Middle School Reads!

by Ally Condie Lexile: 680 Genre: Science Fiction Cassia lives a perfect life. The Officials in the Society make all her decisions for her. She is now 17 and ready to learn who has been chosen as her Match. It turns out to be her best friend Xander and it seems that her perfect life will continue. Until, a mistake is made and another face appears on her match screen. Who is this person and why is this happening? Suddenly Cassia begins to question her life and her existence within the perfect Society.

by Beverly Cleary Lexile: 810 Genre: Realistic Fiction Now that Ramona is in 3rd grade, life will be totally perfect, right? Well, not in Ramona's world. She still has to be babysat after school by grouchy Mrs. Kemp, her beloved Aunt Bea is getting married and moving to Alaska, and then her parents have an even bigger surprise that Ramona is sure how she feels about. If you've read other Ramona books, then you'll be pleased with this continuation of her story.

by Roland Smith Lexile: ??? Genre: Realistic Fiction Chase Masters and his father are storm runners constantly in search of the next big event. Chase has been through hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. His father has trained him well in the art of survival, but will his survival skills be a match for Hurricane Emily? He better hope so, because Emily is about to make landfall right where Chase is standing.

by Lucy Frank Lexile: 580 Genre: Realistic Fiction Joy's discovering the ups and downs of starting high school. First her best friend finds a boyfriend, then her elderly uncle moves in and she has to give up her room, and then Uncle Max decides to play matchmaker to help improve her love life. At first Joy thinks she's going to go crazy, between the stress with her friend and her stress with her family, but somehow life turns out to be okay; maybe even more than okay.

by Kathi Appelt Lexile: 830 Genre: Fantasy What do a hound dog and a cat have in common? Nothing until the hound dog befriends the cat who then gives birth to two kittens. They all live peacefully together in the "underneath." But life out in the "open" is dangerous...Gar Face the man who owns the home above the "underneath" is an evil man who doesn't value or respect the lives of animals. The hound, Ranger, and the mother cat teach the kittens, Puck and Sabine, to stay where it is safe in the "underneath." Little kittens are curious though, and one morning, Puck can't stand the calling of the open any longer. He wanders out to explore life in the open. Will he ever see his family again?

by Jacqueline Kelly Lexile: 830 Genre: Historical Fiction Calpurnia is growing up with 6 brothers in Texas at the turn of the century. Her mother insists that she learn how to cook and sew so that someday she can be a proper wife. But Calpurnia has other ideas. She adores her grandfather who is a naturalist and longs to spend her time with him out in the woods and along the forest searching for new plant specimens. How can she convinve her mother that she wants more than a life in the kitchen?

by Beverly Cleary Lexile: 860 Genre: Realistic Fiction Life as a 3rd grader is tough! Ramona had to help her family out by being nice to Mrs. Kemp and Willa Jean, her neighbors who take her in after school while her mother works. Ramona's dad is back in school and Beezus is now in Jr. High so everyone has to pitch in to keep the family going. But Ramona thinks being a 3rd grader is the toughest job there is.

by Rick Riordan Lexile: 620 Genre: Fantasy Percy Jackson is back for his final and perhaps most important adventure. This time its a battle against the Titans and the odds of victory are slim. Kronos's army continues to grow stronger and stronger as be advances towards New York City. Will the demi-gods from Camp Half Blood be able to withstand battle after battle and save Olympus once and for all?