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Grades 6, 7 & 8

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Real Fiction

Colibri

Colibri by Ann Cameron
Kidnapped as a little child, and used to beg and steal by her kidnapper, this Mayan girl becomes resourceful and finds a better life. Set in Central America.


Heartbeat

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech
The story of 12 year old Annie, her family and friends, by the author of the very popular Walk Two Moons.


Secret Language of Girls

Secret Language of Girls by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Marylin and Kate have been friends since nursery school, but when Marylin becomes a middle school cheerleader and Kate develops others interests, their friendship is put to the test.


Heck, Superhero

Heck, Superhero by Martine Leavitt
Is Heck really the superhero he imagines, or a 13 year old kid trying to survive?


Pictures in the Dark

Pictures in the Dark by Patricia McCord
Sara, 12 and Carlie, 15, try to improve life with an unpredictable mother
Alice on Her Way

Alice on Her Way by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
One of many of the “Alice” books, which chronicle a young girl’s life. In this one, 9th grade Alice and her three friends work as camp counselors.

Boy from the Basement

Boy from the Basement by Susan Shaw
A 12 year old boy who has been kept in the basement most of his life, finds himself in the outside world and must learn about a more normal life.

Inside Out

Inside Out by Terry Trueman
A sixteen-year-old with schizophrenia is caught up in the events surrounding an attempted robbery by two other teens, who eventually hold him hostage.

Fire-Eaters

Fire-Eaters by David Almond
This story of the menace and sweetne
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Historical Fiction

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
12 year old Moose adapts to his life on Alcatraz during the 1930’s, when Capone was a prisoner there.


Iqbal

Iqbal by Francesco D’Adamo
A fictionalized account of the short life of the Pakistani boy who escaped from slavery in a carpet factory to help liberate other children from such bondage.


Willoughby Spit Wonder

Willoughby Spit Wonder by Jonathan Scott Fuqua
Carter’s father is sick and Carter must do something amazing to show him how to fight. He enters the waters of Willoughby Spit on the Chesapeake Bay during a hurricane! Set in 1953.
In Darkness, Death

In Darkness, Death by Dorothy Hoobler
In eighteenth century Japan, Seikei meets a ninja and helps investigate the murder of a samurai.


Day of Tears

Day of Tears by Julius Lester
This story is based on an actual event: the biggest slave auction in history, in Georgia in 1859. The ultimate betrayal occurs when Master Butler sells his own daughter’s best friend. (Includes a list of slaves sold on that day and the prices paid for them.)


Private Peaceful

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
Two brothers’ experiences in the British army during World War 1.
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Humor

My Brother the Robot

My Brother the Robot by Bonny Becker
When his father buys a SIMON robot, advertised as “the perfect son”, Chip has some very funny difficulties with his new “brother”.


This Island Isn’t Big Enough for the Four of Us

This Island Isn’t Big Enough for the Four of Us by Gery Greer
Peter and Scott excitedly plan a camping trip to a deserted island, only to arrive and discover that two girls with zany senses of humor are already there!
No More Dead Dogs

No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman
Eighth grade football hero, Wallace Wallace, is sentenced to detention attending rehearsals of the school play. He gets involved in the show!

Science Fiction

City of Ember

City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
The city of Ember was built deep underground as a last refuge for the human race. The city is in trouble, and Lina and Doon must decipher a message to save the city.


Eager

Eager by Helen Fox
Unlike Grumps, their old-fashioned robot, the Bell family’s new robot, Eager, is programmed to not merely obey but to question, reason, and exercise free will.
Eager

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
In Tally’s futuristic world, everyone has an operation at age sixteen to become incredibly gorgeous, but there is a dark side. As Tally begins to understand that the “pretty” world is not so pretty, she must choose: either betray her friends or be an ugly forever.
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Fantasy

Doctor Illuminatus

Doctor Illuminatus by Martin Booth
Pip and her twin brother Tim move to an old English estate, which turns out to house a boy from the year 1430. The three battle the evil alchemist, Loudeac. Many scary moments.


Gregor the Overlander

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger an epic battle involving men, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders!


The Hollow Kingdom

The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle
In nineteenth century England, Kate becomes convinced someone is watching her and she is right. The goblin king has selected her to be his bride. Lots of eerie atmosphere!


I, Coriander

I, Coriander by Sally Gardner
With an enchanted prince, an evil stepmother and shimmering mysteries of fairyland, this fantasy set in 17th century London is also historical fiction.
Goose Girl

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
En route to marry a prince she has never met, Princess Anidori is betrayed and must be a goose girl until she can reclaim her crown.


The Wish

The Wish by Gail Carson Levine
Life gets crazy for eighth grader Wilma when she gets her wish to be the most popular girl in school.


Airborn

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Matt and his new friend Kate seek mysterious winged creatures, amid many dangers, including pirates. The setting is an airship: the atmosphere is 18th century.
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Short Story Collections

American Eyes

American Eyes Edited by Lori Carlson
These ten stories reflect the conflict Asian- Americans face in balancing an ancient heritage and an unknown future.


I Believe in Water: 12 Brushes with Religion

I Believe in Water: 12 Brushes with Religion Edited by Marilyn Singer
A collection of stories exploring topics of religion and belief.


Science Fiction Stories

Science Fiction Stories Edited by Edward Blishen
A collection of 20
Sports Stories

Sports Stories Edited by Alan Durant
A swimmer determined to beat his rival: a woman jockey proving herself in a male-dominated sport: the football player in search of glory. Fast moving tales of hardships and triumphs.


Thirteen 13

Thirteen 13 Edited by James Howe
Thirteen stories that capture the agony and ecstasy of being thirteen.


Dead Man’s Gold and Other Stories

Dead Man’s Gold and Other Stories Edited by Paul Yee
Tales of Chinese immigrants traveling to North America,
capturing the hardships suffered by the poor and the hope
experienced by those in search
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Adventure

Raven’s Gate

Raven’s Gate by Anthony Horowitz
The first title in the Gatekeeper series, by the author of the popular and suspenseful Alex Rider books. This one is suspenseful and creepy: Matt encounters the ancient portal to the world of evil.
Dark Horse

Dark Horse by Marcus Sedgwick
In this gripping tale of dark enchantment, the reader is plunged into the life of an isolated tribe and the threat of the fierce invaders known as the Dark Horse. Fast-paced, with a hint of magic

Biography, Autobiography

Thura’s Diary: My Life in Wartime Iraq

Thura’s Diary: My Life in Wartime Iraq by Thura Al-Windawi
Nineteen year old Thura began keeping this diary a week before the first American bombs fell in Baghdad. Tells of her family’s feelings during the war and her struggle to return to school.


Going Solo

Going Solo by Roald Dahl
The author’s account of his adventures working in Africa and as a young World War II fighter pil
Soul Surfer

Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton
Bethany Hamilton, a teenage surfer lost her arm in a shark attack off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Not even the loss of her arm keeps her from returning to surfi ng, the sport she loves.


Breaking Through

Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez
The story of a determined boy who came to Ca
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