Wild Life

by Cynthia DeFelice
Lexile:  860
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Erik is so excited to have passed his test that will enable he and his best friend Patrick to go pheasant hunting.  The trip is all planned, but when Erik arrives home, his parents have some surprising news. They are both being deployed to Iraq and Erik is being sent to North Dakota to live with grandparents he barely knows.  Erik is very upset and even more so when he arrives in North Dakota and realizes his grandfather doesn't want him there.  Erik befriends a lost dog and finally finds something to like about North Dakota.

NERDS

by Michael Buckley
Lexile:  760
Genre:  Adventure/Humor

This is a top secret case file that only a few privileged readers will be able to access.  IF you are allowed in, you will learn about a secret undercover group of spies who also happen to be 5th graders. Gluestick, Pufferfish, Choppers, Flinch, and Wheezer have been a team of five for awhile.  But now Braceface has come along.  They want nothing to do with him.  Can Braceface convince them to let him become part of their team?  They may need him if the world is going to be saved from the evil Dr. Jigsaw.