About the Books

The Outsiders - (750L) - This middle school classic stands the test of time with its authentic teenage voice reaching new readers each year. The novel centers around teenage boys who have rough home lives and are generally looked down upon in their Oklahoma town. Eliot readers will be engaged with the book right from the start as the main character opens up his life to readers and gets caught up in unwelcome action with a privileged group of boys who terrorize him within the first few pages. By the end of the book, readers will see that judgment often goes both ways, that a delinquent can also be a hero, and that friends will see the best in you and can step up to play the role of family.

Here is an interview with the author, reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the book. She discusses why the book has had such longevity.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - (860L) - This fantasty adventure quest has been beloved by readers for generations. Many Eliot readers will already be familiar with some of the characters from pop culture references. The series has influenced many fantasy writers who are engaging youth readers today. The series stands the test of time because of its rich universe, which includes invented languages, inspiring characters, danger around every corner, and a good dose of humor whenever its needed. The friendships are built on a pact to save the world from the corrupting forces of evil and to keep each other safe from harm.

The Lord of the Rings Fandom Wiki includes terminology, a character encyclopedia, information about the films, the other books in the series, other books in the universe, reference books about the series, and discussion forums.

NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society - (760L) - This funny novel has engaging illustrations that will interest even the most reluctant readers. The story includes a lot of the same kinds of worries that plague many middle school students including fitting in with the popular crowd and dealing with new braces (headgear included). The story takes a dramatic turn when the main character finds out that the nerds he has been bullying are leading dangerous double lives. When he is thrust into their group, he learns that it's hard to build trust when you have caused hurt feelings, but friends can be made when you are willing to be open minded and can appreciate everyone's uniqueness.

This book is just the first in a series. Other books that continue the story are M Is for Mama's Boy, The Cheerleaders of Doom, The Villain Virus, and Attack of the BULLIES.

Any Which Wall - (810L) - This book starts out with a group of neighborhood kids who are trying to fight summer boredom. With the freedom to wander, they find a stone wall conspicuously placed in a field. This isn't just any wall, though. They soon figure out its magic and spend their summer days finding adventure in places near and far. As they learn to look out for each other and keep their secret, this group of kids will prove that some experiences can lead to serious bonding.

This interview with the author offers a lot of information about her inspiration and her writing process. This review of the book offers praise for the novel and information about the inspiration the book takes from others that have come before it.

The Last Kids on Earth - (650L) - This zombie apocalypse book has some pretty serious issues (foster youth, family abandonment, the end of humanity) wrapped up in a funny adventure story that manages to be irreverent and hopeful at the same time. Kids will love the relatable characters, gross descriptions, action sequences, and engaging illustrations. Even though these characters may be the last kids on earth, they still need to choose whether they want to be friends. They learn that sticking together won't just help them survive, but it will help to give them something to live for.

The author's website has a book trailer for this title and also information about the other books in the series.

The Egypt Game - (1010L) - This novel will open Eliot students' eyes to what life was like long ago when kids were allowed to roam neighborhoods freely and had to use a landline phone or knock on the front door of a friend's house if they wanted to socialize. The kids in this book bond over their common understanding of how to truly play - how to get deep in the weeds of authenticity to create their own imaginative worlds and bring them to life. Their friendship is solidified by some mysterious and terrifying events that make their game seem too dangerous to keep playing - almost.

To learn more about Ancient Egyt and to find out more about the kind of Egyptian artifacts that "the Egypt gang" would wish they could find in the storage lot, readers can browse the Egyptian Museum's collection.