Middle School Reads!

by Gordon Korman Lexile:  730 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Donovan Curtis is not your average gifted student.  In fact, he's really not gifted at all.  But he has managed to sneak into the Academy for gifted students where he can hide from the superintendent, Dr. Schultz, who is interested in finding him due to a little mishap in the gymnasium at his old middle school.  In his quest to hide out amongst the brilliant students at the Academy, Donovan learns some new things about himself, friendship, and his sister.

by Jennifer Brown Lexile:  760 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Valerie Leftman thought she knew her boyfriend, Nick.  But when he started hanging around different people and skipping school, she started to wonder, who he was becoming.  And then one day, Nick did something so terrible that has now left Val wondering if she could have stopped him.  Is she responsible for the lives Nick destroyed?

bu Ellen Klages Lexile:  790 Genre:  Historical Fiction Dewey Kerrigan is about to be reunited with the father she hasn't seen in a long time.  Her father's job has taken in around the country, but now finally, they are going to be together.  It's 1943 and the United States is at war and her father is involved with a top secret project.  Dewey is going to live with him in a top secret facility that most people don't even know exists.  Dewey just wants a normal life with her father...

by Tololwa M. Mollel Lexile:  420 Genre:  Traditional Literature Salome is on her way home when she hears the crocodile cry for help.  She is kind enough to stop and help the poor creature only to be repaid by becoming the crocodile's lunch.  Salome is only going to survive if she can figure out a way to outwit the evil beast.

by Tololwa M. Mollel Lexile:  570 Genre:  Traditional Literature Song bird is an adaptation of a traditional southern African story about a magical bird and a monster. Mariamu's family is in trouble.  The cattle have disappeared and they must clear a field to grow food if they are to survive. A magical song bird arrives and makes a bargain with Mariamu - if she helps protect the bird's eggs, the bird will help her find the missing cattle.

retold by Mary-Joan Gerson Lexile:  ??? Genre:  Traditional Literature This is a collection of eight Mexican folktales that reflect the faces of eight of Mexico's heroines.  Read these folktales to learn the extraordinary stories behind 8 women of Mexico.

by Michael Grant Lexile:  620 Genre:  Science Fiction Growing up in Perdido Beach, CA, Sam Temple has led a pretty normal life.  Until, one day in the middle of class, his teacher disappears.  Poof!  There one second, gone the next.  The class is stunned, but things get really strange when they realize that everyone in the entire city over the age of 15 has disappeared as well. Sam and others are left to figure out the mystery.  Where has everyone gone?