Middle School Reads!

by Joan Holub Lexile: 780 Genre: Biography Did Marco Polo really travel to China and back? Did he really see and experience all that he wrote about in his book? So many mysteries surround the life of this great explorer. One thing that's for sure is that he led a very exciting life. Check out this book to learn more about the person who inspired the travels of Christopher Columbus.

by Deborah Hopkinson Lexile: 1040 Genre: Informational This book about the Titanic disaster of April 15, 1912, weaves together the many voices of Titanic passengers and survivors. You will meet young 3rd class passengers on their way to a better life in America as well as millionaires in 1st class who were on board for the event of sailing on the Titanic's maiden voyage. But they all share one thing in common, they never, ever thought that the ship would sink.

by Kekla Magoon Lexile: 600 Genre: Realisitc Fiction Ella and Z have been friends forever. The only problem is that nobody else is friends with them. All the other kids in the school either ignore them or bully them. Ella would like for things to be different, but she knows that Z needs her. But everything changes when the new kid, Bailey James, comes to school. Is there room in Ella's life for Z and someone else?

by Cat Patrick Lexile: 720 Genre: Mystery Every night when London Lane goes to sleep, he memory is erased and she wakes up the next morning without knowing anything about her life. In her dreams, she is able to see into the future, rather than remember the past. This is making high school pretty tough, especially because there's a new boy in school, Luke, who London would like to get to know. London writes down notes every night before she goes to sleep to help her piece together the story of her life. Will she be able to solve the mystery of her strange memory tricks?

by Joan Holub Lexile: 740 Genre: Biography Babe Ruth led an interesting life both on and off the baseball field. As a boy, he was a constant troublemaker and loved to play practical jokes. As he grew older, he channeled his energy into baseball and eventually became the home run king of the New

by Guadalupe Garcia McCall Lexile: 990 Genre: Novel in Verse Lupita is the oldest of 8 and when her beloved, Mami, gets sick, she is left in charge of caring for her younger siblings. Lupita also has a gift with words and is hoping to be able to graduate from high school and go on to college. But as Mami gets sicker, she is forced to put her family first and her dreams on hold. Can she find the strength to follow her dreams?

by Patricia McCormick Lexile: 660 Genre: Realistic Fiction Callie has stopped talking. Her family has sent her away to the Sea Pines residential treatment facility to get healthy. But Callie isn't sure she wants the help. Up until now she has handled her pain and anxiety by cutting herself. Will she be able find a healthier way to deal with her problems?

by Russell Freedman Lexile: 1110 Genre: Informational Freedom Walkers is the the story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Russell Freedman combines photographs and text to explain the history and the momentum this boycott brought to the Civil Rights Movement.

by Ruth Thomson Lexile: 980 Genre: Informational Between 1941 and 1945, the Nazis turned the small town of Terezin, Czechoslovakia into a Jewish ghetto. Jews from around Europe were rounded up and sent to Terezin. Some remained there, while for others, it was just a stop on their way to a concentration camp. The Nazis used Terezin as a "show" camp to fool people around the world into thinking that Terezin was a model city of Jewish resettlement. Many of the artists who were imprisioned there, secretly drew many pictures of what life was really like. Those pictures were hidden and made public after the war was over.

by Susan Sloate Lexile: 1140 Genre: Informational The criminals that were brought to Alcatraz, also know as "The Rock", were the very worst sort - bank robbers, bootleggers, and murderers, who were too dangerous to be kept in regular prisons. Alcatraz has been the subject of much curiosity over the years due to the famous nature of its prisoners. In this book, you will explore some to the myths and truths about the island and its many prisoners.

by Lauren Tarshis Lexile: ??? Genre: Historical Fiction Leo is a newsboy in San Francisco. While he doesn't have much money or a home, he has made friends with other newsboys on the streets, and is surviving. Until, one morning, is world is shaken apart. He can only watch as the city he loves crumbles to the ground and begins to burn. How will he survive?

by Allan Zullo Lexile: ??? Genre: Biography Here are ten true tales about children who survived the night of April 14, 1912. They were all aboard the Titanic and lived to tell about that frightful night.

by Avi Lexile: 570 Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery Maks helps support his family by selling newspapers. Willa is living on the streets all by herself. One day when Maks is being chased by Bruno, a member of the Plug Uglies gang, Willa rescues him which leads to a new friendship for Maks and a new beginning for Willa. Maks brings Willa home to his family where he learns that his older sister, Emma, has been arrested. It will be up to Maks to prove her innocence and set her free.