The Dalton School
5th-into-6th Grade
2004 Summer Reading List 

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY TITLES

Cameron, Ann.
COLIBRÍ. (Realistic Fiction)
Twelve-year-old Rosa’s compelling story unfolds as she regains her identity and confidence. Her riveting story is steeped in the culture, traditions and folk beliefs of modern Guatemala.*

Corder, Zizou.
LIONBOY (Fantasy/Adventure)
A mother/daughter team co-wrote this fast-paced thrilling tale. Charlie Ashanti's runs away from his kidnapper and goes on a grand adventure trying to rescue his parents who were also kidnapped. On his way, Charlie, who can speak Cat, joins a floating grand circus and receives help from a host of alley cats, as well as lions and humans. This is the first part of a longer story. The second book will be pubished in September 2004, called Lionboy: The Chase.

DiCamillo, Kate. Illus. by Timothy Basil Ering.
THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX: BEING THE STORY OF A MOUSE, A PRINCESS, SOME SOUP, AND A SPOOL OF THREAD.(Fantasy)
This is the 2004 Newbery Award Winner and most deserving! The long title sums up the basic plot line but the story of Despereaux, a weak and unusual mouse, and his quest to combat evil and death to rescue his beloved Princess Pea, offers so much more. The story is at once dark and full of light - innocent as a little child's bedtime tale and frightening as a horror story.

Fleming, Candace.
BEN FRANKLIN'S ALMANAC: BEING A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE GOOD GENTLEMAN'S LIFE. (Biography)
Presented in the style of Franklin’s own original almanac, Fleming’s fascinating biography is chock full of information that makes history jump right out of the page.*

Funke, Cornelia. Inkheart. Translated by Anthea Bell.
INKHEART (Fantasy/Adventure)
Meggie, 12-year-old, goes on a dangerous adventure in which she and her father are pursued by a group of sinister bandits, led by a man named Scorpio. Most intriguing are the identities of the bandits (who were fictional characters from story books) and the magical ability of Meggie's father who can "read" people, animals, and objects OUT of and IN to books!

Giff, Patricia Reilly
PICTURES OF HOLLIS WOODS (Realistic Fiction)
12-year-old Hollis Woods has been sent to (and running away from) one foster home after another all her life. She is an amazing artist. With descriptions of her drawings, Hollis tells a moving story of a deeply bonding relationship with her newest foster mother, artist Josie, and her dream of a perfect family. This is a 2003 Newbery Honor Book.

Henkes, Kevin.
OLIVE'S OCEAN (Realistic Fiction)
12-year-old Martha receives a page from the journal of a classmate, Olive, who has died in an accident. Olive's entry about a desire to be Martha's friend, to see the ocean, and to become a writer propels Martha into a journey from childhood to the brink of adolescence. A 2004 Newbery Honor Book.*

Horowitz, Anthony
EAGLE STRIKE (Mystery/Suspense)
In this fourth installment of the Alex Rider Adventures, Alex finally breaks off from the control of MI6, the British Intelligence and acts on his own. He investigates and attempts to foil the plot of Damian Cray, world renowned pop star. Even more thrilling than the first three titles (STORMBREAKER, POINT BLANK, and SKELETON KEY,) this book also takes an emotional turn when Alex finds out more information about his father who died long ago.

Nimmo, Jenny.
MIDNIGHT FOR CHARLIE BONE and CHARLIE BONE AND THE TIME TWISTER (Fantasy)
In Midnight for Charlie Bone, readers will meet Charlie Bone, who is 11 and has a special talent. He can look at a photo and "hear" what happened when the picture was taken. After discovering his magical talent, Charlie encounters some strange people and circumstances and finally has to face down his adversery in a final battle at his new witchcraft school. The series is called Children of the Red King.

Paolini, Christopher.
ERAGON (Fantasy)
At the beginning of the story, fifteen-year-old farm boy Eragon encounters magic and magical objects and quickly realizes that he is a gifted Dragon Rider. He takes on the dangerous and exciting task in fighting the evil powers that will destroy his Empire. This is Book 1 in the Inheritance series. The second book will NOT be published until Summer 2005!

Pattou, Edith.
EAST (Fantasy)
In this retelling of a Scandinavian folk tale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" Rose saves her sister’s life and the family fortune by agreeing to go and live far away with the white bear, in his wonderous cave. There are several narrators of this story -- Rose, The White Bear, Rose's Father, The Troll Queen, and Rose's Brother. The reader pieces together a richly detailed, moving, imaginative story that is full of actions and thrilling adventures.

Paulsen, Gary.
HOW ANGEL PETERSON GOT HIS NAME: AND OTHER OUTRAGEOUS TALES OF EXTREME SPORTS (Memoir)
Author Gary Paulsen (HATCHET, DOGWOOD, TRANSAL SAGA, etc.) remembers his childhood in his hometown in Minnesota filled with amusing incidents of attempting "extreme sporting" such as jumping three barrels on a bicycle and hang gliding from an Army surplus target kite.

Potter, Ellen.
OLIVIA KIDNEY (Fantasy)
Olivia Kidney is a 12-year-old girl who lives in an apartment building in New York City. That sounds quite normal, doesn't it? But this one day in November, Olivia's life changes from the ordinary to the complete bizarre: visiting several strange apartments (one completely made out of glass, the other resembling a tropical jungle,) Olivia encounters a murderous ex-pirate, a world renowned psychic, and even a ghost. The imaginative plot and the surprising yet satisfying ending make this a truly pleasurable, although weird, read.

Reeve, Philip.
MORTAL ENGINES (Sci-fi)
In this original and fast-paced science fiction set in a post-apocalypse future, cities of the world move around on tractor treads pursuing and scavenging each other.*

Sis, Peter.
THE TREE OF LIFE: A BOOK DEPICTING THE LIFE OF CHARLES DARWIN NATURALIST, GEOLOGIST AND THINKER. (Biography)
Darwin's unique Life and work is presented in a vsually stunning, complex and appealing manner that begs multiple readings.*

Vande Velde, Vivian
HEIR APPARENT (Sci-fi/Fantasy)
Giannine, trapped in the mal-functioning virtual reality game of Heir Apparent, has to win the game before her body deteriates and she dies. The game, set in a magical, medieval time, demands that she makes alliances with the right people, slays a dragon, solves riddles, and many other tasks. This page-turner is filled with true danger and humor on the side. A wonderful summer read.

White, Ruth.
TADPOLE (Realistic Fiction)
Carolina, the 8-year-old narrator, shows the reader what life is like in the small rural town in Kentucky, 1955, for a family of mother and girls, without a father. They are poor, and yet happy, united, and hopeful. They belong to a tightly-knit community and are willing to help their loved ones. When Tad(pole) runs away from his abusive uncle, Carolina and her sisters (cousins to Tad) help hide Tad and eventually assist him in seeking his fortune. Stories like this can be dull and sad, but this one is filled with humorous scenes and lovable characters that readers will smile throughout all the way through.

* Several annotations are cited, with permission, from the 2004 Notable Children's Books web site, adminstered by Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC.) To see the entire 2004 Notable Children's Books list, CLICK HERE.

SERIES TO LOSE YOURSELF IN (click to get the complete listing)

FICTION

Avi 
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH 
A 9th grader's suspension for singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" during homeroom becomes a national news story. 

Bloor, Edward.
TANGERINE
This story features: a heavily near-sighted STAR GOALIE on a student soccer team, his menacing older brother, his new friends from THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, and death by lightening. A very exciting and insightful story.

Clements, Andrew.
THE LANDRY NEWS
Fifth-grader Cara Landry publishes her homemade newspaper, the Landry News, and reports truth and education. This paper exposes the laziness of her once enthusiastic teacher, Mr. Larson, and results in a large scale media frenzy. Written by the same author of Frindle, this is another amusing but thoughtful book.

Corman, Carolyn
WHAT JAMIE SAW
Jamie's mother takes him and his baby sister to live in a tiny trailer in the New Hampshire woods when his stepfather's behavior becomes dangerously abusive. Jamie finds himself living an existence full of uncertainty and fear. 

Creech, Sharon
LOVE THAT DOG
Told in short verses that model after many famous poems, this story is about a boy, his teacher, his dog, and the inspiration poetry has on him.

Creech, Sharon
WALK TWO MOONS
Sal, who is part Indian, heads West to find the mother who left her, and to seek her cultural identity. This story of courage and a search for one's roots is the winner of the 1995 Newbery Award. Also: ABSOLUTELY NORMAL CHAOS.

Creech, Sharon.
THE WANDERER
Sophie and her cousin Cody keep journals during their voyage aboard the sailboat, Wanderer, on the way to see their ailing grandfather in England. This is a Newbery Honor Book

Cummings, Priscilla.
A FACE FIRST
12-year-old Kelley was horribly burned in an accident in the car driven by her mother. This thought-provoking novel allows the readers a glimpse into the painful process of rehabilitation of burned victims. An element of the mystery (Kelly does not really remember what happened in the car accident... could her mother be the one who caused the accident?) gives another layer of intensity to the story.

Curtis, Christopher Paul.
BUD, NOT BUDDY
Bud, 10, is on the run from the orphanage and from yet another mean foster family. His mother died when he was 6, and he wants to find his father. Set in Michigan during the Great Depression, this story is told with a lot of humor and warmth. This is the 2000 Newbery Award winner for its excellence in literary achievement.

English, Karen.
FRANCIE
While waiting to move north, spunky Francie navigates the segregated society of rural "Jim Crow-era" Alabama, helping an African-American boy accused of assault to escape.

Fine, Anne
THE TULIP TOUCH
When Natalie's hotel-manager father moves the family into the sprawling Palace, Natalie makes friends with the strange and lonely girl Tulip. Tulip monopolizes Anne and invents unpleasant games that eventually turn dangerous over the years. 

Fox, Paula
ONE-EYED CAT
Ned knows he shouldn't shoot the air rifle he got for a present. Even though his father and invalid mother have forbidden it, he can't resist. One night he sneaks out and fires it. A few days later, a cat with only one eye appears, and Ned is filled with guilt that just won't disappear. 

Gantos, Jack. 
JOEY PIGZA SWALLOWED THE KEY
Simultaneously poignant, funny, and horrifying, this staccato novel about a good kid with ADHD brilliantly replicates in style the feel of being "wired." Its sequal JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL about Joey's relationship with his father is humorous and poignant. This second book won a Newbery Honor in 2001.

Gantos, Jack.
WHAT WOULD JOEY DO? (Fiction)
In this conclusion of the Joey Pigza trilogy, everything in Joey's life gets even wackier. Joey's parents are fighting big time (with motorcycle stunts and other disasters to show for it,) his grandma is getting weaker, and he is sent to be home-schooled by a preachy woman whose daughter is blind and mean. Joey has to try extra hard to keep his sanity!

George, Jean C.
JULIE
In this sequel to the Newbery winner Julie of the Wolves, Julie must find her own path between the Eskimo ways she loves and the modern world that intrudes on the tundra -- and she falls in love with a young Siberian man. 

Giff, Patricia Reilly.
PICTURES OF HOLLIS WOODS. (Fiction)
12-year-old Hollis Woods has been sent to (and running away from) one foster home after another all her life. She is an amazing artist. With descriptions of her drawings, Hollis tells a moving story of a deeply bonding relationship with her newest foster mother, artist Josie, and her dream of a perfect family. This is a 2003 Newbery Honor Book.

Hamilton, Virginia
COUSINS
Concerned that her grandmother may die, Cammy is unprepared for the accidental death of another relative and the feeling of guilt she must deal with. 

Hearne, Betsy.
WISHES, KISSES, AND PIGS
When 11-year-old Louise' accidental wish comes true that turns her older brother into a pig, a series of comical situations soon follow. This is a tremendously enjoyable story with a lot of heart.

Henkes, Kevin. 
WORDS OF STONE 
Dealing with his troubled feelings for his dead mother, ten-year old Blaze has his life changed when he meets boisterous and irresistible Joselle. 

Hill, Kirkpatrick
TOUGHBOY AND SISTER
The death of their drunken father strand Toughboy and his younger sister at a remote fishing cabin in the Yukon, where they spend a summer trying to cope with dwindling food and hostile wildlife. 

Holt, Kimberly Willis.
WHEN ZACHARY BEAVER CAME TO TOWN
When Zachary Beaver, a 600-pound teenager, came to Antler, Texas, home of 13-year-old Toby Wilson, Toby’s world and his view of the world will change dramatically.

Horvath, Polly.
EVERYTHING ON A WAFFLE
When 11-year-old Primrose's parents are missing and presumed dead in a wild sea storm, she is the only one that believes that they will return home safely. Although the underlining story is serious and sad, Polly Horvath manages to make all the characters and events humorous, and often hilarious. It's quite an experience to read about Primrose's misadventures in losing a fingertip and a toe. And, it's fun to read all the recipes at the end of each chapter -- and to think that EVERYTHING (including seafood) can be served on a waffle! This was the 2002 Newbery Honor book. 

Horvath, Polly.
TROLLS
This is a collection of episodic wild tales told by Aunt Sally to the three Anderson children while she baby-sits.

Klise, Kate.
REGARDING THE FOUNTAIN: A TALE, IN LETTERS, OF LIARS AND LEAKS
This short, beautifully illustrated "watery" story has so many twists and turns and so many word plays that it will amuse you on a hot summer day. Two more highly entertaining books by the same author are LETTERS FROM CAMP and TRIAL BY JOURNAL.

Konigsburg, E.L.
T-BACKS, T-SHIRTS, COAT, AND SUIT
Freedom of expression suddenly becomes a vital, complex issue to Chloe when her aunt's livelihood as the driver of a food-service van is jeopardized by competitors who wear revealing thong bathing suits. 

Konigsburg, E.L.
THE VIEW FROM SATURDAY
While preparing for the Academic Bowl, four students and their teacher learn as much from each other as they do from their books. The 1997 Newbery Medal Winner. 

Koss, Amy Golden
THE GIRLS 
Told from 5 different girls' perspectives, Maya's experience of being "dropped" from a popular group of 5 girls in her school is realistic, cruel, but ultimately triumphant. 

Lawrence, Iain
GHOST BOY
Tired of the taunts and indignities of the local residents, fourteen-year-old Harold, an albino, runs away to join the circus.

Levine, Gail Carson.
DAVE AT NIGHT
Dave becomes an orphan at the beginning of the story and is sent to the Hebrew Home for Boys (or Hell Hole of Brats, or any other combination of words that make up the abbreviation HHB.) He never stops trying to escape. When he sneaks out at night he meets a mysterious old man who introduces him to a different life and world. This is a heart-warming and exciting story, based loosely on Levine’s own father.

Lisle, Janet Taylor.
LOST FLOWER CHILDREN
After their mother's death, Olivia and Nellie go to live with their great aunt, where they find an overgrown garden. They also find a storybook in which children at a tea party are transformed by fairies into flowers. Only by finding all the teacups can the flower children be freed from their spell. When the a blue cup mysteriously turns up, the girls start a journey to bring both the flower children and the garden back to life.

MacLachlan, Patricia
JOURNEY
Journey is 11 the summer his mother leaves him and his sister Cat with their grandparents. Journey finds that the camera is a means of finding things that his naked eye has missed – things like the love that still binds his family together even though his mother has left.

McEwan, Ian
THE DAYDREAMER
The daydreams of ten-year-old Peter are presented in a series of vivid, humorous, and sometimes bizarre episodes that include changing places with a cat and a baby, being attacked by a group of dolls, and catching a burglar.

McKay, Hilary.
SAFFY'S ANGEL (fiction)
Saffy finds out at the beginning of this humorous story that she was adopte, into this very loving but quirky family of artists. She becomes obssessed with the idea to search for an angel statue in Italy which she remembers from the toddler days with her mother. Her riotous trip and the collection of eccentric characters make this a memorable read.

Morgenstern, Susie, translated by Gill Rosner
A BOOK OF COUPONS
The weird new (but very old) teacher Messiure Noel wins his students' hearts by giving them strange coupons (for being late to school, for forgetting your homework, for dancing wherever you want...) and precious life lessons.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds
THE AGONY OF ALICE series
Alice thinks about her father's and older brother's love lives while planning a wedding as part of an assignment for her eighth-grade health class. Alice learns that you cannot prepare for all of life's decisions. You'll enjoy all of the books in the "Alice" series beginning with The Agony of Alice. 

Paterson, Katherine
FLIP-FLOP GIRL
Vinnie, whose family moves to Virginia after her father dies, is fascinated with her classmate Lupe -- a fascination that quickly turns to rivalry when she is led to believe that their teacher favors Lupe over herself. 

Paterson, Katherine
JACOB HAVE I LOVED
Feeling deprived all her life of schooling, friends, mother, and even her name by her twin sister, Louise finally begins to find her identity. Others: THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS 

Paulsen, Gary
BRIAN'S WINTER (Companion book to Hatchet)
Instead of being rescued from a plane crash, as in the author's book HATCHET, this story portrays what would have happened to Brian had he been forced to survive a winter in the wilderness with only his survival pack and hatchet. 

Peck, Richard.
A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO: A NOVEL IN STORIES
This Depression-era novel is made up of seven humorous, rollicking tales about a boy and the summers he spent with his larger-than-life grandmother. The 1999 Newbery Honor Book.

Peck, Richard.
A YEAR DOWN YONDER
A rip-roaring story set against the backdrop of the Depression Era, features a grandmother who is a sharp shooter, bakes the most delicious pies, steals pumpkins from her neighbor's garden, plays tricks on Halloween pranksters, and is truely kind-hearted. The 2001 Newbery winner, this book is the sequel to A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO.

Pfeffer, Susan Beth
THE YEAR WITHOUT MICHAEL
The unexplained disappearance of high-school student Michael throws his family into a state of uncertainty and agony. 

Rylant, Cynthia
MISSING MAY
An eccentric cast of characters provide the focal point for this moving story, which grapples with the most important questions of all: Why do people die, and how do the survivors go on? 

Sachar, Louis.
HOLES
Stanley Yelnats (his name is a palindrome) finds himself digging holes at a Texas detention camp for wayward boys in this stunningly circular novel about bad luck, justice, friendship, and fate. The 1999 Newbery Award Book.

Voight, Cynthia
HOMECOMING (series)
At the beginning of the summer, their mother left Dicey and her brothers and sister in a car in a parking lot… and never came back. So Dicey led them on a long and difficult journey to find a home with the grandmother they'd never met. This is a wonderful book with characters you'll never forget. The sequel to the book is Dicey's Song, and Dicey is the most memorable heroine to come along in a long time. In it you'll meet a boy named Jeff Greene. . .his story is told in a companion novel, A Solitary Blue. 

Whelan, Gloria
HOMELESS BIRD
As tradition dictates, thirteen-year-old Koly enters into an ill-fated arranged marriage only to find herself a homeless widow who must decide whether to join the hordes chanting for food or find the courage to change her life.* Whelan's ANGEL ON THE SQUARE is also about a courageous young girl who lived in Russia in 1913.

Wiles, Deborah.
LOVE, RUBY LAVENDER
Nine-year-old Ruby Lavender corresponds with her grandmother by leaving notes and letters in the hollow of a tree in town. Ruby Lavender is full of life and excitement, but what happened in the accident last summer cast a dark shadow over her life and makes her and Melba Jane arch-enemies. In this poignant, sometimes very comical, story, readers see how mis-understanding and misinformation can lead to bigger divide amongst people and how truth and facts make it possible for people to forgive each other.

CLASSICS

Alcott, Louisa May
LITTLE MEN
At the close of Little Women Jo tells her family that she and her husband will open a school for boys at Plumfield. This is the story of Jo's school and the boys --for all those readers who never wanted Little Women to end. The story continues in Jo's Boys. 

Burnett, Frances H.
LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY
An American boy goes to live with his grandfather in England, discovers a secret garden and finds friends and happiness. 

Defoe, Daniel
ROBINSON CRUSOE
Known to many of you, this is the classic tale of the castaway, his island and Man Friday. Always good for another reading. 

Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
You and Dr. Watson can attempt to figure out all the clues which Sherlock Holmes finds so simple. (Includes The Man with the Twisted Lip and The Adventures of the Blue Carbuncle.) 

Dumas, Alexandre
THE THREE MUSKETEERS (and others)
This is perhaps the greatest "cloak and sword" story ever written; it is a fast-paced tale of the heroic deeds of Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan as defenders of Louis XIV. Also THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. 

DuMaurier, Daphne
REBECCA
The mysterious atmosphere of an old English estate and the peculiar behavior of the housekeeper arouse a young bride's suspicions about the death of her husband's first wife. 

Herriot, James
ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL (series)
The humorous, serious and heartwarming adventures of an English veterinarian are fun to read. 

London, Jack
THE CALL OF THE WILD
The classic survival story of a domesticated dog stolen from his California home to work as a sled dog during the Alaskan gold rush. 

Montgomery, L.M.
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES (Series)
This is the historically heroic tale of eleven-year-old Anne, an orphan child who is adopted by a foster family, and her struggles to win the heart of her foster mother. 

Nesbit, E.
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN
This is the classic tale of three marvelously unsupervised children and their delightful adventures as they live near a railway in the turn-of-the-century English countryside. Also, THE ENCHANTED CASTLE.

Poe, Edgar Allan
SELECTED TALES 
These exquitely written horror and detective stories are timeless-- to be read and re-read. 

Saint-Exupery, Antoine
THE LITTLE PRINCE
An airplane pilot, forced to land in the desert, learns about life on other planets from a little prince. This book has been delighting readers since l943. 

Stevenson, Robert L.
TREASURE ISLAND
Generations have loved this tale of adventure, piracy, and hidden wealth. Jim Haling sets out to recover the hidden fortune which many dangerous men are plotting to obtain. His adventures on the island are filled with thrills and suspense. 

Webster, Jean.
DADDY LONG-LEGS
The wonderful story of a spirited orphaned girl and her tender relationship with her mysterious benefactor.

SCIENCE FICTION

Asimov, Isaac.
FANTASTIC VOYAGE
Four men and one woman, reduced to a microscopic fraction of their original size, board a miniaturized submarine and travel through the bloodstream of a brilliant scientist to save his life--and the world.

Asimov, Isaac.
FOUNDATION (series)
In this classic science fiction tale, the Foundations are created by Hari Seldon to preserve human culture after the collapse of the first galactic empire. The series follows the developments as the Foundations struggle to survive and fulfill the mission.

Card, Orson Scott.
ENDER’S GAME and ENDER’S SHADOW
In these two companion stories (published 20 years apart) Ender and Bean are two brilliant young children who are given the burden of saving humanity from the invading alien force. Action packed, these two titles are thoughtful and deal with human nature in the most profound fashion. 

Dickinson, Peter 
EVA 
When Eva wakes up in her hospital bed after the terrible accident, she finds her mind and memory transferred into the body of a Chimp. She has to learn how to "talk" with a keyboard hanging from her neck, and how to "live" with the impulse and ancient, almost tribal, memory of the body her mind now inhabits.  Incredibly convincing in details, Dickinson's somber prophecy of the future of our society will make you look at our world differently. 

DuPrau, Jeanne.
THE CITY OF EMBER (Science Fiction)
It is the year 241 in the City of Ember. People are getting really desperate: the canned food supply which was believed to be endless is shrinking rapidly; the generator for electricity that is the only source of light for the entire city is faltering; the potatoes in the Greenhouse are suffering from a strange disease. In addition, no one has ever discovered what is beyond the Edge of the City, except for endless darkness. Twelve-year-old Lina and Doon are determined to find a way out of Ember and save the citizens of their beloved City. This adventurous story will keep you on the edge of your seat until the exhilarating end.

Farmer, Nancy 
THE EAR, THE EYE, AND THE ARM 
A book about three African siblings and three mutant private eyes in 2194 Zimbabwe. Nancy Farmer weaves elements of science fiction, folklore, and mystery into a fantastic tale.  This is a 1995 Newbery Honor book. 

Farmer, Nancy.
HOUSE OF THE SCORPION
In a future world, young Matt is a perfect clone of the elderly (140 years old) Matteo Alacran, the de facto King of a country called Opium. Once Matt's vital organs are harvested to prolong Alacran's life, he's done for. Matt must escape. In this breathtaking and fascinating tale of survival, readers will see the strength of friendship and loyalty. We will also ponder: What does it mean to be human? This book won the 2002 National Book Award for Young Readers.

Haddix, Margaret.
AMONG THE HIDDEN series
At a future U.S. when every family can only have two children, Luke, 12, the third boy in his farming family, has been hidden since birth, safe for the time being from the Population Police. Will Luke be able to change his world with the help of an underground organization? 

Haddix, Margaret.
AMONG THE IMPOSTERS
In this sequel to AMONG THE HIDDEN, Luke has a chance to change his identity and to come out in the open, as another preson altogether in a posh boarding school. The school proves to be more dangerous and more mysterious than Luke has ever expected. This page-turner will keep readers on their toes the entire time.

Mahy, Margaret 
ALIENS IN THE FAMILY 
Jake expects to hate her stepsister and step-brother, but ends up helping them protect an alien from another dimension fleeing mysterious pursuers with the ability to alter time. 

Paulsen, Gary.
THE TRANSALL SAGA 
While backpacking in the desert, thirteen-year-old Mark falls into a tube of blue light and is transported to a more primitive world. He must use his knowledge and skills to survive. 

Sleator, Willliam
THE INTERSTELLAR PIG
Barney's strange new neighbors invite him to play a bizarre board game called Interstellar Pig, which actually spans the universe and destroys worlds. Sleator's other titles you will enjoy are: THE BOY WHO REVERSED HIMSELF; INTO THE DREAM; THE FINGER.

Sleator, William.
MARCO'S MILLIONS
In this exciting prequel to THE BOXES, Marco discovers the tool and secret to traveling amongst the planets via a passageway in his basement. High emotional prices have to be paid at the end for this knowledge and ability.

Verne, Jules 
20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA 
A huge, glowing sea monster has attacked and wrecked several ships! Professor Arronax joins a mission to hunt down the monster, and finds himself aboard a secret submarine. It's exciting to explore the ocean's depths, but what if he wants to leave? Captain Nemo seems to have made him a captive -- 20,000 leagues under the sea!  Also: JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH.

Waugh, Sylvia.
SPACE RACE
Patrick, 11-year-old, is scheduled to go back home, not to another city or country, but to his home planet, Ormingat. However, Patrick's feeling toward Earth makes him reluctant to leave. When he is separated from his father in an accident, the plot thickens and he has to figure out what's in store for him in the future.

Wells, H.G. 
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS 
The Martians are landing on earth! They've already destroyed London. Who or what can stop them from taking over the whole world? This classic story brings the hysteria and madness of a nightmare to life. 

FANTASY

Aiken, Joan 
IS UNDERGROUND 
Bound to keep a promise to her dead uncle, Is travels to the mysterious north country to find two missing boys--one of them a prince-- and to discover why so many children in London are disappearing. The latest book in the popular Wolves Chronicles. 

Alexander, Lloyd 
THE BOOK OF THREE Series
The first title in the Chronicles of Prydain, in which Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper of Prydain becomes involved in a hazardous mission to save his country from the forces of evil. 

Almond, David.
KIT'S WILDERNESS
In an old coal-mining town, thirteen-year-old Kit meets a boy who invites him to play the game of "Death," and discovers the stories and ghosts of his child-ancestors.

Anthony, Piers 
THE XANTH Series 
For those who like their fantasy adventures laced with humor and puns--enter the world of Xanth, the enchanted land where magic rules, and every citizen has a special spell only he can cast. The series begins with A Spell for Chameleon. 

Bradshaw, Gillian 
THE DRAGON AND THE THIEF 
In ancient Egypt, an unlucky young man meets a wealthy dragon and together they have dangerous -- but exciting --adventures. 

Brooks, Terry 
THE SWORD OF SHANNARA  (Series)
Spanning hundreds of years, this richly detailed fantasy saga combines sword-and-sorcery and quest elements in following the adventures of assorted elves, trolls, dwarfs, gnomes, humans, and sorcerers both good and evil. Also: The Elfstones of Shannara, The Wishsong of Shannara, The Scions of Shannara, and First King of Shannara. 

Chetwin, Grace 
THE RIDDLE AND THE RUNE 
To find his wizard mother and return her magic rune, Tom must first solve a riddle and thwart the evil Katak. 

Cooper, Susan 
THE BOGGART 
By mistake, Emily and her brother, Jessup, carry a mischievous old spirit with them from Castle Keep in Scotland to their home in Canada, where it creates havoc in their lives. 

Cooper, Susan 
OVER SEA, UNDER STONE 
The first of The Dark is Risingseries in which the three Drew children find an ancient map in the attic and begin the search for a grail that will reveal the true story of King Arthur -- and entrap them in a battle between the forces of Light and the forces of Dark. (Continue the series if you like the first one.) 

Crossley-Holland, Kevin.
THE SEEING STONE
Arthur, a boy who lived on an English manor in 1199, finds a magical stone which meshes his life with that of his namesake, King Arthur. This is the first book in a trilogy. The second title is AT THE CROSSING-PLACE.

Duane, Diane 
HIGH WIZARDRY 
When her younger sister uses the family computer with its special wizard software to travel to worlds light years away, Nita uses her wizardry to try and find her.  Also: So You Want to Be a Wizard and Deep Wizardry. 

Eddings, David 
PAWN OF PROPHECY 
The first book in the Belgariad series, in which the sorcerer Belgarath, his daughter Polgara, and his grandson Garion, strive to fulfill the prophecy that sets Garion against the evil god Torak. The saga continues in the Mallorean series. 

Enzensberger, Hans Magnus. Translated by Michael Henry Heim.
THE NUMBER DEVIL: A MATHEMATICAL ADVENTURE
12-year-old Robert is bored with math and can’t stand his math teacher whose main interest in life is to secretly eat pretzels when his students are solving math problems. When the Number Devil starts to visit Robert in his dreams, however, Robert is intrigued and inspired by the funky things numbers can do!

Farmer, Nancy
A GIRL NAMED DISASTER
A 1997 Newbery Honor book, this is the story of eleven-year-old Nhamo who travels to Zimbabwe to escape her impending marriage to a cruel man with three wives. On her way, she must struggle with starvation and drowning. 

Ferris, Jean.
ONCE UPON A MARIGOLD
This delightful fairy tale's main characters are Marigold, a princess, and Christian, a forest foundling, who form a great friendship because they both love reading and writing. In fact, they send p-mail (mail carried by pigeons) to each other before they even met in person. Lots of actions and funny scenes.

Jacques, Brian 
REDWALL 
When his beloved Redwall Abbey is attacked by a hoard of rats led by the vicious Cluny the Scourge, young Matthias Mouse finds that he has the makings of a warrior and a hero. Also: Mattimeo, Mossflower, Mariel of Redwall, Salamandastron, Martin the Warrior, The Bellmaker, The Outcast of Redwall and the latest in the series Pearls of Lutra. 

Jones, Diana Wynne 
HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE and CASTLE IN THE AIR 
In these two stories, quite different in their settings, Jones weaves magic and humor to create the foremost entertainment for her readers. 

Jones, Diana Wynne 
A CHARMED LIFE (The Chrestomanci series)
Magic is an everyday affair in the charmed world of the story. It bubbles with invention and surprises. You'll meet Cat and Gwendolen and Chrestomanci -- and you'll never know who may turn out to be a witch or an enchanter!  Don't miss other titles with Chrestomanci -- LIVES OF CHRISTOPHER CHANT, THE MAGICIANS OF CAPRONA, and WITCH WEEK -- wickedly fun read. 

L'Engle, Madeleine.
MANY WATERS 
Sandy and Dennys, twins, find themselves in a harsh, remote desert land where unicorns, mammoths and humans are embroiled in many conflicts. A continuation of the author's famed Time books, A WRINKLE IN TIME is the first title, then A WINKD IN THE DOOR, then A SWIFTLY TILTING PLANET. 

Levine, Gail Carson. 
ELLA ENCHANTED 
A story about a girl who has a curse and the curse never allows her to disobey anybody. This clever and refreshing retelling of the classic Cinderella story contains a lot of humor and a moving romance.

McGraw, Eloise 
THE MOORCHILD 
A changeling, half-folk and half-human, struggles with her identity and place in the medieval village of Torskaal. A 1997 Newbery Honor Book. 

McKinley, Robin 
THE HERO AND THE CROWN and THE BLUE SWORD 
Seeking her birthright, Aerin, daughter of a Damarian king, becomes the legendary female warrior whose blue sword is wielded years later by Harry Crewe, a young woman destined to be another female warrior. 

McMullan, Kate 
UNDER THE MUMMY'S SPELL 
Peter takes dares. When his friend dares him to kiss a mummy, it unleashes an ancient power struggle with an evil force from the past. Chapters alternate between Peter's world and ancient Egypt, keeping the action fast, the mood intense, and the dialogue funny. 

Morris, Gerald.
PARSIFAL'S PAGE
The story of one of Arthur's knights, Parsifal, is reworked here with plenty of action, magic and humor. Parsifal appears as an ignorant, innocent young man asking to be made a knight. Eleven-year-old Piers becomes his page and companion, and Parsifal's adventures are seen through his eyes.

Nesbit, E. 
THE ENCHANTED CASTLE 
Four English children find a wonderful world of magic through an enchanted wishing ring. 

Nicholson, William
THE WIND SINGER
Kestrel Hath and her twin brother Bowman escape from their stifling city of Aramanth to rescue the key to the wind singer and free their people. The sequels MASTER OF THE SLAVERY and FIRESONG are also highly recommended. 

Pearce, Philippa 
TOM'S MIDNIGHT GARDEN 
Forced to visit relatives, Tom is unhappy --until the old grandfather clock strikes l3, and he is transported back in time. 

Pierce, Tamora 
ALANNA: THE FIRST ADVENTURE 
Alanna, who wants to be a knight, pretends to be a boy in order to progress from page to squire. The series continues with In the Hand of the Goddess ,The Woman Who Rides Like a Man, and Lioness Rampant. 

Pierce, Tamora 
THE IMMORTALS (series) 
WILD MAGIC, WOLF-SPEAKER, EMPEROR MAGE, and THE REALMS OF THE GODS are the first two titles in this series in which you will descover all the incredible and fantastic abilities of Daine's, including possessing any animal's body to use as her own and bringing creatures back from the dead. 

Pullman, Phillip 
THE GOLDEN COMPASS 
Possibly one of the most important fantasy work for young readers this decade.  This mesmerising tale about Lyra, a girl living in a London that is strangely similar to and yet different from "our" London, and her ability to foretell future using  the alethiometer (the golden compass) will grab you and compel you to devour the next title in the planned trilogy, THE SUBTLE KNIFE, where Lyra meets the boy who finds the subtle knife that enables them to go from world to world to world. 

Pullman, Philip
THE AMBER SPYGLASS
In this powerful ending of a thrilling trilogy, as war rages and Dust drains from the sky, the fate of the living and dead comes to depend on Lyra and Will, two ordinary children with extraordinary powers. The first two titles in the trilogy are THE GOLDEN COMPASS and THE SUBTLE KNIFE.

Rowling, J.K.
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE
Harry Potter is an orphan who, upon turning 11, finds himself attending the mysterious Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is famous and he is clueless about why he is so famous – until he starts exploring and discovering all sorts of incredible powers he has. This first book of a series is followed by HARRY POTTER AND THE SECRET CHAMBER, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, and HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE..

Sherman, Josepha 
CHILD OF FAERIE, CHILD OF EARTH 
Percinet, half-human son of a queen of Faerie, falls in love with a mortal and leaves his realm of magic to defend her against her cruel stepmother, a secret sorceress. 

Sutcliff, Rosemary 
THE LIGHT BEYOND THE FOREST 
A vibrant retelling of Arthurian legend by one of the greats in the field of historical fantasy. Also: The Sword and the Circle and The Road to Camlann. 

Tolkien, J.R.R. 
THE HOBBIT 
This is the prelude to The Lord of the Rings series, in which Bilbo Baggins is drawn from his quaint hobbit-hole to wondrous adventures involving elves, dwarves, goblins and dragons in the far-off magic lands beyond the Misty Mountains. 

Wrede, Patricia 
DEALING WITH DRAGONS 
Bored with traditional palace life, a princess goes off to live with a group of dragons and soon becomes involved in fighting against some disreputable wizards who want to steal away the dragons' kingdom. The first story in The Enchanted Forest Chronicles series. 
 
 

MYSTERY & SUSPENSE 

Avi
THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE
As the lone passenger on a transatlantic voyage aboard the Seahawk in l832, Charlotte learns that the captain is murderous and the crew rebellious and she finds herself accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty!

Bellairs, John
SECRET OF THE UNDERGROUND ROOM
When Father Higgins disappears, Johnny and Professor Childermass discover clues which lead to England and a long-dead knight.

Byars, Betsy
TAROT SAYS BEWARE
Herculeah Jones is back in another mystery. This one is a bit more chilling than The Dark Stairs,the first in the series. Eccentric fortuneteller Madame Rosa is killed, and Herculeah finds the body

Duncan, Lois
SUMMER OF FEAR
Cousin Julia has come to stay. Although everyone else finds her enchanting, Rachel is sure something is terribly wrong--and she's right! Also: STRANGER WITH MY FACE and DOWN A DARK HALL.

Funke, Cornelia. (Translated by Oliver Lastch)
THE THIEF LORD
Prosper and Bo (12 and 5) are newly orphaned brothers who run away from their aunt and uncle because they plan to adopt the angelic-looking Bo but to send Prosper away to boarding school. They run to Venice, the magical city in their mother's view. The Thief Lord (a masked young man who acts like a Robin Hood) take these two and some other street urchins under his wing. They live, like a family, in an abandoned movie theater. But the aunt has hired a detective to track the boys down. Will they be captured? Will the Thief Lord's identity be exposed? And is the legendary Carousel really magical? This is a suspenseful, entertaining, and inspiring read!

Hoobler, Dorothy.
THE DEMON IN THE TEAHOUSE
14-year-old Seikei, the adopted son of Judge Ooka, a Japanese "Sherlock Holm" is sent to solve the mystery of the fires and murders of Geishas in Edo and its nearby pleasure town? The first novel in this series is

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds
JADE GREEN
This is a chilling ghost story in which an orphaned girl, Judith, moving in with her uncle, is confronted with the spirit (and the bloody severed hand) of a girl, Jade Green. Judith tries to solve the sinister mystery on her own.

Nixon, Joan Lowery
THE KIDNAPPING OF CHRISTINA LATTIMORE
Christina has a great life. She’s rich, she goes to a good school, and she is popular. Then, she gets kidnapped and everything changes. What makes it worse is that her parents are convinced that she is an accomplice in her own kidnapping. What will happen to Christina and who is the real culprit? Read and find out.

Nixon, Joan Lowery
THE WEEKEND WAS MURDER!
In a sequel to The Dark and Deadly Pool, Mary Rafferty is again involved in a murder mystery, this time involving a troupe of actors acting out a murder. There is also a ghost and riddles that must be deciphered.

Roberts, Willo Davis
CAUGHT!
After a bus journey in search of their father, Vickie and her younger sister discover that he is missing and may need their help.

Turner, Megan Whalen
THE THIEF
Tales of gods and goddesses are woven throughout this story of Gen, a master thief, who is on an adventurous journey for his king to steal a precious stone. A 1997 Newbery Honor Book.
 
 

HISTORICAL FICTION

Avi.
CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD (Historical Fiction)
When after his mother's death, Asta's son, the nameless boy, found out that he not only had a name, but a noble name. He also found that his life is in danger, being wanted for dead of a crime he did not commit. While running for his life, he encounters Bear, a juggler with a secret and dangerous mission. This exciting, fast paced story set in 14th century England is the 2003 Newbery Winner.

Bergman, Tamar 
ALONG THE TRACKS 
In this book Bergman recounts the stirring adventures of a Jewish boy who is driven from his home by the Germans, and becomes a refugee in the Soviet Union. He then is separated from his family and undergoes many hardships before dramatically enjoying a normal home again. 

Cushman, Karen 
CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY 
Catherine, the daughter of an impoverished knight, is in her fourteenth year when she begins a record of her daily life. Her diary of the year 1290 provides a revealing, amusing, and vivid picture of both Catherine's thoughts and Medieval life. 

Cushman, Karen 
THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE 
This novel takes place in medieval England. A nameless, homeless girl is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife and, in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world. Winner of the 1996 Newbery Award. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple, received the 1997 Newbery Honorable Mention. 

Choi, Sook Nyul 
YEAR OF IMPOSSIBLE GOODBYES 
A young Korean girl survives the oppressive Japanese and Russian occupation of  North Korea during the l940's, to later escape to freedom in South Korea. 

Curtis, Christopher Paul 
THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM - 1963 
A novel that begins as a lighthearted romp follows ten-year-old Kenny and the rest of the "Weird Watsons" of Flint, Michigan, as they travel South in 1963 and  become witnesses of a tragic event of the civil-rights movement. 

Drucker, Malka
JACOB'S RESCUE: A HOLOCAUST STORY 
In answer to his daughter's questions, a man recalls the terrifying years of his childhood when a brave Polish couple hid him and other Jewish children from the Nazis. Based on a true story. 

Hahn, Mary Downing 
STEPPING ON THE CRACKS 
In l944, while her brother is overseas fighting in WW II, Margaret discovers that the school bully Gordy is hiding his own brother, an army deserter, in the woods. 

Hahn, Mary Downing 
THE GENTLEMAN OUTLAW AND ME- ELI 
In 1887 twelve-year-old Eliza, disguised as a boy and traveling toward Colorado in search of her missing father, falls in with a Gentleman Outlaw and joins him in his illegal schemes. 

Hesse, Karen 
LETTERS FROM RIFKA 
In letters to her cousin, Rifka chronicles her family's flight from Russia in l9l9 and her own experiences when she must be left behind in Belgium while the others emigrate to America. 

Hunt, Irene. 
ACROSS FIVE APRILS 
Jethro must run from the farm in southern Illinois, almost alone, during the Civil War. Dangers on the home front prove as exciting as those in battle. 

Kerr, Judith 
WHEN HITLER STOLE PINK RABBIT 
Young Anna has to leave her precious stuffed rabbit behind when her family flees Germany at the start of World War II. A good introduction to what happened to families during the Holocaust. 

Konigsburg, E.L. 
A PROUD TASTE FOR SCARLET AND MINIVER 
As she waits for her husband, King Henry II, to meet her in Heaven, Eleanor of Aquitaine and some of her friends gossip about old times. As she reviews her past, Eleanor, vibrant, headstrong and impatient, brings the Middle Ages to life. 

Levitin, Sonia 
JOURNEY TO AMERICA 
Lisa, her sisters, and her mother leave everything behind and flee from Germany to Switzerland during World War II. There they must wait for Papa to send for them from America. The Platt family's story is continued in Silver Daysand Annie's Promise. 

Lowry, Lois 
NUMBER THE STARS 
The World War II story of two Danish girls, one Jewish, the other not, tells how the Danes risked their lives to protect their Jewish citizens from the Nazis 

Lyons, Mary 
LETTERS FROM A SLAVE GIRL 
This is a fictionalized version of the life of Harriet Jacobs, told in the form of letters that she might have written during her slavery in North Carolina and as she prepared for escape to the North in l842. 

Park, Linda Sue
A SINGLE SHARD
Set in 12th Century Korea, orphaned boy Tree-ear's set out on quests to become accepted into a family, as a budding artist, and as an adopted son. This is a touching story about striving to be both a fine craftsman and a fine human being. 2002 Newbery Medal Winner.

Roth-Hano, Renee 
TOUCH WOOD: A GIRLHOOD IN OCCUPIED FRANCE 
A young Jewish girl and her two little sisters are forced to leave their parents in Paris and take sanctuary in a convent. 

Ryan, Pam Munoz.
ESPERANZA RISING
Esperanza, 13, immigrated from Mexico to California with her mother after her father's death. Her luxurious life before she came to the States was a stark contrast to her life as a migrant-worker in the 1930's. Esperanza's spirit helped her overcome all the harship and find hope and human dignity again. Inspired by the author's grandmother's stories, this lyrical novel won The Pura Belpre Author Medal in 2002.

Speare, Elizabeth 
THE BRONZE BOW 
Ever since Daniel's father and uncle were crucified for unpaid taxes and he was bound to a vile blacksmith, eighteen-year-old Daniel detests his Roman conquerors in Palestine and becomes an outlaw in the nearby mountains. 

Speare, Elizabeth 
THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND 
Kit, an orphan from Barbados, comes to live with her relatives in the Colony of Connecticut. When she befriends an old woman accused of witchcraft, Kit gets drawn into the hysteria of the great witch hunt. 

Taylor, Mildred.
THE LAND
This epic-scaled novel set in the post-Civil War time, delineates the childhood and young manhood of Paul Edward Logan, son of a white slave owner and a slave woman. Being given much priveledge as a child (able to read and write, and reated as one of the legitimate children, etc.) Paul Edward has to suffer much with the reality of life as he grows older. Taylor's masterful skills in portraying the landscape, creating deep and vivid characters, and telling a most compelling story won her the Coretta Scott King Award of 2002, the top 10 best books for young adults, and a Printz Award Honor book for Young Adults.

Westall, Robert
BLITZCAT
During World War II a black cat journeys all across war-ravaged England in an effort to track down her beloved master. 

Whelan, Gloria 
GOODBYE, VIETNAM 
Read this compelling story about the plight of the Vietnamese boat people, told +from the point of view of Mai, a l3-year-old fleeing with her family from their village in the Mekong Delta! 

Wolff, Virginia Euwer.
BAT 6
Twenty-one Oregon girls recall a fateful softball game in 1949 when bigotry left over from World War II throws them a curve ball.

POETRY

Agard, John, ed. 
THE CARIBBEAN DOZEN 
Thirteen Caribbean poets recount childhood experiences in poetry and prose. This collection is both a delight to the eye and the mind.

Bierhorst, John. 
IN THE TRAIL OF THE WIND: AMERICAN INDIAN POEMS AND RITUAL ORATIONS 
This collection of Indian poetry originates from various tribes and is arranged by theme. 

Brenner, Barbara (Editor)
VOICES: POETRY AND ART FROM AROUND THE WORLD
A sampler of traditional, ancient and modern poetry from six continents is interspersed with illustrations of world art and sculpture.

Bryan, Ashley. 
ASHLEY BRYAN'S ABC OF AFRICAN AMERICAN POETRY 
Poems ranging from the intense to the whimsical reflect the diverse voices of poets such as Rita Dove, Lucille Clifton, and Gwendolyn Brooks.  The colorful illustrations add to the appeal of the collection. 

Calmenson, Stephanie. 
NEVER TAKES A PIG OUT TO LUNCH: and other funny poems about animals 
Humorous poems and funny pictures will sure keep you laughing.  A good book to share with a friend. 

Carman, Bliss, ed. 
THE OXFORD BOOK OF CHILDREN'S VERSE IN AMERICA
Three hundred more pages filled with American poems written for children or traditionally enjoyed by children, by Longfellow, Poe, Eugene Field, Dr. Seuss, Jack Prelutsky and many other poets. 

Feelings, Tom, ill. 
SOUL LOOKS BACK IN WONDER 
Tom Feelings' stunning illustrations accompany the powerful poems by some of the most celebrated African American poets, including Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Margaret Walker. 

Hughes, Langston. 
THE DREAM KEEPER AND OTHER POEMS 
A major African-American poet, Hughes' poetry is written in a spirit of racial pride and protest. 

Nye, Naomi Shihab, ed. 
THE SAME SKY: A collection of poems from around the world
A poetry anthology in which 120 poets from sixty-two different countries celebrate the natural world and its human and animal inhabitants.  Elegantly designed and lovingly selected by poet Nye, this collection belongs on any poetry lover's shelf. 

Opie, Iona, ed. 
THE OXFORD BOOK OF CHILDREN'S VERSE 
A standard collection of mainly British poems for children. 

Prelutsky, Jack. 
PIZZA THE SIZE OF THE SUN 
A collection of whimsical short poems illustrated by James Stevenson.  If you like Shel Silverstein, you will enjoy this collection, too.  Also other collections by Prelutsky, including THE DRAGONS ARE SINGING TONIGHT, A. NONNY MOUSE WRITES AGAIN, MONDAY'S TROLL. 

Whipple, Laura, ed. 
CELEBRATING AMERICA: A COLLECTION OF POEMS AND IMAGES OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT 
More than 60 poems portrays the "Land," the "Stories," the "Heart," the "People," and the "Spirit" of America.  Each is carefully paired with a piece of suitable art work from the Art Institute of Chicago.  This anthology gives insightful glimpses to the U.S. history. 

BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY 

Blumberg, Rhoda.
SHIPWRECKED
A true and dramatic account of the very first Japanese man who came to the United States after his fishing boat was shipwrecked in the 1800's.

Cleary, Beverly.
A GIRL FROM YAM HILL 
This is the beloved author's story of her childhood growing up in Oregon in the 1920's and 1930's. Readers will delight in glimpses of her life that later became part of her books. 

Filipovic, Zlata
ZLATA'S DIARY
This diary of a young girl's feelings during the Bosnian war that disrupted her life when it suddenly broke out in her Sarajevo neighborhood has been compared with the diary of Anne Frank.

Fleischman, Sid
THE ABRACADABRA KID: A WRITER'S LIFE
A rollicking autobiographical journey follows Fleischman from budding magician to award winning author.

Freedman, Russell
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CRAZY HORSE
This is an ALA recommended biography of the Oglala leader who relentlessly resisted the white man's attempt to take over Indian lands.

Freedman, Russell
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: A LIFE OF DISCOVERY
The marvelously rich and full life of this legendary first lady is profiled in an excellent photo-biography. A Newbery Honor Book.

Freedman, Russell.
Martha Graham: A Dancer's Life
Illustrated with dynamic photographs, this biography captures the multi-faced life of the famous dancer Martha Graham with beautiful prose.

Gourse, Leslie
DIZZY GILLESPIE AND THE BIRTH OF BEBOP
This is the story of jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, his passion for music and how he charted new territory and won recognition for one of America's greatest original art forms.

Greenberg, Jan and Sandra Jordan.
Chuck Close, Up Close
Personal and artistic challenges loom large for a contemporary American painter in this exciting biography, anchored by many well-chosen photographs and reproductions.

Haskins, James
BAYARD RUSTIN-BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
In this 1997 biography of Bayard Rustin, one understands fully his behind-the-scene's strength and importance in the American civil rights movement, and how much his ideas strongly influenced Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jiang, Ji-Li.
RED SCARF GIRL: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution
Political terror and personal turmoil shape the lives of a girl and her family in this riveting memoir about growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution. 

Josephson, Judith Pinkerton
ALLAN PINKERTON: THE ORIGINAL PRIVATE EYE
This biography examines the life of the detective who founded his own agency and introduced a system of recording criminals to help track them down.

Kehret, Peg
SMALL STEPS: THE YEAR I GOT POLIO
A heartening autobiography that chronicles the sudden illness and excruciating recovery of a young girl stricken with polio.

Lawlor, Laurie.
HELEN KELLER: REBELLIOUS SPIRIT
This carefully researched and fluidly written biography on Helen Keller portrays her as a distinctive and sometimes flawed individual.

Little Jean
HIS BANNER OVER ME
This novelized chronicle of the author's remarkable mother, Flora Gauld, whose parents were missionaries, traces her life from her childhood in Taiwan, through years spent with her relatives in Canada, to her early days as a medical student.

Little, Jean
LITTLE BY LITTLE: A WRITER'S EDUCATION
Jean Little, the blind Canadian author, gives us the autobiography of her early years.

Lobel, Anita.
NO PRETTY PICTURES: A Child of War.
A beloved author-illustrator recounts her childhood experiences as a Polish Jew in hiding, in transit, and in concentration camps before finding refuge in Sweden.

Lowry, Lois. 
LOOKING BACK: A BOOK OF MEMORIES 
Using family photographs and quotes from her books, the very popular author (of THE GIVER and the ANASTASIA KRUPNIC stories) provides glimpses into her life. 

Myers, Walter Dean
TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE: THE FIGHT FOR HAITI'S FREEDOM
Forty-one ominous paintings, first exhibited in 1940, give backbone to this gripping picture biography of the heroic Haitian freedom fighter who led his country to its independence in 1804.

Partridge, Elizabeth.
RESTLESS SPIRIT: The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange
A famed photographer blended artistry and activism better than career and family, according to this intimate biography featuring more than 60 examples of Lange's stirring documentary-style work.

Paulsen, Gary.
GUTS: THE TRUE STORIES BEHIND HATCHET AND THE BRIAN BOOKS (Memoir)
Gary Paulsen records in (often quite gory) details many dangerous situations he experienced and wove into his Brian books, including the extremes of exhaustion and cold he knew in running the Iditarod dog races in Alaska, the chilling close-up knowledge of heart attacks from his experiences as a volunteer ambulance driver, the child killed by two kicks from the razor-sharp hooves of a small deer, the difficulties of sharing a rescue helicopter ride with a terrified dog team, and some spectacular gross-outs about the nutritional need to eat every part of an animal.

Paulsen, Gary. 
MY LIFE IN DOG YEARS 
Nine essays about favorite dogs in Paulsen's life that deeply affected him with their intelligence, loyalty or sense of humor and that befriended, protected or even taught him. 

Paulsen, Gary.
WOODSONG
This is the compelling memoir of Paulsen's intimate relationship with Minnesota's North Woods and the dog team he trained for the Iditarod, a dogsled race across Alaska.

Peet, Bill. 
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY 
This picture book with autobiographical text follows Peet from early boyhood memories to his work for Disney studios and to the creation of his own picture books. Familiar characters from his books and movies appear often. 

Reiss, Johanna
THE UPSTAIRS ROOM
Rachel and Simi, two sisters, have to hide in a room on a Dutch farm in order to survive during World War II. This memorable story is based on the author's own experiences as a young girl during the Holocaust.

Sleator, William. 
ODD BALLS 
A collection of stories about Sleator growing up in a wacky, whimsical family in the conservative 1950's. 

Spinelli, Jerry. 
KNOTS IN MY YO-YO STRING 
Spinelli, author of MANIAC MAGEE and WRINGER, turns regular happenings in his life, like sidewalk races and his first kiss, into hilarious episodes in this autobiography. 

Uchida, Yoshika
THE INVISIBLE THREAD
In her autobiography, the author Yoshiko Uchida describes growing up in California as a Nisei, a second-generation Japanese American, and the story of her family's internment in a Utah concentration camp during World War II.

Warren, Andrea
SURVIVING HITLER: A BOY IN THE NAZI DEATH CAMP
This is a powerful story of Jack Mandelbaum. As a teenager during WWII, he spent three horrific years in a concentration camp, and as a grown-man, he chose the path of tolerance and forgiveness.

Watkins, Yoko Kawashima 
MY BROTHER, MY SISTER AND I 
In this long awaited sequel to So Far from the Bamboo Grove,Yoko, Ko, and Hideyo are living as refugees in Japan in 1947 while trying to locate their missing father. Thirteen-year-old Yoko, her older brother and sister must endure a bad fire, injury, and false charges of arson, theft , and murder.