Thayer Academy Middle School Student Independent Reading Recommendations 2015­2016

Teachers, parents, and librarians create reading lists to guide young people to good books. While this list shares a similar spirit, its origin is different. This is a list of what Thayer Middle School students really enjoy reading outside of their required school literature. With ​ ​ organizational help from the English Department, Thayer Middle School students generated this list to guide 11­14 year olds to books they will enjoy reading. Our English Department has not edited any titles from this list; if a book earned a student's sincere recommendation, that was enough for it to earn a place. These lists include links to brief descriptions, to student recommendations, to other books in the series if applicable, to Common Sense Media so that parents and students can understand content, and even to Amazon should one be ready to buy the book (there are many library books here). Before committing to summer's pleasure reading, consult this list and consider these titles.

Top Recommendations by Grade

Full 6th Grade Recommendations List

Full 7th Grade Recommendations List

Full 8th Grade Recommendations List

Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Top Recommendations by Grade

Top 6th Grade Recommendations 1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter Series) by J.K. Rowling (Fiction) ­ 6 ​ ​ 2. The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Trilogy) by Suzanne Collins (Fiction) ­ 3 ​ ​

Titles with TWO recommendations from the 6th grade: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson Series) by Rick ​ ​ ​ ​ Riordan (Fiction) and The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus Series) by Rick Riordan (Fiction). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Top 7th Grade Recommendations 1. The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Series) by James Dashner (Fiction) ­ 7 ​ ​ 2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Fiction) ­ 6 ​ ​ 3. The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson Series) by Rick Riordan (Fiction) ­ 4 ​ ​ 4. The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Trilogy) by Suzanne Collins (Fiction) ­ 4 ​ ​ 5. Eragon (Inheritance Cycle Series) by Christopher Paolini (Fiction) ­ 3 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter Series) by J.K. Rowling (Fiction) ­ 3 ​ ​ 7. Hatchet (Brian’s Saga Series) by Gary Paulson (Fiction) ­ 3 ​ ​

Titles with TWO recommendations from the 7th grade: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou ​ ​ ​ (Nonfiction), Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars Series) by Sara Shepard (Fiction), and Unbroken (YA ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Adaptation) by Laura Hillenbrand (Nonfiction). ​ ​ ​ ​

Top 8th Grade Recommendations 1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Fiction) ­ 6 ​ ​ 2. The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Trilogy) by Suzanne Collins (Fiction) ­ 4 ​ ​ 3. Paper Towns by John Green (Fiction) ­ 4 ​ ​ 4. The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Series) by James Dashner (Fiction) ­ 3 ​ ​ 5. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Fiction) ­ 3 ​ ​ 6. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (Fiction) ­ 3 ​ ​ ​ ​

Titles with TWO recommendations from the 8th grade: American Sniper by Chris Kyle (Nonfiction), Heaven is ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ for Real by Todd Burpo (Nonfiction), I Am Zlatan by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Nonfiction), Miss Peregrine's Home ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Series) by Ransom Riggs (Fiction), Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper ​ ​ ​ ​ (Fiction), Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars Series) by Sara Shepard (Fiction), The Martian by Andy Weir ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (Fiction), and Unbroken (YA Adaptation) by Laura Hillenbrand (Nonfiction). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Back to Top ­ Top Recommendations by Grade ​ ​ Full 6th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 7th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 8th Grade Recommendations List ​ ​ ​ ​

Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Full 6th Grade Recommendations List The 5th Wave (5th Wave Series) by Rick Yancey (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ A World Without Heroes (Beyonders Series) by Brandon Mull (Fiction) ​ Al Capone Does My Shirts (Al Capone Series) by Gennifer Choldenko (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Battlefront: Twilight Company by Alexander Freed (Fiction) ​ The Big Field by Mike Lupica (Fiction) ​ The Candymakers by Wendy Mass (Fiction) ​ Deep Zone (Football Genius Series) by Tim Green (Fiction) ​ Den of Thieves by James B. Stewart (Nonfiction) ​ Divergent (Divergent Series) by Veronica Roth (Fiction) ​ Drive: The Story of My Life by Larry Bird (Nonfiction) ​ From Norvelt to Nowhere (Norvelt Series) by Jack Gantos (Fiction) ​ Gregor the Overlander (The Underland Chronicles) by Suzanne Collins (Fiction) ​ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter Series) by J.K. Rowling (Fiction) ​ Heat by Mike Lupica (Fiction) ​ The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (Fiction) ​ The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Trilogy) by Suzanne Collins (Fiction) ​ I Funny: A Middle School Story (I Funny Series) by James Patterson (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (Fiction) ​ Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (Fiction) ​ Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers Series) by Ridley Pearson (Fiction) ​ Last Shot (Sports Beat Series) by John Feinstein (Fiction) ​ The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson Series) by Rick Riordan (Fiction) ​ The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus Series) by Rick Riordan (Fiction) ​ Marie­Grace and the Orphans (American Girls Collection) by Sarah M. Buckey (Fiction) ​ Matilda by Roald Dahl (Fiction) ​ Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ Prisoner B­087 by Alan Gratz (Fiction) ​ Quarantine #1: The Loners (Quarantine Series) by Lex Thomas (Fiction) ​ Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Wayside School Series) by Louis Sachar (Fiction) ​ Stargirl (Stargirl Series) by Jerry Spinelli (Fiction) ​ Unstoppable by Tim Green (Fiction) ​ The Unwanteds (Unwanteds Series) by Lisa McMann (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​

Back to Top ­ Top Recommendations by Grade ​ ​ Full 6th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 7th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 8th Grade Recommendations List ​ ​ ​ ​

Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Full 7th Grade Recommendations List The 5th Wave (5th Wave Series) by Rick Yancey (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup (Nonfiction) ​ The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride Series) by James Patterson (Fiction) ​ Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (Nonfiction) ​ Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories by R.J. Palacio (Fiction) ​ The Big Field by Mike Lupica (Fiction) ​ The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (Nonfiction) ​ The Boys of Winter by Wayne Coffey (Nonfiction) ​ Brady vs Manning by Gary Myers (Nonfiction) ​ City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Series) by Cassandra Clare (Fiction) ​ Equal is Unfair by Don Watkins & Yaron Brook (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​ Eragon (Inheritance Cycle Series) by Christopher Paolini (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Every Day I Fight by Stuart Scott (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​ The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Fiction) ​ The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm (Fiction) ​ The Ghost of Graylock by Dan Poblocki (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead (Fiction) ​ Grace, Gold & Glory by Gabrielle Douglas (Nonfiction) ​ Gregor the Overlander (The Underland Chronicles) by Suzanne Collins (Fiction) ​ H2O by Virginia Bergin (Fiction) ​ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter Series) by J.K. Rowling (Fiction) ​ Hatchet (Brian’s Saga Series) by Gary Paulson (Fiction) ​ The Haunting of Sunshine Girl (Series) by Paige McKenzie (Fiction) ​ Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall by Wendy Mass (Fiction) ​ Holes by Louis Sachar (Fiction) ​ The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Trilogy) by Suzanne Collins (Fiction) ​ I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies Series) by Pittacus Lore (Fiction) ​ I Funny: A Middle School Story (I Funny Series) by James Patterson (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (Nonfiction) ​ The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio (Fiction) ​ Katie and the Cupcake Cure (Cupcake Diaries Series) by Coco Simon (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers Series) by Ridley Pearson (Fiction) ​ Legend (Legend Series) by Marie Lu (Fiction) ​ Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland (Nonfiction) ​ The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson Series) by Rick Riordan (Fiction) ​ The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks (Fiction) ​ Looking for Alaska by John Green (Fiction) ​ Matched (Matched Series) by Ally Condie (Fiction) ​ The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Series) by James Dashner (Fiction) ​ Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Series) by Ransom Riggs (Fiction) ​ My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier (Fiction) ​

Back to Top ­ Top Recommendations by Grade ​ ​ Full 6th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 7th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 8th Grade Recommendations List ​ ​ ​ ​

Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Fiction) ​ Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper (Fiction) ​ Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes (Peter Nimble Series) by Jonathan Auxier (Fiction) ​ Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars Series) by Sara Shepard (Fiction) ​ Revenge of the Witch (Last Apprentice Series) by Joseph Delaney (Fiction) ​ Savvy by Ingrid Law (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ The Selection (The Selection Series) by Kiera Cass (Fiction) ​ Slaying the Tiger by Shane Ryan (Nonfiction) ​ Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton (Nonfiction) ​ Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Series) by Anthony Horowitz (Fiction) ​ Unbroken (YA Adaptation) by Laura Hillenbrand (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​ The Warrior’s Heart by Eric Greitens (Nonfiction) ​ When the Butterflies Came by Kimberley Griffiths Little (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ Witch & Wizard (Witch & Wizard Series) by James Patterson (Fiction) ​ ​ ​

Back to Top ­ Top Recommendations by Grade ​ ​ Full 6th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 7th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 8th Grade Recommendations List ​ ​ ​ ​

Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Full 8th Grade Recommendations List The 5th Wave (5th Wave Series) by Rick Yancey (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (Fiction) ​ A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Fiction) ​ A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (Nonfiction) ​ American Sniper by Chris Kyle (Nonfiction) ​ An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (Fiction) ​ An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff (Nonfiction) ​ The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (Fiction) ​ Basketball Junkie by Chris Herren (Nonfiction) ​ The Big Field by Mike Lupica (Fiction) ​ The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons (Nonfiction) ​ Conversion by Katherine Howe (Fiction) ​ Crooked House by Agatha Cristie (Fiction) ​ Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (Fiction) ​ Eleven Seconds by Travis Roy (Nonfiction) ​ Ender’s Game (The Ender Quintet) by Orson Scott Card (Fiction) ​ Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (Fiction) ​ Famous Last Words by Katie Alender (Fiction) ​ Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (Fiction) ​ The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Fiction) ​ Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella (Fiction) ​ The Finest Hours by Michael J. Tougias & Casey Sherman (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​ The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Fiction) ​ Gregor the Overlander (The Underland Chronicles) by Suzanne Collins (Fiction) ​ Heat by Mike Lupica (Fiction) ​ Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo (Nonfiction) ​ Hero by Mike Lupica (Fiction) ​ The Hot Zone by Richard Preston (Nonfiction) ​ The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Trilogy) by Suzanne Collins (Fiction) ​ I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (Nonfiction) ​ I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies Series) by Pittacus Lore (Fiction) ​ I Am Zlatan by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Nonfiction) ​ Jumped In by Jorja Leap (Nonfiction) ​ The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson Series) by Rick Riordan (Fiction) ​ Looking for Alaska by John Green (Fiction) ​ The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Fiction) ​ The Martian by Andy Weir (Fiction) ​ The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Series) by James Dashner (Fiction) ​ The Mindful Athlete by George Mumford (Nonfiction) ​ Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Series) by Ransom Riggs (Fiction) ​ The Mysterious Benedict Society (Series) by Trenton Lee Stewart (Fiction) ​ Naughts & Crosses (Naughts & Crosses Sequence) by Malorie Blackman (Fiction) ​

Back to Top ­ Top Recommendations by Grade ​ ​ Full 6th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 7th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 8th Grade Recommendations List ​ ​ ​ ​

Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Fiction) ​ Orr: My Story by Bobby Orr (Nonfiction) ​ Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper (Fiction) ​ Panic by Lauren Oliver (Fiction) ​ Paper Towns by John Green (Fiction) ​ Phenom: The Making of Bryce Harper by Rob Miech (Nonfiction) ​ Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars Series) by Sara Shepard (Fiction) ​ Quarantine #1: The Loners (Quarantine Series) by Lex Thomas (Fiction) ​ Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (Fiction) ​ The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen (Fiction) ​ The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Fiction) ​ Smile by Raina Telgemeier (Nonfiction) ​ Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal (Nonfiction) ​ Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Series) by Anthony Horowitz (Fiction) ​ Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson & Susy Flory (Nonfiction) ​ The Tower Treasure (Hardy Boys Series) by Franklin W. Dixon (Fiction) ​ Trapped Under the Sea by Neil Swidey (Nonfiction) ​ Uglies (Uglies Series) by Scott Westerfeld (Fiction) ​ Unbroken (YA Adaptation) by Laura Hillenbrand (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​ Walter & Me: Living in the Shadow of Sweetness by Eddie Payton (Nonfiction) ​ The Warrior’s Heart by Eric Greitens (Nonfiction) ​ We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (Fiction) ​ ​ ​

Back to Top ­ Top Recommendations by Grade ​ ​ Full 6th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 7th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 8th Grade Recommendations List ​ ​ ​ ​

Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

0 The 5th Wave (5th Wave Series) by Rick Yancey (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only ​ ​ one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother­­or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy teen romance and alien invasions.” “You should read this book if you like science fiction, a little, tiny bit of romance, and action.” “You should read this book if you like a thriller.”

12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup (Nonfiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “This unforgettable memoir was the basis for the Academy Award­winning film 12 Years a Slave. This is the true story of Solomon Northup, who was born and raised as a freeman in New York. He lived the American dream, with a house and a loving family ­ a wife and two kids. Then one day he was drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery in the deep south. These are the true accounts of his twelve hard years as a slave ­ many believe this memoir is even more graphic and disturbing than the film. His extraordinary journey proves the resiliency of hope and the human spirit despite the most grueling and formidable of circumstances.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like bravery and strength.”

Back to Top ­ Top Recommendations by Grade ​ ​ Full 6th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 7th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 8th Grade Recommendations List ​ ​ ​ ​

Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Just after the American Civil War, French biologist Pierre Aronnax, accompanied by his faithful assistant Conseil, embark on a voyage in search of a mysterious creature that's been attacking ships around the world. In due course the creature proves to be a submarine, and he, Conseil, and French­Canadian harpooner Ned Land are taken captive by its master, the mysterious Captain Nemo. For many months the trio, prisoners aboard the Nautilus, behold undersea wonders from one ​ ​ end of the globe to another, while learning very little about what dark force drives their captor.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy well written narratives as well as the exploration of the ocean's depths.” A A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Francie Nolan is a smart, astute, imaginative girl who loves reading. She lives in the slums of Williamsburg, in Brooklyn, where her mother, Katie, works as a cleaning lady and her father, Johnny, holds unsteady jobs due to his alcoholism. Francie spends much of her day with her younger brother, Neeley, or reading books. She loves school and learning, and fears that her family may not be able to afford to continue sending her to school.The novel follows Francie from age 11 until she's a young woman with a job. As she grows up, Francie and her family struggle to make ends meet and often go to bed hungry. Yet, she loves her family, especially her often­singing father and her aunts, who have their own sordid lives, and experiences first love.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like historical fiction and heavier reading.”

Back to Top ­ Top Recommendations by Grade ​ ​ Full 6th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 7th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 8th Grade Recommendations List ​ ​ ​ ​

Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America–majestic mountains, silent forests, sparkling lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaining guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way–and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great ​ ​ outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in).” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like comedy and enjoy the outdoors.”

A World Without Heroes (Beyonders Series) by Brandon Mull (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable—until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he’s ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail. In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read these books if you are curious, like magic, like magic words, like adventure, like betrayal, like justice, like action, like friendship, like risk, and like fantasy.”

Back to Top ­ Top Recommendations by Grade ​ ​ Full 6th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 7th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 8th Grade Recommendations List ​ ​ ​ ​

Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Ulysses is the sharpest tactician among the Greeks and the brains behind the Trojan Horse, the ruse that fooled the Trojans and led to the end of the ten­year Trojan War. The Greeks have won, and Ulysses finally sails for home, his ships loaded with treasure. But his journey will be a long and arduous one. He has greatly angered Poseidon, god of the sea, who in his wrath awakens monsters of the deep. Now Ulysses must battle his way home through the worst perils imaginable. In an epic, decade­long journey, Ulysses matches wits and strength with the man­eating Sirens, a Cyclops, the witch­goddess Circe, and a slew of other deadly foes. His wife and son, meanwhile, desperately seek news of him, but begin to believe he was lost at sea. Will they wait for his return, or will his wife remarry?” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like to learn about history with a fictional twist.”

Al Capone Does My Shirts (Al Capone Series) by Gennifer Choldenko (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Seventh­grader Moose Flanagan has just moved to Alcatraz, where his father is working two jobs to try to enroll Moose's autistic older sister, Natalie, in a special school. Moose desperately wants his family to be "normal," but that's difficult when your older sister acts like a needy preschooler and you live on an island populated with the worst of the worst. His parents are focused on work and Natalie's needs, forcing Moose to fend for himself and his sister. He chafes at his responsibilities and gets caught up in the schemes of the warden's troublemaking daughter, Piper. When he accidentally puts Natalie at risk, however, he finds the courage to help his family come closer together ­­ and ask Al Capone to help Natalie. Includes labeled photo of Alcatraz Island and an Author's Note with footnotes.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like books about the early 1900s.”

Back to Top ­ Top Recommendations by Grade ​ ​ Full 6th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 7th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 8th Grade Recommendations List ​ ​ ​ ​

Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

American Sniper by Chris Kyle (Nonfiction) ​ ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via the back cover: ​ “From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. His fellow American warriors, whom he protected with deadly precision from rooftops and stealth positions during the Iraq War, called him “The Legend”; meanwhile, the enemy feared him so much they named him al­Shaitan (“the devil”) and placed a bounty on his ​ ​ head. Kyle, who was tragically killed in 2013, writes honestly about the pain of war—including the deaths of two close SEAL teammates—and in moving first­person passages throughout, his wife, Taya, speaks openly about the strains of war on their family, as well as on Chris. Gripping and unforgettable, Kyle’s masterful account of his extraordinary battlefield experiences ranks as one of the great war memoirs of all time.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like action or are interested in the military.”

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● John Green is also the author of The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ and Paper Towns, all of which were also recommended by Thayer students ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton’s type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram­happy, washed­up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy–loving best friend riding shotgun—but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro­Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart­changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like books that you can laugh with and at the characters.”

Back to Top ­ Top Recommendations by Grade ​ ​ Full 6th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 7th Grade Recommendations List ­ Full 8th Grade Recommendations List ​ ​ ​ ​

Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Stopping was never part of the plan...She was a successful ad sales rep in Manhattan. He was a homeless, eleven­year­old panhandler on the street. He asked for spare change; she kept walking. But then something stopped her in her tracks, and she went back. And she continued to go back, again and again. They met up nearly every week for years and built an unexpected, life­changing friendship that has today spanned almost three decades. Whatever made me notice him on that street corner so many years ago is clearly something that cannot be extinguished, no matter how relentless the forces aligned against it. Some may call it spirit. Some may call it heart. It drew me to him, as if we were bound by some invisible, unbreakable thread. And whatever it is, it binds us still.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like books that are based on a real story.”

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (Nonfiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank's remarkable diary has since become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen­year­old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the "Secret Annex" of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever­present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self­portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are in need of a nonfiction book and want to read about World War II.”

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The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride Series) by James Patterson (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● James Patterson is also the author of the I Funny Series and Witch & Wizard ​ ​ ​ Series, which was also recommended by Thayer students ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Max and five other kids, "the flock," were created by evil scientists at a place called the School, by combining human and avian DNA. They can fly, are unusually strong, and have a variety of other talents, some just emerging. Before the book begins they have escaped from the School, where the scientists were keeping them in cages and torturing them with experiments, and have been living on their own. The youngest of the flock, Angel, is recaptured, and the rest fly back to the school to rescue her. Now they are being hunted by Erasers, human/wolf mutants also created at the School, while they travel across the country, trying to discover the secrets of their origins and purposes.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like fast paced stories, excitement, and sad parts.”

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “A heart­wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope­­a captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like books from an interesting viewpoint.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories by R.J. Palacio (Fiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● R.J. Palacio is also the author of Wonder, Thayer middle school’s all­school summer ​ ​ reading title in 2014 ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “AUGGIE & ME opens with Julian, who sheds light on why he targeted Auggie and how it affected his relationship with students and adults and Beecher Prep. After leaving school, he spends the summer in Paris with his grandmother, who shares a story that has a profound effect on Julian. The second story follows an extraordinary day in the life of Christopher, who is Auggie's oldest friend but has grown distant from him. And the final story centers on Charlotte, one of Auggie's assigned "welcome buddies" and her doubts and successes as she tries to find friendship amid the shifting terrain of middle school relationships.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoyed Wonder and like books that can relate to your life. It’s easy to ​ ​ understand.” B Basketball Junkie by Chris Herren (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Publishers Weekly: ​ “In this blunt, self­deprecating memoir, Herren tells his story as one of the greatest high school athletes to come out of southern New England. Fall River, Mass., has a storied basketball tradition, and Herren's achievements on the court made him a local hero as well as bringing him to the attention of national recruiters and Sports Illustrated. Overwhelmed by expectations, Herren avoided school and abused drugs and alcohol. Although Herren managed to make it to the NBA, his life continued to spin out of control until he OD'd in his car and was found unconscious with a bag of heroin on the seat beside him. Herren offers explanations for his downfall but doesn't make excuses. Neither does he glorify the partying and excess that made his life a blur. What he does achieve is something more valuable: giving a stark portrayal of the surreal existence led by young sports stars in a world of rapacious agents, vicious rivals, oblivious fans, and educational institutions that enable their "student" athletes to get away with almost anything. In the end, this is a sobering, cautionary tale for star­athletes­to­be.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy reading non­fiction basketball stories.”

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Battlefront: Twilight Company by Alexander Freed (Fiction) ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “A companion novel inspired by the hotly anticipated videogame Star Wars: ​ ​ Battlefront, this action­packed adventure follows a squad of soldiers caught in the ​ trenches of the ultimate galactic war between good and evil.” ​ ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy excitement and Star Wars.”

The Big Field by Mike Lupica (Fiction) ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Mike Lupica is also the author of Heat and Hero, which were also ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ recommended by Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “When shortstop Hutch is moved to second base on his team to make room for more talented, but arrogant, new player Darryl, he rolls with the punches for the good of the team. But when he sees his own father, who never seems to have any time for or interest in him, coaching Darryl, he can't handle it, and endangers both what's left of his relationship with his dad, and his team's chances in the championship.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy reading about sports because you will be able to put yourself in the main character's shoes.” “You should read this book if you enjoy sports books.” “You should read this book if you like baseball.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Bill Simmons, the wildly opinionated and thoroughly entertaining basketball addict known to millions as ESPN.com’s The Sports Guy, has written the definitive book on the past, present, and future of the NBA. From the age­old question of who actually won the rivalry between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain to the one about which team was truly the best of all time, Simmons opens—and then closes, once and for all—every major pro basketball debate. Then he takes it further by completely reevaluating not only how NBA Hall of Fame inductees should be chosen but how the institution must be reshaped from the ground up, the result being the Pyramid: Simmons’s one­of­a­kind five­level shrine to the ninety­six greatest players in the history of pro basketball. And ultimately he takes fans to the heart of it all, as he uses a conversation with one NBA great to uncover that coveted thing: The Secret of Basketball. Comprehensive, authoritative, controversial, hilarious, and impossible to put down (even for Celtic­haters), The Book of Basketball offers every hardwood fan a courtside seat beside the game’s finest, ​ ​ funniest, and fiercest chronicler.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you want to learn about the history of basketball.”

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (Nonfiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “For readers of Unbroken, out of the depths of the Depression comes an ​ ​ irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working­class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight­oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self­regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. Drawing on the boys’ own journals and vivid memories of a once­in­a­lifetime shared dream, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man’s personal quest.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy stories of teamwork and sports.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The Boys of Winter by Wayne Coffey (Nonfiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Once upon a time, they taught us to believe. They were the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, a blue­collar bunch led by an unconventional coach, and they engineered whatSports Illustrated called the greatest sports moment of the ​ ​ twentieth century. Their “Miracle on Ice” has become a national fairy tale, but the real Cinderella story is even more remarkable. Wayne Coffey casts a fresh eye on this seminal sports event, giving readers an ice­level view of the amateurs who took on a Russian hockey juggernaut at the height of the Cold War. He details the unusual chemistry of the Americans—formulated by their fiercely determined coach, Herb Brooks—and seamlessly weaves portraits of the boys with the fluid action of the game itself. Coffey also traces the paths of the players and coaches since their stunning victory, examining how the Olympic events affected their lives. Told with warmth and an uncanny eye for detail, The Boys of Winter is an intimate, perceptive portrayal of one Friday night in Lake Placid and the ​ ​ enduring power of the extraordinary.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like sports.”

Brady vs Manning by Gary Myers (Nonfiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “What do Tom and Peyton actually think of each other? What do their coaches ​ ​ think of them? What about teammates and opposing players? What are they like behind closed doors and in the locker room, and how does that influence their careers? How did their vastly different upbringings shape them, and how has each handled the injuries, setbacks and defeats they’ve dealt with over their careers? In this extraordinary book, veteran NFL correspondent Gary Myers tackles this subject from every angle and with unprecedented access and insight, drawing on a huge number of never­before­heard interviews with Brady and Manning, their coaches, their families, and those who have played with them and against them. The result is a remarkable collection of the most entertaining and revealing stories ever told about Peyton and Tom, from how they developed their vastly different leadership styles, to the unlikely friendship they’ve built over the years, to their respective exploits as locker room pranksters.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like the rivalry between Brady vs. Manning and think football is interesting.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

C The Candymakers by Wendy Mass (Fiction) ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Wendy Mass is also the author of the Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall, which ​ ​ was also recommended by Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “In the town of Spring Haven, four children have been selected to compete in the national candymaking contest of a lifetime. Who will make a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Yellow Lightning Chew? Logan, the candymaker's son, who can detect the color of chocolate by feel alone? Miles, the boy allergic to rowboats and the color pink? Daisy, the cheerful girl who can lift a fifty­pound lump of taffy as if it were a feather? Philip, the suit­and­tie­wearing boy who's always scribbling in a secret notebook? This sweet, charming, and cleverly crafted story, told from each contestant's perspective, is filled with mystery, friendship, and juicy revelations.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you have read other books by Wendy Mass and like a good mystery.”

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Series) by Cassandra Clare (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Clary goes to an all­ages nightclub, and there encounters Shadowhunters and demons, all of whom are invisible to everyone else. This encounter, and her mother's subsequent kidnapping, brings her into a shadow world of age­old warfare between the Shadowhunters and the demons, from whom they protect humanity. Clary discovers that her mother and her own past are not what she thought, and that she is intimately involved in a power struggle among the Shadowhunters.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy action­filled stories filled with many twists.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Conversion by Katherine Howe (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via School Library Journal: ​ “Gr 9 Up—Howe skillfully blends a modern medical mystery based on real events with the historical Salem Witch panic to create an engaging story. The prelude begins with Ann Putnam arriving at her minister's house in Salem, Massachusetts in 1706, finally ready to confess her part in the Panic more than 12 years before. Ann's tale continues in between glimpses into the life of Colleen Rowley, a senior at the exclusive St. Joan's High School of Danvers, Massachusetts in 2012. The pressure in the final semester is intense for Colleen and her classmates, who are all competing for places in top colleges. Her usually uneventful morning is disturbed, first by an apparent seizure of the very popular Clara Rutherford, and then by the unexplained replacement of the young AP History teacher. As the semester continues, more girls fall victim to a panoply of symptoms. Meanwhile, Colleen begins work on a research paper for the history substitute on an actual person absent from Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Amid a growing media circus, diagnoses are offered and then dismissed. The protagonist's research persuades her that the cause of the Salem Witch trials was far from supernatural and that the same "force" might be at work at St. Joan's. The author convincingly writes in the voice of current and historical teens, and major characters undergo significant growth in this intense tale. Howe's use of red herrings and the "ripped from the headlines" narrative will keep readers guessing until the final reveal.” —Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like a thrilling mystery with plenty of plot twists.”

Crooked House by Agatha Cristie (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via the back cover: ​ “The Leonides are one big happy family living in a sprawling, ramshackle mansion. That is until the head of the household, Aristide, is murdered with a fatal barbiturate injection. Suspicion naturally falls on the old man’s young widow, fifty years his junior. But the murderer has reckoned without the tenacity of Charles Hayward, fiancé of the late millionaire’s granddaughter.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy a page turning novel with an ending you'll never see coming.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

D Deep Zone (Football Genius Series) by Tim Green (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Tim Green is also the author of Unstoppable, which was also recommended by ​ ​ Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Troy White can predict a play before it happens. Star quarterback on his state football team, Troy's a natural for the 7­on­7 tournament that's being held at the Super Bowl in Miami. With any luck, his "football genius" will be working for the Atlanta Falcons on that big day. Ty Lewis is a wide receiver with exceptional speed. His brother, an NFL star, says getting on a 7­on­7 team will prove Ty's a winner. From the moment the two football champs cross paths, Troy and Ty begin to size each other up. But when the two rivals find themselves tangled in a web of deceit, they discover they have more in common than their skill at football.Tim Green's eight years as a star NFL linebacker give an insider's edge to his sports thrillers.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like sports and you like mystery.”

Den of Thieves by James B. Stewart (Nonfiction) ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Pulitzer Prize–winner James B. Stewart shows for the first time how four of the eighties’ biggest names on Wall Street—Michael Milken, Ivan Boesky, Martin Siegel, and Dennis Levine —created the greatest insider­trading ring in financial history and almost walked away with billions, until a team of downtrodden detectives triumphed over some of America’s most expensive lawyers to bring this powerful quartet to justice. Based on secret grand jury transcripts, interviews, and actual trading records, and containing explosive new revelations about Michael Milken and Ivan Boesky written especially for this paperback edition, Den of Thieves weaves all the facts into an unforgettable narrative—a ​ ​ portrait of human nature, big business, and crime of unparalleled proportions.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are interested in financial history.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Divergent (Divergent Series) by Veronica Roth (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior's society is divided into five ​ ​ factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she's determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what ​ makes you different makes you dangerous.” ​ ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if You like action stories and stories about the future.”

Drive: The Story of My Life by Larry Bird (Nonfiction) ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “The heart and soul of a champion: his life, his career, his game. To understand basketball, you have to understand Larry Bird. Arguably the greatest all­around player the game has ever known, he led the Boston Celtics from the basement to three world championships, collecting three NBA Most Valuable Player awards along the way. Yet, despite these massive accomplishments, Bird has rarely talked to the press, and much about the man has remained a mystery. Now in Drive, the long­silent superstar sets the record straight, revealed a side of ​ himself­and of basketball­you've never see before. Inside, you'll learn Bird's most private feelings about: The momentous decision to transfer from Bobby Knight's Indiana University to Indiana State. The heartbreak of his father's suicide and his own failed marriage. The single­minded discipline that tumed a small­town hero into a national superstar. The Boston Garden and the legendary Celtic charm. The Isiah Thomas controversy and the fierce Celtic­Laker rivalry. The great players of the NBA: including Magic Johnson, Dominique Wilkins, and Michael Jordan, and much more. here is the book that puts a basketball legend­and his game­on the line. And scores!” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are interested in sports and you like to learn about legends that played before our time.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

E Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Rainbow Rowell is also the author of Fangirl, which was also recommended by ​ ​ Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “A morning bus ride changes everything for Park Sheridan. He's minding his own business until a new girl ­­ a crazily dressed redhead with a scowl ­­ gets on and has nowhere to sit. Fearing the worst for her, he angrily swears at Eleanor to sit next to him, and despite the six inches of space she leaves between them, it's the start of something really special. Park is a sensitive half­Korean guy whose parents are still in love with each other, while Eleanor is an intelligent but often ridiculed girl from a poor, broken family. But every day, Eleanor and Park's seating arrangement leads to silently reading comics together, then talking about music, and eventually sharing a deep and abiding friendship that becomes an unforgettable first love.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy realistic fiction.”

Eleven Seconds by Travis Roy (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Within the 11 seconds that inspired this memoir, Travis Roy realized his dream, then smashed into his nightmare. On an October night in 1995, Roy, a talented young hockey player, skated onto the ice for his varsity debut with Boston University. Eleven fateful seconds later, he was paralyzed from the neck down. Aided by the sure touch of Sports Illustrated hockey writer E.M. Swift, Roy's ​ ​ moving account of his accident and his rehabilitation­­confined to a wheelchair, he's gotten some use of his right arm back­­avoids the maudlin. Instead, Eleven ​ Seconds is filled with grit, hope, humor, and a thoughtful young man's ​ introspection on the meaning of sports and the adjustments that follow when the ability to play them is taken away.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are interested in Travis Roy and his hockey career along with his tragic injury.”

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Ender’s Game (The Ender Quintet) by Orson Scott Card (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “The Earth has been attacked twice by aliens called Formics, or more popularly, Buggers, and everyone is sure a third invasion is coming. So the military embarks on a crash program to breed the ultimate military genius to lead the fleet in a pre­emptive attack against the Formic homeworld. These kids are trained from age 6 in an off­world facility called Battle School, and their training consists mostly of games. Ender Wiggins may be the child they are looking for. Brilliant, compassionate, and tormented, he's better at the games than anyone has ever been. But how can they manipulate a compassionate child into wiping out an entire species, and at the same time give him the skills to do it effectively? The adults who run the school are literally out to save the world: They will stop at nothing to achieve their ends, and one small boy, or even a school full of kids, is nothing but a means to that end.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy clever science fiction.”

Equal is Unfair by Don Watkins & Yaron Brook (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “We’ve all heard that the American Dream is vanishing, and that the cause is rising income inequality. The rich are getting richer by rigging the system in their favor, leaving the rest of us to struggle just to keep our heads above water. To save the American Dream, we’re told that we need to fight inequality through tax hikes, wealth redistribution schemes, and a far higher minimum wage. But what if that narrative is wrong? What if the real threat to the American Dream isn’t rising income inequality―but an all­out war on success? In Equal is Unfair, a ​ ​ timely and thought­provoking work, Don Watkins and Yaron Brook reveal that almost everything we’ve been taught about inequality is wrong.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you’re interested in Economics.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Eragon (Inheritance Cycle Series) by Christopher Paolini (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Recommended by THREE Thayer 7th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Soon after the strange stone he found in the forest hatches a dragon, Eragon finds that his life has changed forever; his home is destroyed, the uncle who raised him is killed, and he and the dragon, Saphira, are forced to flee the minions of Galbatorix's evil Empire. Accompanied by Brom the storyteller, Eragon discovers that he is the last of the Riders, who once kept the peace and were wiped out by Galbatorix. While pursuing revenge against those who killed his uncle, Eragon learns to communicate telepathically with Saphira, and Brom begins teaching him the skills of fighting and magic. But soon Eragon realizes he is a pawn in a vast power struggle that is tearing the Empire apart, and that he and his dragon may be the ones to change the balance of power ­­ if only they can find out whom to trust.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like fantasy.” “You should read this book if you like fantasy books with action and adventure.” “You should read this book if you like action and fantasy.”

Every Day I Fight by Stuart Scott (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Shortly before he passed away, on January 4, 2015, Stuart Scott completed work ​ on this memoir. It was both a labor of love and a love letter to life itself. Not only did Stuart relate his personal story—his childhood in North Carolina, his supportive family, his athletic escapades, his on­the­job training as a fledgling sportscaster, his being hired and eventual triumphs at ESPN—he shared his intimate struggles to keep his story going. Struck by appendiceal cancer in 2007, Stuart battled this rare disease with an unimaginable tenacity and vigor. Countless surgeries, enervating chemotherapies, endless shuttling from home to hospital to office and back—Stuart continued defying fate, pushing himself through exercises and workout routines that kept him strong. He wanted to be there for his teenage daughters, Sydni and Taelor, not simply as their dad, but as an immutable example of determination and courage.” ​ ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are interested in sports.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I ​ ​ don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla. But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He's tall, lean and wearing all black—black T­shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are into books about love and heart­wrenching events.” F Famous Last Words by Katie Alender (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via School Library Journal: ​ “Gr 8 Up—Willa's new stepdad, Jonathan, is a movie director, which is how she finds herself transplanted to Hollywood from suburban Connecticut. Willa isn't particularly thrilled about her mom remarrying—she is still reeling from her father's death two years ago. But for her mom's sake she is determined to make it work. On the plus side there's Marnie, a new friend at school, and Reed, Jonathan's cute, young assistant who seems to like Willa as much as she likes him. Unfortunately, there's also a murderer, aka the Hollywood Killer, on the loose who enjoys re­creating iconic scenes from classic movies, such as the final attack scene from Hitchcock's The Birds. The murderer's victims—always young aspiring actresses—play the starring roles. Wyatt, Willa's unfriendly chemistry lab partner at school, seems oddly obsessed with the crimes. As if that weren't enough, Willa's new house is haunted. The ghost is desperate to tell her something; Willa thinks it might have something to do with the Hollywood Killer.” —Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NY ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like to be kept on your toes trying to figure out who the murderer is.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Rainbow Rowell is also the author of Eleanor & Park, which was also ​ ​ recommended by Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Cath is a freshman in college with a lot of social anxiety and only two things that make her feel completely at home: her outgoing identical twin sister Wren (who chose to live in another dorm) and her love of the fantasy book series Simon Snow (an obvious tribute to Harry Potter). The ultimate FANGIRL, Cath ​ ​ ​ writes popular fanfiction for the Simon Snow fandom. Stuck with Reagan, a surly, opinionated upperclassman roommate with no sense of boundaries, Cath barely leaves her dorm room. Despite her desire to stay away from people, Cath must deal with the near constant presence of Reagan's smiley, friendly, chatty boyfriend, Levi ­­ who begins to draw her out of her shell, and even more frightening, charm his way into her heart.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are interested in school stories and believe that people can change because of the people they like.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Fiction) ​ ● Recommended by SIX Thayer 7th graders ​ ​ ● Recommended by SIX Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● John Green is also the author of An Abundance of Katherines, Looking for ​ ​ ​ Alaska, and Paper Towns, all of which were also recommended by Thayer ​ ​ ​ students ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Hazel knows she is dying of cancer, and even when she makes an instant connection with survivor Augustus Waters at a youth support group, she is determined not to start a romance with him ("I'm a grenade and at some point I'm going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?"). Even so, when he uses his Wish to take her to Amsterdam to meet a reclusive author she loves, it is impossible to deny that he loves her ­­ and she loves him. And though she soon learns that Gus has a painful secret, Hazel learns that loving others is worth it, even when it leaves a ‘scar.’” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you’d like a sad and caring book.” “You should read this book if you enjoy heartwarming stories.” “You should read this book if you enjoy romance and comedy storylines.” “You should read this book if you like a romantic book that will make you cry.” “You should read this book if you enjoyed the movie.” “You should read this book if you like sad but romantic stories.” “You should read this book if you like teenage romance about star­crossed lovers.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “In FINDING AUDREY, Audrey is on a break from school, trying to recover from a horrible but unspecified bullying incident at school that left her susceptible to panic attacks and unable to venture outside her house or make eye contact. Her therapist encourages her to make a documentary, and she records her home life, including often very funny interactions between her well­meaning but clueless parents and her older brother, whom they've banned from playing video games (but he finds ways to play them anyway). Plus, the film gives her an excuse to talk to cute, caring Linus, a friend of her brother who believes Audrey can get better.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you're into romance and learning about what it is like to have anxiety. Also you see what some people actually live with. Overall, it is just a very feel­good book.”

The Finest Hours by Michael J. Tougias & Casey Sherman (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “In the winter of 1952, New England was battered by the most brutal nor’easter in years. As the weather wreaked havoc on land, the freezing Atlantic became a wind­whipped zone of peril, setting the stage for one of the most heroic rescue stories ever lived. In the early hours of Monday, February 18, while the storm raged, two oil tankers, the Pendleton and the Fort Mercer, found themselves in ​ ​ ​ ​ the same horrifying predicament. Built with "dirty steel," and not prepared to withstand such ferocious seas, both tankers split in two, leaving the dozens of men on board utterly at the Atlantic’s mercy. The Finest Hours is the gripping, ​ ​ true story of the valiant attempt to rescue the souls huddling inside the broken halves of the two ships. The spellbinding tale is overflowing with breathtaking scenes, as boats capsize, bows and sterns crash into one another, and men hurl themselves into the raging sea in their terrifying battle for survival. Not all of the eighty­four men caught at sea in the midst of that brutal storm survived, but considering the odds, it’s a miracle—and a testament to their bravery—that any came home to tell their tales at all.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy an inspiring and adventurous story.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm (Fiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Eleven­year­old Ellie feels adrift in her first year of middle school. Her parents are worried about her finding her passion, but she's more concerned about the growing distance between herself and her best friend. Life gets a lot more interesting when Ellie's mother brings home an odd 13­year­old boy who grouses about the lawn, badgers her about the honor roll, and scolds her mom about her outfit. Ellie's startled to realize this boy is her Grandpa Melvin, a scientist who has found a way to reverse aging with help from a rare jellyfish. Ellie realizes she and her grandpa have more in common than she knew, but she's worried his breakthrough might not be as wonderful as Melvin believes it is.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you want a good story.”

From Norvelt to Nowhere (Norvelt Series) by Jack Gantos (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “This rocket­paced follow­up to the Newbery Medal–winning novel Dead End ​ in Norvelt opens deep in the shadow of the Cuban missile crisis. But instead of ​ ​ Russian warheads, other kinds of trouble are raining down on young Jack Gantos and his utopian town of Norvelt in western Pennsylvania. After an explosion, a new crime by an old murderer, and the sad passing of the town's founder, twelve­year­old Jack will soon find himself launched on a mission that takes him hundreds of miles away, escorting his slightly mental elderly mentor, Miss Volker, on her relentless pursuit of the oddest of outlaws. But as their trip turns south in more ways than one, it's increasingly clear that the farther from home they travel, the more off­the­wall Jack and Miss Volker's adventure becomes, in From Norvelt to Nowhere, a raucous road novel about roots and revenge, a last chance at ​ ​ love, and the power of a remarkable friendship.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like humor mystery and something difficult to follow.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

G Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead (Fiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Best friends Bridge, Tabitha, and Emily once swore upon a Twinkie that they'd never fight ­­ but seventh grade is testing that vow. Em's maturing figure is drawing attention, particularly from a cute older boy sending flirty text messages. Tab has started viewing everything through a social justice prism. And Bridge still wonders why she survived an awful accident in third grade. As they try to figure out whether their friendship can survive middle school, Sherm is trying to make sense of his new connection with Bridge. He's bitter following his grandparents' separation after 50 years of marriage. Finally, an unidentified girl takes a mental health day off from school to ponder friendship and betrayal.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like a little romance and humor.”

The Ghost of Graylock by Dan Poblocki (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “An abandoned asylum holds the key to a frightful haunting. Everyone's heard the stories about Graylock Hall. It was meant to be a place of healing ­ a hospital where children and teenagers with mental disorders would be cared for and perhaps even cured. But something went wrong. Several young patients died under mysterious circumstances. Eventually, the hospital was shut down, the building abandoned and left to rot deep in the woods. As the new kid in town, Neil Cady wants to see Graylock for himself. Especially since rumor has it that the building is haunted. He's got fresh batteries in his flashlight, a camera to document the adventure, and a new best friend watching his back. Neil might think he's prepared for what he'll find in the dark and decrepit asylum. But he's certainly not prepared for what follows him home. . . .” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like a good mystery.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Grace, Gold & Glory by Gabrielle Douglas (Nonfiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Gabrielle Douglas tells the story of how she went from a homeless child to an two­time Olympic gold medalist with the help of her supportive family, Christian faith ­­ and of course some pretty phenomenal natural ability. There's plenty of talk about crazy gymnastics moves and competitions, but also stories that will seem familiar to any kid: Trying to make funnel cakes with her sister and completely failing, crashing on her bike and chipping her teeth, etc. Gabby bravely documents some pretty harsh stuff, too: Her mother's humiliation about being on food stamps, her strained relationship with her often­absent father, an unsupportive coach who told her she needed a nose job ­­ and something else every kid will recognize: Wanting to quit before she reached her goal.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like gymnastics; it is a good book to read if you like adventure.”

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “On the night Jack murders a family in their beds, their toddler runs out into the night, pursued by the murderer, and finds his way into a cemetery. The ghosts there chase away the murderer and, after much argument, decide to raise the boy. They name him Nobody, Bod for short. As long as Bod stays in the cemetery they can protect him from Jack, who is still searching for him. But a growing boy, even one who is granted the Freedom of the Graveyard, eventually needs contact with the living world ­­ and it is the world of the living that holds the most danger for Bod.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy mystery.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Gregor the Overlander (The Underland Chronicles) by Suzanne Collins (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Suzanne Collins is also the author of The Hunger Games series, which was also ​ ​ ​ recommended by Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Gregor and his toddler sister, Boots, fall through a grate in their laundry room and land in the Underland, a world far beneath the earth's surface populated by humans, as well as giant intelligent bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders. Taken in by the humans who live in an underground city, at first they only want to find a way back home. But then Gregor learns that his father, who disappeared years before, is in the Underland too, held prisoner by the rats, who are about to launch a war on the humans. The humans are allied with the bats, and the spiders and roaches are in the middle. But an ancient prophecy talks about the coming of a warrior from the Overland to unite them to defeat the rats, and the Underlanders think that Gregor is the warrior of the prophecy.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like a good plot and fighting scenes.” “You should read this book if you like books that make you think a lot and love reading.” H H2O by Virginia Bergin (Fiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “.27 is a number Ruby hates. It's a number that marks the percentage of the population that has survived. It's a number that means she's one of the "lucky" few still standing. And it's a number that says her father is probably dead. Against all odds, Ruby has survived the catastrophic onset of the killer rain. Two weeks after the radio started broadcasting the warning, "It's in the rain. It's fatal and there's no cure," the drinkable water is running out. Ruby's left with two options: persevere on her own, or embark on a treacherous journey across the country to find her father­if he's even still alive.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like apocalyptic scenarios and dramatic tension.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter Series) by J.K. Rowling (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● Recommended by SIX Thayer 6th graders ​ ​ ● Recommended by THREE Thayer 7th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Harry's magical parents were killed by the evil wizard Voldemort when he was just a baby. Miraculously, he survived with only a lightning­bolt scar as a mysterious reminder. Harry is taken to live with his nasty relatives ­­ muggles, or non­wizards ­­ who hide the truth about his parents. Ten miserable years later, he gets a visit from a genial half­giant named Hagrid with an invitation to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. At the school, Harry makes friends, fights trolls, learns how to play the fantastic aerial school sport, Quidditch, and uncovers a three­headed dog that guards a secret. Meanwhile, he must contend with Professor Snape, who hates him, and Draco Malfoy, a bratty student. When a mystery arises about the Sorcerer's Stone, which is supposed to possess the powers of immortality, Harry discovers that Voldemort is trying to steal it so he can regain his powers.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like mysteries and fights.” “You should read this book if you are interested in mysteries and fictional books.” “You like having action in a book and what you want in a book because it has action, and drama.” “You should read this book if you like adventure, battles, magic, good storytelling, romance, and tragedy” “You should read this book if you would like reading about the adventures of a young boy finding his way in a world completely new to him.” “You should read this book if you like action, happiness, and sadness all mixed into one book.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Hatchet (Brian’s Saga Series) by Gary Paulson (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● Recommended by THREE Thayer 7th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “A city boy is stranded in the Canadian wilderness, equipped with nothing but a hatchet and the clothes on his back. Readers get a riveting view of Brian's struggle to survive for the next two months, forever changing his attitude toward the twentieth­century civilization to which he is eventually returned.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like books that will make you sit on the edge of your seat at all points of the story.” “You should read this book if you have a sense of adventure.” “You should read this book if you like action and survival books with a big twist.”

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl (Series) by Paige McKenzie (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Sunshine and her mom, Kat, have just moved from sunny Austin, Texas, to gloomy Ridgemont, Washington. But Sunshine immediately sense the creepiness of her new home: extreme changes in temperature, the feeling of a distinct presence, and eventually, the voice, laughter, and footsteps of a young child who may have met a tragic fate. Soon, Kat begins acting distant and odd, and Sunshine learns that she's not a normal teenager after all but rather a special breed of person with a special gift, one she must accept before she loses her mother for good.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like horror books, but this one isn't that bad.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Heat by Mike Lupica (Fiction) ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Mike Lupica is also the author of The Big Field and Hero, which were also ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ recommended by Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Michael, an unusually talented 12­year­old pitcher on his Little League team, has a lot going on at home that only his best friend Manny and the kindly lady upstairs in his apartment building, Mrs. C., know about. Born in Cuba, Michael lost his mother to cancer when he was very young. His father brought Michael and his brother Carlos to America with the hope of seeing Michael pitch in the Little League World Series. Now his father is dead too, and and he and Carlos are trying to keep it a secret until Carlos, just months shy of his 18th birthday, can legally assume custody of Michael. But Children's Services are getting suspicious, and a rival coach and player have accused Michael of being older than he claims, causing him to be suspended until he can find proof. Something needs to go right ­­ and soon.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are into baseball.” “You should read this book if you are a person that likes sports and like an action packed book.”

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo (Nonfiction) ​ ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “A young boy emerges from life­saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven. Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four­year old son of a ​ ​ small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you want to be inspired.” “You should read this book if you like non fiction stories about a miracle that has happened to someone.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall by Wendy Mass (Fiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “When 16­year­old Tessa suffers a shocking accident in gym class, she finds herself in heaven (or what she thinks is heaven), which happens to bear a striking ​ ​ resemblance to her hometown mall. In the tradition of It's a Wonderful Life and ​ ​ The Christmas Carol, Tessa starts reliving her life up until that moment. She ​ sees some things she'd rather forget, learns some things about herself she'd rather not know, and ultimately must find the answer to one burning question­­if only she knew what the question was. Written in sharp, witty verse, Wendy Mass ​ ​ crafts an extraordinary tale of a spunky heroine who hasn't always made the right choices, but needs to discover what makes life worth living.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like realistic fiction, and you like relating to people around your age.”

Hero by Mike Lupica (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Mike Lupica is also the author of The Big Field and Heat, which were also ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ recommended by Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Zach Harriman knew that his dad was something of a hero, a man trusted by the president to solve international crises at a moment's notice. Suddenly people are telling him he has powers ­ people who know much more about his father than Zach ever did. But there are the Bads, who appear out of nowhere and attack him and his best friend. One thing is clear: he can do things ordinary people cannot. Like fend off grown men as though he possesses the strength of a hundred. Like sense when evil is about to strike. And evil is about to strike in a very big way. Zach Harriman is his father's son. And he, too, is a hero.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you're into Mike Lupica or Fantasy novels.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (Fiction) ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like stories about trust and friendship and breaking stereotypes.”

Holes by Louis Sachar (Fiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Louis Sachar is also the author of the Sideways Stories from Wayside School, ​ ​ which was also recommended by Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no­good­dirty­rotten­pig­stealing­great­great­grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes. It doesn’t take long for Stanley to realize there’s more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried­up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like mystery or adventure.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The Hot Zone by Richard Preston (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “The bestselling landmark account of the first emergence of the Ebola virus.A highly infectious, deadly virus from the central African rain forest suddenly appears in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. There is no cure. In a few days 90 percent of its victims are dead. A secret military SWAT team of soldiers and scientists is mobilized to stop the outbreak of this exotic "hot" virus. The Hot ​ Zonetells this dramatic story, giving a hair­raising account of the appearance of ​ rare and lethal viruses and their "crashes" into the human race. Shocking, frightening, and impossible to ignore, The Hot Zone proves that truth really is ​ ​ scarier than fiction.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you’re interested in infectious disease and/or Ebola.”

The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Trilogy) by Suzanne Collins (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● Recommended by THREE Thayer 6th graders ​ ​ ● Recommended by FOUR Thayer 7th graders ​ ​ ● Recommended by FOUR Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● Suzanne Collins is also the author of the Gregor the Overlander series, which ​ ​ ​ was also recommended by Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “In the future, the U.S. is gone. In its place is Panem, in which the city of Capitol, somewhere in the Rockies, rules over 12 rebellious districts. To maintain an iron grip, the Capitol holds an annual televised reality show, a lethal form of Survivor ​ to which each district must send one boy and one girl. Out of these 24 teens, only one will survive. Katniss, who volunteers to take her sister's place, and Peeta are District 12's competitors, but their competition is complicated by Peeta's announcement that he is in love with Katniss.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like adventure.” “You should read this book if you are interested in watching a character change and develop into a hero.” “You should read this book if you're into action and suspense. “You should read this book if you like action packed book that you can't put down and stop reading.” “You should read this book if you like intense action, tragedy, war stories, romance, battles, and a struggle for survival.”

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I I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has garnered world renown for her courageous advocacy of girls' education and her strong recovery from being nearly killed in an assassination attempt. Here, she tells her own story, of her parents' love, inspiration, and encouragement and how they led her to confront Islamic fundamentalists who were trying to keep girls from going to school in her native Pakistan. Her strong Muslim faith and personal determination gain her worldwide prominence ­­ and make her a target. Malala tells of her idyllic life pre­Taliban, how things changed, and how events unfolded until she was shot in the face on the way home from school. Now living in England with her family, she also tells about her more recent life and work.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you want to know what else is going on around the world.”

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies Series) by Pittacus Lore (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “John Smith has just arrived in Paradise, Ohio, just another stop in a string of small towns where the 15­year­old has been hiding out from the Mogadorians. Those terrifying aliens are hellbent on destroying him and the other nine Loric children who have sought refuge on Earth. The Mogadorians are picking off the surviving kids in numerical order. The first three are dead and John's number is up. Will his Legacies, his defining super powers, develop in time for him to fight against the enemy?” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like adventurous fiction books.” “You should read this book if you love an adventure that twists and turns throughout the series.”

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I Am Zlatan by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​ ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Daring, flashy, innovative, volatile—no matter what they call him, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of soccer’s brightest stars. A top­scoring striker with Paris Saint­Germain and captain of the Swedish national team, he has dominated the world’s most storied teams, including Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, and AC Milan. But his life wasn’t always so charmed. Born to Balkan immigrants who divorced when he was a toddler, Zlatan learned self­reliance from his rough­and­tumble neighborhood. While his father, a Bosnian Muslim, drank to forget the war back home, his mother’s household was engulfed in chaos. Soccer was Zlatan’s release. Mixing in street moves and trick plays, Zlatan was a wild talent who rode to practice on stolen bikes and relished showing up the rich kids—opponents and teammates alike. Goal by astonishing goal, the brash young outsider grew into an unlikely prodigy and, by his early twenties, an international phenomenon. Told as only the man himself could tell it, featuring stories of friendships and feuds with the biggest names in the sport, I Am Zlatan ​ is a wrenching, uproarious, and ultimately redemptive tale for underdogs everywhere.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like soccer.” “You should read this book if you are interested in sports and want an extremely hilarious book. You don't have to like soccer to enjoy this book.”

I Funny: A Middle School Story (I Funny Series) by James Patterson (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● James Patterson is also the author of the Maximum Ride Series and Witch and ​ ​ ​ Wizard Series, which were as also recommended by Thayer students ​ ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Jamie Grimm is a middle schooler on a mission: he wants to become the world's greatest standup comedian­­even if he doesn't have a lot to laugh about these days. He's new in town and stuck living with his aunt, uncle, and their evil son Stevie, a bully who doesn't let Jamie's wheelchair stop him from messing with Jamie as much as possible. But Jamie doesn't let his situation get him down. When his Uncle Frankie mentions a contest called The Planet's Funniest Kid Comic, Jamie knows he has to enter. But are the judges only rewarding him out of pity because of his wheelchair, like Stevie suggests? Will Jamie ever share the secret of his troubled past instead of hiding behind his comedy act?” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like a funny joke book.” “You should read this book if you like comedy.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (Nonfiction) ​ ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 7th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS is the first volume in poet Maya Angelou's autobiography. In this book, Marguerite (nicknamed Maya) and her brother, Bailey Jr., are sent to Stamps, AK, to live with their grandmother around 1934 when they are 6 and 8 years old, respectively. In Stamps, they're raised with love by their strict, stoic, religious grandmother (Momma) and their disabled uncle Willie. Though Momma owns the black area of Stamps' only general store and is somewhat wealthy by local standards, the children suffer the same cruel racial bigotry as any black people in that place at that time. As the book progresses, the siblings are shuttled between Stamps, St. Louis, MO (where their mother and her family live for a time), and San Francisco (where their mother eventually settles). Along the way, Maya's life and self­image are shaped as much by the terrific mentors in her life and the love of family members as it is by the shocking racial prejudice in her world or by her traumatic rape as a child.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy memoirs and biographies.” “You should read this book if you enjoy Maya's poems and you want to learn more about her life.”

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (Fiction) ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “With these three, simple directives, Isaac Asimov changed our perception of robots forever when he formulated the laws governing their behavior. In I, ​ Robot, Asimov chronicles the development of the robot through a series of ​ interlinked stories: from its primitive origins in the present to its ultimate perfection in the not­so­distant future­­a future in which humanity itself may be rendered obsolete. Here are stories of robots gone mad, of mind­read robots, and robots with a sense of humor. Of robot politicians, and robots who secretly run the world­­all told with the dramatic blend of science fact and science fiction that has become Asmiov's trademark.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like science fiction.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

J Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (Fiction) ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Johnny Tremain, winner of the 1944 Newbery Medal, is one of the finest ​ ​ historical novels ever written for children. As compelling today as it was seventy years ago, to read this riveting novel is to live through the defining events leading up to the American Revolutionary War. Fourteen­year­old Johnny Tremain, an apprentice silversmith with a bright future ahead of him, injures his hand in a tragic accident, forcing him to look for other work. In his new job as a horse­boy, riding for the patriotic newspaper, The Boston Observer, and as a ​ ​ messenger for the Sons of Liberty, he encounters John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Dr. Joseph Warren. Soon Johnny is involved in the pivotal events shaping the American Revolution from the Boston Tea Party to the first shots fired at Lexington. Powerful illustrations by American artist Michael McCurdy bring to life Esther Forbes's quintessential novel of the American Revolution.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book If you enjoy American history.”

The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio (Fiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● R.J. Palacio is also the author of Wonder, Thayer middle school’s all­school ​ ​ summer reading title in 2014 ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “A brand new, exclusive chapter from the bestselling, award­winning, and critically acclaimed novel Wonder. Over 1 million people have read Wonder and ​ ​ ​ ​ have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. Now readers will have a chance to hear from the book's most controversial character—Julian. From the very first day Auggie and Julian met in the pages of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wonder, it was clear they were never going to ​ ​ ​ ​ be friends, with Julian treating Auggie like he had the plague. And while Wonder ​ told Auggie's story through six different viewpoints, Julian's perspective was never shared. Readers could only guess what he was thinking. Until now. The Julian Chapter will finally reveal the bully's side of the story. Why ​ ​ is Julian so unkind to Auggie? And does he have a chance for redemption?” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you liked Wonder.” ​ ​

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Jumped In by Jorja Leap (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “When Jorja Leap began studying Los Angeles gang violence in 2002, she encountered a myriad of proposed solutions to the seemingly intractable “gang problem” and set out to discover what was really going on. The stakes—then and ​ ​ now—could not be higher: a child or teenager is killed by gunfire every three hours—and homicide is the leading cause of death for African American males between the ages of fifteen and thirty­four. In Jumped In, Leap brings us stories ​ ​ that reach behind the statistics and sensational media images to the real lives of those stuck in—and trying to escape— "la vida loca.” With the eye of an ​ ​ anthropologist and a heart full of compassion, this small, tough woman from UCLA travels some of the most violent and poverty­stricken neighborhoods, riding along in police cruisers and helicopters, and talking with murderers and drug dealers, victims and grieving mothers.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy realistic fiction with a little poetry.” K Katie and the Cupcake Cure (Cupcake Diaries Series) by Coco Simon (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “This first book in The Cupcake Diaries is told through the perspective of Katie ​ ​ Brown. We find Katie miserable on the first day of middle school. Her best friend Callie came back from camp boy­crazy and part of a whole new group of friends. When it's made clear that Callie is in the PGC (Popular Girls Club) and Katie is not invited to join, Katie suddenly feels incredibly alone. Katie realizes if she’s going to survive middle school she needs to seriously regroup and find some new friends. But how? She bites into the cupcake her mother packed her for lunch and for a second closes her eyes. The sweet treat makes her happy—finally something goes right! Looking around her table, Katie notices the other students seeming a bit lost, as well. Which gives her an idea…With three new friends Katie forms a club as a way to spread the cupcake love and earn some cupcake cash.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy baking and realistic stories.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers Series) by Ridley Pearson ​ ​ ​ (Fiction) ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Finn and four other teens are selected to be Holographic Hosts at Florida's Disney World. Holograms of these teens lead visitors through the Magic Kingdom, giving visitors information. Their lives as minor celebrities are going fine until they discover that at night while they sleep they become both hologram and human. Their holograms are lured back into the Magic Kingdom at night by a retired park Imagineer who convinces them to fight against the evil Overtakers, who are trying to take control of the Magic Kingdom and eventually the world. The evil Overtakers are led by the evil Maleficent from Disney's Sleeping Beauty, who's aided by characters from the popular rides: pirates from Pirates of the ​ ​ Caribbean and the cute dolls from It's a Small World, who chase and bite the teens while eerily singing their famous song.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are a Disney fanatic or are looking for a good fiction book.” “You should read this book if you love adventure and mystery.”

L Last Shot (Sports Beat Series) by John Feinstein (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “When Stevie wins a writing contest for aspiring sports journalists, his prize is a press pass to the Final Four in New Orleans. While exploring the Superdome, he overhears a plot to throw the championship game. With the help of fellow contest winner Susan Carol, Stevie has just 48 hours to figure out who is blackmailing one of the star players . . . and why.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like sports.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Legend (Legend Series) by Marie Lu (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Day and June are teenagers on opposite sides of a dystopian regime in what was once Los Angeles. Day is the ultimate outlaw, stealing money and medical supplies for his family and others. June is being groomed for leadership within the ruling party. After June's beloved older brother is killed, all clues point toward Day, and she vows revenge at any cost. Neither Day nor Joy is prepared for what will happen when their paths eventually cross.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like reading action­filled, and futuristic books about discovering the truth.”

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland (Nonfiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Determination meets dance in this memoir by the history­making ballerina. In this instant New York Times bestseller, Misty Copeland makes history, telling ​ ​ the story of her journey to become the first African­American principal ballerina at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. But when she first placed her hands on the barre at an after­school community center, no one expected the undersized, underprivileged, and anxious thirteen­year­old to become one of America’s most groundbreaking dancers . A true prodigy, she was attempting in months roles that take most dancers years to master. But when Misty became caught between the control and comfort she found in the world of ballet and the harsh realities of her own life, she had to choose to embrace both her identity and her dreams, and find the courage to be one of a kind. With an insider’s passion, Misty opens a window into the life of an artist who lives life center stage, from behind the scenes at her first classes to her triumphant roles in some of the world’s most iconic ballets. A sensational memoir as “sensitive” and “clear­eyed” (The ​ Washington Post) as her dancing, Life in Motion is a story of passion, identity and grace for anyone who has ​ ​ ​ dared to dream of a different life.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are a dancer.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson Series) by Rick Riordan (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 6th graders ​ ​ ● Recommended by FOUR Thayer 7th graders ​ ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Rick Riordan is also the author of the Heroes of Olympus Series, which was ​ ​ also recommended by Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Percy Jackson, dyslexic and hotheaded, has been kicked out of yet another school. But stranger things are happening around him, and soon he finds himself at Camp Half­Blood, a refuge and training ground for children of the Greek gods, who are still around and causing trouble for humans. He discovers that his dyslexia is caused by his brain being hardwired for Greek, and his hotheadedness is because, well, he's a hero. All too soon Percy discovers which god is his father, and that he's a pawn in a titanic battle between the gods that may ignite World War III. Accompanied by a daughter of Athena and a young satyr, Percy is sent to retrieve Zeus' lightning bolt from Hades, who supposedly stole it. But things are even more complicated than he and the gods imagined, and there are dangerous plots afoot.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are interested in Greek Mythology, fantasy, interesting, or action packed books.” “You should read this book if you like series and Greek Mythology.” “You should read this book if you like Greek Mythology and comedy.” “You should read this book if you like fiction and are a Percy Jackson fan.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks (Fiction) ​ ● Recommended by FOUR Thayer 7th graders ​ ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Ira Levinson is in trouble. Ninety­one years old and stranded and injured after a car crash, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together ­ how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can't possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage. A few miles away, at a local bull­riding event, a Wake Forest College senior's life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break­up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward ­­ even life and death ­ loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans ­­ a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he's keeping doesn't destroy it first.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like books that make you really want to know what's happening next.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Looking for Alaska by John Green (Fiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● John Green is also the author of An Abundance of Katherines, The Fault in Our ​ ​ ​ Stars, and Paper Towns, all of which were also recommended by Thayer students ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Miles, tired of his friendless, dull life in Florida, convinces his parents to send him away to boarding school in Alabama so that he can seek "the Great Perhaps." There he meets his roommate and soon­to­be best friend, Chip, called the Colonel, and Alaska Young, the moody, gorgeous, wild girl who instantly becomes the object of his lust. Miles is quickly enlisted in their war against the Weekday Warriors, the rich kids who go home every weekend, and they bond over elaborate pranks, studying, and assorted rule­breaking. About halfway through the book a tragedy occurs, and those left spend the rest of the book trying to make sense of it, to solve the mystery it leaves behind, and to pull off one last, greatest­ever prank.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like adventure with a bit of romance.” “You should read this book if you like realistic fiction, with intelligent, humorous banter, mixed with mystery.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus Series) by Rick Riordan (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 6th graders ​ ​ ● Rick Riordan is also the author of the Percy Jackson Series, which was also ​ ​ recommended by Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Jason is pretty confused when he wakes upon a school bus on a trip to the Grand Canyon with no idea who he is or how he got there. Earnest Piper acts like Jason's girlfriend, and goofy Leo thinks he's Jason's best friend, but Jason can't remember either of them. Before he can ask many questions, all three are attacked by storm spirits and rescued by a Camp Half­Blood chariot. The newly revealed heroes have barely broken in their cabin bunks when they're called on a quest to rescue Hera (who knows who Jason really is) from dark forces stirring in the Earth ­­ giants and much more. Riding off in a metal dragon expertly fixed by Leo (Hephaestus' son, of course), the three seek out the nearly­as­dangerous wind gods to help find Hera. But Piper has another secret quest: Her father has been kidnapped by another giant who wants to trade her friends' lives for her father's freedom ­­ a horrible choice to make.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you have read the Percy Jackson books. You should also read it if you are ​ ​ interested in Greek Mythology.” “You should read this book if you like action, adventure, and Greek Gods. Also if you are a fan of Rick ​ Riordan, this is another great series by him.” ​

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Susie Salmon was 14 years old when her neighbor raped, murdered, and later dismembered her body. In a heaven­like place Susie keeps watch over those left on Earth that matter ­­ her family, her friends, and her murderer. Susie is unable to let go of the life she had and relentlessly spies and lives by­proxy through those left. She is consumed with trying to figure out a way to make her murderer pay for his crimes. Will the family ever find closure? Will the police ever catch the killer and recover more than just her elbow bone?” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like reading from a different perspective.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

M Marie­Grace and the Orphans (American Girls Collection) by Sarah M. Buckey (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Marie­Grace can't believe what she finds on her doorstep one rainy night: a sweet little baby! More than anything, Marie­Grace hopes her father will let the child stay with them. Then a stranger comes looking for the little boy, and Marie­Grace realizes the baby is in terrible danger. Together, she and her friend Cécile come up with a plan to protect the child­and to help the other orphans, too. But when rumors of a terrible sickness begin to swirl in New Orleans, Marie­Grace begins to worry…will anyone truly be safe? Includes an illustrated Looking Back essay about orphanages in the 1800s. The story continues in the fourth book in the series: Troubles for Cécile.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like books about orphans.”

The Martian by Andy Weir (Fiction) ​ ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “After a wind­whipped antenna punctures his space suit, botanist Mark Watney is left for dead on the surface of Mars. He survives that initial calamity but finds himself alone on the planet with no idea how to communicate with anyone back on Earth. His food, water, and oxygen will only last so long, so he needs to devise a plan that will let him live until rescue arrives. There's little room for error, though, and Watney comes dangerously close to disaster on numerous occasions.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like realistic sci­fi and want to laugh.” “You should read this book if you are into space.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Matched (Matched Series) by Ally Condie (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Cassie has never doubted the choices of the Society, which decides what she eats, whom she'll love, where she'll work, and even when she'll die. She's thrilled to learn she’s to marry Xander, her best friend. But then why does the face of her neighbor, Ky, flash on her Match microcard instead? The Officials tell her it was a rare mistake, but a tiny seed of doubt is planted. And as she grows to love Ky, she begins to see the darker truths of the Society. She embarks with him on a risky, dangerous path ­­ with the Society watching their every move.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you read and liked The Hunger Games.” ​ ​

Matilda by Roald Dahl (Fiction) ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she's just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a kid­hating terror of a headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back. It'll take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves and Matilda may be just the one to do it!” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you've seen the broadway musical.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Series) by James Dashner (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● Recommended by SEVEN Thayer 7th graders ​ ​ ● Recommended by THREE Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Sixteen­year­old Thomas wakes up in a place called the Glade, where towering walls close at night to keep a colony of boys safe from the monsters outside them. They have all had their memories erased, but Thomas remembers just a little too much. The world is in catastrophe and they are living in the Killzone, mere animals in a bizarre experiment. Soon Teresa, the first girl, arrives and tells them the game is on. Some boys think they are better off in this cold, cruel place than going back to where they came from ­­ they have formed a society after all, with rules and jobs like farming and even butchering their own meat. But Thomas turns out to be the leader they've needed to form their own army, revolt against the monsters, and take on the people who have set them up in this very cruel and isolated world. Of course the outside world may have its own scary challenges.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy action and adventure.” “You should read this book if you like adventure and some mystery.” “You should read this book if you like mystery and action.” “You should read this book if you like bold, and paradoxical books.” “You should read this book if you like a good, suspenseful page turning series.”

The Mindful Athlete by George Mumford (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Michael Jordan credits George Mumford with transforming his on­court leadership of the Bulls, helping Jordan lead the team to six NBA championships. Mumford also helped Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom and countless other NBA players turn around their games. A widely respected public speaker and coach, Mumford is sharing his own story and the strategies that have made these athletes into stars in The Mindful Athlete: The Secret to Pure ​ Performance. His proven, gentle but groundbreaking mindfulness techniques can ​ transform the performance of anyone with a goal, be they an Olympian, weekend warrior, executive, hacker, or artist.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are into sports and trying to become the best athlete and person possible.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Series) by Ransom Riggs ​ ​ ​ (Fiction) ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s ​ Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and ​ photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen­year­old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you have a big imagination and if you like mysteries.” “You should read this book if you like when the author or a fiction book is very creative and makes up interesting people, things, and concepts.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Caitlin has Asperger's. The world according to her is black and white; anything in between is confusing. Before, when things got confusing, Caitlin went to her older brother, Devon, for help. But Devon was killed in a school shooting, and Caitlin's dad is so distraught that he is just not helpful. Caitlin wants everything to go back to the way things were, but she doesn't know how to do that. Then she comes across the word closure­­and she realizes this is what she needs. And in her search for it, Caitlin discovers that the world may not be so black and white after all.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoyed Wonder.” ​ ​

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier (Fiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Tim's life turns upside down when his older brother, Sam, defies their father and goes off to fight in the Revolutionary War and then his father disappears. Amid the cyclone of war, Tim helps his mother run the family tavern. Full of excitement and hard truths, this is a great historical novel about the Revolution.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy American history with a little bit of action involved.”

The Mysterious Benedict Society (Series) by Trenton Lee Stewart (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “The ad in the newspaper says, "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" Reynie, an orphan, decides that he is, and persuades the orphanage director to let him take the test. Along with three other children who pass, Reynie meets the mysterious Mr. Benedict, a narcoleptic who lives behind a maze and who has an important mission for the children. They're sent to a boarding school on an island, The Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, to find out all they can about the school's director, Ledroptha Curtain. Posing as students, they discover his plan to take over the world using mind control. But in Curtain's carefully controlled island fortress, stopping him seems impossible, even for four very gifted children.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy a book with an adventurous plot and ending you'll never see coming.” “You should read this book if you like when the author or a fiction book is very creative and makes up interesting people, things, and concepts.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

N Naughts & Crosses (Naughts & Crosses Sequence) by Malorie Blackman (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Callum is a naught, a second­class citizen in a society run by the ruling Crosses. Sephy is a Cross, and daughter of the man slated to become prime minister. In their world, white naughts and black Crosses simply don't mix ­­ and they certainly don't fall in love. But that's exactly what they've done. When they were younger, they played together. Now Callum and Sephy meet in secret and make excuses. But excuses no longer cut it when Sephy and her mother are nearly caught in a terrorist bombing planned by the Liberation Militia, with which Callum's family is linked. Callum's father is the prime suspect...and Sephy's father will stop at nothing to see him hanged. The blood hunt that ensues will threaten not only Callum and Sephy's love for each other, but their very lives.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you want to read about a different kind of racism, where the Crosses are in a higher place than the Noughts.”

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Fiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Recommended by THREE Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● Lois Lowry is also the author of The Giver, which is required summer reading ​ ​ for all Thayer 7th graders ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “This stirring World War II novel personalizes the story of Denmark's heroic rescue of its Jews from the Nazis, telling of a brave ten­year­old Danish girl who helps her family smuggle her Jewish friends to safety in Sweden.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are looking for an informational and scary story that will make you want to keep reading.” “You should read this book if you enjoy reading about historical time periods.” “You should read this book if the Holocaust interests you.” “You should read this book if you are looking for a REALLY great book about the Holocaust.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

O Orr: My Story by Bobby Orr (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Bobby Orr is often referred to as the greatest defenseman ever to play the game of hockey. But all the brilliant achievements leave unsaid as much as they reveal. They don’t tell what inspired Orr, what drove him, what it was like for a shy small­town kid to suddenly land in the full glare of the media. They don’t tell what it was like when the agent he regarded as a brother betrayed him and left him in financial ruin. They don’t tell what he thinks of the game of hockey today. Now he breaks his silence in a memoir as unique as the man himself...” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy hockey.”

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper (Fiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “In OUT OF MY MIND, narrator Melody, born with cerebral palsy, has never been able to communicate to her loving family all the thoughts that run through her mind. The story reveals Melody's inner thoughts and her frustration at not being able to control her body ­­ she has to have someone feed her and help her go to the bathroom ­­ despite the fact that she has a photographic memory. Melody reminisces about her childhood and takes us up to fifth grade, when she acquires a machine that helps her communicate better than she ever could before. When she gets on a school team with the "regular" kids that finally allows her to show off her intelligence, Melody thinks she's on the road to being accepted by them ­­ until she learns the heartbreaking truth that her differences will always set her apart.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are looking for an informational and scary story that will make you want to keep reading.” “You should read this book if you like good stories that have a range of emotions.” “You should read this book if you like heart­warming stories.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

P Panic by Lauren Oliver (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Life in Carp, N.Y., is pretty dead­end, which is why so many graduating high school seniors play Panic. The game of escalating ­­ and often life­risking ­­ dares finally finishes at summer's end when a lone winner takes the pot, collected all year from the entire student body. This year the pot is $67,000. That money would mean everything to Heather, allowing her to leave the trailer park she lives in with her often high mother and build a new life for her and her younger sister. Meanwhile, Dodge is focused on revenge against a family he blames for leaving his sister in a wheelchair after a Panic game gone bad. As the competition heats up ­­ and Heather and Dodge continue to advance ­­ readers will wonder: Will either of them get what they're really after?” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like competition.”

Paper Towns by John Green (Fiction) ​ ● Recommended by FOUR Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● John Green is also the author of An Abundance of Katherines, The Fault in Our ​ ​ ​ Stars, and Looking for Alaska, all of which were also recommended by Thayer ​ ​ ​ ​ students ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Quentin lives next door to Margo, the amazing, vibrant, wickedly sophisticated teen goddess of his town, with whom he has been in love since they were in elementary school. But in high school she has mostly ignored him. A few weeks before graduation, she shows up at his window, leading him on a night­long series of payback pranks, after which she disappears. Worried that she may have committed suicide, Quentin obsessively pursues clues he thinks she has left him, involving Woody Guthrie, Walt Whitman, and nonexistent towns that are either failed developments or mapmakers' copyright traps.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like mystery books.” “You should read this book if you like funny books that you can't put down, and if you are adventurous.” “You should read this book if you like books that keep you engaged and laughing.” “You should read this book if you like mystery and books by John Green like The Fault In Our Stars.” ​ ​

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes (Peter Nimble Series) by Jonathan Auxier (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is the utterly beguiling tale of a blind ​ ​ 10­year­old orphan who has been schooled in a life of thievery. One fateful afternoon, he steals a box from a mysterious traveling haberdasher—a box that contains three pairs of magical eyes. When he tries the first pair, he is instantly transported to a hidden island, where he is presented with a special quest: to travel to the dangerous Vanished Kingdom and rescue a people in need. Along with his loyal sidekick—a knight who has been turned into an unfortunate combination of horse and cat—and the magic eyes, he embarks on an unforgettable, swashbuckling adventure to discover his true destiny.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like adventure.”

Phenom: The Making of Bryce Harper by Rob Miech (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Before he famously became a Major League All­Star as a teenager, Harper already had dominated high school competition like Mickey Mantle on the playground and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, which dubbed him the ​ ​ "most exciting prodigy since LeBron James." Seeking greater tests as a hitter, the precocious star got his GED after his sophomore year and enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada, where he would face future pro pitchers in a difficult wooden­bat league. Sportswriter Rob Miech was "embedded" with the team―in the dugout and locker room and on team buses and in motel rooms―to provide a warts­and­all account of a boy among men playing like a man among boys. Amid fascinating personal stories including the dynamics between a veteran coach and Harper's overprotective father, the jealousies of teammates and opponents, and the sudden descent of press armies on a tiny college field, the author chronicles a season­long experiment that culminates in Harper leading the Coyotes to the Junior College World Series and signing a $9.9 million contract negotiated by notorious agent Scott Boras. Sporting a fresh cover and a bonus chapter that covers Harper's award­winning rookie season with the Washington Nationals, this expanded edition of Phenom (originally published as The Last Natural) gives fans an all­access pass to ​ ​ ​ ​ baseball's newest rising star.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like baseball.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars Series) by Sara Shepard (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 7th graders ​ ​ ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “This is basically Desperate Housewives for the teen set. The book centers on ​ ​ former friends, each with her own set of issues ­­ one crushes on a girl, another struggles with her weight/self­esteem, etc. What they share now is a mystery in their past: One night, during the summer before eighth grade, their leader, Allison, disappeared without a trace. They've drifted apart but come back together when they start receiving strange messages from someone named "A" who seems to know all their secrets, past and present.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like the TV series Pretty Little Liars.” ​ ​ “You should read this book if you like to try and figure things out, and enjoy realistic fiction.” “You should read this book if you watch the show, or if you enjoy a real mystery with many ups and downs.”

Prisoner B­087 by Alan Gratz (Fiction) ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Survive. At any cost. 10 concentration camps. 10 different places where you are starved, tortured, and worked mercilessly. It's something no one could imagine surviving. But it is what Yanek Gruener has to face. As a Jewish boy in 1930s Poland, Yanek is at the mercy of the Nazis who have taken over. Everything he has, and everyone he loves, have been snatched brutally from him. And then Yanek himself is taken prisoner ­­ his arm tattooed with the words PRISONER B­3087. He is forced from one nightmarish concentration camp to another, as World War II rages all around him. He encounters evil he could have never imagined, but also sees surprising glimpses of hope amid the horror. He just barely escapes death, only to confront it again seconds later. Can Yanek make it through the terror without losing his hope, his will ­­ and, most of all, his sense of who he really is inside? Based on an astonishing true story.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like books about World War II and want a good read.”

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Q Quarantine #1: The Loners (Quarantine Series) by Lex Thomas (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “It was just another ordinary day at McKinley High­­until a massive explosion devastated the school. When loner David Thorpe tried to help his English teacher to safety, the teacher convulsed and died right in front of him. And that was just the beginning. A year later, McKinley has descended into chaos. All the students are infected with a virus that makes them deadly to adults. The school is under military quarantine. The teachers are gone. Violent gangs have formed based on high school social cliques. Without a gang, you're as good as dead. And David has no gang. It's just him and his little brother, Will, against the whole school. In this frighteningly dark and captivating novel, a 2012 Booklist Editor's Choice, Lex Thomas locks readers inside a ​ ​ school where kids don't fight to be popular, they fight to stay alive.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy a good thriller.” “You should read this book if you like action.” R Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood­­those with common, Red blood serve the Silver­ blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own. To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard­­a growing Red rebellion­­even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy YA action/fantasy.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Revenge of the Witch (Last Apprentice Series) by Joseph Delaney (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Twelve­year­old Tom's the youngest of seven brothers. With the eldest married and running the family farm, and the others all in apprenticeships, it's Tom's turn to leave home to earn his keep. As the seventh son of a seventh son, he's sensitive to dark forces, and thus uniquely qualified to become the apprentice of a much­feared traveling man called the Spook, who battles and binds witches, boggarts, and other foul creatures. On a monthlong trial, Tom proves he's braver than most when he passes the Spook's test in a haunted house. But that's just the beginning: The Spook's house is surrounded by the creatures he's bound there, and one powerful witch, through Tom's unwitting help, is getting stronger by the day.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy a long series of suspense, drama, and heart­stopping action. There are 13 books, not counting the follow up series.”

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Booklist: ​ “Sixteen­year­old Jessica is the track team’s star sprinter until tragedy strikes: the team van is struck, killing one runner and demolishing Jessica’s right leg. The book begins with Jessica refusing to acknowledge the result: a stump. But she is slowly reintroduced to life, which involves being fitted for a prosthesis, returning to school, and dealing with the usual—tough teachers, mean girls, and one really hot, sensitive, supportive boy. It’s a classic problem novel in a lot of ways; accordingly, Van Draanen inserts setbacks with narrative precision, the most affecting of which (surprisingly) is the insurance battle that Jessica’s parents face. Overall, though, this is a tremendously upbeat book, with Jessica’s family, friends, and community coming together (the track team raises funds to buy Jessica a $20,000 running leg). Even a subplot involving Jessica’s friendship with the cerebral palsy–afflicted Rosa is not as treacly as it could have been. Van Draanen’s extensive research into both running and amputees pays dividends—readers will truly feel what it’s like to walk (or run) a mile (or 10) in Jessica’s shoes. Grades 7­10.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy books based on a true story.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

S Savvy by Ingrid Law (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “The Beaumonts are an unusual family. On their 13th birthdays (and sometimes before then) each family member gets their savvy ­­ an unpredictable special ability that runs in their family. One of Mibs's brothers causes storms and another generates electricity, and neither is able to control his savvy too well yet. Now Mibs is about to turn thirteen, and they all wonder what her savvy will be. But just before her birthday, her father is in a car accident, and now lies in a coma in the hospital. And Mibs just hopes that whatever her savvy is, it will be something that can save him.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like make­believe books.”

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Fiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Two cousins ­­ one motherless, the other an orphan ­­ are so monstrously spoiled that no one can stand them and they can hardly stand themselves. With the help of a boy of the moors and some natural magic, they discover an abandoned garden and return it to abundance. As the garden grows the children grow ­­ into their own better selves.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like to read very mysterious but fun books.”

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The Selection (The Selection Series) by Kiera Cass (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “For thirty­five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like romance.”

Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Wayside School Series) by Louis Sachar (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Louis Sachar is also the author of the Holes, which was also recommended by ​ ​ Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “The Wayside School was supposed to be one story high, with 30 classrooms side by side; instead, it was built sideways, with 30 one­classroom stories. As befits such a strange school, these tales are a bit strange too. In one, Jason is stuck to his seat by a large wad of chewing gum. His teacher tries throwing ice water on him (to chill the gum to brittleness) and turning him upside down. She even contemplates cutting his pants off. Finally, though, he falls from his upside­down position when kissed (ugh!) by one of the girls in the class. Other tales include a bit of a moral, such as the story of Kathy, whose assumption that no one will ever like her is proved right, or the story of Bebe, who draws quickly but without artistic merit. The quirky humor in this book is appealing to children, and it makes a good read­aloud book for the younger set. (Ages 5 to 12) ­­Richard Farr” ​ ​ ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like weird and funny books.”

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Slaying the Tiger by Shane Ryan (Nonfiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “As the golf writer for Bill Simmons’s Grantland, Shane Ryan is the perfect ​ ​ herald for the sport’s new age. In Slaying the Tiger, he embeds himself for a ​ ​ season on the PGA Tour, where he finds the game far removed from the genteel rhythms of yesteryear. Instead, he discovers a group of mercurial talents driven to greatness by their fear of failure and their relentless perfectionism. From Augusta to Scotland, with an irreverent and energetic voice, Ryan documents every transcendent moment, every press tent tirade, and every controversy that made the 2014 Tour one of the most exciting and unpredictable in recent memory.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like golf.”

Smile by Raina Telgemeier (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Like many 12­year­olds, Raina is apprehensive about getting braces. But when she trips and knocks out her two front teeth, the fate of her teeth becomes even more traumatic. For the next four years, we follow Raina through many trips to the orthodontist, mouth surgeries, and a variety of dental contraptions. Meanwhile, Raina starts middle school, gets a crush on a boy who barely notices her, experiences the Loma Prieta Earthquake in San Francisco, and deals with friends who are not always supportive and are sometimes downright mean. As Raina's teeth go through extensive changes, Raina learns to stand up for herself and discovers that following her own interests, especially art, will lead to healthy friendships with people who like her for who she is.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like realistic stories.”

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Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton (Nonfiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “In this moving personal account of faith and fortitude, internationally ranked surfer Bethany Hamilton tells how she survived a shark attack that cost her arm­­but not her spirit. They say Bethany Hamilton has saltwater in her veins. How else could one explain the passion that drives her to surf? How else could one explain that nothing—not even the loss of her arm—could come between her and the waves? That Halloween morning in Kauai, Hawaii, Bethany responded to the shark’s stealth attack with the calm of a girl with God on her side. Pushing pain and panic aside, she began to paddle with one arm, focusing on a single thought: “Get to the beach....” And when the first thing Bethany wanted to know after surgery was “When can I surf again?” it became clear that her spirit and determination were part of a greater story—a tale of courage and faith that this soft­spoken girl would come to share with the world.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you’re interested in non­fiction books and surfing.”

Stargirl (Stargirl Series) by Jerry Spinelli (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “11th­grader Leo has never met anyone like Stargirl, and neither has anyone else at Mica High. She dances around the cafeteria playing a ukulele, and never misses a chance to sing "Happy Birthday." She doesn't act right, she dresses weird, and she is always blazingly herself. At first the students are puzzled, then entranced, and Stargirl becomes the most popular girl at school. And Leo is in love. But just as quickly Stargirl becomes the most despised student, shunned by the others, and Leo, now her boyfriend, is shunned with her. Though she has opened him up to new ways of experiencing life, when forced to choose between Stargirl and everyone else, Leo does what any teenager would do, and that choice reverberates down the rest of the years of his life.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “This book helps you realize that everyone has a different personality and who should be nice to them and accept just the way they are.”

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Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “From the start, his path was never predictable. Steve Jobs was given up for adoption at birth, dropped out of college after one semester, and at the age of twenty, created Apple in his parents' garage with his friend Steve Wozniack. Then came the core and hallmark of his genius­­his exacting moderation for perfection, his counterculture life approach, and his level of taste and style that pushed all boundaries. A devoted husband, father, and Buddhist, he battled cancer for over a decade, became the ultimate CEO, and made the world want every product he touched. Critically acclaimed author Karen Blumenthal takes us to the core of this complicated and legendary man while simultaneously exploring the evolution of computers. Framed by Jobs' inspirational Stanford commencement speech and illustrated throughout with black and white photos, this is the story of the man who changed our world.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like to learn about interesting people.”

Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Series) by Anthony Horowitz (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Alex Rider has lived with his uncle Ian since his parents were killed in an accident when he was an infant. Now Ian has died in an accident as well, but as Alex looks deeper he finds that everything he knew about his uncle was a lie. He wasn't a banker, he was a spy for Britain's MI6, and his death was no accident. Now MI6 wants Alex to spy for them as well, and they won't take no for an answer. Though he is only 14, he discovers that his uncle was training him for spying his whole life. Billionaire Herod Sayle is donating his state­of­the­art computers to every school in England. But MI6 is suspicious of his motives, and Ian was killed while investigating him. Now they want to send Alex in to find out what is going on behind the guarded fences of Sayle Enterprises.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like spy's and intense action books.” “You should read this book if you want to have a long series that you will love. If you like action, adventure and suspense, this book and the series is for you.”

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T Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson & Susy Flory (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Scholastic.com: ​ “Every moment in Michael Hingson’s and Roselle’s lives seemed to lead up to this day. When one of four hijacked planes flew into the World Trade Center’s north tower on September 11, 2001, Michael Hingson, a district sales manager for a data protection and network security systems company, was sitting down for a meeting. His guide dog, Roselle, was at his feet. Paired for twenty­one months, man and dog spent that time forging a bond of trust, much like police partners who trust their lives to each other. Michael couldn’t see a thing, but he could hear the sounds of shattering glass, falling debris, and terrified people flooding around him and Roselle. However, Roselle sat calmly beside him. In that moment, Michael chose to trust Roselle’s judgment and not to panic. They were a team. Thunder Dog is a story that will forever change your spirit and your perspective. It ​ ​ illuminates Hingson’s lifelong determination to achieve parity in a sighted world and how the rare trust between a man and his guide dog can inspire an unshakable faith in each one of us.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like true, inspiring stories.”

The Tower Treasure (Hardy Boys Series) by Franklin W. Dixon (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Scholastic.com: ​ “A dying criminal confesses that his loot has been stored "in the tower." Both towers of the looted mansion are searched in vain. It remains for the Hardy boys to make an astonishing discovery that clears up the mystery and clears the name of a friend's father.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you are a fan of a good mystery or action story.”

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Trapped Under the Sea by Neil Swidey (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Booklist: ​ “In the summer of 1999, after an extraordinary project to clean up filthy Boston Harbor was stalled, five commercial divers were brought in for a dangerous, high­stakes mission hundreds of feet beneath the ocean floor. To unstick the Deer Island sewer treatment plant project, the men entered a 10­mile­long tunnel, a dark and claustrophobic space in which oxygen was fed to each man through an umbilical hose. When the mission went wrong, the men found themselves fighting for their lives in a race to get out of the tunnel. Swidey spent five years poring over documents and interviewing all the major figures, including the surviving divers, who speak for the first time about the tragedy and its lasting impact on their lives. More than just an exploration of the elements of a mission gone wrong (the politics, engineering, and design), this is a look at the dangerous jobs done by countless workers executing the grand plans of politicians and engineers that are taken for granted. With the pacing and feel of a special­ops adventure and the insight of a public­policy investigation, Swidey details the lives of the divers, leading up to their fateful mission, the horrors of the ordeal, and its aftermath as the survivors coped with trauma and guilt. ­­Vanessa Bush” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you enjoy books with long, stretched out action.” U Uglies (Uglies Series) by Scott Westerfeld (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Tally has grown up in a postapocalyptic world where, at age 16, everyone is given an operation that makes their faces and bodies perfect. Before the operation they are known as "uglies" and after as "pretties." After the operation they live in New Pretty Town, enjoying a life of constant partying and pleasure. Tally can't wait. Shortly before her 16th birthday she befriends Shay, who tells her about the Smoke, a secret community of those who refuse the operation. When Shay runs away to join the Smoke, Tally is given a choice by the Specials, the secret police: Help them find the Smoke and betray her friend, or remain an ugly forever.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like adventure.”

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Unbroken (YA Adaptation) by Laura Hillenbrand (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​ ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 7th graders ​ ​ ● Recommended by TWO Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “UNBROKEN is the young­adult adaptation of Laura Hillenbrand's best­selling biography of Louis Zamperini, an Italian­American from Southern California who went from high school track star to Olympic runner to World War II bombardier to Japanese POW camp survivor. The son of Italian immigrants, Zamperini was known as a young petty criminal in his hometown of Torrance. But as a young teen, big brother Pete convinced him to take up running, and he quickly became a track star and, at age 19, the youngest American qualifier for the 5,000­meter race at the 1936 Olympic Games. He had planned to run in the 1940 Tokyo Olympics, which were canceled after World War II began. As a bombardier assigned to the Pacific Theater, Zamperini, 26, ended up on a bomber plane that crashed into the ocean, stranding him and the only two other survivors in the open sea. After enduring 47 days on a life raft, an emaciated Zamp and his pilot friend Phil are rescued ­­ by the Japanese, who send them to a series of POW camps where Zamperini endures cruelty, humiliation, deprivation, and more at the hands of the ruthless prison guards.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like a story about will and courage because it appears a lot in this book.” “You should read this book if you like non fiction stories about soldiers’ lives.” “You should read this book if you like true stories and/or World War II stuff.”

Unstoppable by Tim Green (Fiction) ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendation ● Tim Green is also the author of Deep Zone, which was also recommended by ​ ​ Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “If anyone understands the phrase "tough luck," it's Harrison. As a foster kid in a cruel home, he knows his dream of one day playing in the NFL is a longshot. Then Harrison is brought into a new home with kind, loving parents—his new dad is even a football coach. Harrison's big build and his incredible determination quickly make him a star running back on the junior high school team. On the field, he's practically unstoppable. But Harrison's good luck can't last forever. When a routine sports injury leads to a devastating diagnosis, it will take every ounce of Harrison's determination not to give up for good.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you want a good sports book that is really inspiring.”

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The Unwanteds (Unwanteds Series) by Lisa McMann (Nonfiction) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● A 6th Grade Recommendations ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “When Alex finds out he is Unwanted, he expects to die. That is the way of the people of Quill. Each year, all the thirteen­year­olds are labeled as Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Wanteds get more schooling and train to join the Quillitary. Necessaries keep the farms running. Unwanteds are set for elimination. It’s hard for Alex to leave behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted, but he makes peace with his fate—until he discovers that instead of a “death farm,” what awaits him is a magical place called Artimé. There, Alex and his fellow Unwanteds are encouraged to cultivate their creative abilities and use them magically. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation. But it’s a rare, unique occurence for twins to be divided between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron’s bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artimé that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate magical battle.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you have read and enjoyed Divergent and Harry Potter.” ​ ​ ​ ​ W Walter & Me: Living in the Shadow of Sweetness by Eddie Payton (Nonfiction) ​ ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “Widely regarded as one of the best football players to ever tie on a pair of cleats, Walter Payton led a fascinating and ultimately tragic life. Told in the voices of those who knew him best, this biography of the Chicago Bears legendary running back tells the inspiring account of the reward of hard work and is an uplifting testament to the power of the human spirit. It is a story of inspiration, redemption, and the deep passion two brothers felt for the sport of football. More than a decade after the untimely death of Walter Payton, his older brother recalls the moments they shared and the continuing sting of the loss of a legend. This glimpse into Payton’s life doesn’t sugarcoat the issues or glorify the late superstar, but rather it addresses the subjects of suicide, drug abuse, and infidelity head­on with intimate knowledge of the facts. In this candid take, Walter’s older brother discloses the true life of man simply known as ‘Sweetness.’” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like sports.”

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The Warrior’s Heart by Eric Greitens (Nonfiction) ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● An 8th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon: ​ “In this adaptation of his best­selling book, The Heart and the Fist, Eric speaks ​ ​ directly to teens, interweaving memoir and intimate second­person narratives that ask readers to put themselves in the shoes of himself and others. Readers will share in Eric’s evolution from average kid to humanitarian to warrior, training and serving with the most elite military outfit in the world. Along the way, they’ll be asked to consider the power of choices, of making the decision each and every day to act with courage and compassion so that they grow to be tomorrow’s heroes.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like fascinating real life experiences.” “You should read this book if you’re interested in stories about growing up.”

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● Recommended by THREE Thayer 8th graders ​ ​ ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Common Sense Media: ​ “Cadence Sinclair Eastman spends summers on her family's island near Martha's Vineyard. Yes, her family has an entire island, where each of Harris Sinclair's three daughters has a house. The kids who populate these houses are cousins and cohorts; the oldest posse of the cousins call themselves the Liars. Her parents' dramatic divorce leaves Cady with horrible migraines. She finds comfort at Beechwood Island with her cousins, particularly with a step cousin named Gat. The Sinclair family begins to fracture, as the aunts vie for their share of the inheritance, and the Liars decide to take matters into their own hands.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like big surprises and suspense.” “You should read this book if you like books by John Green.” “You should read this book if you can relate to narrators and you like family mysteries.”

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When the Butterflies Came by Kimberley Griffiths Little (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● Amazon Link ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “Everybody thinks Tara Doucet has the perfect life. But Tara’s life is anything but perfect: Her dear Grammy Claire has just passed away, her mom is depressed and distant, and she and her sister, Riley, can’t agree on anything. But when mysterious and dazzling butterflies begin to follow her around after Grammy Claire’s funeral, Tara knows in her heart that her grandmother has left her one final mystery to solve. Tara finds a stack of keys and detailed letters from Grammy Claire. Note by note, Tara learns unexpected truths about her grandmother’s life. As the letters grow more ominous and the clues harder to decipher, Tara realizes that the secrets she must uncover could lead to grave danger. And when Tara and Riley are swept away to the beautiful islands of Chuuk to hear their grandmother’s will, Tara discovers the most shocking truth of all, one that will change her life forever. Kimberley Griffiths Little weaves a magical, breathtaking mystery full of loss and love, family and faith.” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like intriguing and thrilling books.”

Witch & Wizard (Witch & Wizard Series) by James Patterson (Fiction) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● A 7th Grade Recommendation ● James Patterson is also the author of the I Funny Series and Maximum Ride Series, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ which were as also recommended by Thayer students ● Amazon Link ● Common Sense Media Link

● ● Synopsis, via Amazon.com: ​ “The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15­year­old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents­­and maybe the world?” ● What Thayer students are saying: “You should read this book if you like science fiction and fast­paced novels.”

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Recommended Book “Pages” (Alphabetical) 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​