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Chosen by the Youth Services Staff

Almond, David.

Skellig. 1998.

Unhappy about his baby sister's illness and the chaos of moving into a dilapidated old house, Michael retreats to the garage and finds a mysterious stranger, who is something like a bird and something like an angel.

Avi.

Don't You Know There's a War On? 2001.

Not many things help Howie Crispers forget it's World War II. It's easy to become preoccupied with his dad fighting the Nazi U-boats, the blackouts, and all the other reminders of war. But 25-cent movies and his teacher, Miss Gossim, help him take his mind off things.

Ereth's Birthday. 2000.

Feeling neglected on his birthday, Ereth, the cantakerous old porcupine, sets out looking for his favorite treat and instead finds himself reluctantly acting as "mother" to three young fox kits whose mother has died in a trap.

Poppy. 1995.

Poppy, a brave deer mouse, urges her family to move next to a field of corn big enough to feed them all forever, but Mr. Ocax, a terrifying owl, has other ideas. Poppy has many adventures and stands up to the despotic owl, and in the end she saves her family, though Ragweed, the mouse she loves, dies in the claws of the owl.

Poppy and Rye. 1998.

This novel tells the story, as promised in the final pages of Poppy, of how the courageous deer mouse met and married her husband Rye. Poppy, heartbroken over the loss of Ragweed, her beloved fiance', travels west through Dimwood Forest to inform his family of his death. The adventure becomes larger and more dangerous when she finds them in great trouble. Their home next to a brook has been destroyed by beavers, and Poppy and her grumpy porcupine friend, Ereth, help the mice find a new home.

Ragweed. 1999.

A prequel to Poppy, this is the story of Ragweed, the mouse Poppy loved and lost. Long before Ragweed finds his way to Dimwood Forest, he leaves his family and the country behind and sets off by train for the big city, where he finds excitement and danger and sees cats for the first time.

The Secret School. 2001.

An eighth grade girl tries to keep her one-room scholhouse operating when the regular teacher has to unexpectedly leave town.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. 1990.

As the lone "young lady" on a transatlantic voyage in 1832, Charlotte learns that the captain is murderous and the crew rebellious. She changes from a prim and proper girl to a swashbuckling mate of the crew and is accused of murder by the captain. This is a good, old-fashioned adventure yarn on the high seas.

Bodett, Tom.

Williwaw. 1999.

In their father's absence, thirteen-year-old September and her younger brother Ivan disobey his orders by taking the boat out on their Alaska bay, where they are caught in a terrifying storm called a williwaw.

Cameron, Ann.

The Secret Life of Amanda K. Woods. 1998.

Living in a rural community in Wisconsin during the 1950s, eleven-year-old Amanda gradually and painfully learns a lot about herself, her parents, and her older sister.

Caseley, Judith.

Praying to A. L. 2000.

   Grieving for her beloved father who recently died, thirteen-year-old Sierra remembers special moments in their lives, including their interest in the life of Abraham Lincoln. Confiding to a portrait of Lincoln seems to offer Sierra the kind of solace her wacky but well-meaning Jewish-Cuban extended family can't quite provide.

Choi, Sook Nyul.

Year of Impossible Goodbyes. 1991.

Ten-year-old Sookan, a Korean girl, survives the oppressive Japanese and Russian occupation of North Korea during the 1940s, to later escape to freedom in South Korea. Sookan and her younger brother are reunited with their mother and their long-missing father and three older brothers.

Echoes of the White Giraffe. 1993.

Fifteen-year-old Sookan adjusts to life in the refugee village in Pusan but continues to hope that the civil war will end and her family will be reunited in Seoul.

Gathering of Pearls. 1994.

Sookan struggles to balance her new life as a college freshman in the United States with expectations from her family at home in Korea.

Clements, Andrew.

Frindle. 1996.

What if one day you decided to stop calling a word like pen "pen" and started calling it something else -- like "frindle." When Nicholas Allen does just that, and encourages all of his friends to start using the new word, his experiment turns the town upside down.

The School Story. 2001.

After twelve-year-old Natalie writes a wonderful novel, her friend helps her devise a scheme to get the book accepted at the publishing house where Natalie's mother is an editor.

Jake Drake, Bully Buster. 2001.

It is up to Jake Drake to take matters into hids own hands when Link Baxter, SuperBully moves into the neighborhood.

Jake Drake Know-It-All. 2001.

Jake is determined to win the third grade science fair not only for the grand prize, but to beat the annoying class know-it-alls, as well.

Couloumbis, Audrey.

Getting Near to Baby. 1999.

Although thirteen-year-old Willa Jo and her Aunt Patty seem to be constantly at odds, staying with her and Uncle Hob helps Willa Jo and her younger sister come to terms with the death of their family's baby. A touching examination of grief and healing, of the effects of a tragedy on a family, and of loss and acceptance.

Creech, Sharon.

Walk Two Moons. 1994. J Newbery Awards

After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother's route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also left.

Crum, Shutta.

Spitting Image. 2003.

Twelve-year-old Jessie K. Bovey and her friends confront some of life's questions during their summer vacation in the late 1960s.

Curtis, Christopher Paul.

Bud, Not Buddy. 1999. J Newbery Awards

After his mother's death in 1936, ten-year-old Bud can't squelch a yearning to find out his father's identity. Bud has a hunch from clues his mother left -- posters of Herman E. Calloway and his band. The fearless fellow takes off on a journey to find his father and himself.

The Watsons Go To Birmingham. 1995.

The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.

Cushman, Karen.

The Midwife's Apprentice. 1995. J Newbery Awards

In medieval England, a homeless, nameless girl known only as Brat is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife, and in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.

DiCamillo, Kate.

Because of Winn-Dixie. 2000.

Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni describes her first summer in the town of Naomi, Florida, where she has moved with her pastor father, known simply as The Preacher. Many good things happen to Opal because of her big, ugly dog, named for the local Winn-Dixie store where she found him. She learns to make peace with the fact that her mother, who left when Opal was only three, is never coming back, and she and the dog help her lonely father come out of his shell.

The Tale of Despereaux. 2003. J Newbery Awards

The story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread; A fairy tale full of quirky, unforgettable characters, narrated by DeCamillo's trademark humor and heartbreaking poignancy.

The Tiger Rising. 2001.

Rob, who passes the time in his rural Florida community by wood carving, is drawn by his spunky friend, Sistine, into a plan to free a caged tiger.

Dillon, Ellis.

Children of Bach. 1992.

The adolescent children of a Hungarian Jewish family, all talented musicians, return home from school one day to find that their parents and aunt have been taken away by German soldiers. This book recounts their adventures as they escape Nazi persecution during World War II, and the friendly people they meet on their way to safety in a remote Italian village.

Dowell, Frances, O Roark.

Dovey Coe. 2000.

When accused of murder in her North Carolina mountain town in 1928, Dovey Coe, a stronged-willed twelve-year-old girl, comes to a new understanding of others, including her deaf brother.

Ellis, Deborah.

The Breadwinner. 2000.

This book brings to life the reality of life under the Taliban. Young Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan. After her father is arrested by the Taliban, the religious group that controls the country, Parvana conceives a plan. She cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy to earn money for her family. Parvana's determination to survive is the force that drives this novel set against the backdrop of an intolerable situation.

Mud City. 2003.

This final book in the trilogy begun in "The Breadwinner" and "Parvana's Journey" paints a devastating portrait of life in refugee camps and shows the resourcefulness of children who endure great suffering there.

Parvana's Journey. 2002.

After her father dies, twelve-year-old Parvana is left to fend for herself and so, dressed as a boy and accompanied by other children on the run, must find a way to locate her remaining family inside war-torn Afghanistan.

Fenner, Carol.

The King of Dragons. 1998.

Homeless Ian and his father move into an unused courthouse to avoid being discovered by the authorities.

Randall's Wall. 1991.

Artistically talented but underprivileged, Randall Lord, a fifth-grade boy, has built a wall of defense to protect himself from the pain of human relationships -- a wall which begins to crumble when a dynamic and compassionate classmate decides to interfere in his life. When their teacher discovers Randall's artistic talent, it seems that big changes are about to enter the lives of the Lord family.

Yolanda's Genius. 1995.

Yolanda is determined to prove that her younger brother is not a slow learner but a true musical genius.

Fitzgerald, John D.

The Great Brain Books.

The Great Brain. 1967.

The exploits of the Great Brain of Adenville, Utah, are described by his younger brother, frequently the victim of the Great Brain's schemes for gaining prestige or money.

More Adventures of the Great Brain. 1969.

People in Adenville are breathing a sigh of relief. It seems that Tom D. Fitzgerald, the Great Brain, has truly reformed. For months, not one kid has been swindled and not one stunt has been pulled. But when he gets a new bike for Christmas, the Great Brain heads full speed into his old ways, and this time his ideas are bigger than ever. He puts all of Adenville in fear of a prehistoric beast from Skeleton Cave, solves a mysterious bank robbery, and captures the ghost of Silverload Mines.

Me and My Little Brain. 1971.

When that shrewd conniver, Tom, the infamous Great Brain, is sent off to school in Salt Lake City, his favorite victim, J. D., figures he can step into his brother's shoes as town hustler. Nothing's wrong with his technique -- it's just that he hasn't got the instincts of a real con man. But when outlaws kidnap J. D.'s four-year-old adopted brother, Frankie, J. D.'s talents find their proper inspiration. And if everybody thinks it looks like curtains for Frankie, it's because they haven't counted on what a "little brain" combined with a big heart can do.

The Great Brain At the Academy. 1972.

Everyone knew that the Great Brain would get into trouble when he went off to school at the strict Catholic Academy for Boys in Salt Lake City, But no one -- including Tom -- knew just how much.

The Great Brain Reforms. 1973.

By the end of his summer break, Tom has tricked all his friends out of everything they own. He even outwits three professional crooks who come to swindle the whole town. But when he endangers the lives of two friends, his brother J. D. decides it's time for the Great Brain to reform, and that's how the case of The Kids of Adenville vs. The Great Brain is tried in the Fitzgerald's barn one summer day.

The Return of The Great Brain. 1974.

The Great Brain is back, struggling to stay reformed now that his friends have threatened to ostracize him if he pulls even one more swindle. Under the watchful eyes of his parents and friends, Tom has to be craftier than ever. Whether he's cleverly pulling an out-and-out swindle so as not to be caught, or solving a train robbery and murder, Tom's Great Brain never fails.

The Great Brain Does It Again. 1975.

Although he occasionally uses his great brain for the general good, Tom can't keep his yearning for money and his love of a good swindle under wraps for long. Whether he's solving the mystery of his brother Frankie's stolen rocking horse, operating a homemade carnival ride, writing to the President of the United States, or helping a fat boy lose weight, his antics are hilarious.

The Great Brain Is Back. 1995.

Although bedazzled by pretty Polly Reagan, thirteen-year-old Tom Fitzgerald's great brain and money-loving ways haven't changed a bit. From thinking up the slippery soap deal and the numbers game to outwitting a band of murderous outlaws, The Great Brain is at the top of his form. And one thing's for sure: Life is more exciting when he's around!

Fletcher, Ralph J.

Flying Solo. 1998.

Rachel, having chosen to be mute following the sudden death of a classmate, shares responsibility with the other sixth-graders, who decide not to report that the substitute teacher failed to show up.

Forbes, Esther.

Johnny Tremain. 1943 & 1998. J Newbery Awards

After injuring his hand, a silversmith's apprentice in Boston becomes a messenger for the Sons of Liberty in the days before the American Revolution.

Fox, Paula.

Monkey Island. 1991.

Forced to live on the streets of New York after his mother disappears from their hotel room, eleven-year-old Clay is befriended by two men who help him survive.

Furlong, Monica.

Juniper. 1991.

Ninnoc is the indulged only child of King Mark of Cornwall as Christianity is beginning to overcome the religion of the Mother Goddess. She has abilities as a healer and the ambition to rule her father's small kingdom. While learning from her godmother Euny to be a doran, a sort of wise woman or white witch, she realizes that she must use her new powers to save both herself and her cousin from her evil, power-hungry aunt, Meroot. (a prequel to Wise Child.)

Wise Child. 1987.

Abandoned by both her parents, nine-year-old Wise Child goes to live with the witch woman Juniper, who begins to train her in the ways of herbs and magic.

Gantos, Jack.

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. 1998.

Joey Pigza suffers from severe attention deficit disorder and struggles to remain calm when his world chaotically slips through his fingertips. To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers, Joey has trouble paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription meds wear off and he starts getting worked up and acting wired. The influence of his grandmother, who also suffers from the disorder, further confuses Joey's improvement.

Joey Pigza Loses Control. 2000.

Joey, who is still taking medication to keep him from getting too wired, goes to spend the summer with the father he has never known and meets a grown-up version of himself. But Carter Pigza believes Joey can be a normal kid without medication, leading to an experiment that has disastrous consequences.

Giff, Patricia Reilly.

Lily's Crossing. 1997.

During a summer spent at Rockaway Beach in 1944, Lily's friendship with a young Hungarian refugee causes her to see the war and her own world differently.

Gregory. Kristiana.

Seeds of Hope. 2001.

A diary account of fourteen-year-old Susanna Fairchild's life in 1849, when her father succumbs to gold fever on the way to establish his medical practice in Oregon after losing his wife and money on their steamship journey from New York.

Gutman, Dan.

Honus and Me. 1997.

An intriguing time-travel novel. While 12-year-old Joe Stoshack is cleaning out Miss Young's attic for spending money, he finds the world's most valuable baseball card, picturing Honus Wagner. Joe wrestles with the thought of telling her about his discovery and of returning it to her.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson.

Among the Hidden. 1998.

In a future where the Population Police enforce the law limiting a family to only two children, Luke has lived all his twelve years in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another "third" convinces him that the government is wrong.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson.

Running Out of Time. 1995.

When a diptheria epidemic hits her 1840 village, thirteen-year-old Jessie discovers it is actually a 1995 tourist site under unseen observation by heartless scientists, and it's up to Jessie to escape the village and save the lives of the dying children.

Henkes, Kevin.

Olive's Ocean. 2003.

On a summer visit to her grandmother's cottage by the ocean, twelve-year-old Martha gains perspective on the death of a classmate, on her relationship with her grandmother, on her feelings for an older boy, and on her plans to be a writer. A Newbery Honor Book.

Hermes, Patricia.

Mama, Let's Dance. 1991.

Abandoned by their mother after the death of their father, three youngsters are determined to keep their situation a secret so that the authorities will not split them up and send them to foster homes.

Hesse, Karen.

Out of the Dust. 1997.

In a series of poems, fifteen-year-old Billie Jo relates the hardships of living on her family's wheat farm in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years of the Depression.

Hiaasen, Carl.

Hoot. 2002.

In this humorous and exciting book, Roy, who is new to his small Florida community, becomes involved in another boy's attempt to save a colony of burrowing owls from a proposed construction site.

Hite, Sid.

A Hole in the World. 2001.

A15 year-old boy experiences a life-transforming summer while living and working on a farm belonging to a distant relative.

Holmes, Barbara Ware.

Following Fake Man. 2001.

During his summer in Maine, twelve-year-old Homer, together with his new friend Roger, is determined to find the truth about himself, his long-dead father, and a mysterious costumed man.

Holm, Jennifer L.

Our Only May Amelia. 1999.

As the only girl in a Finnish-American family of seven brothers, May Amelia Jackson resents being expected to act like a lady while growing up on the Nasel River in Washington state in 1899.

Holt, Kimberly Willis.

My Louisiana Sky. 1998.

Growing up in Saitter, Louisiana, in the 1950s, twelve-year-old Tiger Ann struggles with her feelings about her stern but loving grandmother, her mentally slow parents, and her good friend and neighbor, Jesse. When her sophisticated aunt offers her a glamorous life in the big city of Baton Rouge, Tiger Ann has a big decision to make.

Horvath, Polly.

Everything on a Waffle. 2001.

An eleven-year-old recounts her experiences and all that she learns about human nature and the unpredictability of life after her parents are lost at sea.

Ibbotson, Eva.

Dial-A-Ghost. 2001.

A family of nice ghosts protects a British orphan from the diabolical plans of his evil guardians.

Isaacs, Anne.

Torn Thread. 2000.

In an attempt to save his daughter's life, Eva's father sends her from Poland to a labor camp in Czechoslovakia where she and her sister survive the war.

Jacobs, Paul Samuel.

Born Into Light. 1988.

When a number of "feral children" are found in a New England town during the Depression, one of them is taken in by the Westwood family and becomes Roger Westwood's brother. He soon astonishes his foster family by the extreme rapidity with which he learns language and customs and his unusual recuperative powers after injury, but they cannot guess his true nature or his mission on this planet.

Jacobsson, Anders.

In Ned's Head. 2001.

Eleven-year-old Ned, who prefers the name Treb, uses his diary to record his wild thoughts about romance, school, and the rest of his eventful life.

James, Mary.

Shoebag. 1990.

Shoebag, a happy young cockroach, son of Drainboard and Under the Toaster (cockroaches are named for their birthplaces) finds himself suddenly changed into a little boy, a turn of events he doesn't like at all. Poor Shoebag, now renamed Stuart, must confront the unknown world of humanity and school, but he changes the lives of those around him for the better before returning to his former life as an insect.

Jennings, Patrick.

Faith and the Electric Dogs. 1998.

Edison is a Mexican street dog, but he's far from ordinary. He can speak Bowwow and can understand English, Spanish, and French. When a girl named Faith rescues him, he begins a fantastic and unforgettable journey.

Faith and the Rocket Cat. 1998.

Faith and her family return from Mexico, where they had been living, to their home in San Francisco and have more adventures in the spaceship Peahen while trying to keep secret the fact that Edison the dog knows how to write.

Kanefield, Teri.

Rivka's Way. 2001.

Unsure about her upcoming marriage and eager to see what lies beyond the walls of Prague's Jewish quarter in 1778, fifteen-year-old Rivka Lieberman takes great risks to venture outside, where her many new experiences include friendship with a Christian boy.

Kehret, Peg.

My Brother Made Me Do It. 2000.

In letters to an elderly pen pal, eleven-year-old Julie describes how her mischievous younger brother is always getting her in trouble, how she is dealing with painful juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and how she struggles to finish a fund-raising race on crutches.

Korman, Gordon.

The "Bruno and Boots" Macdonald Hall Books.

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall. 1978.

As they seem to be at the bottom of every prank at Macdonald Hall, a Candadian boys' school, the headmaster decides to separate roommates Bruno and Boots, but to little avail. Remarkably, this very funny book was written when the author was just twelve years old.

Go Jump In the Pool! 1979.

Bruno and Boots try some fancy fundraising to pay for a pool for their school, Macdonald Hall.

Beware the Fish! 1980.

Bruno and Boots are afraid that Macdonald Hall may close, and in an attempt to save it, they come up with a plan that rocks the whole community and nearly lands the headmaster in jail.

The War With Mr. Wizzle. 1982.

Walter C. Wizzle and his computer are taking over Macdonald Hall -- making everyone wear a tie and giving out demerits and detentions. Bruno and Boots decide they have got to stop this.

The Zucchini Warriors. 1988.

Roommates Bruno and Boots find obstacles in their way as they attempt to lead the Macdonald Hall Zucchini Warriors to a victorious football season and earn the reward of a new recreation center.

Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood. 1991.

When a film crew shoots on location at Macdonald Hall, best friends Bruno and Boots become friends with the star, who turns out to be a lot like them. Meanwhile, star-struck Bruno succeeds in getting everyone in trouble.

Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall. 1995.

Just as the Headmaster of Macdonald Hall is on the verge of retirement, a wave of practical jokes hits the school, and roommates Bruno and Boots become prime suspects.

Laser, Michael.

6-321. 2001.

Sixth grade in a public school in Queens brings many changes into the life of Marc Chaikin, as he falls in love, deals with class bullies, overcomes his fear of school, and faces his parents' divorce.

Lasky, Kathryn.

Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the Tudor. 1999.

In a series of diary entries, Princess Elizabeth, the eleven-year-old daughter of King Henry VIII, celebrates holidays and birthdays, relives her mother's execution, revels in her studies, and agonizes over her father's health.

Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles. 2000.

In 1769, thirteen-year-old Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna, daughter of Empress Maria Theresa, begins a journal chronicling her life at the Austrian court and her preparations for her future role as queen of France.

Lawrence, Iain.

Lord of the Nutcracker Men. 2001.

An English boy during World War I believes that the battles he enacts with his toy soldiers control the war his father is fighting on the front.

Lee, Marie G.

Finding My Voice. 1992.

As she tries to enjoy her senior year and choose which college she will attend, Korean-American Ellen Sung must deal with the prejudice of some of her classmates and pressure from her parents to get good grades.

Saying Goodbye. 1994.

Ellen explores her interest in creative writing and in her Korean heritage during her freshman year at Harvard.

If It Hadn't Been For Yoon Jun. 1993.

As she reluctantly becomes friends with Yoon Jun, a new student from Korea, seventh grader Alice Larsen becomes more interested in her own Korean background.

Levine, Gail Carson.

Dave at Night. 1999.

When orphaned Dave is sent to the Hebrew Home for Boys, where he is treated cruelly, he sneaks out at night and is welcomed into the music and culture filled world of the Harlem Renaissance. Described as a cross between Oliver Twist and a fairy tale, this charming story finds a lot of humor in a bad situation.

Lowry, Lois.

The Giver. 1993. J Newbery Awards

Winner of the Newbery Award and named as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and ALA Notable Book for Children, Lowry's unforgettable tale introduces 12-year-old Jonas, who is singled out by the Community to be trained by The Giver.

Number the Stars. 1989. J Newbery Awards

In 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie learns how to be brave and courageous when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis.

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The Silent Boy. 2003.

A sensitive, moving story of a wide-eyed young girl growing up at the beginning of the 20th century and the haunting impact of her friendship with the silent boy.

Lubar, David.

Hidden Talents. 1999. TEEN

When troubled thirteen-year-old Martin arrives at an alternative school for misfits and problem students, he falls in with a group of boys with psychic powers and makes a surprising discovery about himself and his life.

MacLachlan, Patricia.

Baby. 1993.

Taking care of a baby left in a basket in their driveway at the end of the tourist season helps a family come to terms with the death of their own infant son. A note promises the mother's return, but twelve-year-old Larkin and her family come to love the baby as their own.

Matthews, Kezi.

Flying Lessons. 2002.

In 1937, when LaMarr's glamorous mother is lost in a plane crash she goes to live with her aunt and uncle, and tries to reconcile herself to the idea that her mother has not gone to Hollywood to become a movie star.

Mazer, Harry

A Boy at War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor. 2001.

While fishing with his friends off Honolulu on December 7, 1941, teenaged Adam is caught in the midst of the Japanese attack and through the chaos of the subsequent days tries to find his father, a naval officer who was serving on the U.S.S. Arizona when the bombs fell.

McGill, Alice.

Miles' Song. 2000.

In 1851 in South Carolina, Miles, a twelve-year-old slave, is sent to a "breaking ground" to have his spirit broken but endures the experience by secretly taking reading lessons from another slave.

McHugh, Elisabet.

Raising a Mother Isn't Easy. 1983.

Karen, an eleven-year-old Korean orphan adopted by a single veterinarian, decides that her scatterbrained mother should have a husband, and proceeds to rate her mother's dates in a series of funny journal entries.

Karen's Sister. 1983.

Karen's mother adopts a second Korean child and finds a husband with three children of his own.

Karen and Vicki. 1984.

When Karen's mother marries, Karen must learn to adapt to living with a complete family, and in particular with her older stepsister, Vicki.

Meyer, Carolyn.

Where the Broken Heart Still Beats: The Story of Cynthia Ann Parker. 1992.

Having been taken as a child and raised by Comanche Indians, thirty-four-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker is "rescued" by soldiers in 1860 and forcibly returned to her white relatives, where she longs for her Indian life, and her only friend is her twelve-year-old cousin Lucy.

Mikaelsen, Ben.

Petey. 1998.

In 1922 Petey, who has cerebral palsy, is misdiagnosed as an idiot and institutionalized; sixty years later, still in the institution, he befriends a boy and shares with him the joy of life.

Morgenstern, Susie.

Secret Letters From 0 to 10. 1998.

Ten-year-old Ernest leads an unadventurous life in Paris with his grandmother, who seldom leaves the house. He comes home every day and eats the same snack and sits down to his homework. Enter Victoria, a new girl in class, who falls in love with him at first sight and announces to one and all that she is going to marry him. Victoria has twelve brothers and an exciting lifestyle that couldn't be more different from Ernest's. Slowly she introduces Ernest to the wonderful world of possiblilities, which results in his grandmother joining the living and his successful search for his father, who abandoned him when he was one day old.

Mori, Kyoko.

Shizuko's Daughter. 1993.

After her mother's suicide when she is twelve years old, Yuki spends years living with her distant father and his resentful new wife, cut off from her mother's family, and relying on her own inner strength to cope with the tragedy. During the course of the novel, Yuki struggles to turn her memories into paintings and to become the strong woman her mother wanted her to be.

Naidoo, Beverly.

Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Survival. 2003.

Chronicles the experiences of young people from different races and ethnic groups as they try to cope with the restrictions placed on their lives by South Africa's apartheid laws.

Napoli, Donna Jo.

Daughter of Venice. 2002.

Frustrated with the restrictions she faces a a girl, and wanting to learn about life, fourteen-year-old Donata, disguised as a boy, sneaks out of her noble family's house to experience the unknown in late sixteenth-century Venice and then must confront the changes that occur in her life because of her actions.

Orlev, Uri.

The Island On Bird Street. 1983.

During World War II, a Jewish boy is left on his own for months in a ruined house in the Warsaw Ghetto, where he must learn all the tricks of survival under constantly life-threatening conditions.

Paterson, Katherine.

Preacher's Boy. 1999.

In 1899, ten-year-old Robbie, son of a preacher in a small Vermont town, gets himself into all kinds of trouble when he decides to give up being Christian in order to make the most of his life before the end of the world, which he thinks is about to take place at the turn of the century.

Paulsen, Gary.

Hatchet. 1987.

After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the wilderness, learning to survive initially with only the aid of a hatchet given him by his mother, and learning also to survive his parents' divorce.

Pearson, Mary.

Scribbler of Dreams. 2001.

Despite her family's long feud with the Crutchfields, seventeen-year-old Kaitlin falls in love with Bram Crutchfield and weaves a tangled web of deception to conceal her identity from him.

Peck, Richard.

A Long Way From Chicago. 1998.

In the 1930s, Joey and his sister, Mary Alice, two city slickers from Chicago, make their annual summer visit to eccentric Grandma Dowdel's seemingly sleepy Illinois town, where they are constantly amazed by the entertaining events caused by Grandma's witty and cunning behavior.

The River Between Us. 2003.

During the early days of the Civil War, the Pruitt family takes in two mysterious young ladies who have fled New Orleans to come north to Illinois.

A Year Down Yonder. 2000. J Newbery Awards

During the recession of 1937, fifteen-year-old Mary Alice is sent to live with her feisty, larger-than-life grandmother in rural Illinois, comes to a better understanding of this fearsome woman, and learns that country life is anything but boring.

Philbrick, W. Rodman.

Freak the Mighty. 1993.

At the beginning of eighth grade, learning disabled Max, who is awkward and very large for his age, and his new friend Freak, whose birth defect has affected his body but not his brilliant mind, find that when they combine forces they make a powerful team. Inspired by King Arthur, they become knights fighting for good and true causes. Together they ward off bullies and help kids in distress, and with Freak's help, Max, whose father is in prison for murdering his mother, begins to feel better about himself.

Max the Mighty. 1998.

Fourteen-year-old Max helps a younger girl escape from her abusive stepfather by running away with her to the distant town of Chivalry, Montana, searching for her real father.

Price, Reynolds.

A Perfect Friend. 2000.

Still grieving over the death of his mother, eleven-year-old Ben finds solace in the special relationship he forms with an elephant in a visiting circus.

Pullman, Phillip.

I was a Rat! 2000.

A little boy turns life in London upside down when he appears at the house of a lonely old couple and insists he was a rat. After a series of hair-raising adventures, always running from authorities who want to "sterminate" him, Roger finds a happy life with Joan and Bob. At the end of the book, the reader discovers that Roger had actually been a rat who was transformed as a coachman for Cinderella's coach, didn't make the midnight curfew, and remained a small boy in a page's uniform, lost in the world of humans.

The Ruby In the Smoke. 1985.

In nineteenth-century London, sixteen-year-old Sally, a recent orphan, becomes involved in a deadly search for a mysterious ruby. Filled with the atmosphere of Sherlock Holmes' foggy London, this is an adventure filled with cutthroat villains, dastardly deeds, sleezy opium dens, filthy slums, and a delightful heroine.

Shadow In the North. 1988.

In 1878 in London, Sally, now twenty-two and established in her own business, and her companions Frederick and Jim, try to solve the mystery surrounding the unexpected collapse of a shipping firm and its ties to a sinister corporation called North Star.

The Tiger In the Well. 1990.

In London in 1881, twenty-four-year-old Sally finds her young daughter and her possessions assailed by an unknown enemy, while a shadowy figure known as the Tzaddik involves her in his plot to defraud and exploit the hordes of Jewish immigrants pouring into the country.

Quattlebaum, Mary.

Grover G.Graham and Me. 2001.

Eleven-year-old Ben, in his eighth foster home, begins the process of growth and healing when he becomes very attached to a baby living with the same family.

Robinet, Harriette Gillem.

Children of the Fire. 1991.

A young black girl named Hallelujah lives through the great Chicago fire with courage and resourcefulness.

Rodda, Emily.

Rowen of Rin. 2001.

Because only he can read the magical map, young, weak, and timid Rowan joins six other villagers to climb a mountain and try to restore their water supply, as fears of a dragon and other horrors threaten to drive them back.

Rowling, J. K.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. 1997.

Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School for Wizards and Witches.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. 1999.

When the Chamber of Secrets is opened again at the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, second-year student Harry Potter finds himself in danger from a dark power that has once more been released on the school.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. 1999.

During his third year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter must confront the devious and dangerous wizard reponsible for his parents' deaths.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. 2000.

Harry Potter, a fourth-year student at Hogwarts School, longs to escape his hateful relatives, the Dursleys, and live as a normal fourteen-year-old wizard, but what Harry does not yet realize is that he is not a normal wizard, and in his case, different can be deadly.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. 2003.

Harry Potter, now a fifth-year student at Hogwarts School, confronts the very government of the magical world he inhabits. The richest installment yet of J. K. Rowling's seven-part story.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. 2005.

Harry struggles to uncover the identity of the Half-Blood Prince, the past owner of a potions textbook he now possesses that is filled with ingenious, potentially deadly spells. But Harry's life is suddenly changed forever when someone close to him is heinously murdered right before his eyes.

Ryan, Pam Munoz.

Esperanza Rising. 2001. When Esperanza and her mother are forced to flee their home in a bountiful region in Mexico to a Mexican labor camp in California, they must adjust to life without fancy clothes or servants. Now they must confront the challenges of hard work, acceptance by their own people, and economic difficulties brought on by the Great Depression.

Ryland, Cynthia.

Missing May. 1992.

After the death of the beloved aunt who has raised her, twelve-year-old Summer and her uncle Ob leave their West Virginia trailer in search of the strength to go on living.

Sachar, Louis.

Holes. 1998. J Newbery Awards

As further evidence of his family's bad fortune, which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats has been wrongly accused of stealing a famous baseball player's sneakers and is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert, where the boys dig holes every day for a reason unknown to them, and he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself.

Salisbury, Graham

Lord of the Deep. 2001.

Working for his stepfather on a charter fishing boat in Hawaii teaches thirteen-year-old Mikey about fishing, and about taking risks, making sacrifices, and facing some of life's difficult choices.

Shafer, Audrey.

The Mailbox. 2006.

When twelve-year-old Gabe tries to hide his uncle's death from the local authorities, he is not prepared for what happens when this secret is discovered.

Snicket, Lemony.

A Series of Unfortunate Events.

The Bad Begining. ( book 1) 1999.

After the sudden death of their parents, the three Baudelaire children: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, must depend on one another and their wits when it turns out that Count Olaf, the distant relative who is appointed their guardian, is determined to use any means necessary to get their fortune. A great mixture of humor and page-turning adventure.

The Reptile Room. (book 2) 1999.

After narrowly escaping the menacing clutches of the dastardly Count Olaf, the three Baudelaire orpans are taken in by a kindly herpetologist with whom they live happily for an all-too-brief time. In each book, Count Olaf appears in a different disguise; the children always recognize him, but the banker who manages their fortune never believes them until the last minute. The Count and his evil cohorts are always caught, but escape in the last chapter so they may return to do more wicked deeds in the next installment.

The Wide Window. (book 3) 2000.

Catastrophes and misfortunes continue to plague the Baudelaire orphans after they're sent to live with fearful Aunt Josephine, who offers little protection against Count Olaf's treachery. The kind adults who take an interest in the orphans' welfare and for a time seem to be their passport to happy lives, are usually killed off in horrible ways or are otherwise taken away from the poor children.

The Miserable Mill. (book 4) 2000.

Accidents, evil plots, and general misfortune abound when, in their continuing search for a home, the Baudelaire orphans are sent to live and work in a sinister lumber mill.

The Austere Academy. (book 5) 2000.

As their outrageous misfortune continues, the Baudelaire orphans are shipped off to a miserable boarding school, where they befriend the two Quaqmire triplets (the third has been killed in a fire) and find that they have been followed by the dreaded Count Olaf.

The Ersatz Elevator. (book 6) 2001.

The woeful saga of the Baudelaire orphans continues as evil Count Olaf discovers their whereabouts at Esme' Squalor's seventy-one-bedroom penthouse and concocts a new plan for stealing the family fortune.

The Vile Village. (book 7) 2001.

Mr. Poe, the Baudelaire orphans' ineffective legal guardian, having exhausted all options for finding them a new home with relatives, sadly entrusts his young charges' fate to a progressive guardian program formed with the premise "It takes a village to raise a child." Before they know it, the children are being whisked off to a vile village which is covered in crows. Fortunately, the orphans are taken in by a kindly handyman named Hector, but can he save them from their usual disastrous fate?

The Hostile Hospital. (book 8) 2001.

On the run after being falsely accused of murder, the three Baudelaire orphans find themselves in the Heimlich Hospital, with the evil Count Olaf in close pursuit.

The Carnivorous Carnival. (book 9) 2003.

On the run as suspected murderers, the unlucky Baudelaire orphans find themselves trapped in the Caligari Carnival, where they must masquerade as freaks in order to hide from the evil Count Olaf.

The Slippery Slope. (book 10) 2003.

In the perilous Mortmain Mountains, Klaus and Violet Baudelaire meet another well-read person, who helps them try to rescue Sunny from the villainous Count Olaf and his henchmen as they all near "the last safe place."

The Grim Grotto. (book 11) 2004.

Still pursued by the evil Count Olaf, the Baudelaire orphans attempt to reach a very important VFD meeting, but first they must travel in a rattletrap submarine to the Gorgonian Grotto, a dangerous underwater cave, in search of the sugar bowl.

The Penultimate Peril. (book the twelfth) 2004.

The Baudelaire orphans disguise themselves as employees of the Hotel Denoument and find themselves pursued by the evil Count Olaf and by others.

The End. (book the 13th) 2006.

Lost at sea, the Baudelaire orphans, along with the evil Count Olaf, wash up on the shore of an island populated by an oddly placid group of inhabitants, and they try to decide whether or not they are truly safe.

Spinelli, Jerry.

Loser. 2002.

Even though his classmates from first grade on have considered him strange and a loser, Daniel Zinkoff's optimism and exuberance and the support of his loving family do not allow him to feel that way about himself.

Stargirl. 2000.

In this story about the perils of popularity, the courage of nonconformity, and the thrill of first love, an eccentric student named Stargirl changes Mica High School forever.

Voigt, Cynthia.

Dicey's Song. 1982. J Newbery Awards

Now that the four abandoned Tillerman children are settled in with their grandmother, Dicey finds that their new beginnings require love, trust, humor, and courage.

Homecoming. 1981.

Abandoned by their mother, four children begin a search for a home and an identity.

Wells, Rosemary.

Wingwalker. 2002. J EASY FICTION

In this deceptively slim, slice-of-life chapter book, the narrator recounts a pivotal childhood summer. Reuben is a carefree second grader living in rural Oklahoma with his mother, a cafe cook, and his father, a dance instructor, when the Depression and Dust Bowl end the family's stable, quiet way of life.

Whelan, Gloria.

Angel In the Square. 2001.

In 1913 Russia, twelve-year-old Katya eagerly anticipates leaving her St. Petersburg home, though not her older cousin Misha, to join her mother, a lady in waiting in the household of Tsar Nicholas II, but the ensuing years bring world war, revolution, and undreamed of changes to her life.

Whelan, Gloria.

Homeless Bird. 2000.

Like many girls her age in India, thirteen-year-old Koly is getting married. Full of hope and courage, she leaves home -- forever. But there's been a terrible mistake. The husband chosen for her is too young, and he's very ill. And as tradition dictates, it's too late to turn back. Koly must either suffer a destiny dictated by India's tradition or find the courage to oppose it.

Whelan, Gloria.

Impossible Journey. 2003.

The sequel to "ANGEL IN THE SQUARE". In 1934, thirteen-year-old Marya and her younger brother, Georgi, set out alone on a long and arduous journey into Siberia to find their mother after she and their father are exiled for opposing Stalin.

White, Ruth.

Belle Prater's Boy. 1996.

When Woodrow's mother suddenly disappears, he moves to his grandparents' home in a small Virginia town where he befriends his cousin, and together they find the strength to face the terrible losses and fears in their lives.

Wiles, Debbie.

Love, Ruby Lavender. 2001.

When her quirky grandmother goes to Hawaii for the summer, nine-year-old Ruby learns to survive on her own in Mississippi by writing letters, befriending chickens as well as the new girl in town, and finally coping with her grandfather's death.

Woodson, Jacqueline.

Miracle's Boy's. 2000.

Twelve-year-old Lafayette's close relationship with his older brother Charlie changes after Charlie is released from a detention home and blames Lafayette for the death of their mother.

Yumoto, Kazumi.

The Friends. 1996.

Curious about death, three sixth-grade boys in Japan decide to spy on an old man waiting for him to die, but they end up becoming his friends. A book about death that espouses the pure joy in life.

www.webrary.org/Kids/jbibfavorites.html
First published on the Web: 6/27/2001
Last updated: 2/12/2007