The Black Book of Secrets F

Virginia Readers’ Choice 2009-2010 Middle Annotations

The Black Book of Secrets F.E. Higgins, Feiwel and Friends, 2007. Joe, a mysterious pawnbroker, shows up in a small English village the same time as young Ludlow Fitch, who has run away from an abusive past in London. The villagers come to the pawnbroker late at night to sell their secrets, which Ludlow carefully records in the Black Book of Secrets. Speculation, mistrust, and suspicion abound as the townspeople continue to sell their secrets and others try to uncover them by possessing the book.

Book of a Thousand Days Shannon Hale, Bloomsbury, 2007. In this romantic fantasy, fifteen-year-old Dashti, maid to Lady Saren in the medieval kingdom of Mongolia, records her daily activities and thoughts as she attends to her mistress. For much of the story, Lady Saren is imprisoned in an unlit tower, having refused to marry the evil lord chosen by Lady Saren’s father. As the tale unfolds, Dashti and Lady Saren escape and flee to the realm of Lady Saren’s true love.

First Light Rebecca Stead, Wendy Lamb Books, 2007. Peter, the 12-year-old son of a glaciologist, is visiting Greenland with his parents while his father studies the effects of global warming. Fourteen-year-old Thea lives in an underground city, Gracehope, whose inhabitants have never been to “the surface.” Their paths cross after Peter has disturbing visions on the ice and Thea finds a mysterious map leading her to the surface. Thea becomes obsessed with bringing her people to see the sun and Peter becomes obsessed with visiting Gracehope. They eventually find their destinies are joined after Peter’s mother reveals a long–kept secret.

Keeper Mal Peet, Candlewick, 2005. Journalist Paul Faustino is transfixed as El Gato tells a story of growing up poor and lonely in a small South American village in the middle of the rain forest. His tale grows unbelievable as he tells of stumbling upon a mysterious soccer field in the middle of the rain forest, where an even more mysterious apparition meets El Gato every day and trains him to be a great soccer player. Who is this ghostly coach who pushes El Gato to work harder than he has ever worked before? Why is he so interested in El Gato’s success? Can this mysterious man help El Gato leave his poor family and logging town and enter the world of professional soccer?

Lawn Boy Gary Paulsen, Wendy Lamb Books, 2007. When a boy receives a gift of a lawn mower for his 12th birthday he learns to operate it and begins a business. When he meets Arnold, a home stockbroker, his business profits begin to soar and soon he has a half million dollars! Each chapter heading in this quick fun read suggests the economic principles behind this unlikely entrepreneur’s success.

London Calling Edward Bloor, Knopf, 2006. John Martin Conway is a scholarship student at an exclusive prep school, and feels bullied and miserable. After he inherits a WW II era radio from his grandmother, his life changes in a remarkable way. As he time travels to the London Blitz he learns uncovers new information about the past and meets a young boy who needs his help.

1 Virginia Readers’ Choice 2009-2010 Middle Annotations Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller Sarah Miller, Atheneum, 2007. Based on the historical events surrounding the heroic life of Helen Keller, this novel explores Ms. Keller’s education and development from the point of view of her teacher- Annie Sullivan. Annie was herself a half-blind orphan with a fiery tongue who came to be known as “Miss Spitfire”. Each chapter within the book begins with a pithy quote from Annie, and the book contains both photographs and timelines to anchor it to the historical events of the 1880s.

Savvy Ingrid Law, Dial, 2008. Mibs Beaumont is looking forward to her 13th birthday. That’s the day each of the Beaumonts finds out what their special gift will be. Her older, brother, Rocket, has an electrical savvy. Fish, her next older brother has a savvy that changes the weather. What savvy will be revealed for Mibs? Mibs, Sampson, Bobbi, and Will set off on an unexpected road trip, but will they get to the hospital in time to help Poppa?

Uprising Margaret Peterson Haddix, Simon and Schuster, 2007. Bella, Yetta, and Jane have little in common until they work together to improve working conditions at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Based on true events in 1911 New York, this book tells of the story of first labor movement in the US, which was doomed for failure until the most horrific workplace tragedy of the century.

Wednesday Wars Gary Schmidt, Clarion, 2007. Holling Hoodhood is the only Presbyterian in his seventh grade class. The Jewish and Catholic students go off-campus on Wednesday afternoon and Holling is left with Mrs. Baker for the afternoon. When Mrs. Baker decides they should spend the afternoons studying Shakespeare, he is sure she hates him. It’s 1967 and each play provides new lessons to help Holling understand what’s important in life.