Middle School Reads!

By Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon (based on the final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States) Lexile:  ??? Genre:  Informational (Graphic Novel) September 11, 2001 is a day that will never be forgotten.  Questions that quickly arose:  how did this happen?  How could the United States be so unprepared?  How can we avoid such a tragedy from happening again?  Ten Commissioners were tasked with finding the answers.  This is their report.

by 50 Cent Lexile:  900 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Butterball hates living in the suburbs.  He much preferred his old life back in New York City when his parents lived together and he went to school with his friends.  In the suburbs, everything is different. His parents have split up, he hates his new school, his mom is working all the time, and now he's been forced to see a counselor who's supposed to help him figure out his issues.  It's serious this time.  If he can't get his life back on track, he's going to be expelled and sent away to a private school.

by Carla Jablonski and Leland Purvis Lexile:  ??? Genre:  Historical Fiction (Graphic Novel) World War II is finally coming to an end, but Sylvie, Paul, and Marie are still missing their father and working undercover with the Resistance is getting more dangerous every day.  But they refuse to give up until the war ends and their family is all together again.

by Carla Jablonski and Leland Purvis Lexile:  ??? Genre:  Historical Fiction (Graphic Novel) Paul and his sisters are continuing to work behind the scenes of the French resistance.  There father is still a prisoner of war and Marie wants desperately for someone to find him and help him escape.  Paul knows that is unlikely so instead focuses his efforts on helping the Marquis, a group of French resistance workers hiding in the woods.  One of their leaders asks Paul's older sister, Slyvie, to go out on dates with the German soldiers to get information for them.  She's not sure she's willing to take the risk.  It's up to Paul to convince her that this is a way that they can help fight back during this terrible time in their lives.

by Carla Jablonski and Leland Purvis Lexile:??? Genre:  Historical Fiction (Graphic Novel) World War II has moved into France, but life hasn't changed much for Paul.  But one day when his friend Henri's parents disappear, Paul is forced to start thinking about the war and what it is doing to his country.  Henri is Jewish and Paul realizes that it will be up to him to help Henri survive.  Paul knows there is a group of people known as the Resistance working behind the scenes to protest what is happening.  Will he have the courage to join in and fight for the things he believes in?

by Wendelin Van Draanen Lexile:  650 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Jessica is a runner.  It's all she does.  It's all she wants to do.  It's who she is.  Until a terrible accident occurs during the spring of her junior year in high school.  The accident takes the life of a teammate and takes Jessica's leg.  With the loss of her leg, goes all of the hopes and dreams she had of future running events and for awhile, her sprit disappears too.  But with the help of a supportive family and amazing friends, Jessica is able to overcome this loss and thrive in spite of it.

by Eve Yohalem Lexile: 820 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Lucy's mother is the American ambassador to Ethiopia which means that Lucy is living in yet another new country.  She loves the idea of living in Africa, surrounded by amazing wilderness and wildlife. However, her mother is very protective and restricts what Lucy is and is not allowed to do.  Like any thirteen year old, Lucy wants to fight those restrictions and do the fun things that other 13 year olds are allowed to do.  Unfortunately, her refusal to follow her mother's rules, leads to her being kidnapped and held hostage by 3 people who want money for her return.  Will Lucy's parents and the U.S. government cooperate in time?

by Rosanne Parry Lexile:  850 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Brother's father has been sent to Iraq which means that Brother, along with his grandparents,  is suddenly in charge of his family's ranch.  Brother can ride a horse, deliver calves, and feed newborn lambs, but he's not sure if ranching is the way of life he wants for himself.  But for now, he has no choice.  His family is depending on him to keep the ranch running in his father's absence.  Will Brother be able to meet the many challenges that come his way?

by Greg Logsted Lexile:  570 Genre:  Mystery/Suspense 13 year old Cody has never been to junior high.  His father is an undercover CIA agent and Cody has been his partner.  They have been all over the world and rarely stay in the same place for more than a few weeks.  As a result, Cody has been home schooled by his father in the topics of government, politics, and world languages.  Now he has been sent to live with his aunt in a small town in Connecticut and he assumes that fitting in will be no problem.

by John Stephens Lexile:  720 Genre:  Fantasy Kate, Michael, and Emma have been bounced around from orphanage to orphanage ever since the night their parents mysteriously disappeared.  Only Kate can remember the promise she made to her mother that she would take care of her siblings no matter what.  And that is what Kate has been doing for 10 years.  But when they arrive at the town of Cambridge Falls, strange things involving time travel begin to happen.  Kate, Michael, and Emma are in the midst of a new adventure, on that they may not survive, but one that they were destined for.  Saving Cambridge Falls becomes their quest.  If they can do it, they may learn more about who they are and the story behind the disappearance of their parents.

by Rita Williams-Garcia Lexile:  750 Genre:  Historical Fiction Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern are going on a cross country adventure to get to know their mother.  All they have are stories of the woman they know only as Cecile.  Cecile left the girls and moved to Oakland, CA and now their father thinks it's time for them to visit.  Cecile isn't at all what they expect and doesn't seem to be interested in being much of a mother, but Delphine is determined to make the best of it.  She had visions of a trip to Disneyland, but quickly realizes that's not going to be part of this trip.  But maybe, just maybe, the girls can still have a good time.

by Mary E. Pearson Lexile:  570 Genre:  Science Fiction Who is Jenna Fox?  Even Jenna Fox herself doesn't know how to answer this question.  Emerging from a year long coma, she is trying to remember the accident and the girl she was before.  Memories start to return, but not all of them make sense.  She also sense that her parents are hiding something from her.  They say it's for her own protection, but what are they protecting her from?

By Alan Silberberg Lexile:  1180 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Milo misses his mother.  Since her death, he has felt lost and is struggling with navigating his way through life without her.  His dad keeps moving them from house to house which means Milo has to keep getting used new schools and new neighborhoods.  Now he's starting the 7th grade and he's pretty sure that he's not going to like his new school.  But then he makes two friends, his math teacher helps him make sense of math, his neighbor teaches him the importance of remembering, and suddenly, Milo is doing more than surviving...he's actually thriving!

by Raina Telgemeier Lexile:  ??? Genre:  Realistic Fiction (Graphic Novel) Callie loves the theater, but her prospects of becoming a leading lady are slim to none so she gets involved with the drama department's stage crew, and has the time of her life!  As with any middle school theater production, there is lots to learn and plenty of DRAMA.  But Callie works her way through it all in hopes that the show will be a success.

by Nora Raleigh Baskin Genre:  Realistic Fiction Lexile:  580 Leah has moved around a lot since her parents got divorced, but her one constant has been her younger sister Anne.  The girls have made up lots of make believe games to help them cope with the chaotic life their mother has created for them.  But when summer camp ends, Leah gets a surprise when it's her father, not her mother, who shows up to take her home.  She learns that her mother and sister moved to California and they aren't coming back for her.  Life with her father and his new wife is difficult.  Leah struggles to figure out what her place is in her new home.

by Laurie Halse Anderson Genre:  Realistic Fiction Lexile:  680 Nobody used to know Tyler Miller.  He was the kind of kid that no one really noticed.  Until Tyler got busted for defacing the school with graffiti, that is.  Suddenly everyone knows who Tyler is, including the most beautiful girl in the whole school.  Bethany is the girl of Tyler's dreams, who also happens to be the daughter of his father's boss and who also happens to have a twin brother, who has bullied Tyler for many years.  Tyler's life is filled with ups and downs as he tries to navigate his senior year.  Will it end on a high or a low?