*And other books in this series.

 

*Anderson, Laurie Halse. Fight for Life.  2000.  (Dogs; Veterinarians; Animal Rescue; First Book in the Vet Volunteers Series; Winner of the 2000 ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award in the category of Fiction Humane Heroes) 

Maggie MacKenzie is grounded by her grandmother until her grades improve, but when sick and dying puppies begin pouring into the clinic, Maggie sets out to find the puppy mill responsible. 

Applegate, Katherine.  Home of the Brave.  2007.  (Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2007; Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers; Best Books of the Year 2007 ) 

Kek, an African refugee, is confronted by many strange things at the Minneapolis home of his aunt and cousin, as well as in his fifth-grade classroom, and longs for his missing mother, but finds comfort in the company of a cow and her owner. 

Armstrong, William.  Sounder.  1969.  (Newbery Medal; Dogs) 

Angry and humiliated when his sharecropper father is jailed for stealing food for his family, a young black boy grows in courage and understanding with the help of the devoted dog Sounder. 

Auch, Mary Jane.  Ashes of Roses.  (Historical Fiction)

Sixteen-year-old Rose Nolan arrives on Ellis Island in 1911 in the hopes of starting a new life, but after most of her family is sent back to Ireland, she must find her own way in a new country and fend for herself and her younger sister.

Avi.  Crispin:  At the Edge of the World.  2006. (Historical Fiction) 

Sequel to: Crispin, the cross of lead. Branded as traitors by the king's authorities, Crispin and his guardian, Bear, flee to coastal towns in fourteenth-century England, where they perform a musical juggling act and bond as a family after befriending a disfigured girl. 

Avi.  Crispin:  The Cross of Lead.  2002.  (Newbery Medal; Historical Fiction) 

Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant boy in fourteenth-century England flees his village and meets a larger-than-life juggler who holds a dangerous secret. 

Avi.  The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.  1990.  (Newbery Honor; Mystery) 

Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle, the only passenger on a voyage from England to America in 1832, must take serious matters into her own hands when she learns that the captain is murderous. 

Babbitt, Natalie.  Tuck Everlasting.  1975.  (Fantasy) 

The Tuck family is confronted with an agonizing situation when they discover that a ten-year-old girl and a malicious stranger now share their secret about a spring whose water prevents one from ever growing any older. 

*Banks, Lynne Reid.  The Indian in the Cupboard.  1980.  (Fantasy; The First Book in the Indian in the Cupboard Series) 

A nine-year-old boy receives a plastic Indian, a cupboard, and a little key for his birthday and finds himself involved in adventure when the Indian comes to life in the cupboard and befriends him. 

Barrie, J. M.  Peter Pan.  1911.  (Fantasy; Classic) 

The story of three children who travel to Neverland with Peter Pan, the boy who won't grow up, and have several adventures, including escaping from the nasty Captain Hook. 

*Barry, Dave and Ridley Pearson.  Peter and the Secret of Rundoon.  2007.  (Humorous stories; Adventure; Fantasy; Third Book in the Starcatchers Trilogy) 

Fearing that the sinister Lord Ombra was not destroyed, Peter and Molly travel to the land of Rundoon, which is ruled by the evil King Zarboff. 

*Barry, Dave and Ridley Pearson.  Peter and the Shadow Thieves.  2006.  (Humorous stories; Adventure; Fantasy; Second Book in the Starcatchers Trilogy) 

Peter must visit London to help his friend Molly and her family of starcatchers locate the missing starstuff, leaving the boys on Mollusk Island at the mercy of Hook. 

*Barry, Dave and Ridley Pearson.  Peter and the Starcatchers.  2004.  (Humorous stories; Adventure; Fantasy; First Book in the Starcatchers Trilogy) 

Peter, an orphan boy, and his friend Molly fight off thieves and pirates in order to keep the secret safe away from the diabolical Black Stache and his evil associate Mister Grin. 

Beatty, Patricia.  Turn Homeward, Hannalee.   1984.  (Historical Fiction; Civil War; Classic) 

Twelve-year-old Hannalee Reed, forced to relocate to Indiana along with other Georgia millworkers during the Civil War, leaves her mother with a promise to return home as soon as the war ends. 

Birdsall, Jeanne.  The Penderwicks:  A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy.  2005.  (Fiction; National Book Award)

While vacationing with their widowed father in the Berkshire Mountains, four lovable sisters, ages four through twelve, share adventures with a local boy, much to the dismay of his snobbish mother.

Bolden, Tonya.  George Washington Carver.  2008. (Nonfiction; Biography) 

A biography of American botanical researcher and agronomy educator, George Washington Carver, whose work to promote alternative crops in the post-war South played a major role in revolutionizing Southern agriculture. 

Borden, Louise.  The Journey That Saved Curious George:  The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H. A. Rey.  2005.  (Biography) 

Tells how the creators of "Curious George" narrowly escaped capture by the Nazis while fleeing Paris on their bicycles during World War II. 

Brink, Carol Ryrie.  Caddie Woodlawn.  1935.  (Historical Fiction; Frontier and Pioneer LIfe; Newbery Medal; Classic) 

Chronicles the adventures of eleven-year-old Caddie growing up with her six brothers and sisters on the Wisconsin frontier in the mid-nineteenth century.  

Broach, Elise.  Masterpiece.  2008.  (Mystery; Fiction; ALA Notable Book; IRA Teachers' Choice Award; NCTE Notable Book in the Language Arts; A Booklist Top 10 Mystery; A Junior Library Guild Selection; Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers; Publisher's Weekly's Best Books fo the Year) 

After Marvin, a beetle, makes a miniature drawing as an eleventh birthday gift for James, a human with whom he shares a house, the two new friends work together to help recover a Durer drawing stolen from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

*Brouwer, Sigmund.  Scarlet Thunder.  (Mystery; Christian Fiction; Stock Car Racing; Part of the Orca Sports Series) 

Seventeen-year-old Trent is helping his uncle film a television documentary about Scarlet Thunder, a stock car racing team, when he begins to suspect that someone is sabotaging the shoot. 

*Brouwer, Sigmund.  Mars Diaries.  Mission 1, Oxygen Level Zero.  2000.  (Science Fiction; Christian Fiction; First Book in the Mars Diaries Series) 

Young teen Tyce Sanders, a virtual reality specialist in an experimental community on Mars in 2039, must work fast to save lives when the science based is threatened by a mysterious loss of oxygen, and in the process comes to know God. Includes an essay that discusses science and faith. 

Burnett, Frances Hodgson.  A Little Princess.  1905. (Classic) 

Sara Crewe, a pupil at Miss Minchin's London School, is left in poverty when her father dies, but is later rescued by a mysterious benefactor. 

Burnford, Shelia.  The Incredible Journey.  1960.  (Classic; Animals) 

A young Labrador Retriever, an old Bull Terrier and a Siamese cat undertake a 250-mile trek through the Canadian wilderness in order to return to their home. 

Byars, Betsy.  Summer of the Swans.   1970.  (Newbery Medal) 

A teenage girl gains new insight into herself and her family when her mentally retarded brother gets lost. 

*Christopher, Matt.   On the Court with Michael Jordan.  1996.  (Part of the Matt Christopher Sports Bio Bookshelf series; Biography; Basketball; Nonfiction) 

Examines the life and basketball career of the high-scoring player with the Chicago Bulls, who made a brief attempt to play minor league baseball in 1994. 

*Christopher, Matt.  On the Field with Mia Hamm.  2005.  (Part of the Matt Christopher Sports Bio Bookshelf series; Biography; Soccer; Nonfiction) 

A biography of one of the top female soccer players in the country, Mia Hamm, who helped the United States win a gold medal in soccer in the 1996 Olympics. 

Cleary, Beverly.  Dear Mr. Henshaw.  1983.  (Newbery Medal) 

In his letters to his favorite author, ten-year-old Leigh reveals his problems in coping with his parents' divorce, being the new boy in school, and generally finding his own place in the world. 

Clements, Andrew.  A Week in the Woods.  2002. 

The fifth grade's annual camping trip in the woods tests Mark's survival skills and his ability to relate to a teacher who seems out to get him. 

Codell, Esme Raji.  Sahara Special.  2003. 

Struggling with school and her feelings since her father left, Sahara gets a fresh start with a new and unique teacher who supports her writing talents and the individuality of each of her classmates. 

*Collins, Suzanne.  Gregor the Overlander.  2003.  (Fantasy; First book in the Underland Chronicles) 

When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger an epic battle involving humans, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by ancient prophecy. 

Creech, Sharon.  Love That Dog.  2001.  (Poetry) 

A young student, who comes to love poetry through a personal understanding of what different famous poems mean to him, surprises himself by writing his own inspired poem. 

Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy.  1999.  (Newbery Medal; Historical Fiction) 

Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression, escapes a bad foster home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father--the renowned bandleader, H.E. Calloway of Grand Rapids. 

Curtis, Christopher Paul.  Elijah of Buxton.  2007.  (Coretta Scott King Award; Newbery Honor; Historical Fiction; Best Books of the Year; Children's Books of the Year) 

Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman, the first free-born child in Buxton, Canada, which is a haven for slaves fleeing the American South in 1859, uses his wits and skills to try to bring to justice the lying preacher who has stolen money that was to be used to buy a family's freedom. 

Dahl, Roald.  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  1964. (Humorous Story) 

Each of five children lucky enough to discover an entry ticket into Mr. Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory takes advantage of the situation in his own way. 

de Angeli, Marguerite. The Door in the Wall.  1949.  (Newbery Medal; Historical Fiction) 

A crippled boy in fourteenth-century England proves his courage and earns recognition from the King. 

*Dear America Series.  Scholastic.  (Historical Fiction) 

Written in a diary format, each historical novel is extensively researched from actual letters and diaries, allowing readers to experience the daily lives of girls from different times in American history. A companion series--My Name Is America--follows the adventures of boys from America's past. 

Delano, Murfe Ferguson.  Helen's Eyes:  A Photobiography of Annie Sulllivan, Helen Keller's Teacher.  2008.  (Biography; Nonfiction) 

Photographs, illustrations, and text chronicle the life of Helen Keller's tutor, Annie Sullivan. 

Denenberg, Barry.  Stealing Home:  The Story of Jackie Robinson.  1990.  (Baseball; Biography; Nonfiction) 

A biography of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American man to play in the white major leagues, who was determined to fight for his rights and the rights of all African-American people on and off the baseball diamond. 

DiCamillo, Kate.  Because of Winn Dixie.   2001.  (Newbery Honor) 

Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni describes her first summer in the town of Naomi, Florida, and all the good things that happen to her because of her big ugly dog Winn-Dixie. 

DiCamillo, Kate.  The Tale of Despereaux:  Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread.  2003.  (Newbery Medal; Fairy Tale) 

The adventures of Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin. 

*Dixon, Franklin W.  The Tower Treasure.  1927.  (Mystery; First Book in the Hardy Boys Mystery Series) 

After a dying criminal confesses that his loot has been stashed "in the tower," the Hardy boys make an astonishing discovery. 

Dodge, Mary mapes.  Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates.  1865.  (Classic) 

Hans and Gretel's dream of competing for the silver skates seems as remote as a cure for their invalid father, until a new friend comes into their lives. 

*Dower, Laura.  Only the Lonely.  2001. (First book in the Files of Madison Finn series)  

Madison Finn uses her computer journal and the Internet to cope with many changes as she starts seventh grade--her parents' divorce, the arrival of a new girl in town, and separation from her two best friends. 

Doyle, Arthur Conan.  The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.  1892.  (Classic; Mystery) 

A collection of Sherlock Holmes mystery adventures. 

*Doyle, Peter Reese.  Independence.  1997.  (Historical Fiction; Christian Fiction; First Book in the Drums of War Series) 

First in a series (entitled Drums of War) of historical novels for youth and young adults designed to teach in an enjoyable way the principles, events, and persons behind America's independence. Independence is set in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1775 when the Royal Governor sent British troops to steal gunpowder form the town's public magazine. The colonists are alerted and the drama builds to a climax as Patrick Henry leads Partiot militiamen toward a dramatic showdown with the British Governor. (Product description from www.christianbook.com) 

DuBois, William Pene.  The Twenty-One Balloons.  1974.  (Classic; Historical Fiction) 

Relates the incredible adventures of Professor William Waterman Sherman who in 1883 sets off in a balloon across the Pacific, survives the volcanic eruption of Krakatoa, and is eventually picked up in the Atlantic. 

*Elmer, Robert.  Candy Bombers.  2006.  (First book in the Wall Trilogy; Historical Fiction; Christian Fiction) 

In 1948 Berlin, Germany, while trying to survive the Russian blockade of the city and also grieving for his father and sister who were killed in the war, thirteen-year-old Erich is befriended by a United States airman. 

English, Karen.  Francie.  1999. (Fiction; Coretta Scott King Honor Book) 

When the sixteen-year-old boy whom she tutors in reading is accused of attempting to murder a white man, Francie gets herself in serious trouble for her efforts at friendship. 

*Farley, Walter. The Black Stallion.  1941. (Classic; Part of the Black Stallion Series) 

The story of the understanding and love between a boy and a magnificent wild horse and the adventures and dangers they shared. 

Ferris, Jean.  Once Upon a Marigold.  2002. (Humorous stories; Fairy tales) 

Sequel:  Twice Upon a Marigold.  A young man with a mysterious past and a penchant for inventing things leaves the troll who raised him, meets an unhappy princess he has loved from afar, and discovers a plot against her and her father. 

Forbes, Esther.  Johnny Tremain. 1942.  (Newbery Medal; Historical Fiction) 

The Newbery-winning story of Boston during the Revolutionary War, from the Tea Party through the Battle of Lexington, as seen through the eyes of a young apprentice turned dispatch rider for the Committee of Public Safety. 

Freedman, Russell.  Freedom Walkers:  The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.  2006. (Non-fiction) 

Presents the story of the Montgomery bus boycott and the key persons and events that contributed to the year-long struggle for equal rights on Montgomery's city buses. 

George, Jean Craighead.  My Side of the Mountain.  1959.  (Newbery Honor; Adventure; Survival) 

Sequel:  On the Far Side of the Mountain.  A boy runs away from home and spends a year living in a tree in the Catskill Mountains with a young peregrine falcon, depending on his knowledge of the natural world and on nature itself to survive. 

Giff, Patricia Reilly.  Pictures of Hollis Woods.  2002. (Newbery Honor) 

A troublesome twelve-year-old orphan, staying with an elderly artist who needs her, remembers the only other time she was happy in a foster home, with a family that truly seemed to care about her. 

Gipson, Fred.  Old Yeller.  1956.  (Newbery Honor; Classic; Dogs; Frontier and Pioneer Life) 

In the late 1860s in the Texas hill country, a big yellow dog and a fourteen-year-old boy form a close, loving relationship. 

Grahame, Kenneth.  The Wind in the Willows.  1908.  (Fantasy; Classic) 

The escapades of four animal friends who live along a river in the English countryside-- Toad, Mole, Rat, and Badger. 

*Gregory, Kristiana.  Winter Tidings.  2004.  (Part of the Prairie River series; Historical Fiction; Frontier and Pioneer Life) 

Nessa has attempted to leave her past behind in Prairie River, until Reverend McDuff arrives there, and she fears the whole town will learn her secrets. 

Grimes, Nikki.  The Road to Paris.  2006.  (Fiction; Coretta Scott King Honor Book) 

Inconsolable at being separated from her older brother, eight-year-old Paris is apprehensive about her new foster family but just as she learns to trust them, she faces a life-changing decision. 

Grogan, John.  Marley:  A Dog Like No Other.  2007.  (Nonfiction; Dogs) 

A special adaptation of the author's book "Marley & Me" for young readers, in which he shares the story of his golden retriever Marley, and tells of the love his family has for the dog. 

*Grote, JoAnn A.  Emily Makes a Difference:  A Time of Progress and Problems.  2004.  (Historical Fiction; Christian Fiction; Part of the Sisters in Time Series) 

"1893"--Cover. Twelve-year-old Emily Allerton loves the new inventions she sees at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893, but when she returns home to an economic recession, Emily joins with her cousin Ted to help those who have become homeless and hungry. 

*Gutman, Dan.  Jackie and Me:  a Baseball Card Adventure.  1999.  (Part of the Baseball Card Adventure Series) 

With his ability to travel through time by using baseball cards, Joe goes back to 1947 to meet Jackie Robinson, turning into a black boy in the process. 

*Haddix, Margaret Peterson.  Among the Hidden.  1998.  (First book in the Shadow Children Series; Science Fiction) 

In a future where the Population Police enforce the law limiting a family to only two children, Luke has lived all his twelve years in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another "third" convinces him that the government is wrong. 

Hale, Shannon.  Princess Academy.  2005.  (Newbery Honor Book; Fairy tales) 

While attending a strict academy for potential princesses with the other girls from her mountain village, fourteen-year-old Miri discovers unexpected talents and connections to her homeland. 

Hamilton, Bethany.  Soul Surfer.  2004.  (Christian Biography) 

Bethany Hamilton shares the story of her lifelong love of surfing, and tells how she was able to recover and return to competition with the help of her family, friends, and faith, after losing her arm in a shark attack at the age of thirteen. 

Haskins, Jim.  John Lewis in the Lead:  A Story of the Civil Rights Movement.  2006.  (Civil Rights History; Biography) 

An illustrated biography of Georgia congressman John Lewis, focusing on his activities on behalf of civil rights, specifically his leadership in the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in an effort to secure voting rights for African-Americans. 

Henkes, Kevin. Bird Lake Moon.  2008.  (Grief; Divorce) 

Twelve-year-old Mitch, spending the summer with his grandparents at Bird Lake after his parents' separation, becomes friends with ten-year-old Spencer, who has returned with his family to the lake where his little brother drowned years earlier, and as the boys spend time together and their friendship grows, each of them begins to heal. 

Henry, Marguerite. King of the Wind.  1948. (Newbery Medal; Classic; Horses) 

Sham and the stable boy Agba travel from Morocco to France to England where, at last, Sham's majesty is recognized and he becomes the "Godolphin Arabian," ancestor of the most superior Thoroughbred horses. 

Hess, Donna. A Father's Promise.   1987.  (Christian Fiction; Historical Fiction; World War II) 

"Adolf Hitler's ominous statements seem only a distant threat to eleven-year-old Rudi Kaplan. But when the Nazi

forces invade Poland and bomb his home city of Warsaw, Rudi finds out that he is Hitler's enemy not only because

he is a Pole, but also because he's a Jew—and a Christian. The next few years change Rudi's life forever.

With only his imprisoned father's promise that the family will be reunited after the war, Rudi must learn how to survive in hiding, how to be truly brave, and how to overcome the hatred of his enemies. He must learn to die to himself and to trust the God who is mightier than any army."(quoted from book back cover) 

Hesse, Karen.  Letters from Rifka.  1992.  (Historical fiction) 

In letters to her cousin, a young Jewish girl chronicles her family's flight from Russia in 1919 and her own experiences when she must be left in Belgium for a while when the others emigrate to America. 

Huynh, Quang Nhuong.  The Land I Lost:  Adventures of a Boy in Vietnam.  1982.  (Autobiography; Nonfiction) 

A collection of personal reminiscences of the author's youth in a hamlet on the central highlands of Vietnam. 

Ibbotson, Eva.  Journey to the River Sea.  2001.  (Adventure; Historical Fiction)

Sent with her governess to live with the dreadful Carter family in exotic Brazil in 1910, Maia endures many hardships before fulfilling her dream of exploring the Amazon River.

Iggulden, Conn. The Dangerous Book for Boys.  2007. (Nonfiction) 

A collection of entertainments geared toward boys, containing accounts of famous battles, William Shakespeare quotations, games, and instructions for activities such as building a go-cart, cutting flint heads, making an electromagnet, and folding the "greatest paper airplane in the world." 

*Jacques, Brian.  Redwall.  1986.  (Fantasy; First Book in the Redwall Series) 

Sequel to: Mossflower. When the peaceful life of ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes, Matthias, a young mouse, determines to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior which, he is convinced, will help Redwall's inhabitants destroy the enemy. 

*Jenkins, Jerry B.  Haunted Waters.  2005.  (First book in the Red Rock Mysteries series; Mystery; Christian Fiction) 

The Timberline family makes a weekend getaway for a visit to a gold exhibit but it leads to a search for a stolen gold nugget and danger for the entire family. 

*Jenkins, Jerry B.  The Vanishings.  1998.  (First book in the Left Behind:  The Kids series; Christian Fiction) 

Four young friends, Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and Ryan, band together to find faith and fight the evil forces that threaten their lives when they are left behind on Earth after God's Rapture. 

Juster, Norton.  The Phantom Tollbooth.  1961.  (Fantasy; Classic) 

Milo finds a cure for his boredom and discovers the importance of words and numbers on a journey through a fantastical land. 

Kadohata, Cynthia.  Weedflower.  2006.  (Historical Fiction) 

 After twelve-year-old Sumiko and her Japanese-American family are relocated from their flower farm in southern California to an internment camp on a Mojave Indian reservation in Arizona, she helps her family and neighbors, becomes friends with a local Indian boy, and tries to hold on to her dream of owning a flower shop. 

Kehret, Peg.  Earthquake Terror.  1996.  (Survival) 

When an earthquake hits the isolated island in northern California where his family had been camping, twelve-year-old Jonathan Palmer must find a way to keep himself, his partially paralyzed younger sister, and their dog alive until help arrives. 

Kipling, Rudyard.  Just So Stories. 1902.   (Classic; Animals) 

A collection of the well-known stories, including "How the Whale Got His Throat," "The Elephant's Child," and "The Butterfly That Stamped." 

Kipling, Rudyard.  Jungle Book.   1894.  (Classic; Animals) 

Presents the three adventures of Mowgli, a young boy raised by the animals in an Indian jungle, as well as other animal stories and songs. 

Kjelgaard, Jim.  Big Red.  1945.  (Classic; Dogs) 

A trapper's son and a champion Irish Setter roam wilderness areas and grow to maturity together. 

Konigsburg, E.L.  From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  1967. (Newbery Medal) 

Two suburban children run away from their Connecticut home and go to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, where their ingenuity enables them to live in luxury. 

*Korman, Gordon.  Island.  Book One.  Shipwreck.  2001.  (Survival; First Book in the Island Series) 

Six children try to survive on a desert island in the Pacific Ocean after a storm destroys their boat. 

Latham, Jean Lee.  Carry On, Mr. Bowditch.  1955.  (Classic; Historical Fiction; Fictionalized Biography) 

A fictionalized biography of the mathematician and astronomer who realized his childhood desire to become a ship's captain and authored "The American Practical Navigator." 

Law, Ingrid.  Savvy.  2008.  (Newbery Honor Book; Notable Children's Book; Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School; Boston Globe Horn Book Honor) 

Recounts the adventures of Mibs Beaumont, whose thirteenth birthday has revealed her "savvy"--a magical power unique to each member of her family--just as her father is injured in a terrible accident. Recounts the adventures of Mibs Beaumont, whose thirteenth birthday has revealed her "savvy"--a magical power unique to each member of her family--just as her father is injured in a terrible accident. 

Levine, Gail Carson.  Ella Enchanted.  1997. (Newbery Honor; Fantasy) 

In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her. 

*Lewis, C.S.  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  1950.  (Fantasy; The Second Book in the Chronicles of Narnia Series) 

Four English schoolchildren find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and assist Aslan, the golden lion, to triumph over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter. 

Lofting, Hugh. The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle.  1922.  (Newbery Medal; Fantasy; Animals; Classic) 

When his colleague Long Arrow disappears, Dr. Dolittle sets off with his assistant, Tommy Stubbins, his dog, Jip, and Polynesia the parrot on an adventurous voyage over tropical seas to floating Spidermonkey Island. 

London, Jack. Call of the Wild.  1903.  (Classic; Animals) 

Buck, who is half St. Bernard and half Scotch shepherd, is abducted and taken to the Klondike where he reverts to the wild and becomes a leader of a pack of wolves. 

London, Jack.  White Fang.  1906.  (Classic; Dogs) 

The adventures in the northern wilderness of a dog who is part wolf and how he comes to make his peace with man. 

Lord, Cynthia.  Rules.  2006.  (Newbery Honor) 

Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal existence but her world is further complicated by a friendship with an young paraplegic. 

Lowry, Lois.  Number the Stars. 1989.  (Newbery Medal; Historical Fiction) 

In 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie learns how to be brave and courageous when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis. 

Lupica, Mike.  Heat.  2006.  (Little League Baseball) 

Pitching prodigy Michael Arroyo is on the run from social services after being banned from playing Little League baseball because rival coaches doubt he is only twelve years old and he has no parents to offer them proof. 

Lupica, Mike.  Miracle on 49th Street.  2006.  (Basketball) 

After her mother's death, twelve-year-old Molly learns that her father is a basketball star for the Boston Celtics. 

Lutes, Jason and Nick Bertozzi.   Houdini:  the Handcuff King.  2007.  (Biography; Magicians; Graphic Book) 

A brief biography of escape artist Harry Houdini written in graphic comic format that reveals the secret of some of his stunts. 

Lyons, Mary E.  Dear Ellen Bee:  A Civil War Scrapbook of Two Union Spies.  2000.  (Historical Fiction; Civil War) 

A scrapbook kept by a young black girl details her experiences and those of the older white woman, "Miss Bet," who had freed her and her family, sent her north from Richmond to get an education, and then worked to bring an end to slavery. Based on the life of Elizabeth Van Lew. 

*Martin, Ann M.  Kristy's Great Idea.  1986.  (First Book in the Baby-sitter's Club Series) 

Kristy gets an idea for a babysitter's club and enlists the help of her friends, Mary Anne and Claudia, who introduce a new member, Stacey. 

McKissack, Patricia.  A Friendship for Today.  2007.  (Historical Fiction;  Teachers Choices) 

Twelve-year-old Rosemary Patterson learns that she will be attending an all-white school in the fall; but when her best friend is diagnosed with polio, she must face the first day of school alone. 

*My Name is America.  Scholastic.  (Action; Historical Fiction) 

A ground-breaking, adventure-based historical fiction series written in journal format and designed to appeal to boy readers. A companion series--Dear America--invites readers into the personal worlds of girls from different times in American history 

Montgomery, Lucy Maude.  Anne of Green Gables.  1908.  (Classic) 

Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a lonely, middle-aged brother and sister on a Prince Edward Island farm and proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her. 

Morey, Walt. Gentle Ben.  1965. (Classic)

Traces the friendship between a boy and a bear in the rugged Alaskan Territory. 

Morpurgo, Michael.  The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips.  2005.  (Historical Fiction; World War II) 

When Boowie reads the diary that his grandmother sends him, he learns of her childhood in World War II England when American and British soldiers practiced for D-Day's invasion in the area of her home, and about her beloved cat, Adolphus Tip, and the cat's namesake. 

Murphy, Pat.  The Wild Girls.  2007.  (Fiction; Best Books for Young Adults 2009; Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers 2008)

Twelve-year-old Joan, worried that she will not have any friends when her family moves from Connecticut to California, bonds right away with Sarah, a girl who prefers to be called Fox, and the two spend a joyous summer playing outside, making up stories, and attending a writing class.

North, Sterling.  Rascal.  1963. (Classic; Newbery Honor) 

The author recalls his carefree life in a small midwestern town at the close of World War I, and his adventures with his pet raccoon, Rascal. 

Norton, Mary.  The Borrowers.  1952.  (Fantasy; Classic) 

Miniature people who live in an old country house by borrowing things from the humans are forced to emigrate from their home under the clock. Includes a letter and a sketch of Homily and Arrietty by the author. 

O'Brien, Robert C.  Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIIMH.  1971.  (Newbery Medal; Fantasy) 

With nowhere else to turn, a field mouse asks the clever escaped lab rats living under the rosebush to help save her son, who lies in the path of the farmer's tractor, too ill to be moved. 

O'Dell, Scott.  Island of the Blue Dolphins.  1960.  (Newbery Medal; Survival Fiction) 

Records the courage and self-reliance of an Indian girl who lived alone for eighteen years on an isolated island off the California coast when her tribe emigrated and she was left behind. 

O'Hara, Mary.  My Friend Flicka.  1940.  (Horses; Ranch Life; Classic) 

An aimless Wyoming teenager at odds with his practical father finds purpose when he befriends a wild filly. 

*Oppel, Kenneth.  Airborn.  2004.  (Fantasy; Action) 

Sequel:  Skybreaker.  Matt, a young cabin boy aboard an airship, and Kate, a wealthy young girl traveling with her chaperone, team up to search for the existence of mysterious winged creatures reportedly living hundreds of feet above the Earth's surface. 

*Paolini, Christopher. Eldest.  2005.  (Fantasy; Second Book in the Inheritance Trilogy) 

After successfully evading an Urgals ambush, Eragon is adopted into the Ingeitum clan and sent to finish his training so he can further help the Varden in their struggle against the Empire. 

*Paolini, Christopher.  Eragon. 2002.  (Fantasy; First Book in the Inheritance Trilogy) 

In Aagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters. 

Park, Linda Sue.  Keeping Score.  2008.  (Baseball; Historical Fiction) 

During the 1950s, young Maggie struggles to will her beloved Brooklyn Dodgers to a victory in the World Series and wishes that her friend Jim, a soldier in Korea, would answer her letters. 

Paterson, Katherine.  Bridge to Terebithia.   1977.  (Newbery Medal) 

The life of a ten-year-old boy in rural Virginia expands when he becomes friends with a newcomer who subsequently meets an untimely death trying to reach their hideaway, Terabithia, during a storm. 

Paulsen, Gary. Guts:  the True Stories Behind the Hatchet and the Brian Books.  2001.  (Nonfiction; Autobiography) 

The author relates incidents in his life and how they inspired parts of his books about the character, Brian Robeson. 

*Paulsen, Gary.  Hatchet.  1987.  (Newbery Honor; Survival) 

Sequel:  The River.  After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the wilderness, learning to survive with only the aid of a hatchet given him by his mother, and learning also to survive his parents' divorce.  

*Paulsen, Gary.  Mr. Tucket.  1994.  (Adventure; Historical Fiction; Frontier and Pioneer Life; Part of the Tucket Adventure Series) 

In 1848, while on a wagon train headed for Oregon, fourteen-year-old Francis Tucket is kidnapped by Pawnee Indians and then falls in with a one-armed trapper who teaches him how to live in the wild. 

*Peretti, Frank.  The Door in the Dragon's Throat.   1985.  (Adventure; Christian Fiction; First book in the Cooper Kids Adventure Series) 

American archeologist and his two children seek God's protection and guidance as they journey to the Near East in search of a buried biblical treasure which local residents believe is cursed. 

Philbrick, Rodman.  The Young Man and the Sea.  2004.  (Adventure; Survival; Fishing)

After his mother's death, twelve-year-old Skiff Beaman decides that it is up to him to earn money to take care of himself and his father, so he undertakes a dangerous trip alone out on the ocean off the coast of Maine to try to catch a hugh bluefin tuna.

Rawlings, Marjorie.  The Yearling.  1938.  (Classic; Animal Story) 

A young boy living in the Florida backwoods is forced to decide the fate of a fawn he has lovingly raised as a pet. 

Rawls, Wilson.  Where the Red Fern Grows:  the Story of Two Dogs and a Boy.  1961.  (Classic; Animal Story) 

A young boy living in the Ozarks achieves his heart's desire when he becomes the owner of two redbone hounds and teaches them to be champion hunters. 

Robinson, Barbara.  The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.   1972.   (Humorous Story; Christmas Story) 

The six mean Herdman kids lie, steal, smoke cigars (even the girls) and then become involved in the community Christmas pageant. 

*Rue, Nancy.  The Trick.  1999.  (Christian Fiction; Historical Fiction; First Book in the Chicago Years Series which is part of several "Years" series by Nancy Rue) 

In the 1920s, ten-year-old Rudy goes to Chicago to live with his rich Great-aunt Gussie, an imperious and outspoken woman dedicated to doing good works, and falls in with a boy aspiring to become a mobster. The Christian Heritage Series is an ongoing line of youth books that explore the role of faith and family throughout American history. These engaging stories help young readers better understand their country, its values, and its God. Recommended for ages 8 to 12. (Production description from www.christianbook.com) 

*Russell, Christopher.  Dogboy.  2006.  (Historical fiction) 

Sequel:  Hunted.  In 1346, twelve-year-old Brind, an orphaned kennel boy raised with hunting dogs at an English manor, accompanies his master, along with half of the manor's prized mastiffs, to France, where he must fend for himself when both his master and the dogs are lost at the decisive battle of Crecy.  

*Russell, Christopher.  Hunted.  2007.  (Historical fiction) 

Sequel to Dogboy.  Brind, the huntsman of Dowe Manor, is tossed out of the manor--along with his mastiff Glaive, the foster child Aurelie, and her puppy Gabion--after the landlord's wife dies of the Plague, and together the small group goes in search of safety in a land filled with the Black Death. 

Ryan, Pam Munoz.  Becoming Naomi Leon.  2004. 

When Naomi's absent mother resurfaces to claim her, Naomi runs away to Mexico with her great-grandmother and younger brother in search of her father. 

Ryan, Pam Munoz.  Paint the Wind.  2007.  (Horses; Ranch Life) 

After her overprotective grandmother has a stroke, eleven-year-old Maya, an orphan, leaves her extremely restricted life in California to stay with her mother's family on a remote Wyoming ranch, where she discovers a love of horses and encounters Artemisia, a wild mare that her mother once rode. 

Sachar, Louis.  Holes.  1998.  (Newbery Medal) 

As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself. 

Selznick, Brian.  The Invention of Hugo Cabret:  A Novel in Words and Pictures.  2007.  (Caldecott Medal; Historical Fiction) 

When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toyseller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardized. 

Seredy, Kate.  The Good Master.  1935.  (Newbery Honor) 

Two cousins spend an adventurous summer on a ranch on the Hungarian plains. 

Sewell, Anna.  Black Beauty.  1877.  (Classic; Horses) 

A horse in nineteenth-century England recounts his experiences with both good and bad masters. 

*Sharp, Margery.  The Rescuers.  1959.  (Fantasy; Classic) 

Three enterprising mice undertake a mission for the Prisoners' Aid Society: the rescue of a poet from the most terrible prison they have ever seen. 

Sis, Peter. The Wall:  Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain.  2007.  (Caldecott Honor; Autobiography; Nonfiction) 

Artist Sis Peter describes what it was like growing up in a Communist country and discusses how Western culture influenced his life. 

*Smith, Roland.  Independence Hall.  2008.  (Fiction; Secret Service: 1st Book in I.Q. series)

Sequel:  The White House.  Quest and his stepsister Angela are thrust into the dangerous world of the American Secret Service and the Israeli Mossad when they learn Angela's real mother was a former Secret Service agent who was killed by a terrorist group.

*Smith, Roland.  Zach’s Lie.  2001. (Action) 

Sequel:  Jack's Run.  When Jack Osborne is befriended by his school's custodian and a Basque girl, he begins to adjust to his family's sudden move to Elko, Nevada, after entering the Witness Security Program, but the drug cartel against which his father will testify is determined to track them down. 

*Snicket, Lemony.  The Bad Beginning.  1999.  (Humorous Story; First Book in the A Series of Unfortunate Events Series) 

After the sudden death of their parents, the three Baudelaire children must depend on each other and their wits when it turns out that the distant relative who is appointed their guardian is determined to use any means necessary to get their fortune. 

Sonnenblick, Jordan.  Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie.  2005. 

When his younger brother is diagnosed with leukemia, thirteen-year-old Steven tries to deal with his complicated emotions, his school life, and his desire to support his family. 

Sorensen, Virginia.  Miracles on Maple Hill.   1956.  (Newbery Medal; Classic) 

After her father returns from the war moody and tired, Marly's family decides to move from the city to Maple Hill Farm in the Pennsylvania countryside where they share many adventures which help restore their spirits and their bond with each other. 

Speare, Elizabeth George.  The Bronze Bow.  1989.  (Newbery Medal; Historical Fiction) 

A young boy seeks revenge against the Romans for killing his parents, but is turned away from vengeance by Jesus. 

Speare, Elizabeth George.  The Sign of the Beaver.  1983.  (Newbery Honor; Scott O'Dell Award for Hhistorical Fiction; Survival Fiction; Frontier and Pioneer Life)  

Left alone to guard the family's wilderness home in eighteenth-century Maine, a boy is hard-pressed to survive until local Indians teach him their skills. 

Sperry, Armstrong.  Call It Courage.  1940.  (Newbery Medal) 

Mafatu, a young Polynesian boy whose name means Stout Heart, overcomes his terrible fear of the sea and proves his courage to himself and his people. 

Spinelli, Jerry.  Maniac Magee. 1990.  (Newbery Medal) 

After his parents die, Jeffrey Lionel Magee's life becomes legendary, as he accomplishes athletic and other feats which awe his contemporaries. 

Spyri, Johanna.  Heidi.  1880.  (Classic) 

A Swiss orphan is heartbroken when she must leave her beloved grandfather and their happy home in the mountains to go to school and to care for an invalid girl in the city. 

St. John, Patricia.  Star of Light.  1953.  (Classic; Christian Fiction; Missions) 

In a mountain village in Morocco, an Englishwoman transforms the lives of her visiting niece, a blind baby girl, and an eleven-year-old boy through her work as a missionary nurse. 

Sterling, Dorothy.  Freedom Train.  1954.  (History; Biography) 

Harriet Tubman, known as the Moses of her people, escapes slavery, then risks her life to bring other slaves to freedom up the Underground Railroad. 

Stewart, Trenton Lee.  The Mysterious Benedict Society.  20007.  (Adventure; Science Fiction; Best Books of the Year; Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers; Notable Children's Books) 

After passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children are selected for a secret mission that requires them to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. 

Tada, Joni Eareckson.  Joni.  1972.  (Christian literature; Biography) 

Christian author and artist Joni Eareckson Tada describes the physical, emotional, and spiritual struggle she underwent after a diving accident left her quadriplegic at the age of seventeen. 

Taylor, Mildred.  Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.  1976. (Newbery Medal; Historical Fiction) 

A black family living in Mississippi during the Depression of the 1930s is faced with prejudice and discrimination which its children do not understand. 

*Taylor, Theodore.  The Cay.  1969.  (Survival Fiction) 

Companion book:  Timothy of the Cay.  After the freighter on which Phillip and his mother were traveling from wartime Curacao to the U.S. is torpedoed, the boy finds himself dependent on an old West Indian for survival. 

*Tolkien, J.R.R.  The Hobbit.  1937.  (Fantasy; Classic) 

Prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, becomes a thief for a band of dwarves and soon finds himself in the midst of a war with the evil goblins and wargs, and forced to make a decision between the call of duty and the pull of the simple life. 

Twain, Mark.  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  1884.  (Classic) 

Huckleberry Finn, the son of the town drunk, and Jim, an escaped slave, make a break for freedom down the Mississippi River on a raft, sharing many adventures along the way. 

Urban, Linda.  A Crooked Kind of Perfect. 2007. 

Ten-year-old Zoe Elias, who longs to play the piano but must resign herself to learning the organ, instead, finds that her musicianship has a positive impact on her workaholic mother, her jittery father, and her school social life. 

Van Draanen, Wendelin.  Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man.  2000.  (Mystery; part of the Sammy Keyes series) 

On Halloween night, seventh grader Sammy stumbles onto a mystery involving a twenty-year-old family feud and some heirlooms stolen by a man in a skeleton costume 

Verne, Jules. Around the World in Eighty Days.  1873.  (Classic; Adventure; Historical Fiction) 

In 1872 Phileas Fogg wins a bet by traveling around the world in seventy-nine days, twenty-three hours, and fifty-seven minutes. 

Whelan, Gloria.  The Impossible Journey.  2003.  (Historical Fiction) 

"A companion to Angel on the square"--Cover. In 1934, thirteen-year-old Marya and her younger brother, Georgi, set out alone on a long and arduous journey into Siberia to find their mother after she and their father are exiled for opposing Stalin. 

White, E.B.  Charlotte's Web.  1952.  (Fantasy; Newbery Honor Book) 

Wilbur, the pig, is desolate when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner until his spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help him. 

Woods, Brenda.  My Name is Sally Little Song.  2006.  (Historical Fiction; Slavery) 

When their owner plans to sell one of them in 1802, twelve-year-old Sally and her family run away from their Georgia plantation to look for both freedom from slavery and a home in Florida with the Seminole Indians. 

Wulffson, Don L.  The Kid Who Invented the Popsicle, and Other Surprising Stories About Inventions.  1999.  (Nonfiction) 

Brief factual stories about how various familiar things were invented, many by accident, from animal crackers to the zipper. 

Wyss, Johann.  The Swiss Family Robinson, or Adventures on a Desert Island.  1813.  (Survival; Classic) 

A shipwrecked family learns to live off the natural vegetation on their island and refuses to leave when a ship arrives to take them home.  

Yates, Elizabeth.  Amos Fortune, Free Man.  1950.  (Newbery Medal; Biography; History) 

The life of the eighteenth-century African prince who, after being captured by slave traders, was brought to Massachusetts where he was a slave until he was able to buy his freedom at the age of sixty. 

Zimmer, Tracie.  Reaching for Sun.  2007.  (Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People; Schneider Family Book Award; Teachers Choices) 

Josie, who lives with her mother and grandmother and has cerebral palsy, befriends a boy who moves into one of the rich houses behind her old farmhouse.