Keeping Safe the Stars

by Sheila O'Connor
Lexile:  650
Genre:  Historical Fiction

Pride, Nightingale, and Baby Star have learned to rely on each other.  First their father died, then their mother, and now the grandfather who so kindly took them in, is very ill in the hospital.  Pride knows that it is up to her to keep the family together.  If anyone finds out that there are 3 children living in a cabin alone, she knows that the county is going to step in and split up their close knit group.  It's up to Pride and her siblings to stay one step ahead of all the grownups who want to get involved in their business.

One Came Home

by Amy Timberlake
Lexile:  690
Genre:  Historical Fiction

Georgie refuses to believe that her sister Agatha is dead.  Despite the fact that the sheriff says her body has been found and her funeral has been held.  Georgie turns to Agatha's former boyfriend, Billy, for help and the two of them set off on a journey to find any evidence that will prove that Agatha is still alive.

Egg and Spoon

by Gregory Maguire
Lexile:  700
Genre:  Fantasy

Elena has nothing.  Ekaterina has everything.  When their lives meet by chance, an unexpected adventure is set in motion for both of them.  Elena has a chance to save her family and Ekaterina has a chance to save herself.  Will both of them have the courage to discover what lies ahead?

Skink No Surrender

by Carl Hiaasen
Lexile:  770
Genre:  Mystery

Richard's cousin Malley has disappeared.  It appears that she has run off with a guy she met online. The police are not having any luck tracking her down and Richard is frustrated.  He wants to help, but how?  Enter Skink - a former governor of Florida turned secret environmental agent.  Skink decides to team up with Richard to help him rescue Malley.  They both are willing to do whatever it takes.

Because of Mr. Terupt

by Rob Buyea
Lexile:  560
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

The fifth graders at Snow Hill School are excited.  They have a brand new teacher for 5th grade.  And he has never been a teacher before!  They are surprised at how quickly Mr. Terupt figures out the dynamics of the class - from Peter the class clown to Alexia the queen of girl drama.  Nothing seems to get by Mr. Terupt and school is rapidly becoming an amazing place to be...until a tragic accident changes their lives forever.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Lexile:  380
Genre: Realisitic Fiction

Aristotle is a loner.  He says he prefers things that way.  Until he meets Dante.  Everyone is instantly charmed by Dante and he is comfortable in every situation; the complete opposite of Aristotle.  The boys meet one summer and become close friends and begin to change each other's lives.  Neither can predict by just how much their friendship will chance them.

Curses and Smoke

by Vicky Alvear Shecter
Lexile:  720
Genre:  Historical Fiction

Lucia has everything she could want...until her father arranges a marriage for her to a man who is 40 years older than she is.  Lucia and her best friend Cornelia are trying desperately to come up with a plan to get Lucia out of this arrangement.  In the midst of this, Lucia's childhood friend Tages returns from Rome.  Tages is owned by her father and now that they are both grown up, and relationship between the two of them, even friendship is forbidden.  Tages and Lucia are going to have to make some tough choices that could possibly destroy them both.

The Taking

by Kimberly Derting
Lexile:  ???
Genre:  Science Fiction

The last thing Kyra remembers is arguing with her father and suddenly it is five years later.  She returns to her home only to find out that everyone else has moved on with their lives thinking that she had disappeared forever.  Kyra hasn't aged or changed a bit in five years and the only person who can explain why has offered her a story that is too unbelievable to be true.