The False Prince

by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Lexile:  710
Genre:  Fantasy

Sage's life is about to change forever.  He's been living an ordinary life in an orphanage until one day when Connor, a nobleman of the court,  removes him from the orphanage and reveals a plan that could make Sage the most powerful man in the kingdom, IF he wins the contest.  If he isn't the winner, it most likely means his life will be over.  Neither option appeals to Sage, but he is willing to do what it will take for him to survive.  Even if it means spending the rest of his life living out a lie.

The Journey Back

by Priscilla Cummings
Lexile: 810
Genre:  Realistic Fiction
(Sequel to The Red Kayak)

Digger is on his way back.  Ever since the accident and the trial, Digger has been trying to find his way. He thought that running away from the juvenile detention center was a step in the right direction, but that has led to more wrongs than rights.  He has stolen a truck, a bike, a canoe, all because he wants to get home to protect his family.  Does that justify the laws he has broken?

The Bully Book

by Eric Kahn Gale
Lexile:  620
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Eric is looking forward to the start of 6th grade.  His friend Donovan will be back from camp and they are finally the oldest kids in the school.  But right from the start, things are different.  Donovan refuses to talk to him.  Jason and Adrian gang up on him and suddenly everyone in the class is making fun of him and calling him the Grunt.  Eric knows something is going on...and it has to do with The Bully Book.

Chickadee

by Louise Erdrich
Lexile:  800
Genre:  Historical Fiction

It is1866 and book four in the Birchbark House series, readers catch up with Omakayas, her husband Animikiins, and their twin sons, Chickadee and Makoons.  Her twins have spent every waking moment together - learning to help their family and getting into mischief along the way.  But this time, an innocent trick angers the wrong people and Chicakee is kidnapped.  Will he be able to find his way back to his family?

Dairy Queen

by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Lexile:  990
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

DJ Schwenk is having a terrible summer.  Her father injured his hip, her brothers have moved away, her mother is working two jobs, so that leaves her to milk the cows twice a day and keep the family dairy farm afloat.  DJ has to sacrifice a lot - she had to give up volleyball and basketball and spending time with her best friend.  Then, a family friend asks DJ for a favor.  Would she be willing to spend the summer training the quarterback of her school's rival football team?  Brian Nelson needs toughening up and his coach thinks DJ is just the person for the job.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck

by Jeff Kinney
Lexile:  ???
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Greg is back with in his 8th book, but this time he is on a real losing streak.  His best friend, Rowley, has gotten interested in girls.  Greg is not at all pleased about how this is changing their friendship.  He tries to turn his luck around by approaching others - girls and boys - but doesn't have much luck.  Will he ever get his one and only friend back?

Cardboard

by Doug Ten Napel
Lexile:  ???
Genre:  Fantasy (Graphic Novel)

Cam's dad is flat broke.  He can't find a job and has only a few cents to spend on his son's birthday present.  Cam is a good kid and his dad wants to get him something special.  He stops at a roadside stand and the only thing he can afford is a cardboard box.  The seller assures Cam's dad that this is no ordinary cardboard.  In fact, it comes with two very simple rules:  1)  You must return every scrap you don't use and 2) You must not ask for more. Cam and his dad work together to make something special - and to their surprise, their cardboard man comes to life!  How is this possible?