Book Selections for 2007-2008

Grades 6-8

To download an annotated book list for grades 6-8, click here. [.pdf format, 3 pages, 196k]

Bode, N. E. The Anybodies. HarperCollins, ©2004.

Twelve-year-old Fern and Howard Bone were switched at birth through a hospital mixup. The families discover the mistake and decide the children will spend the summer with their birth parents. Fern meets her father, the Bone, who is an "Anybody." As a shapeshifter, he can change into someone or something else; however, his transforming abilities have mysteriously disappeared. To restore his powers, they must find The Art of Being Anybody, a book once owned by Bone’s dead wife. Father and daughter journey to the grandmother’s magical boarding house which is crowded with books. It is here that Fern discovers her talent – the ability to shake elements of stories out of books into the real world. This story cleverly combines humor, family drama, and mystery into an enchanting tale that will have readers begging for more. (Grades 5-8)

Cooney, Caroline B. Code Orange. Delacorte Books for Young Readers, ©2005.

Mitty Blake is searching for his infectious disease report topic. Unfortunately, the search turns into a nightmare when Mitty finds two scabs in an old medical book in his family’s weekend house. The scabs are variola major, a virus that has the potential to kill everyone in New York City. While searching on the Internet, Mitty and his friend, Olivia, inadvertently, tip off terrorists about his findings. This leads to Mitty’s kidnapping and the terrorists’ plans to use him as a human biological weapon against the people of New York. Sympathetic readers will rally around Mitty and his heroic efforts against terrorist in this modern day thriller. (Grades 7-9)

DeFelice, Cynthia. Under the Same Sky. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, ©2003.

Fourteen-year-old Joe Pedersen is a spoiled rich kid who begrudgingly joins the migrant workers on his father's upstate New York farm to earn the $1000 he needs to buy a Thunderbird motorbike. Determined to show his father he can keep pace with Manuel, the 16-year-old Mexican crew boss, Joe painfully acclimates to the grueling farm routine. Joe soon learns to respect the “illegal aliens” and to understand their hardships and courage. This compelling coming-of-age story highlights the plight of the immigrant Mexican farm laborers and will lead to lively discussions on this timely topic. (Grades 7-10)

Dowell, Frances O'Rourke. Chicken Boy. Atheneum, ©2005.

Tobin McCauley’s mom died five years ago of cancer. Seventh-grader Tobin, has emotionally shut down and he has given up trying to fit into school. Fortunately for Tobin, Henry Otis moves into town, becomes his friend, and teaches him to raise chickens for a class project. By taking on the responsibility of nurturing the chicks, Tobin develops his own identity and self-esteem. Meanwhile, his grandmother and her sky blue Toyota truck lend some levity to the weighty topics. Teen readers will relate to Tobin’s struggles in this well-written, quick read. (Grades 4-7)

Hahn, Mary Downing. The Old Willis Place. Clarion Books, ©2004.

Diana and her younger brother, Georgie, have been living on the grounds of the old Willis place for years. The children have seen caretakers of the Willis place come and go, but Diana, who has no friends, is tempted by the sight of Lissa, the caretakers’ daughter who is her age. Both girls are lonely and would like to be friends but Georgie reminds Diana that it's "against the rules" to have friends; that they must remain out of sight. The suspense continues to build as Diana narrates the story and Lissa writes in her diary. Mature readers will appreciate this suspenseful and carefully crafted ghost story. (Grades 5-8)

Hale, Shannon. Princess Academy. Bloomsbury, ©2005.

14-year-old Miri never thought she could be a princess until the prince announces that he will choose a bride from the village. Until that moment, Miri and the other girls living on Mount Eskel thought their future as adults would be working in the quarry, mining linder. All eligible young women are sent to attend a special academy where they face many challenges and hardships as they are forced to adapt to the cultured life of a lowlander. Throughout these ordeals, Miri’s courage, intelligence, and talent shines through. She even develops a “quarry-speech” and leads her classmates in the fight against being treated as social inferiors in the academy. Suspense, humor, family values, and friendship are masterfully interwoven in this multilayered, Newbery Honor book. (Grades 6-9)

Hobbs, Will. Jackie's Wild Seattle. HarperCollins, ©2003.

Shannon, 14, and her kid brother Cody are sent to spend the summer in Washington State with their Uncle Neal. The story is set in the summer of 2002, with 9-11 still fresh in the characters' memories, especially 7-year-old Cody, who witnessed the second plane crashing into the Twin Towers from his New Jersey home. Uncle Neal is now driving an animal ambulance for Jackie's Wild Seattle, a wildlife rescue center. When he is accidentally hurt, Shannon steps in to rescue the wild animals, putting herself in danger. This action-packed adventure story will be a winner with Hobbs' fans as well as animal lovers. (Grades 5-8)

Lowry, Lois. Gossamer. Houghton Mifflin, ©2006.

The dream-givers are bestowers of dreams who creep around dark houses in the middle of the night. In this engaging story, Littlest, who is very small, new to the work, energetic and curious creeps through the house where an old woman and a dog named Toby are sleeping. Littlest is first paired with Fastidious who is tired, impatient, and has a headache. But Littlest soon gets a new partner, Thin Elderly, who is a much better guide and teacher than Fastidious was. In the meanwhile, hordes of Sinisteeds attempt to overcome the dreams by inflicting nightmares. Lowry delivers an intriguing fantasy filled with hope and tenderness. (Grades 4-7)

Lupica, Mike. Heat. Philomel, ©2006.

Twelve-year-old Michael Arroyo shares the dream of his playing baseball with his Papi, who tragically dies of a heart attack, leaving Michael and his brother to struggle on their own. Michael’s skill as a pitcher leads to viscous rumors that he is older than he appears, leading to the league demanding that he be benched. Tensions continue as Michael works to obtain his birth certificate from Cuba, stay with his older brother, and build his first girl-boy relationship. Sports buffs will appreciate the well-written baseball scenes, realistic characters, and Yankee Stadium setting. (Grades 5-8)

Perseus (Percy) Jackson is a wise-cracking, dyslexic, ADHD, reluctant hero who is the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman. Unfortunately, as soon as he discovers his heritage, he loses his mother and falls into mortal danger. Percy finds out that his father, Poseidon, has been accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt, and unless Percy can return the bolt, humankind is doomed. The gods (still very active today) are about to go to war over the lost thunderbolt, so Percy and his friends set out to retrieve it. Greek myths and legends, including Medusa, Charon, and Heracles, are recycled into this unpredictable, funny, fast-paced modern adventure.(Grades 6-9)

Salisbury, Graham. House of the Red Fish. Wendy Lamb Books, ©2006.

In 1943 on the island of Oahu, Tomi Nakaji’s father is imprisoned and his grandfather is taken away. All people of Japanese descent are suspect and placed under a nightly curfew. To keep hope alive, Tomi decides to raise Papa’s fishing boat that had been sunk by the army. The nearly impossible task is accomplished through Tomi's determination, perseverance, and ingenious approaches to the problem. Along with Tomi's best friend, Billy, who is a haole (white), other Hawaiian friends and many of their family members, the boat is successfully raised. This well-balanced novel brings the historical period and realistic characters to life. (Grades 6-9)

Sonnenblick, Jordan. Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie. Scholastic, ©2004.

Thirteen-year-old Steven has a very normal life: he plays drums in the All-Star Jazz band, has a crush on the hottest girl in the school, and is constantly annoyed by his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey. But when Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia, Steven's world is turned upside down. He is forced to deal with his brother's illness and his parents' attempts to keep the family in one piece. Steven morphs into the forgotten son, who throws himself into drumming, even as he quits doing his homework and tries to keep his friends from finding out about Jeffrey's illness. This heartwarming story shows the power of love in the midst of tragedy. (Grades 5-8)

Whelan, Gloria. Listening for Lions. HarperCollins, ©2005.

In 1919, in British East Africa, 13-year-old Rachel loses her missionary parents during an influenza epidemic. Instead of her neighbors, the Pritchards, helping her, they involve her in a scheme to pass her off as their daughter and send her to visit their father who has disinherited them. Upon arriving in England, Rachel and the seriously ill grandfather develop a surprisingly strong, affectionate friendship. Rachel continues the scheme, believing that one more shock will kill the old gentleman. Rachel continues to grapple with her dishonesty, grief for her parents and homesickness for Africa. Readers will be quickly entranced with this gentle, and delightful novel. (Grades 6-9)

White, Andrea. Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083. HarperCollins, ©2005.

In 2083, all education in the United States is conducted through television and overseen by the Secretary of Entertainment. To boost ratings, they decide to re-enact Robert F. Scott's fatal 1910-13 expedition to the South Pole, using 14-year-old kids, most of whom have never experienced snow. Like Scott, the students will face hidden crevasses, mechanical failure, and frostbite. But while Scott's calamities occurred naturally, the Secretary of Entertainment makes sure the teens' perils are written into the script. Brisk action, interesting characters, and intriguing details make this a compelling and realistic story. (Grades 6-10)

Woodruff, Elvira. The Ravenmaster's Secret. Scholastic, ©2003.

In the cold, dark halls of the Tower of London, Forrest Harper’s life is dull and boring only filled with chores and caring for his spirited raven friends. Then vicious Scottish Rebels are captured and Forrest becomes Maddy’s guard. When the noble and daring Maddy is threatened with execution, Forrest realizes that he must choose between family and friendship, safety and escape. Fast-paced action and an intriguing plot carry this riveting historical adventure to a satisfactory conclusion. (Grades 5-7)