FBA Lower School Summer Reading List
Suggested Summer Reading Titles
For First Grade
Summer reading is intended to encourage reading. Research shows that students’ reading abilities improve the more they read. In order for our students to be well prepared for their future educational endeavors, it is necessary that they have a broad experience with works of literature that are from different time periods and from different themes. A major part of being an educated person is to be well read. FBA has a mandatory reading program through the regular school year and during the summer. Appropriate grade level books, available at the FBA Book Fair, may also be used for the student selections.
Clifford the Big Red Dog – Norman Bridwell (or any book in the Clifford Series)
Emily Elizabeth has a big red dog--the biggest, reddest dog on her street, and his name is Clifford. How big is he? He's so big that when he runs after cars, he catches them in his mouth, and his doghouse is bigger than Emily Elizabeth's house. Needless to say, he makes an excellent watchdog. Children love the idea of the things you could do and the fun you could have with a giant dog, and Norman Bridwell's delightful, Clifford-proof board-book edition will not disappoint.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle (or any title by this author)
One Sunday a very hungry caterpillar hatched. He eats his way through a variety of foods that are boldly and colorfully illustrated. The story progresses with the caterpillar spinning a cocoon and waking up into a butterfly, illustrating one of nature's common but lovely marvels.
Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct – Mo Willems
Edwina the dinosaur is known and loved throughout the town for her many acts of kindness and her excellent chocolate-chip cookies. The literal-minded class know-it-all, Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie, sets out to prove to everyone that dinosaurs are extinct. No one pays the slightest attention to him; ironically, only Edwina is convinced (not that she cares). In the end, as Reginald sits enjoying her cookies, he finds that he doesn't care either.
Mercy Watson to the Rescue – Kate DiCamillo (or any title in this series)
To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig — she's a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons' bed. BOOM! CRACK! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink through the floor, Mercy escapes in a flash — "to alert the fire department," her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy possibly have another emergency in mind — like a sudden craving for their neighbors' sugar cookies? Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson — an ebullient new character for early chapter-book readers in a series that's destined to be a classic.
Go Away, Big Green Monster – Ed Emberley
A graphic delight. In the tradition of Lois Ehlert's Color Zoo (1989) and Color Farm (1990), this is a clever series of die-cut pages that lets children construct and then deconstruct a big green monster. The book starts with a black page, and two round eyes gleaming through the text. Each page adds a new adjective-laden element, until the culmination of effects prompts a response of, “YOU DON'T SCARE ME! SO GO AWAY!'' Each subsequent page subtracts one of the scary pieces until the last page is entirely black, featuring the words, “and DON'T COME BACK! Until I say so.'' This imaginative original work is a most friendly way in which children can take control over their own “monsters'' or nightmares. It also has great visual appeal because of the bold interplay between shape and color
Henry and Mudge: The First Book – Cynthia Rylant (or any in the series)
Henry, feeling lonely on a street without any other children, finds companionship and love in a big dog named Mudge. This is the first book in the acclaimed easy-to-read series featuring Henry and his lovable 180-pound dog, Mudge.
Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies –
Aboard a ship called the Salty Carrot sails a wild, rowdy band of Buccaneer Bunnies. Their leader, Barnacle Black Ear, is the baddest bunny brute of all time, but his son refuses to perform his proper pirating duties. Henry would rather read books than shout "Shiver me timbers!" or make prisoners walk the plank — even if it means he has to swab the decks as punishment. But when a crashing, bashing, thrashing wildcat of a storm threatens the Salty Carrot and its crew, will Henry and his landlubbin' library save the day?
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel –
Although steam shovels are being replaced by more modern machines, Mike Mulligan refuses to consign his beloved Mary Anne to the junk heap. Desperate for work, Mike promises to dig the cellar of Popperville's new town hall in just one day--or go without pay. All the townsfolk gather to watch Mike and Mary Anne in their race against the sun. They win, but in his haste, Mike forgets a very important detail. First published in 1939, this classic is full of informative illustrations, including a diagram of a steam shovel.
Blueberries for Sal – Robert McCloskey
Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk go the blueberries into the pail of a little girl named Sal who--try as she might--just can't seem to pick as fast as she eats. Robert McCloskey's classic is a magical tale of the irrepressible curiosity--not to mention appetite--of youth. Sal and her mother set off in search of blueberries for the winter at the same time as a mother bear and her cub. A quiet comedy of errors ensues when the young ones wander off and absentmindedly trail the wrong mothers.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day – Judith Viorst
"I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day." So begin the trials and tribulations of the irascible Alexander, who has been earning the sympathy of readers since 1972. As Alexander's day progresses, he faces a barrage of bummers worthy of a country- western song. Judith Viorst flawlessly and humorously captures a child's testy temperament, rendering Alexander sympathetic rather than whiny. Our hero's gum-styled hair and peevish countenance are artfully depicted by Ray Cruz's illustrations. An ALA Notable Book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a great antidote to bad days everywhere, sure to put a smile on even the crabbiest of faces
Jumanji – Chris Van Allsburg (or similar titles by this author)
When Judy and Peter find a board game in the park, they take it home, hoping to alleviate their boredom. One live lion, an erupting volcano, and a dozen destructive monkeys later, the children are no longer bored. Chris Van Allsburg is a master at walking the line between fantasy and reality. His unusually sculptured drawings convey the magical transition of a normal house to an exotic jungle. Readers will tremble along with Judy and Peter, urging them to roll the dice that will plunge them from one perilous predicament into another. Jumanji, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and winner of the 1982 Caldecott Medal, is sure to amaze and thrill even the most jaded young reader.
Suggested Summer Reading Titles
For Second Grade
Summer reading is intended to encourage reading. Research shows that students’ reading abilities improve the more they read. In order for our students to be well prepared for their future educational endeavors, it is necessary that they have a broad experience with works of literature that are from different time periods and from different themes. A major part of being an educated person is to be well read. FBA has a mandatory reading program through the regular school year and during the summer. Appropriate grade level books, available at the FBA Book Fair, may also be used for the student selections.
Frog and Toad Together – Arnold Lobel (or any title in the series)
Frog and Toad are best friends — they do everything together. When Toad admires the flowers in Frog's garden, Frog gives him seeds to grow a garden of his own. When Toad bakes cookies, Frog helps him eat them. And when both Frog and Toad are scared, they are brave together. From the first enchanting story to the last, these five adventures of two best friends are filled with humor and tender affection.
Calling Doctor Amelia Bedelia – Herman and Peggy Parish (any title in this series)
When Dr. Horton's waiting room fills with impatient patients, Amelia Bedelia is called to the rescue. Once again, Amelia's bad case of loony literalism complicates everything, giving us laughter, the best medicine of all.
Thank You, Mr. Falker – Patricia Polacco
In this book, Patricia Polacco shares her childhood triumph over dyslexia and discovery of reading in an inspiring if slightly formulaic story. Young Trisha is eager to taste the "sweetness of knowledge" that her grandfather has always revered (here symbolized by drizzling honey onto a book and tasting it, which harkens back to Polacco's earlier The Bee Tree). But when she looks at words and numbers, everything is a jumble. Trisha endures the cruel taunts of classmates who call her "dumb," and falls behind in her studies. But finally the encouragement and efforts of a new fifth grade teacher, Mr. Falker, trigger a monumental turning point in Trisha's life. She begins to blossom and develop all of her talents, including reading. Polacco's tale is all the more heartfelt because of its personal nature. Young readers struggling with learning difficulties will identify with Trisha's situation and find reassurance in her success. Polacco's gouache-and-pencil compositions deftly capture the emotional stages of Trisha's journey.
If You Give a Moose a Muffin – Laura Numeroff (or any title in this series)
"If you give a moose a muffin, he'll want some jam to go with it." So begins the most logical silliness to be found anywhere--at least since Laura Joffe Numeroff and illustrator Felicia Bond's If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. It all makes perfect sense, really, once you stop to think about it. What moose wouldn't want to borrow a sweater when it's cold outside? And why shouldn't the loose button on the sweater remind him of his grandmother? Children will relate easily to the full-circle reasoning of the story, while picking up the concept of cause and effect.
You Are Special – Max Lucado (or any title in the Wemmicks series)
In You Are Special, Max Lucado tells the story of Punchinello, the wooden Wemmick who believes that he isn’t good enough because of what others say about him. When will Punchinello realize how truly special he is? You Are Special is a beautiful story that reminds us that we are precious to God just the way we are. It is through spending daily time with him that we begin to see ourselves through his eyes. This is an important truth that children and parents need to know: God loves us even though we make mistakes and have flaws!
Nate the Great Goes Undercover – Marjorie Sharmat
Nate the Great and his trusty dog, Sludge, have a tricky case to solve. Nate’s friend Rosamond has started a fortune-telling business, but her money box is missing. Sludge and Nate visit Claude, who helped Rosamond set up her business, and Finley, who collects boxes for his rat. They can’t seem to help! It looks like the only way to clean up this case is to get down and dirty in the dumps!
Get Well, Good Knight – Shelley Thomas
The Good Knight is on his watch when he hears a sound. Roar! Is it a dragon? A great big dragon? He searches the woods and finds a surprise. Three very little dragons are almost ready for bed. But who will read to them, tuck them in, and kiss them good night? Is this a job for the Good Knight? Young readers, like the young dragons, will quickly fall under the Good Knight's spell.
Horton Hears a Who – Dr. Seuss (or any title by this author)
Horton hears a cry for help from a speck of dust, and spends much of the book trying to protect the infinitesimal creatures who live on it from the derision and trickery of other animals, who think their elephant friend has gone quite nutty. But worse is in store: an eagle carries away the clover in which Horton has placed the life-bearing speck, and "let that small clover drop somewhere inside / of a great patch of clovers a hundred miles wide!" Horton wins in the end, after persuading the "Who's" to make as much noise as possible and prove their existence. This classic is not only fun, but a great way to introduce thoughtful children to essentially philosophical questions. How, after all, are we so sure there aren't invisible civilizations floating by on every mote?
Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop– A. Rey (or any in the series)
There are so many colorful, delicious flavors of ice cream in Mr. Herb's store. Which should George try? Why not a scoop of everything? It doesn't take long for a mischievous monkey to make a mountain of a mess, but Curious George manages to turn chaos into triumph as only he can.
Sam the Minuteman – Nathaniel Benchley
In this exciting I Can Read Book, Nathaniel Benchly recreates what it must have been like for a young boy to fight in the Battle of Lexington. Arnold Lobel's vivid pictures give a poignant reality to the famous battle that marked the beginning of the American Revolution.
Suggested Summer Reading Titles
For Third Grade
Summer reading is intended to encourage reading. Research shows that students’ reading abilities improve the more they read. In order for our students to be well prepared for their future educational endeavors, it is necessary that they have a broad experience with works of literature that are from different time periods and from different themes. A major part of being an educated person is to be well read. FBA has a mandatory reading program through the regular school year and during the summer. Appropriate grade level books, available at the FBA Book Fair, may also be used for the student selections.
The Absent Author – Ron Roy (or any title in the series)
A is for author.... Dink writes to his favorite author, mystery writer Wallis Wallace, and invites him to visit Green Lawn. To Dink's amazement, Wallace says he'll come! But when the big day arrives, Wallace is nowhere to be found. The police think he just missed his plane, but Dink suspects foul play. It's up to Dink and his two best friends, Josh and Ruth Rose, to find the famous writer--before it's too late!
The Tale of Despereaux – Kate Dicamillo
A charming story of unlikely heroes whose destinies entwine to bring about a joyful resolution. Foremost is Despereaux, a diminutive mouse who, as depicted in Ering's pencil drawings, is one of the most endearing of his ilk ever to appear in children's books. Then there is the human Princess Pea, with whom Despereaux falls deeply (one might say desperately) in love. She appreciates him despite her father's prejudice against rodents. Next is Roscuro, a rat with an uncharacteristic love of light and soup. Both these predilections get him into trouble. And finally, there is Miggery Sow, a peasant girl so dim that she believes she can become a princess. With a masterful hand, DiCamillo weaves four story lines together in a witty, suspenseful narrative that begs to be read aloud. With unpredictable twists of plot, the fanciful characterizations, and the sweetness of tone are DiCamillo's own. This expanded fairy tale is entertaining, heartening, and, above all, great fun.
Because of Winn Dixie – Kate Dicamillo
Because of Winn-Dixie, a big, ugly, happy dog, 10-year-old Opal learns 10 things about her long-gone mother from her preacher father. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal makes new friends among the somewhat unusual residents of her new hometown, Naomi, Florida. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal begins to find her place in the world and let go of some of the sadness left by her mother's abandonment seven years earlier. With her newly adopted, goofy pooch at her side, Opal explores her bittersweet world and learns to listen to other people's lives. This warm and winning book hosts an unforgettable cast of characters, including a librarian who fought off a bear with a copy of War and Peace, an ex-con pet-store clerk who plays sweet music to his animal charges, and a nearly blind woman who sees with her heart. Opal brings her own unique and wonderful voice to a story of friendship, loneliness, and acceptance. Opal's down-home charm and dead-on honesty will earn her friends and fans far beyond the confines of Naomi, Florida.
The End of the Beginning – Avi
Avon the Snail is a reader, so he knows that everyone leaves on a journey to find adventure. When he laves on his quest, he takes along Edward the Ant, and the friends find a dragon (in disguise, of course) as they travel from here to there. Best of all is the fun with the heroic quest of leaving home to find home. A story that begs to be read aloud.
Dark Day in the Deep Sea – Mary Pope Osborne (or any title in the series)
Jack and Annie continue their quest for the secrets of happiness–secrets they need if they’re going to save Merlin. But when the magic tree house leads them to a tiny deserted island in the middle of the ocean, they’re not sure who needs help more–Merlin or themselves! The brother and sister team are soon rescued by a ship of explorers and scientists. But the crew isn’t looking for the secrets of happiness. The crew is looking for . . . a sea monster!
No Talking – Andrew Clements
Dave Packer's fifth-grade classmates are so boisterous and difficult to quiet down that the teachers have dubbed them "The Unshushables." Dave has just read about Mahatma Gandhi and learned that the man practiced silence one day a week to bring order to his mind. Though Dave likes to talk nonstop, he's determined to give the idea a try. An encounter with Lynsey, another chatterbox, sparks the boys and girls into challenging each other to a no-talking contest for 48 hours. They can answer direct questions from adults with three-word sentences but must otherwise remain silent. The teachers are bewildered at the extreme change in the kids until several of them figure out what's going on. Principal Hiatt demands that the quiet students return to their normal behavior. When the children continue with their silent ways, Dave finds himself at the center of the controversy.
Cam Jansen and the Summer Camp Mysteries – David Adler (or any in the series)
Cam Jansen and her best friend Eric are spending three weeks at Camp Eagle Lake, and they couldn’t be more excited. But mysteries seem to follow super sleuth Cam everywhere, and it isn’t long before she’s using her photographic memory to “Click, Click” and save the day!
Frindle – Andrew Clements
Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school -- and he's always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever...the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle. Soon the school is in an uproar, and Nick has become a local hero. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn't belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there's nothing Nick can do to stop it.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins – Richard Atwater
Poor Mr. Popper isn't exactly unhappy; he just wishes he had seen something of the world before meeting Mrs. Popper and settling down. Most of all, he wishes he had seen the Poles, and spends his spare time between house-painting jobs reading all about polar explorations. Admiral Drake, in response to Mr. Popper's fan letter, sends him a penguin; life at 432 Proudfoot Avenue is never the same again. From one penguin living in the icebox, the Popper family grows to include 12 penguins, all of whom must be fed. Thus is born "Popper's Performing Penguins, First Time on Any Stage, Direct from the South Pole." Their adventures while on tour are hilarious, with numerous slapstick moments as the penguins disrupt other acts and invade hotels.
Ribsy – Beverly Cleary (or any book in the series)
The adventures of one family's lost dog are timeless and provide a source of laughter, tears, and universal dog memories. When one family's mutt, Ribsy, so named because his ribs were sticking out when chosen, mistakes the look and smell of the brand-new family station wagon in the shopping center parking lot, his escapades and wanderings begin. From a bath complete with lavender bubble bath to a desperate day high on a fire escape, Ribsy is on a quest to find his family.
Suggested Summer Reading Titles
For Fourth Grade
Summer reading is intended to encourage reading. Research shows that students’ reading abilities improve the more they read. In order for our students to be well prepared for their future educational endeavors, it is necessary that they have a broad experience with works of literature that are from different time periods and from different themes. A major part of being an educated person is to be well read. FBA has a mandatory reading program through the regular school year and during the summer. Appropriate grade level books, available at the FBA Book Fair, may also be used for the student selections.
Poppy (or any book in the series) – Avi
As ruler of Dimwood Forest, Ocax the hoot owl has promised to protect the mice occupying an abandoned farmhouse as long as they ask permission before "moving about." Poppy, a timid dormouse, is a loyal, obedient subject-until she sees Ocax devour her fiancé and hears the owl deny her father's request to seek new living quarters. To prove that the intimidating ruler is really a phony, Poppy embarks on a dangerous and eye-opening quest, which ends with her one-on-one battle with Ocax. While the themes about tyranny and heroism are timeless, Avi leavens his treatment with such 20th-century touches as Poppy's jive-talking boyfriend and Poppy's own romantic vision of herself as Ginger Rogers. An engaging blend of romance, suspense and parody, this fantasy is well-nigh irresistible
Jack Plank Tells Tales – Natalie Babbitt
When a pirate ship falls on hard times, Jack Plank is let go because he is not very good at plundering. Left in the Caribbean town of Saltwash, he has a bit of good luck to temper the bad. Eleven-year-old Nina, the daughter of the widow he boards with, offers to show him around the port town to find work. But at dinner each night, Jack reports to the other boarders his unsuccessful day. Trouble is, Jack is not well suited to be a farmer, baker, fortune-teller, fisherman, barber, goldsmith, actor, or musician, each for a different reason. For instance, he can't farm in the fields across the bridge because he once helped an ungrateful troll reposition itself under it. He can't take edibles from the sea because a shipmate once turned into an octopus and saved his life, and so on. These stories spin out, one each for eight days, at the end of which, the resourceful Nina comes up with the perfect job.
Gooney Bird and the Room Mother – Lois Lowry
The lively hero of the chapter book Gooney Bird Greene (2002) is back in her idyllic second-grade classroom, as the children get ready to celebrate a pageant of the First Thanksgiving. Dressed in various exuberant outfits, Gooney is in charge, and she even shows her wonderful teacher a thing or two. Gooney Bird's focus is on the wonder of words--from cajole and ennui to fiasco. Her special word is incognito, because she has arranged to get a room mother for the class, whose identity must be kept secret until the day of the pageant. Relaxed black-and-white illustrations capture the diverse classroom. The lessons are fun (including the history of Squanto), as are the classroom characters. Best of all is the story, which builds to a tense, beautiful climax as the identity of the room mother is revealed.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane – Kate DiCamillo
This achingly beautiful story shows a true master of writing at her very best. Edward Tulane is an exceedingly vain, cold-hearted china rabbit owned by 10-year-old Abilene Tulane, who dearly loves him. Her grandmother relates a fairy tale about a princess who never felt love; she then whispers to Edward that he disappoints her. His path to redemption begins when he falls overboard during the family’s ocean journey. Sinking to the bottom of the sea where he will spend 297 days, Edward feels his first emotion–fear. Caught in a fisherman’s net, he lives with the old man and his wife and begins to care about his humans. Then their adult daughter takes him to the dump, where a dog and a hobo find him. They ride the rails together until Edward is cruelly separated from them. His heart is truly broken when next owner, four-year-old Sarah Ruth, dies. He recalls Abilene’s grandmother with a new sense of humility, wishing she knew that he has learned to love. When everything seems hopeless, Edward wants to join Sarah Ruth but those he has loved convince him to live. Still, he closes his heart to love, as it is too painful, until a wise doll tells him that he that he must open his heart for someone to love him.
Good Masters, Sweet Ladies – Laura Schlitz
Using a series of interconnected monologues and dialogues featuring young people living in and around an English manor in 1255, she offers first-person character sketches that build upon each other to create a finer understanding of medieval life. The book was inspired by the necessity of creating a play suitable for a classroom where "no one wanted a small part." Each of the 23 characters (between 10 and 15 years old) has a distinct personality and a societal role revealed not by recitation of facts but by revelation of memories, intentions, and attitudes.
Little House on the Prairie – Laura Ingalls Wilder
The adventures continue for Laura Ingalls and her family as they leave their little house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin and set out for Kansas. They travel for many days in their covered wagon until they find the best spot to build their little house on the prairie. Soon they are planting and plowing, hunting wild ducks and turkeys, and gathering grass for their cows. Sometimes pioneer life is hard, but Laura and her folks are always busy and happy in their new little house.
Frindle – Andrew Clements (or any by this author)
Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school -- and he's always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever...the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle. Soon the school is in an uproar, and Nick has become a local hero. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn't belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there's nothing Nick can do to stop it.
Sarah, Plain and Tall – Patricia MacLachlan
In the late 19th century a widowed Midwestern farmer with two children--Anna and Caleb--advertises for a wife. When Sarah arrives she is homesick for Maine, especially for the ocean which she misses greatly. The children fear that she will not stay, and when she goes off to town alone, young Caleb--whose mother died during childbirth--is stricken with the fear that she has gone for good. But she returns with colored pencils to illustrate for them the beauty of Maine, and to explain that, though she misses her home, the real truth is far more important.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School – Louis Sachar
The Wayside School was supposed to be one story high, with 30 classrooms side by side; instead, it was built sideways, with 30 one-classroom stories. As befits such a strange school, these tales are a bit strange too. Several tales include a bit of a moral, such as the story of Kathy, whose assumption that no one will ever like her is proved right, or the story of Bebe, who draws quickly but without artistic merit.
The Mysterious Benedict Society – Trenton Lee Stewart
After Reynie Muldoon responds to an advertisement recruiting "gifted children looking for special opportunities," he finds himself in a world of mystery and adventure. The 11-year-old orphan is one of four children to complete a series of challenging and creative tasks, and he, Kate, Constance, and Sticky become the Mysterious Benedict Society. After being trained by Mr. Benedict and his assistants, the four travel to an isolated school where children are being trained by a criminal mastermind to participate in his schemes to take over the world. The young investigators need to use their special talents and abilities in order to discover Mr. Curtain's secrets, and their only chance to defeat him is through working together. Readers will challenge their own abilities as they work with the Society members to solve clues and put together the pieces of Mr. Curtain's plan.
Suggested Summer Reading Titles
For Fifth Grade
Summer reading is intended to encourage reading. Research shows that students’ reading abilities improve the more they read. In order for our students to be well prepared for their future educational endeavors, it is necessary that they have a broad experience with works of literature that are from different time periods and from different themes. A major part of being an educated person is to be well read. FBA has a mandatory reading program through the regular school year and during the summer. Appropriate grade level books, available at the FBA Book Fair, may also be used for the student selections.
Storm Breaker – Anthony Horowitz (or any title in the Alex Rider series)
They told him his uncle died in a car accident. Fourteen-year-old Alex knows that's a lie, and the bullet holes in his uncle's windshield confirm his suspicions. But nothing prepares him for the news that the uncle he always thought he knew was really a spy for MI6—Britain's top secret intelligence agency. Recruited to find his uncle's killers and complete his final mission, Alex suddenly finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
The Lightning Thief – Rick Riordan (or any title in the Percy Jackson series)
The escapades of the Greek gods and heroes get a fresh spin in the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, about a contemporary 12-year-old New Yorker who learns he's a real hero. Percy only thinks he has big problems. His father left before he was born, he's been kicked out of six schools in six years, he's dyslexic, and he has ADHD...and this is only the beginning.
Traitors Gate – Avi
John Huffam's father works as a clerk in the Naval Ordinance Office in London, and he is suspected of trying to sell a secret about a new weapon to pay his gambling debts. When he is arrested as a debtor, 14-year-old John, the sensible member of his family, must seek financial help from a distant relative, leave school for employment, and unravel the mystery surrounding his father and try to find out why so many people are spying on the Huffams.
Jackie and Me – Dan Gutman (or any title in this series)
As part of a project for Black History Month, Joe Stoshack gets his mitt on a loaned Jackie Robinson card to visit 1947 New York City and the man who broke the major league baseball color line. Not only does Joe travel back in time over 50 years, stay at the Robinson's apartment, and become a bat boy for the Dodgers, but he is also transformed from a Polish American into an African American, introducing some interesting perspectives on race in the mid-20th century. The book is accurate in its baseball statistics, the geography and lingo of Brooklyn, and, unfortunately, in some of the harshness directed toward African Americans in the 1940s. Fans of America's favorite pastime will particularly appreciate the detail and descriptions of some great games, including the 1947 World Series.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis (or any of the Narnia books)
They open a door and enter a world. Narnia: a land frozen in eternal winter, a country waiting to be set free. Four adventurers step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia -- a land enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change ... and a great sacrifice.
George Washington, Spymaster –
When most people think of the American Revolution, they think of battles such as Bunker Hill and images of Washington leading his troops across the Delaware. Thomas B. Allen, however, argues that espionage was what really won the war for the Americans. Washington first learned the importance of good intelligence during the French and Indian War. He put those lessons to good use during the Revolution, although the Americans still did suffer their share of espionage-related setbacks. Fans of cloak and dagger stories will enjoy hearing about the unusual ways secret messages were transmitted during the war, including via code or invisible ink and inside buttons and balls of yarn.
A Wrinkle in Time – Madeline L’Engle
It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing stranger. A Wrinkle in Time, winner of the Newbery Medal in 1963, is the story of the adventures in space and time of Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin O'Keefe (athlete, student, and one of the most popular boys in high school). They are in search of Meg's father, a scientist who disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government on the tesseract problem.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret –
Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.
The Door Within – Wayne Thomas Batson (or any title by this author)
When his family moves to Colorado to care for his ailing grandfather, Aidan thinks his life is ruined until he discovers three ancient scrolls in Grampin’s basement. They tell of a world where the knights of Alleble fight to keep the warriors of Paragory from gaining dominion over the Realm. When Aidan reads the last line of the scrolls, “Believe and enter,” he is swept into this strange land. His role there is to become the twelfth knight of the King's Elder Guard. Their mission is to travel to the kingdom of Mithegard and convince its sovereign not to sign a treaty with Paragory. Aidan discovers that the people in the Realm, called Glimpses, have doubles that exist in his world.
Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady, RMS Titanic, 1912 (Or Any title in the Dear America series)
The hopes and dreams of a young girl are beautifully conveyed through White's engaging narrative. Orphaned Margaret Ann looks forward to the day when she will have enough money to leave London to be reunited with her brother in America. She is given that opportunity when she becomes the companion to Mrs. Carstairs, a wealthy American returning to the States. Their voyage aboard the Titanic is a thrilling experience for Margaret until disaster strikes.
The Book of Three – Lloyd Alexander (or any title in the Chronicles of Prydain)
The tale of Taran, assistant pig keeper, has been entertaining young readers for generations. Set in the mythical land of Prydain (which bears a more than passing resemblance to Wales), Lloyd Alexander's book draws together the elements of the hero's journey from unformed boy to courageous young man. This is the first book in the series that helped inspire C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle – Avi
On a long, grueling journey from England to Rhode Island in 1802, a 12 year old changes from a prim and proper girl to a swashbuckling mate of a mutinous crew and is accused of murder by the captain. Awash with shipboard activity, intense feelings, and a keen sense of time and place, the story is a throwback to good old-fashioned adventure yarns on the high seas.
