Middle School Reads!

by Jennifer Roy Lexile: 530 Genre: Realistic Fiction Nathaniel lives in two worlds - the real one and a self-created world where he goes to escape. He is fourteen years old and has an IQ of 182 which qualifies him as a genius. He also has Asberger's which makes it difficult to interact with other teenagers. His father hasn't truly accepted him for who he is - gifts and quirks and all - but he is able to find some good friends who form a band. The band helps him navigate the tricky outside world and helps him spend less and less time locked up in his thoughts, away from others.

by Gary D. Schmidt Lexile: ??? Genre: Historical Fiction Doug is the new kid in town and about to start 8th grade. School has never been fun for him and his new junior high in Marysville, NY doesn't seem to be any better. He lives in fear of his angry father and brother, worries about his other brother who is fighting in Vietnam, and is working hard to keep a secret from all of his new teachers. He finds some friends in an unusual place - the library - who help him begin to settle into his new life. Maybe life in Marysville won't be so bad after all.

by Peg Kehert Lexile: 730 Genre: Mystery Amy has just completed her babysitting course and is excited to land her first job. Watching 3 year old Kendra seems like an easy assignment, until Kendra is kidnapped. The plan goes wrong from the beginning and suddenly Amy finds herself trapped in a cabin with Kendra and 2 men who are hoping to collect a 50,000 ransom. Will Amy be able to attract enough attention and leave enough clues for the police to rescue them?

by Maggie Stiefvater Lexile: ??? Genre: Fantasy The saga of Grace and Sam continues in book 3. Grace is now a wolf and Sam is human. Their relationship continues to be complicated. Shelby is continuing in her quest to dominate the pack which results in the death of another local Mercy Falls girl. Suddenly, people are looking at Sam for answers. Meanwhile, the town continues with it's quest to eliminate the wolf pack by rounding them up and hunting them down. Will Grace, Sam, Isabel, and Cole be able to come up with a plan in time to save the wolves?

by J.K. Rowling Lexile: 980 Genre: Fantasy Hogwarts, Year 7...the final year is supposed to be the best and most exciting as Harry, Ron and Hermoine prepare to graduate. But, they have decided to attempt to fulfill the quest Dumbledore left them instead. This quest will lead them to face new and old enemies as they try to destroy Voldemort forever. How will Harry's journey end?

by Beverly Cleary Lexile: 890 Genre: Fantasy Ralph and his motorcycle are back and ready to run. Ralph is tired of his annoying cousins and his boring life at the Mountain View Inn. He's ready for an adventure. He sets out and discovers a nearby camp, but life will be anything but calm there. There's Sam the dog, Catso the cat, and Garf the outsider who can't wait to get away from the camp scene. Suddenly, life at the Mountain View Inn doesn't seem so bad.

by J.K. Rowling Lexile: 1030 Genre: Fantasy Hogwarts, Year 6...Harry, Ron, and Hermoine are back to school, but the world has changed. People are disappearing overnight, chaos reigns out in the world, and no one really knows who can be trusted. Dumbledore begins personal lessons with Harry as he attempts to better explain Harry's past so that he can be prepared for the battles of the future. Voldemort is back and his death eater army is expanding. Will Harry ever be truly safe?

by Janet B. Pascal Lexile: 721 Genre: Biography Who was Abraham Lincoln? He barely had a year of formal schooling, was a big practical joker, and never told his children "no", and yet managed to become one of the most famous presidents. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, lived during one of the most difficult times in U.S. History and emerged to many as a strong, dedicated, and caring leader.

by Gary D. Schmidt Lexile: 990 Genre: Historical Fiction "Of all the kids in the seventh grade at Camillo Junior High School, there was one kid that Mrs. Baker hated with heat whiter than sun. Me." And so begins Holling Hoodhood's journey through 7th grade. What starts out as a seemingly unbearable year, turns out to be rather extraordinary in many ways as Holling learns about who he is as a person during a time of turmoil in U.S. History.

by J.K. Rowling Lexile: 950 Genre: Fantasy It's year 5 at Hogwarts and Harry is having terrible dreams. There is a door...at the end of a long corridor...what does it mean? The dreams are becoming more real and not everyone believes that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back. What will Harry have to do to convince everyone that what happened to him is real?