The Giver

The Giver
Lois Lowry

He looks like he has a lot of memories to give.

Quick Stats:

Page Count: 180
Age Range: 8 and up
Year: 1993
Genre: Dystopia

Series: 1st of 4, works well alone

Jonas lives in a ‘perfect’ world–there is no pain or suffering, only “Sameness.” Jonas however has been chosen to receive the painful memories of the past–the knowledge invoking memories before sameness. Jonas must choose if he wants to stay in a safe but shallow community, or leave the community to discover a colorful, love-filled, and emotionally deep yet potentially painful and dangerous life.

I would recommend this book to really anyone, but especially to those who challenge the way things were/are/should be in society.

-Ms. Liz

Ella Enchanted

Ella Enchanted
Gail Carson Levine

She speaks SO MANY languages.

Quick Stats:

Page Count: 232
Age Range: 8 and up
Year: 1997
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Ella, as a baby, was ‘blessed’ with a gift from a fairy–the gift of obedience. She must do whatever anyone tells her. Her mother’s eventual death results in her father remarrying. Ella’s new evil stepsisters find out about her curse, and are determined to make her miserable. Ella sets out on an adventurous quest to find Lucinda, who might be able to reverse the curse.

This book is great for those who love good old-fashioned fairy tales with an new and interesting spin. I also recommend it to those who love adventure and quests.

-Ms. Liz

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
J. K. Rowling

That is one strong bird.

Quick Stats:

Page Count: 251
Age Range: 9 and up
Year: 2000
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Series: 2nd of 7, Harry Potter series

As Harry enters into his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, mysterious things begin happening before he even gets there. He is warned by house elf Dobby not to return to Hogwarts. Harry does not heed his warning, and is confronted throughout his year with with strange voices that no one else can hear, mysterious and horrific attacks, and a kidnapping. Harry as well as the rest of the school is determined to get to the bottom of who is causing these attacks. Nobody is non suspect– including Harry Potter himself.

I recommend this book to anyone who has seen and enjoyed the Harry Potter movies, or anyone who likes magical plot elements and adventure/mystery.

-Ms. Liz

Enrique’s Journey

Let’s see where it goes

Enrique’s Journey
Sonia Nazario

Quick Stats:

Page Count: 210
Age Range: 14 and up
Year: 2006
Genre: Non-fiction

Nazario tells the true immigrant narrative of a Honduran boy’s journey to find his mother in America. The hard-to-believe story encompasses the narratives of many other immigrants into the U.S. This story brings up many great themes like parent-child conflict, family responsibility, separation, and assimilation into new cultures.

This book is good for older middle school and high school students. Many students can relate to Enrique’s immigration story.

-Julio Zelaya

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
Louis Rennison

Do those words mean something?

Page Count: 272
Age Range: 12 and up
Year: 2001
Genre: Realistic

Series: 1st of 8

This is a hilarious book about an awkward teenage girl trying to navigate her way to womanhood. Georgia struggles with her body, crazy underwear, a cat that doesn’t take no (Angus), and boys. This book is full of good humor and lots of silly English slang.

I recommend this for any one who has ever been or will be a teenage girl. Georgia is hilarious and totally relatable.

-Ms. Z

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Roald Dahl

Do you trust Willy Wonka?

Quick Stats:

Page Count: 159
Age Range: 10 and up
Year: 1972
Genre: Fantasy

Series: Sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

After Charlie is awarded Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory (the end of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), he and Grandpa Joe are taken by Wonka to Charlie’s house in a flying glass elevator to tell the rest of his family the good news. After a mishap on the return trip to the factory however, the elevator is shot into space and docks at a U.S. space station where the Wonka and the Buckets encounter a species of aliens known as Vermicious Knids which try to feed on humans. After flying the human astronauts back safely from the station to Earth, Wonka and the Buckets return to the Chocolate Factory and give some of Wonka’s special pills to the grandparents to make them younger (and thus able to help work at the factory). But another mishap sends Grandma Josephine into a world called Minus-land after overdosing on the age-subtracting pills. The Buckets fix Grandma Josephine’s problem and come to find out that they must fly the elevator to the White House for a surprise meeting with the President of the United States.

Middle schoolers with big imaginations would love this book, especially fans of Roald Dahl’s other books. There are plenty of colorful characters, fantastical adventures, and Dahl’s wonderfully inventive vocabulary which will keep an excited reader on the edge of their seat.

-Mr. Dave

The House on Mango Street

The House on Mango Street
Sandra Cisneros

I HOPE you enjoy this one!

Quick Stats:

Page Count: 109
Age Range: 12 and up
Year: 1991
Genre: Realistic, Poetry

A book about Esperanza, young girl from Chicago, growing up in harsh surroundings. The story tells of her beautiful struggles and lifelike problems that translate to any reader.

This book worked well when taught to my six grade Latino class. The writing is chock full of great writing that students can pick up on.

-Mr. Julio

Rogelia’s House of Magic

Rogelia’s House of Magic
Jamie Martinez Wood

Let’s go there.

Quick Stats:

Page Count: 320
Age Range: 12 and up
Year: 2008
Genre: Realistic, Fantasy

Mariana, Fern, and Xochitl are three Latina-American teenage girls, all searching for their true identities and learning about the world. Xochitl’s twin has recently died, Mariana’s mother hasn’t allowed her to connect with her cultural heritage, and Fern can’t seem to make love work. Even though they’re from very different backgrounds, the three are brought together through their innate magical abilities and the woman who coaches them.

Girls who are interested in fantasy or magic will enjoy this book, as will those struggling to find their place in the world. It is beautiful prose, but not challenging.

-Katie

Untouchable

Untouchable
Kate Brian

Hi there, Posh Spice.

Page Count: 256
Age Range: 13 and up
Year: 2006
Genre: Realistic, Thriller

Series: 3rd of 4, Private original series

When Reed’s boyfriend dies under mysterious circumstances, she finds solace with the powerful Billings Girls clique she is a part of. She also beginning to fall for Josh, her dead boyfriend’s roommate. But things aren’t as they seem, and those she trusts the most are beginning to seem more suspicious all the time.

Teenage readers who love to watch teen dramas, or who participate in them, will find this series very entertaining! It is full of scandal, the luxury of a posh lifestyle, elite cliques, and murder mystery.

-Katie

The Obsidian Blade

The Obsidian Blade
Pete Hautman

Similar to “The Subtle Knife”?

Page Count: 308
Age Range: 12 and up
Year: 2012
Genre: Dystopia, Fantasy

Series: 1st of 3, Klaatu Diskos

Part one of a futuristic sci-fi trilogy introduces Tucker, whose normal life changes drastically after the entrance of an unspeaking girl, and the almost simultaneous loss of his parents. Tucker must stay alive to figure out the mysterious arrivals and departures that are new to his world.

This book would be great for teens who enjoyed The Hunger Games trilogy, and are at a similar lexile level. It definitely would lead to great discussions if read conjointly.

-Katie