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CHAPTER BOOK List Titles
****images from Goodreads/summaries by Ms. Tasich
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Jackson's family is having a hard time. They used to live in a house, then they lived in their mini-van, and now they live in an apartment. But things are starting to get hard again. There isn't always a lot of food. They're packing up things to sell. And, most distressing of all to Jackson, Crenshaw has shown up again. The big, black and white cat he hasn't seen in years. Because that's what happens to imaginary friends. They leave when you don't need them anymore. So why is he back now?
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Jackson's family is having a hard time. They used to live in a house, then they lived in their mini-van, and now they live in an apartment. But things are starting to get hard again. There isn't always a lot of food. They're packing up things to sell. And, most distressing of all to Jackson, Crenshaw has shown up again. The big, black and white cat he hasn't seen in years. Because that's what happens to imaginary friends. They leave when you don't need them anymore. So why is he back now?
Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
Genre: Mystery
Summary: Emily's family is constantly moving since her parents are on a quest to live in all 50 states. While the adventures are fun, she'd like to be able to settle in for once. And now they're in San Francisco, the home of G. Griswold and the Book Scavengers, a website and online community where people hide books and post clues for others to find them. Emily is a dedicated Book Scavenger, so when she stumbles upon a hidden copy of a rare manuscript in the subway she can't help but think it is the first clue in Mr. Griswold's new game. What she doesn't know is that Mr. Griswold dropped the book there after being mugged and shot, and now everyone is looking for this rare book and not everyone is willing to play nice. With the help of her new friend Jeremy, Emily is in a race against time to solve the clues and find the books to reveal the treasure.
Genre: Mystery
Summary: Emily's family is constantly moving since her parents are on a quest to live in all 50 states. While the adventures are fun, she'd like to be able to settle in for once. And now they're in San Francisco, the home of G. Griswold and the Book Scavengers, a website and online community where people hide books and post clues for others to find them. Emily is a dedicated Book Scavenger, so when she stumbles upon a hidden copy of a rare manuscript in the subway she can't help but think it is the first clue in Mr. Griswold's new game. What she doesn't know is that Mr. Griswold dropped the book there after being mugged and shot, and now everyone is looking for this rare book and not everyone is willing to play nice. With the help of her new friend Jeremy, Emily is in a race against time to solve the clues and find the books to reveal the treasure.
Ruby Lee and Me by Shannon Hitchcock
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: Sarah Beth Willis is having the worst summer of her life. Her younger sister was hit by a car and Sarah is convinced its her fault. She was the one who was supposed to be watching Robin and now they don't know if Robin will make it, let alone ever walk or jump or play again. Besides that, this is the last summer before Sarah has to start at a new school, and this is the first year the colored children will be in her class. Her best friend (when she spends summers at her grandparents) has always been Ruby Lee, so she should be excited they can finally be in school together, but everyone from their grandmas to their mommas tell them they shouldn't be school-friends. Because it would just be too hard. Integration isn't going to come easy for Shady Creek.
Through all of this Sarah Beth has to finally learn what it means to grow up and make decisions based on what is right, not what is easy.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: Sarah Beth Willis is having the worst summer of her life. Her younger sister was hit by a car and Sarah is convinced its her fault. She was the one who was supposed to be watching Robin and now they don't know if Robin will make it, let alone ever walk or jump or play again. Besides that, this is the last summer before Sarah has to start at a new school, and this is the first year the colored children will be in her class. Her best friend (when she spends summers at her grandparents) has always been Ruby Lee, so she should be excited they can finally be in school together, but everyone from their grandmas to their mommas tell them they shouldn't be school-friends. Because it would just be too hard. Integration isn't going to come easy for Shady Creek.
Through all of this Sarah Beth has to finally learn what it means to grow up and make decisions based on what is right, not what is easy.
Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Ari makes the choice to leave her guardian's (Jana) home to move in with her older brother Gage. He no longer feels like he can live with Jana, and it was their mother's dying wish for the two of them to stay together. But now, without Jana, they don't have any place to call their own. They rotate from friend to friend, staying on couches and floors, and sometimes, at the shelter, even though they have to sneak in. But still, Ari doesn't consider herself homeless. But she does know that it would be easier to get her homework done, her clothes washed, and her life easier, if she had a place to call her own. Besides these troubles, she's worried about getting into Carter, an elite middle school, and she doesn't think her best friend even wants to hang out with her anymore.
As 5th grade winds down, Ari has to figure out what she wants and what she needs. This is a heartfelt, honest story about a girl growing up. It was definitely emotional at times, but the superb writing makes it accessible to students in grades 4-8.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Ari makes the choice to leave her guardian's (Jana) home to move in with her older brother Gage. He no longer feels like he can live with Jana, and it was their mother's dying wish for the two of them to stay together. But now, without Jana, they don't have any place to call their own. They rotate from friend to friend, staying on couches and floors, and sometimes, at the shelter, even though they have to sneak in. But still, Ari doesn't consider herself homeless. But she does know that it would be easier to get her homework done, her clothes washed, and her life easier, if she had a place to call her own. Besides these troubles, she's worried about getting into Carter, an elite middle school, and she doesn't think her best friend even wants to hang out with her anymore.
As 5th grade winds down, Ari has to figure out what she wants and what she needs. This is a heartfelt, honest story about a girl growing up. It was definitely emotional at times, but the superb writing makes it accessible to students in grades 4-8.
A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Tigerlily is saving up money to pay for her dog's eye surgery. Lucky is going blind and even though he is old, Lily is sure that the surgery is what needs to be done. That way, Lucky can go back to the life he used to have when he could see. To raise money, she paints and sells bee boxes at her grandparent's store. This summer though she has a new friend, Salma, one of the migrant workers who help harvest blueberries. Salma is willing to help, but she is also someone and something new and different. And as Lily knows, not everyone likes change.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Tigerlily is saving up money to pay for her dog's eye surgery. Lucky is going blind and even though he is old, Lily is sure that the surgery is what needs to be done. That way, Lucky can go back to the life he used to have when he could see. To raise money, she paints and sells bee boxes at her grandparent's store. This summer though she has a new friend, Salma, one of the migrant workers who help harvest blueberries. Salma is willing to help, but she is also someone and something new and different. And as Lily knows, not everyone likes change.
All the Answers by Kate Messner
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Magical Realism
Summary: Ava finds a blue pencil in the junk drawer and decides to use it on her math test. She always gets SO NERVOUS before tests and she doesn't think this one will be any better. But, during the test, she discovers the pencil KNOWS the answers. All of them. At least the fact-based ones. So she and and her friend Sophie start asking it all sorts of things. But is there ever such a thing as too much information? Do you really want to be able to ask if someone likes you (or doesn't)? Or if your Grandpa really is sick? Ava has to figure out what to do with all of her new knowledge and if she can balance her desire to know everything with the stress of trying to figure it out.
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Magical Realism
Summary: Ava finds a blue pencil in the junk drawer and decides to use it on her math test. She always gets SO NERVOUS before tests and she doesn't think this one will be any better. But, during the test, she discovers the pencil KNOWS the answers. All of them. At least the fact-based ones. So she and and her friend Sophie start asking it all sorts of things. But is there ever such a thing as too much information? Do you really want to be able to ask if someone likes you (or doesn't)? Or if your Grandpa really is sick? Ava has to figure out what to do with all of her new knowledge and if she can balance her desire to know everything with the stress of trying to figure it out.
The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: Arthur Owens knew he shouldn't have thrown the brick. But when he saw the Junk Man, the guy who is always out going through people's garbage, wearing his deceased dad's hat (after his mom threw it out without telling anyone), something just came over him. And now his punishment is to help the Junk Man out. Something about redemption. Arthur doesn't know what that means, but he knows he'd rather do this than go back to juvie. So he starts working on Junk Man's list of the 7 Most Important Things. And he begins to wonder if he was meant to be doing this all along.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: Arthur Owens knew he shouldn't have thrown the brick. But when he saw the Junk Man, the guy who is always out going through people's garbage, wearing his deceased dad's hat (after his mom threw it out without telling anyone), something just came over him. And now his punishment is to help the Junk Man out. Something about redemption. Arthur doesn't know what that means, but he knows he'd rather do this than go back to juvie. So he starts working on Junk Man's list of the 7 Most Important Things. And he begins to wonder if he was meant to be doing this all along.
Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar
Genre: Mystery/Science Fiction
Summary: Tamaya and Marshall have always walked home together, so she doesn't know why he would all of the sudden "remember" a short cut through the woods. She doesn't know he's just trying to avoid the bully Chad who has threatened to beat him up. But on their detour through the woods they discover fuzzy mud. The next day the rash appears. And then the kids go missing. After that it's a race against time and the rash, because it is spreading fast.
Genre: Mystery/Science Fiction
Summary: Tamaya and Marshall have always walked home together, so she doesn't know why he would all of the sudden "remember" a short cut through the woods. She doesn't know he's just trying to avoid the bully Chad who has threatened to beat him up. But on their detour through the woods they discover fuzzy mud. The next day the rash appears. And then the kids go missing. After that it's a race against time and the rash, because it is spreading fast.
Appleblossum the Possum by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Genre: Fantasy/Animals
Summary: Appleblossum the Possum is the smallest of her litter. After Mama teaches them the fine points of acting (which they will need to survive against the various monsters of the world) the possums are left on their own. Appleblossum, with two of her brothers, thinks it might not be so bad to work and live together, even if possums are supposed to be solitary creatures. But then, due to an unfortunate accident, Appleblossum gets trapped in a monster's house. And she doesn't know what she is going to do to survive, let alone get out.
Genre: Fantasy/Animals
Summary: Appleblossum the Possum is the smallest of her litter. After Mama teaches them the fine points of acting (which they will need to survive against the various monsters of the world) the possums are left on their own. Appleblossum, with two of her brothers, thinks it might not be so bad to work and live together, even if possums are supposed to be solitary creatures. But then, due to an unfortunate accident, Appleblossum gets trapped in a monster's house. And she doesn't know what she is going to do to survive, let alone get out.
Baker's Magic by Diane Zahler
Genre: Fantasy
Summary: Bee has always been on her own, living as an orphan since her parents were killed in a shipwreck. She has finally run away and finds herself in a the town of Zeewal, where she is taken in by the local baker. There she discovers that she has a bit of magic and is able to bake her feelings into the breads and pastries she makes. This skill, along with her innate talents, earns her a chance to bake for the palace. There she meets the elusive princess and ends up setting off on an adventure with the blacksmith's son to save the kingdom.
Genre: Fantasy
Summary: Bee has always been on her own, living as an orphan since her parents were killed in a shipwreck. She has finally run away and finds herself in a the town of Zeewal, where she is taken in by the local baker. There she discovers that she has a bit of magic and is able to bake her feelings into the breads and pastries she makes. This skill, along with her innate talents, earns her a chance to bake for the palace. There she meets the elusive princess and ends up setting off on an adventure with the blacksmith's son to save the kingdom.
NOVELS List Titles
Booked by Kwame Alexander
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Sports
Style: Verse (poetry)
Summary: Nick lives and breathes soccer, spending as much time playing as possible. His best friend Coby also plays, but they are on opposing travel teams this year, for the first time ever. Nick's father works as a linguist and is always pushing Nick to read more, especially from the dictionary his father put together. Nick hates it and tries everything to avoid it. This is his major problem in life until his mom announces she is moving to take a job in a different state, he falls for a girl in his dance class (April) but is so nervous around her he can't even talk, and then his appendix ruptures during a big game right before the team's trip to regionals.
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Sports
Style: Verse (poetry)
Summary: Nick lives and breathes soccer, spending as much time playing as possible. His best friend Coby also plays, but they are on opposing travel teams this year, for the first time ever. Nick's father works as a linguist and is always pushing Nick to read more, especially from the dictionary his father put together. Nick hates it and tries everything to avoid it. This is his major problem in life until his mom announces she is moving to take a job in a different state, he falls for a girl in his dance class (April) but is so nervous around her he can't even talk, and then his appendix ruptures during a big game right before the team's trip to regionals.
Code of Honor by Alan Gratz
Genre: Adventure/Realistic Fiction
Summary: Kameron Smith has it all. He is the star of the football team, dating the most popular girl in school, has dreams of going to West Point like his brother, and is the Homecoming King. Then, news breaks that his brother has become a terrorist. Not just rumors, but actual videos of Darius working with terrorist groups, setting off bombs, and delivering rant-inspired videos about the dangers of America.
The rest of the country thinks Darius is a terrorist, but Kameron doesn't believe it. Just because his mom comes from Iran doesn't mean their family thinks like those extremists. But nobody else believes in Darius. Kameron and his family are taken into custody, and Kameron has to decide what to do and who to believe.
Genre: Adventure/Realistic Fiction
Summary: Kameron Smith has it all. He is the star of the football team, dating the most popular girl in school, has dreams of going to West Point like his brother, and is the Homecoming King. Then, news breaks that his brother has become a terrorist. Not just rumors, but actual videos of Darius working with terrorist groups, setting off bombs, and delivering rant-inspired videos about the dangers of America.
The rest of the country thinks Darius is a terrorist, but Kameron doesn't believe it. Just because his mom comes from Iran doesn't mean their family thinks like those extremists. But nobody else believes in Darius. Kameron and his family are taken into custody, and Kameron has to decide what to do and who to believe.
Faceless by Allysa Sheinmel
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Maisie wakes up the hospital, unsure of what has happened to her. Eventually she pieces it together; the morning she went out for a run, it began to rain. Lightning struck a nearby tree and there was an electrical fire, burning so hot it turned blue. She doesn't remember the flames, or being on fire, but she remembers the spark and the embers. It looked like fireworks. But these fireworks burned the majority of her left side and destroyed her face. She lost her nose, her chin, and her left cheek. They're gone, the tissue dead and cut off. She faces two choices: try a series of skin grafts, or a face transplant. There's a donor available, and she thinks this will make it easier than going through life with no face. She does the transplant.
But afterwards, her life doesn't go back to normal. Her sense of smell and taste are off, and she wonders if this is because of her donor's previous preferences. Maisie is haunted by the feeling she is a walking ghost, a memorial of a dead girl. She can't talk to her parents about it, and her old boyfriend Chirag is perfectly polite, but she doesn't know how they could possibly go back to the way they used to be. Who would want her now, with scars crossing her face, a face that she can't even think of as "hers?"
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Maisie wakes up the hospital, unsure of what has happened to her. Eventually she pieces it together; the morning she went out for a run, it began to rain. Lightning struck a nearby tree and there was an electrical fire, burning so hot it turned blue. She doesn't remember the flames, or being on fire, but she remembers the spark and the embers. It looked like fireworks. But these fireworks burned the majority of her left side and destroyed her face. She lost her nose, her chin, and her left cheek. They're gone, the tissue dead and cut off. She faces two choices: try a series of skin grafts, or a face transplant. There's a donor available, and she thinks this will make it easier than going through life with no face. She does the transplant.
But afterwards, her life doesn't go back to normal. Her sense of smell and taste are off, and she wonders if this is because of her donor's previous preferences. Maisie is haunted by the feeling she is a walking ghost, a memorial of a dead girl. She can't talk to her parents about it, and her old boyfriend Chirag is perfectly polite, but she doesn't know how they could possibly go back to the way they used to be. Who would want her now, with scars crossing her face, a face that she can't even think of as "hers?"
House Arrest by K.A. Holt
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Style: Verse (poetry)
Summary: Timothy is placed on house arrest after he steals a credit card to pay for his little brother's medication. He knows it was wrong, but he didn't know what else to do. His brother needs constant care and they don't always have a nurse available. His mom has to work extra hours since his dad took off, and he was trying to help. Now he has a court mandated probation officer, therapist, journal, and house arrest. In his journal he details what it is like to struggle through the realities of life with a medically fragile baby.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Style: Verse (poetry)
Summary: Timothy is placed on house arrest after he steals a credit card to pay for his little brother's medication. He knows it was wrong, but he didn't know what else to do. His brother needs constant care and they don't always have a nurse available. His mom has to work extra hours since his dad took off, and he was trying to help. Now he has a court mandated probation officer, therapist, journal, and house arrest. In his journal he details what it is like to struggle through the realities of life with a medically fragile baby.
I am Princess X by Cheri Priest
Genre: Mystery
Style: Prose with Graphic Novel elements
Summary: Libby and May were best friends, working tirelessly on their comic book project Princess X . Then Libby died in a car crash, May tried to move on, and May went back to the South with her mom. Three years later she is spending time with her father back in Seattle and May sees pictures of Princess X around town. She does a little digging and finds a website dedicated to Princess X, only the storyline has changed and evolved since May and Libby started it as kids. Now it's darker, and May can't shake the feeling that Libby is behind it. Asking for help to escape the Needle Man, and get back to her life. Help that only May can provide. But is it really Libby? If it is, then what happened three years ago when Libby died?
Genre: Mystery
Style: Prose with Graphic Novel elements
Summary: Libby and May were best friends, working tirelessly on their comic book project Princess X . Then Libby died in a car crash, May tried to move on, and May went back to the South with her mom. Three years later she is spending time with her father back in Seattle and May sees pictures of Princess X around town. She does a little digging and finds a website dedicated to Princess X, only the storyline has changed and evolved since May and Libby started it as kids. Now it's darker, and May can't shake the feeling that Libby is behind it. Asking for help to escape the Needle Man, and get back to her life. Help that only May can provide. But is it really Libby? If it is, then what happened three years ago when Libby died?
Losers Take All by David Klass
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Sports
Summary: Jack Logan comes from THE sports family in town. Now that it's his senior year at Muscle High, he's glad it's almost over. Being from the sports family in town while not playing on any sports is enough to make him feel out of place. But then the new principal lays down the new rules: all seniors must participate in a sport. Mandatory in order to graduate. So Jack and some of his other non-athlete friends start a C-level soccer team with the goal of having fun, and most importantly, losing.
But, as the season goes on, it becomes clear that the others in school won't let them just have a season of fun. And the rest of the country starts to realize that the Losers are a bit of a revolution in the school. As some say though, for every revolution, there is always a counterrevolution. And things start to get complicated.
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Sports
Summary: Jack Logan comes from THE sports family in town. Now that it's his senior year at Muscle High, he's glad it's almost over. Being from the sports family in town while not playing on any sports is enough to make him feel out of place. But then the new principal lays down the new rules: all seniors must participate in a sport. Mandatory in order to graduate. So Jack and some of his other non-athlete friends start a C-level soccer team with the goal of having fun, and most importantly, losing.
But, as the season goes on, it becomes clear that the others in school won't let them just have a season of fun. And the rest of the country starts to realize that the Losers are a bit of a revolution in the school. As some say though, for every revolution, there is always a counterrevolution. And things start to get complicated.
A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: Gerta and her family live in East Berlin and are there when the wall goes up. The night before, her father and one brother had traveled to the West, in the hopes that they would find information on how to move the family there peacefully and without interference from the secret police. But, once the wall is up, Papa and Dominik cannot come back, leaving Gerta, Mama, and Fritz stranded in the East. For four years they are there and the files the secret police keep on them grow and grow. Finally, with Fritz destined for military duty and no way out of it, and no way to live the life he wants, they decide to try to escape by tunneling under the Berlin Wall.
Their path is full of missteps and disasters, from crumbling walls, to visits from the secret police, to learning that their friends and neighbors are actually spying on them. They know that once they start the tunnel, they have committed themselves to following through, because in the eyes of the state, the start of the tunnel is enough to label them as traitors.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: Gerta and her family live in East Berlin and are there when the wall goes up. The night before, her father and one brother had traveled to the West, in the hopes that they would find information on how to move the family there peacefully and without interference from the secret police. But, once the wall is up, Papa and Dominik cannot come back, leaving Gerta, Mama, and Fritz stranded in the East. For four years they are there and the files the secret police keep on them grow and grow. Finally, with Fritz destined for military duty and no way out of it, and no way to live the life he wants, they decide to try to escape by tunneling under the Berlin Wall.
Their path is full of missteps and disasters, from crumbling walls, to visits from the secret police, to learning that their friends and neighbors are actually spying on them. They know that once they start the tunnel, they have committed themselves to following through, because in the eyes of the state, the start of the tunnel is enough to label them as traitors.
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary Schmidt
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Joseph goes to live with Jack and Jack's family. Joseph fathered a baby, took some pills at school, tried to kill a teacher, went to juvie, and now is living with the Hurd's. He's barely fourteen.
Jack narrates the story of how Joseph comes to their family, struggles to fit in at school, and searches for his daughter Jupiter. Through everything, we get to see Joseph become a part of the family, Jack support him, and Joseph fight for Jupiter. He is constantly searching for her, and no one wants to help him. Except for Jack.
This is ultimately a story of family. And belonging. And what we will do once we feel accepted.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Joseph goes to live with Jack and Jack's family. Joseph fathered a baby, took some pills at school, tried to kill a teacher, went to juvie, and now is living with the Hurd's. He's barely fourteen.
Jack narrates the story of how Joseph comes to their family, struggles to fit in at school, and searches for his daughter Jupiter. Through everything, we get to see Joseph become a part of the family, Jack support him, and Joseph fight for Jupiter. He is constantly searching for her, and no one wants to help him. Except for Jack.
This is ultimately a story of family. And belonging. And what we will do once we feel accepted.
Terror at Bottle Creek by Watt Key
Genre: Adventure
Summary: Cort has always lived along the river. Hurricanes are nothing new, but this one feels different. His dad is worried about checking on his estranged wife and doesn't seem to be preparing as much as usual. In the end, Cort is left with Liza and Francie, his neighbors, to ride out the storm. And after Francie runs off, they have to try to survive overnight in the wilderness during the storm.
Genre: Adventure
Summary: Cort has always lived along the river. Hurricanes are nothing new, but this one feels different. His dad is worried about checking on his estranged wife and doesn't seem to be preparing as much as usual. In the end, Cort is left with Liza and Francie, his neighbors, to ride out the storm. And after Francie runs off, they have to try to survive overnight in the wilderness during the storm.
Took: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn
Genre: Horror
Summary: Daniel's family has moved from Connecticut to West Virginia and nobody is really all that happy about it. Their run-down farm house is old, drafty, and requires more work than they know what to do with. The woods outside are dark and overgrown, and they scare Erica. The other kids don't like them and the town considers them outsiders.
Plus everyone knows you shouldn't move in to the old Estes place. Not after what happened there 50 years ago to Selene. The little girl that Old Auntie took and kept. She and Bloody Bones roam the woods looking for a new girl, one they can "took" and keep for themselves
Genre: Horror
Summary: Daniel's family has moved from Connecticut to West Virginia and nobody is really all that happy about it. Their run-down farm house is old, drafty, and requires more work than they know what to do with. The woods outside are dark and overgrown, and they scare Erica. The other kids don't like them and the town considers them outsiders.
Plus everyone knows you shouldn't move in to the old Estes place. Not after what happened there 50 years ago to Selene. The little girl that Old Auntie took and kept. She and Bloody Bones roam the woods looking for a new girl, one they can "took" and keep for themselves
