Castilleja Library Recommended Pleasure Reading - 2014

CASTILLEJA SCHOOL LIBRARY

Recommended Pleasure Reading Grades 6 through 12

LIBRARY

Recommended Pleasure Reading Grades 6 through 12

Cover photo by Anne Li ’14 Š Copyright 2014 Espinosa Library For the electronic version of this document, please visit http://library.castilleja.org

Recommended Pleasure Reading Grades 6 through 12 Your Castilleja librarians have developed this list to help you find some great books to read in your free time. You’ll notice that we have not included some of the best-known recent titles.

Instead, we tried to choose titles you may not have heard of yet. Our list includes books from many genres, and you will find a guide to the symbols we use for the genres below. There are things here for every kind of reader.

We have expanded our list this year to include materials of interest to both middle school and upper school students. Books for older teen readers can include some mature content. Each title in this list is accompanied by a suggested grade range, taken from School Library Journal or Scholastic. Books originally published for adults are noted as “adult for teens.” Be sure to take note of this when making your selections.

If you read something excellent, we’d love to hear about it. Happy reading!

Key to Genres Adventure

Fantasy/Science Fiction

Historical Fiction

Modern Classics

Mystery

Realistic Fiction

After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson In 1996 New York, three girls bond over their love of Tupac Shakur’s music, though only one of them, D, has a life experience similar to the rapper’s. Their friendship leads to a growing understanding of race and class. Grades 6-10.

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel In this steampunk adventure, an airship cabin boy and an adventurous, rich young woman search for the mysterious creatures called cloud cats in the atmosphere high above Earth. (3-book series.) Grades 6-10.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor Sunny isn’t just an outcast because she’s an American living in Nigeria—she just learned she’s a part of a group of humans with magical powers. As she and her friends master their skills, they use them to track down a dangerous killer. Grades 6 and up.

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce Alanna of Trebond trades places with her twin brother so that she can train to become a knight. Her path is filled with adventure, sorcery, and the beginning of self-knowledge. (4-book series.) Grades 5-8.

And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard After her boyfriend’s suicide, Emily Beam transfers to a boarding school in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she begins to heal with the help of poetry, two new friends, and the spirit of Emily Dickinson. Grades 9 and up.

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden This groundbreaking novel is the story of two teenage girls whose friendship deepens into love. The unfolding of their relationship has profound effects on them and the people around them. Grades 9 and up.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz In 1987 El Paso, Ari, angry and troubled by his brother’s incarceration, meets Dante, who teaches him to swim. Dante’s warm personality helps Ari grapple with his identity and learn to love in this beautifully written novel. Grades 9 and up.

2

Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch When the rest of her immigrant family return to Ireland, Rose must fend for herself and her younger sister in New York City. Her struggle to survive reaches a climax with the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911. Grades 6-9.

Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross In the late-19th century, Maude runs away to live a glamorous life in Paris. But her new job is misleading: she has been hired to be an ugly foil for members of high society so they will look more beautiful next to her. She finds an unexpected friend and struggles to reconcile her job with this friendship. Grades 6-8.

Blessing’s Bead by Debby Dahl Edwardson In 1917, sisters are separated when Aaluk marries a wealthy Siberian and Nutaaq narrowly survives the influenza epidemic. In 1986, Nutaaq’s great-granddaughter Blessing leaves Anchorage to live with her grandmother, where a serendipitous discovery leads her to learn her Inupiaq family’s history. Grades 8 and up.

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale In this retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s “Maid of Maleen,” a maid shares her lady’s years of imprisonment in a tower and finally helps her escape to the land of the man she is secretly betrothed to. Grades 5-9.

Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang This duet of graphic novels examines the Boxer Rebellion of 1899-1900 from the perspectives of two Chinese children. In Boxers, Little Bao vows to protect his rural village from the religious zealots attacking it; in Saints, Vibiana finds solace when she converts to Catholicism and becomes a missionary. Grades 9 and up.

3

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Bruno, nine-year-old son of an ambitious Nazi officer, uncomprehendingly sees the prison camp Auschwitz from the safe side of the tall fence around the camp—until he finds a hole in the fence and crawls through to the other side.

Grades 9 and up.

A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper Set in 1936 on the fictional island nation of Montmaray, this book chronicles the life and times of the FitzOsbornes, the last generations of a royal family, from the perspective of 16-year-old Sophie, whose witty observations help make light of the shadow of Germany’s expanding empire. (3-book series.) Grades 7-10.

The Caged Graves by Dianne K. Salerni Verity is moving to Pennsylvania, where she’ll be able to meet her fiancé for the first time. But her excitement is short-lived; she is shocked to find her mother’s grave enclosed in an iron cage and unconsecrated. By reading her mother’s diaries, Verity begins to understand why. Grades 8 and up.

The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd It’s 2015, and climate change has led to such environmental disaster that England has imposed severe carbon rationing. Laura chronicles the punishing effects on her family and friends in this eco-thriller diary. (Has sequel.) Grades 8 and up.

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer The much younger sister of Sherlock Holmes flees to London in disguise to look for their missing mother—and becomes involved in the kidnapping of a young aristocrat. (6-book series.) Grades 4-8.

4

Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jonah sets out to write a book about the atom bomb but ends up learning more than he wants to know about a scientifically modified ice that will destroy the world. This classic novel is at once a gloomy and very funny vision of the future.

Adult for teens.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, teenaged slave Isabel is sold to a cruel Loyalist couple. She tries to win her freedom by spying for the Patriot army—and soon learns that it’s hard to know whom to trust. (Has sequel.) Grades 6-10.

Charm and Strange by Stephanie Kuehn

Andrew Winston Winters has a hard time reconciling himself: he is both Win, as quiet as it is cold in Vermont, where he attends boarding school and keeps a dark secret; and Drew, the middle child in a family with a terrifying father. This gripping, literary tale unfolds over a year and deals with grief, family, and friendship.

Grades 8 and up.

Chasing Shadows by Swati Avasthi In this hybrid prose and comics novel, Savitri is best friends with Holly, whose twin brother was Savitri’s boyfriend before he was murdered. But Holly is convinced her brother is not really dead and, inspired by the Hindu myths she learned from Savitri, enters the mystical Shadowlands in search of him. Grades 8 and up.

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier In this classic story of a nonconforming teen confronting the system, ninth grader Jerry Renault refuses to participate in his school’s annual chocolate sale—and pays a cruel price. (Has sequel.) Grades 8 and up.

5

Coraline by Neil Gaiman When Coraline and her parents move to a new house, her parents are busy and distracted. She finds a portal into a parallel world where she has parents who dote on her, but this world grows increasingly more horrifying when Coraline sees the lengths they’ll go to in order to keep her there. Grades 6-8.

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan Willow Chance is a genius, and it doesn’t win her many friends. But the one friend she has is a good one whose family takes Willow in when her parents die in a car crash. Willow might think she’s on the edge of society, watching the world, but she has a great impact on others. Grades 5-8.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon Christopher Boone discovers his neighbor’s dog stabbed to death with a garden tool. Despite his fears, the autistic, mathematically gifted teen decides to investigate. This is a classic murder mystery—and much more.

Adult for teens.

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock D.J. spends the summer doing all the chores on her family’s farm, in addition to helping train the attractive quarterback of her school’s rival football team. Then she decides to try out for the sport herself. (3-book series.) Grades 7 and up.

The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding Orphan Cat Royal knows that a valuable diamond is hidden in the theater where th she lives. In this thriller set in the 18 century, she and her friends must find the diamond before others do. (6-book series.) Grades 6-8.

6

The Diviners by Libba Bray Flapper Evie moves to New York City and is immediately thrust into the world of numbers runners, musicians, dancers and thieves. A psychic gift allows her to learn about a person from handling something that belongs to them. This comes in handy when a serial killer begins to strike. Grades 10 and up.

Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah Sixteen-year-old Australian Amal decides to start wearing the hijab full-time as a mark of her Muslim faith, and she must deal with the consequences—both funny and more serious. Grades 7 and up.

Doll Bones by Holly Black Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been playing their elaborate, imaginative game for years, but Zach’s dad thinks his son is too old to play with “dolls.” To end the game properly, they must take the Queen, an old china doll, on a journey to put a ghost to rest. Grades 4-7.

Duchessina by Carolyn Meyer Young Catherine de’ Medici yearns to reclaim glory and power for her famous family, but first she must find a way to leave the secluded convent where she grew up and then avoid an arranged marriage. Grades 5-9.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell In 1986, Eleanor and Park meet on the school bus. They’re both outcasts— Eleanor because she’s the overweight new girl, Park because he’s half Korean.

They trade comic books, become unlikely allies, and begin to fall in love. Grades 9 and up.

7

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis In this fresh fairy tale mash-up, Sunday Woodcutter meets a talking frog who will change her life. Kissing him back into a prince is just the beginning of this humorous tale of beanstalks, fairy godmothers, and age-old family feuds. (Has sequel.) Grades 7-9.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card Ender Wiggins just may have the perfect combination of compassion and competitiveness to save the world. But as he wins his way up through the ranks of an army of child soldiers, can he keep these two sides in balance? And what will it mean to win? (5-book series.) Grades 7 and up.

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

Lucky Linderman has been bullied by Nader for years and has recurring dreams about his grandfather, who went MIA in Vietnam decades ago. After an especially dangerous incidence of bullying, Lucky spends the summer in Arizona, where the people he meets give him a new perspective. Funny and poignant. Grades 9 and up.

The False Princess by Eilis O’Neal Princess Nalia learns that she is a stand-in for the real princess, who has been in hiding for many years. Nalia, now called Sinda, lives as a peasant until she discovers her own magic and another deception that will change the kingdom.

Grades 7 and up.

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Lumatere’s royal family has been murdered, an imposter made king, and the land cursed. Young Finnikin, exiled for a decade, meets the mysterious girl Evanjalin with prophetic dreams, and they begin a quest to free their land. (3-book series.) Grades 8 and up.

8

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson On his birthday, Bobby, a carefree New York City teenager, learns that his girlfriend is pregnant. The social worker says they should give the baby up for adoption. What can Bobby do? (Has two companion novels.) Grades 8 and up.

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

A light-skinned African American girl dreams of being a pilot like her father.

When the United States enters World War II, she pretends to be white in order to become a member of WASP—the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots.

Grades 6-10.

The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler A jewel is stolen at the Tokaido Inn, and young Seikei risks his life to speak out for a girl accused of the crime. His bravery leads famous Judge Ooka to hire him to help solve the mysterious crime. (6-book series.) Grades 6-8.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Elisa isn’t just a princess. She also possesses the Godstone, a mystical jewel bestowed upon one person destined for greatness. Despite having a touch of magic in her, she has low self-esteem and overeats to cope. After an arranged marriage, she is forced into a tough journey across the desert, where she learns about the strength she has inside her. (3-book series.) Grades 7 and up.

Golden Boy by Tara Sullivan

Set in contemporary Tanzania, this book draws attention to a little-known human rights issue. Habo has been ostracized his whole life for being a zeruzeru, an albino person. Local folklore says that the body parts of an albino bring good luck.

He and his family journey to a new town in hopes of a better life, but a poacher sets his sights on Habo. Grades 8 and up.

9

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman Lyra loves her free-spirited life in a fantasy version of Oxford, England. But everything changes when her friend Roger disappears and she sets out on a dangerous magical journey to find him. (3-book series.) Grades 7 and up.

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

During World War II, Dewey moves to the military base at Los Alamos, New Mexico, to be with her father. There, she meets distinguished scientists and spends her time tinkering with her own engineering projects—making her an outcast among the other girls her age. Little does she know, her father is working on a project that will change the world forever. (Has sequel.) Grades 5-8.

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman A lonely teenage girl gets a job in a library with a special collection of rare objects from the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales. When the objects start to go missing, she must lead the dangerous rescue effort. (Has companion novel.) Grades 6-9.

Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell Matilda would rather be a scribe than a princess, especially since everyone believes her crippled foot means she’s cursed and shouldn’t rule. When the opportunity presents itself, she sets off, never guessing that learning to slay dragons will teach her how much she cares about her royal family. Grades 6-8.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown A teen girl deals with survivor’s guilt and shame for the hate list she and her boyfriend created, which became the list of victims he attacked when committing a school shooting. Grades 8 and up.

10

Heist Society by Ally Carter Katarina Bishop has conned her way into an exclusive boarding school. But she is framed by a former friend and expelled—all so that she can head a team of teenaged art thieves hoping to steal back a stolen painting and save her father’s life. (4-book series.) Grades 6-10.

His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik In this adventure set during the Napoleonic Wars, ship captain Will Laurence is suddenly forced into the dragon aerial corps—and with his young dragon Temeraire becomes a new kind of hero. (8-book series.) Adult for teens.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Just before Earth is demolished to make way for a cosmic freeway, Arthur Dent is whisked into space by his friend Ford Prefect, and they set off on a rollicking and hilarious adventure through the galaxy. (5-book series.) Adult for teens.

Hold Fast by Blue Balliett Early’s father has gone missing, and her family must move to a shelter after a break in at their home. When the police prove uninterested in Early’s father’s disappearance, she begins to follow the trail of clues herself. Grades 6-9.

Hostage Three by Nick Lake Amy grudgingly goes on a yacht trip her father arranges so that she will bond with her stepmother, but her angst turns to real fear when their boat is boarded by Somali pirates. She must forge a bond with their interpreter, Farouz, and confront family issues if she has any chance of surviving. Grades 8 and up.

11

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith Cassandra, who lives in a ramshackle English castle, wants to be a writer. Her witty and thoughtful journal entries cover her eccentric relatives, the new American family in the neighborhood, and her first romance. Adult for teens.

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

Mary Shelley Black moves in with her young aunt in San Diego just as the influenza epidemic of 1918 hits and the Spiritualism movement’s séances become the zeitgeist. Though a firm believer in science, Mary Shelley’s convictions are tested when her childhood friend dies and seems to be communicating from beyond the grave. Grades 8 and up.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher Finn is trapped inside Incarceron, a futuristic prison that actually thinks and acts; Claudia, daughter of the prison warden, is about to be trapped in an arranged marriage. Can they help each other escape? (Has sequel.) Grades 7 and up.

The Indigo Notebook by Laura Resau The latest home for Zeeta and her mother is a mountain village in Ecuador. There, Zeeta meets an American boy searching for his birthparents. She helps him in what becomes a mysterious and dangerous adventure. (3-book series.) Grades 6-9.

Irises by Francisco X. Stork Kate and Mary must grow up fast and tackle complex problems of faith, ethics, and their future when their father dies, leaving them with a mother in a persistent vegetative state and many choices to make. Grades 9 and up.

12

Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh In the late-16th century, a series of events including a kidnapping and a doomed romance leads Jepp, a dwarf, to the castle of Tycho Brahe, where he becomes the famous astronomer’s court entertainer. Inspired by Danish history, this book asks how much one can control one’s fate. Grades 7 and up.

The Jumbee by Pamela Keyes Esti, beginning a theater program in the West Indies, becomes obsessed with a mysterious male presence whose voice comes only to her as she rehearses. In a dramatic finale, she faces some shocking truths. Inspired by The Phantom of the Opera. Grades 8 and up.

Karma by Cathy Ostlere

Maya and her father arrive in India at the pivotal moment of Indira Gandhi’s assassination. When the city erupts in chaos, the two are separated, and Maya is struck mute by after witnessing the horrors of violent protests. Maya’s diary and that of Sandeep, a kind new friend, record their experiences in this moving novel in verse. Grades 8 and up.

The Last Girls of Pompeii by Kathryn Lasky It’s Pompeii in 79 A.D. Two girls—one, a wealthy girl with a deformity; the other, her beautiful slave—find their lives utterly changed when Mount Vesuvius erupts.

Grades 6-8.

Legend by Marie Lu Fifteen-year-old June is being groomed for a brilliant military career in her dystopian society. Day, a teen from the slums, is the society’s most wanted criminal. The two are pitted against each other in a deadly conflict. (3-book series.) Grades 8 and up.

13

The Living by Matt de la Peña Shy’s summer job on a cruise ship ends when a tsunami wrecks the ship and leaves him on a life raft with snooty Addie in this realistic fiction thriller that explores class dynamics, racial politics, and climate change. Grades 9 and up.

Locked in Time by Lois Duncan Nore’s new stepmother is unnaturally beautiful and never seems to age. But she is much more than she appears. In this exciting thriller, Nore is the only one aware of the supernatural reason behind her stepfamily’s strange existence. Grades 7 and up.

London Calling by Edward Bloor In Martin’s recurring dreams, a boy from World War II London asks for his help.

Martin travels back in time to the London Blitz—and learns some truths about his family and about how he wants to live his own life. Grades 6-9.

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd Ted watches his cousin Salim board the London Eye (the largest observation wheel in the world), but Salim never comes off. Ted, who has something like Asperger’s syndrome, and his sister race against time as they search for Salim.

Grades 5-8.

The Loud Silence of Francine Green by Karen Cushman Francine’s eighth grade year at a Catholic school in Los Angeles is punctuated by the appearance of a new girl, duck-and-cover drills, and ethical questions about McCarthyism as the United States moves into the Cold War. Grades 5-9.

14

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick Set on a tiny island in the Arctic north, this novel told in seven stories moves through time, starting in 2073 and going all the way back to the time of the Vikings. Mysteriously, the same characters seem to appear in each story. Grades 9 and up.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforth After the death of her parents, Cameron moves to a conservative Minnesota town with her aunt. When her aunt discovers that Cameron is a lesbian, she sends her to a gay conversion camp, where Cameron learns to process guilt and be herself through the help of her new friends. Grades 10 and up.

A Moment Comes by Jennifer Bradbury Three teens (one British, one Muslim, one Sikh) narrate and react to the events of 1947 as Pakistan separates from India. Grades 8 and up.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (from an idea by Siobhan Dowd) Conor’s mother has cancer, and he is visited by monsters in terrible nightmares.

But then a monster actually appears, offering three stories and demanding from Conor a fourth story—one that will tell the painful truth. Grades 7 and up.

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger Musical theater, baseball, social activism, friendship, and love come together in this warm and witty story—told in e-mails, diary entries, IMs, and more—about three teens doing a school report on their “most excellent year.” Grades 8-11.

15

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher Five years after a terrorist attack killed his sister, 10-year-old Jamie’s family continues to crumble, as his mother leaves and his father lets his grief turn to anger. The family moves to the countryside for a fresh start, but more challenges await them. Grades 8 and up.

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool New boy in school Jack befriends resident outcast Early. Early is obsessed with the number Pi and is convinced that it holds the answer to his brother’s presumed death. He convinces Jack to come along on a quest to save Pi. An tale of selfdiscovery with an unusual view of math thrown in. Grades 6-9.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Kathy and her friends grow up at Hailsham, a boarding school that teaches vocational skills and art, but eventually discover that their school serves as a waystation for “donors.” All of the students are clones, destined to be used as spare organs. This well crafted novel explores our definitions of life and human value. Adult for teens.

Newsgirl by Liza Ketchum To start a new life, Amelia, her mother and a woman friend move to 1851 San Francisco. Amelia learns to sell newspapers in the male-dominated city and finds out about the Gold Rush firsthand when she crashes in a hot-air balloon.

Grades 5-8.

Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff Mila and her father leave their home in London to spend spring break visiting her father’s old friend in New York. But when his friend goes missing, they set out to find him. Mila’s powers of keen observation come in handy, but there are mysteries here that even her sharp mind struggles to grasp. Grades 7-10.

16

Queen of Hearts by Martha Brooks

Sent to a Canadian tuberculosis sanatorium during World War II, prickly, stubborn teenager Marie-Claire and her little brother and sister wage separate wars against their dreadful disease in this portrait of a long-forgotten world.

Grades 7-10.

The Reinvention of Moxie Roosevelt by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

When Moxie goes off to boarding school on a music scholarship, she decides to reinvent herself with a personality to match her unusual name. But what personality will she choose? She tries various ones, with both funny and more serious results. Grades 5-8.

The Ring of Rocamadour by Michael D. Beil In this witty puzzle mystery, three students from a Manhattan girls’ school race villainous types to find a valuable ring and return it to its owner. At the same time, they cope with family, friends, and boy issues. (4-book series.) Grades 5-8.

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

British pilot Rose Justice is captured by Germans and taken to a concentration camp where she is housed with other prisoners of war, including the Rabbits, a group of Polish prisoners on whom unthinkable medical experiments were performed. Rose tries to keep spirits up with her wry observations and imaginative poetry. (Has companion novel.) Grades 8 and up.

The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman A young woman newly orphaned in Victorian England defies convention as she tries to uncover the truth about her father’s death, learn the meaning of the words “the Seven Blessings,” and locate a ruby that was left to her. (4-book series.)

Grades 7 and up.

17

Sabriel by Garth Nix

Sabriel must enter the Old Kingdom to find her missing father, the Abhorsen, who guards the Living Dead. With her companions, a cat and a young mage, she journeys toward a battle with the forces of life and death. (3-book series.) Grades 7 and up.

Saffy’s Angel by Hilary McKay

Part of the hilariously nutty Casson family, Saffy feels alone when she learns that she is an adopted cousin. But in her searches for a stone angel left her by their grandfather, she relearns to appreciate her family. (6-book series.)

Grades 4-6.

Scat by Carl Hiaasen In this environmental thriller filled with oddball characters, Nick and Marta search the Florida swamps as they puzzle out the disappearance of an unpopular biology teacher. Meanwhile, Nick deals with his dad’s injury from the Iraq war.

Grades 5-8.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater Every November, when the man-eating water horses rise from the sea, competitors try to ride them in the deadly Scorpio Races. The girl Puck Connelly never meant to enter the races, but fate has given her no choice. Grades 8 and up.

The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu Charlotte and her popular English cousin find themselves at the center of a plot involving Greek mythology, strangely sick children, and a powerful god trying to take over the underworld. (3-book series.) Grades 7-9.

18

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi In a dystopian world, Nailer survives by scavenging metal from wrecked ships.

After a hurricane, he finds a beached clipper ship. He could strip the ship to make his fortune—or rescue the only survivor, a beautiful and rich young girl.

(Has companion novel.) Grades 7 and up.

Shug by Jenny Han Shug faces some painful truths—about her childhood crush’s rejection, her mom’s alcoholism, a fight with her best friend, and the perceptiveness of a bad boy she tutors—as she prepares to start middle school. Grades 5-8.

Sisters of the Sword by Maya Snow When their uncle murders their father, two aristocratic sisters trained in the martial arts flee in disguise, find a place as servants in a samurai school, and dedicate themselves to restoring their family honor. (4-book series.) Grades 5-8.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson Melinda starts high school as the outcast who called the police to break up a big end-of-summer party. She withdraws into silence until she can face the fact that she was raped at the party—by a boy who threatens her again. Grades 8 and up.

Spirit’s Princess by Esther Friesner In third-century Japan, Himiko is a doted-upon daughter, but she would rather be one of the boys, hunting and leading her clan. She also has the ability to communicate with the spirit world, which is as exciting as it is dangerous. (Has sequel.) Grades 8 and up.

19

Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz Clara disappears after her birthday party, and the suspect is the puppeteer Grisini, until he disappears, too. Grisini’s two young apprentices suspect a witch, who has an old rivalry with Grisini, may be involved in the disappearances. Grades 4-8.

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson Scarlett inherits a suite in her zany family’s old Manhattan hotel—and the care of the occupant. Her adventures include assisting this aging actress, supporting her brother’s theater group, and starting an ill-starred romance. (Has sequel.) Grades 8 and up.

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene When a World War II prisoner-of-war camp is set up in Patty’s Arkansas hometown, the lonely Jewish girl befriends a young German in the camp. She helps him escape and must face the consequences. Grades 6-8.

The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson In future Brazil, aging is meaningless. With lifespans extending well beyond 100, anyone under the age of 35 is inconsequential. Teenager June joins forces with the newly elected Summer King, Enki, a boy from the poorest part of the city, and they use art to make their voices heard. Grades 9 and up.

Tales of the Madman Underground by John Barnes Karl has been lumped in with the Madmen, a group of “troubled” kids, for most of his school career. He is determined to be “normal” for his senior year, but the events of just six short days prove to Karl that “normal” isn’t all it’s cracked to be.

Grades 9 and up.

20

Tamar by Mal Peet After a tragic suicide, Tamar learns a dark family secret about her grandfather’s days as a Dutch Resistance fighter during World War II. The story takes place in two eras, tracing both Tamar’s investigation and a doomed romance among the resistance fighters. Grades 9 and up.

Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rivka Brunt 14-year-old June copes with her uncle’s death from AIDS by secretly befriending his partner Toby, to the shame of her grandparents who blame Toby for her uncle’s illness. Adult for teens.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner Gen is a gifted young thief who has been sentenced to life in prison. But he can gain his freedom if he joins a quest by the king’s mage to steal a legendary stone from a mysterious temple. (4-book series.) Grades 6 and up.

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke Two orphan boys flee to Venice, where they join a gang of street children protected by a mysterious boy called the Thief Lord. A kind-hearted detective and a magical carousel change the lives of all the children. Grades 6-8.

This Thing Called the Future by J.L. Powers In contemporary South Africa, Khosi wants to study science, but she has been raised Catholic and learned about Zulu mythology from her grandmother. All of these beliefs seem to clash, and Khosi is forced to evaluate them when her mother becomes ill and Khosi fears it may be HIV. Grades 9 and up.

21

Troy by Adele Geras The siege of Troy is described by several characters—mainly by two girls serving in the royal court. But gods and goddesses also play their parts, especially Aphrodite, who interferes in the girls’ lives with awful consequences. Grades 8 and up.

The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly In 1461, a Polish boy makes uses of an old legend—about an earlier boy and his trumpet in wartime—to keep an ancient oath taken by his family and to save his father’s life. Grades 6-8.

The Wager by Donna Jo Napoli In 1169, an earthquake and tsunami hits Italy, and Don Giovanni, an arrogant young nobleman, loses everything. In despair, he makes a painful wager with the Devil. It is not clear who will win—or at what cost. Grades 9 and up.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin Rich and eccentric Samuel Westing leaves a will requiring his possible heirs to solve a puzzle. A girl named Turtle and fifteen others endure blizzards, bombs, disguises, and word games as they compete for the inheritance. Grades 6-8.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead Miranda is comfortable with her life. But suddenly everything changes: Her friend Sal rejects her, and she begins receiving mysterious letters predicting the future and suggesting that only she can prevent a death. Grades 5-8.

22

Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket Teen apprentice Lemony Snicket tags along with his mistress, S. Theodora Markson, to uncover the mystery of a missing heirloom in this comical, stylized crime drama. Somehow, Lemony always seems to ask the wrong questions. (Has sequel.) Grades 4-7.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Have you ever felt that who you are on the inside is different from how you appear on the outside? Auggie certainly feels that way. He was born with a facial deformity that has taken 27 surgeries to try to correct. Now, Auggie is ready to go to fifth grade—his first year at a regular school. Everyone has a reaction to his face, but will they be able to see past it to find the real Auggie? Grades 4-7.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick The author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret presents another prose-and-pictures book, this time alternating perspectives between 12-year-old Ben, who has suffered many tragedies in his short life, and Rose, a deaf girl who longs to escape her overbearing father and move to New York City. Grades 4-8.

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