These books may be available in the school's Sora e-books app, the public library system, or at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com.

Please note the following abbreviations:

[RR] – recommended for reluctant readers

GRL: Guided Reading Level (Fountas & Pinnell) indicates text complexity A-Z

Suggested Reading List for New 6th Graders

Realistic Fiction

Almost Home, by Joan Bauer [RR] Lexile: 590 GRL: W

Sixth-grader Sugar and her mother lose their beloved house and experience the harsh world of homelessness.

Becoming Naomi León, by Pam Muñoz Ryan - Lexile: 830 GRL: V

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.

The Fear Place, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor - Lexile: 810 GRL: S

When he and his older brother Gordon are left camping alone in the Rocky Mountains, twelve-year-old Doug faces his fear of heights and his feelings about Gordon -- with the help of a cougar.

Fish in a Tree, by Lynda Mullaly Hunt - Lexile: 550 GRL: W

Ally's greatest fear is that everyone will find out she is as dumb as they think she is because she still doesn't know how to read.

Jake Maddox Series, by various authors [RR] GRL: ~M-Q

Often found under the author name Jake Maddox, each book in this series focuses on a sports theme and explores teamwork, fair play, and discipline. The books are mostly independent of one another and typically may be read in any order.

The Melting of Maggie Bean, by Tricia Rayburn - Lexile: 1010 GRL: X

Hoping to make new friends and gain the attention of her crush, Peter Applewood, overweight, straight-A student Maggie Bean, decides to try out for the synchronized swim team.

Moo, by Sharon Creech - Lexile: 790 GRL: T

Following one family's momentous move from the city to rural Maine, an unexpected bond develops between twelve-year-old Reena and one very ornery cow. When Reena, her little brother, Luke, and their parents first move to Maine, Reena doesn't know what to expect. She's ready for beaches, blueberries, and all the lobster she can eat. Instead, her parents "volunteer" Reena and Luke to work for an eccentric neighbor named Mrs. Falala, who has a pig named Paulie, a cat named China, a snake named Edna and that stubborn cow, Zora.

My Life in Pink and Green, by Lisa Greenwald - Lexile: 680 GRL: T

Lucy's family's beloved pharmacy is in financial trouble.  When she learns of a grant to help the store become more environmentally friendly -- and expand into an eco-spa, her dream business -- she's determined to get it.

My Louisiana Sky, by Kimberly Willis Holt - Lexile: 770 GRL: T

Growing up in Saitter, Louisiana, in the 1950s, twelve-year-old Tiger Ann struggles with her feelings about her stern, but loving grandmother, her mentally slow parents, and her good friend and neighbor, Jesse.

The Perfect Score, by Rob Buyea - Lexile:710 GRL: Y

Randi the gymnast, Gavin the football fanatic, Trevor the tough guy, Scott the brainiac, and Natalie the know-it-all are all in Mrs. Woods's sixth-grade class. When the time for statewide assessment tests arrives, these unlikely friends band together to put in motion a big idea that will have huge consequences.

Rain, Reign, by Ann M. Martin - Lexile:720 GRL: V

Struggling with Asperger's syndrome, Rose shares a bond with her beloved dog, but when the dog goes missing during a storm, Rose is forced to confront the limits of her comfort levels, even if it means leaving her routines in order to search for her pet.

Secret Language of Girls, by Frances O'Roark Dowell - Lexile: 870 GRL: V

Marylin and Kate have been friends since nursery school, but when Marylin becomes a middle school cheerleader and Kate begins to develop other interests, their relationship is put to the test.

Shouting at the Rain,  by Lynda Mullaly Hunt - Lexile: 560 GRL: X

Delsie loves tracking the weather--lately, though, it seems the squalls are in her own life. She's always lived with her kindhearted Grammy, but now she's looking at their life with new eyes and wishing she could have a "regular family." Delsie observes other changes in the air, too--the most painful being a friend who's outgrown her. 

Sports Story Series, by Fred Bowen [RR] GRL: ~N-R

Books in this series by Fred Bowen focus on a single sport. Each book is fast-paced and action packed. The books may be read in any order.

A Week in the Woods, by Andrew Clements - Lexile: 820 GRL: T

The fifth grade's annual camping trip in the woods tests Mark's survival skills and his ability to relate to a teacher who seems out to get him.

You Go First, by Erin Entrada Kelly - Lexile: 640 GRL: M

Twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard and eleven-year-old Ben Boxer live across the country from each other and know each other from an online Scrabble game. Although they are different in many ways, the two find friendship and connection as they face family issues and the turmoil of middle school.

Historical Fiction

Dear America series, by various authors GRL: T and up

Written in a diary format, each historical novel is extensively researched from actual letters and diaries, allowing readers to experience the daily lives of girls from different times in American history.

A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama, by Laura Amy Schlitz - Lexile: 690 GRL: R

At the Barbary Asylum for Female Orphans, eleven-year-old Maud is adopted by three spinster sisters moonlighting as mediums who take her home and reveal to her the role she will play in their séances.

Homeless Bird, by Gloria Whelan - Lexile: 800 GRL: X

Thirteen-year-old Koly enters into an ill-fated arranged marriage and must either suffer a destiny dictated by India's customs or find the courage to oppose tradition.

My Name is America series, by various authors GRL: U and up

Adventure-based historical fiction series written in journal (diary) format and designed to appeal to boy readers.

Nory Ryan's Song, by Patricia Reilly Giff - Lexile: 600 GRL: T

When a terrible blight attacks Ireland's potato crop in 1845, twelve-year-old Nory Ryan's courage and ingenuity helps her family and neighbors survive.  

A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park - Lexile: 920 GRL: U

Tree-ear, a thirteen-year-old orphan in medieval Korea, lives under a bridge near a potters' village, and longs to learn how to throw the delicate celadon ceramics himself.

Something Upstairs, by Avi - Lexile: 580 GRL: T

When he moves from Los Angeles to Providence, Rhode Island, Kenny discovers that his new house is haunted by the spirit of a black slave boy who asks Kenny to return with him to the early nineteenth century and prevent his murder by slave traders.

Turtle in Paradise, by Jennifer L. Holm. - Lexile: 610 GRL: S

In 1935, when her mother gets a job housekeeping for a woman who does not like children, eleven-year-old Turtle is sent to stay with relatives she has never met in far away Key West, Florida.

Fantasy

11 Birthdays, by Wendy Mass - Lexile: 650 GRL: V

Peculiar things begin to happen when Amanda and Leo plan to celebrate their eleventh birthday separately after celebrating their first nine same-day birthdays together.

Bob, by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead - Lexile: 590 GRL: n/a

Ten-year-old Livy hasn't visited her grandmother in Australia in five years, and when she returns, she gets the feeling she forgot something from her last visit. She then meets a small green creature named Bob, who reminds Livy that she promised to help him get home, and he's been waiting for her ever since.

The Boggart, by Susan Cooper - Lexile: 1030 GRL: U

After visiting the castle in Scotland which her family has inherited and returning home to Canada, twelve-year-old Emily finds that she has accidentally brought back with her a boggart, an invisible and mischievous spirit with a fondness for practical jokes.

Gregor the Overlander, by Suzanne Collins [RR] Lexile: 630 GRL: V

When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger an epic battle involving humans, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by ancient prophecy.

Grump, by Liesl Shurtliff - Lexile: 630 GRL: W

Borlen (nicknamed "Grump") has always dreamed of visiting the Surface, so when the opportunity to leave the dwarf caverns arises, he jumps at the chance. He befriends Queen Elfrida, who feeds him all the rubies he can eat and allows him to rule at her side in exchange for magic and information. But when Elfrida commands him to do something horrible to her stepdaughter, Snow White, Grump finds himself in a lot of trouble. He's bound by magic to obey the queen, but also to protect Snow White. Grump will have to find a way out of his predicament and do the right thing.

Island of the Aunts, by Eva Ibbotson - Lexile: 890 GRL: U-V

As they get older, several sisters decide that they must kidnap children and bring them to their secluded island home to help with the work of caring for an assortment of unusual sea creatures.

The Lost Years of Merlin, by T.A. Barron - Lexile: 770 GRL: S

A young boy who has no identity nor memory of his past washes ashore on the coast of Wales and finds his true name after a series of fantastic adventures.

The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate [RR] Lexile: 570 GRL: S

When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.

Redwall Series, by Brian Jacques - Lexile: 890 GRL: Z

An epic saga by a master of the animal fantasy genre.  In this first volume, the peaceful life of ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes.  Matthias, a young mouse, determines to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior which, he is convinced, will help Redwall's inhabitants destroy the enemy.

Secrets of Droon series, by Tony Abbott - Lexile: 610 GRL: O

Eric and his friends find entry into the mysterious world of Droon by using a staircase in Eric's basement. What fate awaits them there?  The first volume in the series is, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet.

The Wishing Spell, by Chris Colfer - Lexile: 720 GRL: U

Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, twins Alex and Conner leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.

Mystery

The Door to Time, by Pierdomenico Baccalario - Lexile: 610 GRL: S

After moving from London to an old mansion on the English coast, eleven-year-old twins Jason and Julia discover that their new home has twisting tunnels, strange artifacts from around the world, and a mysterious, locked door. This is the first book in the series, Ulysses Moore.

All the Lovely Bad Ones : A Ghost Story, by Mary Downing Hahn - Lexile: 670 GRL: W

Travis and his sister Corey decide to boost business at their grandmother's Vermont inn by staging a few "hauntings" that soon draw tourists from across the country, but when their antics awaken a dark force, they must find a way to put to rest the ghosts they have disturbed.

Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story, by Mary Downing Hahn - Lexile: 750 GRL: U

Molly and Michael dislike their spooky new stepsister Heather but realize that they must try to save her when she seems ready to follow a ghost child to her doom.     

The Eyes of the Amaryllis, by Natalie Babbitt - Lexile: 840 GRL: V

The ship Amaryllis sinks in a hurricane, but for 30 years the captain's widow waits for him to send her a message from the bottom of the sea. With her granddaughter waiting with her, the story reveals that the line between reality and imagination is indefinable.

Who Was That Masked Man Anyway?,  by Avi - Lexile: 420 GRL: T

When nearly everyone else is thinking about fighting World War II, sixth-grader Frankie Wattleson gets in trouble at home and at school because of his preoccupation with his favorite adventure programs on the radio.

Adventure

Maze of Bones (39 Clues Series, book #1), by Rick Riordan - Lexile: 610 GRL: U

When their beloved Aunt Grace dies, Dan, 11, and Amy, 14—along with other Cahill descendants — are faced with an unusual choice: inherit one million dollars or participate in a perilous treasure hunt.  Cahills have steered the course of history for centuries and this quest's outcome will bring the victors unimaginable power and affect all of humankind.

Beardance, by Will Hobbs - Lexile: 890 GRL: U-V

While accompanying an elderly rancher on a trip into the San Juan Mountains, Cloyd, a Ute Indian boy, tries to help two orphaned grizzly cubs survive the winter and, at the same time, completes his spirit mission.

Call Me Francis Tucket, by Gary Paulsen - Lexile: 1050 GRL: W

While on a wagon train headed for Oregon, fourteen-year-old Francis Tucket is kidnapped by Pawnee Indians and then falls in with a one-armed trapper who teaches him how to live in the wild.  First in the Paulsen series: Tucket Adventures.

Far North, by Will Hobbs - Lexile: 820 GRL: V

After the destruction of their floatplane, sixteen-year-old Gabe and his Dene friend, Raymond, struggle to survive a winter in the wilderness of the Northwest Territories of Canada.

Jason's Gold, by Will Hobbs - Lexile: 860 GRL: T

In 1897, fifteen-year-old Jason embarks on a ten thousand-mile journey in hopes of striking it rich after hearing the news that gold has been discovered in Canada's Yukon Territory.  This book has a sequel, Down the Yukon.

Humor

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl - Lexile: 810 GRL: R

Each of five children lucky enough to discover an entry ticket into Mr. Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory takes advantage of the situation in his own way.

The Great Brain, by John D. Fitzgerald - Lexile: 840 GRL: T

The exploits of the Great Brain of Adenville, Utah, are described by his younger brother, frequently the victim of the Great Brain's schemes for gaining prestige or money.

Hank Zipzer Series, by Henry Winkler [RR] GRL: ~O-R

The first book in the Hank Zipzer series is Niagara Falls, Or Does It? However, the series has been restarted more recently with The Crazy Classroom Cascade. The series focuses on the antics of Hank, the “world’s greatest underachiever” who suffers from dyslexia. It is based on the real life of Henry Winkler.

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, by Jack Gantos - Lexile: 970 GRL: T

To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers, Joey has trouble paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription medications wear off and he starts getting worked up and acting wired.

Knights of the Kitchen Table, by Jon Scieszka - Lexile: 630 GRL: P

One minute they're looking at pictures of knights in the book, a birthday gift from Joe's magician uncle, the next minute they're battling fire-breathing dragons and a foul-smelling giant in King Arthur's Britain. Will Joe, Fred, and Sam escape death from these only to die at the hands of a fearsome Black Knight?  

Skinnybones, by Barbara Park - Lexile: 590 GRL: P

Alex's active sense of humor helps him get along with the school braggart, make the most of his athletic talents, and simply get by in a hectic world.

Zack Files Series by Dan Greenburg [RR] Lexile: ~400 GRL: N

The Zack Files contains 30 books, each of which is a humorous take on the main character, Zack, dealing with a supernatural issue. The first book, Great-Grandpa’s in the Litter Box, focuses on what happens when Zack gets a talking cat from the animal shelter which claims to be his great grandpa. The series does not need to be read in order, but it may help with minor details from one book to the next.

Suggested Reading List for New 7th Graders

Anderson, Laurie Halse.  Fever, 1793 - Lexile: 580 GRL: Z

It is August, 1793, and in Philadelphia, the capital of the new United States, fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook wants to turn the family coffeehouse into the finest business in the city. Meanwhile, fever is spreading quickly up from the docks and into the city’s neighborhoods.  Suddenly, Mattie’s struggle to build a better life becomes a struggle to stay alive!

Bailey, Linda.   Seven Dead Pirates - Lexile: n/a GRL: n/a

After his Great-Granddad dies, "terminally shy" Lewis Dearborn and his parents move into his dilapidated seaside mansion, where Lewis claims as his bedroom a cool tower overlooking the Atlantic. It isn't long before the ghosts of seven pirates, who had been living in that same room, make themselves known to Lewis. They want his help to retake their ancient ship, now restored in a museum. If he does, Lewis will get the room all to himself.

Baskin, Nora Raleigh.  Nine, ten: a September 11 Story  [RR] Lexile: 730 GRL: U

A few days before September 11, 2001, four middle schoolers in different parts of the country are going about their lives. Sergio, in Brooklyn, struggles with his hatred for his often absent father while living with his beloved grandmother. Will, meanwhile, cannot come to terms with the car accident that took his father's life. Naheed begins to feel uncomfortable about being Muslim, especially when she approaches the age of wearing a head scarf. Aimee, who has just started going to a new school, misses her mom, who is on a business flight to New York. Then, on 9/11, the lives of the four children intersect and are affected by the terrorist attacks.

Broach, Elise. The Wolf Keepers - Lexile: 660 GRL: n/a

Twelve-year-old Lizzie Durango lives in a zoo, spending her days taking note of the animals’ behaviors, then she meets runaway Tyler Briggs and together they investigate the wolves who are suddenly dying.

Choldenko, Gennifer.  Al Capone Does My Shirts - Lexile: 600 GRL: X

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.

Choldenko, Gennifer. Chasing Secrets - Lexile: 540 GRL: X

Thirteen-year-old Lizzie Kennedy has a passion for science, but there's not much opportunity for her to pursue it at the exclusive girls' school she is forced to attend in San Francisco in 1900. While on a trip to a patient's house with her physician father, Lizzie observes evidence that the much-feared plague has made its way to their beloved city—despite the fact that everyone, even her own father, denies its arrival. With the help of Noah, the son of their Chinese cook, Lizzie investigates this disturbing discovery that could spell death for many.

Connor, Leslie.  Waiting for Normal - Lexile: 570 GRL: X

Twelve-year-old Addie tries to cope with her mother’s erratic behavior and being separated from her beloved stepfather and half-sisters when she and her mother go to live in a small trailer by the railroad tracks on the outskirts of Schenectady, New York.

Delany, Rachelle.  Clare Voyant - Lexile: n/a GRL: n/a 

Clara can't believe her no-nonsense grandmother has just up and moved to Florida, leaving Clara and her mother on their own for the first time. This means her mother can finally "follow her bliss," which involves moving to a tiny apartment in Kensington Market, working at a herbal remedy shop and trying to develop her so-called mystical powers. But when a mystery unfolds at school, she finds herself in a strange situation: having an opportunity to prove herself as an investigative journalist . . . with the help of her own mystical powers. 

Frederick, Heather Vogel. Absolutely Truly - Lexile: 790 GRL: V

Unusually tall twelve-year-old Truly Lovejoy moves with her family to the tiny town of Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire, and uncovers a mysterious letter in an old book at her family’s bookstore that leads her and her friends on a dangerous treasure hunt around town.

Gemeinhart, Dan.  The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise  - Lexile: 730 GRL: N/A

Five years. That's how long Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have lived on the road in an old school bus, crisscrossing the nation. It's also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters in a car crash. Over the course of thousands of miles, Coyote will learn that going home can sometimes be the hardest journey of all...but that with friends by her side, she just might be able to turn her “once upon a time” into a “happily ever after”.

Gratz, Alan. The Brooklyn Nine - Lexile: 840 GRL: X

Follows the fortunes of a German immigrant family through nine generations, beginning in 1845, as they experience American life and play baseball.

Gratz, Alan. Code of Honor - Lexile: 660 Lexile GRL: Z

Acclaimed author Alan Gratz (Prisoner B-3087) takes readers on a heart-pounding, nonstop adventure through underground intelligence bunkers and dangerous terrorist cells, weaving a gripping tale about the War on Terror—and the bond between brothers.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Found (The Missing, Book 1) [RR] Lexile: 750 GRL: X

Thirteen-year-old Johan and Chip, who are both adopted, learn they were discovered in a plane that appeared out of nowhere, full of babies with no adults on board. They realize they are in the middle of a mystery involving time travel and two opposing forces that are trying to repair the fabric of time.

Hayles, Marsha.  Breathing Room - Lexile: 800 GRL: W 

In 1940, thirteen-year-old Evvy Hoffmeister and her newfound friends struggle to get well at Loon Lake Sanatorium, where they are being treated for tuberculosis.

Hicks, Deron. The Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave - Lexile: 720 GRL: V

Twelve-year-old Colophon Letterford has a serious mystery on her hands. Will she discover the link between her family's literary legacy and Shakespeare's tomb before it's too late? Antique paintings, secret passages, locked mausoleums, a four-hundred-year-old treasure, and a cast of quirky (and some ignoble) characters all add up to a fun original adventure. Readers will revel in a whirlwind journey through literary time and space in real-world locales from Mont St. Michel to Stratford-Upon-Avon to Central Park!

Hicks, Deron. The Van Gogh Deception - Lexile: 750 GRL: W

A boy is found wandering in the National Gallery in Washington, DC. He has no idea who he is or how he got there, but he does know a lot about art. It turns out that he is being pursued by a gang of criminals who want to stop him from telling what he knows and ruining their scheme. But he doesn't remember what he knows, either. 

Hobbs, Will.  Take Me to the River  - Lexile:760 GRL: X

When fourteen-year-old Dylan Sands joins his fifteen-year-old cousin in running the Rio Grande, they face a series of adventures including a tropical storm and a fugitive kidnapper. Very fast-paced and exciting plot….

Kadohata, Cynthia. Checked - Lexile: 760 GRL: T/U

To help his dog through cancer treatment, Conor gives up hockey and finds himself considering who he is without the sport that has defined him, and connecting more with his family and best friend.

Korman, Gordon. Restart - [RR] Lexile: 730 GRL: W

Chase does not remember falling off the roof, in fact, he does not remember anything about himself, and when he gets back to middle school he begins to learn who he was through the reactions of the other kids--trouble is, he really is not sure he likes the Chase that is being revealed, but can he take the opportunity amnesia has provided and restart his life?

Korman, Gordon. Schooled - [RR] Lexile: 740 GRL: V

Capricorn Anderson lives in isolation with his grandmother, a former hippie; but when she falls from a tree and breaks her hip, Cap is sent to a foster home where he has his first experience in a public school.

Lupica, Mike.  Heat [RR] - Lexile: 940 GRL: V

Pitching prodigy Michael Arroyo is on the run from social services after being banned from playing Little League baseball because rival coaches doubt he is only twelve years old, and he has no parents to offer them proof.

Marsh, Katherine.  The Night Tourist - Lexile: 760 GRL: ~U

Fourteen-year-old Jack Perdu, a prodigy of classical mythology, suffers a near-fatal accident.  He then meets Euri, a young ghost who introduces him to New York’s ghostly underworld, eight levels below Grand Central Station, where he decides to look for his mother who disappeared years earlier.

Mass, Wendy. Every Soul a Star - Lexile: 740 GRL: U

Ally, Bree, and Jack meet at Moon Shadow, an isolated campground, to watch a total eclipse of the sun. Soon they begin to learn a great deal about themselves, each other, and the universe.

McAnulty, Stacy. The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl - Lexile: 530 GRL: W

A lightning strike made twelve-year-old Lucy a math genius, but after years of homeschooling, her grandmother enrolls her in middle school and she learns that life is more than numbers.

Murphy, Pat. The Wild Girls - Lexile: 630 GRL: ~T

When 13-year-old Joan moves to California in 1972, she becomes friends with Sarah (Fox), a timid girl who is incredibly imaginative and shows amazing leadership when they play in the woods.  They win a writing contest together and spend the summer in an elite creative writing course at the local university.

Park, Linda Sue.  Forest of Wonders (Wing & Claw Book 1) - Lexile: 700 GRL: W

When Raffa makes a cure from a rare crimson vine he finds deep in the forbidden forest, the bat he saves transforms into something much more.

Peck, Richard.  The Best Man - Lexile: 540 GRL: V

All through elementary school, Archer Magill has looked for role models and found three of them in his grandpa, dad, and Uncle Paul, but now a fourth has joined their ranks--Mr. McLeod, who along with his army dog, Argus, becomes a bit of a celebrity. However, now middle school has started, and the changes are not for the better. Archer is then surprised by being named best man in two of his role models' weddings, which means he will have to figure out how to become the best Archer he can be.

Peters, Julie Anne.  Define Normal - Lexile: n/a GRL:  Y

Overachiever Antonia is eager to participate in the new peer counseling program at her school, until she learns that she is to counsel Jasmine Luther, a punker with black lipstick and a pierced eyebrow.  As the story unfolds, Antonia and Jazz discover they have much in common.

Reynolds, Jason. Ghost - [RR] Lexile: 730 GRL: Z

Ghost, a naturally talented runner and troublemaker, is recruited for an elite middle school track team. He must stay on track literally and figuratively, to reach his full potential.

Saeed, Aisha Amal Unbound - Lexile: 600 GRL: n/a

Life is quiet and ordinary in Amal's Pakistani village, but she had no complaints, and besides, she's busy pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher one day. Her dreams are temporarily dashed when--as the eldest daughter--she must stay home from school to take care of her siblings. Amal is upset, but she doesn't lose hope and finds ways to continue learning. Then the unimaginable happens--after an accidental run-in with the son of her village's corrupt landlord, Amal must work as his family's servant to pay off her own family's debt.

Schusterman, Neal. The Shadow Club [RR] Lexile: 760 GRL: S

When a middle school boy and his friends decide to form a club of “second-bests” and play anonymous tricks on each other’s archrivals, the harmless pranks escalate until they become life-threatening.  

Sloan, Holly Goldberg. Counting by 7’s - Lexile: 770 GRL: X

Twelve-year-old genius and outsider Willow Chance must figure out how to connect with other people and find a surrogate family for herself after her parents are killed in a car accident.

Sloan, Holly Goldberg and Meg Wolitzer. To Night Owl From Dogfish - Lexile: 770 GRL: n/a

Unhappy about being sent to the same summer camp after their fathers start dating, Bett and Avery, eleven, eventually begin scheming to get the couple back together after a break-up. Told entirely through emails.

Stokes, Paula. This is How it Happened - Lexile: n/a GRL: n/a

After waking up from a coma, Genevieve Grace can't remember the car crash that killed her boyfriend Dallas, a YouTuber turned teen music idol. Genevieve knows she was driving, but because of what's been reported in the media, everyone assumes the other driver, Brad Freeman, is guilty. As she slowly pieces together the night of the accident, Genevieve is hit with a sickening sense of dread--what if she's the one at fault?

Tolkein, J.R.R. The Hobbit - Lexile: 1000 GRL: Z

This is the fascinating novel that introduced the world to Bilbo Baggins, Middle-earth, Gandalf the wizard, and the Ring of power.

Townsend, Jessica. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow - Lexile: 790 GRA: X

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests--or she'll have to leave Nevermoor for good.

Weeks, Sarah.  So B It.  [RR] Lexile: 860 GRL: ~X

After spending her young life with her mentally disabled mother and agoraphobic neighbor, twelve-year-old Heidi sets out from Reno, Nevada, to New York City, on a journey of self-discovery.