Middle School Reads!

by Stefan Petrucha Lexile:  710 Genre:  Mystery, Historical Fiction Carver Young wants two things in life:  he wants to find out who his father is, and he wants to be a detective.  Growing up in an orphanage, Carver doesn't have many clues regarding who his father is or where he might be.  So when a mysterious letter arrives, Carver is ready to find out more.  The mysterious Mr. Hawking arrives and says he would like to become his mentor.  He escorts Carver out of the orphanage and into the mysterious and secret life of the Pinkerton Detective Agency.  Mr. Hawking has promised to help him find his father and teach him how to become a world famous detective.  Can his promises be too good to be true?

by David Levithan Lexile:  650 Genre: Fantasy Every day, A wakes up in a new body.  He spends the day accessing his host's memories so that he can carry on their lives for 24 hours.  He is careful not to do things that would mess up their lives, but recognizes that he has the power to do so if he chose.  A doesn't really question his unusual existence, until he meets Rhiannon.  Spending a day with her, as her boyfriend Justin, changes his life forever. Will Rhiannon believe him if he tells the truth?  How can he possibly make her understand his unusual life?

by Cassandra Clare Lexile:  ??? Genre:  Fantasy Clary thinks she's an ordinary teenage until one night at the Pandemonium Club where she witnesses a murder.  This is the first time Clary learns about the Shadowhunters which begins a major change in her life.  Her mom disappears, and the Shadowhunters are trying to tell her that she is one of them.  Clary is beginning to question all that she has been told.  Is she a Shadowhunter or just an ordinary human?

by Dave Pelzer Lexile:  850 Genre:  Memoir Dave Pelzer recalls the terrifying moments of his childhood when he lived with an abusive mother and a father who stood by and watched it happen.  At first it was just little things, like being excluded from family activities, but over time, the abuse increased and became life threatening.  Dave's story is one of courage and survival that you will never forget.

by Peg Kehret Lexile:  760 Genre:  Realistic Fiction/Fantasy Rusty is on his way to school one day when he sees a German Shepard tied to a tree.  The dog looks miserable.  Rusty sets up watch and realizes that the dog is being mistreated.  The other strange thing is that whenever Rusty goes near the dog, he sees a ghost of a white collie.  What is the ghost trying to tell him?  Rusty senses that something is not right; he's just not sure what to do about it.

by Cynthia DeFelice Lexile:  860 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Erik is so excited to have passed his test that will enable he and his best friend Patrick to go pheasant hunting.  The trip is all planned, but when Erik arrives home, his parents have some surprising news. They are both being deployed to Iraq and Erik is being sent to North Dakota to live with grandparents he barely knows.  Erik is very upset and even more so when he arrives in North Dakota and realizes his grandfather doesn't want him there.  Erik befriends a lost dog and finally finds something to like about North Dakota.

by Michael Buckley Lexile:  760 Genre:  Adventure/Humor This is a top secret case file that only a few privileged readers will be able to access.  IF you are allowed in, you will learn about a secret undercover group of spies who also happen to be 5th graders. Gluestick, Pufferfish, Choppers, Flinch, and Wheezer have been a team of five for awhile.  But now Braceface has come along.  They want nothing to do with him.  Can Braceface convince them to let him become part of their team?  They may need him if the world is going to be saved from the evil Dr. Jigsaw.