2016 Summer Reading Guide

SUMMER
READING
GUIDE
2
0
1
6
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Student Picks
Preschool
5
Kindergarten
9
1st Grade
13
2nd Grade
17
3rd Grade
23
4th Grade
27
5th Grade
33
6th Grade
37
7th Grade
49
8th Grade
59
Subject Picks
MS Science Picks
71
MS History Picks
75
MS Literary Picks
79
MS Summer Reading Program
Summer Reading Overview
83
Finding the "Just Right" Book
84
Capturing Your Ideas While Reading
85
"To Read" List
86-87
4
5
Preschool
6
Wolfe the Bunny
by Ame Dyckman
"It's funny!"
"It's a weird book!"
"It's great!"
"I like it when the bunny pounced."
"I like it when the wolf drooled."
The Night Gardener
by the Fan Brothers
"I like it when the Night Gardener snipped to make
trees."
"I liked it when the Night Gardener gave the tools."
“I like the owl -- my favorite animal!"
"I like the dragon tree."
What Do You Do With an Idea?
by Kobi Yamada
"It's like when you hatch an idea, a just made-up
idea."
"I liked when the idea changed."
"I liked when the idea exploded."
Pippi Longstocking
by Astrid Lindgren
"Pippi is really funny, like when she said, 'Why is my cow
so bullheaded?!'"
"She can lift up a horse and put it on her porch."
"Once when she went to school she thought the teacher
was asking her questions because the teacher really didn’t
know the answers."
"She even thought the circus was a place for her to play
instead of just watch."
Pigsty
by Mark Teague
"A boy who did not want to clean his room and then
pigs came to live in the boy’s room."
"At first he liked the pigs and he played with them."
"Then the boy found pig prints on his magazines so
he decided to put together a crew to clean."
"The pigs decided it was too clean and they left."
"It’s a really funny book."
Yo! Yes?
by Chris Raschka
"We like to play this book, we can take turns acting it
out."
"This book is about friends."
"The one boy doesn’t have any friends but the other boy
comes along and shows him he will be his friend."
"We can read some of the words and remember some of
the others."
The Invisible String
by Patrice Karst
"This is a book about two kids going to bed."
"It was dark and thundering and they went to their
mom."
"She showed them how they were connected to her by
an invisible string."
"The book let me know that even if my mom is in
Africa we are still connected."
The Day the Crayons Quit
by Drew Daywalt
"In this book the crayons write letters to
Duncan because they are arguing."
"Some crayons are getting used too much and
some are not getting used enough."
"It’s funny when the peach crayon says he is
naked!"
7
8
9
Kindergarten
10
Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover
by Cece Bell
"In the book, Rabbit is excited that his friend
Robot is coming for a sleepover. He makes a list
of things they can do during their sleepover but
then funny things start to happen. It has just
the right amount of chapters for a kid."
Bink and Golly
by Kate DiCamillo
"These are two girls who are best friends. They tell
readers that it is ok to say that you love each other
when you are friends."
Go Dog, Go
by P.D. Eastman
"Eastman puts fun words into rhymes and also
talks about opposites. This is important stuff to
know before you go into Kindergarten."
Biscuit Goes to School
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli "It is silly because you can’t bring your pets to school
but we do have class pets like our chicks."
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle
by Betty MacDonald
"It is important to know how to behave in
Kindergarten and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle has good
advice."
Frog and Toad Are Friends
by Arnold Lobel
"Frog and Toad are good friends but they are really
mischievous and this is just like a Kindergartener. Like
one time it was Christmas and Frog got worried about
Toad because he did not show up to celebrate. Frog
thought Toad had fallen off a cliff but really he was just
late. We get worried about stuff too sometimes."
The Book with No Pictures
by B.J, Novak
"This book forces grownups to say bathroom
words which seems to make Kindergarteners
laugh. It is important to get all the giggles out
about bathroom words before coming to
Kindergarten."
11
12
13
1st Grade
14
Charlotte’s Web
by E.B. White
Miles: "I like it because the illustrations are
really nice. The story is a little sad and exciting,
and very good."
Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery
by Deborah and James Howe
Tucker: "It just sounds funny! A bunny as a vampire?
It's crazy! And interesting."
The Princess in Black (series)
by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
Elina: "These are good because they are exciting,
happy, and not very scary. Many ages will be able to
read them. The words are the right size - medium
- so many people will be able to read them."
The Never Girls (series)
by Kiki Thorpe
Sadie: "It is about three or four girls who meet fairies.
It's cool and I believe in fairies."
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
by Virginia Burton
Dyson: "I like the mechanical stuff and the
steam shovel is alive!"
Iggy Peck,
Architect
by Andrea Beaty
and
Rosie Revere,
Engineer
by Andrea Beaty
Elina: "They teach you
that you can be
anything when you
grow up.
Blizzard of the Blue Moon (Magic Tree
House series)
by Mary Pope Osborne
Sadie: "It has a unicorn in it."
15
16
17
2nd Grade
18
Sisters
by Raina Telgemeier
Hailey: "Raina has a baby sister named Amara.
The two sisters have lots of adventures and
there is lots of humor."
Smasher
by Scott Bly
Gabriella: "It is about a dog that is really funny. He
gets into trouble a lot and he breaks lots of stuff.
That’s why he’s called Smasher."
Arnie the Doughnut : Bowling Alley
Bandit
by Laurie Keller
Ivey: "About a doughnut who is someone’s pet!
His owner likes bowling. One of the bowling balls
paints itself purple to look like another ball. It’s
really funny."
The Frog Princess
by E. D. Baker
Graeme: "It is about a princess whose aunt is a witch.
She meets a frog and the frog says that the princess
has to kiss him and he will turn into a prince. But
instead the princess turns into a frog! It is an
adventurous book and has cute animals in it."
Messi (World Soccer Legends)
by Illugi Jökulsson
Max: "A non-fiction book about Leo Messi as a
kid. His grandma bought him a soccer ball. He
played with it bouncing it against a wall. His
grandma made him try out for a team. He got so
good he played for Barcelona and Argentina. His
grandma died and he didn’t tell anyone she was
sick. It was an interesting book."
The Phantom Tollbooth
by Norton Juster
Neil: "It is about a boy who finds boxes that
transport him to different places. He goes on tons
of adventures. There are funny parts, too."
19
20
The Cats of Roxville Station
by Jean Craighead George
Juliet: "A book about cats. They have
adventures like when a kitten gets stuck on an
island. The main character is a cat named
Ratchet and she is really brave."
Magic Tree House (series)
by Mary Pope Osborne
Max: "The series is interesting.
The books invite you into
another world. I like how Jack
and Annie go back in time.
And they aren’t shy. Annie
called a tiger 'a pet for a
squirrel.' Crazy."
The 26-Story Treehouse
by Andy Griffiths
Sam: "About two goofy people named Andy and
Terry who build a 26-story treehouse. They have
tons of stuff in the treehouse like a bowling alley
and sharks. Once, the sharks ate Terry’s dirty
underwear. This is a very funny book."
Fablehaven
by Brandon Mull
Xander: "Fablehaven is about two kids who learn
about magical reserves that shelter magical animals.
There’s a satyr, half-goat and half man creature, for
example. These kids help save the reserve from a
demon and then they help save the world."
The Magic Puppy (series)
Sue Bentley and Angela Swan
Ada: "Magic Puppy is about a puppy who is really a
wolf. He becomes a puppy for a disguise so he can
hide from his wolf enemy named Shadow."
Captain Underpants (series)
by Dav Pilkey
Lex: "I love the Captain
Underpants series. Two kids
hypnotize their principal to become
a superhero, but the principal takes
it too far and goes and fights crime.
It’s funny."
21
22
23
3rd Grade
24
Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind
by Hayao Miyazaki
Tanner: "Its a graphic novel series about this
earth thats overun by insects, weird creatures,
and toxic stuff. Nausicaa is the princess of The
Valley and trying to save the world. I love it
because it has cute creatures, a cool world with
castles and battles - fascinating and suspeseful."
The Quirks and the Quirkalicious Birthday
by Erin Soderberg
Lydia: "About this family that has two twin sisters and a boy - and its the twin's birthday - they go on a
birthday hunt for presents - but they're really crazy
and disorganized. It's really exciting, fun, and you
always want to find out what happens next."
Black Beauty
by Anna Sewell
Camden: "About a horse who doesn't know much
about the world and learns about it. Helped
people become more aware of animal cruelty. A lot
of description about what the horse is thinking and
doing. Its funny how confused the horse can be
about stuff - like how things die."
The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden
by Emma Trevayne
Roman: "There are these fairies and iron and bells
hurt them and they're stuck in London and there's
this guy and he's half-fairy, half-human - they have to
train him to save them and return them to fairyland. I
liked the mystery and the names - Deadnettle,
Marygold, and Mordecai."
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
25
by Jeff Kinney
Jesse: "It's about this boy and he has two brothers and
his older brother and he has a little brother named
Manny - the main character is very unlucky but he
has a pet pig. I liked it because it was really
entertaining and funny."
Bad Kitty
by Nick Bruel
Carter: "There's a kitty who always bad - she likes to
sleep everyday, she scratches things up, she gets angry
when she doesn't get what she wants. There's also a dog
and a baby and her owner is Uncle Murray. It's really
funny and a little gross."
All Four Stars
by Tara Dairman
Ella: "About this girl whose parents who don't
like to cook, but she has a secret cooking life at
home when they're gone - and burns down the
kitchen. She gets assignment from the
NYTimes to go to Classy Cakes and try all the
cakes and she has to sneak into the city."
26
27
4th Grade
28
Bone (series)
by Jeff Smith
Nolan: "A great series. It is action-packed and original at
the same time. It is about bones stranded from home on
an adventure and they are alive. It is a series, so it lasts as
long as a 'deep' read. I feel like the rising fourth graders
will love this book. "
Lorenzo: "I recommend this book for anyone whole likes
funny books and/or comic books. It is a deep read with
action-packed adventure."
Number the Stars
by Lois Lowry
Sydney: "You’d like this book if you like small, subtle adventures
in a historical time. This book has humor, if you like that, and
Nazis, which adds adventure. There are sad bits and funny bits."
Marissa: "A historical fiction book and it’s great. There are
some scary parts and funny parts, but overall, it is one of the
best books I’ve read! This book is something all people should
read. It is awesome and I am positive you will not put it down!"
Kaiya: "I recommend this book because it is a very educational
and VERY deep read. About a Jewish girl escaping from the
Nazis. It is SUPER good."
I Funny
by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
May: "I recommend this book because it is really funny
and has a really good story line. If you like comedy and
drama as well as some suspense, then you’re in for a treat!"
Gregor the Overlander
29
Suzanne Collins
Oliver: "About a boy whose dad has disappeared. He goes
under the regular world to save his dad. The book is fantasy
for he goes on fantasy adventures. I loved this book and there
are five books in the Gregor series, all of which I read. They
are fantastic, action-packed books. You should read them,
too."
Dillon: "For people who like adventure and action. Gregor
goes to an underground world and finds a city. He lives in
New York with his mother and sister."
Harry Potter (series)
by J.K. Rowling
Drew: "A very good book series. If you like fantasy, you will LOVE
Harry Potter. There is also some mystery. The characters are very
interesting and even hilarious at times. The books are a little bit dark,
though, so be warned."
Isabel: "These are great and fun books to read, especially for rising
fourth graders. The author takes you through weird and wonderful
magic adventures that Harry and his friends go through. It is great
because the series has several books in it. I hope you will enjoy the
series if you read it!"
Reese: "I would recommend the Harry Potter books to anyone who likes: action, fantasy,
sometimes-kind-of-creepy, and stuff that is like magic being placed in the real world."
Where the Sidewalk Ends
by Shel Silverstein
Aidan: "This book of funny poems is good because the poems
are not hard. They are easy to read and great poems. The
poems are full of silliness and they are exciting. The poems are
also creative."
30
The Creature From My Closet series
by Obert Skye
Owen: "I think that the rising fourth graders would like this
funny and weird series. The genre is fantasy."
Nico: "This book is about a weird closet that mixes things in it
to turn them into creatures. I think it is a great one. It’s not
scary."
Eden: "I recommend this series to people who like mystery and
humor. A lot of people love these books. A specific book from the
series that is awesome is is called Pinocula - Pinocchio and
Dracula mixed together."
Amulet (series)
by Kazu Kibuishi
Emerson: "I recommend this series because it has a lot of
action, and it has some mystery and some fantasy in it. It
involves amulets, too, of course."
Bella: "About a girl who finds her great-grandmother’s amulet
while cleaning the old house that her great-grandparents used
to live in. It gives her special powers to lift and hurt things,
but also to talk to her great-grandfather’s animatronic friends
that helped him …."
Blood on the River
by Elisa Carbone
Tom: "I recommend this book to people who like adventure.
Also, I recommend it if you like building a deep read."
32
33
5th Grade
34
A Mango Shaped Space
by Wendy Mass
Sophia: "I love this book so VERY much. It’s
about a girl that sees colors and shapes when
she hears noises. She has a cat named Mango
and when he purrs she sees his shape as mangocolored. Mass is a very good writer and I would
really recommend this book."
Divergent (series)
by Veronica Roth
Lila: "Beatrice is 16 and she is about to pick her
faction. She takes her test and she finds out that she
does not fit into only one faction, this is called being
divergent. She makes an unexpected choice. (Contains
violence and passionate kissing.)"
Tuck Everlasting
by Natalie Babbitt.
Jude: "In my opinion, a very good book. It has
weird old timey romance, a crazy man in a yellow
suit, and people who are immortal. I will admit,
that sounds REALLY weird."
The Throne of Glass
by Sarah J. Maas
Samantha: "Fans of the SGE series will adore this
book, because they have similar ideas. A book
containing action, romance, and drama. A+. (Some
content might not be appropriate for readers under
10.)"
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
Mallory: "Has a fantastic theme and is presented well,
with small things that hint toward theme and help
make you understand the book. Keeps you interested
with its deep meaning and philosophical events. MY
BY-FAR FAVORITE BOOK. (Has mature content,
for older readers.)"
A Hundred Horses
by Sarah Lean
Stella: "One of my favorite books. Based on a girl
named Nell who isn’t so happy about spending her
summer vacation on her aunt’s farm."
Redwall (series)
by Brian Jacques
Stella: "About animals who live in an abbey called
Redwall and fight wars and battles like humans,
except there are no humans in the world of
Redwall There are about 15 or 16 books, which are
all set in the same universe, but not all about the
same characters.This is my favorite book series!"
Perfect
by Natasha Friend
Dylan: "This book is about eating disorders in
preteens and teens. It follows a young girl and
her family through the death of her father and
her eating disorder. It’s an amazing book that
takes you through the life of a girl with eating
disorder."
35
36
37
6th Grade
38
Rooftoppers
by Katherine Rundell
"A girl that lost her mom
in a shipwreck is
convinced she is alive. She
meets a boy and at night
sneaks with him to find
her mom. I thought it was
cool how they survived
there and traded food for
knowledge."
Wes
Harry Potter (series)
by J.K. Rowling
"About a boy who
survives a lethal curse and
tries to fight off the evil
wizard Voldemort, learns
about magic at Hogwarts,
and has magical
adventures. I think the
action is fascinating
because the way wizards
fight with magic."
Fantasy League
by Mike Lupica
The Blind Side
by Michael Lewis:
"Charlie, the main
character, has a friend,
Anna, whose grandfather
owns the L.A. Bulldogs.
Charlie helps Anna's
grandfather and gets
famous. All about sports,
and picking out the right
QB even if he's an
underdog."
"The story of Michael
Oher and how he became
a NFL player, great for a
huge sports fan. It was fun
to hear the events
Michael went through
and to learn about the left
tackle history of the
NFL."
Mr. Lemoncello's
Library
by Chris Grabenstein
"Kyle gets dropped in the
middle of the biggest
library ever. He tries to
escape with friends by his
side, but finding clues and
escaping will be a
challenge. Mystery,
adventure, and wellhidden clues."
Hail to th
e Redskins
by Adam Lazarus
"About the Redskins and
Joe Gibbs and and how
they got their three
Lombardi Trophies and
their falls and how Gibbs
lead the team. I liked this
book because there is a lot
of football action and
decisions."
Max B.
I'd Tell You I Love
You But Then I'd
Have to Kill You
39
by Ally Carter
Aghavni
"Imagine your mom was
the headmistress of a top
secret spy school and you
were a student who had to
keep your entire life a
secret. You never know
what to expect when you
turn the page."
If I Stay
by Gayle Forman
"What would you do if
you had one more
decision you had to make:
do I want to live or die?
That's what Mia had to
do. Leave her boyfriend
and go to heaven with her
family? Or stay with her
boyfriend, living with her
other family members?"
Kingdom Keepers
by Ridley Pearson
"Five middle school kids
were recruited to be
holographic hosts at
Disney World, but they
did not know the danger
in it: they did not know
they were going to meet
Disney villains for real!
You feel right there with
them. "
Wild Hearts
by Jessica Burkhart
"What if you were always
moving because of your
dad’s job? What would
you do if your dad was
being harassed by your
boyfriend's dad? Your
boyfriend did not know
about it and neither did
you. You had to use your
friend as a cover to get
together with him. "
Sisters
by Raina Telgemeier
"Do you have a sister you
despise? Well, you’re not
alone, because Rihanna is
just like that with her
little sister, Amara. Short
enough that you don’t feel
overwhelmed, but not so
short you can read it in
one sitting. I love that."
The Swap
by Megan Shull
Moira
"What if you and your
crush were both in the
nurse's office, she turned
the lights off, and you
switched bodies? For
weeks you were not used
to his life or he to yours.
Then you realize that
your single parents were
not single any more ..."
40
The Maze Runner
(series)
by James Dashner
Emeline
"This series kept me
engaged the whole way
through. When a boy
arrives in a place he's
never been called the
glade and all he can
remember is his name, the
story begins."
The Lions of Little
Rock
by Kristin Levine
"Two girls, living Little
Rock, Arkansas in 1958,
under pressure from racial
segregation. Will have
you in tears: you grow to
love the girls and see the
decisions they must
make."
The Merits of
Mischief (series)
by T.R Burns
Brown Girl
Dreaming
L
by Jacqueline Woodson
"This series begins when
a boy named Seamus
Hinkle is sent to a reform
school called Kilter
Academy, but the school
is the opposite of what he
expected. This story has
lots of laughs and
mischief along the way."
"About the childhood of
the author, all written in
poetry, it deals with living
in the South and the
North during segregation.
Has had me re-reading
again and again.
Definitely highly
recommended. "
Unmanned
by Dan Fesperman
"About the life of a
retired pilot living alone
in the desert because of
an incident involving
civilians. When reporters
show up asking questions,
his life changes forever.
Informative about drones
while having a good
storyline."
Echo
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
"The journey will have
you enthralled: three
stories take place before,
during, and after WWII,
and somehow, they all
connect. The characters
all have challenges, but
you will learn to be with
them every step of the
way."
Ryan
L
The Wizard of Oz
41
by L. Frank Baum
"This magical fairy tale is
known to many people,
full of secrets, magic,
wizards, and witches.
intriguing characters like
the Scarecrow, the Tin
Man, and the Cowardly
Lion made me want to
continue further into
Dorothy’s journey."
Walker
Middle School: How
I Survived Bullies,
Broccoli, and Snake
Hill
Paper Towns
by James Patterson
by John Green
"This book is about a boy
who goes to summer
camp.He really didn’t
want to go. Think to
yourself, 'would your
parents do this to you?’"
"Imagine being a boy who
has spent a lifetime loving
a girl from far away, then
one day she creeps right
into your life. An
inspiring story about
these two kids that shows
that adventure is out
there."
The Baby-Sitters
Club (graphic novel
series)
by Raina Telgemeier
Life As We Knew It
"If you like books about a
club that is totally just
between a girl and her
friends, I’ve got a series
for you! Stacey is just a
normal girl until she has a
brilliant idea to start a
baby-sitters club."
by Susan Beth Pfeffer
"Nothing will ever be the
same after the moon gets
shot by a meteor closer to
earth causing worldwide
tidal waves, earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, and
that’s just the beginning."
Aggie
42
Out of My Mind
by Sharon Draper
"Melody has disabilities,
she can’t talk or walk, she
is in a wheelchair and has
been for her whole life
and her “friends” bully her
for it. She buys a little
computer with buttons for
her to type and it speaks
for her."
Lucian
The Great Brain
by John D. Fitzgerald
"About a mischievous kid
con-artist. A good
amount of books are
about trouble-making
kids, but I haven’t seen
one before that has one
scamming people. I like
when he blackmails his
brothers, especially John."
L
The Golden
Compass
by Philip Pullman
Warriors (series)
by Erin Hunter
"It’s about four clans of
cats that are catching prey
and fighting each other to
survive. Makes me feel
like I’m one of the
characters, whether
they’re in battle, happy, or
sad."
"About some children and
their uncle. When their
uncle gets kidnapped, the
kids try to find out why
and what they want with
the uncle, they search
everywhere for him but
can’t find a trace. Will the
kidnappers let him go?"
The Marvels
by Brian Selznick
"About a family that goes
back generations. Billy
Marvel, the lone survivor
of a shipwreck, starts in
the theater career, and so
do his kids. Many
generations later, they
have a kid who won’t
accept his heritage."
The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
"24 people are put in an
arena to fight to the
death. I really like it
because it describes
everything really well,
which really allows me to
picture it in my head. My
favorite part is when the
team tries to get Katniss
out of the tree."
Emery
Chomp
43
by Carl Hiaasen
"A funny, exciting book
about the Florida wildlife
on the set of 'Expedition
Survival!'. I enjoyed this
book because it was funny
many times when the
book went into a deep
(sometimes sad) part,
giving the reader some
relief."
Giovanni
The Underneath
by Kathi Appelt
"A touching story about
two kittens, who lose their
mother and must rescue
their friend - and a hound
dog. It wove two plotlines
together in a very
intricate way - one about
the kittens, and another
about a thousand-yearold snake. Very sad."
Savvy
by Ingrid Law
"A tale of family and love,
along with a few magical
powers. The Beaumonts
must find a way to wake
up their father, and this
time their savvies won’t
help them. The characters
seemed to come alive,
because Law described
them so well."
L
The Alchemist
by Paulo Coehlo
"A boy leaves Spain to
find treasure after
meeting an old king.
Contains a lot of wisdom,
usually spoken by the
200-hundred-year-old
Egyptian. A beautifully
woven story, with an good
ending that closes the
circle."
The Man Who
Counted
by Malba Tahan
"An exciting journey with
mathematical puzzles
along the way. This book
will have you ponder
about the equations and
amazing thought
processes - and also a true
tale of friendship in the
Muslim culture."
The Ranger’s
Apprentice (series)
by John Flanagan
Ellie
"An orphan is accepted
into an elite fighter force
and ascends to legend.
This huge series is an
adventure story with
survival elements woven
in. Very violent, but also
full of mystery and
entertainment."
44
Hatchet
by Gary Paulsen
"What would you do if
you were stranded on a
mysterious island and
nobody knew you were
there? Brian faces life or
death challenges after he
crashes - becoming part
of the island and finding
himself not wanting to
leave."
William
A Long Way from
Chicago
by Richard Peck
"About kids traveling to
their grandma's house
during the Great
Depression. The different
time period makes you
think about what you
have now - and how
much fun they have. "
Divergent
by Veronica Roth
"Beatrice is divergent. She
can’t trust anybody, only
herself. She finds romance
and becomes fierce and
bold."
The Hardy Boys :
The Secret Panel
by Franklin W. Dixon
"One huge mystery: a
friend is sold a boat that
sinks at once, but the
original owner will buy it
back. This story has many
different mysteries that all
relate to one huge
mystery."
Hush
by Jacqueline Woodson
"A family is in a secret
protection program. The
father is a black cop who
witnessed two other white
cops kill an innocent
black boy. He is going to
testify against them, and
he knows people will get
angry. So they change
their identities."
Warp Speed
by Lisa Yee
"A young man has trouble
in school. When he was
little, his greatest friend
left him to be popular and
join the basketball team.
One day, he joins track,
runs a race, and his world
turns around. "
H
Rhode
Inheritance (series)
45
by Christopher Paolini
"A boy is hunting deer in
the forest. While he is
retrieving his arrows, he
comes across a round,
smooth, blue stone. This
leads to his quest to save
his homeland from being
taken over by a tyrant."
Landon
The Phantom
Tollbooth
by Norton Juster
"Bored? Think nothing is
fun? Milo is in this
situation one day while
walking home. He sees a
tollbooth, grabs a toy coin,
and enters a world of
randomness and
nonsense."
Eon
by Alison Goodman
"In a world where people
with deformities are made
slaves, a girl is chosen by a
lost dragon - but women
are barred from becoming
'Dragoneyes'. She hides
her secret while saving
their world from total
destruction."
Treasure Hunters
by James Patterson
H
"Separated from their
parents and trying to keep
their business alive, a
family's investigation has
lead them to find their
Dad in China. Evil lurks!
What will happen?"
Front Lines
by Michael Grant
"About women in the
military during WWII.
Lots of military action
and combat, while also
showing how it was to be
a woman during the war
and how they were treated
and militarized."
Codename Zero
by Chris Rylander
Max R.
"Class prankster Carson
has seen some weird stuff
- but pasty guys in suits?
In North Dakota? No
way is that normal. Are
they super spies?"
46
L
The Hitchhiker’s
Guide to the Galaxy
by Douglas Adams
David
"If you were made aware
that earth was about to be
destroyed, what would
you do? Hitch a ride!
About peoples and
galaxies that may be out
there, as the Heart of
Gold goes through space."
The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
"In the post-apocalyptic
nation Panem, Katniss is
chosen for a fight-to-thedeath competition: she
has to try to survive while
the other contestants try
to kill her. For anyone
who likes action and
excitement."
Percy Jackson (series)
by Rick Riordan
Maze Runner
by James Dashner
"Many books have traces
of mythology in them, but
this series shows what it
would be like to be an
Olympian demi-god
today. Percy’s wry humor,
fighting logic, and
exciting battles keep you
reading."
"Thomas wakes up
finding himself in a small
community of men
trapped inside a huge
maze. The maze goes on
in every direction.
Thomas joins them and
begins to help everyone
escape. A fun, mysterious
book."
The Mysterious
Benedict Society
(series)
by Trenton Lee Stewart
"'Are You a Child
Looking for Special
Opportunities?' When
Reynie finds this sign, he
starts the journey that is
this awesome series,
packed with riddles and
fast-paced fights."
Fast Break
by Mike Lupica
"This basketball novel
begins in a poor
neighborhood where
Jason is the star basketball
player for his middle
schooll. When a new
foster family takes him in,
he plays with his new
teammates in a new
school."
Cameron
Magnus Chase
47
by Rick Riordan
"An exhilarating novel
about a child that lives on
the streets. He begins
finding monsters and
friends along the way
with 'Jack,' a very
powerful talking sword
that can harness energy,
from Valhalla - 'heaven'
for Norse heroes."
Eleanor
Turning 16 on the
Road to Freedom
by Lynda Blackmon Lowery
"Lowery tells the story of
her young life growing up
in Selma, Alabama during
the time of Jim Crow
laws. Taking risk
throughout her whole life
for equal rights, she was
brave and fought
peacefully for her rights."
TheTrials of Apollo
by Rick Riordan
"Apollo, a god, was
framed so he was turned
into a 15-year-old who
has acne, a flap, and no
godly powers. When he
meets a girl, he swears his
duty to her and has a
journey to Camp
Halfblood. Full of
adventures, journeys, and
oracles."
The Nightingale
by Kristin Hannah
"An action-packed novel
set during the occupation
of France, where a girl
named Vianne lives with
her sister and child in the
Loire Valley. Then the
Germans came, taking
homes and stealing
goods."
Rooftoppers
by Katherine Rundell
"Imagine that for your
whole life, you grew up
not knowing your past
and who or where you
came from - besides your
lost mother's cello case,
where you were found as a
baby."
Dogs of War
by Sheila Keenan and Nathan
Fox
Noah
"This graphic novel
contains three powerful
and inspiring stories with
adventures and dangers in
the life of three amazing
war dogs and their owners
- and facts about WWII
and the Vietnam War."
48
49
7th Grade
50
Need
by Joelle Charbonneau
"Kaylee confronts danger
and the unknown when a
new website appears just
for her school asking
students to fulfill tasks
with results that are less
than pleasing. Bravery
and weakness are tested
when students begin to
disappear."
Ella B.-J.
The Perks of Being a
Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky
"Through his freshman
year, Charlie struggles
through the hardship of
losing his aunt, making
friends, and bonding with
his family. Along the way,
he figures out what really
matters in life."
Made for You
by Melissa Marr
Yaqui Delgado wants
to Kick your A-by Meg Medina
"Being hit by a car isn't a
fun experience, especially
when you discover it
wasn't an accident. Eva
discovers she has the
power to see people's
deaths, and her life
changes. Love, sadness,
and unexplained - but
connected - murders."
"Piddy is mortified when
Yaqui Delgado, a girl she’s
never even talked to,
thinks that she’s a showoff and wants to steal her
boyfriend. Brings
awareness to bullying and
abuse."
H
Twilight
by Stephenie Meyer
"Bella moves to a new
school and is confronted
with an unexpected threat
to her reality. Slip'n'slides
of hate and fear as Bella
and Edward become
inseparable. Experience a
brave heart and a lonely
soul realizing what they
were born to be."
Persepolis
by Marjane Satrapi
"A graphic novel about a
young girl growing up in
Iran during the Islamic
revolution. Marjane shares
her experience of rebelling
against Iran’s strict
government. Gave me a
better understanding of
Iran’s past and came in
handy in Global Studies."
Sophia
L
To Kill a
Mockingbird
51
by Harper Lee
"Imagery washes over
your mind, sympathy
cleanses your heart. In the
mindset of the 1930s, a
young mind strives for
adventure and courage.
While some still cling to
the old ways of separation
between races, watch a
new era grow organically."
Theo
Gone
by Michael Grant
The Evolution of
Calpurnia Tate
by Jacqueline Kelly
"Even though Calpurnia's
true desire is to become a
scientist, her mother
wants her to become a
lady. She and her
grandfather explore
specimens and the
The Hip-Hop Family
outdoors."
H
"If everyone over 15 years
old was wiped off the face
of the Earth and everyone
left was enclosed in a box,
what would you do? I
especially liked how this
thriller shows Sam’s
struggle to keep his
community healthy and
safe at such a young age."
Tree
by Ed Piskor
"If you like Hip-Hop you
absolutely HAVE to read
this book. Aside from the
occasional slang, it is easy
to understand and paints a
great (but rough) picture
of the birth and childhood
of Hip-Hop."
Divergent
by Veronica Roth
"There are categories,
labels that define you as a
person, for either being
kind, caring, honest, or
ruthless. All working
together to keep the
community thriving,
many lessons are learned
that will never be
mistaken again."
The One and Only
Ivan
by K.A. Applegate
Iris
"About a gorilla who has
lived in a dying circus for
over 20 years. He only
has two friends: an
elephant and a dog. A
good read when you’re
little - even better as you
grow older."
52
Haunted : 11 Tales of
Ghostly Horror
"11 different authors each
wrote their own ghost
story. Each story has its
own intense way of
presenting the eerie
situation the protagonist
for that chapter is in. Mix
that with the different
styles each author has,
and it makes for a great
read."
Ethan
The Martian
by Andy Weir
"About an astronaut left
on Mars alone. He has no
communication with the
earth, so everyone thinks
he is dead, and he will not
have enough food until
the next mission comes.
How will he survive? A
suspenseful and
frustrating book."
Campfire Ghost
Stories - The
Haunting Tales
The Scorch Trials
by James Dashner
"This collection of ghost
stories divides the written
ghost stories into four
different settings, such as
forest and urban. I loved
how each story had its
own way of being
disturbing."
"The sequel to The Maze
Runner. They find shelter
in a base. Eventually, they
get sent to the Scorch,
filled with monsters. If
you want a book filled
with scary moments and
confusion, get this one."
The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman
"Set from the perspective
of a boy raised by ghosts,
this book manages to be
disturbing without being
too scary."
The Zodiac Legacy
by Stan Lee and Stuart Moore
"Each Zodiac has special
powers. The main
character is a tiger and the
villain is after the dragon
power and will do
anything for it. If you
want a book about
superpowers, this book is
definitely for you."
Griffin
An Abundance of
Katherines
53
by John Green
"A teenage prodigy has an
obsession with Katherines
- which leads to a road
trip that turns into a long
visit in a small town in
Tennessee. I liked the
protagonist's different and
interesting thoughts."
Makai
City of Bones
by Clarissa Clare
"A girl walks into a club
and sees a strange boy
with electric blue hair.
When he exorcises a
demon, her life changes.
This book subtly
mentions other mythical
beings mixing with
humans - without
humans knowing. It also
shows that every being is
distinct."
Twilight
by Stephenie Meyer
"Bella, a girl that is in a
new town and has to go
to a new school makes
some friends that might
not be as normal as she
thought.Vampires and
werewolves fight for Bella
as she struggles to stay
alive. A supernatural yet
realistic story."
Skink
by Carl Hiaasen
"A boy named a Richard
goes to rescue his cousin
who ran away with
someone she met on the
internet. There are
barriers blocking Richard
- but they are creative
barriers. A storyline that
kept me interested, with a
great side plot."
Pretties
by Scott Westerfeld
"In the 2nd book of the
series, a girl had just had
her 16th birthday and was
taken in to be surgically
made pretty. She walked
out feeling beautiful and
thats only thing she ever
wanted and figures out
her new life with all new
people. "
Graceling
by Kristin Cashore
Ella L.
"In the Kingdom of
Midlum the king has a
niece, Katsa, but she isn’t
like any other niece. She
has the Grace of Killing.
There is a great contrast
in this book between
action and nonaction that
builds the story."
54
Three Cups of Tea
by Greg Mortenson
"Mortenson stumbles into
an Afghan village and
promises he will build a
school. This sends him
into a world with lots of
twists and turns of
sadness, hope, and
happiness and he becomes
bigger than he could ever
dream of. "
Abigail
Need
by Joelle Charbonneau
"Kaylee finds a website
where people get things
they “need” for nothing until people are asked to
do tasks for their needs,
and things escalate until
the town is out of control.
Made me think of what I
would do for something
that I needed."
Percy Jackson series
by Rick Riordan
Pointe
"This series will suck you
into it so you can’t stop
reading. Travel with Percy
through action-packed
fights with monsters and
story plots that will leave
you on a cliffhanger
wherever you stop."
by Brandy Colbert
"Theo is better than she
was when Donovan went
missing. She’s almost an
elite ballet dancer, and is
eating. But then Donovan
comes back, and she is
faced with the decision of
telling people the truth.
Explores different themes,
all in one book."
The Hitchhiker's
Guide to the Galaxy
by Douglas Adams
The Selection Series
by Kiera Cass
"America wants to live a
simple life, but when she’s
chosen to compete for
Prince Maxon’s hand, she
has to leave her secret
boyfriend and the chance
for her simple life behind.
There’s romance, but also
action. It’s like two
different genres in one."
L
"Arthur Dent got out of
bed getting ready for
another normal day, but
instead his life is changed
forever. Travel with
Arthur as he tries to sort
out Life, The Universe,
and Everything."
Ryan
Gunner Skale
55
by James Dashner
"Gives a different point of
view in the Eye of Minds
series and explains the life
of the best gamer of all
time. He is brought in by
a police group and has to
take down a glitch in the
system made by a hacker."
Nora
Wonder
by R.J. Palacio
"Have you wondered how
your life would change if
you had a disability?
Imagine having that
happen each day and you
could do nothing about it.
This book teaches you
how to appreciate
everyone in life."
The Rule of
Thoughts
by James Dashner
"The 2nd book of the Eye
of Minds series. Michael
is on a mission to find his
friends in the real world,
but something or
someone has still been
lurking in Virtnet, causing
trouble that leaks into the
real world."
Legend
by Marie Lu
"Have you ever actually
stood up and fought for
your country? These
characters do, as people
are dropping dead like
flies. Then they find out
their friend is high ranked
on the side they are
fighting against."
Loot
by Jude Watson
"Loot is a book where a
boy is an apprentice for
his dad in the criminal
industries and his dad
dies and he has to pursue
looting without his father
there to teach him."
Insurgent
by Veronica Roth
Chris
"Have you run for you life
and hid from everything?
This book taught me you
have to gain people's
trust. It might take a
while, but sometimes you
can take a risk."
56
Karuna
L
Anne of Green
Gables
by Lucy Maud Montgomery
"Follow an adopted girl's
adventures as she makes
mistakes, learns from
them, gains selfconfidence, and has fun.
Most importantly, she
realizes that life is not
always as anticipated."
Marly and Me
by John Grogan
No Safety in
Numbers
"A young family gets a
wild yellow lab that take
them on a journey they
were not expecting. This
book touched me because
Marley, as cute and dumb
as he seemed, was actually
very intelligent and knew
how to get your heart."
by Dayna Lorentz
"When a bomb is
discovered in a megamall’s air ducts, the entire
mall is on lockdown. The
shoppers inside are
quarantined, without any
escape. Four teens are
trapped inside, learning
the truth about the
situation they are in."
Heaven is for Real
by Todd Burpo.
"In the middle of a
serious emergency
surgery, Colton visits
heaven. What touched me
most is when his father
asks him about heaven
and he tells him about the
'red markers' on Jesus’
hands."
The Prank List
by Anna Staniszewski
"An easy book to relate to.
Rachel has many
adventures happening
simultaneously. Her
parents are divorced, her
mom’s cleaning business is
at stake, she's her baking
teacher’s least favorite and that’s just the
beginning."
Grace
This Isn’t What It
Looks Like
57
Pseudonymous Bosch
Leo
"While Cass is traveling
on her own adventures,
Max-Earnest tries to find
a way to bring Cass on
his. I really enjoyed this
book because, unlike the
other books in the series,
this one is two separate
stories that ultimately
form into one."
Murder on the
Orient Express
by Agatha Christie
"This murder mystery is
intense. The main
character is Hercule
Poirot, who has to
interview suspects on the
Orient Express and bring
the murderer to justice."l6
The 5th Wave
by Rick Yancey
"Set in a post-apocalyptic
world, Cassie must fight
the Others while meeting
friends and enemies along
the way. Will she survive?
Or will she be as dead as
the rest of them? This
book was an exciting read.
At first it was slow, but
once I got into it, I found
I couldn’t stop reading."
L
Bringing Down the
House
by Ben Mezrich
"About a group of MIT
geniuses who find out a
way to cheat at blackjack
and make millions. The
book gets really good
when the casinos find out
and try to stop them."
The One and Only
Ivan
by K.A. Applegate
"A silverback gorilla
named Ivan lives at Big
Top Mall with his friends.
You’ll learn about his life
and decisions. The
chapters are short, but
fulfilling. Makes you
think about your life."
Catching Fire
by Suzanne Colllins
Molly
"Katniss is drafted for the
quarter quell / hunger
games again. She meets
some new deadly
competitors and some
other one’s. She forms
alliances and tries to
survive another round of
death."
58
59
8th Grade
60
Night Angel trilogy
by Brent Weeks
"Will enthrall any avid
fantasy reader. With an
intricate plot that
develops over a thousand
pages, you follow a young
boy through his life in a
medieval city as he
struggles through the
diverse hardships of
training with the best."
Kate
Truth Witch
by Susan Dennard
"This is a really fun
fantasy, with the perfect
balance of magic and
politics. This book follows
two sisters as they run
from an assassin - and
kick butt."
Testosterone Planet:
145th Street
by Walter Dean Myers
"A collection of short true
stories depicting the
adventures and
explorations of a variety
of young men. With
everything from climbing
a remote mountain in
Alaska to fighting off a
hundred aggressive
turkeys from a campsite,
this is something special."
"A collection of short
stories that are all related
to a poor neighborhood
on 145th street. This is an
eye-opening book that is
definitely worth the read."
Servants of the
Storm
by Delilah Dawson
"If you suddenly went off
years of anti-depressants,
and you start seeing
things, crazy things what would you do?
Dovey is trying to make
sense of the storm around
her, but the reader is
always torn: is she a hero,
or is she seeing things?"
The Raven Boys
by Maggie Stiefvater
"A perfect balance of
fantasy and a mystery,
where a group of friends
try to find a king's tomb
to gain immortality. A
great book for a hot
summer day."
Ben
Winger
61
by Andrew Smith
"Ryan is a 14-year-old
junior at a boarding
school. His life is full of
bad luck. This book is full
of humor, both mature
and immature, and some
real life situations that are
truly terrifying. For
people who are looking to
laugh."
Evan
Salt: A World
History
by Mark Kurlansky
"A world history, from
the ancient Chinese to
the modern, of how salt
has shaped societies.
Seems dry, but this book
was riveting, revealing the
inner workings of empires
and economics. A good
book to read before 8thgrade Civinomics."
Making Money
by Terry Pratchett
"Moist von Lipwig is a
clerk - and a thief (a.k.a.
an'arch swindler'). He was
hired at the post office in
Ankh-Morpork, and it
runs like clockwork.
Then, Lord Vetinari
summons him, and asks
him if you he'd like to
make some real money?"
H
The Masks of
Aygrima
by E.C. Blake
"In a communist society
where people are
controlled with masks,
Mara is the daughter of
the master mask-maker.
Approaching her masking
ceremony, she has to face
her evolving magic."
Maze Runner
by James Dashner
"If you like cheezy action,
and lots of running away
from things - this is the
book for you. Thomas is
brain-washed and sent to
a courtyard. The reason:
to find a way out of the
maze. Full of jumpscares it may make you shiver, or
make you scoff."
The Seven Realms
by Cinda Williams Chima
Cole
"My favorite fantasy
series. Following Raisa, a
princess, and Han, a poor
gang leader, this book has
the perfect balance of
magic, action, adventure,
and politics. I strongly
suggest this to anyone
who wants an enthralling
popcorn book."
62
Orphan Train
by Christina Baker Kline
"When Molly is assigned
50 hours of community
service for stealing a book,
cleaning out an old lady’s
attic isn’t her first idea.
But the boxes are more
than just junk. They
reveal a rich and difficult
past, that perhaps Vivian
wanted to revisit."
Emma D.
H
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
"About a girl named
Liesel Meminger, and her
everyday life in Germany
during World War II. The
Book Thief is interesting
because of the outside
perspective telling the
story, her struggle with
whether to go with the
crowd, and the tale of her
neighbors and friends."
Speak
by Laurie Halse Anderson:
The House on
Mango Street
by Sandra Cisneros
L
"Melinda went to the
party one of the cool kids,
but after she called the
cops, she was an outcast.
Something had happened.
This is the story of how
Melinda tried and failed
to avoid 'IT'."
"Esperanza has always
dreamed of a house, one
with a white-picket fence
and more than one
bedroom.She tells her
neighbors stories, about
family, school, and
immigration."
The Appearance of
Annie van Sinderen
by Katherine Howe
"It starts with filming of a
seance in NYC. There
was someone blocking the
shot, but only Wes could
see her. In his struggle to
solve this mystery, he
meets two girls from
different centuries."
The Witch of
Blackbird Pond
by Elizabeth George Speare
"Katherine has a hard
time fitting in after
coming to live with her
relatives. One afternoon,
she meets Hannah, who is
called a witch by the rest
of the town. Full of
mystery, travel, and trying
to fit in."
Emma B.
L
The House on
Mango Street
63
by Sandra Cisneros
Ellie
"About a girl who writes
what she observes about
the people around her.
She sees more than
everyone thinks she does,
which has made her
realize more about the
world than most others. "
Peter and the
Starcatchers
by Dave Barry and Ridley
Pearson
"This intriguing book
tells the untold story of
how Peter Pan arrived at
Neverland and gained the
power to fly. Filled with
suspense, magic, and
incredible imagery which
brings the story to life."
Catalyst:
by Laurie Halse Anderson
"In the midst of applying
to her dream school, MIT,
the main character has an
unfortunate family event
take place, everything in
her world is turned upside
down. "
Winger
by Andrew A. Smith
"Ryan is stuck in a dorm
for troublemakers at a
boarding school in
Oregon. He must figure
out how to deal with
being the youngest one
there, how to tell a girl
that he likes her, and how
to balance school with his
favorite sport, rugby."
The Wanderer
by Sharon Creech
"The main character and
her family attempt to
cross the Atlantic. She has
dreamed of this trip for
years - however the rest of
the family believes she
isn't ready."
Maze Runner (series)
by James Dashner
Izzy
"This 1st book describes
kids living in a simulated
maze, who have to get out
before it's too late. In the
2nd, they journey across
scorched deserts to find
the cure to a fatal disease.
In the 3rd, they try to
survive in a world taken
over by sickness. "
64
The Fault in Our
Stars
by John Green
Ted
A 16-year-old girl that
has cancer and is being
treated is flushed with a
new found love. She has
loved a book and needs to
find the writer. She and
her new love go through
many challenging steps.
Monkeewrench
by P.J. Tracy
"When murders from a
video game start being
copied in real life, it soon
attracts the attention of
the police and game
developers. You know
exactly what’s going on,
but there’s always a
wrench thrown into the
plan."
The Maze Runner
by James Dashner
Peak
by Roland Smith
"Thomas is thrown into
what the locals call the
glade and there are only
boys in this society. He
was brain washed and
now needs to get out.
There is a maze that he
must conquer to save
himself and his glade
members."
"As you climb the peaks
of Mt. Everest, not only
can you see its beauty but
you get to see the training
and hurdles a climber
goes through - from the
perspective of a 14 year
old kid."
H
Peter Nimble and
His Fantastic Eyes
by Jonathan Auxier
"A blind 10-year-old
orphan boy has to steal
his way across the roofs of
a city. His quest is to find
magical eyes that will
make him see again. This
book will really make you
think of the challenges of
a blind person. "
All the Light We
Cannot Se
by Anthony Doerr
"Doerr makes it so you
don’t exactly see the
pictures he’s laid out in
front of you, but rather
you feel and hear them. A
little blind girl and a
German boy put together
an old radio."
Chas
L
Perdido Street
Station
65
by China Miéville
"Isaac, a handyman and
dabbler in science,
unwittingly releases
deadly monsters. He must
rescue the city, but what
can he do against
monsters that feed on
dreams? The plot moves
carefully, letting the prose
itself capture you."
Maxie
Flamecaster
by Cinda Williams Chima
"One of my favorite
authors - follows the story
of four characters in
several warring kingdoms.
Full of action and drama,
this book never ceases to
thrill."
Kit’s Wilderness
by David Almond
"Kit’s family moves back
to Stoneygate, a West
Virginia coal-mining
town, and Kit is dragged
into the cult-like “game,”
a game the members
called Death. Although at
first skeptical, Kit soon
starts to see kids who died
in past mining accidents."
L
Harry Potter series
by J.K. Rowling
"An engrossing tale of a
young wizard, a wizarding
school, and a fight against
the evil wizard Lord
Voldemort. These books
are dramatic, exciting, and
magical¸ and full of
adventure. In other words,
they have everything."
Gormenghast
by Mervin Peake
"Set in an enormous
castle, this series
chronicles the events
surrounding the life of the
heir of the Gormenghast
earldom. Wild and
unexpected, the events,
writing, setting, and
characters of this book are
strange and refreshingly
different."
The Boys in the Boat
by Daniel James Brown
Alex
"A group of freshman
rowers at Washington
University, new to rowing,
must go against their
rivals with only hard work
and dedication. Engaging,
even though I knew
nothing about rowing."
66
Tristan
The Glass Castle
by Jeanette Walls
"Jeanette's family lives
in in rough conditions
and are not too
protective. Her dad
plans to build a home
called "the glass castle".
They seem crazy at first,
but the book shows
that's not always a bad
thing."
Dare to Disappoint
by Özge Samacini
H
"About Özge growing
up in Turkey with high
standards to reach when
her sister gets into a
prestigious college. An
excellent reflection on
the struggle to be the
best, self-doubt, and
pressure to succeed."
The Dead and the
Gone
by Susan Beth Pfeffer
"Alex struggles to
survive when chaotic
natural disasters occur
due to a change in the
moons orbit. Captures a
great feeling of mystery
and concern as the
family is divided and
seperated."
68
69
SUBJECT
PICKS
70
SCIENCE PICKS
The Physics of
Superheroes
The Omnivore's
Dilemma
by James Kakalios
by Michael Pollan
"This book goes
through supereheroes
and explains them on a
physical level, explaining
how The Flash can run
faster than his words
and that the Atom
couldn't breath after
shrinking." - - Tom B.
"We all face the problem
of figuring out if a
particular food is
healthy or not. Pollan
relates this to the
dilemma faced by
humans before
civilization. You won't
think the same way
about where your food
The Mind at Night:
The New Science of
How and Why We
Dream
by Andrea Rock
"A non-fiction piece all
about dreaming. It
teaches you lots of cool
stuff you would never
have guessed about
dreaming." -Sabrina
The Signal and the
Noise
by Nate Silver
"Nate Silver blows your
mind with his statistical
analysis of everyday life
- a must-read for
anybody with the
slightest interest in
predictions." -John
The Disappearing
Spoon
Awakenings
by Sam Kean
"For people who like
stories about strange
things. About people
who were born in the
early 1900s with
Parkinson's Disease.
Sacks gives them a drug
that pulls them out of
the trance and records
their experiences." Jack
by Oliver Sacks
"Stories about every
element of the periodic
table. It can be about the
elements themselves,
their discovery, or the
author's experiences
with them." - Jack
Longitude
by Dava Sobel
"About the era in which
nations wanted to learn
how to find their
location at sea. Will
interest people who
want to learn how
clocks work and why
they are important to
the human race - or a
story about greed and all
things human nature."
71
72
SCIENCE PICKS
Nature Anatomy
Weird Life
by Julia Rothman
by David Toomey
"Art and science mingle in a
fascinating visual tour of the
natural world: drawings,
"For students who are
curious about odd and
and unbelievable life
forms - explores the
strangest organisms on a
journey deep in the
ocean, into outer space
and inside our bodies.
A fun and interesting
read." -Kara
diagrams, and
dissections of how
mountains are formed,
the life cycles of
mushrooms, or different
types of bird feathers."
-Kara
What a Plant
Knows
The Forest Unseen
by David George Haskell
by Daniel Chamovitz
"How do plants know
when to sprout, to
bloom, to grow, or to
die? Considers whether
perhaps plants
experience senses as we
do - an interesting and
fun read." -Kara
"A wonderful story of
nature in a mere square
meter of forest. Explains
how this small area of
nature impacts the
wider and greater
ecosystems outside of
the meter." -Kara
Your Inner Fish
Horseshoe Crabs
and Velvetworms
by Neil Shubin
by Richard Fortey
"An intelligent,
exhilarating, and
compelling scientific
adventure story, one
which will change
forever how you
understand what it
means to be human." Kara
"A fun tour around the
world in search of the
oldest species on earth why have these creatures
survived? Wonderfully
written - a page turner
for anyone intrigued by
evolutionary biology."
-Kara
The Best American
Science and Nature
Writing 2015
A Walk in the
Woods
Edited by Deborah Blum
"A wonderful telling by
Bryson of his journey
walking the
Appalachian Trail.
Weaves together a
beautiful story of
adventure as well and
shares his love of nature
along his trek. An easy
and fun read." -Kara
"A yearly compilation of
writings particularly
interesting to anyone
who wants to explore
the many facets of
science." -Kara
by Bill Bryson
SCIENCE PICKS
73
The World
Without Us
The Sixth
Extinction
by Alan Weisman
by Elizabeth Kolbert
"A post-apocalypse with
a twist: if all humans
vanished, how would the
planet react? When
would cities return to
forests? Which pets
would survive better on
their own? How long
would it take for plastic
to decay?" -Myles
"A tour of the five mass
extinctions that have
happened - and a strong
case that we are in the
middle of the sixth.
Explains why
extinctions happen and
what may be ahead - the
loss of 50% of all species
on earth." -Myles
Water
by David Feldman
"Interested in climate
change, biology, public
health, pollution?
Changes in our water
supply are addressed in
this book as ethical
dilemmas - an excellent
look at water from
multiple perspectives"
-Kara
The Brain that
Changes Itself
by Norman Doidge, M.D.
"A great read for anyone
fascinated by
neuroplasticity - can’t
help but “wow” the
reader with the brain’s
ability." - Kara
Cosmos
Packing for Mars
The Curious
Science of Life in
the Void
by Carl Sagan
"Before there was Neil
DeGrasse Tyson, Sagan
was the rock star of
astrophysics. In this
book - and its
accompanying TV series
- he tours the universe
in prose that blends
science with poetry."
-Myles
by Mary Roach
"Will ruin most Sci-Fi
films for you . . . Roach
takes us through the
difficulties of living in
space and how scientists
have figured out ways
for us to adapt and
survive." - Myles
The New Cool:
A Visionary
Teacher, His First
Robotics Team, and
the Ultimate Battle
of Smarts
by Neal Bascomb
"A fun and true story of
a physics teacher and
robotics for people who
like to think about
learning hands on."
-Kara
The Philosophical
Breakfast Club:
Four Remarkable
Friends Who
Transformed
Science and
Changed the World
by Laura J. Snyder
"A combo of history,
biography, and science
and a nice introduction
to the development of
the scientific method."
-Kara
HISTORY PICKS
75
Unbroken
Band of Brothers
by Laura Hillenbrand
by Stephen Ambrose
"Louis goes from almost
running the fastest mile
ever in the Olympics to
being a fighter pilot in
World War II. Shows
you what it is like to be
in POW camps and the
troubles soldiers went
through." -Ted
"This true story follows
one company of WWII
soldiers from training
camp to D-Day to
Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. A
rich history of the war, it
details their petty
squabbles, how they
grow to love and give
their life for each other."
-Maxie
Escape From Camp
14
The Right Stuff
by Blake Harden
"A history of all the
events that happend up
to the Apollo series of
moon-destined
spacecraft. Like a
documentary with lots
of things happening and
good descriptions."
-Hunter
"Between North and
South Korea, there is a
wall. Shin grows up in a
concentration camp,
told that he is better off
in North Korea, even
though he is starving
and abused . . . gives an
inside look on lives in
North Korea." -Emma
by Tom Wolfe
Farther Than Any
Man
The Diary of a
Young Girl
by Martin Dugard
by Anne Frank
"The story of Captain
Cook’s circumnavigation
of the globe, from
England to tropical
reaches to Antarctica
and his failures and
successes, written like a
novel, sure to engage
even those with weakest
sea legs." -Maxie
"This book is about a
girl trying to grow up
and hiding during the
Holocaust. This book is
very moving and shows
you what she was
thinking and how
history can affect
people." -Gardiner
Witches
by Rosalyn Schanzer
"Salem, MA in 1692
was an eventful place:
people were throwing
accusations of witchcraft
at their own children
and families. Following
the lives of ordinary
people living during the
witch trials, a tale of
superstition beyond
belief." -Emma D.
Can’t Stop, Won’t
Stop: A History of
the Hip-Hop
Generation
by Jeff Chang
"A very detailed history,
from DJ Kool Herc’s
beats to Ice T’s gangsta
rap. I love how this book
focuses on Jamaica, LA,
and NYC and the gangs,
parties and DJs that
founded hip-hop." -Leo
76
HISTORY PICKS
The Power of One
Zeitoun
by Bryce Courtenay
by Dave Eggers
"Peekay aspires to be the
boxing champion of the
world, taking him on a
whirlwind adventure
through South Africa, a
harshly racist society.
Makes the reader think
about the terrible
treatment of black
South Africans."
-Maxie
"A Syrian painter preps
for Hurricane Katrina just a summer storm, he
thinks. After it hits, he
sets out in a canoe to
rescue people and is
arrested by vigilante
police. About survival,
love, and
misunderstanding"
-Anna
The Absolutely
True Diary of a
Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
"Arnold, 13, struggles to
fit in on an Indian
reservation. Skinny as a
rail, self-conscious about
his heritage, rejected by
his friends. and very
smart. Can he win?"
-Walker
Monster
by Walter Dean Myers
"Steve has a tough
background and he’s on
trial for murder.
Throughout the book,
Myers believes that
Steve shouldn’t be
charged with murder.
But he never explains
why, and that makes it
more dramatic." -LBCjr
The Secret Life of
Bees
The Mirage
by Matt Ruff
by Sue Monk Kidd
"Completely twists
around history betwen
the Middle East and
America: what would
happen if, on 11/9/2001,
Christian
fundamentalists flew
planes into two towers
in Baghdad - and the
Arab world invaded
America?" -Josie
"In 1964, Lily Owens
decides to leave her
hometown in South
Carolina to find out
more about her mother.
You get to experience
real southern life through food, clothing,
and speech." -Kate
The Iliad
by Homer, trans. Stanley
Lombardo
"Shows you the brutal
reality of war and the
fictional glory in it.
With many sacrifices,
heartbreaking stories,
and witty plans to
outsmart the enemy, this
is an awe-inspiring
poem about the the
Trojan War." -Tom
A Tree Grows in
Brooklyn
by Betty Smith
"In 1901, Francie Nolan
is born in a tiny house
in the midst of
Brooklyn, New York.
The book covers her
whole young life while
living in poverty. One of
the most beautiful books
I’ve ever read." -Julia
HISTORY PICKS
77
Eugene Yelchin
Roland Smith
"Two novels from the
era of Stalinism: in
Breaking Stalin’s Nose, a
boy fears the
repercussions when his
father falls from grace.
In Arkady’s Goal, a
young boy tries to take
refuge in soccer. Kids'
perspectives on what
totalitarianism feels
like." -LBCjr
"A teenager has a
different international
adventure in every book
- e.g. Jaguar; Elephant
Run; Thunder Cave;
and Peak. The Captain’s
Dog is something else
entirely: the Lewis and
Clark Expedition
narrated by
Merriweather Lewis’
dog." -LBCjr
Jean Fritz
Paul Fleischmann
"A grande dame of
historical fiction - for
children of all ages.
MSers can graduate to
titles like, Bully for You,
Teddy Roosevelt;
China’s Long March:
6000 Miles of Danger;
and Make Way for Sam
Houston." -LBCjr
"A daring, innovative
modern novelist - who’s
also a poet. Bull Run is
probably best here - a
window into the Civil
War via a variety of
character monologues.
But see also titles like
Path of the Pale Horse
and Saturnalia." -LBCjr
Scott O'Dell
The Astonishing
Life of Octavian
Nothing : Volumes I
& II
"A master of
understated, poetic
prose: Island of the Blue
Dolphins - and many
other beautiful historical
novels - Thunder
Rolling in the
Mountains; My Name is
Not Angelica; and The
King’s Fifth." -LBCjr
by M.T. Anderson
"Innovative, stimulating,
rich with period detail
and language from the
18th century. A young
slave is raised by
enlightened, scientific
gentlemen. But he
escapes ..." -LBCjr
The Foundation
Trilogy
by Isaac Asimov
"Famous trilogy by the
master of golden age
Sci-Fi and one of the
clearest writers our
students will ever
encounter. A “psychohistorian” - seeks to
preserve and extend the
knowledge of the
Galaxy" -LBCjr
The Horatio
Hornblower Series
by C.S. Forester
"I’d encourage MSers
to learn what it might
have been like to have
been a mere teen-ager
and have command of
grown seamen in
these stories of Great
Britain’s Napoleanic
navy." -LBCjr
78
LITERARY PICKS
79
The Call of the
Wild
Pride & Prejudice
by Jack London
"A spunky 19th-century
girl goes to fancy parties
and massive mansions,
encountering vain men,
greedy sisters, lovely
ladies, and poor friends.
Drama, humor, and
romance captures the
life of a very unusual girl
and her 5 sisters."
-Hannah
by Jane Austen
"Beautifully portrays the
story of a pampered dog,
Buck, sent to the
Alaskan wild.
Kidnapped to be used as
a sled dog for money,
Buck toughens and
learns of the Alaskan
north and the wild heart
of wolves." -Brandt
A Little Princess
Robinson Crusoe
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
by Daniel DeFoe
"Crewe has every luxury
- fancy clothes, a
servant, and friends at
her boarding school. But
when her father dies
and she loses everything,
she has to work at the
school, sleep in the attic,
and face being hungry
and cold. Will she ever
get home?" -Julia
"Crusoe's adventures are
truly some of the best I
have ever read. Though
the beginning is slow,
the action-packed
second half of the book
makes up for it with
much to spare."
-Dominic
Wuthering Heights
Jane Eyre
by Emily Bronte
by Charlotte Bronte
"This novel weaves
horror, friendship,
romance and revenge
into a tale of death,
expectations, and
betrayal among a family
and an adopted boy
living on an isolated
windy summit."
-Hannah
"Filled with romance,
snobby family members,
scary secrets in attics,
horrible schools, and
much more - this book
is an adventure, a
thrilling, emotional
read." -Lilac
I Capture the Castle
by Dodie Smith
"The story of sisters
living in a crumbling
castle nestled within the
rolling hills of England.
Two wealthy American
men come along and
give them a glimpse of a
wealthy life. How far
will they go to get it?"
-Hannah
The Collected
Stories of Sherlock
Holmes
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
"Holmes and his
colleague Watson solve
mysteries - from
pickpockets to coldblooded murders. Richly
describes the city of
London through back
alleys and sneaking
thieves." - Ted
80
LITERARY PICKS
Dune
Beowulf
Translated by
Seamus Heaney
by Frank Herbert
"A compelling story line
full of tough societal
questions. Paul Atreides
is the heir to House
Atreides in a futuristic
feudalistic universe that
revolves around the
spice and the planet
Dune, the sole producer
of the spice - a
masterpiece." -Ben
"A Scandinavian poem
about a man who kills a
monster named Grendel
and rises to kingship but Grendel isn’t the
only monster that
prowls the forest. About
power, glory, and
trickery, and the
thinking of a 'true
warrior'" -Tom Bax.
The Illustrated
Man
Brave New World
by Ray Bradbury
"A regular dystopia
novel’s point is,
'Wouldn’t things be
terrible if they were like
this?' But the point of
this novel is that in a
perfect world, we would
have to give up even
more important things."
-Roby
"From an electronic
nursery gone wrong to a
spaceship unable to
return to earth,
Bradbury weaves tales of
mystery and suspense,
letting the reader
experience frightening
futuristic possibilities."
-Alex
by Aldous Huxley
Frankenstein
I, Robot
by Mary Shelly
by Isaac Asimov
"This book is not about
a mindless monster with
bolts in its neck but
instead focuses on a
scientist who has
created life and is
dealing with the
sometimes terrible
consequences of doing
so." -Wyatt
"A collection of short
stories set in a future
where we have robots to
carry out our every
bidding. Each story
deals with big questions,
such as 'when is
something actually
‘alive?'” -Wyatt
Hyperion
by Dan Simmons
"Seven pilgrims venture
to a distant world and
confront a mysterious
creature. On their
journey, the pilgrims tell
different stories of what
brought them on this
pilgrimage. One of the
best books I have ever
read." -Wyatt
Alice's Adventures
in Wonderland
By Lewis Carroll
"The classic story of a
girl named Alice who
discovers a whole new
mixed-up world when
she falls down a rabbit
hole. This book has
crazy characters but a
clear plot - if you have a
big imagination." Annaliese
LITERARY PICKS
Langston Hughes
81
Emily Dickinson
"A time-and-space
machine to the speed,
sounds, and styles of
Harlem in the 1920s.
The simple force of his
poems about racism,
identity, ancestry, and
anger shifted my ideas
about what poetry was
and could do." - Myles
"'If I feel physically as if
the top of my head were
taken off, I know that is
poetry" - I once drove
through a snowstorm to
a marathon reading of
her 1800+ poems
(mostly unread in her
lifetime) just to take the
top of my head off with
other Emilyheads."
-Myles
Songs of Innocence
and Experience
Tao Te Ching
by William Blake
"These ancient Chinese
poems are philosophical
puzzles that can be
solved in different ways.
For me, they have
opened up a larger, more
mysterious, more
ponderous perspective
on the nature of things."
-Myles
"Near nursury rhymes
are flipped around to
reveal their reverse:
"The Lamb" becomes
"The Tyger," one of the
strangest, most
imaginative poems in
English. Wild, weird
engavings to go with
each poem." -Myles
by Lao-Tzu
e.e. cummings
Edward Lear
"Why is 'rpophessagr' a
better way to say
'grasshopper'? What
story could you tell
about a man named
'Anyone'? And why
doesn't he capitalize his
name like everybody
else? cummings plays
with language in order
to find hidden truths in
his poems." -Myles
"Is there any sense to be
found in nonsense? Lear
wrote absurdly silly
limericks - and the
beautiful children's story
"The Owl and the
Pussycat" - but his love
of language, imagery,
and imagination are
those of a true poet."
-Myles
Wilfred Owen
Mary Oliver
"It's hard to anyone in
the batttlefields of
WWI feeling in the
mood to write poetry.
But Owen used the
form as way to work
through the
unimaginable horrors he
witnessed and to capture
the human toll of
modern warfare as no
other form of writing
can." - Myles
"Like a scientist, Oliver
tracks her observations
and insights about her
subjects as she
bushwacks through the
outdoors. Most nature
poems are appreciations
of animals, plants, or
landscapes, but Oliver's
transform the way we
see the living world and ourselves." -Myles
82
Middle School
Summer
Reading
Program
at Sabot
Read! Read! Read! Read!
Read!
Choose (at least!) five new books and
read 'em! Not only "new" in the sense
that you haven't read it before - try new
writers, new genres, new subjects, new
ideas . . .
5
Read History!
Read Science!
Read Literature!
83
Choose (at least!) one book out of the
five books you read that is either a
history book (fiction or non-fiction), a
science book (fiction or non-fiction),
or a "literary" book (a "classic", or
poetry, or award-winning
contemporary fiction .
This guide is full of recommendations
from students and teachers for each
kind of book (you're also free to find
your own) - look for these symbols in
the students' picks:
L
LS H
S
HLH
Capture Your Ideas!
Find a way to capture (at least!) three ideas about each
book (at least!)
3
When you're reading the right book, your head should be
filled with fireflies - thoughts, responses, and connections,
glowing and blinking and bumping into each other. But if
you don't capture these ideas, they fade into the
summertime dusk. So we ask you find a way to capture
your ideas while reading in order to look back on and
share them later.
See the pg. 85 for different ideas about how to capture
ideas while reading.
84
Finding the
"Just Right"
Book
BABY BEAR
Video game creators follow two aims in their
design: 1) to create experiences where players
feel accomplished and make progress every time
they play, and 2) stay challenged while they
pursue the next level of complexity. They call
this "the zone" - and while video games could
be the enemy of summer reading, they can also
be used as a model for finding your perfect
"reading zone" . . .
JUST RIGHT
GRIZZLY
BEAR
Read the
blurbs . . .
Read the first
paragraph . . .
Read the first
chapter . . .
Halfway
through . . .
After
reading . . .
Note on Content
As the standards, sensitivities, and stomachs of Sabot readers and families vary widely, we do
not restrict what students recommend in this guide. A few may contain themes, scenes, or
uses of language that some middle schoolers are not comfortable with. As the majority are
widely-accepted as books appropriate for MS readers, only those that are primarily written for
a non-adolescent audience and contain scenes of violence, sexuality, or offensive language have
been marked with a "Parental Review" symbol - indicating that families should check
out the book if they're concerned about what their children might encounter in their reading.
Capturing
Your Ideas
While
Reading
Capture a minimum of three ideas for each
of the five books you read this summer.
You should keep track of your ideas
throughout your reading - a rough
guideline might be to stop and reflect at
the beginning, middle, and end. Here are
some ways you can capture ideas while
making your way through a book - figure
out which works best for you.
85
Post-It Notes
GoogleDoc
Notebook
Fill out each note with
a complete idea - and
then stick it right next
to the passage that
inspired it.
Type up thoughts
about your reading on a
Google Dox - it wil
save automatically and
you can access from
any computer with
internet.
Keep track of quotes,
characters, and, most of
all, your ideas. Portable
and tactile!
Voice Recorder
Video Recording
Illustrated Sketch
Speak your mind into a
tape recorder, portable
device, or computer
program while you read
and reflect.
Present your ideas
about your book using
a web cam or video
camera - extra gold
stars for dramatic
readings.
Visualize a character,
scene, or image from
your reading in a sketch,
drawing, or painting, and
write down your
thoughts beneath, next to
it, or around it.
86
Title
Author
Source of
Recommendation
87
Title
Author
Source of
Recommendation