Becoming Little Women

by Jeannine Arkins
Lexile:  ???
Genre:  Historical Fiction

Louisa May Alcott, the famous author of Little Women, lived an interesting life.  This novel tells of the year at age 10 when Louisa and her family moved to Fruitlands as an experiment to see whether or not they could survive without money and by eating only what they could grow on their farm.  The experiment fails and the family is forced to move in with friends as the winter approaches, but Louisa learns a lot about life, her family, and what it takes to survive.

Beneath a Meth Moon

by Jacqueline Woodson
Lexile:  730
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Laurel wishes she could turn back time.  Her life was so much simpler when her mother and grandmother were alive.  Now she is struggling with facing her new reality.  That struggle leads her to new friends who introduce her to drugs.  The drugs take the pain of her life away and Laurel is sure she can handle it.  But things quickly spin out of control and Laurel finds herself living on the streets, wondering if she is going to survive.

Brixton Brothers: The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity

by Mac Barnett
Lexile:  590
Genre:  Mystery

Steve Brixton is not a detective.  Well, at least he wasn't until the librarians nearly had him arrested for treason.  Proving that he is innocent turns out to be quite an adventure!

Fly Girl

by Sherri L. Smith
Lexile:  680
Genre:  Historical Fiction

Ida Mae Jones wants to fly.  The only way for this to happen is for her to lie.  She will have to lie about having a valid pilot's license, but more importantly, she will have to lie about who she is.  She knows that the only way she will be accepted into the Women's Airforce Service Pilots program, is to pretend that she is white.  With her light skin, it just may be possible, but that will mean turning her back on her friends and family.  And, if discovered, could be deadly for her.  But Ida Mae wants to fly, more than anything else in the whole world.

Hoot

by Carl Hiaasen
Lexile:  760
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Roy Eberhardt is the new kid in town.  The first person he meets is the biggest bully in school.  The second person he meets is a strange kid who runs barefoot past the bus stop in the morning.  The third person is the toughest soccer player on the girl's team who tells him to mind his own business.  Roy senses a mystery and decides to investigate, never dreaming that it will lead to a city wide protest to save some burrowing owls. 

Crazy

by Han Nolan

Lexile:  660
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Jason's world is falling a part.  His mother has died, his father is crazy, and he is totally alone.  At 15, it all seems too much to handle.  He has decided to become invisible and rely on only himself and some imaginary characters he hears in his head, rather than seek help for his living situation which is rapidly going down hill.  But when Jason is referred to the school counseling group, he meets 3 people who seem to want to be his friends.  Having friends would be a welcome addition to his lonely life, but how many of his secrets will he be able to hide?

Dark Life

by Kat Falls
Lexile:  690
Genre:  Science Fiction

The world has changed forever...and there is no longer enough room on land for everyone.  Some brave pioneers have begun settlements on the bottom of the ocean where there is land enough for everyone.  But living in a world at the bottom of the ocean is not easy, especially now that the outlaws are on the loose.  Ty and his family have been happy with their lives, but when he meets Gemma, a girl from above, the life that he and his parents have created is threatened.  Ty has been keeping secrets and they are about to be revealed.