NOTE: The links below open to the paperback editions of these books on Amazon.com 
Many of them are also likely to be available in your local library.

Grade 6 Challenge One: Community Read

Students entering sixth grade are REQUIRED to read the following:

Gratz, Alan. Refugee. ISBN # 978-1407184326

• JOSEF is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world . . .
• ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety in America . . .
• MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe . . .

All three kids go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. All will face unimaginable dangers -- from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, shocking connections will tie their stories together in the end. This action-packed novel tackles topics both timely and timeless: courage, survival, and the quest for home.

Grade 6 Challenge Two: Choose TWO More Books

In addition to Challenge One, students entering sixth grade are required to read any two books from the Challenge Two list.

Anderson, John David. Ms. Bixby’s Last Day. ISBN-13: 978-0062338181 Realistic Fiction
Everyone knows there are different kinds of teachers. The boring ones, the mean ones, the ones who try too hard, the ones who stopped trying long ago. The ones you’ll never remember, and the ones you want to forget. Ms. Bixby is none of these. She’s the sort of teacher who makes you feel like school is somehow worthwhile. Who recognizes something in you that sometimes you don’t even see in yourself. Who you never want to disappoint. What Ms. Bixby is, is one of a kind. Topher, Brand, and Steve know this better than anyone. And so when Ms. Bixby unexpectedly announces that she won’t be able to finish the school year, they come up with a risky plan—more of a quest, really—to give Ms. Bixby the last day she deserves.

Applegate, Katherine. Home of the Brave. ISBN-13: 978-0312535636 Realistic Fiction
Kek comes from Africa where he lived with his mother, father, and brother. But only he and his mother have survived. Now she's missing, and Kek has been sent to a new home. In America, he sees snow for the first time and feels its sting. He wonders if the people in this new place will be like the winter―cold and unkind. But slowly he makes friends: a girl in foster care, an old woman with a rundown farm, and a sweet, sad cow that reminds Kek of home. As he waits for word of his mother's fate, Kek weathers the tough Minnesota winter by finding warmth in his new friendships, strength in his memories, and belief in his new country.

Burnford, Sheila. The Incredible Journey. ISBN-13: 978-0385322799 Animal Tale/Classic
Three house pets band together, facing starvation, wild animals and exposure while traveling through the Canadian wilderness to find their family.

Buyea, Rob. Mr. Terupt Series. Realistic Fiction
It’s the start of fifth grade for seven kids at Snow Hill School. There’s . . . Jessica, the new girl, smart and perceptive, who’s having a hard time fitting in; Alexia, a bully, your friend one second, your enemy the next; Peter, class prankster and troublemaker; Luke, the brain; Danielle, who never stands up for herself; shy Anna, whose home situation makes her an outcast; and Jeffrey, who hates school.  Only Mr. Terupt, their new and energetic teacher, seems to know how to deal with them all. He makes the classroom a fun place, even if he doesn’t let them get away with much . . . until the snowy winter day when an accident changes everything—and everyone.

• Book 1: Because of Mr. Terupt ISBN-13: 978-0375858246
• Book 2: Mr. Terupt Falls Again ISBN-13: 978-0307930460
• Book 3: Saving Mr. Terupt ISBN-13: 978-0449818282

Dashner, James. The Maze Runner Series. Science Fiction
Follow Mark, Trina, and Thomas as they struggle to solve the Maze and cross the Scorch while having to rely on Gladers and fight off Cranks. If only they were so sure that they could trust Wicked as they mark their way through these trails.

• Origin Story Book 4: Kill Order ISBN-13: 978-0385742894
• Prequel Book 5: The Fever Code ISBN-13: 978-0553513127
• Book 1: Maze Runner ISBN-13: 978-0385737951
• Book 2: Scorch Trials ISBN-13: 978-0385738767
• Book 3: Death Cure ISBN-13: 978-0385738781

Frank, Steven B. Armstrong and Charlie. ISBN-13: 978-0544826083 Realistic Fiction
Charlie isn’t looking forward to sixth grade. If he starts sixth grade, chances are he’ll finish it. And when he does, he’ll grow older than the brother he recently lost. Armstrong isn’t looking forward to sixth grade, either. When his parents sign him up for Opportunity Busing to a white school in the Hollywood Hills, all he wants to know is "What time in the morning will my alarm clock have the opportunity to ring?" Set in Los Angeles in the 1970s, Armstrong and Charlie is the hilarious, heartwarming tale of two boys from opposite worlds, Different, yet the same.

Galante, Cecilia. The World from Up Here. ISBN-13: 978-0545848466 Realistic Fiction
Wren Baker has never felt brave a day in her life. She doesn't even know what she's afraid of, really. Only that if she raises her voice or leaves her mark or ventures too far from home, she'll risk falling flat on her face. But that all changes when Wren's cousin, Silver, walks into her life. Silver is totally fearless. Maybe that's why she's the most popular girl in the sixth grade. She dares Wren to take risks, to live out loud, to finally spread her wings. And when Silver decides to undertake the journey of a lifetime, Wren is forced to make a decision: Is she in or is she out?

Harrington, Karen. Mayday ISBN-13: 978-0316298032 Realistic Fiction
Wayne Kovok lives in a world of After. After his uncle in the army was killed overseas, Wayne and his mother survived a plane crash while coming back from the funeral. He then lost his voice. Wayne has always used his love of facts to communicate ("Did you know more people die each year from shaking a vending machine than from shark attacks?"). Without his voice, how will he wow the prettiest girl in school? How will he stand up to his drill-sergeant grandfather? And how will he share his hopes with his deadbeat dad? It's not until Wayne loses his voice completely that he realizes how much he doesn't say.

Hunter, Erin. Warriors Series. Fantasy
For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their ancestors. But now ThunderClan is in grave danger. Rival ShadowClan is growing stronger, a traitor may be hiding in their midst, and rising tensions threaten every cat in the forest.
In the dark days ahead, ThunderClan’s fate will rest in the paws of an unexpected hero: an ordinary house cat named Rusty…who may yet turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all.

• Book 1: Into the Wild ISBN-13: 978-0062366962
• Book 2: Fire and Ice ISBN-13: 978-0062366979
• Book 3: Forest of Secrets ISBN-13: 978-0062366986
• Book 4: Rising Storm ISBN-13: 978-0062366993
• Book 5: A Dangerous Path ISBN-13: 978-0062367006
• Book 6: The Darkest Hour ISBN-13: 978-0062367013

Kelly, Erin Entrada. Hello, Universe. ISBN-13: 978-0062414151 Realistic Fiction
2017 Newbery Medal Winner.  Hello, Universe is a funny and poignant neighborhood story about unexpected friendships. Told from four intertwining points of view—two boys and two girls—the novel celebrates bravery, being different, and finding your inner Bayani (hero). “Readers will be instantly engrossed in this relatable neighborhood adventure and its eclectic cast of misfits.”—Booklist

Korman, Gordon. The Hypnotists. ISBN-13: 978-0545503259 Supernatural/Mystery
Is it a gift . . . or is it a curse? Jax Opus can use his color-changing eyes to make people do things they don't want to do. (Only his color-blind best friend, Tommy, seems immune.) At first, Jax doesn't know what he's doing -- temporarily hypnotizing friends, foes, and strangers. But then his power pushes things way too far, and his secret isn't a secret any longer.
Soon Jax finds himself meeting Dr. Elias Mako, who wants him to join a special institution that will teach him how to use his powers. But what will his powers be used for? That's the big question for Jax as his hypnotic abilities draw him into a conspiracy that will have him racing against time and a mysterious mastermind to save his best friend, his parents, and the entire United States.

London, Jack. White Fang. ISBN-13: 978-1505313109 Animal Tale/Classic
Part dog and part wolf, White Fang relies on instincts to survive in the Yukon wilderness. He overcomes animal predators, and eventually makes his peace with man.

Mass, Wendy. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life.  ISBN-13: 978-0316058490 Mystery
Just before his thirteenth birthday, Jeremy Fink receives a keyless locked box, set aside by his father before his death five years earlier, that purportedly contains the meaning of life.

Mass, Wendy. The Candymakers. ISBN-13: 978-0316002592 Mystery
When four twelve-year-olds, including Logan, who has grown up never leaving his parents’ Life Is Sweet candy factory, compete in the Confectionary Association’s annual contest, they unexpectedly become friends and uncover secrets about themselves during the process.

Milford, Kate. Greenglass House. ISBN-13: 978-1328594426 Mystery
It’s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler’s inn is always quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers’ adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again. Soon Milo’s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House—and themselves.

Myers, Walter Dean. The Glory Field. ISBN-13: 978-0545055758  Historical Fiction
Follow one African-American family’s roots from slavery through present day, beginning with the capture of the founder of the family, Muhammad Bilal, in Sierra Leone. Read about Muhammad and his descendants from slavery to escape, through the Civil War, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, and up to a family reunion in present day New York City.

Raskin, Ellen. The Westing Game. ISBN-13: 978-0451480989   Mystery
1979 Newbery Medal Winner. The mysterious death of an eccentric millionaire brings together an unlikely assortment of heirs who must solve the mystery of his death before they can claim their inheritance.

Roth, Veronica. The Divergent Trilogy. Science Fiction
Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling debut is a gripping dystopian tale of electrifying choices, powerful consequences, unexpected romance, and a deeply flawed "perfect society."

• Book 1: Divergent ISBN-13: 978-0062387240
• Book 2: Insurgent ISBN-13: 978-0062024053
• Book 3: Allegiant ISBN-13: 978-0062024077
• Book 4 (Companion Volume): Four: A Divergent Collection   ISBN-13: 978-0062421364

Standish, Ali. The Ethan I Was Before. ISBN-13: 978-0062433381 Realistic Fiction
Ethan had been many things. He was always ready for adventure and always willing to accept a dare, especially from his best friend, Kacey. But that was before. Before the accident that took Kacey from him. Before his family moved from Boston to the small town of Palm Knot, Georgia. Palm Knot may be tiny, but it’s the home of possibility and second chances. It’s also home to Coralee, a girl with a big personality and even bigger stories. Coralee may be just the friend Ethan needs, except Ethan isn’t the only one with secrets. Coralee’s are catching up with her, and what she’s hiding might be putting both their lives at risk.

Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. ISBN-13: 978-0375850868 Mystery
2010 Newbery Medal Winner.  Twelve-year-old Miranda travels in her 1970s New York City neighborhood with ease. But her everyday life becomes harder to navigate as she tries to make sense of notes from an anonymous source who claims to want to save her life. There is a crisscross of reality and fantasy in this book that is similar to A Wrinkle in Time, Miranda’s favorite book.



Turnage, Sheila. Three Times Lucky.  Newberry Honor Book ISBN-13: 978-0142426050 Mystery
Rising sixth grader Miss Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC, where everyone's business is fair game and no secret is sacred. She washed ashore in a hurricane eleven years ago, and she's been making waves ever since. Although Mo hopes someday to find her "upstream mother," she's found a home with the Colonel—a café owner with a forgotten past of his own—and Miss Lana, the fabulous café hostess. She will protect those she loves with every bit of her strong will and tough attitude. So when a lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, set out to uncover the truth in hopes of saving the only family Mo has ever known.

Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer.  ISBN-13: 978-0060760908 Historical Fiction
Newbery Honor Book, National Book Award Finalist, and Coretta Scott King Award.  Eleven-year-old Delphine and her sisters Vonetta and Fern fly from their home in Brooklyn to Oakland, California to spend the summer with Cecile, their mother, who left them seven years earlier, and now must deal with their return to her life. It is 1968, and the girls are sent to a summer camp sponsored by the Black Panthers, where they learn many things from these radicals with their Afros and black berets.

NOTE: The links below open to the paperback editions of these books on Amazon.com 
Many of them are also likely to be available in your local library.

Grade 7 Challenge One: Community Read

Students entering seventh grade are REQUIRED to read the following:

Gratz, Alan. Refugee. ISBN # 978-1407184326

• JOSEF is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world . . .
• ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety in America . . .
• MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe . . .

All three kids go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. All will face unimaginable dangers -- from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, shocking connections will tie their stories together in the end. This action-packed novel tackles topics both timely and timeless: courage, survival, and the quest for home.

Grade 7 Challenge Two: Read ONE More Book

Students entering seventh grade are also required to read ONE book from the following list:

Balliett, Blue. Hold Fast. ISBN-13: 978-0545299893        Mystery
Where is Early's father? He's not the kind of father who would disappear. But he's gone and he's left a whole lot of trouble behind. As danger closes in, Early, her mom, and her brother have to flee their apartment. With nowhere else to go, they are forced to move into a city shelter. Once there, Early starts asking questions and looking for answers. Because her father hasn't disappeared without a trace. There are patterns and rhythms to what's happened, and Early might be the only one who can use them to track him down and make her way out of a very tough place.

Barnhill, Kelly. The Girl Who Drank the Moon. ISBN-13: 978-1616207465          Fantasy
2017 Newbery Medal Winner.  Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the Forest, Xan, is kind. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. As Luna’s thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge – with dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Deadly birds with uncertain intentions flock nearby. A volcano, quiet for centuries, rumbles just beneath the earth’s surface. And the woman with the Tiger’s heart is on the prowl . . .

Card, Orson Scott. Ender’s Game. ISBN-13: 978-0812550702          Science Fiction
Ender Wiggin is the hero of this science fiction novel in which military geniuses are bred to save the world against alien attacks.

Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Shirts. ISBN-13: 978-0142403709    Historical Fiction
2005 Newbery Honor Book.  In 1935, Moose Flanagan moves with his family to Alcatraz so his father can work as a prison guard and his autistic sister can attend a special school in San Francisco. Moose befriends the warden’s daughter and learns to cope with this awkward situation.

Feinstein, John. Sports Mysteries Series.        Mystery (Sports)
In John Feinstein’s series, sports and mystery are intertwined. Follow reporters Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson as they go behind the scenes and cover stories about baseball, football, basketball, tennis, and swimming.

• Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery ISBN-13: 978-0553494600
• Vanishing Act: Mystery at the U.S. Open ISBN-13: 978-0440421252
• Cover Up: Mystery at the Super Bowl ISBN-13: 978-0440422051
• Change Up: Mystery at the World Series ISBN-13: 978-0375847592
• The Rivalry: Mystery at the Army-Navy Game  ISBN-13: 978-0375858161
• Rush for the Gold: Mystery at the Olympics  ISBN-13: 978-0375871689

Gibbs, Stuart. FunJungle Series.          Mystery
When Teddy Fitzroy moved into FunJungle, the nation’s largest zoo, with his scientist parents, he expected things to be kind of quiet. There’d be the occasional elephant stampede and water balloon fight with the chimpanzees, of course, but when Henry the Hippo dies from not-so-natural causes, Teddy suspects foul play. And that was just the beginning. He begins to realize that the zoo is far more exciting than he thought it was, and soon the mysteries at FunJungle are piling up…

• Book 1: Belly Up ISBN-13: 978-1416987321
• Book 2: Poached ISBN-13: 978-1442467781
• Book 3: Big Game ISBN-13: 978-1481423342
• Book 4: Panda-monium ISBN-13: 978-1481445689
• Book 5: Lion Down ISBN-13: 978-1534424739

Graff, Lisa. Lost in the Sun. ISBN-13: 978-0147508584          Realistic Fiction
Everyone says that middle school is awful, but Trent knows nothing could be worse than the year he had in fifth grade when a freak accident on Cedar Lake left one kid dead, and Trent with a brain full of terrible thoughts he can’t get rid of. Trent’s pretty positive the entire disaster was his fault, so for him, middle school feels like a fresh start, a chance to prove to everyone that he’s not the horrible screw-up they seem to think he is.

Lai, Thanhhà. Listen, Slowly. ISBN-13: 978-0062229199          Realistic Fiction
A California girl born and raised, Mai can’t wait to spend her vacation at the beach. Instead, she has to travel to Vietnam with her grandmother, who is going back to find out what really happened to her husband during the Vietnam War. Mai’s parents think this trip will be a great opportunity for their out-of-touch daughter to learn more about her culture. But to Mai, those are their roots, not her own. Vietnam is hot, smelly, and the last place she wants to be. Besides barely speaking the language, she doesn’t know the geography, the local customs, or even her distant relatives. To survive her trip, Mai must find a balance between her two completely different worlds.

Lupica, Mike. The Big Field. ISBN-13: 978-0142419106 Sports
Playing shortstop is a way of life for Hutch --- not only is his hero, Derek Jeter, a shortstop but so was his father, a former local legend turned pro. Which is why having to play second base feels like a demotion to the second team. Yet that's where Hutch ends up after Darryl "D-Will" Williams, the best shortstop prospect since A-Rod joins the team. But Hutch is nothing if not a team player, and he's cool with playing in D-Will's shadow --- until, that is, the two shortstops in Hutch's life betray him in a way he never could have imagined.

Sperry, Armstrong. Call it Courage. ISBN-13: 978-0689713910        Classic
Newbery Medal Winner.  Mafatu’s name means “Stout Heart,” but his people call him a coward. Ever since the sea took his mother’s life and spared his own, he has lived with deep fear. And even though his father is the Great Chief of Hikueru--an island whose seafaring people worship courage--he is terrified, and consequently, he is severely scorned. By the time he is twelve years old, Mafatu can bear it no longer. He must conquer his fear alone...even if it means certain death.

Wolk, Lauren. Wolf Hollow. ISBN-13: 978-1101994849       Historical Fiction
2017 Newbery Honor Book.  Growing up in the shadows cast by two world wars, Annabelle has lived a mostly quiet, steady life in her small Pennsylvania town. Until the day new student Betty Glengarry walks into her class. Betty quickly reveals herself to be cruel and manipulative, and while her bullying seems isolated at first, things quickly escalate, and reclusive World War I veteran Toby becomes a target of her attacks. While others have always seen Toby’s strangeness, Annabelle knows only kindness. She will soon need to find the courage to stand as a lone voice of justice as tensions mount.

NOTE: The links below open to the paperback editions of these books on Amazon.com 
Many of them are also likely to be available in your local library.

Grade 8 Challenge One: Community Read

Students entering eighth grade are REQUIRED to read the following:

Gratz, Alan. Refugee. ISBN # 978-1407184326

• JOSEF is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world . . .
• ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety in America . . .
• MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe . . .

All three kids go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. All will face unimaginable dangers -- from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, shocking connections will tie their stories together in the end. This action-packed novel tackles topics both timely and timeless: courage, survival, and the quest for home.

Grade 8 Challenge Two: Read TWO More Books

In addition to Challenge One, students entering eighth grade are required to read any TWO of the following:

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains. ISBN-13: 978-1416905868        Historical Fiction
As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom.  From acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson comes this compelling, impeccably researched novel that shows the lengths we can go to cast off our chains, both physical and spiritual.

Butler, Octavia. Kindred. ISBN-13: 978-0807083697  Supernatural/Historical Fiction
Dana, a modern black woman, is celebrating her twenty-sixth birthday with her new husband when she is snatched abruptly from her home in California and transported to the antebellum South. Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, is drowning, and Dana has been summoned to save him. Dana is drawn back repeatedly through time to the slave quarters, and each time the stay grows longer, more arduous, and more dangerous until it is uncertain whether or not Dana's life will end, long before it has a chance to begin

Carbone, Elisa. The Pack. ISBN-13: 978-0670036196 Historic Fiction
Becky is convinced that Akhil Vyas is the weirdest person on earth when he shows up in her English class. He refuses to sit in chairs, stares at her with spooky eyes, and has scar-covered skin. But soon Becky’s revulsion turns to fascination. The National Institutes of Health is studying Akhil, but he won’t say why—until something happens that makes him swear Becky and her friend Omar to secrecy. Suddenly Becky isn’t sure what’s more shocking—Akhil’s secret, or the chilling reason why he must reveal it. Elisa Carbone weaves a tale of intrigue that will enthrall any reader.

Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bucking the Sarge. ASIN: B01FIWKR8O Realistic Fiction
Luther T. Farrell tries to break out of his life in Flint, MI in order to go to Harvard. Luther tries to tackle all the problems of other fifteen-year-olds, as well as put up with his tough mother, the Sarge.

Crutcher, Chris. Ironman. ASIN: B01FIXJ5LI Sports
Bo has been at war with his father for as long as he can remember. The rage he feels gives him the energy as a triathlete to press his body to the limit, but it also translates into angry outbursts toward his teachers.
Now dangerously close to expulsion from school, Bo has been assigned to Anger Management sessions with the school "truants." With an eclectic mix of hard-edged students, Bo may finally have to deal with his long-brewing hatred for his father -- before it eats away at him completely.

Feinstein, John. Sports Mysteries Series.        Mystery (Sports)
In John Feinstein’s series, sports and mystery are intertwined. Follow reporters Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson as they go behind the scenes and cover stories about baseball, football, basketball, tennis, and swimming.

• Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery ISBN-13: 978-0553494600
• Vanishing Act: Mystery at the U.S. Open ISBN-13: 978-0440421252
• Cover Up: Mystery at the Super Bowl ISBN-13: 978-0440422051
• Change Up: Mystery at the World Series ISBN-13: 978-0375847592
• The Rivalry: Mystery at the Army-Navy Game  ISBN-13: 978-0375858161
• Rush for the Gold: Mystery at the Olympics  ISBN-13: 978-0375871689

Hamilton, Virginia. The House of Dies Drear.  ISBN-13: 978-1416914051 Classic
An African-American family moves into a house that once hid runaway slaves and soon comes to believe that their new home is possessed by the spirit of a murdered abolitionist, Dies Drear.

Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders. ISBN-13: 978-0670532575 Classic
This classic novel deals with the worlds of the greasers and socs (socialites) in 1960s America. Ponyboy is conflicted about right and wrong when his fellow greaser Johnny kills a soc.

Johnson, Angela. First Part Last. ISBN-13: 978-1442403437 Realistic Fiction
Coretta Scott King Award Winner.  Bobby is a 16-year-old father struggling to raise a child. In flashbacks, we see how Bobby gets to where he is today and how he deals with the stress and joy of being a father.

Kadohata, Cynthia. Kira-Kira. ISBN-13: 978-0689856402 Realistic Fiction
2005 Newbery Medal Winner.  A Japanese family moves from Iowa to Georgia and must learn how to deal with the illness of a loved one as well as the curious stares from the community.

Marchetta, Melina. Jellicoe Road. ISBN-13: 978-0061431852 Mystery
Winner of the 2009 Printz Award.  Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs, the boy who might be the key to unlocking the secrets for Taylor’s past, is back in town, moody stares and all.

Murphy, Jim. The Great Fire. ISBN-13: 978-0439203074 Non-Fiction
1996 Newbery Honor Book.  This nonfiction book tells the story behind Chicago’s Great Fire in 1871. It is told with a strong narrative and period illustrations.

Oppel, Kenneth. Airborn. ISBN-13: 978-0060531829 Fantasy
2005 Printz Honor Book. In an alternate world, Matt Cruse is a cabin boy aboard a huge airship. Reminiscent of the adventure stories of Verne and Stevenson, Matt must investigate an old man’s claims of seeing mysterious flying creatures.

Orwell, George. Animal Farm. ISBN-10: 9780451526342 Classic
In George Orwell’s classic book, a farm is taken over by its overworked, mistreated animals.

Paulsen, Gary. The Transall Saga. ISBN-13: 978-0375873232 Science Fiction
Thirteen-year-old Mark crosses into another world on a camping trip. He must learn how to survive in this new alien world.

Sonnenblick, Jordan. Notes from the Midnight Driver. ISBN-13: 978-0439757812  Realistic FictionAlex Gregory has made some bad decisions. After a drunk driving incident, he is sentenced to spend time in a retirement home with an old man with a mystery.

White, Robb. Deathwatch. ISBN-13: 978-0440917403 Mystery
An exciting novel of suspense, based on a fight to the finish between an honest and courageous young man and a cynical business tycoon who believes that anything can be had for a price.

Yolen, Jane. The Devil’s Arithmetic. ISBN-13: 978-0142401095        Historical Fiction
1989 National Jewish Book Award Winner.  Hannah is transported back to 1942 Poland during her modern-day Passover Seder. As she tries to figure out what has happened, Nazi soldiers begin to take everyone away. Hannah is the only one that knows what horrors are in store.

Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. ISBN-13: 978-0375842207    Historical Fiction
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.