Ashes (Book #1 of the Ashes Trilogy)

by Ilsa Bick
Lexile:  730
Genre:  Science Fiction

Alex has a brain tumor and her doctor has told her that she has months to live.  She sets off to Michigan on a hiking trip to enjoy the little time that she has left.  While there something crazy happens and life as we know it ceases to exist.  Everyone between the ages of 21-60 has died. Teenagers have become zombies.  Senior citizens who had Alzheimer's have reawakened.  Alex has no idea what to make of what her life has now become.

Laika

by Nick Abadzis
Lexile:  370
Genre:  Historical Fiction (Graphic Novel)

Laika is set to make history.  Russia has begun the race to get a man on the moon and they are anxious to beat the United States.  Their manned space flight program begins with training dogs to withstand the forces of space flight.  Laika ends up as a new recruit in the space program.  She has no idea what the rest of her short life is going to be like.

No Safety in Numbers (Book #1 No Safety in Numbers Trilogy)

by Dayna Lorentz
Lexile:  710
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

It seemed like just another day at the mall.  Lexi is having lunch with her family.  Shay is shopping with her grandmother and sister.  Marco is reporting for work.  But then a strange object is discovered in the ventilation system.  Is it a bomb?  Is it dangerous?  The mall is put into lockdown and no one is allowed to leave.  At first it seemed kind of fun...but after a few days with no explanation, the crowds are starting to get restless.  Then people started getting sick.

Ashes

by Kathryn Lasky
Lexile:  770
Genre:  Historical Fiction

Gaby and Rosa are best friends.  They love growing up in the busy city of Berlin.  They love their school and are looking forward to a fun summer at Gaby's lake home.  But things are changing. Brown uniforms are everywhere.  New rules are put in place.  Books are being collected.  Gaby and her parents are unhappy with these changes and can't understand why some of their closest friends and neighbors don't seem concerned.  Gaby and her family will have some tough decisions to make. Will they follow along with the crowd or stand up for what they believe?

The Goats

by Brock Cole
Lexile:  550
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Howie and Laura are expecting to have a fun summer at camp until they become victims of a terrible prank.  The other campers gang up on them and maroon them on an island without clothes, food, or water.  They are told that they are the "goats" of the camp and that no one likes them.  Rather than become the victims of this cruel joke, Laura and Howie decide to fight back and take off on their own.  Relying on each other, they are able to survive the cruelty they have been shown by others.

Four Secrets

by Margaret Willey
Lexile:  850
Genre:  Realistic Ficiton

Katie, Nate, Renata, and Chase are all keeping secrets...big secrets...from each other and from the world.  Chase has the power because he knows all of the secrets and could share them with the world. Katie, Nate, and Renata are searching for a way to change that power...can the 3 of them be able to stop Chase from hurting them and others?

The Great Trouble

by Deborah Hopkinson
Lexile:  660
Genre: Historical Fiction

Eel has not had an easy life.  His parents are dead and he has decided that life on his own away from his evil stepfather is his best shot at success.  His life changes when a cholera epidemic strikes London.  The disease is spreading rapidly and many people are dying.  It will be up to Eel to convince the famous Dr. Snow to take a look into the cause behind what is killing Eels friends and neighbors.