One Crazy Summer Rita Williams-Garcia Ages 9-11 In One Crazy Summer, eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern. She’s had to be, ever since their mother, Cecile, left them seven years ago for a…
Nim’s Island Wendy Orr Ages 7-10 A girl. An iguana. An island. And e-mail. Meet Nim–a modern-day Robinson Crusoe! She can chop down bananas with a machete, climb tall palm trees, and start a fire with a piece of glass.…
My Miserable Life F.L. Block Ages 8-12 Ben Hunter has a miserable life — M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E! His sister will only talk to him through text messages, his mom won’t let him eat sugar or even go for a bike ride unchaperoned,…
Max the Mighty Rodman Philbrick Ages 9-12 Meet Max Kane, the brooding giant-of-a-boy who escaped from his basement hiding place and faced the real world in Freak the Mighty. Still grieving over the loss of his best friend, Kevin, Max…
Matilda Roald Dahl Ages 6-10 Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she’s just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a kid-hating terror of a headmistress.…
Making Bombs for Hitler Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch Ages 9-11 Lida thought she was safe. Her neighbors wearing the yellow star were all taken away, but Lida is not Jewish. She will be fine, won’t she?But she cannot escape the horrors…
Maniac Magee Jerry Spinelli Ages 9-11 Jeffrey Lionel “Maniac” Magee might have lived a normal life if a freak accident hadn’t made him an orphan. After living with his unhappy and uptight aunt and uncle for eight years, he decides…
Loser Jerry Spinelli Ages 9-11 Just like other kids, Zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows up. But Zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips…
Long Shot Mike Lupica Ages 9-11 Pedro Morales loves playing basketball, but he’s more of a team guy than a star – that would be Ned Hancock, the best player in their entire town. The two boys get along well,…
Life According to Og the Frog Betty G. Birney Ages 8-12 Og the Frog has just moved into Room 26, and the place is hopping. There are lively kids, new routines, and a furry neighbor who seems to squeak all…