Book Selections
2009-2010
Grades 6-8

Auch, Mary. Wing Nut.  Square Fish, ©2008.
 
Grady’s mechanic dad died seven years ago when Grady was only five-years-old. Since then 12-year-old Grady and his mom have been bouncing from one shaky work/living situation to another.  On the road again, their duct taped junker dies near a small town. Lila must again find work and a place for them to live. Luckily a local, elderly man needs a temporary cook and housekeeper. As Grady quickly learns, the older man is a “nut” about purple martin birds and also has car mechanic knowledge. These three strong characters team up to deliver a heartwarming, upbeat story.    (Grades 5-8) (AR 4.4)

Couloumbis, Audrey.  The Misadventures of Maude March.  Yearling, ©2007.

Sallie March, 11, loves to read Western adventure dime novels. At the beginning of this tale, she has no idea that she and her lady-like sister will soon be living a wild-west story themselves! After their guardian Aunt Ruthie is shot by a stray bullet, the sisters temporarily live with the Reverend Peasley and his family who promptly take advantage of the hardworking girls. After several worrisome events, the girls disguise themselves as boys, take two horses, and strike out for Independence, MO, to find their uncle. Along the way, sweet Maude becomes Mad Maude March, a “wanted woman.”  These strong female characters will keep readers moving quickly through the adventure-filled pages.  (Grades 5-8) (AR 5.1)

Durst, Sarah Beth. Into the Wild.  Razorbill, ©2008.

In days long-ago, fairy tale characters escaped from their make-believe stories and entered the real world. The enchanted forest or the Wild now resides under Julie’s bed. Twelve-year-old Julie and her mother, Rapunzel, want to contain the Wild and fear the consequences if it should escape. When the Wild is wished free, it takes over the town, entrapping townspeople as well as familiar story characters. Brave, but reluctant  Julie battles wicked witches, survives poisoned apples, and meets marriageable princes on her way to reach the heart of the Wild in order to free the town from the Wild’s hold on reality. Wit and humor punctuate this fun, fractured tale.     (Grades 5-7) (AR 4)

Fleischman, Sid.  The Entertainer and the Dybbuk.  HarperCollins, ©2009.

No, the ventriloquist, Freddie, wasn’t dreaming. There really was a wisecracking dybbuk or Jewish spirit in the closet. The dybbuk explained that he had been a young child before the Nazis killed him along with many other children during World War II. Now three years later, the American ex-GI is touring Europe with his not very successful ventriloquist act. The young dybbuk, Avron, verbally spars with the ventriloquist and finally takes up residence inside Freddie. Together they form a winning and entertaining act in which Avron’s wisecracks reap huge laughs. Mature readers will balance the harsh accounts of Nazi cruelty with the witty dialogue.   (Grades 5-8) (AR 3.7)

George, Jessica Day.  Dragon Slippers.  Bloomsbury USA, ©2008.

Her aunt devises a not-so-clever plot to bring riches to the family by dragging Creel out to the dragon’s lair. Once there, the aunt is hoping that Creel will be rescued by the local prince, leading to marriage and a life of luxury for the family. Unexpectedly, Creel develops friendships with the dragons who send her on a journey through the kingdom with a pretty pair of seemingly ordinary slippers. The mysterious slippers begin to wreak havoc and it falls to Creel to save the kingdom and defend the dragons against certain doom. Adventure, humor, and unexpected events make this a must read fantasy.   (Grades 5-8) (AR 5.7)

Haddix, Margaret Peterson.  Found.  Bloomsbury USA, ©2008.

Six words in a letter change the lives of thirteen-year-old Jonah and his friend Chip – “You are one of the missing.” Both boys know they are adopted, but Jonah has never given it much thought until he and Chip start receiving mysterious letters. The boys and Jonah’s sister, Katherine, are plunged into a mystery involving a smuggling operation, the FBI, and an airplane that appears out of nowhere. After enjoying this page-turner, readers will eagerly look forward to the next book in this new series.    (Grades 4-8) (AR 5)

Hahn, Mary Downing. All the Lovely Bad Ones. Sandpiper, ©2009.

Twelve-year-old Travis and his younger sister, Corey, must spend the summer with their grandmother at her Vermont bed-and-breakfast inn. The two mischievous children decide to scare the guests with some ghostly special effects. Unfortunately, the pair also provokes real ghosts: young boys who had lived there in the 1800s when the place was a county poorhouse. Additionally, Ada Jaggs, an evil and vengeful spirit, who was responsible for the children’s deaths, also puts in an appearance. This fast-paced spooky thriller will have readers on the edge of their seats from first page to last.  (Grades 4-7) (AR 4.5)

Harkrader, Lisa.  Airball: My Life in Briefs. Square Fish, ©2008.

The small Kansas town seventh-grade basketball team is losing games. In the meanwhile, the hometown hero’s jersey will be retired at the last University of Kansas game of the season. Unless the boys start winning games, they will not be permitted to meet their hero and basketball star. Coach looks for creative ways to help the team improve and start winning games. One strategy he uses is taping up the gym windows and handing out invisible uniforms; consequently, the boys are playing in their briefs. Additionally, klutzy Kirby Nickel believes that the basketball hero is his father. Quirky characters and an interesting side story all add up to a quick, enjoyable read.   (Grades 5-7) (AR 4.4)

Hart, Alison. Gabriel’s Horses. Peachtree, ©2007.

Deep in Kentucky horse country during the Civil War, twelve-year-old Gabriel is a young slave who dreams of becoming a famous jockey, just like his father. Gabriel’s dad is a free man who joins the Yankee army to earn enough money to buy his wife’s freedom. In the meanwhile, Gabriel must work for a cruel new trainer and, eventually, he must use his bravery and cunning to save his beloved horses. In this thoughtful story, characters explore the many meanings of freedom, from emancipation to realizing a dream. Historical facts and gripping plot are cleverly blended in this fast-paced story.   (Grades 5-8) (AR 4.6)

Hobbs, Will.  Go Big or Go Home.  HarperCollins, ©2009.

Brady was enjoying the Perseid meteor shower when a meteorite blazed through the sky and ended up crashing through the roof of his Black Hills, South Dakota, home. The young astrophile is thrilled and names it Fred for “Far Roaming Earth Diver.” Brady quickly calls his cousin Quinn to share his “extremely insane” find. The two boys embark on bicycling, caving, and fishing adventures, including Brady somersaulting over a buffalo’s horns. Are these sudden abnormal physical feats by asthmatic Brady linked to Fred? Join the boys and their “extremophile” organisms in this contemporary, fast-moving adventure.  (Grades 6-8) (AR 4.7)

Jaramillo, Ann.  La Linea.  Square Fish, ©2008.

After seven long years, Miguel’s parents send word that it is time for him to cross la línea and join them in California. On one hand, Miguel is sad to leave his grandmother and their home in Mexico, but on the other hand, he is excited about finally reuniting with his parents. When fifteen-year-old Miguel leaves his home, he is unaware that his thirteen-year-old sister Elena is following him. The grueling trip proves dangerous; they are robbed, face dehydration, and encounter unscrupulous men. Readers will root for these brave, resourceful teenagers as they face the harsh realities of their journey.    (Grades 5-8) (AR 4.3)  

Korman, Gordon.  Schooled.  Hyperion, ©2008.

Growing up knowing only one person – your hippie grandmother – has serious disadvantages, particularly if you have grown up on a farm commune and have never gone to public school. Now at the age of thirteen, his grandmother Rain has fallen out of a tree, broken her hip, and is hospitalized. Cap (short for Capricorn) must live with the guidance counselor and her cranky sixteen-year-old daughter. For Cap, who has never watched television or eaten a pizza, attending middle school is a strange and alien experience. Cap’s roller coaster ride in school goes from outcast to class president to beloved. This smart, funny, contemporary story told from multiple characters points of view will spark lively discussions on school culture.  (Grades 5-8) (AR 4.9)

Smith, Sherri L. Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet.  Laurel Leaf, ©2009.  

According to Ana’s social studies teacher, she has a “marvelously biracial, multicultural family.” However, Ana’s Chinese American and African American heritage do not always blend easily, particularly when all her grandparents are together for her eighth grade graduation. After the water main bursts during the graduation ceremony, Ana invites Jamie Tabata, the cutest boy in school, to her house for a home-cooked meal. Conflicts arise during the four hours in which the family have to prepare the meal. Eventually, Ana learns the value of family and her unique heritage in the blending of the hot, sour, salty, and sweet flavors.   (Grades 6-8) (AR 3.9) 

Stead, Rebecca.  First Light.  Yearling, ©2008.

Peter, 12, has grown up with parents who are professional scientists. His father is a glaciologist and his mother is a genetic scientist. Peter is delighted when his dad decides to take the family to Greenland while he studies the effects of global warming. While out exploring, Peter accidentally meets Thea, 14, who lives in Gracehope, a secret utopian society under the Greenland ice. Join Peter and Thea in their quest for answers in this thought-provoking contemporary fantasy.  (Grades 6-8) (AR 4.8)

VanDraanen, Wendy.  Runaway.  Laurel Leaf, ©2008.

Life for Holly has never been easy. Now she has run away from an abusive foster home and faces a daily struggle for survival as a homeless person. In the past, a compassionate teacher had given Holly a journal in which to document her life. Holly knows that words can’t fix her life or give her a family, but she consistently writes her poetry and story in the journal.  Mature readers will root for Holly as she navigates dangerous streets on her way to finding an “ordinary” life. (Grades 7-9) (AR 4.7)