Chbosky, S. (1999). The perks of being a wallflower. New York: MTV Books/Pocket Books.

Summary: As a result of his friend's suicide and anxiety over starting high school, "Charlie" decides to write anonymous letters to classmate to help himself cope. The letters do not name names because Charlie hopes that the recipient will not discover, or try ( Read more... )

Hopkins, E. (2006). Burned. New York: Simon Pulse.

Summary: Pattyn is the oldest of seven daughters in what looks to the outside world to be a very traditional Morman family in Nevada. Not everything is as it seems though and Pattyn is beginning to question her faith in the face of her father's abuse of her mother and his drinking problem. Her ( Read more... )

Lee, T., Hart, S.(ill.)., & Fujita, A.(ill.). (2009). Outlaw: The legend of robin hood.                      Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Summary: This book tells and illustrates a likely life of Robin of Loxley also known as Robin o' the Hood and Robin Hood. It begins with an event that would traumatize any child, witnessing a hero blinded ( Read more... )

Zenatti, V. (2005). When i was a soldier. (A. Hunter, Trans.). New York: Bloomsbury Children's                      Books. (2002).

Summary: Valerie is an Israeli teen on the verge of becoming an adult. Before any teen in Israel can go to college, they must enlist in the army for at least two years. Valerie starts off sounding very superficial in ( Read more... )

Fritz, J. & Talbot, H.(ill.). (2001). Leonardo's horse. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Summary: Among his many inventions and works of art, Leonardo da Vinci was fascinated with the natural world. He created many things based on things in nature including his designs for a flying machine modeled after birds. The Duke of Milan commissioned da Vinci ( Read more... )

Anderson, L. H. (2000). Fever 1793. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Summary: Mattie Cook helps out in the coffeehouse run by her mother and Eliza, the cook. One day, Polly, who usually does most of the chores, does not show up on time. Mrs. Cook goes to look for her and finds out that she has died from a fever. At first, all ( Read more... )

Pullman, P. (1985/2008). Sally lockhart mystery: The ruby in the smoke. New York: Knopf.

Summary: Sally Lockhart has just received a cryptic note from her father, who has been dead for several months. It says "Beware the Seven Blessings. Marchbanks will help Chattum." She doesn't know who to trust and tries to find out what the note means by ( Read more... )

Werlin, N. (2008). Impossible. New York: Dial Books.

Summary: Seven year old Lucy Scarborough finds a hidden compartment in her bookshelf that contains several sheets of paper written in cursive. She decides that it is a magic spell and hides the shirt from her oldest friend Zach hoping the spell will make him like her best again ( Read more... )

Shusterman, N. (2007). Unwind. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Summary: After the Heartland War between the Pro-Life and Pro-Choice armies, the Bill of Life was added to the Constitution, stating that all babies conceived must be born. Unfortunately for those children, their parents have the choice of sending them to be " ( Read more... )

Kehret, P. (2003). Escaping the giant wave. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young 
                     Readers.

Summary: Kyle is finishing up 6th grade in Kansas by writing four goals to work towards over the summer, one of which is to get Daren to stop harrassing him. At first, the trip to Oregon for his dad winning Salesman of the Year ( Read more... )