Titanic Book 3: S.O.S.

by Gordon Korman
Lexile: 820
Genre: Historical Fiction

The unsinkable Titanic has hit an iceberg and it is going down. There are not enough life boats so the only certainty on this cold April night is that many people are going to die. Who will get the precious spots on the lifeboats? Every second is going to count in the race against time.

Titanic Book 2: Collision Course

by Gordan Korman
Lexile: 770
Genre: Historical Fiction

The Titanic is journeying across the ocean on her maiden voyage. Paddy, Sophie, Juliana, and Alfie have no idea about what lies in store for them. Not only will their lives be in danger from the deadly course of the ship, but on board with them are several people who are hiding secrets of their own. Will they figure who they can trust and who they should avoid? And will it matter at all...as the iceberg looms closer and closer.

Close to Famous

by Joan Bauer
Lexile: 540
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Foster and her mother have had to flee their home in Memphis with only what they could quickly pack into the trunk of their car. They drive until they can go no further and settle in the town of Culpepper, West Virgina where they attempt to start their lives over. Mama wants to be a singer and Foster wants to be a baker, but both of them are holding on to secrets that are going to make it hard for their dreams to come true.

Orchards

by Holly Thompson
Lexile: ???
Genre: Poetic Novel

Ruth is dead and Kana feels partly responsible. Kana and her group of 8th grade friends never realized how hurtful their actions were until Ruth went to the orchard, alone, for the last time. Kana's family thinks it's best if she spends the summer with her relatives in Japan. Kana doesn't want to go and spend the summer working in the orange groves with people she doesn't know. But once she's there, she learns some things about herself, has time to think about Ruth, and about how she's going to move her life forward.

The Scorpio Races

by Maggie Stiefvater
Lexile: 840
Genre: Fantasy

"It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die." Life on island of Thisby is tough and dangerous, but never as dangerous as in November when the islanders hold the famed Scorpio Races. Riders race their capall usice (flesh eating horses) to their death or to the finish to earn the coveted prize. Sean Kendrick and Kate (Puck) Connolly are two of the racers. One is racing to earn freedom for his horse, the other is racing to win freedom for her family. What neither realizes is that their individual plans will soon become joined.

Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.?

by Bonnie Bader
Lexile: 750
Genre: Biography

Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.? He was a man who believed that the world could change. He tried to bring about change through peaceful protests and by preaching messages of nonviolence. He is known to this day as one of the great leaders of the Civil Rights movement.

Who was Walt Disney?

by Whitney Stewart
Lexile: 720
Genre: Biography

Walt Disney loved being the class clown. He figured he'd grow up to do something that made people laugh. He began with nothing and built an empire that is still going strong today. From his first Mickey Mouse cartoons, to full length movies, to amusement parks, Walt Disney was always ahead of his time in keeping people entertained.