Summer Reading
Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan
When Naomi's absent mother resurfaces to claim her, Naomi runs away to Mexico with her great-grandmother and younger brother in search of her father.
Liz says:
“This is an unforgettable story of heartbreak and heroism. Naomi is a selfless girl with a profound sense of family. This is not to be missed by 5th through 7th grade girls.”
All We Know of Love by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Four years after her mother walked out, Natalie Gordon travels to Florida in the hopes of finding her mother, herself, and the truth about what love really is.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
In a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace of killing and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king.
Beautiful weather, no school, time to read... it’s the cherry on top. Below are lists of great summer reads for teens and tweens.
Girls Going Into 6th
Boys Going Into 6th
Girls Going Into 7th
Boys Going Into 7th
Girls Going Into 8th
Boys Going Into 8th
Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller
Life becomes more interesting for Ananka Fishbein when, at the age of twelve, she discovers an underground room in the park across from her New York City apartment and meets a mysterious girl called Kiki Strike who claims that she, too, wants to explore the subterranean world.
Kiki Strike: The Empress’s Tomb
Fourteen-year-olds Ananka Fishbein, Kiki Strike, and the other Irregulars encounter a Chinese mummy, a ghost, trained squirrels, and old enemies as they try to stop an art forgery ring and safeguard the secret streets hidden beneath New York City.
Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld
Set in a futuristic society where, at age sixteen, everyone is given an operation that turns them into perfect supermodels, and one girl challenges the system.
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
Jennifer Harris, years after being the tormented outsider on the playground, has reinvented herself into Jenna Vaughn, a popular girl with what seems to be the perfect life, but when a childhood friend re-enters her life, she is forced to confront the most traumatic event of her past and question who she really is.
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards' families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister.
Liz says:
“This is a very accessible book that sheds light on what life might be like for the sibling of a special needs child. While this book treats this issue with insight and sensitivity, the book is given levity by its setting and entertaining characters. This Newbery Honor winner is truly a winner.”
Look for the sequest Al Capone Shines My Shoes available September 2009. Gennifer gave me a pre-published copy (galley). It’s awesome and there’s a third one planned in the series. You are in for a treat!!!!!!
Shadow Children by Margaret Peterson Haddix
What if our world became over-populated and the government began to regulate how many children a family could have? What would be the consequences if a family chose to have more? What would happen to those “extra” children? Would they have to hide in the shadows? This is a very compelling series that all kids love!
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.
Liz says:
“This is a must read for high school students and adults. Savvy eighth graders could handle this masterpiece. This compelling, unique look at World War II, narrated by death, is layered with symbolism and harsh reality. Prepare for a life altering experience.”
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The orphan Bod, short for Nobody, is taken in by the inhabitants of a graveyard as a child of eighteen months and raised lovingly and carefully to the age of eighteen years by the community of ghosts and otherworldly creatures.
Liz says:
“This is a masterful blend of creepy and touching. The story starts off in a gruesome manner and then becomes an offbeat coming of age story set in a graveyard.”
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen accidentally becomes a contender in the annual Hunger Games, a grave competition hosted by the Capitol where young boys and girls are pitted against one another in a televised fight to the death.
London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Down
"When Ted and Kat's cousin Salim disappears from the London Eye ferris wheel, the two siblings must work together--Ted with his brain that is "wired differently" and impatient Kat--to try to solve the mystery of what happened to Salim.
Liz says:
“This is a thoroughly enjoyable read that I recommend especially to 5th and 6th grade boys. It is reminiscent of Mark Haddon’s book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Ted has Asperger’s Syndrome and as a result has a unique perspective on the world and is able to see the facts of his cousin’s disappearances with greater clarity and insight than everyone else. This is a great mystery and a wonderful story.”
Airman by Eoin Colfer
In the 1890s on an island off the Irish coast, Conor Broekhart is falsely imprisoned and passes the solitary months by scratching designs of flying machines into the walls, including one for a glider with which he dreams of escape.
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
"A Tom Doherty Associates book.";Includes bibliographical references (p. 375-380). Interrogated for days by the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco, California, seventeen-year-old Marcus is released into what is now a police state, and decides to use his expertise in computer hacking to set things right.
Shift by Jennifer Bradbury
When best friends Chris and Win go on a cross country bicycle trek the summer after graduating and only one returns, the FBI wants to know what happened.
Liz says:
“This is a thoroughly enjoyable, suspenseful story. This is a great read for boys, especially!”
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.
Liz says:
“This is a must read for high school students and adults. Savvy eighth graders could handle this masterpiece. This compelling, unique look at World War II, narrated by death, is layered with symbolism and harsh reality. Prepare for a life altering experience.”
Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz
Spy adventure stories, great for boys
Acceleration by Graham McNamee
Stuck working in the lost and found department of the Toronto Transit Authority for the summer, seventeen-year-old Duncan finds the diary of a serial killer and sets out to stop him.
Liz says:
“This is a great, edge of your seat suspense story. Prepare to be scared and to question whether there is justice in the end.”
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Fifteen-year-old Scarlett Marvin is stuck in New York City for the summer working at her quirky family's historic hotel, but her brother's attractive new friend and a seasonal guest who offers her an intriguing and challenging writing project improve her outlook.
Liz says:
“This is a fun, meaningful coming-of-age story set in NYC with lots of quirky characters. A perfect summer read.”
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
After spending her summer running the family farm and training the quarterback for her school's rival football team, sixteen-year-old D.J. decides to go out for the sport herself, not anticipating the reactions of those around her.
The Off Season
After spending her summer running the family farm and training the quarterback for her school's rival football team, sixteen-year-old D.J. decides to go out for the sport herself, not anticipating the reactions of those around her.
Liz says:
“This is the perfect book for a 7th grade girl. It’s realistic - funny and quirky at times and serious and insightful at others.”
Book #3 - Front and Center is being released September 23, 2009!
Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes
On a summer visit to her grandmother's cottage by the ocean, twelve-year-old Martha gains perspective on the death of a classmate, her relationship with her grandmother, her feelings for an older boy, and her plans to be a writer.
Liz says:
“Martha, the main character has such a real voice it is almost impossible to believe that the author is a man. (The same man who wrote Chrysanthemum and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.) Martha learns that if you have a strong sense of self, you can weather any storm. This is not to be missed by middle school girls.”
Shug by Jenny Han
A twelve-year-old girl learns about friendship, first loves, and self-worth in a small town in the South.
Liz says:
“Starting middle school can be tough enough without your best friend ditching you but this is unfortunately what happens to Shug (short for her nickname, Sugar). She is an amazingly lovable, resilient character. I’m hoping for a sequel and the ending leads me to believe there just might be one. 6th and 7th grade girls will love this.” (Similar reads: Sixth-Grade Glommers, Norks and Me and Being Bindy.)
Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley
Fairy-tale detectives Sabrina and Daphne Grimm live in the town of Ferryport Landing, a community of fairy-tale characters. They work together to solve the problems that befall their town.
Sixth Grade Glommers, Norks and Me by Lisa Papademetriou
Allie Kimball discovers that middle school is a very different place than fifth grade and struggles to learn ways to fit in.
Liz says:
“Follow Allie’s journey as she navigates middle school on her own. Her lifelong friend abandons her but not to worry Allie is going to be more than just okay in the end!” (Similar reads: Shug and Being Bindy.)
Alabama Moon by Watt Key
After the death of his father, ten-year-old Moon Blake is removed from the Alabama forest where he was raised and sent to a boy's home, where, for the first time, he has contact with the outside world and learns about friendship, love, and humanity.
Liz says:
“This is the best survival story I’ve read since Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet (see below). Moon’s father, a Vietnam Vet, distrusted the government so much that he took his wife and son to live in the forest with no ties to civilization (except for occasional trips to a convenience store for bare necessities). Moon’s mother dies when he’s very young and his father dies when he’s 10. He’s left to fend for himself. His greatest obstacle is his loneliness. When given the chance to decide between a reclusive life in the woods or a life in society, what will Moon decide? You’ll learn a lot about survival skills and much, much more!”
Football Genius by Tim Green
Troy, a sixth-grader with an unusual gift for predicting football plays before they occur, attempts to use his ability to help his favorite team, the Atlanta Falcons, but he must first prove himself to the coach and players.
Football Hero
When twelve-year-old Ty's brother Thane is recruited out of college to play for the New York Jets, their Uncle Gus uses Ty to get insider information for his gambling ring, landing Ty and Thane in trouble with the Mafia.
Football Champ
Troy fears his latest mistake may get him banned from the NFL and vows to do whatever it takes to save his career. (Available June 30, 2009)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures
by Brian Selznick
When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toy seller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardized.
Liz says:
“This just might be the most unique book I’ve ever read. Told alternately with text and pictures, this story unfolds like an old-fashioned black and white movie. Hugo takes the reader on an adventure and shows how he survives as an orphan living in a Paris train station and solves a mystery that is connected to his father, a seemingly strange toy-seller, and film making.”
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
After fifteen-year-old Liz Hall is hit by a taxi and killed, she finds herself in a place that is both like and unlike Earth, where she must adjust to her new status and figure out how to "live.”
Liz says:
“This is a very unique look at the afterlife. It is almost a coming of age story in hindsight. 6th and 7th grade girls LOVE this book.”
Hidden Talents by David Lubar
When thirteen-year-old Martin arrives at an alternative school for misfits and problem students, he falls in with a group of boys with psychic powers and discovers something surprising about himself.
Liz says:
“From the very first page, you will be laughing! Martin is hilarious. He’s sent to Edgewater Reform School (I think I have the name right) because he just can;t seem to keep it together enough to stay in regular school. At Edgewater he’s surrounded by kids who each have a particular “problem”. Bloodbath, the school bully, is terrorizing Martin. To fight him off, Martin rallies the support of his friends. He has figured out a way to take their “problems” and refocus them as talents. There’s a supernatural quality to all of this. The book is entertaining and meaningful. In addition to the regular text, there are graphic elements such as school memos, letters and pictures. Everyone loves this book!!”
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.
Liz says:
“Walter Dean Myers is one of the best authors for young adults. This is a masterpiece (note the 3 awards.) Myers used to be a journalist and interviewed a lot of criminals. In telling this story, Myers narrates the book in 2 totally distinct formats. We are shown Steve’s journal that he keeps in prison, allowing us to hear his voice and his inner thoughts. Then, we are shown a film transcript of the trial as recorded by Steve. Myers says that when he used to interview criminals they spoke of their crimes in the 3rd person and that is how he came up with the concept for this book. This along with photographs by Myer’s son Christopher, make for a poignant story of stereotypes and justice. This is a must read.”
Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg
When he is wrongly accused of gravely injuring his baby half-sister, thirteen-year-old Branwell loses his power of speech and only his friend Connor is able to reach him and uncover the truth about what really happened.
Liz says:
“This is an exciting, well-written mystery filled with complex relationships. While many 6th graders do read this, i usually recommend it for 7th graders.”
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Twelve-year-old Paul, who lives in the shadow of his football hero brother Eric, fights for the right to play soccer despite his near blindness and slowy begins to remember the incident that damaged his eyesight.
Liz says:
“I have been accused of saying that every book is my favorite which is only marginally true. This, though, is my favorite. I finished this in one day almost 10 years ago and it remains permanently in my mind and heart. I CANNOT recommend this more highly, However, I would wait until the end of 6th grade or the beginning of 7th to read this. There is some dark stuff that younger kids don’t need to be exposed to.
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Bobby's carefree teenage life changes forever when he becomes a father and must care for his adored baby daughter.
Liz says:
“This is a little gem of a book. It’s a quick read - short & poignant.”
Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Cara says:
“Dead poets society meets Harry Potter in this fantasy series based at a proper English boarding school. Masterful storytelling will keep you turning pages until the very end.”
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda's freshman year in high school.
Liz says:
“Melinda Sordino is one of the most memorable characters ever. She narrates her story through snapshots/scenes which are divided into the 4 quarters of her 9th grade year. The format and the story are compelling. This is a must read for girls.”
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Alexie Sherman
Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Native American is the school mascot.
Liz says:
“This is a must read for 8th grade boys and older - 9th grade may even be more appropriate. Adults should read this too. Junior’s humorous, irreverent voice and drawings give a hard honest look at life on a Reservation. This story is semi-autobiographical.”