The Dalton School
6th-into-7th Grade
2005 Summer Reading List

Dear Sixth-into-Seventh Graders,

Reading is a very important part of your experience at Dalton, and we hope that each of you will become a life-long pleasure reader. Summer is a time for recreational reading, for exploring new books or reading those that you never had time for during the busy school year. Although we hope that you will read voraciously this summer, we request that each of you read a minimum of 2 books from this Summer Reading List. In addition to that, please read George Orwell's Animal Farm in late August or early September so that you will be able to discuss it during the first week of school. (This means that you should read at least THREE books over the summer.) We recommend that you keep track of the books you read, and we will ask that you share your summer readings with us.

Enjoy all the activities planned for you and do not forget that READING is a great form of ENTERTAINMENT!

We wish you a great summer and look forward to seeing you this fall!

Sincerely,

Carolyn Karp & Anisha Lakhani
7th Grade English Teachers
Middle School Librarians
http://www.dalton.org/mslib/

A list of bookstores and libraries where you can find these books.

Quick Links to Sections

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY TITLES

FICTION (REALSTIC AND HISTORICAL)

ABELOVE, JOAN
GO AND COME BACK
Set in a fictional tribe in the Peruvian jungle, the story is told from a first-person point of view of a young tribal girl about her encounters with two anthropologists from New York.

ALMOND, DAVID
THE FIRE-EATERS
Having grown up in Keely Bay, in 1962, during the Cuban Missle Crisis, young Bobby Burns is grateful for the wonderfully talented and unique people he has come to know in his community, but when his father gets sick and he is sent to a new school with an abusive teacher, Bobby turns to his friend, fire-eater Ailsa Spink for support in seeing him through dark times ahead.

BANKS, LYNNE REID
ONE MORE RIVER
Lesley's life is perfect until her father decides to give up everything and move the family to a kibbutz in Israel. The adjustment is hard for everyone, especially when the Six-Day War breaks out.

BAUER, JOAN
HOPE WAS HERE
Sixteen-year-old Hope and her aunt move to a small town in Wisconsin to join the "short order dance" of life at the Welcome Stairways Diner. In the course of just a few months, Hope encounters issues as diverse as her customers: corruption in politics, a new love, serious illness and the meaning of family. Newbery Honor Book

BAUER, JOAN
SQUASHED
Ellie Morgan's life would be almost perfect if she could just get her potentially prize-winning pumpkin, Max, to put on about 200 pounds, and if she could take off twenty herself. Then she could become a famous pumpkin-growing personality and squash that obnoxious Cyril Pool once and for all, and maybe get a new boyfriend in the process.

BERGMAN, TAMAR
ALONG THE TRACKS
In World War II, after the Nazis invade Russia, Yankele is separated from his family. He somehow manages to survive for four years on his own as he travels from one railroad station to another with bands of other lost and abandoned children. This remarkable story is based on a true experience.

BROOKS, BRUCE
THE MOVES MAKE THE MAN
As Jerome, a black athlete, shares his skills and interest in basketball with Bix, a white baseball player, their friendship grows and the game becomes a reflection of both their lives.

CARMI, DANIELLA (Translated from Hebrew by Yael Lotan)
SAMIR AND YONATAN.
Samir, a Palestinian boy, enters an Israeli hospital for surgery. The initial fear and antagonism that he feels is mitigated by his bond with Yonatan, an Israeli. The relationship of the children in the ward grows as they face their own physical and emotional trials.

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.

CHOI, SOOK NYUL
YEAR OF IMPOSSIBLE GOODBYES
This is the incredibly moving account of a young Korean girl's life during the Japanese occupation of Korea, and the tale of her harrowing journey to the safety of the 38th parallel.

COLE, BROCK
THE GOATS
Targets of a cruel prank, Laura and Howie, two young teenagers, run away from their summer camp. They soon find themselves facing danger and adventure together and forming steadfast and enduring friendship.

CORMIER, ROBERT
THE CHOCOLATE WAR and BEYOND THE CHOCOLATE WAR
These are two powerful, suspenseful novels about high school politics, cruelty, and conformity. Cormier’s other memorable, if unsettling, novels worth reading are AFTER THE FIRST DEATH, I AM THE CHEESE, and WE ALL FALL DOWN.

CORMIER, ROBERT
FRENCHTOWN SUMMER
In this story, told in blank verse, Eugene, 12-year-old, experiences and expresses his intense feelings of the places, people, symbols, through "the tenement canyons of Frenchtown."

DESAI HIDIER, TANUJA
BORN CONFUSED
Dimple Lala, the insightful 17-year-old narrator of this story of an ABCD (American Born Confused Desi,) tells about her life as a New Jersey Indian-American school girl who, as a perpetual outsider, is always trying to find herself.

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.

FAST, HOWARD
APRIL MORNING
An hour-by-hour account of the Battle of Lexington, this account of historical fiction is compelling to the end.

FINE, ANNE
UP ON CLOUD NINE
In Ian's words, his wacky best buddy Stolly is the most ingenious trouble-maker in history. Although hilarious recollections abound, the readers are keenly aware a dark, suicidal streak in Stolly. Now he lies in a coma in the hospital after falling (or jumping) off of the roof. Told with wry and dark humor but full of compassion, this superbly crafted novel was the finalist for the prestigious Carnegie Award in England.

FLEISCHMAN, PAUL
SEEK
In an intricate narrative pattern that is also a Radio Play, SEEK tells the story of Rob who is obsessed with a quest of seeking out his father, who was a talk radio host and who left him when he was a baby.

FLEISCHMAN, PAUL
WHIRLIGIG
When sixteen-year-old Brent Bishop accidentally causes the death of a young woman, he is sent on an unusual journey of repentance, building wind toys across the land.

GIFF, PATRICIA REILLY
PICTURES OF HOLLIS WOODS
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.

GILMORE, KATE
ENTER THREE WITCHES
Sixteen-year-old Bren finds living with witches hard enough, but how can he prevent his girlfriend from discovering their existence! Full of humorous remarks and situations, this is quite a gem.

GREENE. CONSTANCE C.
SUMMER OF MY GERMAN SOLDIER
Sheltering an escaped prisoner of war is the beginning of some shattering experiences for a twelve-year-old girl from Arkansas. Other titles include BEAT THE TURTLE DRUM and THE LOVE LETTERS OF J. TIMOTHY OWEN.

HENKES, KEVIN
OLIVE'S OCEAN
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.

HESSE, KAREN
WITNESS
In 11 voices, and 11 individual view points, this story of the influence of KKK in the early 20th century in a small town in Vermont unfolds.

HO, MINFONG
RICE WITHOUT RAIN
From changes in her rural village to the student protests in Bangkok, events propel 17-year - old Jinda with increasing speed toward choices that she must make about her own life.

HOLT, KIMBERLY WILLIS
KEEPER OF THE NIGHT
13-year-old Isabel’s life on the Island of Guam is shattered after her mother’s suicide. Keeper of the Night chronicles, in poetic prose and sparkling imagery, Isabel’s doubts, worries, and her strong will to reconstruct life for herself and her remaining family. Holt portrays the everyday life on Guam vividly without ever slipping into exoticism.

KERR, M.E.
NIGHT KITES (and others)
Seventeen-year-old Jim's relationships with his family and friends change when his older brother is diagnosed with AIDS.

KINDL, PATRICIA
OWL IN LOVE
Humorously and tenderly depicted, Owl Tycho's joy and angst of being a "were-owl" (a shape-shifter) who falls in love with her science teacher, guarantees a light but satisfying read.

KONIGSBURG, E.L.
OUTCASTS OF 19 SCHUYLAR PLACE
Margaret Rose, age 12, hates being in Camp Talequa where she suffers from the taunting and humiliating by a clique of girls. She is rescued by her great-grand uncles. But, something is wrong -- her usually loving uncles, who are watchmakers and artists, are distracted and do not care for her the same way they always did. She soon finds out that something the uncles have been building for the last 45 years is going to be destroyed. Margaret Rose springs into action to save the day.

KONIGSBURG, E. L.
A PROUD TASTE FOR SCARLET AND MINIVER
Told in a humorous, tongue-in-cheek style, this is the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of France and then of England. Her wit is sharp as she recounts her life in the l2th century.

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 "meals-on wheels" van is jeopardized by competitors who wear revealing thong bathing suits.

LASKY, KATHRYN
BEYOND THE BURNING TIME
This fictional re-creation of the Salem witch trials gives frightening immediacy to the term witch-hunt as we get caught up in the escalation of events when Mary's mother is brought to trial. It is a novel of the past that becomes a page-turner for today's readers.
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.

LIPSYTE, ROBERT
THE CHEMO KID (and others, especially the CONTENDER and ONE FAT SUMMER)
This intriguing novel tells the story of Fred Bauer, an unremarkable high-school wimp whose life is utterly changed when he discovers a cancerous growth on his neck.

LISLE, JANET TAYLOR
THE ART OF KEEPING COOL
Set during World War II, two cousins face family secrets and community violence aimed at a refugee from Nazi Germany, raising questions about mob mentality, creativity and survival.

MARTIN, ANN M.
A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE
Hattie Owen divides her 12-year-old life history into Before Adam and After Adam. Adam is her mentally disabled uncle whose existence was hidden away by Hattie's parents and grandparents, until the summer when she turns 12. Hattie and Adam become instant pals -- she is Adam's advocate and deeply affected by his eccentric behaviors and often suprisingly insightful views of the world. This is a 2003 Newbery Honor title.

McKAY, HILARY
SAFFY'S ANGEL
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.

MIKAELSEN, BEN
TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR
Cole Matthews is an angry and defiant young man. Because of his violent crime against another 9th grader, he is facing a prison sentence. But then a Tlingit Indian parole officer named Garvey offers Circle Justice, based on Native American traditions, in which victim, offender, and community all work together to find a healing solution, he takes the offer and thinks that he can somewhat "wiggle" out of his punishment. When Cole challenges the giant White Bear and is mauled almost to death, Cole awaits his fate and begins the transition from anger to humility.

MOSHER, RICHARD
ZAZOO
Zazoo, a Vietnamese orphan adopted by a French man who had a terrible and sorrowful past, has to deal with an aging foster parent, her own budding sense of romance, and grappling with the dark past when Nazis invaded France. Even though the tone is tender and often reflective, the story is charged with deep emotion and the plot gripping.

MYERS, WALTER DEAN
FALLEN ANGELS
This is a gripping war novel about the price five young men pay for their tour of duty in Vietnam.

MYERS, WALTER DEAN
MONSTER
This Young Adult Book of the Year (Prinz Award) winner tells a powerful and thoughtful story from the viewpoint of a 16-year-old boy Steve Harmon who is accused of assistance in a murder robbery case and is undergoing trial. The book takes the unusual form of Steve’s imaginary screenplay.

NELSON, THERESA
RUBY ELECTRIC
Ruby deals with her real life problems by visualizing screen plays in her head. Full of humor and drama, Ruby’s voice crackles with electricity.

ORLEV, URI
Translated by Hillel Halkin from Hebrew
RUN, BOY, RUN
At the age of eight, Srulik is left alone in the Warsaw Ghetto, and must fend for himself, even forgetting his name, in order to survive the Holocaust. The 2004 Batchelder Award winner for best translated children's book of the year..

PATON, ALAN
CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY
This powerful novel of conflict and brotherhood between two families set in South Africa under Apartheid continues to haunt us.

PECK, RICHARD
THE RIVER BETWEEN US
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the American Civil War, this intriguing family history of the Pruitts and their mysterious guests: the flamboyant Delphine Duval and her silent maid Calinda features unforgettable characters, vivid descriptions of the home front and the battle fields, and a surprising ending.

PFEFFER, SUSAN BETH
THE YEAR WITHOUT MICHAEL
When fourteen-year-old Michael suddenly disappears, the remaining members of his family are thrown into a state of uncertainty and agony.

PHILBRICK, W.R.
FREAK THE MIGHTY
At the beginning of eighth grade, Max, a slow learner who is HUGE for his age and his new friend Freak, whose birth defect has affected his body but not his brilliant mind, find that when combining forces they make a powerful team.

SEBESTYEN, OUIDA
WORDS BY HEART
Father sets high standards for his Missouri share-cropping family, who struggle against the hatred of neighbors.

SPINELLI, JERRY
MILKWEED
Set during WWII, within the Warsaw Ghetto, MILKWEED is the story of a little orphane boy, who does not remember his parents, does not really know his name, and does not know whether he is a Gypsy or a Jew. He finally settles on being Misha who is good at stealing food and supplies for himself and for others in the Ghetto and because his small size, he could even crawl through a hole in the Wall to get in and out of the Ghetto. This story, told through Misha's innocent voice and with plenty of actions, shows the horror of the Jewish Holocaust and the nobility of human spirit.

THEROUS, PAUL
THE MOSQUITO COAST (and others)
Fourteen-year-old Charlie Fox records his family's experiences pursuing his disgruntled father's utopian dream in the Honduran wilderness.

TOWNSEND, SUE
THE ADRIAN MOLE DIARIES
(The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 : The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole)
Hilarious and quirky, these "secret" diaries of a 13-year-old English boy have entertained many teen readers for a long time. Read it and you’ll see how teenage angst can be so vividly and humorously captured.

VOIGT, CYNTHIA
COME A STRANGER
This is one of the last books in the series that begins with Homecoming, continues with Dicey's Song, and A Solitary Blue. This time the story is about Dicey's friend Minna, a black girl who comes face to face with racism, and has to come to terms with her life. You'll meet memorable characters in these books.

VOIGT, CYNTHIA
IZZY, WILLY-NILLY
Who are your real friends? Izzy struggles to rethink her friendships after losing a leg in a car crash.

WOLFF, VIRGINIA EUWER
TRUE BELIEVER
Possibly the best American novel for young people published in 2001, the journal-verse-style writing delivers a genuine and interesting voice of Verna LaVaughn, 15-year-old inner-city school girl who strives to better herself to "get out" of her neighborhood and the life which is constantly in poverty and in danger of violence. On top of all that, she also is gradually losing her two best friends who are now part of a radical religious group and has to figure out how to mend her broken heart over a loving person who cannot love back. Readers will not be able to put down the book for the beauty of the language and style, for the truth of the characters and their emotions, and for the depth of love and friendship among the characters. This is the sequel to the equally superb MAKE LEMONADE.

WOODSON, JACQUELINE
I HADN'T MEANT TO TELL YOU THIS
In a quiet, beautiful friendship story, two young teenagers resist the racism in their school and the sorrow in their families and help each other find the strength to go on.

WOUK, HERMAN
MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR
Nineteen-year-old Marjorie is offered the job of her dreams -- working in a summer stock company where she meets her first love.

YOLEN, JANE AND ROBERT J. HARRIS
GIRL IN A CAGE
In 1306, 11-year-old Marjorie, daughter of Robert Bruce, newly crowned king of Scotland finds herself captured by the enemy, locked in an iron cage and is displayed outdoors day and night in the Town Square. Marjorie tells in a first-person voice of her captivity and the exciting and moving events leading up to it. This is a compelling historical fiction.

ZINDEL, PAUL
THE PIGMAN
Two teenagers who lead unhappy lives at home form a strange relationship with a lonely old man. Other titles include THE PIGMAN AND ME, THE PIGMAN'S LEGACY, THE AMAZING AND DEATH-DEFYING DIARY OF EUGENE DINGMAN.

CLASSICS/AWARD WINNERS

ALCOTT, LOUISA MAY
LITTLE WOMEN (and others)
The March sisters come of age in Concord during the Civil War.

AUEL, JEAN
CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR (series)
This is the best-selling epic of a lost girl adopted into a tribe of prehistoric hunter-gathers.

CRANE, STEPHEN
THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE
A young soldier comes of age under the stress of Civil War combat.

DICKENS, CHARLES
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Pip's life is changed by a strange circumstance. He grows to adulthood expecting a great inheritance and marriage with his childhood sweetheart -- but neither expectation is fulfilled. And if you have not read A TALE OF TWO CITIES, you might want to consider it a highly recommended option over this summer.

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.

DUMAS, ALEXANDRE
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO
Young sailor Edmond Dantes, unjustly accused of aiding the exiled Napoleon, is sentenced to life imprisonment. After 14 years, Dantes makes a daring escape and uncovers a vast treasure on the island of Monte-Cristo. Adopting the persona of the Count of Monte Cristo, Dantes comes back home to seek revenge. Full of excitement and suspense, this is one to read on summer nights.

FINNEY, JACK
TIME AND AGAIN and FROM TIME TO TIME
For mystery and romance, science fiction and nostalgia, this novel is a must-read!! One night, Si Morley steps out of his twentieth-century Upper West Side apartment - right into the winter of 1882.

HESSE, KAREN
OUT OF THE DUST
Set against the backdrop of the Dust Bowl era Oklahoma, 16-year-old promising young pianist Billie Jo's heart-wrenching story is told in series of free-form poems. For its excellence in literary achievement, this title won Karen Hesse a Newbery Medal in 1998.

KINSELLA, W.P.
SHOELESS JOE
Read this classic story of dreams and baseball! It will enchant you!

KIPLING, RUDYARD
KIM
A young Irish boy in colonial India is involved with a native mystic and the Secret Service.

LONDON, JACK
THE CALL OF THE WILD
This enduring classic story tells the story of an extraordinary dog named Buck who is torn between his love of man and his love of the wild. Another Jack London classic is WHITE FANG, also highly recommended.

MITCHELL, MARGARET
GONE WITH THE WIND
This epic saga of the years before, during and after the Civil War in Georgia continues to fascinate all ages. The many characters include the unforgettable Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler.

NA, AN
A STEP FROM HEAVEN
This story traces the life of Korean-born Young Ju from the age of four through her teenage years, from Korea to the States. Young Ju's steady growth in language and understanding of the new culture presents a sharp contrast of her father's inability to adapt to the new environment. Frustrated, her father becomes abusive. The not-all-happy ending is convincing and promises an uplifting path for the main character. A 2002 Printz Award winner for Young Adult Literature.

PATERSON, KATHERINE
JACOB HAVE I LOVED
Louise knew that she was the despised twin and that Caroline was the one everyone loved best. It took her a long time and a lot of growing up until she could accept herself as a worthwhile person. A Newbery Award Winner.

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 truetrulyd-hearted. ThisNewbery winner is the sequel to A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO.

SMITH, BETTY
A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN
This is the delightful and moving story of the hardships, sorrows and happiness of Francie, a poor girl living in Brooklyn at the turn of the century. A popular novel for generations, it continues to find a wide audience today.

STEINBECK, JOHN
OF MICE AND MEN
The poignant story of George Milton and mentally retarded Lennie searching for a better life is a remarkable classic.

STEVENSON, ROBERT LOUIS
TREASURE ISLAND (and others, especially KIDNAPPED)
Generations have loved this tale about Jim Wawkins who sets out to recover the hidden fortune that many dangerous men are plotting to obtain.

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 privileged as a child (able to read and write, and rated 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, and is one of the top 10 best books for young adults.

TWAIN, MARK
THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER
This is the classically moving story about the swapped identities of a poor Cockney lad and the Prince of Wales. For any Arthurian fan out there, A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT definitely offers a very different view.

TWAIN, MARK
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER &
THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN
Twain's matchless excursion delves into the joys and troubles of boyhood on the Mississippi.

MYSTERY/HORROR

ADAMS, DOUGLAS
DIRK GENTLY'S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY
An ageless absent-minded professor tries to outwit a billion-year-old ghost in this zany murder mystery.

BUNTING, EVE
THE PRESENCE
In alternating point of views, the chilling story of 17-year-old Catherine and her encounter with an evil spirit (The Presence) who resides inside a church and has ensnared young girls for decades unfolds.

CHRISTIE, AGATHA
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (and others)
Hercule Poirot investigates a variety of motives for murder as the Calais Coach races across Europe. The passengers provide the intriguing clues. AND THEN THERE WERE NONE is another masterpiece of psycho-thriller.

DOYLE, SIR ARTHUR CONAN
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (and others)
You and Dr. Watson can attempt to figure out all the clues which Sherlock Holmes finds so simple.

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.

DUNCAN, LOIS
KILLING MR. GRIFFIN
A group of high-school students kidnaps a strict English teacher to get even with him -- and what starts as a prank becomes a horror. Other chilling titles by this talented thriller writer are: I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER; STRANGER WITH MY FACE, and LOCKED IN TIME.

HAMILTON, VIRGINIA
SWEET WHISPERS, BROTHER RUSH
Convincing detail and moving characters heighten the drama in this gripping ghost story that probes into two generations of a family's secret.

NAYLOR, PHYLLIS REYNOLDS
JADE GREEN: A GHOST STORY
While living with her uncle in a house haunted by the ghost of a young woman, recently orphaned Judith Sparrow wonders if her one small transgression causes mysterious happenings.

NIXON, JOAN LOWERY
THE OTHER SIDE OF DARK (and many others)
Stacey has been in a coma for four years. When she awakens, she finds herself suddenly 17 years old and ready to locate and identify the boy who murdered her mother.

WYNNE-JONES, TIM
THE BOY IN THE BURNING HOUSE
In this action-packed thriller, 14-year-old Jim tries to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance from their rural Canadian community. He gets help from the disturbed Ruth Rose, who suspects her stepfather, a local pastor, and together they discover a series of secrets.

SCIENCE FICTION

ADAMS, DOUGLAS
THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
The hilarious journey of Arthur Dent and his friend Ford Prefect, who escape from Earth seconds before it is demolished and travel to a variety of galactic civilizations while gathering information for a hitchhiker's guidebook. Read the entire trilogy if you find this one fascinating: THE RESTAURANT AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSE and LIFE, UNIVERSE & EVERYTHING,

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.

BELL, HILARI
A MATTER OF PROFIT
In this sci-fi mystery, Ahvren, the son of Saiden, investigates the rumored rebel force against the Emperor of The T'Chin Empire, a confederation of 40 planets. Along the way Ahvren learns much about himself, the larger picture of the T'Chins, and the secrets to maintaining the delicate balance amongst various species. T'Chin is a vivid and distinctive world and the alien life forms and cultures are entirely believable.

BRADBURY, RAY
DANDELION WINE
A twelve-year-old boy experiences the events of a strange and wonderful summer.

BRADBURY, RAY
FAHRENHEIT 451
This is the classic tale of an unsettling future in which all books are banned or burned.

CARD, ORSON SCOTT
ENDER'S GAME (series)
In this first book of a series (SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD, XENOCIDE & CHILDREN OF THE MIND), young (very young) Ender Wiggin is destined to become the leader of a troop of child army in a space mission to completely annihilate an alien species on another planet. New York Times called this Hugo and Nebula awards winner "intense." but it has more than just intensity. It is intelligent and full of surprises and imagination.

CARD, ORSON SCOTT
ENDER’S SHADOW
What an achievement! Card manages to tell yet another intriguing and gripping story based on a minor character from ENDER’S GAME, 20 odd years later. Bean’s story of surviving in the toughest environment and outsmarting the most vicious enemies in Battle School is as well-crafted, exciting, and insightful as its predecessor. The sequels to ENDER'S SHADOW are SHADOW OF THE HEGEMON and SHADOW PUPPETS.

CLARKE, ARTHUR C.
CHILDHOOD'S END
In the near future, Earth is invaded and ruled by a kindly superior species, which is preparing humanity for a giant evolutionary step forward.

CLARKE, ARTHUR C.
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
After a signal is discovered on the moon, astronauts set out to trace its source, only to have their plans endangered by a computer gone berserk.

CRICHTON, MICHAEL
THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN
In a race to find out why people are dying in a small western town and whether Los Angeles will be next, Crichton is at his best.

CRICHTON, MICHAEL
JURASSIC PARK (Sequel: THE LOST WORLD)
When a scientist decides to clone dinosaurs to create an exciting theme park, chaos and terror reign.

DuPrau, Jeanne.
THE CITY OF EMBER
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
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 IMPOSTERS
In AMONG THE HIDDEN, 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. At the end of the first book, Luke's safe haven was destroyed and now he has a chance to change his identity and to come out in the open, as another person together 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. Follow-ups to these two titles are: AMONG THE BETRAYED and AMONG THE BARONS.

HEINLEIN, ROBERT
STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND (and others)
Robert Heinlein gives his satirical view of human behavior as observed by the first human born on Mars who returns to Earth to claim his birthright.

HERBERT, FRANK
DUNE (series)
This is the epic series about a desert world and the immense struggle for wealth and power.

LEHMANN, CHRISTIAN (translated from French by William Rodarmor)
ULTIMATE GAME
Lehmann's novel relates moments in the lives of three teenagers who purchase a computer game that recreates a virtual reality of a time machine of history's evils: war after war. Eric and Charles are pitted against Andreas, the oldest, whose need for power propels him to play the game as judge, jury, and finally, prey.

O'BRIEN, ROBERT C.
Z FOR ZACHARIAH
Seemingly the only person left alive after the holocaust of a war, Anne Burden is relieved to see a man arrive into her valley -- until she realizes that he is a tyrant and she must somehow escape.

ORWELL, GEORGE
ANIMAL FARM
This is a devastating satire on the avaricious rulers of an imaginary totalitarian state.

ORWELL, GEORGE
1984
This is Orwell's chilling, prophetic vision of a totalitarian "future."

REEVE, PHILIP
MORTAL ENGINES
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.

SARGENT, PAMELA
EARTHSEED
The ship hurtles through space, looking for a home for Zoheret and her companions. But before they can populate a new planet, they must learn to conquer the very human instincts that destroyed their ancestors on Earth l00 years ago.

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 (and others)
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!

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.

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 such a nightmare to life.

FANTASY

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
SPLIT INFINITY
Welcome to the astonishing parallel worlds of Phaze and Proton, where magic and science maintain an uneasy truce. For all those who loved the Xanth series, this is the first book in The Apprentice Adept series.

BEAGLE, PETER
THE LAST UNICORN
A funny/sad story in which an enchanting unicorn - joined on her journey by a bungling magician, a pure-at-heart wench, and a butterfly - leaves her idyllic forest in search of others of her kind.

BILLINGSLEY, FRANNY
FOLK KEEPER
Fifteen-year-old Corinna Stonewall never feels cold, always knows exactly what time it is, and her hair grows two inches each night while she sleeps. She possesses extraordinary powers even beyond her own imagination. This inventive and dark fantasy is a wonderful fusion of selkie tales and romance.

BRADSHAW, GILLIAN
BEYOND THE NORTH WIND
The Greek God Apollo sends a talented young magician from his home in ancient Greece to the land of the Arimaspians to conquer the one-eyed giants and save the griffins -- in a book filled with magic, heroism and myth.

BROOKS, TERRY
SHANNARA (series)
This is the richly detailed epic fantasy about three scientists who strive to save their Four Lands.

COOPER, SUSAN
KING OF SHADOWS
A young actor, 13-year-old Nat, travels back in time to 1599 and performs at the Globe Theatre alongside Master William Shakespeare himself in the first ever production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The two form a bond that helps Nat come to terms with his own loss from a family tragedy.

EDDINGS, DAVID
PAWN OF PROPHECY
This is the beginning volume in a fantasy series set against a history of 7,000 years of the struggles of Gods and Kings and men -- of strange lands and events -- and a prophecy that must be fulfilled.

FEIST, RAYMOND
THE RIFTWAR SAGA
In this colorful, intricate Tolkienesque saga, Prince Arutha, Jimmy the Hand, and Pug the Magician join forces to do battle with the dark powers.

FUNKE, CORNELIA
Translated by Anthea Bell from German
INKHEART
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! The second book, INKSPELL, will come out in Fall of 2005!

HILTON, JAMES
LOST HORIZON
Four people are brought against their will to the mysterious land of Shangri-La, a place where no one grows old.

JONES, DIANA WYNNE
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE
When a witch turns l7-year-old Sophie into an old woman, Sophie goes to live with the feared wizard Howl in his castle and becomes embroiled in the zany events that eventually lead to her happiness. This book is now made into a feature length animation by the Japanese animator, Miyazaki (Spirited Away.)

JONES, DIANA WYNE
LIVES OF CHRISTOPHER CHANT
In a parallel universe of London, magic and witchcraft is taken for granted. Young Christopher realizes that all the "Anywheres" that he visits during many of his "dreams" are just as real as the one he lives in and that he, being the chosen one who has more than one lives, has a lot to learn and catch up. Fascinating premises, executed seamlessly, will keep you reading nonstop. Another title to read after this is CHARMED LIFE.

JONES, DIANA WYNNE
THE MERLIN CONSPIRACY
Told alternately by Roddy and Nick, this complex, riveting fantasy moves swiftly along as the characters combine their newfound magical powers and learn the actions in one world may have long reaching effects in other worlds.

LAWRENCE, LOUISE
THE WARRIORS OF TAAN
Prince Khian finds surprising sources of help as he struggles to save Taan from the Outworlders and to restore peace.

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. This is a continuation of the author's famed Time Trilogy, A Wrinkle in Time.

LE GUIN, URSULA
TEHANU: THE LAST BOOK OF EARTHSEA
Sparrowhawk, the archmage of Earthsea, returns from the dark land stripped of his magic powers. He finds refuge with the aging widow Tenar and a crippled girl who carries an unknown destiny. A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA, TOMBS OF ATUAN, and THE FARTHEST SHORE are the first three titles in the series.

MAHY, MARGARET
THE CHANGEOVER: A SUPERNATURAL ROMANCE
In this chilling tale, Laura finds herself in a life-or-death struggle to save her brother from evil forces -- discovers love and her own supernatural power in the process.

MAHY, MARGARET
UNDERRUNNERS
A network of tunnels formed by the subterranean erosion of soil serves as a refuge for Tristram Catt -- until the day he meets the mysterious Winola, who has tunneled her way out of the nearby Children's House.

MCCAFFREY, ANNE
DRAGONSINGER
With the help of the Master-harper, Menolly and her fire lizards overcome the prejudice against a woman's becoming a harper on the planet Pern. From The Dragonriders of Pern Series.

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.

McKINLEY, ROBIN
THE OUTLAWS OF SHERWOOD
Everyone should read this wonderful retelling of the Robin Hood story filled with historical details and greater roles for women.

NICHOLSON, WILLIAM
SLAVES OF THE MASTERY.
In this powerful sequel to THE WIND SINGER, Kestrel and Bowman have to combine their magic and intellectual power to find against the slave-holding mastery.

NICHOLSON, WILLIAM
THE WIND SINGER (Fantasy)
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.

NIX, GARTH
SABRIEL and LIRAEL (fantasy)
Sabriel, daughter of and the most recent Abhorsen (a necromancer who, instead of focusing on bringing back the Dead, is skilled at making sure that they stay dead,) is now faced suddenly with the incredible task of rescuing her father from the land of the dead and combatting the evil power in the Old Kingdom. LIRAEL is the 2nd book in this series from Australia and ABHORSEN will be released this summer in the U.S. The exciting conclusion of this trilogy is ABHORSON.

PATTOU, EDITH
EAST
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.

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.

SAINT-EXUPERY, ANTOINE
THE LITTLE PRINCE (and others)
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.

SPRINGER, NANCY
I AM MORGAN LE FAY
The arch-villain in the Arthurian legend, Morga le Fay, gets to tell her own story from a magically gifted little girl to the embittered grown woman whose struggle against Fate (her namesake) seems always turns back to haunt her. An earlier companion to this novel is I AM MORDRED.

STEWART, MARY R.
THE CRYSTAL CAVE (series)
This series consists of the spellbinding adventures of King Arthur's court told by a master storyteller.

STROUD, JONATHAN
THE AMULET OF SAMARKAND
Bartimaeus. A powerful 5,000 year old djinni with a sarcastic bent is summoned by an inexperienced apprentice magician. The results are danger, death, and a big dose of comic relief. The sequel is GOLEM'S EYE and it continues and expands from the first volume.

SWIFT, JONATHAN
GULLIVER'S TRAVELS
A satire revealing human foibles through Gulliver's adventures in fantastic lands, this classic continues to endure.

TOLKIEN, J.R.R.
THE LORD OF THE RING (series)
Starting with THE HOBBIT, the journey through Middle Earth, told with poetic language and vivid description of creatures and landscapes, this classic series (FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, THE TWO TOWERS and THE RETURN OF THE KING) has enjoyed the highest acclaim in the realm of fantasy writings in our century.

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.

WHITE, T.H.
THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING
The magnificent legend of King Arthur is retold as a novel for modern readers. Arthur's anguish over war, the love story of Guinevere and Lancelot, and the evil Mordred comprise the story of Camelot. Also: The Book of Merlyn.

BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIRS

ANGELOU, MAYA
I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS (1st of series)
This is Angelou's moving and award-winning autobiography that recalls the joy and pain of growing up in the South during the depression.

AXLINE, VIRGINIA
DIBS IN SEARCH OF SELF
This is the powerful story of an emotionally disturbed boy's successful struggle through therapy.

FLEISCHMAN, SID
THE ABRACADABRA KID: A WRITER'S LIFE
With his usual lighthearted tone, this Newbery winning writer (for THE WHIPPING BOY) recounts his lifelong career as a professional magician, starting in the Great Depression, and his second career as a master story weaver.

FLEMING, CANDACE
BEN FRANKLIN'S ALMANAC: BEING A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE GOOD GENTLEMAN'S LIFE
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.

FREEDMAN, RUSSELL
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: A LIFE OF DISCOVERY
Widely recognized as one of the most influential women of her time, Eleanor Roosevelt began life as an "ugly duckling" -- but grew into an extraordinary and courageous defender of human rights.

FREEDMAN, RUSSELL
IN DEFENSE OF LIBERTY: THE STORY OF AMERICA'S BILL OF RIGHTS
In his eminently clear and careful text Freedman explains why and how the first ten amendments to the U. S. Constitution came to be written and what they mean. Timely and valuable commentary on our freedoms.*

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.

GOURSE, LESLIE
DIZZY GILLESPIE AND THE BIRTH OF BEEBOP
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.

GRAHAM, ROBIN
DOVE
Sixteen-year-old Robin Graham sails solo around the world.

GUNTHER, JOHN
DEATH BE NOT PROUD
Gunther's moving story of his son's courageous battle against cancer is compelling.

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 influenced Martin Luther King, Jr.

HAYDEN, TOREY
ONE CHILD (and others)
This is a remarkable true story about the relationship between a neglected six - year-old girl and the teacher who teaches her to love.

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

HERSEY, JOHN
HIROSHIMA
John Hersey gives us the timeless and agonizing accounts of six survivors of the atomic bomb which was dropped on Hiroshima during World War Two.

HOUSTON, JEANNE WAKATSUKI
FAREWELL TO MANZANAR
This is an autobiographical account of one Japanese American family's attempt to survive the indignities of internment during World War II.

JENKINS, PETER
A WALK ACROSS AMERICA
In 1973 a disillusioned college graduate set out with his dog, Cooper, to walk across America.

KENEALLY, THOMAS
SCHINDLER'S LIST
This is the riveting story of Oscar Schindler who saved thousands of Jews during the Holocaust.

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.

MAH, ADELINE YEN
FALLING LEAVES: THE MEMOIR OF AN UNWANTED CHINESE DAUGHTER
An international best-seller, a heart-wrenching but ultimately inspiring memoir recounts the author's painful childhood as the unwanted daughter of a wealthy yet abusive Chinese family, from which she escaped to the West.

MATHABANE, MARK
KAFFIR BOY
Under Apartheid, a young man comes of age in this autobiographical account.

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
THIS LAND WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME: THE LIFE AND SONGS OF WOODY GUTHRIE
The creatively prolific and yet deeply troubled life of Woody Gutherie, song-writer of modern American ballads and social protest music, is documented with sensitivity and honesty in this handsome volume.

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. Not for the faint of heart.

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.

ROTH-HANO, RENEE
TOUCH WOOD and SAFE HARBORS
A French Jewish girl is hidden in a convent during the Holocaust. After the war she begins a new life in America.

SALZMAN, MARK
IRON & SILK
A young Yale graduate describes his two years in China teaching English to medical students, perfecting his Chinese and studying martial arts with a master.

SPIEGELMAN, ART
MAUS & MAUS II
The story of a Holocaust survivor is recounted in comic strip form featuring mice as the Jews and cats as the Germans. It is like nothing else you have ever read or seen.

STEINBECK, JOHN
TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY
Steinbeck travels across the United States with his French poodle, Charley.

TAYLOR, ROB
THE BREACH
This is an extraordinary true story of physical adventure, tragedy, and spiritual challenge at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

WARREN, ANDREA
SURVIVING HITLER: A BOY IN THE NAZI DEATH CAMP (biography)
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
SO FAR FROM THE BAMBOO GROVE (Sequel: MY BROTHER, MY SISTER AND I)
An autobiographical account of Yoko's escape from Korea to Japan with her mother and sister at the end of World War II, this heart-wrenching novel recounts the terrible hardships they had to bear in order to return to their homeland.

ZINDEL, PAUL
THE PIGMAN AND ME
This is a fast-paced, humorous autobiography by the author of The Pigman, who had a little help from his own "pigman."

POETRY & SHORT STORIES

BAUER, MARION DANE
AM I BLUE? COMING OUT FROM THE SILENCE
These sixteen short stories by noted young adult authors are about growing up gay or lesbian or having gay or lesbian friends or parents.

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.

BRADBURY, RAY
THE ILLUSTRATED MAN
Bradbury is at his very best in these eighteen tales involving time and space -- without and within.

BRADBURY, RAY
THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES
Bradbury continues to enrich us with these short stories about the Earth and Mars.

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.

CATHER, WILLA
THE TROLL GARDEN
These elegant stories often deal with the conflicts faced in society by individuals of artistic temperament.

CUMMINGS, E. E.
COMPLETE POEMS (edited by George J. Firmage .. or any other anthology)
Read and look at this unique poet's work. You will constantly be pleasantly surprised.

GALLO, DONALD R., ed.
CONNECTIONS; SHORT STORIES VISIONS; 19 SHORT STORIES
Gallo has edited several volumes of short stories by well known writers for young adults.

IRVING, WASHINGTON
SKETCH BOOK
In his light stories rooted in folktales, Irving makes a lasting contribution to the modern short story.

LARDNER, RING
HAIRCUT AND OTHER STORIES
Ring Lardner, a satirist with a keen voice, writes of ordinary people with razor-sharp wit.

LONDON, JACK
TO BUILD A FIRE AND OTHER STORIES
Jack London, author of the Call of the Wild, continues his adventures in this collection of stories.

MCKISSACK, PATRICIA
DARK THIRTY
This is a wonderful collection of ghost stories with African American themes, designed to be told during the dark-thirty---the half hour before sunset---when ghosts seem all too unbelievable.

MOORE, ROBIN
WHEN THE MOON IS FULL
These six haunting, rustic tales that involve relationships between people and animals are of the supernatural and inspired by folk legends from the old Pennsylvania Mountains.

NELSON, MARILYN
CARVER: A LIFE IN POEMS
A collection of Marilyn Nelson's (Canadian Poet Laureate) poems about the genius, the humanity, and the contribution of George Washington Carver. The poems never shy away from harsh realities and reach for the soul of their subject matter. Readers gain tremendous understanding of the man who has been simplified to "the peanut guy" in American History texts.

NYE, NAOMI SHIHAB
19 VARIETIES OF GAZELLE: POEMS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
Arab American poet Naomi Nye gathered more than 40 poems she wrote about the Middle East and her own experience of being an Arab American after the 9/11 tragedy. This is a solid, affecting collection of a beloved poet for young people.

NYE, NAOMI SHIHAB
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.

NYE, NAOMI SHIHAB
WHAT HAVE YOU LOST?
The topic of "LOSS" is explored by the one hundred and forty poets whose work is collected in this anthology.

POE, EDGAR ALLEN
SELECTED TALES
These horror and detective stories are timeless - to be read and re-read.

ROCKMAN, HAZEL, ed.
SOMEHOW TENDERNESS SURVIVES: STORIES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
This is a wonderful anthology of ten stories and memoirs by black and white South African writers.

SOTO, GARY
BASEBALL IN APRIL (and others)
This group of eleven stories is about growing up Mexican-American in central California.

RYLAND, CYNTHIA
GOD WENT TO BEAUTY SCHOOL (poetry)
This collection of poems are the poet's imagination of how God might act, think, and feel, if He/She lives among the mortals. God might want to go to a beauty school to learn the art of manicure so he/she can admire one of his best creations: the human hand; God might want to have a pet, sail a boat, and eat some ice cream, just to experience the delight of everyday life.

Last updated
June 8, 2005

The Dalton School 6th-into-7th Grade 2005 Summer Reading List