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2018 S Day Sum Red Chan Record all the books you read and listen to over the summer. Return this log to the library by September 6, 2018. NAME: ______Title Author’s Last Name Date Finished

2018 S Day Sum Red Chan

Title Author’s Last Name Date Finished

2018 Summer Reading K - 3 Chapter Books

Bellisario, Gina. Mighty Pet Sitter. North Mankato, Minn.: Stone Arch Books, a Capstone imprint, 2018.

Superhero Ellie Ultra is given the responsibility of caring for Squeak, the class hamster, for the weekend, which is exciting, but also a little worrying, especially since her dog, Super Fluffy, is too interested in the hamster for comfort--but when she accidentally shrinks herself down to three inches tall Ellie discovers that, even for a superhero, pet sitting is a lot harder when you are no bigger than your pet.

Birney, Betty G. Humphrey's Pet Show Panic. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2018.

When A.J. brings Humphrey to the town pet show, he's sure Humphrey will a prize. But Humphrey isn't convinced. There are all kinds of animals in the show--from dogs and cats to parrots and even something called a bearded dragon! Humphrey tries to impress the judges with some tricks, but when a dog noses a little too close to him, Og the Frog saves the day with the most impressive trick of all.

Burnell, Cerrie. Harper and the Night Forest. This hardcover ed. New York: Sky Pony Press, 2018.

Harper is on a mission! Rumor tells of the mysterious Ice Raven who lives among the ebony trees, singing a magical song that can melt even the hardest of hearts. Now the Wild Conductor wants to capture this mythical bird and create the greatest orchestra ever known. So Harper and her friends set off to find the mythical bird. But soon Harper realizes she faces a terrible dilemma. Should a wild, free creature like the Ice Raven ever be tied down?

Butler, Dori Hillestad. King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth. 1st ed. Atlanta, Ga.: Peachtree, 2018.

King and Kayla, the detective duo, are back to solve the mystery of Kayla's missing tooth.King, the happy and hilarious golden retriever narrator, anxiously awaits the return of his human, Kayla, who's been at school for "eleventy seven hours. Maybe even eleventy seven days." When Kayla finally arrives , she has big news: She's lost a tooth! Kayla is excited to use her class's tooth-fairy pillow that night, but, alas, her tooth is missing!

Calandrelli, Emily. Ada Lace, Take Me to Your Leader. 1st Simon & Schuster Bks. for Young Readers hardcover ed. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018.

Third grader and inventor extraordinaire Ada Lace likes nothing more than to tinker with mechanics like her robot, George. Her latest project is to fix up a ham radio, something that she could use to contact people on this planet…and beyond. The only problem is that she just can’t get it to work properly.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 1 of 7 2018 Summer Reading 3 - 6 Middle Grade

Anderson, John David. Granted. 1st ed. New York, NY: Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2018. In a magical land called the Haven lives a young fairy named Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets. Ophela is no ordinary fairy—she is a Granter: one of the select fairies whose job it is to venture out into the world and grant the wishes of unsuspecting humans every day. But with worldwide magic levels at an all-time low, this is not as easy as it sounds. On a typical day, only a small fraction of the millions of potential wishes gets granted.

Applegate, Katherine. Endling: the Last. Waterville, ME: Thorndike Press, 2018. What do you do when you’re the last of your kind? Applegate transports her readers to a new land, one inhabited by numerous sentient species, six of which have fought to the top of the food chain: humans, dairnes, felivets, natites, terramants, and raptidons. In this world, readers meet Byx, a dairne—a doglike creature that walks erect, glides like a flying squirrel, and has opposable thumbs— on the day she becomes the last of her species. It’s also a day when Byx meets two other creatures: Tobble, a wobbyk, with large ears and a short round body, and Khara (short for Kharassande), a 14-year-old human girl who pretends to be a boy.

Arnold, Elana K. Bat and the Waiting Game. 1st ed. New York, NY: Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2018. For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life is pretty great. He's the caretaker of the best baby skunk in the world--even Janie, his older sister, is warming up to Thor. When Janie gets a part in the school play and can't watch Bat after school, it means some pretty big changes. Someone else has to take care of the skunk kit in the afternoons.

Balliett, Blue. Out of the Wild night: a Ghost Story. 1st ed., April 2018. New York: Scholastic Press, 2018. Balliett whisks readers to the shores of Nantucket for a mystery swathed in history and ghosts. Beset by a housing crunch, Nantucket is experiencing a flurry of rehab projects. Yet one contractor, Mr. Nold, is gutting old houses, throwing out perfectly good wood and stirring up the ghosts that have long resided within their walls. Despite sabotaged construction sites, Nantucket's adults are slow to accept that disgruntled spirits are to blame. The island's kids, however, have no such reservations, and they realize that the only way to restore the community's peace is for residents to listen to the ghosts and reconnect with their own pasts.

Barnett, Mac. The Terrible Two Go Wild. New York Amulet Books, 2018. Everyone’s favorite pranksters are at it again! School’s out, and Miles and Niles are running wild in outside town: climbing trees, exploring caves, and, yes, pranking. But these leafy, lazy days of mischief darken when bully Josh Barkin and his cadets from a nearby kids’ boot camp discover the merrymakers—and vow to destroy them. Are our heroes’ sharp minds any match for these hooligans’ hard fists? The latest installment of the witty, on-target illustrated series is another “fast paced, laugh-out-loud novel” (School Library Journal) that proves once again that, in the hands of the powerless, pranks can be tools of justice—plus, they’re funny.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 1 of 9 2018 Summer Reading 5 - 8 Middle Grade

Alexander, Kwame. . Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018. ****Entering 8th-Grade Required Reading**** Before Josh and Jordan Bell were streaking up and down the court, their father was learning his own moves. In this prequel to Newbery Medal winner The , Chuck Bell takes center stage, as readers get a glimpse of his childhood and how he became the jazz music worshipping, basketball star his sons look up to.

Bailey, Kristin. Nightfell Wood. 1st ed. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2018. Wynn and Elric may now be safe, but adjusting to life in the Between is not without complications. Their adoptive mother, the benevolent Fairy Queen, is haunted by the memory of her child who was kidnapped long ago--and she won't risk letting the same thing happen to Wynn and Elric. But that same grief has been weakening the queen's powers for years, and the protective shield around their kingdom is deteriorating.[When] Wynn is coerced into the Nightfell Wood by a creature sent to do the Grendel's bidding, Elric knows he must go after her to save her life. What they discover there--about fear, prejudice, and the true nature of evil--will change the fairy kingdom forever.

Behrens, Rebecca. The Last Grand Adventure. 1st Aladdin hardcover ed. March 2018. New York: Aladdin, 2018. It’s 1967 and twelve-year-old Bea is in need of some adventure. Her mother is off in San Francisco, while her father has just gotten remarried in Los Angeles. Bea has gained a younger stepsister, and she’s not thrilled about her blended family. So when her ailing grandmother, Pidge, moves to an Orange County senior-living community and asks if Bea would spend the summer helping her get settled, Bea is happy for any excuse to get away. It turns out, her grandmother isn’t interested in settling in. What she really wants is to hop a train back to Atchison, Kansas—where she thinks she’ll be reunited with her long-missing sister: Amelia Earhart.

Butterworth, Jess. Running on the Roof of the World. 1st ed. Hill, N.C.: Algonquin Young Readers, 2018. After her parents are arrested by Chinese soldiers because of their religious beliefs, twelve-year-old Tash and her best friend Sam travel from their home in Tibet across the Himalayas to India in order to seek the help of the Dalai Lama. And so, with a backpack of Tash's father's mysterious papers and two trusty yaks by their side, their extraordinary journey across the mountains begins.

Callender, Kheryn. Hurricane Child. 1st ed., April 2018. New York: Scholastic Press, 2018. Twelve-year-old Caroline is a Hurricane Child, born on Water Island during a storm. Coming into this world during a hurricane is unlucky, and Caroline has had her share of bad luck already. She's hated by everyone in her small school, she can see things that no one else can see, and -- worst of all -- her mother left home one day and never came back. With no friends and days filled with heartache, Caroline is determined to find her mother. When a new student, Kalinda, arrives, Caroline's luck begins to turn around. Kalinda, a solemn girl from Barbados with a special smile for everyone, seems to see the things Caroline sees, too.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 1 of 9 2018 Summer Reading 5 - 8 Middle Grade

Carroll, Emma. Strange Star. New York: Delacorte Press, 2018. They were coming tonight to tell ghost stories. 'A tale to freeze the blood,' was the only rule. Switzerland, 1816. On a stormy summer night, Lord Byron and his guests are gathered round the fire. Felix, their serving boy, can't wait to hear their creepy tales. Yet real life is about to take a chilling turn. Frantic pounding at the front door reveals a stranger, a girl covered in the most unusual scars.She claims to be looking for her sister, supposedly snatched from England by a woman called Mary Shelley.

Cartaya, Pablo. The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. New York: Viking, 2017. For Arturo, summertime in Miami means playing basketball until dark, sipping mango smoothies, and keeping cool under banyan trees. And maybe a few shifts as junior lunchtime dishwasher at Abuela's restaurant. Maybe. But this summer also includes Carmen, a cute poetry enthusiast who moves into Arturo's apartment complex and turns his stomach into a deep fryer. He almost doesn't notice the smarmy land developer who rolls into town and threatens to change it. Arturo refuses to let his family and community go down without a fight.

Charles, Tami. Like Vanessa. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2018. In this semi-autobiographical debut novel set in 1983, Vanessa Martin's real-life reality of living with family in public housing in Newark, New Jersey is a far cry from the glamorous Miss America stage. She struggles with an incarcerated mother she barely remembers, a grandfather dealing with addiction and her own battle with self- confidence. But when a new teacher at school coordinates a beauty pageant and convinces Vanessa to enter, Vanessa's view of her own world begins to change. Vanessa discovers that her own self-worth is more than the scores of her talent performance and her interview answers.

Cole, Frank. The Eternity Elixir. Salt Lake City, Utah: Shadow Mountain, 2018. Twelve-year-old Gordy Stitser is one of the few people who knows the truth about the secret society of potion masters, because not only is Gordy’s mom on the Board of Ruling Elixirists Worldwide (B.R.E.W.), but she has also been training Gordy in the art of potion-making. One afternoon, Gordy receives a mysterious package containing an extremely rare potion known as “The Eternity Elixir.” In the right hands, the Elixir continues to protect society. But in the wrong hands, it could destroy the world as we know it.

Connor, Leslie. The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle. 1st ed. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2018. Mason Buttle is the biggest, sweatiest kid in his grade, and everyone knows he can barely read or write. Mason's learning disabilities are compounded by grief. Fifteen months ago, Mason's best friend, Benny Kilmartin, turned up dead in the Buttle family's orchard. An investigation drags on, and Mason, honest as the day is long, can't understand why Lieutenant Baird won't believe the story Mason has told about that day. Both Mason and his new friend, tiny Calvin Chumsky, are relentlessly bullied by the other boys in their neighborhood, so they create an underground club. When Calvin goes missing, Mason is desperate to figure out what happened to him, and eventually, Benny. But will anyone believe him?

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 2 of 9 2018 Summer Reading 5 - 8 Middle Grade

Cotter, Bill. Saint Philomene's Infirmary for Magical Creatures. 1st ed., 2018. New York: Godwin Books, 2018. Deep below ground, there is a secret hospital for magical creatures. At Saint Philomene's Infirmary, all creatures are welcome—except humans. So when twelve- year-old human boy Chance Jeopard unearths a plot to destroy the hospital and its millions of resident patients, he is launched into the role of unlikely—and unwelcome —hero. His infinitely pragmatic and skeptical sister, Pauline, thinks it's all nonsense until she finds herself swept up in the mission. It will take all their wit and courage for the brother and sister to save Saint Philomene's—and escape alive!

Curtis, Christopher Paul. The Journey of Little Charlie. 1st ed., 2018. New York: Scholastic Press, 2018. Twelve-year-old Charlie is down on his luck: His dad just died, the share crops are dry, and the most fearsome man in Possum Moan, Cap’n Buck, says Charlie’s dad owed him a lot of money. Fearing for his life, Charlie strikes a deal to repay his father’s debt by accompanying Cap’n Buck to Detroit in pursuit of some folks who have stolen from him. It’s not too bad of a bargain for Charlie . . . until he comes face-to-face with the fugitives.

Emerson, Kevin. The Oceans Between Stars. 1st ed. New York, NY: Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2018. Liam and Phoebe, having barely escaped our exploding sun with their lives, are in stasis for the decade-long journey to the rogue planet Delphi, where they hope to meet up with the rest of the human refugees, find help for their injured parents, and pass along the devastating things they discovered on Mars: that someone destroyed their world intentionally, and that that someone might still be after them, trying to finish the job.

Frank, Steven. Class Action. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018. Sixth-grader Sam wants to build a treehouse with his dad and spend more time with his older sister, Sadie, but instead he faces a seemingly bottomless pit of superfluous schoolwork. One more homework assignment is the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back, launching Sam up on his desk in protest—and subsequently into a three-day suspension. Sadie, mired in her own endless homework Hades, soon joins forces to stand up against the curricular status quo. With a crew of friends and their curmudgeonly, retired-lawyer neighbor, Mr. Kalman, manage to take their fight all the way to the U.S. Court.

Gorman, Zac. Thisby Thestoop and the Black Mountain. 1st ed. New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2018. When the prince and princess arrive for a Royal Inspection, the Princess Iphigenia winds up lost in the tunnels of the dungeon—without her guards, her staff, or her younger twin brother—and it’s up to Thisby to guide the princess safely past the hoards of minotaurs, wyverns, ghouls, and who-knows-what-else that would love nothing more than to nosh the royal highness for dinner. Thisby Thestoop and Princess Iphigenia have a dangerous adventure ahead of them. If they’re going to a rescue the missing prince, stop a mounting war, and keep safe all the creatures who call the mountain dungeon home, they’ll have to learn how to trust each other.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 3 of 9 2018 Summer Reading 5 - 8 Middle Grade

Hargrave, Kiran Millwood. The Island at the End of Everything. 1st ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2018. Ami lives with her mother on an island where the sea is as blue as the sky. It’s all she knows and loves, but the arrival of malicious government official Mr Zamora changes her world forever: her island is to be made into a colony for lepers. Taken from her mother and banished across the sea, Ami faces an uncertain future in an orphanage. There she meets a honey-eyed girl named for butterflies, and together they discover a secret that will lead her on an adventure home. Ami must go back to the island of no return, but will she make it in time?

Hautala, Beth. The Ostrich and Other Lost Things. New York, NY: Philomel Books, 2018. Eleven-year-old Olivia Grant has a knack for finding lost things. She can find lost rings, pets, and even her elderly neighbor's misplaced glasses. There's only one thing Olivia has never been able to find--her brother Jacob's toy ostrich. It wasn't until the day Jacob lost his ostrich that Olivia noticed how different he was: Jacob is autistic, and though she's his little sister, Olivia often feels like the older of the pair. And with her parents so heavily focused on maintaining status quo for Jacob, it's Olivia who has stagnated in his shadow. In fact, apart from being Jacob's sister, Olivia's not really sure who she is.

Hitchcock, Shannon. One True Way. 1st ed., March 2018. New York: Scholastic Press, 2018. From the moment she met Samantha, star of the school basketball team, on her first day at Daniel Boone Middle School, Allison Drake felt she had found a friend, something she needs badly since her brother died and her father left--but as their friendship grows it begins to evolve into a deeper emotion, and in North Carolina in 1977, it is not easy to discover that you might be gay.

Jamieson, Victoria. All's Faire in Middle School. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2017. Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up with two parents working at the Renaissance Faire, and she's eager to begin her own training as a squire. First, though, she'll need to prove her bravery. Luckily Impy has just the quest in mind-- she'll go to public school after a life of being homeschooled! But it's not easy to act like a noble knight-in-training in middle school. Impy falls in with a group of girls who seem really nice (until they don't) and starts to be embarrassed of her thrift shop apparel, her family's unusual lifestyle, and their small, messy apartment.

Jensen, Cordelia. Every Shiny Thing. New York: Amulet Books, 2018. Lauren prides herself on being a good sister, and Sierra is used to taking care of her mom. When Lauren’s parents send her brother to a therapeutic boarding school for teens on the autism spectrum and Sierra moves to a foster home in Lauren’s wealthy neighborhood, both girls are lost until they find a deep bond with each other. But when Lauren recruits Sierra to help with a Robin Hood scheme to raise money for autistic kids who don’t have her family’s resources, Sierra has a lot to lose if the plan goes wrong. Lauren must learn that having good intentions isn’t all that matters when you battle injustice, and Sierra needs to realize that sometimes, the person you need to take care of is yourself.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 4 of 9 2018 Summer Reading 5 - 8 Middle Grade

Johnson, Varian. The Parker Inheritance. 1st ed. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2018. The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It's waiting for Candice Miller. When Candice finds the letter, she isn't sure she should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, after all, who left Lambert in a cloud of shame. But the letter describes a young woman named Siobhan Washington. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding the letter- writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle. Grandma tried and failed. But now Candice has another chance.

Kadohata, Cynthia. Checked. 1st ed. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2018. Hockey is Conor’s life. His whole life. He’ll say it himself, he’s a hockey beast. It’s his dad’s whole life too—and Conor is sure that’s why his stepmom, Jenny, left. There are very few things Conor and his dad love more than the game, and one of those things is their Doberman, Sinbad. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor chooses to put his hockey lessons and practices on hold so they can pay for Sinbad’s chemotherapy. But without hockey to distract him, Conor begins to notice more. And then Conor notices one more thing: without hockey, the one thing that makes him feel special, is he really special at all?

Kim, Michelle. Running Through Sprinklers. 1st ed. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2018. Sara and Nadine have been like two halves of the same person, but everything has changed this year. Nadine has suddenly skipped a grade and gone to high school without Sara. No matter how hard she fights to save their friendship, Sara can feel it slipping away.But change can happen from the inside, too. The forever-friend days of running through sprinklers and slurping up ice cream cones may be over. Yet in their place, Sara just might discover something new and wonderful: herself.

King, Wesley. A World Below. 1st ed. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018. Mr. Baker's eighth grade class thought they were in for a normal field trip to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, but their journey takes a terrifying turn when an earthquake hits and the students are plunged into a frigid underground lake, forcing them to fight for survival and find their way back above ground. brings out everyone’s true self. Supplies dwindle and tensions mount. Told from three different points of view, this fast-paced adventure novel explores how group dynamics change under dire circumstances.

Libenson, Terri. Positively Izzy. 1st ed. New York, NY: Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2018. Izzy is the dreamer. There’s nothing Izzy loves more than acting in skits and making up funny stories. The downside? She can never focus enough to get her schoolwork done. Bri is the brain but she wants people to see there’s more to her than just a report card full of As. At the same time, she wishes her mom would stop bugging her to “break out of her shell” and join drama club. The girls’ lives converge in unexpected ways on the day of a school talent show.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 5 of 9 2018 Summer Reading 5 - 8 Middle Grade

Magras, Diane. The Mad Wolf's Daughter. New York, NY: Kathy Dawson Books, 2018. One dark night, Drest’s sheltered life on a remote Scottish headland is shattered when invading knights capture her family, but leave Drest behind. Her father, the Mad Wolf of the North, and her beloved brothers are a fearsome war-band, but now Drest is the only one who can save them. On her journey, Drest learns that the war- band is legendary for terrorizing the land. If she frees them, they’ll not hesitate to hurt the gentle knight who’s become her friend.

McCaulay, Diana. Gone to Drift. 1st US ed., 2018. New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2018. Life gets even tougher for Lloyd, a boy from a Jamaican fishing village, when his grandfather goes missing at sea - ‘gone to drift’ as the local fishers say. Lloyd sets out to find him but no one will help except for an uptown girl who studies dolphins, his best friend Dwight and - just perhaps - a mad man called Slowly on a sun-baked beach. Truth? Respect? Survival? Gone to Drift is a powerful adventure story in which Lloyd discovers that the enemies of his grandfather - and of the Caribbean Sea that he loves - are closer to home than he could ever imagine.

McCullough, Kelly. Magic, Madness, and Mischief. 1st ed., 2018. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2018. Kalvan Monroe is worried. Either he’s going mad or he really did wake up with uncontrollable fire magic and accidentally summon a snarky talking fire hare. He’s got to be going crazy, right? But if he’s not, then magic actually is real, and he’s got even more problems to worry about. Because Kalvan isn’t the only one with powers. The same fire magic that allows him to talk his way into and out of trouble burned too brightly in his mother, damaging her mind and leaving her vulnerable to the cold, manipulative spells of the Winter King.

Messner, Kate. Breakout. New York: Bloomsbury, 2018. Nora Tucker is looking forward to summer vacation in Wolf Creek--two months of swimming, popsicles, and brushing up on her journalism skills for the school paper. But when two inmates break out of the town's maximum security prison, everything changes. Doors are locked, helicopters fly over the woods, and police patrol the school grounds. Worst of all, everyone is on edge, and fear brings out the worst in some people Nora has known her whole life. Even if the inmates are , she worries that home might never feel the same.

Nesbet, Anne. The Orphan Band of Springdale. 1st ed. 2018. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2018. On the verge of World War II, eleven-year-old Gusta is sent from New York City to Maine, where she discovers small-town prejudices--and a huge family secret. It's 1941, and . . . as the Second World War rages in Europe, eleven-year-old Gusta's life, like the world around her, is about to change. Her father, a foreign-born labor organizer, has had to flee the country, and Gusta has been sent to live in an orphanage run by her grandmother. . . lugging her one precious possession: a beloved old French horn, her sole memento of her father.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 6 of 9 2018 Summer Reading 5 - 8 Middle Grade

Orgill, Roxane. Siege: How General Washington Kicked the British Out of Boston and Launched a Revolution. 1st ed. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2018. It is the summer of 1775. The British occupy Boston and its busy harbor, holding residents captive and keeping a strong military foothold. The threat of smallpox looms, and the town is cut off, even from food supplies. Following the battles of Lexington and Concord, Congress unanimously elects George Washington commander in chief of the American armed forces, and he is sent to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to transform the ragtag collection of volunteer militiamen into America's first army. The war has so far been little more than a series of intermittent skirmishes, but Washington is in constant fear of attack--until he takes the offensive with results that surprise everyone.

Perl, Erica S. All Three Stooges. 1st ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2018. Spoiler alert: This book is not about the Three Stooges. It's about Noah and Dash, two seventh graders who are best friends and comedy junkies. That is, they were best friends, until tragedy strikes and Dash shuts Noah out. Which Noah deserved, according to Noa, the girl who, annoyingly, shares both his name and his bar mitzvah day. Now Noah's confusion, frustration, and determination to get through to Dash are threatening to destroy more than just their friendship. But what choice does he have? As Noah sees it, sometimes you need to risk losing everything, even your sense of humor, to prove that gone doesn't have to mean "gone for good."

Presley, Daniel. A Whale in Paris: How it Happened that Chantal Duprey Befriended a Whale During the Second World War and Helped Liberate France. 1st ed. New York: Atheneum, 2018. A hopeful and heroic girl befriends a small, lost whale during World War II and together they embark on a journey to liberate France and find their families. Ever since the Germans became the unwelcome “guests” of Paris in the early days of World War II, Papa and Chantal have gone out in the evenings to fish in the Seine. Tonight Chantal is hoping for a salmon, but instead she spies something much more special: a whale!

Reynolds, Jason. Miles Morales, Spider-Man. 1st ed., August 2017. Los Angeles: Marvel, 2017. Miles Morales is just your average teenager. Dinner every Sunday with his parents, chilling out playing old-school video games with his best friend, Ganke, crushing on brainy, beautiful poet Alicia. He's even got a scholarship spot at the prestigious Brooklyn Visions Academy. Oh yeah, and he's Spider Man.But lately, Miles's spidey- sense has been on the fritz. When a misunderstanding leads to his suspension from school, Miles begins to question his abilities.

Reynolds, Jason. Sunny. 1st ed. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2018. Sunny Lancaster is a winner. When it comes to the 1600 meter, Sunny can beat anyone by, well, a mile. But for Sunny, winning is boring. Truth is, Sunny doesn't like running. What Sunny really loves... is dancing. The boom-bap bap of his teacher. Aurela's dance routines beats the chick chick chick of his track meets any day. Sunny loves his team so he can't quit, but he can't be on a track team not run.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 7 of 9 2018 Summer Reading 5 - 8 Middle Grade

Rivers, Karen. A Possibility of Whales. 1st ed. Chapel Hill, N.C.: Algonquin Young Readers, 2018. Twelve-year-old Natalia Rose Baleine Gallagher loves possibilities: the possibility that she’ll see whales on the beach near her new home, the possibility that the trans- gender boy she just met will become her new best friend, the possibility that the paparazzi hounding her celebrity father won’t force them to move again. Most of all, Nat dreams of the possibility that her faraway mother misses her, loves her, and is just waiting for Nat to find her. But how can Nat find her mother if she doesn’t even know who she is?

Roy, Jennifer Rozines. Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein: Based on a True Story. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018. At the start of 1991, eleven-year-old Ali Fadhil was consumed by his love for soccer, video games, and American television shows. Then, on January 17, Iraq’s dictator Saddam Hussein went to war with thirty-four nations lead by the United States. Over the next forty-three days, Ali and his family survived bombings, food shortages, and constant fear. Ali and his brothers played soccer on the abandoned streets of their Basra neighborhood, wondering when or if their medic father would return from the war front.

Sappingfield, Eliot. A Problematic Paradox. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2018. Nikola Kross has given up on living in harmony with classmates and exasperated teachers: she prefers dabbling in experimental chemistry to fitting in. But when her life is axially inverted by a gang of extraterrestrials who kidnap her dad and attempt to recruit her into their service, she discovers he's been keeping a world of secrets from her. She's sent to a school for geniuses, a place where classes like Practical Quantum Mechanics are the norm and where students use wormholes to commute to class. For Nikola, the hard part isn't school, it's making friends, especially when the student body isn't (entirely) human.

Skye, Obert. Geeked Out. 1st ed., 2018. New York: Christy Ottaviano Books, Henry Holt and Co., 2018. Waddle Jr. High has become a dystopian outpost with divided cliques—Pepville, Jockstown, Staffland, and even Geekdom. Society may be in danger but middle school must go on. Enter geeky Tip and all his friends: easy-to-blush Owen, coding master Xennipher, and brilliant, dependable Mindy, who've all had enough of being bullied and decide to take a stand. Together, they form a secret vigilante group: the League of Average Mediocre Entities, better known as LAME.

Smith, Heather, 1968-. Ebb & Flow. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2018. After 'rotten bad year' on the mainland, eleven-year-old Jett returns to Newfoundland to spend the summer with his sprightly Grandma Jo (whose hair is dyed cotton candy blue to match her house), bringing along a shameful secret involving the betrayal of a friend. As summer unfolds, Grandma Jo nurtures in Jett his sense of caring for others while giving him space to breathe. Jett finds himself examining memories of his past like bits of sea glass--arranging them in a way he can make sense of as he struggles to come to terms with past mistakes.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 8 of 9 2018 Summer Reading 5 - 8 Middle Grade

Smith, Roland. Ascent: a Peak Marcello Adventure. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018. A few months after returning from Afghanistan, Peak Marcello is in Myanmar visiting Alessia. Myanmar has been in the grips of a brutal military regime for more than fifty years, and although it has opened up more to tourists, much of the country is still off- limits to foreigners. While there, Peak is invited to climb Hkakabo Razi, one of the most isolated mountains in the world. Getting to the mountain involves a four-week trek through tropical rain forests rife with hazards. Summiting Hkakabo Razi may be the easiest thing Peak does.

Starr, David. Golden Goal. Toronto, ON, Canada: Lorimer Children & Co. Ltd., 2018. When Dylan doesn't get off to a good start at his new school and gets in trouble for fighting, he has to join the soccer team with a group of immigrant and refugee students who play on a rough, gravel field. Mocked by his old team, Dylan becomes determined to bring his new team to the championship finals. Getting to know his teammates opens Dylan's eyes about hardship, and shows him the value of a goal that wins in sudden-death play -- a golden goal.

Stoddard, Lindsey. Just Like Jackie. 1st ed. New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2018. For as long as Robinson Hart can remember, it's just been her and Grandpa. He taught her about cars, baseball, and everything else worth knowing. But Grandpa's memory has been getting bad-so bad that he sometimes can't even remember Robbie's name. She's sure that she's making things worse by getting in trouble at school, but she can't resist using her fists when bullies like Alex Carter make fun of her. Now she's stuck in group guidance-and to make things even worse, Alex Carter is there too.

Tyre, Lisa Lewis. Hope in the Holler. New York, NY: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018. Right before Wavie's mother died, she gave Wavie a list of instructions to help her find her way in life, including this one: Be brave, Wavie B! You got as much right to a good life as anybody, so find it! But little did Wavie's mom know that events would conspire to bring Wavie back to Conley Hollow, the Appalachian hometown her mother tried to leave behind. Now Wavie's back in the Holler--and in the clutches of her Aunt Samantha Rose. Life with the devilish Samantha Rose and her revolting cousin Hoyt is no picnic, but there's real pleasure making friends with the funny, easygoing kids her aunt calls the "neighborhood-no-accounts." With their help, Wavie just might be able to prevent her aunt from becoming her legal guardian.

Weyr, Garret. The Language of Spells. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2018. Grisha the dragon is born in the Black Forest in 1803, the last year any dragon was born, and while young he was trapped by the emperor's sorcerer, and turned into a teapot, which was frustrating but kept him alive while magic and other dragons were disappearing--until one day he meets Maggie, a poet's daughter, and the two of them set out to discover what happened to all the other dragons.

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Benko, Kamilla. The Unicorn Quest. New York: Bloomsbury, 2018. The first book in an exciting new series, this takes readers into the world of Arden, where, once upon a time, magic thrived, people of all trades mixed and worked together, and unicorns roamed. Then war between the various magical guilds raged, and all the unicorns were lost, save one, which was turned to stone (according to legend, anyway). Hundreds of years later, enter Claire and Sophie Martinson, who, like Lucy and her siblings in Lewis' classic, find their way to this magical, Narnia-like world through an old house full of unusual artifacts, and are quickly drawn into conflicts within Arden.

Brown, Peter. The Wild Robot Escapes. 1st ed.: March 2018. New York: Little, Brown and Co., 2018. Roz, a robot who learned to adapt to life among wild creatures in her first outing, seeks to return to the island she calls home. As this book opens, Roz is delivered to a farm where she helps a widower with two young children run a dairy operation that has been in his family for generations. Roz reveals her backstory to the cows, who are supportive of the robot's determination to return to the island and to her adopted son, the goose Brightbill.

Cervantes, . Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock ring. 1st ed., April 2018. New York: Scholastic Press, 2018. Paloma Marquez is traveling to Mexico City, birthplace of her deceased father, for the very first time. She's hoping that spending time in Mexico will help her unlock memories of the too-brief time they spent together. While in Mexico, Paloma meets Lizzie and Gael, who present her with an irresistible challenge: The siblings want her to help them find a valuable ring that once belonged to beloved Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Finding the ring means a big reward -- and the thanks of all Mexico.

Chokshi, Roshani. Aru Shah and the End of Time. 1st ed., March 2018. Los Angeles: Disney Hyperion, 2018. Aru Shah of Atlanta, Georgia, is a seventh-grader and social misfit. While her classmates jet set around the world, Aru spends her holidays at home with her curator mother in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture. But one day, three of Aru's classmates show up at her doorstep and dare her to light the cursed Lamp of Bharata. When Aru lights the lamp, she releases the Sleeper from his slumber and must—with the help of her newly found soul sister, Mini, and their pigeon sidekick, Subala, or "Boo"—go on a quest to stop the Sleeper from awakening the Lord of Destruction, who will, in turn, end the world.

DasGupta, Sayantani. The Serpent's Secret. 1st ed., March 2018. New York: Scholastic Press, 2018. Up until her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala considered herself an ordinary sixth-grader in Parsippany, New Jersey, but then her parents disappear and a drooling rakkhosh demon shows up in her kitchen, and soon she is swept into another dimension, full of magic, winged horses, talking birds, and cute princes--and somehow Kiranmala needs to sort it all out, find her parents, and basically save the world.

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DeAngelis, Camille. The Boy From Tomorrow. Eagle, Idaho: Amberjack Pub., 2018. Josie and Alec both live at 444 Sparrow Street. They sleep in the same room, but they've never laid eyes on each other. They are twelve years old and a hundred years apart. he children meet through a hand-painted talking board-Josie in 1915, Alec in 2015-and form a friendship across the century that separates them. But a chain of events leave Josie and her little sister Cass trapped in the house and afraid for their safety, and Alec must find out what's going to happen to them. Can he help them change their future when it's already past?

Dominguez, Angela. Stella Díaz Has Something to Say. 1st ed., 2018. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2018. Stella Díaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, Pancho. But Stella Díaz is not a betta fish. Betta fish like to be alone, while Stella loves spending time with her mom and brother and her best friend Jenny. Trouble is, Jenny is in another class this year, and Stella feels very lonely. When a new boy arrives in Stella's class, she really wants to be his friend, but sometimes Stella accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and pronounces words wrong, which makes her turn roja.

Ecton, Emily. The Ambrose Deception. 1st ed., February 2018. Los Angeles: Disney/Hyperion, 2018. There is a mysterious scholarship contest launches this middle-grade mystery. Three Chicago students, Melissa, Wilf, and Bondi, are unlikely participants in a competition. None of them stand out, so their various teachers are flummoxed when the three are chosen to compete for a $10,000 scholarship. They're each given a different set of clues, and the answers are to be found throughout Chicago. Initially competitors, the three start to realize that something bigger is happening.

The Creativity Project: an Awesometastic Story Collection. 1st ed. March 2018. New YorK: Little, Brown and Co., 2018. Colby Sharp invited more than forty authors and illustrators to provide story starters for each other; photos, drawings, poems, prose, or anything they could dream up. When they received their prompts, they responded by transforming these seeds into any form of creative work they wanted to share. The result is a stunning collection of words, art, poetry, and stories by some of our most celebrated children book creators. A section of extra story starters by every contributor provides fresh inspiration for readers to create works of their own.

Emerson, Marcus. The Super Life of Ben Braver. 1st ed., 2018. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2018. Assured by the enigmatic founder of an academy for superheroes that he belongs, Ben signs up-even though he has no apparent special powers-and discovers that aside from the occasional fireball or invisible prankster, it doesn't seem so different from any other middle school. First impressions can be deceptive, though, and as he tries to discover what his powers might be.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 3 of 9 2018 Summer Reading 3 - 6 Middle Grade

Evans, Lissa. Wed Wabbit. 1st ed., January 2018. New York: David Fickling Books, Scholastic Inc., 2018. Whimsical, clever, and laugh-out-loud funny! You're called Fidge and you're nearly eleven. You've been hurled into a strange world. You have three companions: two are unbelievably weird and the third is your awful cousin Graham. You have to solve a series of nearly impossible clues. You need to deal with a cruel dictator and three thousand Wimbley Woos (yes, you read that sentence correctly). And the whole situation - the whole, entire thing - is your fault.

Falatko, Julie. Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School. 1st ed. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc., 2018. Little dog Waldo and big dog Sassy are the best at what they do. They keep out squirrels and imminent intruders. They make sure there are no stray meatballs or muffin crumbs in the kitchen. And most of all, they protect their boy, Stewart. But something is wrong. Every day Stewart trudges off to an awful place called school. The dogs know it's awful because Stewart's parents ask him what he does at school, and he says, "Nothing." And he smells like a weird mixture of boredom and anxiety. They have to save him! Plus maybe there's an evil overlord! Or a squirrel!

Ginns, Russell. Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans. 1st ed. New York: Delacorte Press, 2018. For Samantha Spinner, it just isn't fair. Her uncle Paul disappeared, and here's what he left: Samantha's sister got a check for $2,400,000,000. Samantha's brother got the New York Yankees. And Samantha...got a rusty red umbrella with a tag hanging off of its worn handle. The tag says "Watch out for the RAIN." Thanks, Uncle Paul. Even harder for Samantha to understand is, after all the strawberry waffles they've shared, how could Uncle Paul leave without saying goodbye?

Hashimi, Nadia. The Sky at Our Feet. 1st ed. London: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2018. Jason has just learned that his Afghan mother has been living illegally in the United States since his father was killed in Afghanistan. Although Jason was born in the US, it’s hard to feel American now when he’s terrified that his mother will be discovered—and that they will be separated.When he sees his mother being escorted from her workplace by two officers, Jason feels completely alone. He boards a train with the hope of finding his aunt in New York City.

Hearn, Sam. Sherlock Holmes and the Disappearing Diamond. 1st American ed., April 2018. New York: Scholastic Press, 2018. John Watson has barely settled into his new school, Baker Street Academy, when his teacher announces a trip to one of London's top museums, home to the Alpine Star, the world's most famous jewel. But the gem has been stolen! The police are soon on the trail, and the whole world is talking about the crime. When police catch the thief along with the stolen gem, it seems the case is closed. But Sherlock Holmes has other ideas.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 4 of 9 2018 Summer Reading 3 - 6 Middle Grade

Hiranandani, Veera. The Night Diary. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2018. Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn't know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it's too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous. Nisha can't imagine losing her homeland. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.

Hood, Susan. Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World. 1st ed. New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2018. Stories of fourteen inspiring young female rebels, who broke down walls to pursue their interests, talents, and rights. They fought fires, discovered prehistoric animals, circled the globe, braved Nazis, championed sports, changed the way we eat, integrated schools, improved medicine.

Johnson, Varian. The Parker Inheritance. 1st ed. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2018. Twelve-year-old Candice Miller is spending the summer in Lambert, South Carolina, in the old house that belonged to her grandmother, who died after being dismissed as city manager for having the city tennis courts dug up looking for buried treasure--but when she finds the letter that sent her grandmother on the treasure hunt, she finds herself caught up in the mystery and, with the help of her new friend and fellow book-worm, Brandon, she sets out to find the inheritance, exonerate her grandmother, and expose an injustice once committed against an African American family in Lambert.

Kaufman, Amie. Ice Wolves. 1st ed. New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2018. Everyone in Vallen knows that ice wolves and scorch dragons are sworn enemies who live deeply separate lives. So when twelve-year-old orphan Anders takes one elemental form and his twin sister, Rayna, takes another, he wonders whether they are even related. Still, whether or not they are family, Rayna is Anders's only true friend.

Keller, Tae. The Science of Breakable Things. 1st ed. New York: Random House, 2018. How do you grow a miracle? For the record, this is not the question Mr. Neely is looking for when he says everyone in class must answer an important question using the scientific method. But Natalie's botanist mother is suffering from depression, so this is The Question that's important to Natalie. When Mr. Neely suggests that she enter an egg drop competition, Natalie has hope. Eggs are breakable. Hope is not.

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Korman, Gordon. Supergifted. 1st ed. New York, NY: Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2018. Donovan Curtis has never been what anyone would call 'gifted.' But his genius friend Noah Youkilis is actually super gifted, with one of the highest IQs around After years at the Academy for Scholastic Distinction, all Noah dreams of is the opportunity to fail if he wants to. And he's landed in the perfect place to do it- Donovan's school. Almost immediately, Noah finds himself on the wrong side of cheerleading captain Megan Mercury and alpha jock Hash 'Hashtag' Taggart. Sticking up for Noah lands Donovan in the middle of a huge feud with Hashtag.

Korman, Gordon. Whatshisface. 1st ed. New York, NY: Scholastic Press, 2018. Twelve-year-old Cooper Vega and his military family has moved so often that he is used to new schoolmates not knowing his name, but at the moment he has a bigger problem--his new phone is haunted by the ghost of Roderick Northrop, a boy from the sixteenth-century, who needs his help to finish a quest, which is somehow tied up in the Stratford Middle School production of Romeo and Juliet.

Latham, Irene. Can I Touch Your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books, 2018. "Can I Touch Your Hair? is a compelling portrait of two youngsters dancing delicately through a racial minefield."-J. Patrick Lewis, former US Children's Poet Laureate How can Irene and Charles work together on their fifth grade poetry project? They don't know each other . . . and they're not sure they want to. Irene Latham, who is white, and Charles Waters, who is black, use this fictional setup to delve into different experiences of race in a relatable way, exploring such topics as hair, hobbies, and family dinners.

Lloyd, Natalie. The Problim Children. 1st ed. New York, NY: Katherine Tegenbooks, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2018. When the Problim children's ramshackle bungalow in the Swampy Woods goes kaboom, the seven siblings--each born on a different day of the week--have to move into their grandpa's bizarre old mansion in Lost Cove. No problem! ... But rumors about their family run rampant in the small town: tales of a bitter feud, a hidden treasure, and a certain kind of magic lingering in the halls of #7 Main Street. Their neighbors, the O'Pinions, will do anything to find the secrets lurking inside the Problim household.

Lupica, Mike. Team Players. 1st ed. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018. Cassie Bennett is great at being in charge. She always knows what to do to lead her teams to victory, keep her many groups of friends together, or fix any problem that comes her way. So when Sarah Milligan, an autistic girl with unreal softball skills, joins Cassie’s team, Cassie’s sure she can help her fit in with the team. But before long it’s obvious that being around so many people is really hard for Sarah, and the more Cassie tries to reach out and involve her, the more Sarah pushes her away, sometimes literally.

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Mass, Wendy. Bob. 1st ed. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2018. ***Ms. Otero’s Top Pick of the Summer!*** It's been five years since Livy and her family have visited Livy's grandmother in Australia. Now that she's back, Livy has the feeling she's forgotten something really, really important about Gran's house.It turns out she's right. Bob, a short, greenish creature dressed in a chicken suit, didn't forget Livy, or her promise. He's been waiting five years for her to come back, hiding in a closet like she told him to. He can't remember who-or what-he is, where he came from, or if he even has a family. But five years ago Livy promised she would help him find his way back home. Now it's time to keep that promise.

McAnulty, Stacy. The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl. 1st ed. New York: Random House, 2018. A lightning strike made Lucy, twelve, a math genius but, after years of homeschooling, her grandmother enrolls her in middle school. Lucy's grandma insists: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book (that's not a math textbook!). Lucy's not sure what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can possibly learn in 7th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where nobody can make fun of her rigid routines or her super-powered brain.

Meriano, Anna. A Dash of Trouble. 1st ed. New York, NY: Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2018. Leonora Logroño’s family owns the most beloved bakery in Rose Hill, Texas, spending their days conjuring delicious cookies and cakes for any occasion. And no occasion is more important than the annual Dia de los Muertos festival. Leo hopes that this might be the year that she gets to help prepare for the big celebration—but, once again, she is told she’s too young. Sneaking out of school and down to the bakery, she discovers that her mother, aunt, and four older sisters have in fact been keeping a big secret.

Murdock, Catherine Gilbert. TheBook of Boy. 1st ed. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2018. In 1350, a boy with a large hump on his back becomes the servant of a shadowy pilgrim on his way to Rome, who pulls the boy into a dangerous expedition across Europe to gather the seven precious relics of Saint Peter. Boy quickly realizes this journey is not an innocent one. They are stealing the relics, and gaining dangerous enemies in the process.

Patricelli, Leslie. Best Buds Under Frogs. 1st ed. 2018. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2018. "For Lily, it's the worst first day of school ever. Who would want to be friends with the new girl, whose debut act is to throw up on the playground (on somebody's shoes!)? Fortunately, quirky Darby comes to the rescue. Darby likes frogs and candy and oddball stuff, and soon she and Lily have formed their own club -- the Rizzlerunk Club. But before you can say 'BFF,' Darby's former best friend, mean- spirited Jill -- who had moved to London -- returns unexpectedly.

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Rosenstock, Barb. The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of Art. 1st ed. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2018. After the partition of India in 1947, Nek Chand Saini settled in the city of Chandigarh. Dismayed at his stark new surroundings, Nek began collecting river rocks, broken glass, and cracked water pots found on the roadside. He cleared a section of jungle and for seven years he stockpiled odds and ends. They were castoffs and rubbish to everyone else, but to Nek, they were treasures. He began to build a labyrinth of curving paths, mosaics, and repeating patterns

Rylant, Cynthia. Rosetown. 1st ed. New York: Beach Lane Books, 2018. For nine-year-old Flora Smallwood, Rosetown, Indiana, is full of surprises, many of the best of which happen at the Wing and a Chair Used Book Shop, where she loves to read vintage children’s books after school in the faded purple chair by the window.

Senzai, N. H. Escape from Aleppo. 1st Ed. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018. It is December 17, 2010: Nadia’s twelfth birthday and the beginning of the Arab Spring. Soon anti-government protests erupt across the Middle East and, one by one, countries are thrown into turmoil. As civil war flares in Syria and bombs fall across Nadia’s home city of Aleppo, her family decides to flee to safety. Inspired by current events, this novel sheds light on the complicated situation in Syria that has led to an international refugee crisis, and tells the story of one girl’s journey to safety.

Shabazz, Ilyasah. Betty Before X. 1st ed., 2018. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2018. In Detroit, 1945, eleven-year-old Betty’s house doesn’t quite feel like home. She believes her mother loves her, but she can’t shake the feeling that her mother doesn’t want her. Church helps those worries fade, if only for a little while. The singing, the preaching, the speeches from guest activists like Paul Robeson and Thurgood Marshall stir African Americans in her community to stand up for their rights. Betty quickly finds confidence and purpose in volunteering for the Housewives League, an organization that supports black-owned businesses. Soon, the American civil rights icon we now know as Dr. Betty Shabazz is born.

Smith, Ronald L. Black Panther: the Young Prince. 1st ed., January 2018. Los Angeles: Marvel, 2018. Life is comfortable for twelve-year-old T'Challa in his home of Wakanda, an isolated, technologically advanced African nation. When he's not learning how to rule a kingdom from his father-the reigning Black Panther-or testing out the latest tech, he's off breaking rules with his best friend, M'Baku. But as conflict brews near Wakanda, T'Challa's father makes a startling announcement: he's sending T'Challa and M'Baku to school in America.

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Stevens, April. The Heart and Mind of Frances Pauley. 1st ed. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2018. Eleven-year-old Frances is an observer of both nature and people, just like her idol, the anthropologist Margaret Mead. She spends most of her time up on the rocks behind her house in her "rock world," as Alvin, her kindhearted and well-read school bus driver, calls it. It's the one place where Frances can truly be herself, and where she doesn't have to think about her older sister, Christinia, who is growing up and changing in ways that Frances can't understand.

Suneby, Elizabeth. Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2018. It's monsoon season in Bangladesh, and that means Iqbal's mother must cook indoors over an open flame, even though the smoke is making her and the family sick. When Iqbal learns about the district science fair, with the theme of sustainability, he is determined to win first prize. With the cash reward, he can buy a pipe stove that draws smoke out of the house. Then Iqbal is struck with an ingenious idea! For his science fair project, he will build a cook stove that doesn't produce smoke.

Thornhill, Jan. The Triumphant Tale of the House Sparrow. Toronto: Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 2018. Jan Thornhill traces the history of this perky little bird, one of the most adaptable creatures on Earth, from its beginnings in the Middle East to its spread with the growth of agriculture into India, North Africa and Europe. Everywhere the House Sparrow went, it competed with humans for grain, becoming such a pest that in some places “sparrow catcher” became an actual job and bounties were paid to those who got rid of it. But not everyone hated the House Sparrow, and in 1852, fifty pairs were released in New York City. In no time at all, the bird had spread from coast to coast.

Tomsic, Kim. The 11:11 Wish. 1st ed. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2018. Megan Meyers has a foolproof plan to reinvent herself at her new middle school. But when she’s dared to make something exciting happen by the end of her first day, Megan gets stuck in the middle of an epic rivalry between the two most popular girls in the seventh grade. And totally panics! Megan’s reputation has always been more science-geek-meets-Humane-Society-volunteer than party- planner-fun-maker. So, with nothing to lose as her classroom’s strange cat clock chimes 11:11 a.m., Megan makes a wish.

Yang, Kelly. Front Desk. 1st ed. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books/ Scholastic Inc., 2018. Recent immigrants from China and desperate for work and money, ten-year-old Mia Tang's parents take a job managing a rundown motel in Southern California, even though the owner, Mr. Yao is a nasty skinflint who exploits them; while her mother (who was an engineer in China) does the cleaning, Mia works the front desk and tries to cope with demanding customers and other recent immigrants--not to mention being only one of two Chinese in her fifth grade class, the other being Mr. Yao's son, Jason.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 9 of 9 2018 Summer Reading K - 3 Chapter Books

Citro, Asia. The Pod and the Bog. Seattle, WA: The Innovation Press, 2018.

An old friend visits Zoey at the barn with a mysterious glowing . . . seed pod? Zoey, Sassafras, and Pip must work together to discover what this mysterious rare magical plant needs to grow before all the seeds crumble to purple dust! Each story in the Zoey and Sassafras series features a new magical animal with a problem that must be solved using science. There isn't a set formula for each book; Zoey models how to keep a science journal through her handwritten entries in each story.

Coville, Katherine. Ivy. 1st ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2017.

Ivy lives in the clean, orderly town of Broomsweep with her grandmother, a healer with a special affinity for magical creatures. Hearing that the new queen is touring the countryside to choose "the best town," troublemaker Mistress Peevish leads her neighbors in pressuring Ivy and Grandmother to tidy their cottage and rid their yard of overgrown herbs and magical creatures. Little do the townsfolk realize that her community's very survival will soon depend upon the healer's magical friends.

Delacre, Lulu. Rafi and Rosi. 1st ed. New York: Children's Book Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc., 2017.

Rosi Coqui's brother finds magic everywhere! Rafi Coqui can sort sand with his magic fingers. He can shoot the stars from the sky. He can even find the smallest tree in the forest -- growing down, not up. Then one day Rafi's pet hermit crab runs away. Now it's Rosi's turn to show her brother that she knows where to look for magic, too. Can she find the crab in time for them to watch it shed its shell? This joyful tale of two curious young Puerto Rican tree frogs is charmingly illustrated in brilliant color.

Fagan, Cary. Band on the Run. Plattsburgh, N.Y.: Tundra, 2018.

Lovable curmudgeon Renata Wolfman (Wolfie) reluctantly takes the stage in her second outing. The story opens at the breakfast table-Wolfie busily reading about helicopters, and her parents gently encouraging her to participate in the school talent show, claiming it will help draw Wolfie out of her shell. She doesn't miss a beat before replying, "I like being in my shell." Enter Livingston Flott (Fly), gregarious neighbor and aspiring friend to Wolfie. After barging into her house with his guitar and asking Wolfie to help him with his song, a few unexpected things happen.

Florence, Debbi Michiko. Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl. 1st ed. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2018.

Eight-year-old Jasmine's principal has announced they are having a school-wide talent show. Everyone in her class already seems to have a talent picked out. After some thinking and talking, Jasmine finally admits that she doesn't have a talent, so her mom introduces her to taiko drumming, a Japanese art form. She has less than a week to learn the basics of taiko and how to play a short song, which raises doubts that if she isn't perfect that means she isn't talented.

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Hale, Shannon. The Princess in Black and the Mysterious Playdate. 1st ed. 2017. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2017.

Princess Magnolia and Princess Sneezewort have mysterious plans, mysterious plans like a princess playdate. They Dress-up Slam and Karaoke Jam. They Playtime Romp and Snack-time Stomp. Then they hear a shout from outside. It's a monster trying to eat someone's kitty. this is a job for Princess in Black!

Hanlon, Abby. Head in the Clouds. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2018.

Dory Fantasmagory loses her first tooth. Over the course of seven chapters, this super-imaginative first-grader deals with two quite believable issues: she gets in trouble for lying about a "BUNCHY" coat she doesn't want to wear and, with the help of the tooth fairy, successfully vanquishes the imaginary Mrs. Gobble Gracker, who makes her behave badly.

Harper, Charise Mericle. Mae and June and the Wonder Wheel. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017. June's grandma sent her the Wonder Wheel, so now, every day, she can give it a spin and follow instructions from a sealed envelope. June hopes that the wheel can assist her and her puppy, Sammy, in making friends with the new girl next door, Mae. That is, if June's arch nemesis, April, doesn't befriend Mae first! The Wonder Wheel is a clever device, which allows June's grandma to teach her important lessons while being miles away.

Kelly, David A. The Cardinals Caper. New York: a Stepping Stone book, Random House, 2018.

It's a special day in St. Louis and there's a pre-game celebration with Clydesdale horses that drive around the edge of the stadium before the game. Mike and Kate get to meet the horses and the Dalmatian dog that rides along. Then during the game, they find out the Dalmatian is missing. They rush to investigate, and find a ransom note. The criminal will return the dog if they can get one of St. Louis's World Series trophies! Can Mike and Kate catch the crook and rescue the pup?

Kent, Jaden. The Worst Pet. 1st ed. New York, NY: Little Bee Books, 2018.

In book eight of the Ella and Owen series, the dragon twins finally make it home, only to find it overrun with uncontrollable gremlins!

Ella and Owen return home to chaos caused by their dad’s destructive new pet gremlins. Then Owen remembers that hair from a unicorn’s mane puts gremlins to sleep, and a new adventure begins!

Can the dragon twins convince the unicorns to help them restore peace to their home?

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 3 of 7 2018 Summer Reading K - 3 Chapter Books

Krosoczka, Jarrett. The Force Oversleeps. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc., 2017.

Victor is back at Jedi Academy and he truly defines the definition of sophomore, specifically a sophomore in a slump. He was excited about Drama Club and hoped to get the lead in this year's musical... But his best friend, Artemis, got the role. On top of that his sister, Christina is getting ready to graduate from Jedi Academy. She's always taken care of him, and Victor is lost now that she's not around as much. Can Victor roll with the (force) punches? Or will he revert to his old ways and go back to being the class clown?

Krulik, Nancy E. The Kid From Planet Z: Crash! New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2017.

Zeke, his parents, and Zeus (their spaceship commander cat) are from Planet Z, but their spaceship has just crashed on Earth. The family moves into an empty house, and Zeus tells Zeke he must go to school and act like a normal earthling child. Meanwhile, the junk man has taken their spaceship, and the family must find a way to buy it back. It looks like Zeke and his family will be on Earth for a while, so expect more adventures to come.

Krulik, Nancy E. Worse, Worser, Wurst. New York, N.Y.: Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2018.

There's trouble in the kingdom of Salamistonia! Ever since an evil wizard kidnapped Lester the jester, laughter and smiles have disappeared. Princess Pulverizer embarks on a daring rescue mission with the assistance of her quirky friends, Lucas and Dribble.Princess Pulverizer has the perfect opportunity to complete the next good deed on her Quest of Kindness: a rescue mission!

Lagercrantz, Rose. See You When I See You. English language ed. Wellington, N.Z.: Gecko Press, 2017.

Dani is on a school trip to the zoo. The teacher tells the children how to stay safe and not get lost. But Dani gets separated from the others. Suddenly another class is rushing up the path--and at the back of the noisy crowd is someone Dani recognizes: Ella! The good friends are so happy to be together again and Ella wants to play.

LaReau, Kara. The Infamous Ratsos Are Not Afraid. 1st ed. 2017. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2017.

Louie and Ralphie Ratso have a genius idea: if they clear out the lot down the street, they can use all the junk lying around to build makeshift games for a Big City FunTime Arcade! With their friends to help, they’ll be able to recycle all the old abandoned stuff into whack-a-mouse, a high-striker, a fortune-telling booth, and more. Everyone says the house next to the lot is haunted, but if Louie just pretends it’s not there, maybe he can ignore the goose bumps he gets every time he looks at it.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 4 of 7 2018 Summer Reading K - 3 Chapter Books

Leach, Sara. Slug Days. This is a 1st ed. Toronto, Ont., Canada: Pajama Press, 2017.

Lauren has Autism Spectrum Disorder and she sees the world differently from many people. Sometimes this can be frustrating and makes Lauren want to flip her lid, especially at school where she learns differently from her classmates. But with support and stubbornness and a flair that's all her own, Lauren masters tricks to stay calm, to understand others' feelings, and to let her personality shine. She even manages to find common ground with her sticky, slobbery baby sister.

Lupica, Mike. The Missing Baseball. New York, NY: Puffin Books, 2018.

There's nothing eight-year-old twins Zach and Zoe Walker love more than playing sports and solving mysteries. And when those two worlds collide . . . well, it doesn't get any better than that. So when a baseball signed by Zach's favorite major league player suddenly goes missing-the search is on! Luckily, amateur sleuths Zach and Zoe are on the case. Can they solve the mystery and find the ball before it's lost for good? An exciting new chapter-book series, featuring sports action and heart, and a lovable twin brother-sister duo who solve sports-related mysteries.

Meisel, Peter. Stinky Spike and the Royal Rescue. New York: Bloomsbury, 2017.

"Stinky Spike the dog and Captain Fishbeard the pirate are thick as thieves now that Spike has proved his treasure-sniffing ability. When Spike and his crew come across a sign offering a reward for finding the Princess's lost poodle, they can hardly resist. Surely finding a fluffy royal pooch can't be very difficult? When blundering pirates are involved, things never go according to plan"--Provided by publisher.

Montijo, Rhode. Popped Star. 1st ed. Los Angeles: Disney-Hyperion, 2018.

It's another exciting adventure with the ever-elastic, super-stretchy superhero, Gum Girl! Gabby Gomez knows she needs to come clean with her family about her secret identity. But just as she works up the courage, trouble pops up again as Ninja-Rina twirls onto the scene! Has Gum Girl finally met her match? Is Ninja-Rina tutu much to handle?

Newton, A. I. The New Kid. 1st ed. New York, NY: Little Bee Books, 2018.

Zeke the alien is on his way to his first day of school, feeling down because he has to start over again on a new planet, as his scientist parents constantly move to wherever their research takes them. When he gets to school, no one seems to notice anything strange or different about him except Harris, a kid obsessed with science fiction and aliens. Harris sees Zeke doing extraordinary things but can't convince anyone, least of all his best friend, Roxy, that Zeke might be an alien. Roxy just thinks Harris is jealous that she's becoming friends with Zeke. But when Roxy invites Zeke over to Harris's house, will Harris find a way to prove that he's right?

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 5 of 7 2018 Summer Reading K - 3 Chapter Books

Redmond, E. S. Bug Blonsky and His Very Long List of Don'ts. 1st ed. 2018. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2018.

If seven-year-old Benjamin (aka Bug) Blonsky were a superhero, he'd be 'Bug Boy with the Power to Annoy.' That's what his big sister says. Mom says he's wiggly and can't sit still. Dad says he's easily distracted. On this day, Bug's 'choices' of drawing pictures of pig roller coasters during math time and making armpit noises when his teacher bends over have landed him in a of trouble, so now he's writing a list of what not to do: his list of don'ts.

Selznick, Brian. Baby Monkey, Private Eye. 1st ed., March 2018. New York: Scholastic Press, 2018.

In an office that looks like it came straight out of a noir film, Baby Monkey solves a series of perplexing mysteries. First, an opera singer is missing her necklace. Then, a chef's pizza's been stolen, a clown's nose goes missing, and an astronaut can't find her spaceship. In every case, Baby Monkey eagerly offers to help, has a snack, takes some notes, puts on his pants, and captures the culprit.

Smith, Alex T. Claude on the Big Screen. 1st ed. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2017.

Mr. and Mrs. Shinyshoes have stepped out for the day, which can only mean one thing: it's time for an adventure. Claude discovers a film set on the other side of the fence! When the two lead actors are injured, Claude and Sir Bobblysock are asked to take their places. Can they become movie stars with just the simple addition of a wig? Of course they can!

Tan, Susan. Cilla Lee-Jenkins, Future Author Extraordinaire. 1st ed., 2017. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2017.

Eight-year-old Cilla Lee-Jenkins is destined for literary greatness. She is up against the clock to get her best-selling memoir written before the arrival of her new baby sister- aka The Blob. A few pages spent with this exuberant, guileless narrator is evidence that no one will be forgetting Cilla anytime soon. Prolonged baldness, a taste for snails, and the slings and arrows of friendship are all part of her joyful narrative.

Tashjian, Janet. Marty Frye Private Eye. Rev. Henry Holt ed.--2017. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 2017.

Marty Frye is a private eye who solves the crimes while speaking in rhyme in a reissue of a 1998 effort. Marty solves three mysteries in this very brief chapter book that's just as much a cleverly concealed early reader. First, Marty helps Emma find her missing diary, which disappeared just after their teacher turned on a movie for the class to watch. By interviewing (in rhyme) his classmates and examining the scene of the crime, Marty deduces what might have happened to Emma's book.

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 6 of 7 2018 Summer Reading K - 3 Chapter Books

Urban, Linda. Road Trip With Max and His Mom. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018.

Max is nervous about the Inspiration Celebration, a program of biography reports delivered by costumed third-graders to their classmates and relatives. Though he idolizes his subject, explorer Ernest Shackleton, in rehearsal, he flubs the word Antarctica, pronouncing it "Artantica." That evening, he and his mom embark on a road trip to a family reunion, which he views as his chance to be a fearless explorer.

Valckx, Catharina. Bruno: Some of the More Interesting Days In My Life. Wellington, N.Z.: Gecko Press, 2017.

Bruno, the cat in the checkered cap, takes life as it comes. When it's too rainy to go outside, he rustles up an inside picnic with his friends. When he meets a fish swimming in the air, he follows it. Why not! When the canary forgets how to sing and can only speak gibberish, Bruno helps out.

Vernon, Ursula. Whiskerella. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2018.

Preferring high-action adventures to the frilly dresses and extravagant parties enjoyed by typical princesses, Princess Harriet Hamsterbone dreads an upcoming ball in honor of a visiting ambassador before encountering a bewitchingly beautiful stranger who leads her on an adventure involving a wicked stepsister, an incontinent lizard and a fairy's curse.

Warner, Sally. Absolutely Alfie and the Worst Best Sleepover. New York, N.Y.: Viking, 2018.

Second grader Alfie Jakes' former best friend, Lulu, announces that she's hosting the best sleepover ever--and that she's only allowed to invite five girls, but there are thirteen in her class. Alfie desperately wants to go but is not sure she'll be invited because Lulu has made new friends this year. When Alfie sees a classmate crying in the girls' room, she realizes this party won't be fun for everyone. Can Alfie convince her used-to-be best friend that a party is better when everyone is invited?.

West, Tracey. Chill of the Ice Dragon. 1st ed., February 2018. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc., 2018.

A Dragon Master named Mina arrives at the castle. She tells Drake and his friends that her kingdom in the Far North Lands was attacked by a magical Ice Giant. Everything there was frozen -- but Mina escaped! Only a fire dragon can unfreeze her land and defeat the terrible Ice Giant. But Rori and Vulcan are no longer at the castle! Can the Dragon Masters find them in time to help their new friend?

This is a list of recommended books. These books are NOT required. Page 7 of 7