Two Minute Drill

by Mike Lupica
Lexile:  880
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Scott's the new kid in town and he's hoping to make some friends when he joins the football team.  Unfortunately, Scott isn't that great at football, other than kicking, and his coach doesn't believe that should even be a position on the team!  Finally, the quarterback, Chris, starts hanging out with Scott.  Chris learns about Scott's secret talent, but what Scott doesn't know is that Chris has a bigger secret of his own...one that could possibly get him kicked off the team.

Uglies

by Scott Westerfield
Lexile:  770
Genre:  Science Fiction

Tally can't wait until her 16th birthday.  On that day her life is going to change forever.  In Tally's world, everyone is "ugly" until their 16th birthday when each person undergoes a high-tech operation that turns them into a "pretty."  Tally's best friend has had her birthday, and now Tally is counting down the days until her own transformation.  Then, Tally meets Shay.  Shay asks questions about things that Tally has never thought about, including some about the "perfect world" where all the "pretties" live.  Could Tally's friend be right?

Smile

by Raina Telgemeier
Lexile:  ???
Genre:  Realistic Fiction (Graphic Novel)

Raina just wants to be a "normal" middle schooler.  But early in her career in her 6th grade year, she falls and knocks out her two front teeth.  For the next 3 years, she tells the story of her middle school years and her quest to gain back her perfect smile.  Through braces, retainers, and a lot of humor, Raina makes it to high school, where she can finally, at long last, SMILE again!

Scarlet (Book 2 of the Lunar Chronicles)

by Marissa Meyer
Lexile:  810
Genre:  Science Fiction

Scarlet, the sequel to Cinder, begins with the story of Scarlet and her missing grandmother.  Scarlet is determined to find out who has taken her and why.  At the same time, the reader learns that Cinder has escaped from prison and is on the run from the evil Queen Levana, who knows her true identity.  Kai, the handsome prince whom Cinder befriended, can't figure out why she's running, and why he wants her to be successful in escaping the evil queen.  Cinder and Scarlet's stories converge in an unexpected way.  Will they be able to work together to save the ones they love?

I Survived the Battle of Gettsyburg, 1863

by Lauren Tarshis
Lexile:  660
Genre:  Historical Fiction

Thomas and Birdie are slaves on the run, heading north in search of freedom.  Things are going well until they cross paths with the Union and Confederate armies who are marching to battle at Gettysburg.  Thomas is able to befriend a young Union soldier, who is able to protect them from the southerners.  It seems as if Thomas and Birdie are well on their way to finding the freedom they are looking for.  Until the battle begins...

Who is J.K. Rowling?

by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso
Lexile:  860
Genre:  Biography

Who is J.K. Rowling?  Well, she happens to be one and only creator of a boy wizard named Harry Potter!  J. K. Rowling knew she wanted to be a writer, but it took a long time for her to be able to have the time to focus on the stories she had been carrying around in her head.  If you're a Harry Potter fan, you'll enjoy learning more about the imagination that created Pottermania.