Michelle Obama: An American Story

by David Colbert
Lexile: ???
Genre: Biography

This biography provides a look at the life of the first lady, Michelle Obama. It details her early years in Chicago, her school years at Princeton and Harvard and more recently her life as it as changed after she married Barack.

Crocodile Tears

by Anthony Horowitz
Lexile: ???
Genre: Action/Adventure

Alex Rider is back and ready to save the world one more time. As his 15th birthday nears, he recounts the amazing 7 missions that he has undertaken as an MI6 operative. This challenge pits him against the mysterious Desmond McCain, a former prisoner turned minister who is head of the First Aid foundation. Of course with Alex, things are never as they appear so the adventure begins when the car he is traveling in mysteriously slides off the road and into a lake. If you enjoyed the other adventures, you're sure to enjoy this one as well. Read on to see if Alex will live to celebrate his 15th birthday.

Stone Fox

by John Reynolds Gardiner
Lexile: 550
Genre: Traditional Literature

This is the story of Little Willy who is determined to figure out the mystery behind why his grandfather has mysteriously stopped speaking. The two have lived together happily on their farm for a number of years until one day when Little Willy's grandfather will not get out of bed. Little Willy struggles to keep the farm going until one day when the tax collector shows up at the farm demanding $500. Little Willy enters the National Dogsled Race with his dog, Searchlight, in hopes of winning the $500 prize. He has to win, or he and grandfather will lose their home.

Chains

by Laurie Halse Anderson
Lexile: 780
Genre: Historical Fiction

Isabel has had a rough life. Born into slavery, she and her sister Ruth are supposed to be freed upon their Mistress's death. However, the will and freedom papers go missing and the girls are sold to the Lockton family and moved to New York City. There they are forced to work day in and day out. Isabel is approached by a local boy about spying on her family to help the patriots in their fight against the British. Isabel is unsure at first if he can be trusted as putting her trust in him could jeopardize her life and that of her younger sister.

Out of the Dust

by Karen Hesse
Lexile: ???
Genre: Historical Fiction

Billie Jo is growing up in the middle of the Great Depression in the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma. Life is pretty tough - the crops aren't growing, her parents have little money, and have been unable to have more children. Billie Jo is an aspiring pianist and enjoys her making a little money playing the piano. Then, a terrible accident occurs that changes her life forever and forces her to accept many new realities.

The Bone Man

by Laura Simms
Lexile: ???
Genre: Traditional Literature (A Native American Modoc Tale)

Nulwee's grandmother told him a scary tale about what happened the day he was born. She tells him about how Kokolimalayas, the Bone Man, drank the river dry and devoured all of the people except for him. When he grows up, his destiny will be to bring back the water and the people to his land. His grandmother is a wise old woman who is able to provide him with information to help him defeat the Bone Man when the showdown occurs.

The Polar Bear Son

Retold by Lydia Dabcovich
Lexile: 470
Genre: Traditional Literature (An Inuit Tale)

This is a story of an old Eskimo woman who adopts a polar bear who turns out to be a fantastic hunter. She is blessed to have the bear in her life and shares all of the food that he provides for her. But, other hunters get jealous and create a plot to kill the bear. The village children overhear the plot and rush to tell the woman before it is too late.

This is the House that Jack Built

by Simms Taback
Lexile: ???
Genre: Traditional Literature

This silly rhyming story begins with Jack and the house he built. Then along comes the cheese, the rat, the cat, the dog...and oh so many more surprises to behold that end up filling the original house that Jack built.

The Rough Face Girl

by Rafe Martin
Lexile: 540
Genre: Traditional Literature (Algonquin Indian Legend)

All the young women wanted to marry the invisible being who was supposedly very handsome. However, in order to win his love, the girl he would marry had to be able to see him. All the young women tried, but none were successful until the Rough-Face Girl who had been scarred by the fire got her turn.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

by John Boyne
Lexile: ???
Genre: Traditional Literature (fable)

Bruno is a 9 year old boy living during the horrors of the World War II and is completely unaware about why people are living behind fences and wearing striped pajamas. He is lonely and meets a friend through the fence. They are unable to play together and come from completely opposite worlds, but forge an unusual friendship that ends in a tragedy for both boys.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

by Ally Carter
Lexile: 1000
Genre: fiction

Cammie attends the Gallagher Academy for exceptional young women. The townspeople thinks its a snobby, rich boarding school where rich parents send their spoiled girls. However, in reality, it is actually a school that trains young ladies in the art of spying. All is fine in Cammie's world, until she meets Josh, a nice young man who attends the local high school. Is it possible for her to be friends with him and train to be a spy?

The Goose Girl

by Shannon Hale
Lexile: 870
Genre: Fantasy

Ani has never quite fit in with her family and when her father dies, her mother, the Queen, decides that Ani will not be fit to be her successor and arranges her to marry the prince of a neighboring land. Ani is forced to journey through the forest when half of her traveling party turns against her and tries to kill her and the companions who are loyal to the Queen. Ani narrowly escapes and is forced to live and work as a goose girl instead of a princess in the royal palace. She is determined to get back what should be hers, but will anyone belive her wild tale?

Birmingham, 1963

by Carole Boston Weatherford
Lexile: ???
Genre: Poetry

This book captures the awful day of September 15, 1963 when members of the Ku Klux Klan set off a bomb underneath the back steps of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. The book contains real photographs of that terrible day and includes poems about the four young ladies who lost their lives that day.

Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems

by Kristine O'Connell George
Lexile: ???
Genre: Poetry Anthology

This collection of poems is for anyone who has ever experienced the ups and downs of middle school life. No doubt you will be able to connect with many of these poems - lost on the way to class, lockers that won't open, arguments with friends, homework assignments...these poems make middle school life seem almost...fun?

Cornflakes

by James Stevenson
Lexile: ???
Genre: Poetry Anthology

This anthology takes you on a rather strange journey from hamburgers to the wastebasket to a weather report. This short, funny poems will bring you some good laughs.

The Nine Lives of Travis Keating

Lexile: ???
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Travis Keating has agreed to a 365 day experiment - living in a tiny fishing community on the coast of Newfoundland with his dad. Things get off to a rocky start when he makes enemies with Hud, the town bully, who is out to get Travis at any chance he can get. Travis discovers some stray cats whom he befriends, but must keep secret from his father until it becomes a matter of life and death for his animals.

Firegirl

by Tony Abbott
Lexile: 670
Genre: Realistic Fiction

It's business as usual in Mrs. Tracy's 7th grade class until one day when Jessica, a new student arrives. Jessica has been horribly burned in a fire and doesn't come to school often because of frequent visits to the hospital for surgery and therapy. Tom is always relived when Jessica isn't there because he doesn't know how to talk to her without staring. Everyone in the class wonders what the story is behind her burns, but no one is willing to befriend her. One day, Mrs. Tracy asks Tom to take Jessica her homework, and Tom learns more than he wants to know about what happened to Jessica.

Petey

by Ben Mikaelson
Lexile: 740
Genre: Realistic Fiction

At the age of two, Petey is placed into the care of the Warm Springs Insane Asylum after his parents have been told that their boy will never think, act, or grow like a normal child. Over the years, several people who take the time to get to know Petey and realize that he is able to think and communicate in many special ways. Eventually he meets Trevor, a boy who needs friends as much as Petey does, and the two of them form a unique and unlikely friendship that changes both of their lives for the better.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Crash Course

by Henry Gilroy and Gary Scheppke
Lexile:???
Genre: Graphic Novel

Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and his Padowan, Ahsoka Tano are searching for a separatist spy. Their search leads them to the Mon Gazza system where the biggest podrace of the galaxy is about to start. Ahsoka gets a crash course in podracing before entering the race, but will she survive this dangerous mission?

Beyond the Grave (39 Clues #4)

by Jude Watson
Lexile: 550
Genre:  Mystery

Amy and Dan are off and searching for the next clue in the quest to answer questions about their family's heritage. In the fourth adventure, they head to Egypt where they get an important message from their grandmother, Grace. Of course, nothing comes easy for the Cahills so there are more narrow escapes and mysteries to solve.

Ghost in the Machine

by Patrick Carman
Lexile: ???
Genre: Mystery

The sequel to Skeleton Creek picks up right where the final creepy video left off. Get ready for a spooky adventure as Ryan and Sarah work to uncover the secrets of the abandoned dredge. The ghost of Old Joe Bush is back in more creepy videos by Sarah and more written stories by Ryan. This book is every bit the page turner the first one was. If you like creepy and scary, this book is for you!

Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightening

by Danette Haworth
Lexile: 580
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Violet and Lottie have been friends forever until cool Melissa arrives from Detroit and thinks Violet needs to grow up and become boy crazy and wear make-up. Lottie seems to adore Melissa, but Violet can't quite decide whether she wants to change or not. And then there's Eddie who has also been her friend for a very long time...does growing up mean that has to change too?

Jumper

by Michele Martin Bossley
Lexile: ???
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reese loves horses and longs to have her own that she can train with to enter competitive jumping events. Her parents don't have the money to buy a horse, and she is tired of being stuck with "Boots" an older horse who lacks the spirit needed for Reese to win. With the help of her grandpa, she decides to purchase a wild horse at an auction, but is outbid by another rancher. She then makes a terrible discovery about the plans the rancher has for her dream horse.

The Sword Thief (39 Clues #3)

by Peter Lerangis
Lexile: 660
Genre: Mystery

Amy and Dan Cahill continue their quest for answers about their family's past. In the 3rd book in the series they travel to Japan where it seems they will need to team up with their uncle, Alistair Oh, if they are to find the third clue. He has proven to be unreliable in the past. Will he come through for them this time?

Lady Margaret's Ghost

by Elizabeth McDavid Jones
Lexile:???
Genre: Mystery

Felicity has been left in charge of the house while her mother is away. Her father tells her the legend of Lady Margaret and suddenly strange things begin happening in the house. Is Lady Margaret's ghost more than a legend or is there another explanation?

Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam

by Cynthia Kadohata
Lexile: 730
Genre Historical Fiction

Soldier Rick is ready to take on the world. He enlists in the U.S. Army after high school and is placed as a dog handler. He is assigned to Cracker, a large German Shepard, who will turn out to be one to the U.S. Army's most valuable weapons. But first, Rick has got to figure out how to get her out of her cage, without his hand getting bitten off!

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

by Lynne Jonell
Genre: Fantasy
Lexile: 780

Emmy has discovered a talking rat who is going to lead her on an adventure which will help her uncover a series of strange occurrences. Why do her parents want to travel all the time? Why is Miss Barmy, Emmy's nanny, so mean? Somehow there must be a connection....

Survival

by Paul Dowswell
Lexile: 1080

This is a collection of 10 survival stories about real people who have come face to face with death and survived. From terror in the skies and space to shark attacks to a frightening experience inside an active volcano, these short stories will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Jar of Dreams

by Yoshiko Uchida
Lexile: 970

Rinko, an 11 year old, growing up in California during the Depression, is struggling to fit in. She is Japanese and feels very different from most of her classmates. She and her family are targets of discrimination which makes her feel embarrassed about her heritage until her Anut Waka comes from Japan to visit for the summer. Rinko learns a lot about her heritage and about herself and discovers that she can develop her American self without losing her Japanese self.

On My Honor

by Marion Dane Bauer
Lexile: 750

Joel and Tony are on their first solo trip to a state park. Joel can hardly believe that his father gave him permission to ride all the way there on his bike. Their plans change when Tony stops his bike at the dangerous Vermillion River. Joel and Tony argue and Joel dares Tony to swim out to the sandbar. When Joel reaches the sandbar, he is alone.

No More Dead Dogs

by Gordon Korman
Lexile: 610

Wallace Wallace never lies and sometimes this gets him into trouble. When he is asked to write a book review for his Language Arts class, Wallace reports that he hates the book. His teacher, Mr. Fogelman, refuses to accept his work and assigns him detention until he writes a worthy review. Mr. Fogelman's plan backfires when Wallace gets involved with the school play that Mr. Fogelman is directing which is based on the same book Wallace needs to review. Thanks to Wallace, the play begins to take on many new directions.

Fire From the Rock

by Sharon Draper
Lexile: 830

Sylvia Patterson is growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas during a turbulent time in history when Central High School is being forced to integrate. Sylvia is one of the students chosen to attend. She must decide if she is up for the challenge. All she really wants to do is go to high school, be a cheerleader, and find a boyfriend. Does she have the strength to stand up to all the people who are against integration?

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman
Lexile: 820
Genre:  Fantasy

Nobody "Bod" Owens is being raised in a graveyard after his family is brutally murdered. His guardian, the mysterious Silas, and his new parents, Mr. and Mrs. Owens, do their best to protect him from the evil man Jack who wishes to destroy him. Bod struggles with whether or not he should leave the safety of the graveyard...

Nobody's Fault

by Patricia Hermes
Lexile: ???

Emily gets tired of the tricks that her older brother Matthew is constantly playing on her, and decides to try and get even with him. In the midst of her plan, something terrible happens to her brother and Emily fears that it is her fault. She finds it difficult to accept what happens to her brother and struggles to tell the truth about what happened on that terrible day.

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

by Rodman Philbrick
Lexile: 950

Harold and Homer are living with their mean uncle in Pine Swamp, Maine during the Civil War when their uncle decides to ship Harold off to fight in the Union Army. Homer figures out that what his uncle did was illegal and runs away to find his brother. Along the way he meets some interesting folks; some who help him and some who don't. Will he find Harold before it's too late?

Ansty Does Time

by Neal Shusterman
Lexile: ???

Fans of Shusterman's book The Schwa was Here will enjoy this book about Antsy Bonano's friend Gunnar Umlaut. Gunnar tells Antsy that he has a fatal disease and has only months to live. As Antsy spends more time with Gunnar and concocts a plan to buy him some more time, he learns some interesting things about Gunnar's family. Watching Gunnar's family unravel along with a tragedy in his own family, Antsy learns to better appreciate what he has.

Harlem Summer

by Walter Dean Myers
Lexile: 910

It's summer in Harlem and 16 year old Matt has a job at a newspaper publishing office. Hes sort of interested in the job and the people he's meeting there, but his real dream is to become a famous saxophone player. Some of the activities he involves himslef with during his free time get him in a bit of trouble, first with his parents, then a mobster named Dutch Schultz and eventually the police.

Leepike Ridge

by N.D. Wilson
Lexile: 780

Thomas goes down to the river to float on a foam raft without realizing that his life is about to take a dramatic turn as he is swept underground and finds a castaway who has information for Tom that will change his life forever...if they can find a way out!

Peak

by Roland Smith
Lexile: 780

14 year old Peak Marcello has climbing in his blood. His father leads groups to the top of Mount Everest while Peak stays busy (illegally) climbing skyscrapers in New York City. When the police catch up with him, his father offers him a chance to leave his troubles in New York City behind. Peak travels to Mount Everest and begins a climb that will change his life forever.

Zen and the Art of Faking It

by Jordan Sonnenblick
Lexile: 840

San Lee is the new kid in school and decides to create a new identity for himself to hide the fact that he is adopted and his dad is in prison. Things go great at first...he impresses his teacher, meets a great girl, and avoids having to speak to his father. How long will he be able to keep everyone fooled?

The Dead and the Gone

by Susan Pfeffer
Lexile: 680

This is the companion novel to Life As We Knew It and tells the story of the life changing asteroid hit from the perspective of a boy living in New York City. Alex Morales is 17 and suddenly finds himself in charge of his family. When the asteroid struck the moon, his father was in Puerto Rico and his mother was on her way to work. He hasn't heard from either of them so it is up to him to take care of his two younger sisters. He is forced to make some tough decisions to save them all.

One False Note (39 Clues #2)

by Gordon Korman
Lexile: 680
Genre:  Mystery

The race to find the 39 clues continues in Europe. Amy and Dan travel to Vienna to search for a clue hidden in Mozart's music. They run into several obstacles along the way, courtesy of the other competitors, but Amy and Dan don't give up...their quest for fame and fortune continues.

Notes from the Midnight Driver

by Jordan Sonnenblick
Lexile: 930

Alex Gregory crashes his car into Mrs. Wilson's garden gnome one night and is forced to do community service at a nursing home as his punishment. Alex is assigned to a grumbly old man named Sol, who eventually becomes more than just his community service project when they discover they have something in common.

Life As We Knew It

by Susan Pfeffer
Lexile 770

Miranda's entire world has just fallen apart. A meteorite strikes the moon and knocks it closer to the earth which drastically changes the earth's climate. Supermarkets run out of food, gas supplies are slim, school is closed and electricity disappears. Everyone is in on the race for survival. Will the world as Miranda knew it ever return?

Born to Rock

by Gordon Korman
Lexile: 780

Leo Caraway is set to graduate from high school and head off to Harvard with a big scholarship. He has his life perfectly planned out until a misunderstanding during an algebra tests causes him to lose his scholarship. No longer unable to afford the tuition costs at Harvard, Leo has to figure out what to do with his future. At the same time, Leo learns that his real father is none other than a famous punk rock star who is ready to begin a summer reunion tour. Could meeting his father for the first time be what Leo needs to solve his problems?

Bird

By Angela Johnson
Lexile: 710

This short novels introduces 3 characters who don't know that their lives have intersected. Bird is a runaway searching for her stepfather, Ethan is recovering from a life long illness, and Jay is dealing with the death of a brother. Each takes turns telling their stories in individual chapters. As the book progresses, the reader slowly begins to see what these characters have in common.

Case Closed, 40 Mini-Mysteries for You to Solve

By Jurg Obrist
Lexile: ???

If you like mysteries and "I Spy" type books, you will love reading this book. You will need your best observation skills to figure out clues hidden in pictures. You will also figure out secret codes, assemble some puzzles, and arrange events in a sequence. This book is a great way to put your logical thinking skills to work!

Claws

By Will Weaver
Lexile: 540

Jed is living the perfect life. High school is awesome; he's got cool parents, a girlfriend, good grades, a Camaro to drive to school and back, and is having a winning tennis season. One day he finds a mysterious note under his windshield which leads him to a strange girl named Gertrude who has information that Jed can't believe. Is his perfect life about to unravel?

The Exploading Toilet; Modern Urban Legends

collected and retold by David Holt and Bill Mooney
Lexile: ???

This book is a collection of modern urban legends that you will certainly want to retell to friends. My favorite was one about a mother who called poison control because her daughter ate some ants. Poison control told her that it was fine, the ants wouldn't harm her daughter. The mother was relieved and told the person on the phone that she was sorry she had fed her daughter ant posion to kill the ants if they were harmless! Get ready to laugh at these unbelievable stories!

Summer's End

By Audrey Couloumbis
Lexile: 720

It's summer time, Grace has turned 13, and it seems as if her whole world is changing. The Vietnam War is forcing the young men in her family to make serious decisions. Some of them are going to fight, while others, like Grace's older brother, Colin, are choosing to flee to Canada. Colin's decision impacts Grace and her family in ways that Grace struggles to understand.

Zoobreak

by Gordon Korman
Lexile: ???

If you've read Swindle, the team is back! This time they are out to steal back a monkey that was illegally sold to a floating zoo. In the process of stealing the monkey, the team realizes they can't leave the other animals behind. Where to hide 30 stolen animals? The team has to come up with several plans in this funny adventure.

Paralyzed

by Jeff Rud
Lexile: 670

Reggie Brown is a senior, hard-hitting, front linebacker making his way through a successful football season until one night when a player he hits is unable to get up and move off the field. When Reggie is held responsible for the accident, he is forced to deal with his guilt and decide whether or not he will continue to play the game he loves.

The Maze of Bones (39 Clues #1)

by Rick Riordan
Lexile: 610

Amy and Dan Cahill have recently discovered that their family is one of the most powerful in history. They are given the choice of taking their one million dollar inheritance or participating in a dangerous race to find 39 clues that will lead to one winner who will discover the secrets to their family. Accompanying this series of books are online games and prizes to be explored at www.the39clues.com.

Spellbound

by Janet McDonald
Lexile: 580

Raven's life is not turning out the way she planned. At age 16 she has a 3 month old son, has dropped out of school and is envious of the life her college graduate sister has created for herself. Raven decides to make some changes and with the help of her mother, sister, best friend, Aisha, and a spelling bee, she is able to create a future for herself and her son.

The First Part Last

by Angela Johnson
Lexile: 790
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Bobby isn't ready to become a father at 16. He's still busy hanging out with his friends and enjoying his teenage years. But when he meets his baby daughter, Feather, and learns that he has to raise her on his own, he is forced to grow up quickly.

The Boy in the Basement

by Susan Shaw
Lexile: 470

Charlie's home has been the basement for a long time, abandoned there by his abusive father. When he mistakenly gets locked outside at night, he is rescued and begins a long journey as he discovers all the things in life he has missed out on during his time in the basement.