Middle School Reads!

by Donna King Lexile: 640 Genre: Realistic Fiction/Sports Tyra has just moved halfway around the world. She's most upset about having to leave behind her best friend and her state champion soccer team. Now she's in England, fighting for a place on a soccer team who didn't win a single game last summer. The girls don't seem very welcoming so Tyra realizes that she will have to work even harder to prove that she deserves a spot on the team.

by Amy Hest Lexile: 670 Genre: Realistic Fiction Mothers aren't supposed to get sick and die. Teachers aren't supposed to get sick and die. But Mrs. Rossi did and know her daughter, Annie, and her 6th grade class are left wondering how they can go on. Mrs. Rossi's class decides to make a book for Annie and her dad which they come to see as a real treasure for them in helping them hang on to the person they loved. They read the book over and over as they search for ways to help them cope with their grief.

by Gordon Korman Lexile: 690 Genre: Realistic Fiction Benjy Driver loves being on the radio. He is one of 3 co-producers of his school's radio show. The problem is that nobody listens to it. Until...an uncooperative parrot, the school bully, and the quiz show become regular features on an otherwise rather dull radio hour. Benjy is frustrated - things are not going like he had planned. Will the out of control chaos lead to a better show or will it be the end of Kidsview Radio Hour forever?

by Gordon Korman Lexile: 650 Genre: Realistic Fiction/Sports Corey loves baseball and is looking forward to the new season until he learns that he will be playing on the Feather Soft Tigers and coached by a professor who knows nothing about baseball! Things get worse when the professor's bossy niece, Kristy, shows up. She has decided to make the Toilet Paper Tigers her special summer project. Corey is miserable stuck out in left field. All he wants to do is get rid of Kristy and get back on the pitcher's mound where he belongs.

by Lynne Jonell Lexile: 770 Genre: Fantasy Emmy and her rats are back in this fun sequel to Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat . It's been four weeks since the evil Miss Barmy has disappeared, any Emmy doesn't have to wonder long about when she will reappear. Miss Barmy is still a rat, so one one, except Emmy, believes that she will really be able to cause any trouble. Part of Emmy wishes she could just forget the rat world and get on to making new friends and doing regular things like sleepovers and pool parties. But somehow, she keeps getting dragged back into rodent business. She knows she should help, but does she really want to hang out with rats all the time?

by John Coy Lexile: 530 Genre: Realistic Fiction Liam Bergstrom has just realized a dream. He will be starting in a varsity basketball game as a sophomore. He vows to do everything he can to fit in with the team and show that he can be an asset to their game. Before the night of the first big game, Coach Klass gathers the team around to say a prayer. Liam is uncomfortable with this, but joins in as everyone else does. The more he thinks about it though, the more he thinks it's wrong. He knows that standing up for what he believes in will most likely cost him his spot on the team. Should he challenge the coach and stand up for what he knows is right, or is keeping his spot on the team the most important thing?

by Stuart Gibbs Lexile: 820 Genre: Mystery Teddy lives with his parents at FunJungle, the world's largest zoo. One day Henry the Hippo is found belly up in his home at Hippo River. What caused the mascot to go die? Henry takes it upon himself to attend the autopsy and learns that Doc, FunJungle's crabby veterinarian, thinks that Henry was murdered. Teddy begins his quest to find out the real story behind Henry's death.

by Patricia Reilly Giff Lexile: 640 Genre: Realistic Fiction Lidie has spent her whole life in Brazil. First living with her family, then with her aunt and uncle after her mother dies and her father and brother move to the America. After 5 years of waiting, at last they are ready for Lidie to join them in New York. Her father has a good job training horses and Lidie is anxious to join them. But when they reunite, she realizes that her father and brother are expecting a 7 year old who likes pink and Snow White. Lidie struggles with adapting to her new life, but when the new horse Wild Girl arrives, Lidie finds a soul mate and a reason to try to make her new life work.

by Graham Salisbury Lexile: 530 Genre: Realistic Fiction Dylan and his Boy Scout troop from Hilo, Hawaii are on a camping trip. What is supposed to be a fun weekend in the wilderness turns into a disaster when a 7.2 earthquake hits. The boys are camped along the ocean and narrowly escape disaster when a tsunami resulting from the earthquake strikes. As they gather together and come up with a plan to get the injuried to safety, Dylan realizes that many lives depend on whether or not he can find help fast enough.

by Robert Cormier Lexile: 820 Genre: Realistic Fiction Trinity School is known for its fundraising and this year the stakes are higher than ever. Each student needs to sell 50 boxes, but one freshman, Jerry, is told by the Vigils, the self proclaimed rulers of the school, to refuse to sell any for 10 days. The 10 days pass and Jerry decides to continue to refuse. Now he's got the headmaster of the school and the Vigils gang after him. Will he stand up to the bullies or cave in like they want him to?

by Gary Paulson Lexile: 1180 Genre: Memoir Gary Paulson dedicated this book to "all boys in their thirteenth year; the miracle is that we live through it." This book shares several memories of Gary Paulson's adventures as a teenager growing up in small town Minnesota. You'll read several tales of outrageous extreme sports stunts and come a way feeling amazed that these boys lived to tell the tales!

by Sharon Draper Lexile: 700 Genre: Realistic Fiction Melody has always loved words and has remembered every word that she's ever heard. But at age 11, she has yet to speak on her own. Melody has a severe form of cerebral palsy which makes her feel as if she is stuck in her own head. With the help of her parents, a family friend and finally a good teacher, they are able to make the school realize Melody's true potential. Melody gets a Medi-Talker and is finally able to communicate with the world. Despite the fact that people are beginning to recognize her intelligence, Melody still feels left out and wants desperately to fit in.

by Susin Nielsen Lexile: 800 Genre: Realistic Fiction Ambrose has moved around a lot in his 12 years and each time has a harder and harder time fitting in and being accepted. His dad died before he was born so his mother is super protective of him and won't let him do anything! Ambrose and his mom have a long standing tradition of playing Scrabble. Ambrose finds out about a Scrabble Club and decides to join. The only problem is that his mom is working nights and he has no way to get there. He decides to ask his landlord's son, an ex-convict, named Carlos to drive him which naturally goes against his mother's wishes. But Ambrose, is tired of being safe and is looking for some adventure. He gets that and much more than he bargained for.

by Will Weaver Lexile: 780 Genre: Realistic Fiction It's racing night at Headwaters Speedway and the rain is threatening to cancel the races. The story that unfolds is told by multiple characters as they get the speedway and their cars ready to race. Will they get the races in on time to help keep the track financially afloat or is disaster looming at every turn?

by Matt Christopher Lexile: 650 Genre: Fantasy Sylvester loves baseball, but he's terrible at it! He can't hit, he can't catch and doesn't think there's anyway he can make his school's baseball team. Until...one day, the mysterious Mr. Baruth shows up and begins to help Sylvester with his game. Suddenly Syl can make amazing catches and everytime he's up to bat, he hits a home run! The strange thing is though...nobody else can see or hear Mr. Baruth. Just who is Mr. Baruth anyway...

by Pam Munoz Ryan Lexile: 780 Genre: Realistic Fiction Maya lives like a captive with her controlling grandmother. Her parents have died and her grandmother wants Maya to forget they ever existed. Maya is lonely living with just grandmother and a series of housekeepers who never seem to be able to meet her grandmother's exacting standards. But then one day, her grandmother has a stroke and Maya's life changes completely. She is sent to live with her mother's family in Wyoming where she must confront many truths about who she is and the person her parents would have wanted her to become.

by Cynthia Kadohata Lexile: Genre: Historical Fiction Tin and his family live a simple, quiet life in the jungle of Vietnam. Tin wants nothing more than to live at peace in his village and become an elephant trainer. His favorite is Lady, a quiet and gently beast who seems to understand and respect him. The American soldiers that Tin knew most of his life are gone, but the war is not over. Rumors begin to reach the village, that their village may not be safe. Tin and his family make plans to flee to the jungle if needed. Tin wonders what will become of his simple life with the elephants, his family, and the village he loves.

by Gordon Korman Lexile: 740 Genre: Realistic Fiction Marcus was the star of his high school football team, but now he's moved to a new town and is going to have to prove that he deserves a spot on a championship team. He meets Charlie in the park one day as he's practicing and Charlie offers to help. Marcus realizes that Charlie knows football, but other than that is kind of a strange guy...things don't always seem to make sense when Charlie is around. Marcus finds out that Charlie is Troy Popovich's dad; another football player who has had it in for Marcus since day one. Then Marcus learns Charlie's secret. Should he try to help or stay as far away from the Popovich family as he can?

by Jennifer L. Holm Lexile: 610 Genre: Historical Fiction It's 1935 and Turtle's mother has just landed a new housekeeping job. The problem is that children are not welcome in the home. Turtle's mom decides to send her to live with her sister in Key West, Florida. However, Turtle arrives before the letter explaining that she's coming does, so Turtle gets off to a rocky start with her aunt and 3 boy cousins. Gradually they accept her and Turtle finds that life in Key West is not nearly as dull as she thought it might be.

by Janet Taylor Lisle Lexile: 790 Genre: Historical Fiction The boyhood stories of Ruben and Jeddy emerge during a series of interviews by aspiring high school journalist, David. As David listens to Ruben relive the memories of the Prohibition era, he learns about the mysterious Black Duck , a rum running ship who was notorious for not being caught. Ruben is at first reluctant to part with any information, but the more he talks to and confides in David, a ery interesting story begins to emerge.

by David Klass Lexile: 970 Genre: Realistic Fiction Does anyone know John? Does his mother really know? Do his classmates at school now? Do his teachers know? John has created a world of his own to help him cope with the unpleasant reality of a cruel man who is making his life more miserable by the day. Will anyone ever really know who the real John is?

by Margaret Peterson Haddix Lexile: 750 Genre: Science Fiction Imagine getting a letter in the mail with the words "You are one of the missing." Would you think it was a prank? Someone just trying to mess with your mind? Meet 13 year old Jonah, who has always known he was adopted, but now someone is sending him strange messages that is causing him to wonder about his past. When he learns that his new best friend Chip is also adopted and is receiving the same messgaes, they dive into the mystery along with Jonah's sister, not sure what they are going to find out.

by Maggie Stiefvater Lexile: 800 Genre: Fantasy This novel is the sequel to Shiver and continues the love story between Sam and Grace, both of whom are human now. Sam has to struggle with the fact that his life as a werewolf is now over and has to come to terms with the fact that he has a future to prepare for: in his new, permanent human form. Grace is so happy to have Sam human and is starting to think about their future together. Her parents don't like him so she's got that to deal with, but there's something else going on as well, that just doesn't feel quite right.

by Gennifer Choldenko Lexile: 620 Genre: Historical Fiction This is the sequel to Al Capone Does My Shirts and is set once again on the island of Alcatraz where Moose is still growing up. His sister Natalie has finally been accepted to attend a special school, but there's one problem: the famous Al Capone had something to do with her being accepted. And now he wants Moose to return the favor. Moose realizes that growing up in the presence of notorious criminals on Alcatraz is not going to be easy!

by Gennifer Choldenko Lexile: 530 Genre: Realistic Fiction Kirsten and Walker are unlikely friends. Kirsten is struggling with the fact that her parents are fighting all the time and she doesn't know why. Walker is struggling to fit in at his new private school that he mysteriously got a scholarship to attend. But despite their differences, they do become friends until one day when Kirsten learns the truth about her parents' fighting.

by Mary Downing Hahn Lexile: 650 Genre: Mystery Ali finds a mysterious picture of her mother, her aunt, and someone else. When she asks her mother about it, she is not prepared for her mother's reaction. Ali senses that her mother is lying about something and decides to find the summer trying to uncover the truth. She travels to the old vacation home where her mother and aunt spent their summers. Everything seems fine until she meets Sissy...

by Joan Bauer Lexile: 620 Genre: Realistic Fiction Hildy Biddle wants to be a reporter and a big story has just landed in her lap. She and her crew of high school journalists are ready to tackle the story and all of it's angles. The problem is, someone doesn't want the truth to be told. As Hildy and her friends get closer to the truth, their school newspaper is suspended and they are forced to write underground. Will anyone care what they have to say?

by Liz Kessler Lexile: 600 Genre: Fantasy Emily Windsnap has a secret. She didn't know she had a secret until her first day of swimming class. As it turns out, she is actually a mermaid and her secret is almost reveled right in the middle of gym class. As Emily learns more about the mysterious disappearance of her father and the strange way her mother's friend acts, she begins to learn that there are many more secrets that have been kept from her up to this point.

by Suzanne Collins Lexile: 810 Genre: Science Fiction The Capitol is a harsh and cruel land who keeps its outlying districts in check by forcing them to send one girl and one boy to participate in the Hunger Games each year. 12 boys and 12 girls fight on national tv until one survivor is left alive. Basically, if your name is called, it's a death sentence. Katniss Everdeen is 16 when her 12 year old sister's name is drawn. Without thinking, she steps forward to take her place, and changes her destiny forever.

by Wendy Mass Lexile: 740 Genre: Realistic Fiction Moon Shadow is an isolated campground that is preparing for an onslaught of visitors eager to view a total eclipse of the sun. The story unfolds through 3 characters. Ally - loves her home at Moon Shadow and can't get enough of the science of stargazing. Jack - overweight and uninterested in life, suddenly finds himself chaperoning a group of eclipse seekers with his science teacher. Bree - popular and perfect, is about to embark on what she hopes will be a successful career as a model. These 3 characters couldn't be more different, but are drawn together in this fascinating story.

by Watt Key Lexile: 720 Genre: Realistic Fiction Moon Blake is 10 years old when his father dies and leaves him alone in the wilderness home. His father has raised him to be able to live off the land and he has very little knowledge of how the "real" world works. His father's final request was for his son to make it to Alaska, so Moon begins to prepare for his trip. But then the "real" world gets involved and everything changes.

by Walter Dean Myers Lexile: 800 Genre: Realistic Fiction Drew loves basketball and has big plans to land a scholarship and play in college. But now it's his senior year and there are some new guys playing on the team. Suddenly his coach is switching the game plan and benching Drew for not playing as a "team". Drew thinks he knows everything about the game and that his coach is way off. Only time will tell who's right.

by Rick Riordan Lexile: 740 Genre: Fantasy Percy Jackson can't seem to make it through one school year in the same school. But one summer, he learns some things about his past that makes him realize that his so called normal life is over. No longer is he just Percy Jackson, a troublemaker, being raised by his mom and disgusting step-father. He learns that he is Perseus Jackson, a Half-Blood, who many in the world of mythology believe is about to be their new hero. Percy and his new friends have just 10 days to figure out if he is indeed the one who can save them all.

by Joan M. Wolf Lexile: 820 Genre: Historical Fiction Milada is living a happy life with her family in Czechoslovakia until Nazi soldiers knock on her door one night and force her entire family to leave their home. Milada is taken to an education center where her name is changed to Eva and she is forced to change her identity to that of a young German woman. Eventually she is adopted by a German family and slowly begins to forget who she was. When the war ends, she has a tough decision to make. Does she remain Eva or try to reconnect with her life as Milada?