Monday, March 19, 2012

Things that Go Bump in the Night


by Patrick Carman
Lexile: ???
Genre: Fantasy

Listen-Read-Watch 10 scary episodes of stories best left to be told after dark. Each episode takes 15 minutes or less...but you may continue to be haunted long beyond that time. Don't get too attached to any of the main characters, because you may never see them again. It's 3:15...
http://315stories.com/

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Planet Middle School


by Nikki Grimes
Lexile: 680
Genre: Novel in Verse

Joylin's first love is basketball, until she starts middle school and gets interested in something else: boys. She tries to change herself - makeup, clothes, high heel shoes, to catch the interest of the new boy, Santiago. But he doesn't seem to even notice her! Can Joy figure out who she really is?

Friday, March 9, 2012

Bluefish


by Pat Schmatz
Lexile: 600
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Travis has a secret that nobody knows. But then he meets a new friend, Velveeta, and a new teacher, Mr. McQueen. They seem like people he could learn to trust. Can he share his secret with them?

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Who was King Tut?


by Roberta Edwards
Lexile: 690
Genre: Biography

The mummy of King Tut laid undisturbed in a tomb for 3,000 years before Howard Carter made his discovery after many years of searching. King Tut was the famous boy king of Egypt who died before he turned 20. Since Howard Carter's discovery, millions have become fascinated with the life and afterlife of many Egyptian pharaohs.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Dead End in Norvelt


by Jack Gantos
Lexile: 920
Genre: Historical Fiction

"School was finally out and I was standing on a picnic table in our backyard getting ready for a great summer vacation when my mother walked up and ruined it." And so begins the summer for Jack. His mother grounds him for the entire summer and the only time he is allowed to leave the house is if his elderly neighbor, Miss Volker, needs his assistance. She is the town medical examiner and writer of obituaries. Throughout the summer, a number of elderly ladies die, so jack and Miss Volker get to spend a lot of time together. But when Miss Volker is accused of murder, things get really interesting. This will definitely be a summer to remember!