Westchester School District 92 1/2

6^th Grade

A Long way from Chicago.

By Richard Peck. 1998.

(historical fiction)

A boy recounts his annual summer trips to rural Illinois with his sister during the Great Depression to visit their larger-than-life grandmother.

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. By Tanya Lee Stone.  2009. (non-fiction)

Ms. Stone tells the story of the women aviators and aspiring astronauts known as the “Mercury 13,” who in the early 1960’s repeatedly proved themselves capable but could not overcome prevailing prejudices. Meticulously researched and handsomely illustrated with archival materials, Stone’s insightful, passionately written chronicle is sure to inspire.

Closed for the season: a mystery. By Mary Downing Hahn. 2009.

(mystery)

When thirteen-year-old Logan and his family move into a run-down old house in rural Virginia, he discovers that a woman was murdered there and becomes involved with his neighbor Arthur in a dangerous investigation to try to uncover the killer.

Dog Lost. By Ingrid Lee. 2008.

(realistic fiction)

When Mackenzie’s father gives him a pit bull he won in a card game, the boy and dog immediately fall in love with each other. And, almost as quickly, the dog is taken away and abandoned. Will the dog be able to survive? Will the town outlaw all pit bulls?

* Elijah of Buxton. By Christopher Paul Curtis. 2008. (historical fiction)

When 11-year-old Elijah, the first free child born in Buxton, a small town established by runaway slaves, goes after a man who steals the money meant to buy a family’s freedom, he encounters the horrors of slavery and must overcome his fears to do what is right.

Flying Solo. By Fletcher, Ralph. 1998. (realistic-fiction)

Mr. Fabiano’s substitute teacher never shows up and the kids in his sixth grade class decide to run the class themselves. As the day progresses and the tension builds, powerful emotions threaten to expose their plan.

Kennedy Assassinated! The World Mourns: A Reporter's Story. . By  Wilborn Hampton. 1997. (non-fiction)

The author, a young reporter in Dallas on the day President Kennedy was killed, describes not only the

tragedy of the day, but the exciting and competitive race for the “scoop.”

Misfits. By James Howe. 2001.

(realistic fiction)

Four students who do not fit in at their small-town middle school decide to create a third party for the student council elections to represent all students who have ever been called names.

Night of the Twisters.. By Ivy Ruckman. 1984.  (realistic fiction)

Based on a true story, many people are killed and hundreds of homes destroyed when, on June 3, 1980, tornadoes devastate Grand Island, Nebraska. Dan and Arthur are babysitting when a tornado strikes and they must find the strength and courage to keep themselves, and the baby, safe.

* Peter and the Starcatchers.

By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson,. 2004.

(fantasy)

In this exciting and difficult-to-put-down story, Peter and his friends encounter pirates, wicked mermaids, talking dolphins, treasure, and magic when they are sent to the land of Rundoon to serve the fearsome King Zarboff the Third.

Rapunzel’s Revenge. By Shannon Hale and Dean Hale. 2008. (fantasy)

This graphic novel version of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel takes place in the Wild West. When she discovers the dark world beyond her high garden walls, Rapunzel is imprisoned in a magic tree with only one window. She manages to escape and, with suspense and many adventures along the way, vows to bring down the cruel empire.

Return to Sender. By Julia Alvarez. 2009. (realistic fiction)

After his family hires migrant Mexican workers to help save their Vermont farm from foreclosure, eleven-year-old Tyler befriends the oldest daughter, but when he discovers they may not be in the country legally, he realizes that real friendship knows no borders.

* Rules.  By Cynthia Lord. 2006.

(realistic fiction)

Catherine has created a set of rules for her younger brother, who has autism, in an attempt to help him be “normal.” When she becomes friends with Jason, a boy who is nonverbal and confined to a wheelchair, she is able to help him improve his communication skills and he is able to help her look at her brother in a new way.

* Surviving the Applewhites. By Stephanie S. Tolan, 2002.  (realistic-fiction)

After having been thrown out of many schools, Jake’s last chance is with the quirky Applewhite family and their Creative Academy. He’s pretty much left on his own while the family works on their production of The Sound of Music. Will Jake fit in? Will he even want to?

Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing. By Paul B. Janeczko, 2004.  (non-fiction)

For those of us who love mysteries or who secretly long to be a spy, this how-to guide to making and breaking codes and ciphers includes many fascinating historical tales, as well as clever illustrations.

When You Reach Me. By Rebecca Stead. 2005.  (science fiction)

As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1980s television game show, "The $20,000 Pyramid," a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.

Summaries from NoveList

* Books also available on audio.

7^th & 8^th Grade

Blue Fingers: A Ninja’s Tale

By Cheryl Whitesel . 2004.

(historical fiction)

Having failed apprenticeship as a dye maker, Koji is captured and forced to train as a ninja, where he remains disloyal until he discovers samurai have burned his former village.

Code Orange. By Caroline B. Cooney. 2005.

(suspense fiction)

While Mitty is working on his advanced biology project, he discovers, and handles, smallpox scabs. As the research continues, Mitty fears the virus is still active and that he may be infected and spreading the disease. And, as if this isn’t enough, Mitty is kidnapped by terrorists who want to turn him into a biological weapon!

Counterfeit Son. By Elaine Marie Alphin. 2000. (realistic fiction)

When serial killer Hank Miller is killed in a shoot-out with police, his abused son Cameron adopts the identity of one of his father's victims in order to find a better life.

* Dairy Queen: A Novel. By Catherine Gilbert Murdock. 2006. (realistic fiction)

While running the family dairy farm practically by herself, 16-year-old D.J. helps train the quarterback from the rival football team. When she discovers that she, too, has a talent for football and decides to try out for the team, the real excitement begins.

Dunk. By David Lubar. 2002.

(realistic fiction)

While hoping to work as the clown in an amusement park dunk tank on the New Jersey shore the summer before his junior year in high school, Chad faces his best friend's serious illness, hassles with police, and the girl that got away.

Dovey Coe. By Frances O'Roark Dowell. 2000.

(mystery)

When accused of murder in her North Carolina mountain town in 1928, Dovey Coe, a stronged-willed twelve-year-old girl, comes to a new understanding of others, including her deaf brother.

Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things.

By Carolyn Mackler. 2005. (realistic fiction)

Feeling like she does not fit in with the other members of her family, who are all thin, brilliant, and good-looking, fifteen-year-old Virginia tries to deal with her self-image, her first physical relationship, and her disillusionment with some of the people closest to her.

* Every Soul a Star: A Novel. Wendy Mass. 2008. (realistic fiction)

Three very different teens witness a rare total solar eclipse and, while learning many interesting facts about astronomy, discover as much about themselves as they do about each other.

Gospel According to Larry

By Janet Tashjian. 2001.

(realistic fiction)

Seventeen-year-old Josh, a loner-philosopher who wants to make a difference in the world, tries to maintain his secret identity as the author of a web site that is receiving national attention.

Gym Candy By Carl Deuker. 2007. (realistic fiction)

Groomed by his father to be a star player, football is the only thing that has ever really mattered to Mick Johnson,

who works hard for a spot on the varsity team his freshman year, then tries to hold onto his edge by using steroids, despite the consequences to his health and social life.

Harlem Summer. By Walter Dean Myers.

2007. (historical fiction)

Set on the hot city streets of Harlem in 1925, Mark Purvis is thrilled when he is given a simple job by Fats Waller, Harlem's musical genius, yet when the task goes wrong and a gangster ends up on his tail, young Mark thinks his days of impressing Fats with his skills on the saxophone may now be over.

*Home of the Brave. By Katherine Applegate . 2007.  (realistic fiction)

Kek’s father and brother have been killed and his mother is missing. He has moved from Sudan to Minneapolis and has never experienced snow, or even the cold of winter. He’s never ridden on a bus or had his own desk and books at school. Can he learn to speak a new language and overcome the pressures and prejudices of his new country?

* Life As We Knew It. By Susan Beth Pfeffer. 2006. (science fiction)

Life dramatically changes for 16-year-old Miranda when a meteor hits the moon and knocks it closer to Earth. Worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, food shortages, and extreme weather changes cause life as she knows it to disappear.

* London Eye Mystery.

By Siobhan Dowd. 2008.  (mystery)

Kat and Ted, who has a form of autism, take their cousin, Salim, to the London Eye ferris wheel. They watch him get on, but he never gets off. When the police can’t find Salim, it’s up to Kat and Ted, whose brain “runs on a different operating system,” to solve the mystery.

The Maze

By Will Hobbs. 1998.  (adventure)

Fourteen-year-old Rick escapes from a juvenile detention facility, and ends up in a national park in Utah where he meets a biologist and learns about condors and life.

* Peak. Roland Smith. 2007.

(realistic fiction).

Fourteen-year-old Peak ends up in the Himalayas with his father, who plans on Peak being the youngest person to climb Mount Everest. Find out what it’s like to climb the world’s highest mountain in this amazing and informative adventure.

* Shooting the Moon. Frances O’Roark Dowell.2008. (realistic fiction)

Jamie can’t wait to get letters from her older brother who has joined the Army and been sent to Vietnam. But, instead of letters, her brother sends her rolls of film which gradually show her a side of war she never expected to see.

* The Schwa Was Here. By Neal Shusterman. 2004.  (realistic fiction)

“Antsy” Bonano’s new friendship with Calvin Schwa takes an interesting turn when they come up with moneymaking schemes to prove that nobody ever notices Schwa, even when he’s standing in a crowded room.

Sleeper Code. By Tom Sniegoski. 2006.

(suspense fiction)

Tom suffers from narcolepsy. Because of this condition he falls asleep unexpectedly and for long periods. He thinks he’s merely asleep during these blackouts, but he’s wrong. The truth is very different — and much more terrifying.

Whale Talk By Chris Crutcher. 2001. (realistic fiction)

Intellectually and athletically gifted, TJ, a multiracial, adopted teenager, shuns organized sports and the gung-ho athletes at his high school until he agrees to form a swimming team and recruits some of the school's less popular students.