Cyrus Peirce Middle School 2007 Summer Reading Packet and ...

Cyrus Peirce Middle School 2007 Summer ReadingPacket and ProjectsGrades 6-8Summer is a time of relaxation, family, and friends, of backyard BBQ’sand days at the beach. Summer is also a great time to sit down with agood book and quietly reflect upon life and imagine…Each year the English teachers at the Cyrus Peirce Middle School, theNantucket Atheneum, and the Friends of Nantucket Public Schoolscollaborate to bring our students the best possible summer readingbook choices. Our novel choices cover all of the major writing genresand come from a diverse group of writers. We feel that most studentswill find books with which they can connect and enjoy. We stronglyencourage students to challenge themselves, and recommend thatparents get involved and guide their children in making good choices.The projects we assign are geared towards our students’ specific gradelevels. Please see the following pages of the packet for moreinformation about each grade’s assignments.All students are required to read two new books this summer andcomplete the assigned projects for their grade level. Students shouldnot complete projects on books they have read previous to this June,with the exception of Chasing Vermeer (8 th grade). Projects should bebrought in the first day of school. The projects will be the basis of ourdiscussions, create unique writing opportunities, and help us to get toknow each student individually. It is very important for all students tocomplete their summer reading projects and start the year offpositively.All books should be returned to the Nantucket Atheneum by the endof the summer, with the exception of Chasing Vermeer, the eighthgrade central novel.(See 8 th grade assignment page) Most of thesebooks will be made available to students throughout the year oncethey have been collected from the library.We want to thank all of the people involved that make summerreading possible and enjoyable for our students, including parents.We also want to thank our students as they continue to commit

themselves to being life-long learners- individuals who never stopquestioning the world through language and imagination…Summer Reading Assignments for Incoming 6 th GradersAssignment #1: Book NotesChoose one book from the combined middle school list. Read and enjoy thebook. After you finish the book, identify the title, author, main characters, setting,and write a short summary of the novel. The form below will help you organizethis information. Please bring this with you on the first day of school. It can beon a separate piece of paper.Title:Author:Genre-book type :___________________(example: mystery, historical fiction,fantasy etc...)Who (main characters):When (time period of the story):Where (setting of the story):______What (short summary of the story):______Assignment 2: Friendly LetterChoose another book from the combined middle school list and write a friendlyletter to Ms. Perkins. Your friendly letter will be three paragraphs long andcontain the following:

In paragraph 1, tell us about you. What’s your name? Who was your teacherlast year? Include a few facts about yourself and the date you completed thisbook.In paragraph 2, tell us about the book you read. What was the title and whowas the author? Include the main characters, the setting of the story, and tell whatthe book was mostly about.In paragraph 3, rate the book on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highestrecommendation. Then, conclude by writing one sentence that explains why youwould or would not recommend this book to your friends.Summer Reading Assignments for Incoming 7th GradersWelcome, new Seventh Grader!You are expected to read at least two books from the enclosed list over thesummer vacation. For assignment #1 , you are invited to submit a projectduring the first week of school in September. The project may be:Assignment #1: ProjectA posterA board gameA puppet, or two or threeA scene written as a playA series of five well-executed illustrations, with appropriate captionsA sculptureA dioramaA musical compositionA danceA website, to promote your bookA book reviewA newspaper, magazine, etc.A travel brochureYour own idea???You may choose your first book from the collection at the Atheneum. When youfinish your first book, return it to the library, and choose your second one.For assignment #2, you will need to pick up a standard composition journalfrom the local bookstore or pharmacy. In this journal, you will keep track of thethings listed below for each chapter of your book. This journal will need to bebrought to the first day of school and will be discussed in literature circles. Beprepared to talk about both your summer reading choices when you return toschool in September.Assignment #2: Book LogFor each chapter:

1.) List and describe the characters involved.2.) Describe the setting. (time and place)3.) Describe the conflict (problem), if any. If the conflict is resolved (solved),explain how.4.) List in bullet form the main events of the chapter.Enjoy!Mrs. LombardiSummer Reading Assignments for Incoming 8th GradersThe eighth grade team of teachers requires and encourages all incomingstudents to have fun by reading over the summer. We are asking students to readChasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett as the required reading for all students andcomplete a book review focusing on the basic elements of fiction. In addition,students will select another novel from the combined middle school list. Eighthgraders should try to find a secondary novel that is both interesting andchallenging.Students should pick up the middle school summer reading packet andtheir two books from the Nantucket Atheneum. Chasing Vermeer should bebrought to school on the first day, as we will engage in classroom discussion andanalysis. Students should return their “Other Novel” choice to the Atheneum bythe end of the summer. Lost or severely damaged books will cost a minimum of$5.00.Chasing Vermeer: Assignment #1All students must read the novel and complete a book review. See theattached pages for a book review example and how to write one. (These pageswere taken out of The Write Source 2000) A book review is not just a summaryof a novel, but a critique; you must analyze and give a well supported opinionabout it. Your review must include the basic plot, major characters and a majortheme from the novel. It is perfectly acceptable if you did not enjoy the novel;just be sure to cite evidence in your review as to why. This review should be aminimum of one page typed, double spaced.*Don’t give away the ending of the novel; only hint at what happens in the end.*Special Note: We have added The Wright Three, the sequel to Chasing Vermeer,for those of you who enjoyed the first novel. We have also added Girl with aPearl Earring and Girl in Hyacinth Blue for those students who feel they want tochallenge themselves to learn more about the art and ideas found in ChasingVermeer. It is a suggestion, not a requirement, that those students hoping to takehonors English in high school should read one of these two more challengingnovels as their “Other Novel”.Other Novel: Assignment #2All students must complete a persuasive poster project for their secondnovel. The purpose of this poster is to persuade other students to want to readyour novel. The poster should be no smaller than 18” x 24” inches and shouldbe on sturdy, colorful paper. The following things should be on the poster and

e written or drawn out neatly so that they can be read from a distance (they willbe presented by you to your class): Title of the novel Name of the Author Characters (main and secondary) found in the novel Plot Summary- including the main conflict, the climax of the story, and theresolution to the conflict. Setting of the novel Theme(s) of the novelNote: If you are unsure of what characters, plot, setting, or theme are please seethe book review handout from the Write Source 2000 on the following pages forhelp.C.P.S. Middle School Combined Summer Reading List 2006(All annotations are adopted/adapted from: amazon.com, barnesaandnoble.com, scholastic.com)FictionA Girl Named Disaster by: Nancy FarmerWhile fleeing from Mozambique to Zimbabwe to escape an unwanted marriage, Nhamo,an eleven-year-old Shona girl, struggles to escape drowning and starvation and in sodoing comes close to the luminous world of the African spirits.Among the Hidden by: Margaret Peterson HaddixLuke has never been to school. He's never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend'shouse for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend. Luke is one of the shadowchildren, a third child forbidden by the Population Police.Aquamarine by: Alice HoffmanTwelve year-old best friends Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer togetherwhen they discover something at the bottom of the murky pool at the Capri Beach Club.There, among the seaweed and jellyfish that the summer storm has blown in from theocean, there is a mysterious and beautiful creature with a sharp tongue and a brokenheart a mermaid named Aquamarine.Brian's Hunt by: Gary PaulsenThis story takes place two years after Brian has been stranded in the Canadian wilderness.He befriends a wounded dog from a Cree camp, then heads toward the camp where theresidents have experienced a savage bear attack. Filled with practical information aboutsurviving in the wilderness.Call It Courage by: Armstrong SperryEver since his mother was killed in a hurricane, Mafatu, the son of the Great Chief of thepeople of Hikueru, an island in the southern Pacific Ocean, has feared that Moana, theSea God, would kill him, too. Tired of being called a coward and saddened by the shamehe has brought his father, 12-year-old Mafatu decides to face and conquer Moana on hisown.Danger on Midnight River by: Gary PaulsonWhen his camp van crashes into a raging river, Daniel Martin is plunged into a frighteningposition. Suddenly the campmates who call him "dork breath" and "retard" because he is aslow learner are depending in him for survival. Daniel could save himself. Or riskeverything to try to rescue the bullies too. Night is approaching, and desolate mountains

surround them. Even if the boys do make it to shore, their dangerous ordeal is justbeginning.Durango Street by: Frank BonhamWhen Rufus Henry gets out of work camp for Grand Theft Auto, he has only one place togo— back to Durango Street. Almost right away, he gets on the wrong side of theGassers, has to join the rival Moors— and starts running for his life. Years ahead of itstime, Durango Street, like The Outsiders, shows that gang violence is, sadly, nothingnew— and nothing glamorous.Eagle Blue by: Michael D’OrsoEight miles above the Arctic Circle, there's a village with no roads leading to it, but a highschool basketball tradition that lights up winter's darkness and a team of native Alaskanboys who know "no quit." D'Orso (coauthor of Like No Other Time with Tom Daschle)follows the Fort Yukon Eagles through their 2005 season to the state championship,shifting between a mesmerizing narrative and the thoughts of the players, their coach andtheir fans. What emerges is more than a sports story; it's a striking portrait of a communityconsisting of a traditional culture bombarded with modernity, where alcoholism, domesticviolence and school dropout rates run wild.El Dorado Series by: Lloyd Alexander (you may read any one of the five books)The second in the five-book series, The El Dorado Adventure continues the excitingexperiences of Miss Vesper Holly, daughter of deceased anthropologist BenjaminRittenhouse Holly. Narrated by Vesper's guardian Brinnie, the plot involves Vesper andBrinnie's trip to El Dorado, where the two encounter Dr. Helvitius, their adversary in TheIllyrian Adventure. As in the previous book, Vesper must foil the schemes of Helvitius,who now plans to exploit the Chirican Indians by taking their land and destroying theirheritage.Ella Minnow Pea by: Mark DunnElla Minnow Pea is delightfully clever from start to finish. It's set on Nollop, a fictionalisland off the coast of South Carolina named for its long-dead founder, Nevin Nollop, the"genius" who came up with "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog." A hugecenotaph of Nollop's sentence stands over the town square-and one day, the "z" falls tothe ground. Nollop's elected-for-life Council interprets this as a missive from beyond thegrave, "that the letter `Z' should be utterly excised-fully extirpated-absolutely heave-ho'edfrom our communal vocabulary!" Other letters soon follow, and the novel becomesprogressively lipogrammatic (a "lipogram" being writing in which one or more letters areforbidden), told exclusively in the form of letters from one citizen to another as theystruggle to adapt (a third offense means banishment). Not even the discovery that the glueholding the letters up is calcifying sways the zealots on the Council (perhaps Nollopintended its deterioration). It's decided that only the construction of another sentence thatuses every alphabet letter in only 32 graphemes could discredit Nollop's "divine" word.Dunn plays his setup to the hilt, and the result is perfect for teens fond of wicked wit,wordplay, and stories that use the absurd to get at the serious.Esperanza Rising by: Pam Munoz RyanWhen Esperanza and Mama are forced to flee to the bountiful region of Aguascalientes,Mexico, to a Mexican farm labor camp in California, they must adjust to a life withoutfancy dresses and servants they were accustomed to on Rancho de las Rosas. Now theymust confront the challenges of hard work, acceptance by their own people, andeconomic difficulties brought on by the Great Depression. When Mama falls ill and astrike for better working conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperanza must

elinquish her hold on the past and learn to embrace a future ripe with the riches offamily and community.Everything on a Waffle by: Polly HorvarthEleven-year-old Primrose living in a small fishing village in British Columbia recounts herexperiences and all that she learns about human nature and the unpredictability of life inthe months after her parents are lost at sea.Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by: Ann BrasharesIn their latest episode, Bridget goes to Turkey on an archaeological excavation and Lenatakes a painting class in Providence. Tibby stays in New York to take classes, and Carmenattends a theater festival in Vermont to work as backstage crew. The themes are familiar,but fans who already identify with the characters will want to read more about their latestexploits. The pants pay a more prominent role than they did in the third book and asignificant event takes place as each teen receives them.Girl with a Pearl Earring by: Tracey ChevalierWith precisely 35 canvases to his credit, the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer representsone of the great enigmas of 17th-century art. The meager facts of his biography have beengleaned from a handful of legal documents. Yet Vermeer's extraordinary paintings ofdomestic life, with their subtle play of light and texture, have come to define the Dutchgolden age. His portrait of the anonymous Girl with a Pearl Earring has exerted aparticular fascination for centuries--and it is this magnetic painting that lies at the heart ofTracy Chevalier's second novel of the same title.Girl in Hyacinth Blue by: Susan VreelandThere are only 35 known Vermeers extant in the world today. In Girl in Hyacinth Blue,Susan Vreeland posits the existence of a 36th. The story begins at a private boys' academyin Pennsylvania where, in the wake of a faculty member's unexpected death, math teacherCornelius Engelbrecht makes a surprising revelation to one of his colleagues. He has, heclaims, an authentic Vermeer painting, "a most extraordinary painting in which a younggirl wearing a short blue smock over a rust-colored skirt sat in profile at a table by anopen window." His colleague, an art teacher, is skeptical and though the technique andsubject matter are persuasively Vermeer-like, Engelbrecht can offer no hard evidence--noappraisal, no papers--to support his claim. He says only that his father, "who always had aquick eye for fine art, picked it up, let us say, at an advantageous moment."Girls in Pants: by Ann BrasharesBest buds Tibby, Carmen, Lena and Bridget are back with their magical pair of sharedjeans in Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood. Each summer brings new anddifficult challenges, as the perennially separated friends discover afresh this last seasonbefore college. Tibby struggles with the idea of close friend Brian becoming herboyfriend, and their fragile relationship is soon tested by a tragedy in her immediatefamily. Carmen doesn’t know how to react when she finds out that her middle-aged momis pregnant, and Bridget is unpleasantly surprised to be reunited with the boy who brokeher heart two summers ago. Finally, Lena, still coming to terms with the loss of her firstlove, tries to convince her strict father that art school is a better career path than Greekrestaurant management. But through every crisis, each girl is assured of the love andsupport of the created sisterhood when she pulls on the denim armor of the cherished,and by now, a bit fragrant ("Rule # 1. You must never wash the Pants.") Traveling Pants.Godless by: Pete HautmanJason is a smart 15-year-old, an agnostic-leaning-toward-atheism, who resists following inthe footsteps of his devoutly Catholic father. Getting clocked under the water tower by the

nasty and unpredictable Henry leads Jason and his friend Shin to combine their talents toposit a new religion. "Chutengodianism" sanctifies water, the source of all life, asmanifested by the Ten-Legged God, aka that same million-gallon water tower. Creatingthe creed on the fly, Jason soon gathers a handful of acolytes, including his formernemesis.Heat by: Mike LupicaMichael Arroyo has a dream: to pitch in the Little League World Series. His fast ball has"heat" that could get him and his team, the Clippers, there. Michael also has a secret thatcould keep him from even playing baseball. "Heat" is a novel for everyone who's ever hada dream, for baseball fans and players, and for those who just love a good story with alikeable main character and interesting, quirky supporting characters.Homecoming by: Cynthia Voigt"IT'S STILL TRUE." That's the first thing James Tillerman says to his sister Dicey everymorning. It's still true that their mother has abandoned the four Tillerman childrensomewhere in the middle of Connecticut. It's still true they have to find their way,somehow, to Great-aunt Cilla's house in Bridgeport, which may be their only hope ofstaying together as a family.But when they get to Bridgeport, they learn that Great-aunt Cilla has died, and the homethey find with her daughter, Eunice, isn't the permanent haven they've been searching for.So their journey continues to its unexpected conclusion -- and some surprising discoveriesabout their history, and their future.Hoops by: Walter Dean MyersA teenage basketball player from Harlem is befriended by a former professional playerwho, after being forced to quit because of a point shaving scandal, hopes to prevent otheryoung athletes from repeating his mistake.Hoot by: Carl HiaasenUnfortunately, Roy's first acquaintance in Florida is Dana Matherson, a well-known bully.Then again, if Dana hadn't been sinking his thumbs into Roy's temples and mashing hisface against the school-bus window, Roy might never have spotted the running boy. Andthe running boy is intriguing: he was running away from the school bus, carried no booksand -- here's the odd part -- wore no shoes. Sensing a mystery, Roy sets himself on theboy's trail. The chase introduces him to potty-trained alligators, a fake-fart champion,some burrowing owls, a renegade eco-avenger, and several extremely poisonous snakeswith unnaturally sparkling tails. Roy has most definitely arrived in Carl Hiaasen's Florida.Indigo by: Alice Hoffman13 year-old Martha Glimmer is convinced this is the worst time of her life. Her motherdied, she grew 7 inches, and she has to put up with a woman who plys Martha's lonelyfather with food and opinions about how 13 year-old girls should behave. Martha longs toleave Oak Grove and travel. Martha's best friend Trevor and his brother Eli also want toleave Oak Grove. Nicknamed Trout and Eel because of the thin webbing between theirfingers and toes, they long to see the ocean. Together, Martha, Trout, and Eel are going tofind the true meaning of home -- in very unexpected places.Kidnapped by: Robert Louis StevensonAfter being kidnapped by his villainous uncle, sixteen-year-old David Balfour escapes andbecomes involved in the struggle of the Scottish highlanders against English rule.King of Shadows by: Susan Cooper

Orphan Nat Field is chosen as part of an American theater group to perform at the newGlobe Theatre in London. Nat's big role will be Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream.However, his debut is pushed 400 years into the past when he is put to bed with a highfever and wakes up in Elizabethan England. Forced to adapt or be discovered, Nat figuresout his situation quickly with judicious questions that result in naturally occurringexplanations of the times, the plays, and the theater.Loch by: Paul ZindelFifteen year old Loch (nicknamed that because he claimed to see the Loch Ness monsterduring a family trip in Scotland when he was a toddler), his little sister, Zaidee, and hisgirlfriend, Sarah, join their dads on an expedition to search for a monster in a Vermontlake. While exploring, the three discover a baby monster that appears to be a creature leftfrom prehistoric times. Now they must convince Sarah's father and his crew that thecreatures will be harmless if left alone. But the stubborn adults won't listen, and the kidshave to save the creatures - and the humans.M.C. Higgins the Great by: Virginia HamiltonIn a 25th anniversary edition, landmark Newbery Award-winning novel, "M.C. Higgins,The Great,” is reborn in a new package. As a slag heap, the result of strip mining, creepscloser to his house in the Ohio hills, 15-year-old M.C. is torn between trying to get hisfamily away and fighting for the home they love.Moonfleet by: John Meade FalknerMoonfleet (1898) begins as a mystery and an adventure story, a tale of smuggling setamong the cliffs, caves, and downs of Dorset. What will be the outcome of the conflictbetween smugglers and revenue men? How can the hero, John Trenchard, discover thesecret of Colonel John Mohune's treasure?My Side of the Mountain by: J.C. GeorgeSam Gribley is terribly unhappy living in his family's crowded New York City apartment.So, armed with just the bare necessities -- a penknife, a ball of cord, some flint and steel,and the clothes on his back -- he runs away to the mountains.On the Far Side of the Mountain by: J.C. GeorgeFans of My Side of the Mountain will be delighted to find that Sam Gribley still lives in ahollow tree with Frightful, his faithful falcon. Sam has neighbors now: his sister Alice livesin a nearby tree house and his old friend Bando has bought a nearby cabin. Sam'ssummer plans are disrupted when a conservation officer accuses him of harboring anendangered species and confiscates Frightful.Pigman's Legacy by: Paul ZindelThe sequel to The Pigman- The Pigman has been dead for four months when John andLorraine visit his empty house and discover a down-and-out old man on the run from thetax collector. Convinced he's a sign from beyond the grave, John and Lorraine decidethey've been given a chance to make up for what happened to the Pigman. Suddenlythey're deep in another zany adventure with a surprising old man. What they learn alongthe way is the Pigman's Legacy.Raptor by: Paul ZindelZack joins his father on a dinosaur dig in Utah. His father was injured by a mysterious,unknown creature. Zack makes a new friend, a Native American girl named Ute. As theyinvestigate the nearby mountains, they come to a horrifying conclusion: Sheltered in themountains, a band of raptors may have escaped extinction. And they're about to berevealed.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by: Mildred D. TaylorHer Newbery Medal-winning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry tells the story of one AfricanAmerican family, fighting to stay together and strong in the face of brutal racist attacks,illness, poverty, and betrayal in the Deep South of the 1930s.Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man by: Wendelin Van DraanenOn Halloween night, seventh grader Sammy stumbles onto a mystery involving a twentyyear-oldfamily feud and some heirlooms stolen by a man in a skeleton costume.So B. It by: Sarah WeeksHeidi knows that she's approximately 12 years old, but she doesn't know her last name,her birthday, or, for that matter, the identity of her father. With a vocabulary of only twodozen words, her mentally disabled mother can't help Heidi fill the gaps in her history,but simple despair will not stop this little trooper. When she finds a camera full of oldphotographs, she begins a quest that will take her into the past and new beginnings. Amature, gripping story.Stormbreaker by: Anthony HorowitzThey told him his uncle died in a car accident. Fourteen-year-old Alex knows that's a lie,and the bullet holes in his uncle's windshield confirm his suspicions. But nothing prepareshim for the news that the uncle he always thought he knew was really a spy for MI6—Britain's top secret intelligence agency. Recruited to find his uncle's killers and completehis final mission, Alex suddenly finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse.Summer Ball by: Mike LupicaThe story is of a 13 year old boy who goes to a basketball summer camp. He has thestigma of being short, however it seems to have gone away by when he mentors ayounger camper. Lupica captures the nerves of leaving home and the desire to be thebest.The Bad Beginning by: Lemony SnicketA Series of Unfortunate Events, a wonderfully different and disastrous children's storystarring three highly unlucky siblings. In this first book, readers are introduced to theunfortunate Baudelaire children -- 14-year-old Violet, 12-year-old Klaus, and their infantsister, Sunny -- when they learn they've just been orphaned by a terrible house fire.The Cay by: Theodore TaylorThis award-winning novel remains a powerful classic of prejudice, love, and survival. In1942, 11-year-old Phillip Enright lives with his parents on the Dutch island of Curaçao, butwhen the war moves too close for comfort, his mother decides to travel with him back tothe safety of Virginia. When their boat is torpedoed, however, Phillip is blinded and findshimself adrift on a life raft with an old black man and a cat. They eventually land on adeserted island. Phillip is suspicious of "the large Negro," but soon grows to trust--andultimately love--the patient and generous Timothy. Dedicated to "Dr. King's Dream," TheCay has a clear message that friendship is colorblind; it is also a terrific adventure story ofa young, newly blinded man learning to survive on an uninhabited island.The Iceberg Hermit by: Arthur RothShipwrecked in 1757 on an iceberg in the Arctic seas with only an orphaned polar cub forcompanionship, seventeen-year-old Allan begins a seemingly hopeless struggle forsurvival.

The Illyrian Adventure by: Lloyd AlexanderOn a visit to a remote European kingdom in 1872, a fearless sixteen-year-old orphan andher guardian research an ancient legend and become enmeshed in a dangerous rebellion.The Invention of Hugo Cabret by: Brian SelznickThe Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick, is a novel like no other. There are pagesof exciting events and then suddenly, wait! A picture with tiny details, then a big picturethat takes up the whole page, and the next page, and the next page, and the next! Thepictures are actually telling the story. It’s like a book and a movie all in one.The Last Dog on Earth by: Daniel EhrenhaftIn this boy-and-his-dog tale with a twist, Logan Moore, 14, doesn't measure up to theexpectations of his mom and stepdad, and is friendless at school. His one interest,inventing electronic gadgets, only gives vent to mischievous impulses. The teen lacksdirection and self-esteem until he adopts Jack, a wild and mangy mutt. Initially, Logan is areluctant caregiver, but real affection and trust soon blossom between the two as heproves himself to be a loving and effective trainer.The Pigman by: Paul Zindel“Now, I don’t like school, which you might say is one of the factors that got us involvedwith this old guy we nicknamed the Pigman.” The Pigman is a memoir of Paul Zindel’steenage days. Zindel is a humorous writer who understands young adults and life as ateenager.The Scorpion by: Stephen D. SullivanThe Serene Prophet foresaw its downfall -- tides of demons flooding out of theShadowlands. One man seeks to avert the catastrophe -- the leader of the Scorpion Clan.He will pay any price, perpetrate any deception, to save the empire. If he must, he willbecome evil to fight evil. He and the emperor's champion will battle each other to thedeath for that which they both hold dear: Rokugan.The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by: Ann BrasharesWith a bit of last summer’s sand in the pockets, the Traveling Pants and the Sisterhoodthat wears them embark on their 16th summer.Bridget: Impulsively sets off for Alabama,wanting to both confront her demons about her family and avoid them all at once.Lena: Spends a blissful week with Kostos, making the unexplainable silence that followshis visit even more painful. Carmen: Is concerned that her mother is making a fool ofherself over a man. When she discovers that her mother borrowed the Pants to wear on adate, she’s certain of it.Tibby: Not about to spend another summer working at Wallman’s, she takes a film courseonly to find it’s what happens off-camera that teaches her the most.The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by: Ann BrasharesCarmen got the jeans at a thrift shop. They didn’t look all that great; they were worn,dirty, and speckled with bleach. On the night before she and her friends part for thesummer, Carmen decides to toss them. But Tibby says they’re great. She’d love to havethem. Lena and Bridget also think they’re fabulous. Lena decides they should all try themon. Whoever they fit best will get them. Nobody knows why, but the pants fit everyoneperfectly. Even Carmen (who never thinks she looks good in anything), thinks she looksgood in the pants. Over a few bags of cheese puffs they decide to form a sisterhood, andtake the vow of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants . . . the next morning, they saygood-bye. And now the journey of the pants–and the most memorable summer of theirlives–begins.

The Talking Earth by: J.C. GeorgeBillie Wind ventures out alone into the Florida Everglades to test the legends of her Indianancestors and learns the importance of listening to the earth's vital messages.The Thief Lord by: Cornelia FunkeEscaping the aunt who wants to adopt only one of them, two orphaned brothers runaway from Hamburg to Venice, finding shelter with a gang of street children and theirleader, the thirteen-year-old "Thief Lord," while also eluding the detective hired to returnthem to Germany.The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by: AviCharlotte Doyle is just such a girl and she swears to tell the truth in all its detail. Ithappened during the summer of 1832 aboard a ship called the Seahawk. The onlypassenger on the long Atlantic Ocean crossing, Charlotte found herself caught betweenthe madness of a ruthless captain and the rage of a mutinous crew. This is her terrifyingaccount of that fateful voyage.The Wright Three by: Blue BalliettWith her distinct style, Balliett returns to Chicago and the detective work of Calder andPetra, sixth graders at the University School. This time they are joined by Tommy, Calder'sformer best friend who had moved away for a year. In this architectural mystery,destruction threatens Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and the Wright 3, as theprotagonists call themselves, piece together the puzzle that will lead to the building'srescue. While friction initially mars the three-sided friendship, Petra, Calder, and Tommysoon appreciate their individual roles in solving the mystery. Egged on by theirunconventional teacher, the Wright 3 utilize Calder's geometric brain, Petra's writing andobserving skills, and Tommy's uncanny findings to research and investigate the crypticmessages that Robie House seems to send in its own defense. Balliett elegantly wrapsfactual information on the building into a dreamy, Debussy sort of mystery in whichseemingly random connections in everyday life uncover the hidden enigmas of RobieHouse and Wright himself. Balliett's atmospheric writing encourages readers to make theirown journeys of discovery into art and architecture, creating a mystery subgenre that is asunique as it is compelling.Windcatcher by: AviTony has just learned to sail, and suddenly finds himself confused and lost. A mysteriouscouple in a high-powered boat ignore him as they search beneath the water. Tony endsup on a daring hunt for a 200 year old shipwreck and in a confrontation with the treasurehunters.Fantasy FictionArtemis Fowl by: Eoin ColferCriminal mastermind Artemis Fowl is back...and so is his brilliant and dangerous enemy,Opal Koboi. At the start of the 4th adventure in the series, Artemis has no memory of thefairy people and has returned to his unlawful ways. He is preparing to steal a famouspainting from a German bank, having no idea that his old rival, Opal, has escaped fromprison and is exacting her revenge on all those who put here there, including Artemis.Beast by: Donna Jo NapoliIn a narrative as glittering and richly detailed as a Persian miniature, Donna Jo Napoliinterprets and amplifies the tale of Beauty and the Beast with startling originality.

City of the Beasts by: Isabelle AllendeFifteen-year-old Alexander Cold has the chance to take the trip of a lifetime. Parting fromhis family and ill mother, Alexander joins his fearless grandmother, a magazine reporterfor International Geographic, on an expedition to the dangerous, remote world of theAmazon. Their mission, along with the others on their team -- including a celebratedanthropologist, a local guide and his young daughter Nadia, and a doctor -- is todocument the legendary Yeti of the Amazon known as the Beast. Under the dense canopyof the jungle, Alexander is amazed to discover much more than he could have imaginedabout the hidden worlds of the rain forest. Drawing on the strength of the jaguar, thetotemic animal Alexander finds within himself, and the eagle, Nadia's spirit guide, bothyoung people are led by the invisible People of the Mist on a thrilling and unforgettablejourney to the ultimate discovery....Dragon’s Boy by: Jane YolenThirteen-year-old Artos is not as good as swordsplay, romance, or any other knightlyaccomplishment as his foster brothers Cai, Bedvere, and Lancot. An orphan raised by thekindly Sir Ector, he doesn't even know the identity for his parents. But one day, Artosstumbles into the cave of an old and lonely dragon who offers to teach him the game ofwisdom. Artos accepts, and becomes the Pendragon--the son of the dragon, the dragon'sboy.Dragon Keeper by: Carole WilkinsonAn action-packed adventure set in China in 141 B.C. In a remote western palace, Ping, aslave girl of unknown origin, serves the emperor's Dragon Keeper, an incompetentdrunkard who neglects the two last-known dragons in his charge. When one of them diesand an evil hunter threatens to kill the other for his magical body parts, the old dragon,Danzi, escapes with the girl. He entrusts Ping with his precious and beautiful purplestone, which he is determined to take to the ocean. As they make their long journey east,Ping develops plausibly from a terrified, abused child into a confident young woman whotruly deserves the official title of Dragon Keeper.Dragon War by: Lawrence YepThe dragon princess Shimmer and her companions fight a war against the evil BonelessKing in order to rescue their friend Thorn and restore the dragons' underwater home.Ella Enchanted by: Gail Carson LevineIn this incredible debut novel comes the richly entertaining story of Ella of Frell, who atbirth was given the gift of obedience by a fairy. Ella soon realizes that this gift is littlebetter than a curse, for how can she truly be herself if at anytime anyone can order her tohop on one foot, or cut off her hand, or betray her kingdom and she'll have to obey?Against a bold tapestry of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers,Ella's quest to break the curse once and for all and discover who she really is as sharplyfunny as Catherine, Called Birdy and as richly poignant as Beauty, and has all the marksof a classic in the making.Forest of the Pygmies by: Isabelle AllendeIn the final installment of a trilogy that began with City of the Beasts (2002) and Kingdomof the Golden Dragon (2004), 18-year-old Alexander Cold, his globe-trotting journalistgrandmother, and their 15-year-old friend, Nadia, travel to Kenya to take an elephantsafari. Soon, the party takes a detour to the jungle to find some missing missionaries, and,in the process becomes embroiled in a messy bit of business. It involves a military man

who has taken over a village and terrorized and enslaved the local Bantu and Pygmytribes.Harry Potter Series by: J.K. RowlingRead any one or more of the Harry Potter series: The Sorcerer’s Stone, The Chamber ofSecrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire, The Order of Phoenix, The HalfBlood Prince, or the newest installment….The Deathly Hallows!!!Inkheart by: Cornelia FunkeOne cruel night, Meggie's father reads aloud from a book called Inkheart - and an evilruler escapes the boundaries of fiction and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie issmack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read about in books. Meggiemust learn to harness the magic that has conjured this nightmare. For only she can changethe course of the story that has changed her life forever. This is Inkheart - a timeless taleabout books, about imagination, about life.Inkspell by: Cornelia FunkeMeggie can't stop thinking about Inkheart, the book whose characters came to life.Neither can Dustfinger, the fire-eater who was written into being. Dustfinger finds anunscrupulous storyteller to transport him back into the book - with devastating results.When Farid, his apprentice, and Meggie follow, the story threatens to unfold in ways theycould scarcely imagine.Narnian Chronicles by: C.S. Lewis. (You may read any one of the five books- Magician'sNephew; Silver Chair; Horse & His Boy; Prince Caspian; Voyage of the Dawn Treader.)Clive Staples Lewis, was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1898. As a child, he was fascinated bythe fairy tales, myths, and ancient legends recounted to him by his Irish nurse. The imageof a faun carrying parcels and an umbrella in a snowy wood came to him when he wassixteen. Many years later, the faun was joined by an evil queen and a magnificent lion.Their story became The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe. Six further Chronicles ofNarnia followed, and the final title, The Last Battle, was awarded the United Kingdom'sprestigious Carnegie Award.Prydain Chronicles by: Lloyd Alexander. ( You may read any one of the five books-Black Cauldron; Book of Three; Castle of Llyr; High King; Taran Wanderer)Enter the world of Prydain for a journey into enchantment. Meet Dallben the enchanter asa foundling, and follow him through his youth. Learn the sad history of the sword ofDyrnwyn, and rejoice at the romance of Princess Angharad at the Castle of Llyr. Discoverthe secret of Doli of the Fair Folk and his magic stone. Take a step into the land ofPrydain—a place you will never forget.The Amber Spyglass by: Philip PullmanThe third installment of the wonderfully successful trilogy from Phillip Pullman will notdisappoint. Starting with the return of Lyra, readers know they are in for a great ride.Will's hold on the magical blade that can cut between both worlds is staunch, theintroduction of new worlds produces questions and answers, and the war with theKingdom of Heaven swells forward. The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife offeredreaders fantastic tales of a mysterious and bizarre word. In this finale, Pullman ties uploose ends and also provides nail-biting revelations, as Dr. Mary Malone and Mrs. Coulterlook to a future no one could have predicted. And the secret of Dust will astonish manyreaders. Prepare to be blown away with the conclusion to this modern classic.The Golden Compass by: Philip Pullman

The action follows 11-year-old protagonist Lyra Belacqua, accompanied by her daemon,from her home at Oxford University to the frozen wastes of the North, on a quest to savekidnapped children from the evil 'Gobblers,' who are using them as part of a sinisterexperiment. Lyra also must rescue her father from the Panserbjorne, a race of talking,armored, mercenary polar bears holding him captive. Joining Lyra are a vagabond troopof gyptians (gypsies), witches, an outcast bear, and a Texan in a hot air balloon.The Great God Pan by: Donna Jo NapoliMeet Pan: half-god/half-goat, full of life, frolicking in the woods with maenads, playinghis pipes, and creating pan-ic. In Napoli's version of the story, he meets Iphigenia bychance and falls in love with her. Innocence disappears, and the curse placed upon himat birth-that he will never be loved-seems destined to come true, for his life revolvesaround finding her again. And he does find her, just as she is about to be sacrificed by herown father. Pan devises a trick to save Iphigenia's life at the expense of his own, his lovefor the woman outweighing his lust for life. Napoli has written a fine story-it is fast paced,the characters and setting are well realized, and it even has intrigue and randy scenes ofwoodland romps tailored for teens.The Lost Years of Merlin by: T.A. BarronThis engrossing presentation of T.A. Barron's fascinating contribution to Arthurian lore(Philomel, 1996), is the first in a trilogy about Merlin's boyhood and coming of age. Fromthe moment young Merlin is washed ashore on a beach in ancient Wales to his excitingjourney to the enchanted land of Fincayra, the action never wavers.The Kingdom of the Golden Dragon: by Isabelle AllendeBuddhist monk Tensing and his disciple, Prince Dil Bahadur, are journeying through theHimalayan peaks in search of healing plants when they come face to face with a tribe ofonce-fierce Yetis. These legendary half-human, half-ape monsters inhabit a lush valleyheated by thermal pools and hot springs and are unaware that it's the toxic minerals inthe water that has weakened them and slowed their rate of reproduction. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Alexander Cold; his intrepid writer/explorer grandmother, Kate; and his soulmate, Nadia Santos, daughter of the guide who led Kate and Alex on their previousexpedition into the South American rain forest, described in City of the Beasts, are off ona new International Geographic expedition. They are headed for the Kingdom of theGolden Dragon, a small, isolated sovereignty in the Himalayas. This is a must-read forfans of the first book, but it stands completely on its own.The Lord of the Rings (Trilogy) by: J.R.R. Tolkien (you may read just one, two or allthree books-Fellowship of the Ring; Two Towers; Return of the King) An almostbelievable fantasy adventure that will make you not want to put the book down. If youhave an imagination this book will make you feel as if you are on the journey with them.The characters, events and places are so vividly described for the imagination that you canalmost picture them and what they might actually look like. You will wish you yourselfwere really a part of Middle Earth after reading this epic adventure tale.The Subtle Knife by: Philip PullmanPart two of His Dark Materials takes up where The Golden Compass left off, offering upfascinating cross-world quests and some creative ideas and plot elements that do much tomake up for the rather basic characterization of all but the two main protagonists. Theonly real frustration is that the cliffhanger ending is even less satisfying than theconclusion of the first book.The Tale of Desperaux by: Kate DiCamillo

Winner of the 2004 Newbery Medal, this superbly suspenseful tale of a little mouse withbig aspirations comes from Kate DiCamillo, author of another Newbery Honor book,Because of Winn-Dixie. In lilting storytelling language reminiscent of fairy tales of old,DiCamillo spins the yarn of Despereaux Tilling, a literate mouse who lives by a differentcode and happens to fall in love with a real princess. Despereaux is anxious to profess hislove, but when he tells his community of his dreams, he gets banished into the darkdungeon where mice never leave. Adjacent to Despereaux's dilemma is the story of a ratnamed Chiaroscuro, ruthless in personality and in love with making his way toward light.When these two characters eventually collide -- along with Miggery Sow, a down-and-outservant who aims to become a princess of her own -- the result is a heroic, surprisingheartwarmer that brings families together, gives hope to underdogs everywhere, andteems with justice.Science FictionGathering Blue by: Lois LowryKira, an orphan with a twisted leg, lives in a world where the weak are cast aside. Shefears for her future until she is spared by the all-powerful Council of Guardians. Kira is agifted weaver and is given a task that no other community member can do. While hertalent keeps her alive and brings certain privileges, Kira soon realizes she is surroundedby many mysteries and secrets. No one must know of her plans to uncover the truthabout her world and see what places exist beyond.Gossamer by: Lois LowryReaders first meet the dream-givers as they creep around a dark house in the middle ofthe night where an old woman and a dog named Toby are sleeping. Littlest was verysmall, new to the work, energetic and curious. Fastidious was tired, impatient, and had aheadache. Littlest is soon paired with a new partner, Thin Elderly, who is a much betterguide and teacher than Fastidious was. They are benevolent beings who visit humans(and pets, too) at night. They handle objects, gather memories, and give them back in theform of happy dreams that comfort and help those they're assigned to. The dream-givers'counterparts are the strong and wicked Sinisteeds, who inflict nightmares and sometimestravel in frightening Hordes. And the humans that Littlest and Thin Elderly care for doneed help and protection from bad dreams. The old woman is lonely and has taken in afoster child named John, who's living apart from an abusive father and the fragile motherwho desperately wants him back. Lowry's prose is simple and clear. This carefully plottedfantasy has inner logic and conviction.Jurassic Park by: Michael CrichtonAn astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered.Creatures once extinct now roam Jurassic Park, soon-to-be opened as a theme park. Untilsomething goes wrong...and science proves a dangerous toy....Messenger by: Lois LowryMatty, who has lived in Village with the blind Seer since running away from an abusivechildhood, is looking forward to receiving his true name, which he hopes will beMessenger. But he is deeply unsettled by what is going on. He has discovered his ownpower to heal others and learned of disturbing changes within his community. Under thegentle guidance of Leader, who arrived in Village on a red sled as a young boy and whohas the power of Seeing Beyond, the citizens have always welcomed newcomers,especially those who are disabled. But a sinister force is at work, which has promptedthem to close admission to outsiders. Also, it seems that Matty's beloved Mentor has beentrading away parts of his inner self in order to become more attractive to Stocktender's

widow. When the date for the close of the border is decided, Matty must make one moretrip through the increasingly sinister Forest to bring back Seer's daughter, the giftedweaver Kira. On the return journey, Matty must decide if he should use his healing butself-destructive power to reverse the inexorable decline of Forest, Village, and its people.The Ear, The Eye and The Arm by: Nancy FarmerIn Zimbabwe in the year 2194, the military ruler's 13-year-old son and his younger brotherand sister leave their technologically overcontrolled home and find themselves on a seriesof perilous adventures. Tendai and his siblings encounter mile-high buildings and othermiracles of scientific advance; they also find fetid slums and toxic waste dumps. As they'rekidnapped by gangsters, forced to slave in a plastic mine, and accused of witchcraft,they're pursued by mutant detectives, who are both bumbling and sensitive and whoalways seem to be just one step behind rescuing the children. In the best section, thesiblings find themselves in a traditional Shona village that at first seems idyllic but turnsout to also encompass fierce sexism, ignorance, and disease. Throughout the story, it's thethrilling adventure that will grab readers, who will also like the comic, tendercharacterizations, not only of the brave, defiant trio and the absurd detectives, but also ofnearly every one the kids meet, from street gangsters and spiritual healers to the Englishtribespeople with their weird customs.The House of The Scorpion by: Nancy FarmerThis is the empire of Matteo Alacran, a feudal drug lord in the country of Opium, whichlies between the United States and Aztlan, formerly Mexico. Field work, or any menialtasks, are done by "eejits," humans in whose brains computer chips have been installed toinsure docility.Historical FictionBreadwinner by: Deborah EllisBecause the Taliban rulers of Kabul, Afghanistan, impose strict limitations on women'sfreedom and behavior, eleven-year-old Parvana must disguise herself as a boy so that herfamily can survive after her father's arrest.Fever, 1793 by: Laurie Halse AndersonIt's the late summer of 1793 in Philadelphia, and fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook helps herwidowed mother and her grandfather run a coffehouse. Mattie resents her strict motherand dreams of expanding the coffeehouse and becoming wealthy. But her mother seemsdetermined to find a wealthy young man to marry Mattie off to. But all of Mattie'sconcerns soon seem petty when an epidemic of yellow fever begins to spread throughoutthe city. Mattie's own mother falls ill and sends Mattie and her grandfather to stay on afarm in the countryside, where she hopes they will be safe. But they are turned away andforced to return to Philadelphia when a doctor mistakes her grandfather's cough foryellow fever. Mattie comes down with the fever and nearly dies, but is nursed back tohealth in a temporary hospital. But she and her grandfather return to the coffeehouse tofind that Mattie's mother has vanished. They try to settle back into a normal routine, but asudden tragedy soon leaves Mattie on her own. Now, in a world turned upside down, in aghost city a shadow of its former self, Mattie must keep herself alive and care for a littlegirl orphaned by the epidemic. This was an excellent historical novel that brought to lifethe epidemic.I am David by: Anne HolmDavid's entire twelve-year life has been spent in a grisly prison camp in Eastern Europe.He knows nothing of the outside world. But when he is given the chance to escape, he

seizes it. With his vengeful enemies hot on his heels, David struggles to cope in thisstrange new world, where his only resources are a compass, a few crusts of bread, histwo aching feet, and some vague advice to seek refuge in Denmark. Is that enough tosurvive?David's extraordinary odyssey is dramatically chronicled in Anne Holm's classic about themeaning of freedom and the power of hope.Journey to the River Sea by: Eva IbbotsonSent in 1910 to live with distant relatives who own a rubber plantation along the AmazonRiver, English orphan Maia is excited. She believes she is in for brightly colored macaws,enormous butterflies, and "curtains of sweetly scented orchids trailing from the trees." HerBritish classmates warn her of man-eating alligators and wild, murderous Indians.Unfortunately, no one cautions Maia about her nasty, xenophobic cousins, who douse thehouse in bug spray and forbid her from venturing beyond their coiffed compound. Maia,however, is resourceful enough to find herself smack in the middle of more excitementthan she ever imagined, from a mysterious "Indian" with an inheritance, to an itinerantactor dreading his impending adolescence, to a remarkable journey down the Amazon insearch of the legendary giant sloth.Jump Ship to Freedom by: Collier and CollierThe second book in the Arabus family saga finds young Daniel trying to retrieve the notesthat ensure his and his mother's freedom, until he is forced aboard a boat and headed forcertain slavery in the West Indies.Streams to the River, River to the Sea by: Scott O’DellA young Indian woman, accompanied by her infant and cruel husband, experiences joyand heartbreak when she joins the Lewis and Clark Expedition seeking a way to thePacific.The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 by: Christopher Paul CurtisThe year is 1963, and self-important Byron Watson is the bane of his younger brotherKenny's existence. Constantly in trouble for one thing or another, from straightening hishair into a "conk" to lighting fires to freezing his lips to the mirror of the new family car,Byron finally pushes his family too far. Before this "official juvenile delinquent" can cutschool or steal change one more time, Momma and Dad finally make good on their threatto send him to the deep south to spend the summer with his tiny, strict grandmother.Soon the whole family is packed up, ready to make the drive from Flint, Michigan, straightinto one of the most chilling moments in America's history: the burning of the SixteenthAvenue Baptist Church with four little girls inside.Trouble Don’t Last by: Shelley PearshallFirst time novelist Shelley Pearsall has woven a remarkable tale about a pair of runawayslaves and their flight to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Slavery is the only realitythat eleven-year-old Samuel has ever known. His mother was sold away from hisKentucky homestead when Samuel was just a toddler. Since then, it has just been Samueland his elderly guardians, Harrison and Lily. When Harrison steals him away in the middleof the night, Samuel is sure that trouble will come from it. Through spine tingling closecalls and hair-raising adventures, old Harrison and Samuel creep closer to elusiveFreedom. Along the way, they are aided by colorful characters, most of them based onreal life figures. Thoroughly researched, packed with action, suspense, humor and greatplot twists, this is one you'll remember for a long time.Troy by: Adelle GerasAdele Geras, best known for her trilogy based on Sleeping Beauty, takes on the seemingly

impertinent task of retelling the siege of Troy as a young adult novel, but manages tocarry it off without trivializing the original. The great battles of the bronze-clad warriorsand the clashes between Achilles and Hector and Odysseus are seen at a distance fromthe walls of the city, where the Trojan townsfolk gather to sit each day and cheer theaction like spectators at some archaic football game.True to Form by: Elizabeth BergIt is 1961, and 13-year-old Katie is living in the chasm of the generation gap. Acceptingher father's corny suggestions, she becomes a babysitter and a Girl Scout. For Katie,adolescence without her birth mother is tense and stressful; and, as she matures, Katierealizes that she is capable of sacrificing even her best friend for popularity. Things thatshould make her happy don't, but she does find solace in odd places. This powerfulnovel tracks Katie in the years between Durable Goods and Joy School.Waiting for the Rain by: Sheila GordonThis novel about life in South Africa is sure to give readers a better understanding of whatlies behind the newspaper headlines and TV stories. Tengo is the 10-year-old son ofworkers on Oom Koos's large farm in the Transvaal. He longs to go to school like hisfriend Frikkie, who visits his uncle's farm on holidays. But Tengo's family is too poor topay for the education that comes free to whites. He finally gets his wish at age 14. Tengogoes to live with his cousin in a squalid township outside Johannesburg and studiesfuriously. After three years, he is almost ready for college, but a year-long school boycottruins his chances and he is drawn into the fight against apartheid. When he and Frikkiemeet in a violent confrontation, Tengo realizes that he will carry on the struggle forfreedom as a scholar, not a soldier.Non-FictionBad Boy by: Walter Dean MyersHighly popular YA writer Walter Dean Myers takes a slightly different tack than usual bypenning memories of his oft-troubled childhood in the aptly titled Bad Boy. Growing upin the 1940s in Harlem proved to be a mixed bag for Myers, one filled with bothopportunities and obstacles. From gang warfare and racism to the dark secret his fatherkept for years, Myers's tale is a testament to the power of love, hope, and perseverance.Free the Children by: Graig Keilburger & Kevin MajorCraig Kielburger is an activist prodigy who, at 12, was talking to national leaders, lecturingin public forums, and following the burning passion that would not allow him to overlookcruel injustices thrust upon children around the world. Inspired by a newspaper articleabout a young boy's murder at the hands of his boss in Pakistan, Kielburger set forth onan international crusade against child sweatshops, virtual slave labor, and the abhorrentworking conditions to which many children worldwide are subjected. An inspiring bookabout the power young people can wield to change the world; Free the Children is amust-read from a remarkable young man.Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil RightsMovement By: Ann BausumThe incredible courage and determination of young people, black, white, male andfemale, who risked great personal danger and even death as they participated in thefreedom rides during the Civil Rights Movement are the focus of this remarkable book.History is told through the experiences of two young men of disparate backgrounds, oneblack John Lewis, the other white Jim Zwerg. A foreword by each man precedes chaptersthat compare and contrast their families, childhoods, and teenage years, and the events

leading up to, and their participation in, the historic rides of the early 1960s. Dramaticblack-and-white photographs, accompanied by clear, engaging captions, support the text.Each of the seven chapters is preceded by a full-page photograph. Bausum's narrativestyle, fresh, engrossing, and at times heart-stopping, brings the story of the turbulent andoften violent dismantling of segregated travel alive in vivid detail.Genius: A Photobiography of Albert Einstein by: Marfe FergusonWhile the myriad photographs are fascinating, the bigger draw here is the wonderfullysimple explanations of some of Einstein's theories. For example, in clarifying thephysicist's quantum theory of light, Delano says, "Simply put, Einstein showed thatphotons in the light beam knock the electrons out of metal." And, to make the concept ofspacetime easier to understand, she asks readers to contemplate spacetime as atrampoline with a bowling ball resting on it. This visual perception helps to make thetheory understandable for all students. The black-and-white and sepia photographs followEinstein from boyhood to old age and show him in a variety of settings: at theblackboard, delivering a speech, taking the oath of U.S. citizenship, in his Princeton homewith children who survived the Holocaust, and so on. Many have appeared elsewhere.Cartoon illustrations add to the clarity of the very readable text. Personal thoughts andfeelings abound. To make Einstein human to the audience, his mistakes are mentioned, aswell as his celebrity. Complete quote sources are appended. An introduction by EvelynEinstein, the scientist's granddaughter, is included. This entertaining effort displays clarityand intelligence. It has plenty of information for reports and is also a good choice forbrowsing.Hope for the People by: Cesar ChavezThe son of poor Mexican Americans, Cesar Chavez grew up in grinding poverty. In 1962,he set out to do what many before him had tried and failed to do -- organize a tradeunion for farm workers. With courage and determination, he transformed the plight of theworkers into an international cause.Into Thin Air by: Jon KrakauerInto Thin Air is a riveting first-hand account of a catastrophic expedition up MountEverest. In March 1996, Outside magazine sent veteran journalist and seasoned climberJon Krakauer on an expedition led by celebrated Everest guide Rob Hall. Despite theexpertise of Hall and the other leaders, by the end of summit day eight people were dead.Krakauer's book is at once the story of the ill-fated adventure and an analysis of thefactors leading up to its tragic end. Written within months of the events it chronicles, IntoThin Air clearly evokes the majestic Everest landscape. As the journey up the mountainprogresses, Krakauer puts it in context by recalling the triumphs and perils of otherEverest trips throughout history. The author's own anguish over what happened on themountain is palpable as he leads readers to ponder timeless questions.Life is so Good: by George DawsonA 101-year-old retired laborer who enrolled in a literacy class near his Dallas, Tex., homeat the age of 98, George Dawson now reads and writes on a third-grade level. FromDawson's eloquent words, co-writer Glaubman, a Seattle elementary school teacher, hasfashioned two engrossing stories. First is the inspiring saga of how someone who was thegrandson of a slave managed to navigate the brutally segregated small Texas town ofMarshall, where Dawson was born, without losing his integrity or enjoyment of life.Although he worked from an early age and was never able to attend school, Dawsoncredits his strong family, especially his father, for giving him the skills to survive. Hisfather told him to work hard, to do no wrong and always to avoid trouble with whitepeople--advice that was brutally underscored the day he and his father witnessed a whitemob lynching a black neighbor. The other theme running through these recollections is

the institutionalized racism of the American South. Hardened to the entrencheddiscrimination that excluded him from good jobs and "white" restaurants and rest rooms,Dawson protested just once, when a woman for whom he was doing yard work expectedhim to eat with her dogs. Despite the harsh conditions of his life, he considers himselffortunate to have enjoyed food, housing, friends and family (he has outlived four wivesand fathered seven children). This is an astonishing and unforgettable memoir.Pipe Dreams: A Surfer's Journey by: Kelly SlaterCocoa Beach, Florida, isn't exactly a breeding ground for surfing world champions -- thewaves are tiny. So when Kelly Slater was growing up, the furthest thing from his mindwas becoming a world champion. He was a Florida grommet whose biggest goal was toone day make it out far enough to catch the two-foot waves his dad and brother wereriding -- anything more was a dream.In Pipe Dreams, Slater takes you inside a churning Pipeline tube and lets you experiencethe rush of adrenaline and danger. He pays tribute to close friends who lost their livessurfing big waves and tells what life on the World Tour is really like, from schmoozingwith celebrities to running from stalker fans to the insane competition and off-the-wallantics of the world's most famous surfers -- including Tom Curren, Tom Car-roll, GaryElkerton, Mark Occhilupo, Rob Machado, and Shane Dorian. Slater also explains hisvarious career moves, such as his stint as a regular on Baywatch, and the ups and downsof his love life -- from his on-again, off-again romance with Pamela Anderson to Bree, hisfirst love, and their broken engagement.Pipe Dreams offers unprecedented access to the globetrotting lifestyle and the rarely seenprivate life of the man who destroyed every record in a sport long dominated by peoplewho thought world champions didn't grow up in Florida, himself included. Slater holdsnothing back, because after six world titles, there is nothing left to prove -- not to himselfor to anyone else.Rosa Parks: My Story by: Rosa Parks"The only tired I was, was tired of giving in." These are the simple yet eloquent words ofRosa Parks, who on December 1, 1955, refused to give up her seat to a white man on asegregated bus, sparking the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott. Written in her ownstraightforward and moving language, this is her compelling story.The Freedom Writers Diary : How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing toChange Themselves and the World Around Them by: Erin Gruwell and The FreedomWritersWhen Gruwell was a first-year high school teacher in Long Beach, CA, teaching the"unteachables" (kids that no other teacher wanted to deal with), she discovered that mostof her students had not heard of the Holocaust. Shocked, she introduced them to booksabout toleranceAfirst-person accounts by the likes of Anne Frank and Zlata Filopvic, whochronicled her life in war-torn Sarajevo. The students were inspired to start keepingdiaries of their lives that showed the violence, homelessness, racism, illness, and abusethat surrounded them.Tuesdays With Morrie by: Mitch AlbomThis true story about the love between a spiritual mentor and his pupil has soared to thebestseller list for many reasons. For starters: it reminds us of the affection and gratitudethat many of us still feel for the significant mentors of our past. It also plays out a fantasymany of us have entertained: what would it be like to look those people up again, tellthem how much they meant to us, maybe even resume the mentorship? Plus, we meetMorrie Schwartz--a one of a kind professor, whom the author describes as looking like across between a biblical prophet and Christmas elf. And finally we are privy to intimatemoments of Morrie's final days as he lies dying from a terminal illness. Even on his

deathbed, this twinkling-eyed man manages to teach us all about living robustly and fully.Kudos to author and acclaimed sports columnist Mitch Albom for telling this universallytouching story with such grace and humility.PoetryHeartbeat by: Sharon CreechTwelve-year-old Annie ponders the many rhythms of life the year that her motherbecomes pregnant, her grandfather begins faltering, and her best friend (and runningpartner) becomes distant.I am Phoenix: Poems for Two Voices by: Paul FleischmanDuring a short career, Fleischman has received rave reviews and awards for his distinctivestories, radically different from each other. Here the author gives way to the poet, his alterego, composing works that are arranged as duets but can also be relished by one alone,reading or reciting the lines as paeans to birds of various feathers.Love That Dog by: Sharon CreechJack hates poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. Buthis teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, won't stop giving her class poetry assignments—and Jackcan't avoid them. But then something amazing happens. The more he writes, the more helearns he does have something to say.Out of the Dust by: Karen HesseIn a series of poems, fifteen-year-old Billie Jo relates the hardships of living on herfamily's wheat farm in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years of the Depression.Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by: Paul FleischmanWinner of the 1989 Newbery Award, Joyful Noise is a children's book of poetry aboutinsects that was designed for two readers to enjoy together. On each page are twocolumns of verse for children to alternate reading aloud about the lives of six-leggedcreatures ranging from fireflies writing in the sky to a love affair between two lice, cricketseating pie crumbs and the single day in the life of a mayfly.Witness by: Karen HesseA series of poems express the views of various people in a small Vermont town, includinga young black girl and a young Jewish girl, during the early 1920s when the Ku Klux Klanis trying to infiltrate the town.