The Last Star (The Final Book of the 5th Wave)

by Rick Yancey
Lexile:  670
Genre:  Science Fiction, Dystopia

Who is the real enemy?  Is it the others? Or is it us?  They want the Earth.  Or do they? They came to destroy.  Or did they come to save?  For those who are left, there are no easy answers and no clear path that will save them.  Cassie, Ringer, Zombie, and Nugget are all who are left. It will be up to them to figure out the truth if they are able to save themselves or saves what makes them all human.

Drowned City

Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans
Written and Illustrated by Don Brown
Lexile:  GN920
Genre:  Informational, Graphic Novel
Award:  Orbis Pictus Award

This is the first graphic novel to ever win the Orbis Pictus Award.  In this book, Don Brown describes the horror that descended upon New Orleans in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina struck.  Through vivid images and text, he tells the story of those who remained behind in the city and what happened in the aftermath when there wasn't enough food, shelter, or emergency help to go around.

The Big Dark

by Rodman Philbrick
Lexile: 780
Genre:  Science Fiction

What would you do if suddenly your entire world went dark?  No electricity, no batteries, no phones...nothing.  Charlie Cobb and his family are living in a small town in New Hampshire when they find themselves without any power.  It is the middle of January so this means that finding away to stay warm is a necessity.  Not only is the survival of their family a challenge, but having to deal with how others in the town are responding to the situation, is making it tough.  Someone is going to have to stand up and take charge before someone gets hurt.

Booked

by Kwame Alexander
Lexile:  660
Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Novel in Verse

Nick Hall is unstoppable on the soccer field so don't even bother to try.  He and his friend Coby have big plans to get to the World Cup and show the world what awesome soccer players they are.  But then Nick's world is shattered when his parents announce that they are separating.  His mom moves to Kentucky to continue a career she had put on hold, and now nothing is the same.  Can he figure out how to successfully navigate this change in his life?

A Night Divided

by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Lexile:  810
Genre:  Historical Fiction

Gerta and her family are living in Germany after the end of WWII.  There is talk that the Russians are going to cut off all ties with the west in order to protect their communist way of life.  Gerta's parents are divided on what to do.  Her father wants to move their family to West Berlin where they would have more of a chance of building a life filled with freedom.  Gerta's mother thinks they should stay where they are in the East as that is where they have jobs and friends and family.  Gerta's mother finally agrees to let her husband and son Dominic go to the west to see about jobs and a place to live. But overnight, a wall is erected and the family is separated.  Gerta, Fritz, and their mother fear that they will never see the rest of their family again.  As life becomes more unbearable, and Fritz is recruited for the military, Greta realizes that it might be up to her to get her family back together. There is one chance...and it could cost her her life.

Tomorrow, When the War Began

by John Marsden
Lexile:  850
Genre:  Dystopia, Science Fiction

Ellie and her friends have finally persuaded her parents to let them go camping alone.  They have a great time out in the Australian wilderness until they return and find that everyone is gone.  The electricity is off, the phones don't work, and there is no sign of life anywhere.  But then strange aircraft and helicopters are flying overhead.  After some investigating, they find out that the world as they know it has ended.  Their country has been invaded and their friends and family are all being held hostage.  They have two choices:  return to the wilderness and try to survive on their own or stay and try to figure out where everyone went.

Fish in a Tree

by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Lexile:  550
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Ally has become an expert at fooling people.  Her extreme behaviors have helped her mask the fact from her teachers that she can't read.  She prefers to have people think that she is a troublemaker, rather than "slow" or "dumb."  In reality, Ally is a very bright girl who has creatively managed to fool all of her teachers for the last seven years, until Mr. Daniels takes over for Mrs. Hall midyear.  Mr. Daniels isn't falling for Ally's old tricks.  He actually expects her to stay in class and do all of the reading and writing assignments.  He tells Ally that she can trust him, but will Ally be willing to reveal her biggest secret?