Faith, Hope, and Ivy June

by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Lexile:  900
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Ivy June of Thunder Creek and Catherine of Lexington are about to take part in their first ever student-school exchange program.  Ivy June from rural Kentucky (no phone, no running water, outhouse) is going to stay with Catherine from the big city (cell phones, computers, 4 bedroom, 5 bathroom house) for two weeks.  Ivy June has no idea what people from Lexington are like and Catherine doesn't know what to expect life out in the mountains will be like.  In this book, both girls keep a journal that explores their thoughts and feelings about the differences between their lives.  Surprisingly though, they are both able to find similarities and a new friendship is born that will help each of them cope with situations in their lives that are beyond their control.

Diamond Willow

by Helen Frost
Lexile:  670
Genre:  Poetic Novel

Twelve year old Willow is trying to figure out who she is.  She desperately wants her family to see her as a grown up young lady.  She wishes she could make more friends at school.  Willow spends most of her time with her family's sled dogs, in particular with one named Roxy.  When Willow convinces her parents to let her make the journey to her grandparent's home with her dogs across the Alaskan wilderness, she feels ready to take on the challenge.  But a surprising accident, leads to consequences that Willow isn't ready for.

Bad Girls Don't Die

by Katie Alender
Lexile:  670
Genre:  Horror/Suspense

Alexis and Kasey are like most sisters; sometimes friends and sometimes enemies.  But lately, Alexis has noticed that Kasey has been acting strangely.  Things get even more strange when unusual events start happening in their house.  Who or what is responsible for the changes?

Tales of a Sixth-Grade Muppet

by Kirk Scroggs
Lexile:  ???
Genre: Fantasy

Danvers Blickensderfer is a relatively ordinary kid.  Except for the fact that his favorite things are Muppets and his biggest hero in the world is Gonzo.  Danvers goes to bed one night as his regular old ordinary self, only to wake up in the morning to discover that he's actually turned into a Muppet!  Could this be his big chance to achieve fame, fortune, and stardom?

Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip

by Jordan Sonnenblick
Lexile:  800
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Pete and AJ are all star pitchers and best friends, looking forward to break into the high school scene.  But an injury during the summer baseball season, changes Pete's life forever.  At the encouragement of his grandfather, he invests his new found free time in photography.  He meets an interesting girl, Angelika, and at the same time begins to notice some strange things his grandfather is doing.  Pete learns that life is never simple.

Go Big or Go Home

by Will Hobbs
Genre:  Science Fiction
Lexile:  700

Brady Steele is getting ready for bed one night when a meteorite bursts through the roof of his house and lands in his bed.  Unbeknownst to him, it is from Mars and is filled with extraterrestrial bacteria.  While he's sleeping, he unknowingly ingests some of the bacteria.  Suddenly be notices that his basketball skills have improved and he can bike faster than ever before, but there are some other, odd side effects.  Is the meteorite a blessing or a curse?

Woods Runner

by Gary Paulson
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Lexile:  870

Samuel is living on the edge of the wilderness outside of Pennsylvania in 1776.  He is a great hunter and loves to spend his days surrounded in the quiet of the forest.  But then the war comes and Samuel's parents are taken prisoners.  He follows their trail in hopes of rescuing them, but what chance does a 13 year old have against the mighty British army?