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Grades 6, 7 & 8
Suggested by your friendly, local librarian...
Real Fiction | Historical
Fiction | Humor | Science
Fiction | Fantasy | Short
Story Collections |
Adventure |
Biography, Autobiography
Back to Good Reads for Children
Realistic Fiction
Colibri by Ann Cameron
Kidnapped as a little child, and used to beg and steal by
her kidnapper, this Mayan girl becomes resourceful and
finds a better life. Set in Central America.
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Heartbeat by Sharon Creech
The story of 12 year old Annie, her family and friends, by
the author of the very popular Walk Two Moons.
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Secret Language of Girls by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Marylin and Kate have been friends since nursery school,
but when Marylin becomes a middle school cheerleader
and Kate develops others interests, their friendship is put
to the test.
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Heck, Superhero by Martine Leavitt
Is Heck really the superhero he imagines, or a 13 year old
kid trying to survive?
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Pictures in the Dark by Patricia McCord
Sara, 12 and Carlie, 15, try to improve life with an
unpredictable mother.
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Alice on Her Way by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
One of many of the “Alice” books, which chronicle a
young
girl’s life. In this one, 9th grade Alice and her three friends
work as camp counselors.
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Boy from the Basement by Susan Shaw
A 12 year old boy who has been kept in the basement most
of his life, finds himself in the outside world and must learn
about a more normal life.
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Inside Out by Terry Trueman
A sixteen-year-old with schizophrenia is caught up in the
events surrounding an attempted robbery by two other
teens, who eventually hold him hostage.
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Fire-Eaters by David Almond
This story of the menace and
sweetness in the life of Bobby
Burns, is haunting and challenging.
Set in England in the 1960’s.
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Historical Fiction
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
12 year old Moose adapts to his life
on Alcatraz during the 1930’s, when
Capone was a prisoner there.
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Iqbal by Francesco D’Adamo
A fictionalized account of the short life of the Pakistani
boy who escaped from slavery in a carpet factory to help
liberate other children from such bondage.
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Willoughby
Spit Wonder by Jonathan Scott Fuqua
Carter’s father is sick and Carter must do something
amazing to show him how to fight. He enters the waters
of Willoughby Spit on the Chesapeake Bay during a
hurricane! Set in 1953.
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In Darkness, Death by Dorothy Hoobler
In eighteenth century Japan, Seikei meets a ninja and
helps investigate the murder of a samurai.
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Day of Tears by Julius Lester
This story is based on an actual event: the biggest slave
auction in history, in Georgia in 1859. The ultimate betrayal
occurs when Master Butler sells his own daughter’s best
friend. (Includes a list of slaves sold on that day and the
prices paid for them.)
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Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
Two brothers’ experiences in the British army during World
War 1.
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Humor
My Brother the Robot by Bonny Becker
When his father buys a SIMON robot, advertised as “the
perfect son”, Chip has some very funny difficulties with
his
new “brother”.
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This Island Isn’t Big Enough for the Four of Us by Gery Greer
Peter and Scott excitedly plan a camping trip to a deserted
island, only to arrive and discover that two girls with zany
senses of humor are already there!
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No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman
Eighth grade football hero, Wallace Wallace, is sentenced
to detention attending rehearsals of the school play. He
gets involved in the show!
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Science Fiction
City
of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
The city of Ember was built deep underground as a last
refuge for the human race. The city is in trouble, and Lina
and Doon must decipher a message to save the city.
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Eager by Helen Fox
Unlike Grumps, their old-fashioned robot, the Bell family’s
new robot, Eager, is programmed to not merely obey but to
question, reason, and exercise free will.
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Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
In Tally’s futuristic world, everyone has an operation at
age
sixteen to become incredibly gorgeous, but there is a dark
side. As Tally begins to understand that the “pretty” world
is
not so pretty, she must choose: either betray her friends or
be an ugly forever.
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Fantasy
Doctor Illuminatus by Martin Booth
Pip and her twin brother Tim move to an old English
estate, which turns out to house a boy from the year 1430.
The three battle the evil alchemist, Loudeac. Many scary
moments.
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Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister
are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger
an epic battle involving men, bats, rats, cockroaches, and
spiders!
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The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle
In nineteenth century England, Kate becomes convinced
someone is watching her and she is right. The goblin king
has selected her to be his bride. Lots of eerie atmosphere!
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I, Coriander by Sally Gardner
With an enchanted prince, an evil stepmother and
shimmering mysteries of fairyland, this fantasy set in 17th
century London is also historical fiction.
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Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
En route to marry a prince she has never met, Princess
Anidori is betrayed and must be a goose girl until she can
reclaim her crown.
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The Wish by Gail Carson Levine
Life gets crazy for eighth grader
Wilma when she gets her wish to be
the most popular girl in school.
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Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Matt and his new friend Kate seek
mysterious winged creatures, amid
many dangers, including pirates. The
setting is an airship: the atmosphere
is 18th century.
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Short Story Collections
American Eyes Edited by Lori Carlson
These ten stories reflect the
conflict Asian- Americans face
in balancing an ancient heritage
and an unknown future.
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I Believe in Water: 12 Brushes with Religion Edited by Marilyn Singer
A collection of stories exploring
topics of religion and belief.
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Science Fiction Stories Edited by Edward Blishen
A collection of 20 sci fi stories by some of the best-known
writers of the genre.
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Sports Stories Edited by Alan Durant
A swimmer determined to beat his rival: a woman jockey
proving herself in a male-dominated sport: the football
player in search of glory. Fast moving tales of hardships
and triumphs.
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Thirteen 13 Edited by James Howe
Thirteen stories that capture the
agony and ecstasy of being thirteen.
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Dead Man’s Gold and Other Stories Edited by Paul Yee
Tales of Chinese immigrants traveling to North America,
capturing the hardships suffered by the poor and the hope
experienced by those in search of gold.
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Adventure
Raven’s Gate by Anthony Horowitz
The first title in the Gatekeeper series, by the author of
the popular and suspenseful Alex Rider books. This one is
suspenseful and creepy: Matt encounters the ancient portal
to the world of evil.
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Dark Horse by Marcus Sedgwick
In this gripping tale of dark enchantment, the reader is
plunged into the life of an isolated tribe and the threat of
the fierce invaders known as the Dark Horse. Fast-paced,
with a hint of magic.
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Biography, Autobiography
Thura’s Diary: My Life in Wartime Iraq by Thura Al-Windawi
Nineteen year old Thura began keeping this diary a week
before the first American bombs fell in Baghdad. Tells of
her family’s feelings during the war and her struggle to
return to school.
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Going Solo by Roald Dahl
The author’s account of his adventures working in Africa
and as a young World War II fighter pilot.
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Soul
Surfer by
Bethany Hamilton
Bethany Hamilton, a teenage surfer lost her arm in a shark
attack off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Not even the loss of
her arm keeps her from returning to surfi ng, the sport she
loves.
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Breaking Through by
Francisco Jimenez
The story of a determined boy who came to California
from Mexico and must fi ght to improve his life and get an
education.
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