FOR STUDENTS ENTERING GRADES 6 AND 7:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas
Adams
Earth’s destruction is only twelve minutes away when Arthur Dent meets
Ford Prefect, in this funny and insightful fantastic tale.
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
With their father away fighting in the Civil War, the four March girls and their
mother confront hardships and experience the joys and travails of sisterhood
and first love in a small New England town. Jo March, the plucky heroine, decides
to forge an unusual path for a woman of her time.
Crispin: The Cross of Lead, Avi
This is an engaging and wonderfully written adventure of a poor orphaned boy
in medieval England. He is simply named "Asta's Son" and has only
one physical clue to his real identity: his dead mother's cross of lead inscribed
with his true name, Crispin. Why was his identity kept secret and who is he
that warrants the pursuit of soldiers for a crime he never committed? Crispin
flees his village for his life, and he encounters a juggler named Bear who becomes
his master, tutor, and protector. As Crispin journeys toward the truth of his
identity the plot twists and turns to carve out the strength of character he
must possess to save his life and that of Bear's. A great read!
I, Juan de Pareja , Elizabeth Berton de Trevino
This book offers a view into the life and art of the great Spanish painter Velasquez,
seen through the eyes of his slave.
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
In the future, books are the greatest evil, and it is the job of firemen to
burn them out of existence. But one day, a young fireman named Montag begins
to question this world of censorship and ultimately to fight against it.
The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury
Mars is colonized by Earth, and will the earthlings understand and protect what
they have found there?
The Sword of Shannara (Series), Terry Brooks
This rich fantasy series chronicles the adventures of elves, kings, sorcerers,
trolls, and other heroic and terrifying creatures.
Summerland, Michael Chabon
Creatures called ferishers care for a magical, perfect place called Summerland,
but when an enemy threatens this utopia, they must recruit a struggling Little
League player named Ethan Feld to lead their fight.
Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper, Harriet
Scott Chessman
This small book is an intimate account of Lydia and Mary Cassatt during their
stay in Paris in the late 1870’s early 1880’s. Lydia and Mary are
sisters, one model and one artist, one sick and one ambitious. This story is
generously illustrated with color plates of Cassatt’s portraits of her
sister and portrays the intense hold they had on one another.
Over Sea, Under Stone, Susan Cooper
The first installment in the beautifully told The Dark is Rising fantasy series,
in which three siblings spending the summer in Cornwall, on the English coast,
discover an ancient map that leads them to delve into the mystery of the Holy
Grail and to join the battle between the Light and the Dark forces.
The Chocolate War, Robert Cormier
Jerry Renault’s act of refusing to sell chocolate for a school fund-raiser
disturbs the universe as he and fellow students know it. Read this book to find
out how this defiant act sets in motion a war of minds and a fight for honor.
Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech
Walk Two Moons is the story of 13 year-old Salamanca’s journey from Ohio
to Idaho with her grandparents. Sal’s life unfolds as she recounts stories
of her friend Phoebe’s experiences to her grandparents along the way.
This is a story of questions, the most unthinkable one being “Why did
she leave?” (Sal’s mother), and if not answers, at least understanding
on the way to forgiveness.
Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton
An idea we would all love to see come true, the creation of a modern amusement
park populated by (very!) real dinosaurs, goes horribly wrong in this suspenseful
story about science used for the wrong ends.
Waiting for Dolphins, Carole Crowe
Molly resents her mother for wanting to sell their sailboat home that was so
dear to her newly deceased father, while also dealing with her own guilt feelings
over his death. The emotional storm she is battling within is paralleled by
the intensity of the hurricane building without. Human nature and physical nature
come together in a story about confronting one’s fears.
Catherine, Called Birdy, Karen Cushman
The time period is the Middle Ages, 13th century England. Fourteen year-old
Catherine’s father seeks to marry her off to a well-paying suitor, and
her mother has her hemming and mending to become an “accomplished”
lady. Catherine feels like a caged bird that yearns for independence and the
excitement of experiences outside of the home. In willful and entertainingly
clever ways, she contrives to sabotage her father’s attempts to “sell”
her to odious prospective husbands. Catherine’s determination to control
her own destiny can be likened to the dynamic of contemporary coming-of-age
novels.
The Midwife’s Apprentice, Karen Cushman
In this book, Brat, a 13 year old homeless girl in medieval England, becomes
an apprentice to a woman who delivers babies, but must grow in terms of her
own identity before she can become a midwife in her own right.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
A book of beloved short stories featuring the brilliant and eccentric Holmes
and his trusted companion Dr. Watson, who solve mysteries in 19th Century London
and beyond.
The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
A family curse haunts the Baskervilles, and at their country manor a wild hound
lurks and murders. Are these innocent victims, and what exactly are the origins
and motives of this hound of Hell?
Rebecca, Daphne DuMaurier
When a young woman marries the handsome and wealthy Maxim deWinter and arrives
at Manderley, his grand country estate, she is haunted by the presence of his
beautiful dead first wife, Rebecca. What secrets does this house hold, and can
she ever be rid of Rebecca’s memory?
Jim the Boy, Tony Earley
This novel traces the story of a young boy named Jim who grows up in a small
town in North Carolina during the Great Depression. Just as society struggles
to reach out of its dark period, Jim, under the tutelage of his caring uncles
and loving mother, reaches past his innocence to understand his place in the
world.
Life Lists for Teens: Tips, steps, hints and how-to’s
for growing up, getting along, learning, and having fun, Pamela Espeland
This book contains hundreds of lists as diverse as “7 Good Times—and
7 Bad Times —to Ask Your Parents for Something You Want” to “12
Tips for Making and Keeping Friends” that are pertinent to young adult
lives. There are lists of helpful toll-free numbers, essential vocabulary, and
lots of suggestions for teen survival. This is a great resource.
A Girl Named Disaster, Nancy Farmer
Nhamo, a girl faced with an unwanted arranged marriage to a man with three wives,
leaves for Zimbabwe to find her father.
Middle School: The Real Deal From Cafeteria Food to Combination
Locks, Julianna Farrell and Beth Mayall
For students just entering Middle School, this book answers a myriad of questions
ranging from “What Am I Going to Wear?” and “Who Do I Sit
with at Lunch?” to “How Do I Navigate My New Independence?”
and “How Do I Deal with My Teachers?” This is a valuable book for
entering sixth graders and for any Middle Schooler starting at a new school.
Zlata’s Diary, Zlata Filipovic
A young girl in the war torn former Yugoslavia recounts her experiences.
Seedfolks, Paul Fleischman
In thirteen character voices, each a small chapter, Fleischman tells the story
of how one community garden in a poor section of Cleveland takes root and sprouts
when one young Vietnamese girl plants lima beans in a vacant lot outside her
apartment house.
The Thief Lord, Cornelia Funke
Two runaway boys, facing being separated from each other by their cruel aunt
and uncle, end up in Venice, where they take shelter in an abandoned theater
under the protection of the masked and mysterious “Thief Lord.”
But will his true identity be revealed, and will a detective hired to find the
boys succeed?
When the Plague Strikes: The Black Death, Smallpox, AIDS, James
Cross Giblin
This book looks at these three terrible diseases, the human reactions to them,
and the ways they changed societies.
Pictures of Hollis Woods, Patricia Reilly Giff
Hollis Woods is a foster child who struggles to find her place in the world
by drawing. When asked to bring in a picture to first grade for the letter H,
Hollis drew a family for Happiness, and was reprimanded for not following directions.
She carries that family portrait in her backpack from one foster home to another
until her life begins to change.
Cheaper by the Dozen, Frank Gilbreth
The challenges and delights of being part of a family with twelve children are
detailed in this funny book.
The Princess Bride, William Goldman
Buttercup, the most beautiful girl in the world, is in love with a poor farm
hand but destined to marry the terrible Prince Humperdink. Or is she? A wild
tale of giants and duels, with lots of humor too.
Death Be Not Proud, John Gunther
A teenager comes to terms with his relationships and his life’s meaning
after he is diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor.
Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse
Out of the Dust is a novel written in verse. Told through the narrative voice
of fourteen year old Billie Joe, a gifted piano player, each poem is a dated
entry that chronicles her life between the winter of 1934 and the winter of
1935. As the Oklahoma land dries up and farms foreclose, everyone heads west.
Billie Joe and her family stay behind, but after a horrible accident changes
Billie Joe's life forever, she is forced to find a way through the dust of the
landscape of her heart to forgiveness and healing.
Goodbye, Mr. Chips, James Hilton
A brief and sweetly comic novel about a Latin teacher at a public school (what
we would call an independent school) in England from the late 1800s through
World War I.
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton
Teenagers struggle with their desire for belonging while facing the risks of
joining a gang.
No Promises in the Wind, Irene Hunt
Fifteen year old Josh and his younger brother Joey leave their Chicago home
in 1932 when the strains of unemployment and hunger stretch their family to
the breaking point. They hit the rails and head off for fame and fortune hoping
to peddle Josh's considerable musical talent, but encounter considerable struggles
and roadblocks to their dreams along the way.
Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution, Ji-Li Jang
A memoir of a 13 year old girl in Mao’s China.
The Perfect Storm, Sebastian Junger
Would it surprise you to learn that fishing is the most dangerous profession
in America today? Read this true story, in which a group of Massachusetts men
aboard a commercial fishing vessel are caught out in the Atlantic in what many
meteorologists called “the storm of the century.” If you are into
weather phenomena and life on the open seas, this is an action-packed, engrossing
book that you will love.
Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes
Charlie Gordon, a mentally retarded adult, undergoes an experimental brain operation
to reverse his mental disability. Flowers for Algernon is the journal of Charlie’s
emotional and ironic drama that will tug at your heartstrings.
A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver, E.L. Konigsburg
This book chronicles the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, the remarkable female
sovereign in 12th century Medieval Europe. It depicts her marriages to King
Louis VII of France and King Henry II of England, her lively court of poets
and troubadours (inspiring the romantic legends of King Arthur and the concept
of courtly love), and the assertion of her strong will to influence her times.
Eleanor’s intelligence, nobility, courage, creativity, and passion make
for the liveliest of characters.
The Girls, Amy Golden Koss
With five different narrators, this book looks at how being rejected by a popular
clique affects one girl, who ultimately comes through the experience with a
better sense of herself.
Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer
This is a riveting first-hand account of the tragic climb up Mt. Everest in
1996 that resulted in eight deaths by the end of the summit day of the expedition.
Krakauer balances his account of this ill-fated adventure with the historical
perspective of other attempts to climb Everest.
Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer
When his body is discovered inside the shell of an old bus in the Alaskan wilderness,
the mystery of Chris McCandless comes to light. Why would a young man, a former
Emory student, reject life as we know it to “live off the land”?
And why did his journey go so terribly wrong? This true story is well written
and fascinating.
Dave at Night, Gail Carson Levine
Eleven year-old Dave Caros is sent by his stepmother to the Hebrew Home for
Boys just after his beloved father unexpectedly dies. Feeling his spirit crushed
by the cold surroundings and mean adult guardians at the “Hell Hole for
Brats,” Dave sneaks out at night to discover the world of the Harlem Renaissance,
1920’s New York. In his expeditions, Dave enters into special friendships
and comes to feel a sense of belonging. The energy of the writers, musicians
and artists in the burgeoning cultural movement enable Dave to recognize his
own potential as an artist. His resilience and determination afford readers
the confidence that Dave will grow up to realize this potential.
The Call of the Wild, Jack London
The unusual hero of this novel is a brave sled dog called Buck, who escapes
his cruel owner to explore freedom in the wilds of Alaska.
A Night to Remember, Walter Lord
A detailed account of the noble and less than noble aspects of human nature
in the face of the “unsinkable” Titanic’s tragic collision
with an iceberg. This novel brings to the fore the concept of social consciousness
and the elemental human instinct for self-preservation.
Gathering Blue, Lois Lowry
If you loved The Giver, you must read Gathering Blue! In this story Lowry explores
the importance of creativity and the role of the arts in society through the
lives of three young protagonists, each with a special talent important to the
Council of Elders.
The Giver, Lois Lowry
This is a futuristic novel that calls attention to the role of memory as the
keeper of a society’s past and future and twelve-year-old Jonas who has
been chosen for a special life assignment.
The Silent Boy, Lois Lowry
Katy Thatcher is a curious 10 year-old daughter of a doctor in a small New England
town at the beginning of the twentieth century. She lives in a big house with
her loving family and accompanies her father on his house calls to the people
of the community. Katy’s innocence allows her to befriend Jacob Stolz,
“the silent boy” of the book’s title and the younger brother
of Peggy, the farm girl who does housework for the Thatchers. Thirteen year-old
Jacob is “touched in the head” and different from anyone Katy has
ever known, yet these matter little to Katy who is drawn to this gentle misunderstood
boy.
Saffy’s Angel, Hilary McKay
When she finds out she is adopted, Saffy desires to travel to Italy to search
for a treasured object from her childhood.
19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East, Naomi Shihab
Nye
A collection of poems by an Arab-American poet that deal with being an Arab-American
after the September 11 tragedy.
Hidden Evidence, David Owen
For all of you budding scientists and CSI lovers, this nonfiction book about
forensic science will keep you engrossed!
Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange, Elizabeth
Partridge
This biography of Dorothea Lange, the celebrated photographer and chronicler
of the Great Depression and the Japanese American internment of World War II,
is generously illustrated with photographs and the text is easily accessible.
Partridge’s account of Lange’s life brings to light her struggles
to balance career and family in a time when women were expected to conform to
societal pressures to put family first and foremost.
Innumeracy, John Allen Paulos
If you love math, this is a great choice for you. A manifesto against innumeracy
(the mathematical equivalent of illiteracy), this book emphasizes the dangers
of innumeracy in modern society and the huge benefit of being numerate (mathematically
literate).
Tituba of Salem Village, Ann Petry
This is a work of historical fiction about the Salem Witch trials and the group
of young girls who began the hunt.
The Chosen, Chaim Potok
This book traces a friendship between two boys from boyhood to adulthood. The
cultural and generational clashes they face within their Orthodox and Hasidic
communities provide insight into Judaism, family, and the meaning of friendship.
The Golden Compass (Series), Philip Pullman
Lyra, a girl who has never quite fit into her surroundings, finds herself in
possession of a strange, intriguing, and powerful tool. During the course of
her adventures, she becomes an expert at using it, and as a result finds herself
in many incredible situations, meeting interesting people and other creatures.
This is a great summer read: you won’t be able to put it down!
The Westing Game, Ellen Raskin
This is the story of 16 people who go to a house to hear the will of a man.
It turns out the will is a game to find a murderer! You are like the detective;
it’s almost like playing a game of “Clue.”
Snowball’s Chance, John Reed
This novel, written in response to 9/11 by a writer living in lower Manhattan,
parodies Orwell’s Animal Farm and takes a stab at capitalism and its follies.
In this animal farm, Reed ponders what might have happened had Snowball had
a chance to lead the farm animals after the revolution and suggests the different
kind of tyranny a capitalist society produces under the guise of living the
“American Dream.”
Esperanza Rising, Pam Muñoz Ryan
Tragedy forces Esperanza and her mother to flee a privileged life and their
beloved Abuelita in Mexico. Aided by former servants, they arrive in California
during the Depression to live in a camp for Mexican farm workers. Esperanza
must face a new and strange existence of hard labor and difficult circumstances,
things that have never been a part of her experience until now. When her mother
becomes ill, Esperanza's strength of spirit is really put to a test.
Touching the Void, Joe Simpson
This is a true story of two mountain climbers and close friends. When one falls
and is injured, the other has no choice but to cut the rope that connects them,
leaving his friend for dead in a deep crevasse. How he escapes, with massive
injuries, makes for an unbelievable story of human strength in the face of nature’s
obstacles.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith
Set in the slums of Brooklyn during the early 1900s, this is an impoverished
young girl’s coming of age story. Amidst her sufferings, Francie Nolan
reads voraciously and contemplates the dynamics of human nature and relationships.
Her strength of character and desire for truth and beauty drive Francie not
only to confront the odds and survive, but also to flourish.
The Pearl, John Steinbeck
Kino, a poor Mexican fisherman, finds a valuable pearl. Instead of bringing
good fortune, however, this pear causes great suffering for Kino, his wife,
and his young son.
Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
A classic tale of piracy and boyhood adventure. Embark with Young Jim Hawkins
on his treasure-hunting voyage to Treasure Island. Amidst brave and risky acts
among villainous and murderous pirates, Jim discovers not only a pirate’s
fortune, but also what it means to mature. Jim’s first person account
quickly involves readers in his sea-faring quest and journey as a person.
The Ramsey Scallop, Frances Temple
In 1299, a fourteen year old named Eleanor awaits the return of her betrothed
husband from the Crusades. Seeing both parties’ trepidation about the
marriage, Father Gregory sends the pair to Spain on a pilgrimage, and on this
exciting journey their relationship develops in a way neither of them expected.
The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkein
The wizard Gandalf and the hobbit Bilbo Baggins embark on a series of dangerous
and exciting adventures.
The Lord of the Rings (Series), J.R.R. Tolkein
Now it is Bilbo’s nephew, the courageous hobbit Frodo Baggins, who becomes
involved in the power struggles over The Ring and the ultimate destiny of Middle
Earth.
The Forestwife, Theresa Tomlinson
A young Mary (Maid Marian of Robin Hood legend fame) flees an arranged marriage
to become a healer and a rescuer in her own right. Full of details about medieval
times.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain
Experience life on the Mississippi River in the days before the Civil War.
Viking’s Dawn, Henry Treece
Young Harald leaves his Norse Viking home to join the crew of a sailing vessel.
After a shipwreck off the Irish coast, Harald must find his way home.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne
The cynical mysterious Captain Nemo takes his submarine, the Nautilus, into
the great blue deep.
Homecoming, Cynthia Voight
When Dicey’s mother leaves her and her siblings in a parking lot and disappears
from their lives, Dicey takes them on a journey to seek out the grandmother
they’ve never met.
The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells
An attack of the Martians in America, and will anyone even notice?
The Once and Future King, T.H. White
A young King Arthur pulls a sword from a stone and changes British history.
From the glories and curses of Camelot to the quest for the Holy Grail, the
Arthurian legends.
OTHER SUGGESTED TITLES:
Evil Under the Sun (and other mysteries by),
Agatha Christie
Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
The Road from Coorain, Jill Kerr Conway
The Door in the Wall: A Story of Medieval London, Marguerite De Angeli
Eva, Peter Dickinson
Summer of Fear, Lois Duncan
Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
The Life and Death of Crazy Horse, Russell Freedman
Inkheart, Cornelia Funke
The Endless Steppe, Esther Hautzig
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs
The Book of Eleanor, Pamela Kaufman
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, Judith Kerr
Gentlehands, M.E. Kerr
A Separate Peace, John Knowles
Inherit the Wind, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle
The Farthest Shore, Ursula LeGuin
One Fat Summer, Robert Lipsyte
The Apprentice, Pilar Molina Llorente
Death of the Dancing Footman (and other mysteries by), Ngaio Marsh
Leonardo Da Vinci, Richard McLanathan
Coming of Age in Mississippi, Ann Moody
The Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O’Dell
Man from the Other Side, Uri Orlov
An Island Like You: Stories of the Barrio, Judith Ortis Cofer
Eragon, Christopher Paolini
When my Name Was Keiko, Linda Park
Hatchet, Gary Paulson
Lyddie, Katherine Paterson
My Name is Asher Lev, Chaim Potok
The Upstairs Room, Johanna Reiss
Clover, Dori Sanders
A Series of Unfortunate Events (series), Lemony Snicket
The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Elizabeth George Spence
The Children’s Crusade, Bradley Steffens
Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne, David Starkey
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred Taylor
Galapagos, Kurt Vonnegut
The Invisible Man, H.G. Wells
The Time Machine, H.G. Wells
Poison in the Pen (and other mysteries by), Patricia Wentworth
Belle Prater’s Boy, Ruth White
The Pigman, Paul Zindel
FOR STUDENTS ENTERING GRADES 8 AND 9:
Catch Me if You Can, Frank Abagnale, Jr.
This is the autobiography of a witty and crafty con man, forger, and imposter,
passing himself off as a pilot, copilot, doctor, lawyer, and college sociology
professor, not to mention making over $2.5 million in forged checks. Not bad
for a guy who hadn’t even turned 21! Even if you saw the movie, you’ll
love the book!
Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom
When Albom learned that his beloved professor from Brandeis University was dying,
he returned to Massachusetts to spend as much time as he could learning from
this wise and loving man.
How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents, Julia
Alvarez
This book is a look into the life of four daughters who immigrate from the Domenican
Republic to America. It is a story about cultural identity, cultural clashes,
and the coming of age of these young women.
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson
Melinda Sordino enters ninth grade as an outcast because her peers think she
called the police to a summer party to bust the kids who were drinking. Melinda’s
reason remains her secret seems to have robbed her of her voice. An art assignment
and an unlikely friendship with a new girl, who has also been ostracized, help
Melinda to find her voice and speak the unthinkable secret inside her.
I am Fifteen - and I Don’t Want to Die,
Christine Arnothy
This is about a girl who’s living through World War II. She and her family
are trying to escape but they don’t know how. It’s a true story.
Emma, Jane Austen
This heroine loves to play matchmaker but can’t seem to find the right
love match for herself or her friends. Read this wonderful tale, which the film
Clueless was a contemporary interpretation of.
True to Form, Elizabeth Berg
Thirteen-year-old Katie spends the summer of 1961 working two jobs arranged
for her by her father: helping elderly Mr. Randolph care for his bed-ridden
wife and babysitting for the three Wexler boys, ages 6-8. As if that weren’t
bad enough, she is forced to join a Girl Scout troop her only friend Cynthia’s
clueless mother has formed. Throughout the summer Katie experiences the growing
pains of adolescence and struggles to remain true.
The Firebrand, Marion Zimmer Bradley
This novel by Bradley blends facts from archeology and the fiction of the Greek
Myths to retell the struggle between the Greeks and Trojans through the eyes
of Kassandra, sister of Paris.
The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley
A wonderful retelling of the King Arthur legends from the point of view of Morgane,
a priestess and the half-sister to the ill-fated king. Morgane tells of the
familiar love triangle, quests for power, and also the rise of Christianity
in England and its effect on the old way of life.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Ann Brashares
What could be more magical than one pair of second hand blue jeans from a thrift
store that fits perfectly four different teenage bodies? Not only do these pants
fit each of them to perfection, but their declared sisterhood of the pants bonds
the four girls together as they face their first summer apart. As the pants
travel among each of them in turns, the excitement and magic the girls anticipate
more often comes in a quieter mode. By summer's end the friends realize that
the traveling pants have helped each of them come to grips with some lost piece
of themselves.
A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson
A very funny and illuminated account of an almost but not even close thru-hike
on the AT (Appalachian Trail). A laugh and cry out loud experience.
Princess Diaries (series), Meg Cabot
Mia Thermopolis believed she led a normal teenage life, but she was definitely
wrong. Mia finds out on her sixteenth birthday that she is the rightful heir
to the Genovian throne. From then on her life is a battle with the public, boys,
crushes, friends, and her “Grandmere”, the queen of Genovia.
Girl with the Pearl Earring, Tracy Chevalier
This book imagines the origins of Vermeer’s mysterious and acclaimed painting
by the same title. In Delft, in the Netherlands, Griet is a young servant in
the household of the Vermeers. This story tells of Vermeer’s attraction
to the girl and the portrait he subsequently paints of her, and what becomes
of the girl who might have inspired this masterpiece.
The Woman in White, Wilkie Collins
A mysterious vision of a woman wearing white garments leads to a quest for truth
in Victorian London.
Whale Talk, Chris Crutcher
The outcasts of the Cutter High School swim team come to understand, support,
and help one another grow on bus rides to swim meets. Characters deal with racism
and intolerance in different forms, driven by what the protagonist considers
people “so down on themselves they need somebody to be better than.”
Tulipomania, Mike Dash
A brief and quirky history of a shocking period in the tulip trade in 17th C.
Holland, when people paid (and lost) fortunes buying tulip bulbs.
A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
This sprawling adventure story set in London and Paris against the backdrop
of the French Revolution is infused with heroism, love, treachery, and sacrifice.
In an exciting conclusion, a good man falsely accused faces death by the guillotine
The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
Wrongfully imprisoned in France by a romantic rival, a man plots an amazing
revenge.
The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas
“All for one and one for all” is the musketeers’ famous motto:
Come along for a thrilling, swashbuckling adventure tale.
Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison
In this American classic, a black man searches for visibility and identity in
a racist and alienating society.
Time and Again, Jack Finney
A man steps out of his Upper West Side apartment and into another century. This
book offers a glimpse into old New York.
Seek, Paul Fleischman
This extraordinary book is written as a radio play. All Rob, a high school senior,
has from his DJ father is a taped recording of his father's radio show and an
LP of sound effects his father left on his crib before leaving. Through the
collage of voices— his own, family's and friends'— and radio clips
that Rob reconstructs as autobiography for an English class assignment, he comes
to terms with the void he has tried to fill by sending out messages on the radio
waves to an absent father.
Spies, Michael Frayn
In England during WW II, two young boys suspect there is a German spy living
in the neighborhood. As they investigate, they discover layers of truth and
lies about real life in their cozy small-town life.
Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier
After years of fighting in the Civil War, Inman has become sick of the brutality
of war, and though seriously wounded, he deserts the army. He risks all to find
the woman he left behind in rural Cold Mountain, while she struggles to make
a life for herself after the death of her father.
Lord of the Flies, William Golding
When a group of young boys are stranded on an island without any adults, they
establish their own society, with its own rules and leaders. They, and you,
learn some harsh lessons about group dynamics and the desire for power.
The Quiet American, Graham Greene
This subtle spy tale takes place in Vietnam, and shows the kind of international
trouble caused by a well intentioned but ultimately naïve and arrogant
Americans.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,
Mark Haddon
This curious tale, told in words and pictures from the point of view of an autistic
15 year old, begins when Christopher finds the neighbor’s dog murdered
with a pitchfork. He decides to track down the murderer and discovers strange
and troubling truths about himself and his family.
The Teammates: A Portrait of Friendship, David
Halberstam
This intimate story of friendship among four great players from the 1940s Boston
Red Sox features exciting baseball lure and insights into the complicated lives
of pro ballplayers, both during and after their heydays.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Alex Haley and Malcolm X
This absorbing book traces the life of Malcolm X, one of the most influential
African-American leaders in U.S. history, along the way examining race relations,
politics, and the journey of this man’s life and rise to power.
The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett
Before you see this classic film, try reading about ace detective Sam Spade’s
sleuthing.
A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry
An African-American family has aspirations of upward mobility in the midst of
subtle racism and the conflicting desires of family members.
Thursday’s Child, Sonya Hartnett
In this strange and haunting novel set in Australia during the Depression, accounts
of the Flute family are recalled through Harper Flute's childhood memories of
her brother, Tin, Thursday's child. Tin reacts to the family hardships by "wandering"
through an underground world of tunnels he digs himself.
Plainsong, Kent Haruf
Haruf’s strong narrative voice portrays a cast of lonely people in a small
rural Colorado community: a troubled teen-aged girl, a teacher and his two sons
and the wife and mother who abandons them, as well as a couple of bachelor brother
farmers set in their ways. All of these unlikely characters eventually interconnect
and create the sense of “family” all of them lack.
A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking
Nonscientists who hunger to understand the secrets of the universe, this is
the book for you. Hawking will blow your mind with his lucid discussions of
the biggest questions about how the universe began and where is it heading.
My Old Man and the Sea: A Father and Son Sail
around Cape Horn, David and Daniel Hays
A father and son go around the tip of South America together in a 25-foot sailboat.
Told alternately from the point of view of father and son, this book is both
a real-life sea adventure and a warm look into father-son relationships.
A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway recounts his colorful, Bohemian life as a young, struggling writer
in 1920’s Paris.
Witness, Karen Hesse
Another novel in verse by Hesse, Witness is told in five acts, like a play,
through the voices of eleven inhabitants of a small Vermont town in 1924. Collectively,
they tell the story of how fear and prejudice invite the Ku Klux Klan to take
up residence in their town. No one anticipates the far-reaching implications
of this presence, especially Lenora Sutter, an African-American girl and Esther
Hirsh, a six-year-old Jewish girl.
Seabiscuit, Laura Hillenbrand
During the Depression, an underdog horse becomes a champion against great odds,
inspiring and uniting the fates of three men on the verge of losing hope in
life. The book offers a close look at America at that time and why Seabiscuit
became the most famous athlete of his day.
Indigo and Aquamarine, Alice Hoffman
Indigo and Aquamarine are two modern fairytales with water themes. These are
short reads, like all good fairytales, that will hold your interest because
the characters are believable.
Jack, A.M. Homes
What does it mean to have a “normal” family? Fifteen year old Jack
navigates his way through this question when he is told that his father, who
left him and his mother, is gay.
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
In Huxley’s vision of the future, love is punishable and drugs control
emotions. The story centers on one individual’s struggle against this
new world order.
The Man Who Knew Infinity, Robert Kanigel
Biography of self-taught Indian mathematician Ramanujan, who independently discovered
some of the deepest theories of Number Theory.
Deliver Us from Evie, M.E. Kerr
In this novel, Parr Burman is confronted with many challenges when his older
sister falls in love with another teenage girl in their small Missouri town.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey
In this novel about individualism seeking to upset the establishment, psychiatric
hospital patient Randle McMurphy revolts against the tyrannical Nurse Ratched.
In the throes of their fierce battle of wills and power struggle, notions of
sanity and normalcy are brought to the fore and contemplated.
The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd
This is a novel that reverberates for a long time after reading. The book is
all about one young girl's discovery of the transcendence and power of love.
Throughout the book bee wisdom is dealt out in measured doses like medicine
for the soul:
"Don't swat. Don't even think about swatting. If you feel angry, whistle. Anger agitates, while whistling melts a bee's temper. Act like you know what you're doing, even if you don't. Above all, send the bees love. Every little thing wants to be loved." (92)
A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland,
Indiana, Haven Kimmel
Kimmel’s sweet and goofy memoir about growing up in a tiny town in the
late 60s and 70s features a spunky narrator and her odd but likable family.
Cod, Mark Kurlansky
This book delves into the rich history of the codfish and its surprising importance
in European and American history. The relationship between international trade,
and specifically the fishing industry, on the politics and culture of various
nations is explored, as is the environmental crisis currently facing fishermen
and fish eaters everywhere.
Endurance, Alfred Lansing
In 1915, while bound for Antarctica, British explorer Ernest Shackleton and
his crew are trapped in ice and crushed. How they survive is one of the great
(true) adventure tales of all time. Recently revised with maps and illustrations
added, this book is the definitive account of Shackleton’s dramatic journey.
Isaac’s Storm, Erik Larsen
Isaac Cline is a weatherman assigned to Galveston, Texas when the whole idea
of predicting weather is new and viewed with suspicion by most Americans. Then
one September day in 1900 a major hurricane hits the city by surprise in what
ends up being the largest natural disaster, with the largest loss of life, in
American history.
Interpreter of Maladies, Jhumpa Lahiri
This beautiful collection of short stories, the author’s debut, won the
Pulitzer Prize. The stories focus on the lives of Indian-Americans at home and
abroad, often dealing with themes such as the challenges of new marriage or
.
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch
of the West, Gregory Maguire
Macguire has the nerve to retell the story of The Wizard of Oz from the point
of view of Elphaba (a.k.a., “the Wicked Witch of the West) in this wacky
and surprising novel. It turns out she’s not so wicked, and the story
is more complicated than Dorothy could ever know.
Brown Girl, Brownstones, Paule Marshall
Encircled by racism, poverty, and the conflicting dreams of her mother and father,
a young Brooklyn woman seeks her own identity during the Depression and the
World War II era.
Life of Pi, Yann Martel
When a ship carrying his family of zookeepers to America sinks in the middle
of the ocean, a boy and a tiger remain together on a lifeboat. Can the boy tame
him and survive, and what lessons about life will he learn?
Kaffir Boy, Mark Mathabane
This is the memoir of a young black boy growing up under the apartheid system
in South Africa. It is explicit in its violence, but paints a vivid picture
of what life was like for him during this dark moment in history, offering a
window into a world you may not be familiar with.
After the Rain, Norma Fox Mazer
Rachel develops a special relationship with her dying grandfather and in this
process gains a lot of knowledge about herself and her family.
The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute
to His White Mother, James McBride
As strange as it sounds, McBride and his siblings grew up believing that their
mother was an African-American. It wasn’t until adulthood that he learned
that his mother had been raised in an orthodox Jewish home. This is the fascinating
story of McBride’s childhood and the secrets his mother kept from him.
Missing Girls, Lois Metzger
Feeling like she is missing from herself after her mother dies, eighth grader
Carrie begins an important friendship.
Bringing Down the House, Ben Mezrich
Six M.I.T. students devise a mathematical system to win big in the Las Vegas
casinos.
Monster, Walter Dean Myers
In the unusual form of a screenplay, a sixteen-year-old boy on trial as a murder
accomplice records his experiences in court and in prison.
The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien
This beautiful book (another Pulitzer Prize recipient) is widely considered
to be the seminal fictional work about the Vietnam War. O’Brien, a Vietnam
veteran, shares an unflinchingly honest and detailed vision of what life was
like for the American soldiers both during and after the war, what they “carried”
with them there and for years afterwards.
1984, George Orwell
In a terrifying future society where love is forbidden and everyone lives under
the watchful gaze of Big Brother, two people fall in love and try to escape
the bonds of this oppressive world.
Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton
Very rich and full of biblical metaphors, this book about South Africa during
apartheid is marked by its prominent themes of injustice and frustration in
the face of societal restrictions and a great attention to language.
Nine Stories, J.D. Salinger
If you liked reading The Catcher in the Rye in your seventh grade English class,
you should try Salinger’s collection of short stories, full of other characters
struggling with feelings of alienation.
Gaudy Night, Dorothy Sayers
In the English countryside, an Oxford professor investigates a series of poison
pen letters – and possible murders. If you like Christie, this is your
cup of tea!
Odd Girl Out, Rachel Simmons
Rachel Simmons came to speak to the Middle School girls at H.M. this year, and
she was a huge hit. This is her first book, which examines the ways girls can
be mean to each other, even their friends, how society reinforces these behaviors,
and how young girls can take steps to stop the cycle of teasing and bullying
among girls. It is touching and funny, full of real-life stories (the author
interviewed girls from all over the country).
The Code Book, Simon Singh
A history of code breaking and making, with some math, but not too much.
Very well written and exciting.
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Alexander
McCall Smith
As cozy as an Agatha Christie mystery but set in modern-day Botswana, this novel
tells the story of Precious Ramotswe, a large middle-aged African woman who
sets up a private detective agency. Though completely untrained, she proves
herself to be smart and resourceful as well as kind and loveable.
Report from Engine Co. 82, Dennis Smith
An account of a firefighter’s sojourn in the South Bronx firehouse answering
the thousands of calls yearly on Engine 82. This book portrays the commitment
and brotherhood within the fire department on and off of the job.
Kim: Empty Inside, The Diary of an Anonymous
Teenager, Edited by Beatrice Sparks, Ph.D.
Kim feels lonely, isolated, and unimportant, like she is “plodding through
life in black and white while everyone else is joyously dancing around in garish
multicolors.” In her struggle to shine as a gymnast, Kim makes poor choices
that lead to an eating disorder. She must allow herself to accept that she doesn't
have to be perfect, and use this acceptance to take back her life.
Maus and Maus II, Art Spiegelman
These remarkable comic books are set in the Jewish ghetto during the Nazis’
rise to power. Spiegelman has been justly acclaimed for creating a poignant,
at times humorous, and often heartbreaking story using this unexpected medium.
Stargirl, Jack Spinnelli
This is a wonderful book about the magic possessed by a precious few who see
the world differently and what happens when the rest of the world tries to make
a person conform to popular opinion.
Travels with Charley In Search of America, John
Steinbeck
Steinbeck set out in 1960 to discover America—a Whitmanesque calling to
“Hear America Singing”—in his custom built trailer-topped
pick up truck named Rocinante and accompanied by his French poodle, Charley.
Travels with Charley is an account of his road trip across America, keeping
to the back roads and rubbing shoulders with the sights, sounds, and people
along the way.
The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan
Four Chinese-American girls living in San Francisco reflect on their family
experiences. These stories are interwoven with their mothers’ tales of
coming of age back in China.
The Mosquito Coast, Paul Theroux
Fourteen-year-old Charlie Fox narrates this chilling adventure story. His father,
who may be a genius or a madman, decides to take the family away from modern
ills to live off the land in the jungles of Central America.
Walden, Henry David Thoreau
In this American Transcendentalist classic, Thoreau encourages readers to “transcend”
the surface to take a deeper look at life. Do all-consuming careers and the
relentless quest to acquire possessions cause us to miss out on the wonders
of the spirit and Nature? Thoreau aims for readers to embrace simplicity while
working through the question, “How does one form, live, and sustain a
fulfilling life?”
Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut
A quirky, brilliant fantasy about time travel, aliens, and human frailty after
the bombing of Dresden in World War II.
Girl in Hyacinth Blue, Susan Vreeland
This is a fictional account of a Vermeer painting and its history (told backwards)
as it falls into the possession of various owners. The stories reveal the power
of the painting to illuminate the human need for beauty.
The Bridge at San Luis Rey, Thornton Wilder
In the colonial period in South America, a rope bridge high above a river gives
way, killing a number of people. The book looks back at their lives leading
up to that day.
Make Lemonade, Virginia Euwer Wolff
The adage, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” is brought
to life in this novel about two inner-city teenage girls trying to better their
lives.
Black Boy, Richard Wright
This novel is author Richard Wright’s portrayal of growing up in the rural
South when the Jim Crow laws existed. In the face of racism and its alienating
effects, Wright aspired to establish his identity as a writer.
Native Son, Richard Wright
A young black man by the name of Bigger Thomas accidentally kills a young white
woman in 1930’s Chicago. Frustrations of racism and poverty, and proscribed
opportunities for a black man at this time, all inform Bigger Thomas’s
character and actions.
The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe
This is a big, fat macho look behind the hype and headlines at the pilots and
astronauts involved in the first American manned space flights, written with
Tom Wolfe’s jazzy prose.
Kitchen, Banana Yoshimoto
This odd, little book was a huge hit in Japan. It tells two stories of love
and loss in modern-day Tokyo.
OTHER SUGGESTED TITLES:
The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende
Bless Me, Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya
The Druid’s Gift, Margaret Anderson
Manchild in the Promised Land, Claude Brown
My Antonia, Willa Cather
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Michael Chabon
In Patagonia, Bruce Chatwin
Driver’s Ed, Caroline Cooney
A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
Like Water for Chocolate, Laura Esquivel
The Wives of Henry VIII, Antonia Fraser
Season on the Brink, John Feinstein
A Lesson Before Dying, Ernest Gaines
A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway
The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway
Quest for a Maid, Frances Mary Hendry
Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert A. Heinlein
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
Native Speaker, Chang-Rae Lee
24 Hours, Margaret Mahy
West with the Night, Beryl Markham
The Member of the Wedding, Carson McCullers
The Crucible, Arthur Miller
Monkeys, Susan Minot
In the Heart of the Sea, Nathaniel Philbrick
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig
Alive, Piers Paul Reed
Whom the Gods Love (and other mysteries by), Kate Ross
When I Was Puerto Rican, Esmeralda Santiago
Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser
Schott’s Original Food and Drink Miscellany, Ben Schott
Schott’s Original Miscellany, Ben Schott
Living up the Street, Gary Soto
In the Shadow of No Towers, Art Spiegelman
The Bonesetter’s Daughter, Amy Tan
The Kitchen God’s Wife, Amy Tan
Trump: The Art of the Deal, Donald Trump
So Far from the Bamboo Grove, Yoko Watkins
The Piano Lesson, August Wilson