Middle School Reads!

by Jennifer A. Nielsen Lexile:  810 Genre:  Historical Fiction Gerta and her family are living in Germany after the end of WWII.  There is talk that the Russians are going to cut off all ties with the west in order to protect their communist way of life.  Gerta's parents are divided on what to do.  Her father wants to move their family to West Berlin where they would have more of a chance of building a life filled with freedom.  Gerta's mother thinks they should stay where they are in the East as that is where they have jobs and friends and family.  Gerta's mother finally agrees to let her husband and son Dominic go to the west to see about jobs and a place to live. But overnight, a wall is erected and the family is separated.  Gerta, Fritz, and their mother fear that they will never see the rest of their family again.  As life becomes more unbearable, and Fritz is recruited for the military, Greta realizes that it might be up to her to get h...

by John Marsden Lexile:  850 Genre:  Dystopia, Science Fiction Ellie and her friends have finally persuaded her parents to let them go camping alone.  They have a great time out in the Australian wilderness until they return and find that everyone is gone.  The electricity is off, the phones don't work, and there is no sign of life anywhere.  But then strange aircraft and helicopters are flying overhead.  After some investigating, they find out that the world as they know it has ended.  Their country has been invaded and their friends and family are all being held hostage.  They have two choices:  return to the wilderness and try to survive on their own or stay and try to figure out where everyone went.

by Lynda Mullaly Hunt Lexile:  550 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Ally has become an expert at fooling people.  Her extreme behaviors have helped her mask the fact from her teachers that she can't read.  She prefers to have people think that she is a troublemaker, rather than "slow" or "dumb."  In reality, Ally is a very bright girl who has creatively managed to fool all of her teachers for the last seven years, until Mr. Daniels takes over for Mrs. Hall midyear.  Mr. Daniels isn't falling for Ally's old tricks.  He actually expects her to stay in class and do all of the reading and writing assignments.  He tells Ally that she can trust him, but will Ally be willing to reveal her biggest secret?

by Peter Lerangis Lexile:  560 Genre:  Mystery Seven members of their family are still in danger and Amy and Dan Cahill continue to be in a race against time to keep them safe.  They are working diligently and desperately to meet the demands of the kidnapper who is holding them hostage in an undisclosed location.  This time their hunt takes them to Prague and Turkey where they search for another treasure that Vesper One wants.  Will they find it in time to keep their family members alive?

by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell Lexile:  850 Genre:  Memoir/Graphic Novel John Lewis continues his memoir about his role in the Civil Rights Movement in  March, Book Two . The story picks up with John's involvement with the nonviolence movement through peaceful sit-ins and freedom bus rides.  John and his fellow protestors are repeatedly attacked, punished, and jailed, but they refuse to post bond and pay their fees.  They remain determined in their quest for equal rights.

by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell Lexile:  760 Genre:  Memoir/Graphic Novel Growing up, John Lewis loved chickens and wanted to become a pastor.  He lived in the South and grew up experiencing the injustices in society between whites and blacks.  His uncle took him on a trip to the North where is eyes were opened even further to the different ways in which people were treated. He met Martin Luther King, Jr. and started to learn about nonviolent methods.  He became involved with the Civl Rights Movement because he wanted his voice to be heard and he wanted to become part of the movement to bring about change.

by Jude Watson Lexile:  570 Genre:  Mystery Vesper One has struck again.  The seven members of Amy and Dan's extended family are still being held hostage and it is up to them to comply with the kidnapper's demands.  Now they are a desperate search to find an ancient map that will lead them all around the country again.  Will they find it in time to meet Vesper One's demands and keep their family members alive?