleschool, he becomes the reluctant apprentice to the mysterious Ranger Halt, and winds up protecting the kingdom from danger.
Jim Ugly - Fleischman
Follow the adventures of twelve-year-old Jake and Jim Ugly, his father's part mongrel, part-wolf dog, as they travel through the Old West trying to find out what really happened to Jake's actor father.
One-Eyed Cat: a Novel - Fox
An eleven-year-old shoots a stray cat with his new air rifle, subsequently suffers from guilt, and eventually assumes responsibility for it.
Brady - Fritz
A young Pennsylvania boy takes part in the pre-Civil War anti-slavery activities.
Dragon Rider - Funke
After learning that humans are headed toward his hidden home, Firedrake, a silver dragon, is joined by a brownie and an orphan boy in a quest to find the legendary valley known as the Rim of Heaven, encountering friendly and unfriendly creatures along the way, and struggling to evade the relentless pursuit of an old enemy.
Inkheart - Funke
Twelve-year-old Meggie learns that her father, who repairs and binds books for a living, can "read" fictional characters to life when one of those characters abducts them and tries to force him into service.
The Thief Lord - Funke Orphaned brothers Prosper and Bo, having run away from their cruel aunt and uncle, decide to hid out in Venice where they fall in with the Thief Lord, a thirteen-year-old boy who leads a crime ring of street children.
My Side of the Mountain - George
A young boy relates his adventures during the year he spends living along in the Catskill Mountains, including his struggle for survival, his dependence on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate realization that he needs human companionship
Pictures of Hollis Woods - Giff
Twelve-year-old Hollis Woods has been in many different foster homes. After an accident at her last home, she finally ends up with Josie, who is an artist like Hollis. Josie, however, is becoming forgetful, and it looks as if Hollis will be moved again.
Old Yeller - Gipson
This Newbery Honor-winning book relates the exciting and touching story about a dog that helps a boy and his family on the Texas frontier.
Tunnels – Gordon
When Will Burrows and his friend Chester embark on a quest to find Will's archaeologist father, who has inexplicably disappeared, they are led to a labyrinthine world underneath London, full of sinister inhabitants with evil intentions toward "Topsoilers" like Will and his father.
The House of Dies Drear - HamiltonA black family of five moves into an enormous house once used as a hiding place for runaway slaves. Mysterious sounds and events as well as the discovery of secret passageways make the family believe they are in grave danger.
M.C. Higgins, the Great - Hamilton
As a slag heap, the result of strip mining, creeps closer to his house in the Ohio hills, fifteen-year-old M.C. is torn between trying to get his family away and fighting for the home they love.
George’s Secret Key to the Universe - Hawkins
George and his neighbor friend Eric travel through a computer portal into outer space encountering black holes while trying to escape an evil scientist.
A Time of Angels - Hesse
Sick with influenza during the 1918 epidemic and separated from her two sisters, a young Jewish girl living in Boston relies on the help of an old German man, and her visions of angels, to get better and to reunite herself with her family.
Downriver - Hobbs
Jessie and the other rebellious teenage members of a wilderness survival school team abandon their adult leader and try to run the dangerous white water of the Grand Canyon.
River Thunder - Hobbs
Despite some reservations, sixteen-year-old Jessie joins her companions from the previous year’s adventure on the Colorado River for a legal rafting trip through the Grand Canyon.
Our Only May Amelia - Holm
It is 1899, and twelve-year-old May Amelia is the only girl in a large family of boys. In fact, she's the only girl for miles around and she does not appreciate being treated differently from her brothers. May Amelia grows up believing she really is a miracle.
The Quest Begins - Hunter
Three young bears of different species – one black, one polar, and one grizzly – travel on a perilous quest to the Northern Lights, escorting a shape-shifting grizzly cub whose destiny will affect them all.
The Secret of Platform 13 - Ibbotson
Odge Gribble, a young hag, accompanies an old wizard, a gentle fey, and a giant ogre on their mission through a magical tunnel from their Island to London to rescue their King and Queen’s son who had been stolen as an infant.
Redwall - Jacques
When the peaceful life in and around ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes, Matthias, a young mouse, determines to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior.
The Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution - Jiang
This book tells the story of Ji-li Jiang, a twelve-year-old girl growing up in China in 1966, the year that Chairman Mao launched the Cultural Revolution, and shows the changes it brought to her and her family. (Autobiography)
The Lives of Christopher Chant - Jones
Young Christopher Chant, in training to become the next Chrestomanci or head controller of magic in the world, becomes a key figure in a battle with renegade sorcerers because he has nine lives.
The Phantom Tollbooth - Juster
A boy named Milo is never interested in anything until he takes a magical journey into the land of Wisdom, where he outwits kings and outruns demons to rescue the princesses Rhyme and Reason.
The Rifles for Watie - Keith
Sixteen-year-old Jefferson Davis Bussey cannot wait to join the Army and defend the Union against the dreaded Colonel Watie, but when he is assigned to infiltrate the enemy camp as a spy, he discovers the rebels are boys and men just like him, and he must then decide whether to betray his enemies or join them.
The Gammage Cup - Kendall
A handful of Minnipins, a sober and sedate people, rise up against the Periods, the leading family of an isolated mountain valley, and are exiled to a mountain where they discover that the ancient enemies of their people are preparing to attack.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - Konigsburg
Having run away with her younger brother to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, twelve-year-old Claudia strives to keep things in order in their new home and to become a changed person and a heroine to herself.
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place - Konigsburg
Upon leaving an oppressive summer camp, twelve-year-old Margaret Rose Kane spearheads a campaign to preserve three unique towers her great-uncles have been building in their backyard for more than forty years.
The View from Saturday – Konigsburg
Four students, with their own individual stories, develop a special bond and attract the attention of their teacher, a paraplegic, who chooses them to represent their sixth-grade class in the Academic Bowl competition.
Onion John – Krumgold
His friendship with the town odd-jobs man, Onion John, causes a conflict between Andy and his father.
Lord of the Nutcracker Men - Lawrence
While ten-year-old Johnny plays with the toy soldiers that his father sends to him from France, he is learning the ugly truths about World War I.
A Wrinkle in Time - L'Engle
A midnight visitor escorts Meg, Calvin, and Charles across the barriers of space and time to another world in search of Meg’s father, who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government.
Dave and Night - Levine
Because he is so unhappy at the Hebrew Home for Boys, eleven-year-old Dave sneaks out of the orphanage at night, discovering a fabulous world of music and culture in 1920s Harlem.
Ella Enchanted - Levine
In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - Lewis
Four English school children find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and assist Aslan, the golden lion, to triumph over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter.
Anastasia Krupnik - Lowry
Ten-year-old Anastasia has a teacher who doesn't understand poetry, her first love doesn't know she exists, her elderly grandmother doesn't remember who she is, and her parents are having a baby. Anastasia keeps lists in her green notebook that help her sort out her confusing life.
Boggart - Lowry
After visiting the castle in Scotland which her family has inherited and returning home to Canada, twelve-year-old Emily finds that she has accidentally brought back with her a boggart, an invisible and mischievous spirit with a fondness for practical jokes.
Gathering Blue - Lowry
Lame and suddenly orphaned, Kira is mysteriously removed from squalid village to live in the palatial Council Edifice, where she is expected to use her gifts as a weaver to do the bidding of the all-powerful Guardians.
Gossamer - Lowry
While learning to bestow dreams, a young dream giver tries to save an eight-year-old boy from the effects of both his abusive past and the nightmares inflicted on him by the frightening Sinisteeds.
Messenger - Lowry
In this novel that unites characters from “The Giver” and “Gathering Blue”, Matty, a young member of a utopian community that values honesty, conceals an emerging healing power that he cannot explain or understand.
Million-Dollar Throw - Lupica
Eighth-grade star quarterback Nate Brodie’s family is feeling the stress of the troubled economy, and Nate is frantic because his best friend Abby is going blind, so when he gets a chance to win a million dollars if he can complete a pass during the halftime of a New England Patriot’s game, he is nearly owerwhelmed by the pressure to succeed.
Travel Team - Lupica
After he is cut from his travel basketball team – the very same team that his father once led to national prominence – twelve-year-old Danny Walker forms his own team of cast-offs that might have a shot at victory.
Good Night, Mr. Tom - Magorian
A battered child learns to embrace life when he is adopted by an old man in the English countryside during World War II.
A Boy No More - Mazer
After his father is killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor, Adam, his mother and sister are evacuated from Hawaii to California, where he must deal with his feelings about the war, Japanese internment camps, his father and his own identity.
Sojourner Truth: "Ain't I A Woman?"- Mckissack
This is a biography of the former slave who became well known as an abolitionist and advocate of women's rights.
The Pushcart War - Merrill
Set in New York City, this is the story of a war waged by the pushcart peddlers and the city's children against the menacing, bully trucks.
Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller - Miller
At age twenty-one, partially-blind, lonely but spirited Annie Sullivan travels from Massachusetts to Alabama to try and teach six-year-old Helen Keller, deaf and blind since age two, self-discipline and communication skills.
Anne of Green Gables - Montgomery
Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a lonely, middle-aged brother and sister on a Prince Edward Island farm and proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her.
Waiting for Anya - Morpurgo
Twelve-year-old Jo helps a Jewish man and Jewish children escape to Spain from France when German soldiers invade the village of Lescun.
The Candy Shop War - Mull
When fifth-graders Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon meet the owner of the new candy store in town and are given a magical candy that endows them with super powers, they find that along with its benefits there are also dangerous consequences.
Shiloh - Naylor
Marty finds a lost beagle in the hills behind his West Virginia home, and tries to hide it from his family and the dog’s real owner, a mean-spirited man known to shoot deer out of season and to mistreat his dogs.
The Borrowers - Norton
A charming story of the tiny people no taller than a pencil who live in quiet old country houses and “borrow” the things they need.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH – O’Brien
With nowhere to turn, a field mouse asks the clever escaped lab rats living under the rosebush to help save her son, who lies in the path of the farmer’s tractor, too ill to be moved.
Streams to the River, River to the Sea - O'Dell
A young Indian woman, accompanied by her infant and cruel husband, experiences joy and heartbreak when she joins the Lewis and Clark Expedition seeking a way to the Pacific.
My Friend Flicka – O’Hara Through his intense devotion to the colt Flicka, a young boy living on a Wyoming ranch, begins to learn about responsibility and gain a better understanding of his brusque father.
Firewing - Oppel
Griffin, a young bat, is sucked into the “Underworld,” and his father follows to rescue him.
Eragon - Paolini
In Alagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.
Of Nightingales that Weep - Paterson
After fleeing her mother's new husband for a life in court, Takiko must choose between her father's samurai honor or her romance with a spy in this adventure set in medieval Japan.
Lyddie - Paterson
Impoverished Vermont farm girl Lyddie Worthen is determined to gain her independence by becoming a factory worker in Lowell, Massachusetts, in the 1840s.
Dogsong - Paulsen
Fourteen-year-old Russel yearns for the old ways and enlists the help of Oogruk, an old man, in his education. After Oogruk dies, Russel starts north with his dog team to find himself and to learn the old ways.
Hatchet - Paulsen
After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the wilderness, learning to survive initially with only the aid of a hatchet given to him by his mother, and learning also to survive his parents’ divorce.
Popcorn Days & Buttermilk Nights - Paulsen
Carley, recalls the extraordinary summer when, as a troubled fourteen-year-old, he first came to northern Minnesota to stay with his blacksmith Uncle David, and gained not only new skills but also a new sense of himself. The Transall Saga - Paulsen
While backpacking in the desert, thirteen-year-old Mark falls into a tube of blue light and is transported into a more primitive world, where he must use his knowledge and skills to survive.
Tom’s Midnight Garden – Pearce
While staying with his aunt and uncle, Tom discovers a magical garden and meets a girl from the Victorian era with whom he travels back in time.
Blossom Culp and the Sleep of Death - Peck
Blossom, high school freshman and possessor of "second sight," helps an Egyptian princess, dead for 3500 years, to regain her tomb. She also saves a suffragette school teacher from losing her job in 1914. (Others in Blossom Culp series)
A Long Way from Chicago - Peck
In this 1999 Newbery Honor Book, Joey and Mary Alice take part in many adventures as they visit Grandma each summer during the 1930s: feeding out-of-work drifters the same day as seeing the sheriff singing in his underpants, seeing a corpse that isn't ready to be buried, and gaining justice by using a mouse in a milk bottle.
All Alone in the Universe - Perkins
Debbie is dismayed when her best friend Maureen starts spending time with ordinary, boring Glenna.
The Golden Compass- Pullman (Others in His Dark Materials series)
Accompanied by her daemon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments in the Far North.(Others in His Dark Materials series)
The Westing Game- Raskin
The mysterious death of an eccentric millionaire brings together an unlikely assortment of heirs who must uncover the circumstances of his death before they can claim their inheritance.
Where the Red Fern Grows: The Story of Two Dogs and a Boy - Rawls
A young boy living in the Ozarks achieves his heart’s desire when he becomes the owner of two redbone hounds and teaches them to be champion hunters.
The Lightning Thief - Riordan
After learning that he is the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, twelve-year-old Percy is sent to a summer camp for demigods like himself, and joins his new friends on a quest to prevent a war between the gods.
Esperanza Rising - Ryan
Thirteen-year-old Esperanza's world changes completely when she and her mother are forced to leave their comfortable life in Mexico and work in a labor camp in California. When her mother becomes ill, Esperanza must learn to survive in the new world so that she can help her mother.
Holes - Sacher
Stanley Yelnats' family has endured misfortune throughout time, and Stanley is no exception. He is mistakenly accused of a crime and sent to Camp Green Lake, where digging holes is supposed to build character. Stanley finds more than character; he finds friendship, justice, and even treasure.
The Alchemyst : The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel - Scott
Fifteen-year-old twins, Sophie and Josh, find themselves caught up in the deadly struggle between rival alchemists, Nicholas Flamel and John Dee, over the possession of an ancient book that holds the secret formulas for alchemy and everlasting life.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret : a Novel in Words and Pictures - Paulsen
When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toyseller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest scare are jeopardized.
Escape from Warsaw - Serraillier
During 1942 in Warsaw, Edek shoots a Nazi Storm Trooper. Edek and his sisters must escape from the secret police.
Black Beauty - Sewell
A horse in nineteenth-century England recounts his experiences with both good and bad masters.
The Tree of Life : a Book Depicting the Life of Charles Darwin, Naturalist, Geologist & Thinker - Sis
Presents the life of the famous nineteenth-century naturalist using text from Darwin's writings and detailed drawings by Sis.
The Boy Who Reversed Himself - Sleator
When Laura discovers that the unpopular boy living next door to her has the ability to go into the fourth dimension, she makes the dangerous decision to accompany him on his journeys there.
Independence Hall - Smith
Quest and his stepsister Angela are thrust into the dangerous world of the American Secret Service and the Israeli Mossad when they learn Angela’s real mother was a former Secret Service agent who was killed by a terrorist group.
Peak - Smith
A fourteenth-year-old boy attempts to be the youngest person to reach the top of Mount Everest.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Speare
When orphan Kit Tyler arrives at her aunt's house unannounced after being raised in Barbados, Kit's Puritan Connecticut neighbors suspect her of witchcraft, and Kit must prove them wrong.
Maniac Magee : a Novel - Spinelli
After his parents die, Jeffrey Lionel Magee’s life becomes legendary, as he accomplishes athletic and other feats which awe his contemporaries.
Stargirl - Spinelli
Stargirl, a teen who animates quiet Mica High with her colorful personality, suddenly finds herself shunned for her refusal to conform.
Heidi - Spyri
A Swiss orphan is heartbroken when she must leave her beloved grandfather and their happy home in the mountains to go to school and to care for an invalid girl in the city.
When You Reach Me - Stead
As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1980s television game show, "The $20,000 Pyramid," a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.
Mysterious Benedict Society - Stewart
After passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children are selected for a secret mission that requires them to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.
The Amulet of Samarkand - Stroud
Nathaniel, a young magician’s apprentice, becomes caught in a web of magical espionage, murder, and rebellion, after he summons the djinni Bartimaeus and instructs him to steal the Amulet of Samarkand from the powerful magician Simon Loveland.
The Shining Company - Sutcliff
In 600 AD in northern Britain, Prosper becomes a shield bearer with the Companions, an army made up of three hundred younger sons of minor kings and trained to act as one fighting brotherhood against the invading Saxons.
Let the Circle Be Unbroken - Taylor
This inspiring story of a loving, close-knit black family confronted with racial injustice contributes to a deeper understanding of what it means to be black today. Sequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
Timothy of the Cay - Taylor
Having survived being blinded and shipwrecked on a tiny Caribbean Island with the old black man Timothy, twelve-year-old white Phillip is rescued and hopes to regain his sight with an operation. Alternate chapters follow the life of Timothy from his days as a young cabin boy.
The Ramsay Scallop - Tempe
At the turn of the fourteenth century in England, fourteen-year-old Elenor finds her betrothal to an ambitious lord's son launching her on a memorable pilgrimage to far-off Spain.
Mary Poppins - Travers
An extraordinary English nanny blows in on the East Wind with her parrot-headed umbrella and magic carpetbag and introduces her charges, Jane and Michael, to some delightful people and experiences.
Samurai of Gold Hill - Uchida
Seeking a new life in nineteenth-century California with his samurai father, a young Japanese finds it difficult to adjust to the idea of being a farmer and not a samurai.
Montmorency : Thief, Liar, Gentleman? - Updale
In Victorian London, after his life is saved by a young physician, a thief utilizes the knowledge he gains in prison and from the scientific lectures he attends as the physician’s case study exhibit to create a new, highly successful, double life for himself.
Flipped – Van Draanen
In alternating chapters, two teenagers describe how their feelings about themselves, each other, and their families have changed over the years.
Journey to the Center of the Earth - Verne
Professor Hardwigg, his nephew Harry, and their guide Hans explore a volcanic crater in Iceland that leads them to the center of the Earth and to incredible and horrifying discoveries.
Grades 7 and 8
Students entering Grade 7 and 8 are asked to read TWO required titles and THREE additional self-selected titles. Complete the Summer Reading Log also found in the Upper School menu on the website. Each time a book is read, record the Title, Author and Date Completed. Have your parent sign your Summer Reading Log. Return your Summer Reading Log to your English teacher on the first day of school.
All students entering Grade 7 are required to read The Pearl by John Steinbeck and To Be a Slave by Julius Lester. Students entering Grade 8 must read A Raisin in the Sun, a play by Lorraine Hansberry, and The Scarlett Pimpernel, a play by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. These books will be the basis for discussion and writing when school resumes in September. It is recommended that students take notes on characters, plot development, theme and the author's purpose.
Students are encouraged to read as much as possible, and while the books on the suggested list are recommended, there are many other fine books that students might select. Select three books, either from the list below or titles of your choice, to read in addition to the Required Reading selections.
REQUIRED READING FOR ALL STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 7
The Pearl – John Steinbeck
A poor fisherman dreams of wealth and happiness for his family when he finds a priceless pearl.
To Be a Slave – Julius Lester
To Be a Slave is a powerful story depicting the lives of slaves prior to the Civil War.
REQUIRED READING FOR ALL STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 8
A Raisin in the Sun – Lorraine Hansberry
In this play, an African-American family faces insurmountable odds to remain whole and free.
The Scarlett Pimpernel – Baroness Emmuska Orczy
This classic play takes on the feel of an adventure novel when the main character becomes somewhat of a “superhero” during the Reign of Terror time period of the French Revolution.
SUGGESTED TITLES FOR STUDENTS ENTERING GRADES 7 and 8
The titles below are suggestions for independent reading. Students should feel free to read any age-appropriate book they might enjoy. Many of the authors noted below have several titles that may be read in place of, or in addition to, the title listed.
Into the Dark - Abrahams
Thirteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes aficionado Ingrid Levin-Hill tries to clear her grandfather's name when he is accused of murdering an environmental activist found dead on his farm.
Things Fall Apart - Achebe
A strong man struggles to maintain a sense of tradition and values while things around him are crumbling. Soon, he finds that the means he has to cope are not enough to support him through the trials with which he is confronted.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Adams
After his home and the entire planet Earth are destroyed, Arthur Dent finds himself traveling through space with a strange crew in a stolen space ship. In his travels, Arthur finds himself in situations he would never have imagined.
Watership Down - Adams
Chronicles the adventures of a group of rabbits searching for a safe place to establish a new warren where they can live in peace.
Little Women - Alcott
Jo, Beth, Meg, Amy, and their mother endure the hardships of poverty while the girls' father is away fighting in the Civil War.
The Illyrian Adventure - Alexander
On a visit to a remote European kingdom in 1872, a fearless sixteen-year-old orphan and her guardian research an ancient legend and become enmeshed in a dangerous rebellion.
The Iron Ring - Alexander
Tamar, king of Sundari, must trek to Mahapura after being tricked into wagering his life in a game. As he travels, however, Tamar begins to realize his trek has more immediate implications as a kingdom's fate is placed in his and his traveling companions' hands.
Emma - Austen
This is the story of a rich, clever and beautiful young woman who can't resist orchestrating other people's love lives.
Stealing South: A Story of the Underground Railroad - Ayres
Sixteen-year-old Will Spencer leaves home to become a peddler, but gets more than he bargained for when he agrees to go to Kentucky, steal two slaves, and help them reach their brother in Canada.
Warrior Don’t Cry – Beals
One of the nine black teenagers chosen to integrate Little Rock, Arkansas's Central High School in 1957 offers an account of her ordeal.
When Legends Die - Borland
Betrayed by both the white man and his own people, a Ute Indian tries to obliterate all trace of the heritage of his fathers.
Fahrenheit 451 - Bradbury
Nowadays firemen start fires. Fireman Guy Montag loves to rush to a fire and watch books burn up. The system was simple. Everyone understood it. Books were burning — along with the houses in which they were hidden. Then he met a seventeen-year old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid, and a professor who told him of a future in which people could think — and Guy Montag suddenly realized what he had to do!
The Martian Chronicles - Bradbury
The tranquility of Mars is disrupted by the earthmen that have come to conquer space, colonize the planet, and escape a doomed Earth.
Jane Eyre - Bronte
A Victorian governess' love for her mysterious employer is threatened by the tragic secret of his mansion.
The Hunt for Red October - Clancy
Both the Americans and the Soviets commence an intense naval search when a trusted and skilled Soviet naval officer defects--using the USSR's most valuable nuclear submarine as his escape vehicle.
City of Glass - Clare
The beautiful city of Alicante is overrun by demons when the imposter Sebastian lowers the protective wards, and Clary, Jace, and Simon find themselves on the front line of the battle between Valentine and the Shadowhunters.
Catching Fire – Collins
By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion. (Sequel to The Hunger Games.)
The Hunger Games – Collins
In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.
Chasing Redbird - Creech
Thirteen-year-old Zinnia Taylor uncovers family secrets and self-truths while clearing a mysterious settler trail that begins on her family's farm in Kentucky.
Crazy Horse Electric Game - Crutcher
A high school athlete, frustrated at being handicapped after an accident, runs away from home and is helped back to mental and physical health by a black benefactor and the people in a special school where he enrolls.
Life is So Good - Dawson
This entertaining and heartwarming biography shows how 101-year-old George Dawson has kept his good humor and keen mind through the joys of his life and the hardships of being a black man throughout America in the twentieth century.
A Tale of Two Cities - Dickens
This gripping Dickens masterpiece describes events swirling around the cities of London and Paris during the violent days of the French Revolution and threatening the happiness of Lucie Manette's family.
Copper Sun - Draper
Two fifteen-year-old girls--one a slave and the other an indentured servant--escape their Carolina plantation and try to make their way to Fort Moses, Florida, a Spanish colony that gives sanctuary to slaves.
Count of Monte Cristo - Dumas
Sent to prison on a false accusation in 1815, Edmond Dantes escapes many years later and finds a treasure which he uses to exact his revenge.
Rebecca - duMaurier
At the great Cornwall estate of Manderley, Maxim de Winter and his frightened new wife try to live with the haunting legacy of Maxim's first wife, the beautiful and cold Rebecca, who died in a sailing accident.
Killing Mr. Griffin - Duncan
A teenager casually suggests playing a cruel trick on the English teacher, but did he intend it to end with murder?
The House of the Scorpion - Farmer
In a future where humans despise clones, Matt enjoys special status as the young clone of El Patron, the 142-year-old leader of a corrupt drug empire nestled between Mexico and the United States.
Riddle of the Rosetta Stone - Giblin
Describes how the discovery and deciphering of the Rosetta Stone unlocked the secret of Egyptian hieroglyphics.
The Outcasts of Poker Flats and Other Stories - Harte
Upon waking from their overnight camp in the mountains, four exiles from Poker Flat and a young couple traveling to the town face a snowstorm with limited provisions.
Olives’ Ocean - Henkes
On a summer visit to her grandmother's cottage by the ocean, twelve-year-old Martha gains perspective on the death of a classmate, on her relationship with her grandmother, on her feelings for an older boy, and on her plans to be a writer.
Kon Tiki - Heyerdahl
Describes the adventures of Thor Heyerdahl and his crew as they sail across the Pacific on the raft Kon-Tiki in an attempt to prove that the first Polynesian settlers could have come from South America.
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower- Forester
Begins with young Horatio Hornblower's rather unpromising introduction to the nautical life, arriving wet and seasick to the warship Justinian, where the painfully shy lad quickly falls under the power of a sadistic bully of a senior midshipman. (Sixth of the Hornblower books to have been written, first in terms of chronology.)
Redwall - Jacques (Others in series)
When the peaceful life of ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes, Matthias, a young mouse, determines to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior which, he is convinced, will help Redwall's inhabitants destroy the enemy.
The Hunting of the Last Dragon - Jordon
In England in 1356, as a monk records his every word, a young peasant tells of his journey with a young Chinese noblewoman to St. Alfric's Cove and the lair of a dragon.
Fell Down - Kerr
Seventeen-year-old Fell's determination to investigate his best friend's death in a car crash leads him to a ventriloquists' convention and an unsolved disappearance from almost twenty years ago.
Flowers for Algernon– Keyes
Is superior intelligence the answer to all of Charlie's problems? If so, he gains more of it than he had bargained for.
Captains Courageous - Kipling
After being washed overboard from an ocean liner, fifteen-year-old Harvey Cheyne, spoiled son of a millionaire, is rescued by New England fishermen who put him to work on their boat.
A Separate Peace - Knowles
The story of two young men and what happened to them during their school years at the beginning of World War II.
And Now Miguel - Krumgold
A memorable and deeply moving story of a family of New Mexican sheepherders, in which Miguel, neither child nor man, tells of his great longing to accompany men and sheep to summer pasture, and expresses his need to be recognized as a maturing individual. (Newbery Medal winner 1954)
The Wreckers - Lawrence
Shipwrecked after a vicious storm, fourteen-year-old John Spencer attempts to save his father and himself while also dealing with an evil secret about the English coastal town where they are stranded.
The Ring of Endless Light - L'Engle
As the Austin family copes in various ways with a friend's death and Grandfather's deteriorating health caused by leukemia, fifteen-year-old Vicky is further confused by the attentions of three very different young men.
The Young Unicorns - L'Engle
A seventeen-year-old boy, former member of a tough New York gang, a blind and talented twelve-year-old musician, the Austin family, and Canon Tallies are among the key characters who become involved in a frightening and evil scheme relying on the ability of a refined laser to give complete power over people's minds.
A Night to Remember - Lord
On April 15, 1912, the world's biggest and most luxurious ship of its time, the "Titanic," sank into the North Atlantic. This book presents accurate information about what happened that fateful night, based on the conversations and testimonies of those who survived.
The White Darkness - McCaughrean
Taken to Antarctica by the man she thinks of as her uncle for what she believes to be a vacation, Symone--a troubled fourteen year old--discovers that he is dangerously obsessed with seeking Symme's Hole, an opening that supposedly leads into the center of a hollow Earth.
Moby Dick - Melville
In the nineteenth century, Ishmael goes to sea and gives an account of life on a whaling ship where he soon learns that Captain Ahab has turned the normal whaling venture into his own personal vendetta against Moby Dick, thereby risking both Ahab's life and the lives of his crew.
Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time – Mortenson (Adult version)
One man's campaign to build schools in the most dangerous, remote, and anti-American reaches of Asia.
An American Plague : The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 - Murphy
The author draws on primary sources to give insight into the political, social, and cultural challenges of the epidemic. The compelling narrative pulls readers into the crisis, illuminates the community's responses, and shows the best and worst of humanity. (2004 Newbery Honor Book)
Sunrise over Fallujah - Myers
Robin Perry, from Harlem, is sent to Iraq in 2003 as a member of the Civilian Affairs Battalion, and his time there profoundly changes him.
Sabriel - Nix
Sabriel, daughter of the necromancer Abhorsen, must journey into the mysterious and magical Old Kingdom to rescue her father from the Land of the Dead.
Brisingr - Paolini
The further adventures of Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, as they continue to aid the Varden in the struggle against the evil king, Galbatorix.
The Last Lecture - Pausch
The author, a computer science professor diagnosed with terminal cancer, explores his life, the lessons that he has learned, how he has worked to achieve his childhood dreams, and the effect of his diagnosis on him and his family.
The River Between Us - Peck
During the early days of the Civil War, the Pruitt family takes in two mysterious young ladies who have fled New Orleans to come north to Illinois.
Tamar - Peet
In England in 1995, fifteen-year-old Tamar, grief-stricken by the puzzling death of her beloved grandfather, slowly begins to uncover the secrets of his life in the Dutch resistance during the last year of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, and the climactic events that forever cast a shadow on his life and that of his family.
The Wee Free Men : A Story of Discworld - Pratchett
A young witch-to-be named Tiffany teams up with the Wee Free Men, a clan of six-inch-high blue men, to rescue her baby brother and ward off a sinister invasion from Fairyland. This original fantasy is both hilarious and scary.
The Ruby in the Smoke - Pullman
In nineteenth-century London, sixteen-year-old Sally, a recent orphan, becomes involved in a deadly search for a mysterious ruby.
The Golden Compass - Pullman
Accompanied by her daemon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments in the Far North.
Robin Hood - Pyle
Recounts the legend of Robin Hood, who plundered the king's purse and poached his deer and whose generosity endeared him to the poor.
American Women: Their Lives in Their Words - Rappaport
Excerpts from women's diaries, letters, speeches, and autobiographical writings provide a first-person look at the history of American women.
All Quiet on the Western Front - Remarque
A group of German boys, under the patriotic persuasion of their school teacher, join the Army in World War I. They become men through their grueling experiences, but none come back.
Time Enough for Drums - Rinaldi
Sixteen-year-old Jem and her servant struggle to keep things going at home in Trenton, New Jersey, when the family men join the war for independence from the British king.
Tales of King Arthur - Riordan
Twelve of the best-known tales of King Arthur and his knights, retold from Malory's "Morte d'Arthur" and other medieval sources.
After the Dancing Days - Rostkowski
A forbidden friendship with a badly disfigured soldier in the aftermath of World War I forces thirteen-year-old Annie to redefine the word "hero" and to question conventional ideas of patriotism.
The Little Prince - Saint-Exupery
An aviator whose plane is forced down in the Sahara Desert encounters a little man from a small planet who describes his adventures in the universe seeking the secret of what is really important in life.
I am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee - Shields
Tells the story of how Harper Lee struggled to become an author and created one of the most popular novels of the 20th century.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Smith
As she comes of age in Brooklyn in the early 1900s, Francie and her family experience hard times, good times, change, and renewal.
Milkweed - Spinelli
Although Misha cannot remember his name or his family and doesn't know his age, he is invited to join a group of boys who live in the streets of Nazi-occupied Warsaw. This heart-wrenching tale of a boyhood lost to the horrors of war concludes in America, where Misha's granddaughter gives him his favorite name of all.
The Sword and the Circle - Sutcliff
Retells the adventures of King Arthur, Queen Guenevere, Sir Lancelot, and the other Knights of the Round Table.
Chasing Lincoln’s Killer - Swanston
Recounts the escape of John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln's assassin, and follows the intensive twelve-day search for him and his accomplices.
Surviving the Applewhites - Tolan
Jake, a budding juvenile delinquent, is sent for home schooling to the arty and eccentric Applewhite family's Creative Academy, where he discovers talents and interests he never knew he had.
The Hobbit - Tolkein
Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do hobbit, lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole until the day the wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to share in an adventure from which he may never return.
The Legend of Sugurd and Gudrun – Tolkein
Follows the adventures of Sigurd, the slayer of Fafnir, and his betrothal to the Valkyrie Brynhild and the tragedy of the murder of Sigurd at the hands of his blood-brothers, the suicide of Brynhild, and the despair of Gudrun. Fellowship Of The Ring: Being The 1st Part of The Lord of The Rings - Tolkein
Finds Bilbo Baggins (hero of The Hobbit) preparing to celebrate his 'eleventy-first' birthday. Sixty unremarkable years have passed since his triumphant return from the orc mines, where he outwitted the horrible Gollum and carried off his magical ring -- a feat that cannot go forever un-avenged. The ring may hold more power than anyone suspects; indeed, dark forces are already conspiring to snatch it back.
Return of the Ring: Being the 3rd Part of The Lord of The Rings - Tolkein
Sam and Frodo must make their way deep into Mordor to destroy the Ring of Power in the fires of Mount Doom.
Two Towers: Being the 2nd Part of The Lord of The Rings - Tolkein
The second book of the famous fantasy trilogy.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Twain
Huck tells of his adventures travelling down the Mississippi on a raft with an escaped slave and of the many people they encounter, including a pair of swindlers and two families in a feud.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea - Verne
In the late 1800s, a professor, his companion, and a whale harpooner are rescued at sea by Captain Nemo and are forced to live as his prisoners in his underwater vessel.
Jackaroo - Voigt
When hard times among the People revive the old stories of the hero Jackaroo, an innkeeper's daughter follows her own quest to unlock the secret reality behind the legend.
The Mouse that Roared - Wibberly
A tiny government seeking economic aid declares war on the United States and 20 archers invade New York in this hilarious spoof.
Maisie Dobbs - Winspear
A young housemaid in World War I England uses her intellect to solve mysterious crimes.
The Book Thief - Zusak
Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.
Annotations for the list are from the Library Congress Cataloging in Publication information or from the Scholastic Reading Counts e-Catalog. Some were edited for this list.
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