Embedded Files
All the books on this list are available in the RVMS library; in your local public library; from any bookstore or online bookseller; or on the Sora app, as e-books or audiobooks (look for the red links below). Go to Soraapp.com/library/ulsterbocesny and log in with your Rondout Google login (first initial+last name@rondout.k12.ny.us and whatever password you use for Google Classroom). Students can use Sora on any device all summer long!
FICTION Reading Ideas from Mrs. Tourtelot
I.R.L. by Jenny Goebel (horror)
Gr 4-8. Not every kid would be thrilled to move to rural Alaska, but 6th grader Lucy is eager to leave her bullies behind. Her new school is remote from October to April, when the roads are too icy to travel. Luckily, the students at White Pine Secondary School are super nice, and as the ice starts to thaw, Lucy is excited to meet them IRL. But when she goes to the school's address, she finds a crumbling, abandoned building with a rotted sign in front–a sign that reads White Pine Secondary School.
Right Back at You by Carolyn Mackler (science fiction)
Gr 4-8. Mason lives in 2023. His parents have just split up, and there's a guy at school who won't get off his case. As part of an assignment, he writes a letter to Albert Einstein. He throws the letter into his closet…and the next day he gets a letter back from a girl named Talia, who lives in 1987. She has problems of her own, including classmates who make jokes because she's Jewish. It turns out the only person she really has to talk to is…a random boy from the future!
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell (fantasy)
Gr 4-8. The day that Christopher saves a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake will change his life forever. It's the day he learns about the Archipelago, a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years–until now. And it's the day he meets Mal–a girl on the run, in desperate need of his help. Together, they need to figure out why the magic is fading, and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. The sequel comes out in September!
Alone by Megan E. Freeman (adventure fiction)
Gr 4-8. When 12-year-old Maddie hatches a scheme for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she wakes up to a nightmare. She's alone–left behind in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned. With no one to rely on, no power, and no phone or internet, Maddie learns to survive on her own. Her only companions are a Rottweiler named George and all the books she can read. Perfect for fans of Hatchet and I Survived books. Don’t miss the sequel, Away.
The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling (adventure fiction)
Gr 4-8. One year after a random shooting changed their family forever, Nora and her dad are exploring a slot canyon in the Arizona desert. Nora longs for things to go back to normal, like they were when her mother was still alive, while her dad keeps them isolated, afraid of other people. But when they reach the bottom of the canyon, a flash flood rips across their path, sweeping away Nora's father and all of their supplies. Suddenly, Nora finds herself lost and alone in the desert, facing dehydration, deadly snakes, and venomous scorpions. Perfect for fans of Hatchet.
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly (science fiction)
Gr 4-8. When Ridge, a time-traveling teenager from the future, gets trapped in 1999, he befriends Michael, a lonely and anxious 12-year-old boy, changing the course of their lives forever. As Ridge immerses himself in 1999–fascinated by microwaves, basketballs, and malls–Michael discovers that his new friend has a book that outlines the events of the next twenty years, and his curiosity morphs into something else: focused determination. Michael needs to get his hands on that book. How else can he prepare for the future? But how far is he willing to go to get it?
Slugfest by Gordon Korman (sports fiction)
Gr 4-8. A hilarious story of underdogs coming together. Yash is the best athlete at Robinette Middle School–he's already playing on the high school's JV sports teams. So imagine his shock when he learns that his JV practices kept him from earning credit for 8th grade gym. To graduate, he has to take summer school–for gym! He has to work with his fellow gym rejects to pass the course, and this turns out to be much harder than he expected.
The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (historical fiction)
Gr 4-8. It's 1942. German Nazis occupy much of France. And 12-year-old Miri, who is Jewish, is not safe. Miri is saved from the roundup that takes her entire Jewish neighborhood, and escapes Paris, landing in a small French village where she has to pretend to be Catholic. Her parents are gone–maybe alive, maybe not. One night, she gets a chance to escape–hopefully to find her parents. But will she take it? One thing is certain: The person Miri meets that night will save her life. And the person Miri becomes could save the lives of many more.
The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie (mystery)
Gr 4-8. Sarah Greene wants nothing more from 7th grade than to beat the hardest escape room in her town with her two best friends. But when a foreclosure notice shows up on Sarah's front door, everything changes. Since her father became ill two years ago, things have been bad, but not lose-your-house-bad–until now. Sarah feels helpless until the day her friend Hannah mentions a treasure rumored to be hidden in the walls of an abandoned funhouse…
The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner (adventure novel-in-verse)
Gr 4-8. Finn is nothing like his dad, a star athlete and firefighter hero who always ran toward danger–until he died two years ago. Finn is about to fail seventh grade and was just caught on camera vandalizing a headstone in a cemetery. Turns out that grave belongs to a legendary mountain climber, and her daughter makes Finn a deal: She'll drop the charges if he agrees to climb all 46 Adirondack High Peaks in a single summer. And one more thing–he has to bring along the dead woman's dog.
Mid-Air by Alicia D. Williams (realistic novel-in-verse)
Gr 5-8. Eighth grader Isaiah feels lost. He thought his summer was going to be him and his boys Drew and Darius, hanging out, doing wheelies, and breaking world records. But a hit and run killed Darius in the midst of a record-breaking wheelie when Isaiah should have been keeping watch, ready to warn: "CAR!" Now, Drew can barely look at Isaiah. But Isaiah can't lose two friends. So, he comes up with a plan–they can spend the summer breaking records together, for Darius.
Olivetti by Allie Millington (mystery)
Gr 4-8. Being a typewriter is not easy. Replaced by a computer, Olivetti has been forgotten by the Brindle family. The Brindles are busy, except for 12-year-old Ernest, who would rather be left alone with a dictionary. But Olivetti remembers every word the Brindles have ever typed on him. When Ernest’s mom goes missing, Olivetti breaks the only rule of the "typewriterly code" and types back to Ernest, sharing the memories and clues stored inside him. Perfect for fans of The Wild Robot.
Ferris by Kate DiCamillo (realistic fiction)
Gr 4-8. It's the summer before 5th grade, and for Ferris Wilkey, it’s a summer of chaos: Her little sister, Pinky, has vowed to become an outlaw. Uncle Ted has left Aunt Shirley and is hiding in the Wilkey basement. And Charisse, Ferris's grandmother, is seeing a ghost. This ghost has plans–wild, impractical plans. How can Ferris satisfy the ghost with Pinky terrorizing the town, Uncle Ted sending Ferris to spy on her aunt, and her dad battling an invasion of raccoons?
When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary by Alice Hoffman (historical fiction)
Gr 5-8. When the Nazis occupy the Netherlands, the Frank family's life is turned upside down. Anne is forced to bear witness as ordinary people become monsters, and children and families are caught up in the violence. In the midst of impossible danger, Anne, creative and fearless, discovers who she truly is. With a wisdom far beyond her years, she will become a writer who will go on to change the world as we know it.
A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga (mystery)
Gr 4-8. A painting has been stolen! When Rami Ahmed sees a floating girl in the museum, he knows he has seen her somewhere before. Then he realizes: She looks just like the girl in the painting that has gone missing. But how does her appearance connect to the theft? Agatha the turtle knows–she’s been watching from the garden. But she can't exactly tell anyone...can she? Will Rami and his friend Veda solve the mystery? The clues are everywhere, but they'll have to be brave enough to look.
Deer Run Home by Ann Clare LeZotte (realistic novel-in-verse)
Gr 5-8. Twelve-year-old Effie is Deaf, and her family refuses to learn sign language. Cut off from human communication at home, she’s unable to speak about her abusive stepfather or violent father–only her interpreter understands, and Miss Kathy is willing to take Effie's case to court to provide her with a safe home. This moving story of survival and found family, inspired by a true court case, is perfect for fans of Wonder and Out of My Mind.
How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd (realistic fiction)
Gr 4-8. Being alone is something 12-year-old Raymond is used to. His free-wheeling parents move their family from town to town, and he's living in a trailer in a brand-new state when one day, they just up and abandon him. All alone with nothing but a duffle bag full of clothes and his reliable pup, Rosie, he is forced to live in the woods behind his middle school. With a fishing pole in hand and a survival guide checked out from the library, Raymond scrapes by and doesn't tell anyone his secret.
Hazard by Frances O’Roark Dowell (realistic novel-in-verse)
Gr 5-8. Hazard is resentful about being forced into counseling after being suspended from his school football team for violent outbursts. He’s also angry that his father served four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, and angry that his father lost a leg when an IED blew up. But as his therapy progresses, he begins to process what happened to him and his family. Told as a series of emails and texts to his best friend, his family, and his therapist.
Louder Than Hunger by John Schu (realistic novel-in-verse)
Gr 5-8. Jake volunteers at a nursing home because he likes helping people. He likes skating and singing, playing Bingo and Name That Tune, and reading mysteries and comics aloud to his teachers. He also likes avoiding people his own age…and the cruelty of mirrors…and food. The less he eats, the bigger he feels. How long can Jake punish himself before he truly disappears? This is a fictionalized account of the author's experiences as a young teen with an eating disorder.
tThe Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko (realistic fiction)
Gr 5-8. When 11-year-old Hank's mom doesn't come home, he takes care of his toddler sister, Boo, like always. But it's been a week now. They’re out of food and his mom has never stayed away this long. Hank knows he needs help, so he seeks out the stranger listed as their emergency contact. But this means social workers, a new school, and answering questions about his mom that he's been trying to keep secret.
The Shape of Lost Things by Sarah Everett (realistic fiction)
Gr 4-8. Skye's world changed forever when her dad kidnapped her brother, Finn, four years ago. And then, after Finn's birthday this year, they get a call that he's finally been found. Tall, quiet, and secretive, this Finn is nothing like the brother she grew up with. He keeps taking late-night phone calls, and he doesn't seem to remember any of their inside jokes or secrets. As Skye tries to make sense of it all through the lens of her old Polaroid camera, she starts to wonder: Could this Finn be someone else entirely?
Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner (realistic novel-in-verse)
Gr 5-8. There is a Before and an After for 6th grader Bea. Before the shooting at her school that took the lives of her classmates and teacher–and After, when she must figure out how to grieve, live, and keep rolling forward. But as her community rallies in a wave of protests, Bea can't get past the helplessness she felt in her wheelchair as others around her took cover. Through horseback riding, Bea finally begins to feel like herself again. And as she heals, she finds the bravery to demand change.
Keep It Like a Secret by John David Anderson (realistic fiction)
Gr 4-8. Morgan and his big sister Claire have always had each other's backs. At least, they used to. But then Clarie started fighting more with Mom and storming out of the house, and Morgan felt his best friend slipping away. Now he sits in his room, waiting for the sound of her key in the lock. It's a sound he hasn't heard in a week, since her and Mom's worst fight ever. So when Claire finally calls and wants to spend the day together, he knows this might be his only chance to convince her to come home.
Light and Air by Mindy Nichols Wendell (historical fiction)
Gr 4-8. It's 1935, and tuberculosis is ravaging the nation. Everyone is afraid of this deadly illness. But what happens when you actually have it? When Halle and her mother both come down with TB, they are shunned–and then sent to a hospital in the woods of upstate New York. On the children’s ward, free from her worried and difficult father for the first time in her life, Halle slowly discovers joy, family, and the healing power of honey. But when Mama suffers a lung hemorrhage, their entire future–and recovery–is thrown into question.
Shark Teeth by Sherry Winston (realistic fiction)
Gr 4-8. Nothing is more important to 7th-grader Kita than keeping herself and her younger siblings out of foster care. Mama can be a loving parent, but she often chooses drinking and partying over her children, leaving Kita to care for the littles alone. Lately, though, Mama has been behaving responsibly enough for Kita to feel hope. She even joins her school’s majorette squad as a twirler. But her hopes go up in smoke when Mama leaves the littles home alone while Kita’s out with friends, resulting in the siblings being sent to separate foster families.
How It All Ends by Emma Hunsinger (realistic graphic novel)
Gr 5-8. Thirteen-year-old Tara lives in her imagination. It's far more entertaining than real life. But when she's bumped from 7th grade to high school, back-to-school gives her a dramatic jolt to reality. Tara isn't ready to stop playing make-believe with her younger brother. She's not ready to change for gym in front of everyone, or for the chaos of the hallways. But then she meets Libby. Tara doesn't know whether she's ready for Libby. She can't even explain who Libby is to her. She just knows that everything's more fun when her classmate is around. But how will it all end?
Reel Life by Kane Lynch (realistic graphic novel)
Gr 4-8. Eleven-year-old friends Kyle, Luna, and Galen bond over their love of film. But as they work on their latest movie, Kyle pulls away, acting standoffish and angry. He’s upset over his parents’ divorce and custody battle, which feels alien to Galen—until Galen’s father drops a bombshell that rips their family apart. Now that he’s split between two homes, Galen begins to understand Kyle’s feelings. Luna suggests they film a documentary about their parents to help them work through their emotions.
The Girl Who Fell to Earth by Patricia Forde (science fiction)
Gr 4-8. Aria lives on a planet whose people have eradicated illness and even death. Earth is their 'shadow planet' which they populated with humans centuries ago, to study them and learn from their experiences. Now the experiment is coming to an end, and Aria must go to Earth with her scientist father to help destroy its people. Brought up to believe that humans are inferior, Aria is shocked to discover that she is half human. She also learns that Earth-dwellers live life to the fullest and feel love, even though they are mortal. Can she save them, and herself, from destruction?
Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez (humor)
Gr 4-8. Gabby Torres is nine years old and ready to conquer the world. She's already joined the Sea Musketeers, the environmental protection club founded by her idol, Stella Diaz, and plans to be their best (and youngest) member ever. Gabby's latest and greatest idea: start a social media page for her club. But her parents think she's too young! Nothing stops Gabby though…until some online meanies get her in some serious trouble! But she's totally got everything under control all on her own. Right?!
Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine by Nicole Melleby (realistic fic)
Gr 5-8. Winnie Nash never used to have so many secrets. But then she agreed to stay with her grandma for the summer so her mom can take care of her health during her latest pregnancy. Now Winnie plays card games with Grandma's friends, joins the senior citizen book club, and absolutely does not talk about her mom's sad days. The biggest secret is that her parents asked Winnie not to mention she's gay to Grandma. And there's a really cute girl who also hangs out with the senior citizens. What happens if Grandma notices just how much Winnie likes Pippa?
NON-FICTION Reading Ideas from Mrs. Tourtelot
They Saved the Stallions by Deborah Hopkinson (non-fiction)
Gr 4-8. The Spanish Riding School in Austria knew that their carefully bred, beautifully trained, performing Lipizzaner stallions might not survive the German invasion, so they sent the horses away to keep them safe. As WWII was ending, retreating forces still posed a threat. United by their love and respect for the stallions, people from different countries came together to save these famous horses.
Lefty: A Story That Is Not All Right by Mo Willems (non-fiction)
Gr 4-8. Did you know, there was a time when people could get in trouble–really, really BIG trouble–for being LEFT-HANDED!? It's true! Lefty and Righty hand out the facts in a theatrical performance that spans the ages. Once upon a time, left was considered wrong . . . but now, left or right, it's all alright. And there are scissors for everyone! Created by the award-winning (right and left) hands of bestselling authors Mo Willems and Dan Santat, this book ensures that no one gets left behind!
Impossible Escape: A True Story of Survival and Heroism in Nazi Europe by Steve Sheinkin (non-fiction)
Gr 6-8. It’s 1944. After barely surviving two years in the Auschwitz concentration camp, teenage Rudi knows he must escape–even if death is more likely. As trains full of people arrive daily, Rudi knows the murders won't stop until he reveals the truth to the world. Meanwhile, Rudi's classmate Gerta fled to Hungary, where her family lives under fake names to hide their Jewish identity. But her chances of survival are slimmer each day. This is the true story of an escape that saved 100,000 lives.
The Bard and the Book: How the First Folio Saved the Plays of William Shakespeare from Oblivion by Ann Bausum (non-fiction)
Gr 4-8. Four hundred years ago, no one bothered to write down the exact words of stage plays. Characters' lines were scribbled on small rolls of paper and passed around, but no master script was saved for the future. We've only heard of Romeo, Juliet, Hamlet, and even Shakespeare because a group of people preserved the plays after he died. This funny and true story is a great introduction to Shakespeare.
The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II by Candace Fleming (non-fiction)
Gr 6-8. “You are to report to Station X at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, in 4 days time. That is all you need to know.” This was the terse telegram hundreds of young British women received in 1941, as World War II raged. When they arrived at Station X, a sprawling mansion in a state of disrepair, these women had no idea what kind of work they were stepping into. Who had recommended them? Why had they been chosen? Most would never learn the answers to these questions.
Who’s Got Mail? The History of Mail in America by Linda Barrett Osborne (non-fiction)
Gr 4-8. Learn how the mail has been delivered in the United States since before the Constitution was even signed. In the United States, the spread of the postal service went hand in hand with the spread of democracy and transportation. As settlement spread west, communication became even more important to let distant residents feel that they were American; no part of the country was too far away, no village or farm too small to have access to the post.
Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy of the American Indian Boarding Schools by Dan SaSuWeh Jones (non-fiction)
Gr 5-8. Little Moon was four when armed federal agents showed up at her home and took her from her family. She was sent away to a boarding school that was created to strip her of her Ponca culture and teach her the ways of white society. Little Moon was one of thousands of Indigenous children forced to attend these schools and give up everything: family, friends, toys, clothing, food, customs, even their language. She would be the first of four generations of her family to attend this school.
Whales in the City by Nancy Castaldo (non-fiction picture book)
Gr 4-8. Learn how the industrial revolution, overfishing, and pollution pushed whales out of New York Harbor and the Hudson River by the early 20th Century. But the story doesn't end there! Passionate citizens were able to clean up the harbor through activism and legislation. After a hundred years, the first whales were spotted in the Hudson River in 2019! This environmental success story highlights the power of activism and how each of us can make a difference.
Riverkeeper: Protecting an American River by Nancy Castaldo (non-fiction)
Gr 4-8. The dirty history of America's "First River.” Meet Tracy Brown, the first female Riverkeeper. Learn about laws like the Clean Water Act. Discover surprising methods for ecological conservation, like giving legal personhood to bodies of water. Get ideas for cleaning up the Hudson, like volunteering as a water tester, or small things you can do at home. Includes a list of fun Hudson River activities.
Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall by Lynn Brunelle (non-fiction picture book)
Gr 4-8. Follow a blue whale's body to the bottom of the ocean, where it sets the stage for a bustling new ecosystem. When this whale closes her eyes for the last time in her 90-year life, a process known as whale fall begins. Her body floats to the surface, then slowly sinks through the deep; from inflated behemoth to clean-picked skeleton, it offers food and shelter at each stage to a vast diversity of organisms.
Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II by Lia Levi (memoir)
Gr 4-8. 1938, Italy. Six-year-old Lia loves to build sandcastles, and her biggest problem is her shyness–until prime minister Mussolini joins forces with Hitler, and everything changes. There are laws saying Jewish children can't go to school, and Jews can't work or go on vacation. It's hard for Lia to understand why this is happening to her. As war comes closer, it’s too dangerous to stay together, and Lia and her sisters are sent to hide at a convent. Will she ever be "just a girl" again?
Malcolm Lives! The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers by Ibram X. Kendi (non-fiction)
Gr 5-8. As a kid, Malcolm endured violence, loss, hunger, foster care, racism, and prison time. He emerged from it all to make a lasting impact. As a Black Muslim. As a family man. As a revolutionary. Never-before-published letters, notes, flyers, and photos give young readers a front-row seat to his life. One hundred years after his birth in 1925, Malcolm's antiracist legacy lives on in this accessible biography.
Made in Asian America: A History for Young People by Erika Lee
Gr 4-8. Asian American history is a story of migration; of people and families crossing the Pacific Ocean in search of escape and opportunity. It is also the story of race and racism. Of being labeled an immigrant invasion, unfit to become citizens, and being banned, deported, and incarcerated. Of being blamed for bringing diseases into the country. It is also a story of bravery and hope. It is the story of heroes who fought for equality in the courts, on the streets, and in schools.
We Are Palestinian: A Celebration of Culture and Tradition by Reem Kassis (non-fiction)
Gr 4-8. From culture and food to music and literature, this book is a celebration of Palestinian heritage. Discover the history of iconic Palestinian symbols like tatreez embroidery, or the inspiration behind Mahmoud Darwish's poetry. Learn about Dabke, the folk dance of Palestine, and traditional Palestinian food like knafeh. Be amazed by Palestine’s famous old cities and explore the different religions there.
You Choose: Terror Strikes New York on September 11 by Thomas Kingsley Troupe (interactive non-fiction)
Gr 4-8. You are in NYC on a sunny September morning when a huge passenger plane suddenly flies straight into one tower of the World Trade Center. A short time later, a second plane slams into the other tower. Clouds of black smoke billow from the towers. Will you rush into the buildings and try to help any survivors? Or will you try to escape the burning wreckage falling to the street? Step back in time to face the dangers and difficult decisions people faced on one of America's darkest days.
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