Children’s Books in Large Print and Audio for grades 5 - 8 (alphabetical by author’s last name)

Please be aware that the audio and print are not necessarily the same edition and can vary slightly when reading word for word.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase Author: Aiken, Joan. Set in nineteenth-century England, this story tells of the adventures of two young cousins left in the care of an evil governess. After their parents are lost at sea, the wicked Miss Slighcarp brings the children to an orphanage. They escape and travel 400 miles to London. For grades 5-8. PR003243 & DB030653

A Kind of Thief Author: Alcock, Vivien. Elinor, thirteen, is stunned when the police come one morning and arrest her father for embezzlement. While the officers are distracted, her father slips her a luggage claim receipt. Elinor secretly retrieves the bag, and, although uneasy about having it, refuses to let her brother force it open. When they are parcelled out among relatives, Elinor takes the bag with her and dramatically learns of the extent of her father's thievery. For grades 5-8. PR006172 & RC037539

Rose in Bloom: Eight Cousins Series, Book 2. Author: Alcott, Louisa May. Written in 1876, this sequel to Eight Cousins finds Rose Campbell a young lady, just returning from a trip around the world. Rose is determined to be an independent woman, but her inheritance attracts many suitors. For grades 5-8. PR015331 & DB045948 The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio Author: Alexander, Lloyd. One day in the market, a mysterious bookseller presents Carlo with an old book of curious, magical tales. A parchment treasure map hidden in the book sets Carlo on the legendary Road of Golden Dreams, beginning his adventures with a camel-puller, a robbery, and mistaken identities. For grades 5-8. 2007. PR016727 & DB065802

Sounder Author: Armstrong, William Howard. The mother and son of a black sharecropper family in the South struggle for survival when the sheriff arrests the father for stealing and shoots their devoted coon dog. For grades 5-8. Newbery Medal. PR003593 & DB022898

The Book Without Words: a Fable of Medieval Magic Author: Avi. England, 1046. The Book without Words appears to have blank pages, but to a green-eyed reader it reveals dark magic of alchemy and immortality. When a green-eyed eighty-six-year-old man dies trying out the formulas, the fates of his thirteen-year-old servant girl and talking raven change dramatically. For grades 5-8. 2005. PR014781 & DB060813

Peter Pan Author: Barrie, J.M. (James Matthew). A fantasy about the adventures of Wendy, John, and Michael who fly away to Never-Never-Land with Peter, the boy who refused to grow up. A classic for grades 5-8 and up. PR004247 & DB059430

On My Honor Author: Bauer, Marion Dane. Joel's best friend Tony goads him into a bike trek to the bluffs at the state park, and to Joel's dismay his father consents to the trip. Halfway there, Tony becomes fascinated by the dangerous Vermillion River, and convinces Joel to swim despite warnings not to go near the river. The boys race, and Tony disappears in the water. With the help of his father, Joel begins to come to grips with his guilt and sorrow, and to understand the power of choice. Newbery Honor book. For grades 5-8. PR004934 & RC026123

The Finding Author: Bawden, Nina. Eleven years ago, Alex was adopted after being found at age five months on London's Thames Embankment in the arms of one of the statues of the Sphinx. Now, an unexpected inheritance threatens to change the life he has always known since his "finding." A mystery for grades 5-8. PR005928 & RC025030

Off the Road Author: Bawden, Nina. 2040. Eleven-year-old Tom chases after his grandfather when the "old one" escapes from inside the wall. Tom has been taught that the wild outside is full of killer trees, demons, and trolls, but instead he discovers a rural agrarian society—where his grandfather lived long ago. Tom also discovers families. For grades 5-8. PR010883 & RC048640

The Robbers Author: Bawden, Nina. Anger at an injustice causes Philip and his new friend to steal a valuable object from a miserly old woman. For grades 5-8. PR003290 & RC018433

Deenie Author: Blume, Judy. Deenie, thirteen, is popular and pretty, and her mother is pushing her to become a big-time model by the time she's seventeen. Her mother also bugs her constantly about her posture. But despite Deenie's best efforts, her posture only seems to grow worse. Then the doctors discover that she has adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, and Deenie is devastated by the news that she must wear a back brace for the next four years. For grades 5-8. PR004051 & DB034307

Then Again, Maybe I Won't Author: Blume, Judy. Tony Miglione believes that if his parents were to read his mind, they would be surprised and shocked at his thoughts. He reflects on his shoplifting neighbor and friend, on the way his parents change in response to money, and on his own sexual development. For grades 5-8. PR000221 & RC040800

The Heart of a Chief Author: Bruchac, Joseph. Chris Nicola has his share of ups and downs starting sixth grade at the junior high and at home on the Penacook reservation. Chris uses his pride in his heritage to good advantage and finds himself emerging as a leader. For grades 5-8. PR012704 & DB049205

The Blossoms Meet the Vulture Lady Author: Byars, Betsy Cromer. While setting a trap to catch a coyote who has been causing trouble, Junior Blossom inadvertantly captures himself! Mad Mary, the local recluse who lives in a cave and eats "varmint stew," discovers Junior, rescues him, and takes him to her cave to recover. For grades 5 to 8. PR005947 & DB027870

The Blossoms and the Green Phantom Author: Byars, Betsy Cromer. The Blossoms are back again as Junior builds another of his impossible inventions—the "Green Phantom", a flying saucer made from air mattresses and garbage bags. Pap gets stuck overnight in a trash dumpster while trying to rescue a puppy, and Vern hesitates at bringing his new friend, Michael, home to meet his very unusual family. For grades 5-8. PR005943 & DB027815

A Blossom Promise Author: Byars, Betsy Cromer. In this continuation of the Blossom family story, Junior is waiting to visit Mad Mary; Maggie is performing for the first time at the rodeo with her mother; and Vern and his friend are building a raft. When Vern's raft is swept away, Pap saves the boys, but the effort precipitates a heart attack. Sequel to "The Blossoms and the Green Phantom." For grades 5-8. PR005946 & DB028770

The Night Swimmers Author: Byars, Betsy Cromer. With their mother dead and their father working to become a country-western star, Retta tries to be a mother to her two younger brothers. She controls things pretty well until a friend challenges her authority, and Retta's fury provokes a near-fatal disaster. For grades 5-8. PR002902 & RC019909

Not-Just-Anybody Family Author: Byars, Betsy Cromer. While their mother is traveling on a summer rodeo circuit, two children try to help members of their family out of some unbelievable situations. Younger brother Junior has to go to the hospital after his attempt to fly off the barn roof with cloth wings, and seventy-two- year-old grandpap has to get out of jail, thanks to some teenagers who messed with the pile of cans he was collecting. For grades 5-8. PR005152 & RC025768

Summerland Author: Chabon, Michael. Eleven-year-old Ethan Feld, the least gifted ballplayer on Clam Island, is recruited to be a hero and defend the ferishers in Summerland against giants, goblins, and a tough baseball team. He is assisted by his resolute friend, Jennifer T. Rideout, and assorted creatures. For grades 5-8 and older readers. PR012983 & DB054987

The White Mountains: Tripods #1 Author: Christopher, John. A science fiction tale set in the twenty-first century where all life and thought are controlled by the Tripods, mechanized steel creatures who exert control through metallic discs placed in the skulls of children. To escape this fate, three friends begin a dangerous journey to the White Mountains. For grades 5-8. PR005931 & RC026091

The City of Gold and Lead: Tripods #2 Author: Christopher, John. Teenage members of a group of free men determine to overthrow the Tripods in the City of Gold and Lead. The boys become favored slaves, and one of the masters reveals the source of the Tripods power. For grades 5-8. PR005934 & DB027307

The Eternity Code: Artemis Fowl #3 Author: Colfer, Eoin. Learning that his father plans to go straight after returning from imprisonment by the Russian Mafiya described in Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, Artemis plots one last scheme. But his deal with a powerful businessman over advanced technology stolen from the fairies goes painfully awry. For grades 5-8. 2003. PR013292 & DB056252

The Lost Colony: Artemis Fowl #5 Author: Colfer, Eoin. Sequel to Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception. Artemis solves temporal equations to detect demon presence and prevent catastrophe. But someone else completes the complex mathematical calculations—a twelve-year-old girl who may be as smart as Artemis, which makes her a formidable new foe. For grades 5-8. 2006. PR015982 & DB063818

The Time Paradox: Artemis Fowl #6 Author: Colfer, Eoin. Artemis's mother contracts a deadly disease that can be cured only with the brain fluid of lemurs—an animal that Artemis previously made extinct. With the help of his fairy friends, Artemis travels back in time. Sequel to Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony. For grades 5-8. 2008. PR017787 & DB067585

The Supernaturalist Author: Colfer, Eoin. In a future world fourteen-year-old Cosmo Hill escapes from an orphanage where children are used for product testing. Cosmo joins a gang of "spotters," kids who share his rare ability to see small, blue creatures that steal energy from wounded humans. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2004. PR014053 & DB058311

Getting Near to Baby Author: Couloumbis, Audrey. Willa Jo is up on the roof at Aunt Patty's house. She went up there to see the sunrise, and Little Sister followed her, like she always does. But by mid-morning, Willa Jo is still up on that roof, and she knows it wasn't just the sunrise that brought her there. The trouble is, once she climbs up, Willa Jo can't seem to come down. Coming down would mean she'd have to explain. And how can she explain? Audrey Couloumbis has perfectly captured the pervasive feelings that can take hold when tragedy strikes—and the slow, subtle revelations that come when one can finally get near to the source. This is a funny, sometimes heartbreaking story about sisters, about grief, and about healing. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor. 1999. PR009771 & DB050374

Heartbeat Author: Creech, Sharon. Twelve-year-old Annie ponders the many rhythms of life in a series of free-verse poems covering her two passions—drawing and running. During the year, her mother gives birth, her grandfather becomes forgetful, and her best friend and running partner, thirteen-year-old Max, becomes distant. For grades 5-8. 2004. PR015231 & DB062114

Ordinary Jack: Bagthorpe Saga #1 Author: Cresswell, Helen. Young Jack, the only "ordinary" member of the talented and eccentric Bagthorpe family, concocts an extraordinary scheme to pass himself off as a modern-day prophet. Comedy for grades 5-8. First volume of The Bagthorpe Saga. PR004046 & DB016609

The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 Author: Curtis, Christopher Paul. Enter the hilarious world of ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint Michigan. There's Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, Kenny, and Byron, who's thirteen and an "official juvenile delinquent." When Momma and Dad decide it's time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with the amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons set out on a trip like no other. They're heading south. They're going to Birmingham, Alabama, toward one of the darkest moments in American History. By turns comic, tragic, and touching, this remarkable first novel introduces a writer of bold ambition and a true and original voice. Some strong language. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor Book. PR009998 & DB041921

Iqbal Author: D'Adamo, Francesco. A fictionalized account of a Pakistani boy who escaped from bondage in a carpet factory and helped liberate other children from a life of servitude. Relates how Iqbal Masih, at thirteen, is murdered by the "carpet mafia" after winning an international humanitarian award and scholarship to study abroad. For grades 5-8. 2001. PR015225 & DB057759

Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You Author: DeClements, Barthe. "Bad Helen" fears her lack of improvement in reading may keep her in the sixth grade forever. Things begin to improve when a good teacher recognizes her problem. Sequel to "Nothing's Fair in the 5th Grade." For grades 5-8. PR001968 & RC024665

Incident at Hawk's Hill Author: Eckert, Allan W. After a small boy wanders off one summer and loses himself on the vast prairie near his home, he is adopted by a female badger who takes care of him for two months. Based on an incident reported in Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1870. Newbery Honor book. For grades 5-8. 1971. PR000762 & RC038913

Francie Author: English, Karen. Twelve-year-old Francie yearns for the day she and her family will join her father in Chicago, where he has gone for work. Meanwhile, in segregation-era Alabama Francie teaches sixteen-year-old newcomer Jesse to read. When Jesse is accused of a crime, Francie decides to help him escape. For grades 5-8. Coretta Scott King Honor Book. PR011098 & RC050019

The Islands of the Blessed Author: Farmer, Nancy. Two years after their adventures in The Land of the Silver Apples, the apprentice bard Jack and his Viking companion Thorgil confront the malevolent spirit of a vengeful mermaid and begin a quest that casts them among the fin folk of Notland. For grades 5-8. 2009. PR018421 & DB070519

The Land of the Silver Apples Author: Farmer, Nancy. Continues the adventures of the apprentice bard Jack, from The Sea of the Trolls . Jack sets out to rescue his sister Lucy, kidnapped by the Lady of the Lake, and travels to the Land of Silver Apples—home to elves and other magical creatures. For grades 5-8. 2007. PR016655 & DB065685

Johnny Tremain Author: Forbes, Esther. After a burn severely cripples his right hand, Tremain becomes a courier for the Committee of Public Safety and a hero in the early days of the American Revolution. The excitement he experiences includes the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington. For grades 5-8. Newbery Award. 1943. PR000241 & DB022808

One-Eyed Cat Author: Fox, Paula. Disobeying his father, Ned shoots his new Daisy rifle only once as he aims at a shadow, and he sighs with relief when no one punishes him. Soon, though, a wild, one-eyed cat appears and seems to be searching for someone. For grades 5-8. PR004063 & DB022756

The Slave Dancer Author: Fox, Paula. 1840. Kidnapped from his home in New Orleans, thirteen-year-old Jessie Bollier is forced to serve on a slave ship. Every day he must play his fife while the shackled slaves "dance" for exercise. For grades 5-8 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1973. PR004178 & DB058319

The Stolen Trophy: Wishbone Mysteries #5 Author: Friedman, Michael Jan. When an old basketball trophy disappears from the home of a new boy in town and one of their friends is suspected of being the thief, Joe and Wishbone are determined to discover the truth about what really happened. For grades 5-8. PR013957 & CC007933

Traitor: the Case of Benedict Arnold Author: Fritz, Jean. A tense study of the brilliant Revolutionary War general who became one of America's most famous hero-villians when he betrayed West Point to the British. For grades 5-8 and older readers. PR012520 & DB018436

Inkheart Author: Funke, Cornelia. Twelve-year-old Meggie lives with her father, Mo, a bookbinder. She discovers a terrible secret: nine years ago when Mo read aloud from a book the characters appeared in real life while her mother disappeared into the story. Mo's magic causes still more problems to solve. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2003. PR014734 & DB057116

Inkspell Author: Funke, Cornelia. One year after Meggie’s adventures in Inkheart, Dustfinger—the fire- eater brought into being from words—desperately needs to return to the original tale. Meggie, her parents, and Dustfinger’s apprentice Farid follow him and soon are caught inside Inkworld, too. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2005. PR015056 & DB061571

The Thief Lord Author: Funke, Cornelia. Orphan brothers Prosper, age twelve, and Bo (Boniface), age five, have run away from their cruel aunt and uncle in Hamburg to Venice—their mother's favorite city. They join a band of urchins led by a mysterious Thief Lord who steals to support them. And then the complications begin. For grades 5-8. 2000. PR014178 & DB055343

The Graveyard Book Author: Gaiman, Neil. A toddler enters a cemetery pursued by the knife-wielding stranger who just murdered his family. Resident ghosts Mr. and Mrs. Owens protect and adopt the child, naming him Nobody "Bod" Owens. Bod's graveyard upbringing serves him well, but why was his family targeted? For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2008. PR017654 & DB068027

Jack's Black Book: Jack Henry #5 Author: Gantos, Jack. Now in the seventh grade, Jack feels like a total misfit at a vocational school where wood shop is taught three days a week. He feels hopeless after failing an IQ test to qualify for another school. What Jack really wants is to be a writer, so he carries around a black notebook hoping for inspiration from his muse. For grades 5-8. PR015547 & DB046329

Joey Pigza Loses Control Author: Gantos, Jack. In this sequel to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key Joey is spending the summer with his long-absent alcoholic dad, who convinces Joey to stop wearing his medication patches. Soon wired again, Joey clashes with his dad's own out-of-control personality. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor. PR010744 & DB051237

What Would Joey Do? Author: Gantos, Jack. Hyperactive Joey tries to hold things together as his father shows up on a motorcycle to taunt his mother, he is home-schooled with a hostile blind girl, and his feisty grandmother copes with emphysema. Sequel to Joey Pigza Loses Control. For grades 5-8. 2002. PR013054 & DB056069

Julie of the Wolves Author: George, Jean Craighead. Julie, a thirteen-year-old Eskimo girl, runs away rather than agree to an arranged marriage. Lost and starving on the barren tundra, she makes friends with a pack of wolves who save her life. For grades 5-8. Newbery Medal. 2005. PR000262 & DB034451

Lily's Crossing Author: Giff, Patricia Reilly. This year, as in other years, Lily has planned a spectacular summer in Rockaway, in her family's cozy house on stilts over the Atlantic Ocean. But by summer of 1944. World War II has changed almost everyone's life. Lily's best friend, Margaret, and her family have moved to a wartime factory town. And worse, much worse, Lily's father is on his way overseas to the war. There's noone else Lily's age in Rockaway until Albert comes, a refugee from Hungary, a boy with a secret sewn into his coat. Albert has lost most of his family in the war; he's been through things Lily can't imagine. But when they join together to rescue and care for a kitten, they begin a special friendship. For Lily and Albert have their secrets to share: They both have told lies, and Lily has told a lie that may cost Albert his life. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor. PR009993 & RC045659

Football Champ Author: Green, Tim. Twelve-year-old Troy's uncanny gift for predicting football plays proves a powerful secret weapon for the Atlanta Falcons. But a seedy reporter with a grudge against star linebacker Seth Halloway suspects something illegal is going on and pursues Troy. Sequel to Football Genius. For grades 5-8. 2009. PR018318 & DB070019

Football Genius Author: Green, Tim. Sixth-grader Troy can predict football plays before they occur and wants to use this ability to help his favorite team, the Atlanta Falcons. But first he has to convince the team to take him seriously. For grades 5-8. PR016688 & DB068601

Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe Author: Greene, Bette. African American schoolgirl Beth Lambert loves Philip Hall, the cutest, smartest boy in class, but feels confused when he doesn't invite her to his birthday party. During a run-in with turkey thieves and other adventures on her family's Arkansas farm, Beth tries to understand Philip's friendship. Newberry Medal winner. For grades 5-8. 1974. PR000220 & DB059552

A Girl Called Al Author: Greene, Constance. The narrator tells all about her relationship with her best friend Alexandra, called Al for short. Al, who is very smart but fat and unattractive, acts flip to hide her real feelings. An affectionate story about friendship, for grades 5-8. PR004470 & DB019904

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. Theodore Boone #1 Author: Grisham, John. Both kids and adults ask eighth grader Theo for legal advice because he knows the court system so well. But when his friend Julio approaches Theo about a possible surprise witness for an ongoing murder trial—the biggest in Strattenburg's history—it's Theo's turn to seek counsel. For grades 5-8. 2010. PR018813 & DB071512

Unbroken Author: Haas, Jessie. It is 1910, and Harriet's world comes to an end the day her mother tries to make their mare face an oncoming Model T. Harry and the mare's two-year-old colt, both now orphans, go to live with Aunt Sarah and Uncle Clayton on the Vermont hill farm where Harry's father grew up. Aunt Sarah rules here, and she sees no reason why Harry should continue her education. The Academy is seven miles away, and even if the tuition money could be found, Harry has no way to get there and back—unless she can train the colt in time. As she struggles with him and with Aunt Sarah, Harry learns more about her parents' lives. Too much, in fact. Grief and doubt about her mother's character build, until an accident again changes everything... For grades 5-8. PR009757 & RC050101

Among the Brave: Shadow Children #5 Author: Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Following Among the Barons Trey and his fellow illegal third-born children seek help from Mr. Talbot until the Population Police arrive to arrest their mentor. When the government is overthrown and more kids are imprisoned, Trey must summon all his courage to rescue them. For grades 5-8. 2004. PR014071 & DB059358

Found: The Missing #1 Author: Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Seventh-grader Jonah knows that he was adopted. But when he and his friend Chip receive mysterious letters, they learn that they and thirty-four other babies were found on an airplane with no adults on board—a possible time-travel experiment. Now opposing forces want to capture them. For grades 5-8. PR017786 & DB067848

Sent: The Missing #2 Author: Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Jonah and Katherine travel back with Chip and Alex to the fifteenth- century Tower of London, Chip and Alex's original time, where they were—are—the imprisoned princes Edward and Richard. Jonah and Katherine plan the boys' escape and return to the twenty-first century. Sequel to Found. For grades 5-8. 2009. PR019006 & DB070338

Sabotaged: The missing #3 Author: Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Time travelers Jonah and Katherine help another missing child, Virginia Dare, return home to the past. But their journey to sixteenth- century Roanoke Colony is sabotaged and goes dangerously awry, leaving Jonah, Katherine, and Virginia in the wrong time period. Sequel to Sent. For grades 5-8. 2010. PR019100 & DB071756

Cousins Author: Hamilton, Virginia. Eleven-year-old Cammy dearly loves her grandmother, Gram Tut, and despises her oh-so-perfect and spoiled cousin, Patty Ann. When Patty Ann drowns saving another cousin, Cammy is overcome by guilt and grief. Only through the love and wisdom of Gram and the return of her estranged father is Cammy able to come to terms with her sorrow and accept the reality that her beloved Gram Tut will someday die too. For grades 5-8. PR010934 & RC032595

The House of Dies Drear: Dies Drear Chronicle #1 Author: Hamilton, Virginia. Thomas Small, an African-American teenager, has moved with his family to Ohio where his father will teach history. They are living in the house where Dies Drear once operated an Underground Railroad station. The strange old mansion is replete with secret tunnels; nearby cave hideouts; and tales of ghosts, murder, and hidden treasures. Prequel to "Mystery of Drear House." For grades 5-8 and older readers. Edgar Allan Poe Award. PR005809 & DB033494

The Planet of Junior Brown Author: Hamilton, Virginia. Eighth graders Junior Brown, a 262-pound musical prodigy with an overprotective mother, and Buddy Clark, who has no family, skip school and spend their days with a former teacher who has built a ten-planet solar system in the basement. The extra planet is named for Junior. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor Book. PR004935 & RC052366

Shug Author: Han, Jenny. At twelve, Annemarie, called Shug (short for sugar) by her family, feels that nothing is going right. She is too tall and skinny, she has a crush on her best friend Mark who doesn't notice, and even her girlfriends are changing. For grades 5-8. PR015979 & DB066782

Scat Author: Hiaasen, Carl. Florida. While her biology class is on a field trip to the Black Vine Swamp, Mrs. Starch goes missing during a mysterious wildfire. Believing the class bully Smoke is involved, Nick and his friend Marta investigate and encounter some unusual people and a panther. For grades 5-8. PR017420 & DB068759

The Mouse and His Child Author: Hoban, Russell. Rescued from a trash can and repaired by a tramp, a toy mouse and his son set out on a perilous search to find the child's dream of a family and a place of their own. A fantasy for grades 5-8. PR005926 & RC025521

Penny From Heaven Author: Holm, Jennifer L. New Jersey, 1953. During the summer, eleven-year-old Penny carries her uncle Dominic's lucky bean, almost loses her arm, reconciles with her mother's beau, and discovers the cause of her father's death. Best of all, she reunites her feuding family. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor Book. 2006. PR016262 & DB064582

Dancing in Cadillac Light Author: Holt, Kimberly Willis. Moon, Texas; 1968. Eleven-year-old tomboy Jaynell is put in charge of her grandfather for the summer. They have a good time cruising in an old Cadillac until Grandpap gives his old house to a large, struggling family. For grades 5-8 and older readers. PR012553 & DB053186

Which Witch? Author: Ibbotson, Eva. Weary of being a wizard, Arriman has been waiting hopefully for his replacement to arrive. He finally resigns himself to marrying a witch who can give him a successor. Beautiful Belladonna wishes to become his bride, but she must first turn her white magic black. For grades 5- 8. PR010741 & DB049756

The Phantom Tollbooth Author: Juster, Norton. Feeling bored and unhappy, Milo is surprised to find in his room an enormous package containing a genuine turnpike tollbooth. When he drives his toy car through it, Milo arrives in a magical world. A fantasy for those who enjoy word play. For grades 5-8. 1989. PR000755 & DB023208

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate Author: Kelly, Jacqueline. Texas, 1899. Being the only girl in the middle of six brothers, it is deemed odd that eleven-year-old Calpurnia Virginia Tate (Callie Vee) does not prefer knitting socks and learning cookery with her mother to roaming outdoors with her naturalist grandfather. For grades 5-8. 2009. PR018320 & DB069280

The Akhenaten Adventure: Children of the Lamp #1 Author: Kerr, Philip. When twins Philippa and John are twelve, they discover that they are descended from a long line of djinn. Their Uncle Nimrod takes them to Cairo, Egypt, to learn about their extraordinary powers. While searching for the tomb of pharaoh Akhenaten, they encounter evil djinn. For grades 5-8. 2004. PR014349 & DB060307

The Blue Djinn of Babylon: Children of the Lamp #2 Author: Kerr, Philip. After attaining magical powers in The Akhenaten Adventure, twelve- year-old twins John and Philippa set out to recover and return a book of magic to Ayesha, the Blue Djinn of Babylon. The mission is only a ruse to capture Philippa, who John must somehow rescue. For grades 5-8. 2006. PR015686 & DB062165

The Case Of The Deadly Desperados: P.K. Pinkerton #1 Author: Lawrence, Caroline. Nevada Territory, 1862. After finding his foster parents scalped and left for dead, twelve-year-old Pinky Pinkerton, son of a railroad detective and a Sioux Indian, inherits a valuable deed. But now murderous Whittlin Walt and his gang are after Pinky. Some violence. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2011. PR020735 & DB075506

The Convicts Author: Lawrence, Iain. By trying to avenge his father's unjust imprisonment, Tom Tin ends up on the streets of nineteenth-century London with some nasty characters. But when Tom is convicted of murder, confined to a prison ship, and sent to Australia, the boy has a surprise reunion. For grades 5-8. PR014539 & DB066724

A Wrinkle in Time: Murry Family #1 Author: L'Engle, Madeleine. Meg Murry, her younger brother Charles Wallace, and her neighbor Calvin are transported to the planet Camazotz as they search for Meg's lost father, a scientist studying time travel. Prequel to A Wind in the Door. Newbery Medal. For grades 5-8. PR003774 & DB048972

Swiftly Tilting Planet: Murry Family #3 Author: L'Engle, Madeleine. Charles Wallace, the youngest of the Murry children, must travel through time and space in a battle against an evil dictator who would destroy the entire universe. For grades 5-8. PR006781 & DB049606

Rules Author: Lord, Cynthia. Sometimes twelve-year-old Catherine resents her autistic brother, David, who breaks rules and gets all her parents’ attention. She meets Jason, a teenage nonverbal paraplegic, at David’s therapy center. As the two become friends, Catherine realizes that accepting differences matters more than any rules. For grades 5-8. Schneider Family Book Award. 2006. PR016085 & DB062696

Gossamer Author: Lowry, Lois. A young dream-giver with a gossamer touch tries to save an eight- year-old boy whose anger at his abusive parents is made worse by a Sinisteed, an inflicter of nightmares. The dream-giver also bestows dreams on the lonely woman who provides a foster home to the boy. For grades 5-8. 2006. PR015421 & DB062745

Rabble Starkey Author: Lowry, Lois. Sweet Ho is now the hired help for the Bigelows and it is the first true home for her and her daughter, Rabble. Veronica Bigelow, also twelve, becomes best friends with Rabble and as the year progresses, the girls befriend an elderly woman, Veronica shows an interest in boys, and the mentally unstable Mrs. Bigelow is institutionalized. For grades 5-8. PR000811 & RC027375

Taking Care of Terrific Author: Lowry, Lois. Fourteen-year-old Enid, who hates her name, loves babysitting an adorable four-year-old until she is accused of kidnapping the poor little rich boy. For grades 5-8. PR004360 & RC022111

Travel Team Author: Lupica, Mike. When twelve-year-old Danny Walker is cut from seventh-grade basketball for being too small, he and his dad, once a professional player, form their own team. But his father is injured in a car accident, so Danny takes over coaching for the big game. For grades 5- 8. 2004. PR014435 & DB059588

Gold Dust Author: Lynch, Chris. When Napoleon arrives in Boston from the island of Dominica, twelve- year-old Richard befriends the new student. He hopes Napoleon will learn to play baseball so the two can become the next Red Sox "Gold Dust Twins." But racial tension shatters the trust between them. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2000. PR011296 & RC051975

The Haunting Author: Mahy, Margaret. A very shy and imaginative boy receives supernatural messages and pictures he is afraid to tell anyone about. He eventually learns that he has inherited a family legacy that may be considered either a rare gift or a despised curse. For grades 5-8 and older readers. PR005913 & RC021801

Underrunners Author: Mahy, Margaret. Tris, eleven, dreams of adventures with intergalactic agents and lives with his artistic, hippy father in a messy house at the end of a bleak New Zealand peninsula. His mother left long ago. Things change when he makes friends with savvy Winola and helps her run away from the children's home, where she is being stalked. The stalker turns out to be her father, disturbed and violent, who kidnaps both kids at gunpoint. For grades 5-7 and older readers. PR006162 & RC036635

The War Within: A Novel of the Civil War Author: Matas, Carol. December, 1862. Thirteen-year-old Hannah Green and her pro- Confederate Jewish family are shopkeepers in Holly Springs, Mississippi, which is occupied by Union troops. When General Grant orders the evacuation of Jews from the area, Hannah's views on slavery and the war begin to change. For grades 5-8. 2001. PR013049 & DB053795

Anne Of Green Gables: #1 Author: Montgomery, L. M. The story of an emotional little orphan, with a quick temper, fiery red hair, and a vivid imagination. It tells of her adoption by a farmer and his no-nonsense sister, and of her growing up in a village on Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia. For grades 5-8 and older interested readers. PR006825 & DB056114

Anne of Avonlea: Anne of Green Gables #2 Author: Montgomery, L. M. Anne Shirley, once a scrawny, tempestuous, red-haired orphan, is now a lovely young woman teaching in the school where she herself was taught. As she goes about her daily tasks, love slips into her life so gradually that she doesn't even recognize it. For grades 5-8 and older readers. PR002054 & DB014907

Waiting for Anya Author: Morpurgo, Michael. Jo, a shepherd boy who lives in a small French village, accidentally discovers Benjamin, the widow Horcada's Jewish son-in-law, who is hiding in her mountain home. Separated from Anya, his daughter, Benjamin hides Jewish children and leads them to safety in Spain, while hoping to find Anya. Jo begins bringing supplies to the widow's house. The Nazis encamp in Jo's village, sealing the Spanish border. For grades 5-8 and older readers. PR006382 & RC036680

War Horse Author: Morpurgo, Michael. Joey, a horse, recalls his experiences growing up on an English farm, his struggle for survival when sold to the cavalry during World War I, and his reunion with Albert, his beloved master. For grades 5-8. 1982. PR002341 & DB072156

The Railway Children Author: Nesbit, E. England. When the father of a happy family in a comfortable London home is mysteriously called away on business, the mother and three children move to a small country cottage near a train station, where the railway becomes an important part of their lives. For grades 5 to 8. PR003416 & DB033568

Streams to the River, River to the Sea Author: O'Dell, Scott. First person narrative of the story of Sacagawea, who served as a scout and interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expedition. Beginning with her life at the age of thirteen, the beautiful Shoshone girl relates how she became a member of the expedition, and vividly describes the experiences of the trip, the land, and the lifestyles of the Indians. For grades 5-8. PR001597 & DB026090

A Single Shard Author: Park, Linda Sue. Tree-ear, an orphan in twelfth-century Korea, spends most of his time foraging for food for himself and Crane-man, an older companion. Tree-ear takes advantage of a mishap in master potter Min's yard to become his apprentice, learning a craft and gaining unforeseen rewards. For grades 5-8. Newbery Medal. 2001. PR012601 & DB053670

Bridge to Terabithia Author: Paterson, Katherine. Jess finds his biggest rival and best friend in Leslie, a girl who moves to his rural Virginia community from the city. Together they create Terabithia, a secret kingdom in the woods where they reign supreme— until tragedy strikes. Newbery Medal. For grades 5-8. PR003598 & DB048732

Great Gilly Hopkins Author: Paterson, Katherine. Eleven-year-old Gilly has developed a prickly exterior to deal with being a foster child. But when she moves in with big-hearted Maime Trotter and foster brother William Ernest and meets blind Mr. Randolph, the next-door neighbor, Gilly learns to care about others. Some strong language. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor. 1978. PR003595 & DB051866

Lyddie Author: Paterson, Katherine. As their mother becomes more mentally ill, Lyddie and her brother Charlie manage their farm alone through a Vermont winter. But in the spring of 1844, their mother apprentices Charlie to a miller and hires Lyddie out to a tavern, where she is practically a slave. Lyddie works in the mills of Lowell, Massachusetts, where she endures dangerous conditions and long hours, and expands her understanding of friendship and perseverance. For grades 5-8. PR005912 & DB033521

Preacher's Boy Author: Paterson, Katherine. Vermont, 1899. Robbie Hewitt, a minister's son, gives up being a Christian six months before the turn of the century because he wants to pack a lot of living in before that "Dread Day." But mostly Robbie winds up causing trouble for his father and friends. For grades 5-8. 1999. For grades 5-8. 1999. PR009830 & DB049750

Tracker Author: Paulsen, Gary. Thirteen-year-old John Borne looks forward to hunting deer for food as time to spend with his grandfather. But this year his grandfather is dying of cancer and John will hunt alone. As he tracks a doe through the woods, John ponders taking life and comprehending death. For grades 5-8. 1984. PR002028 & DB061479

Tom's Midnight Garden Author: Pearce, Philippa. When Tom was sent to the dreary, tiny apartment of his Aunt Gwen and Uncle Tom while his brother recovered from the measles, he expected the loneliness and boredom. He did not expect the beautiful, mysterious garden that delightfully appears for his enjoyment when the clock strikes thirteen and the playmate Hatty whom he meets there. For grades 5-8. PR003757 & RC027914

The Ghost Belonged to Me Author: Peck, Richard. The comic adventures of Alexander, Blossom Culp, and their friends set in the Midwest, along the Mississippi River, in 1913. Story includes exploding steamboats, a prophetic ghost, and an "exorcism." Precedes Ghosts I Have Been. For grades 5-8. 1975. PR004317 & DB056479

Here Lies the Librarian Author: Peck, Richard. Indiana, 1914. Fourteen-year-old tomboy Eleanor "Peewee" McGrath would rather repair a car in her brother’s garage than read a book. But when Irene Ridpath arrives in her big car with three other librarians, Eleanor’s ideas about her future change. For grades 5-8. 2006. PR015687 & DB062441

On the Wings of Heroes Author: Peck, Richard. Davy Bowman remembers the home-front years in Illinois during World War II, especially his two heroes—his nineteen-year-old brother, who is in the air force, and his father, who was injured in the previous war. Boyhood misadventures mix with scrap drives, shortages, and the dread of telegrams. For grades 5-8. 2007. PR016117 & DB064938

A Season of Gifts Author: Peck, Richard. Rural Illinois, 1958. The new preacher and his family learn to appreciate their seemingly gruff neighbor Mrs. Dowdel, who is no church woman. Mrs. Dowdel doesn't celebrate Christmas, but she does give surprising gifts—all the time. Companion to A Year down Yonder. For grades 5-8. 2009. PR018420 & DB070256

All Alone In The Universe Author: Perkins, Lynne Rae. Debbie and Maureen have been best friends ever since third grade. But now Maureen always seems to be with Glenna, and Debbie is feeling left out and lonely. For grades 5-8. 1999. PR015178 & RC049604

Lady Knight: Protector of the Small #4 Author: Pierce, Tamora. When she became a knight, Kel hoped to be given a combat post. Instead she is named commander of an outpost of refugees, where she must face the unnatural forces of the evil Blayce. Sequel to Squire. For grades 5-8. PR012976 & DB055072

Only You Can Save Mankind: Johnny Maxwell Trilogy #1 Author: Pratchett, Terry. England, early 1990s. Twelve-year-old Johnny Maxwell plays a computer war game called Only You Can Save Mankind while his television displays the ongoing Gulf War. To Johnny, the two wars blend together as he becomes involved in the plight of the alien ScreeWee. For grades 5-8. 1992. PR007325 & DB063153

Johnny and the Dead: Johnny Maxwell Series #2 Author: Pratchett, Terry. Not many people can see the dead – but twelve-year-old Johnny Maxwell can. And the dead are nothing like he expected. They don't lurch about. They don't push through walls. They can't even dance like they do in videos. They're just people – post-senior citizens – and they're always in. At least, up until now. Now the council want to move them out so the cemetery can be sold as a building site. But the dead have learned a thing or two from Johnny. They're not going to take it lying down... especially since it's Halloween tomorrow. Besides, they're beginning to find that life is a lot more fun than it was when they were...well...alive. Especially if they break a few rules... For grades 5-8. PR007726 & DB062802

Westing Game Author: Raskin, Ellen. An unlikely assortment of friends, relatives, and enemies gathers for the reading of eccentric millionaire Samuel Westing's will after he's murdered in his mansion. Before the heirs can claim their inheritance, however, they must uncover Westing's killer among them. For grades 5-8. Newbery Medal. 1978. PR004053 & DB058350

Yearling Author: Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan. Pulitzer Prize. This classic story tells of the Baxter family, who make a precarious living on a backwoods farm in northern Florida, and of their son Jody who tames an orphaned fawn. When the deer begins to eat the family corn, Jody is ordered to shoot him. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1984. PR000573 & DB033466

Summer of the Monkeys Author: Rawls, Wilson. Late 1800s. While exploring the Ozark river bottom on their farm, fourteen-year-old Jay Berry and his hound dog, Rowdy, find a tree full of escaped circus monkeys. Jay is determined to capture them and earn some reward money to help his family. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1976. PR004471 & DB059141

Where the Red Fern Grows Author: Rawls, Wilson. Ten-year-old Billy, a country boy in the Ozarks, wants a pair of coon hounds so badly he works hard for two years to pay for them. For grades 5-8. PR003769 & DB032449

The Titan’s Curse: Percy Jackson & the Olympians #3 Author: Riordan, Rick. When the youthful goddess Artemis disappears while hunting a rare, ancient monster, modern-day demigod Percy and his friends attempt to rescue her before she is needed at the Olympian Council meeting on the war with the Titans. Sequel to The Sea of Monsters. For grades 5- 8. 2007. PR016260 & DB065245

The Battle of the Labyrinth: Percy Jackson & the Olympians #4 Author: Riordan, Rick. When demonic cheerleaders invade his high school and the war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near, Percy Jackson hurries to Camp Half Blood to initiate a quest through the Labyrinth with his demigod friends. Sequel to The Titan’s Curse For grades 5-8. 2008. PR017223 & DB067158

The Last Olympian: Percy Jackson & the Olympians #5 Author: Riordan, Rick. The long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy Jackson's sixteenth birthday unfolds as he leads an army of young demigods to stop Kronos's advance on New York City. Sequel to The Battle of the Labyrinth. For grades 5-8. 2009. PR017784 & DB069015

The Red Pyramid: Kane Chronicles #1 Author: Riordan, Rick. After his mother's death, Carter Kane follows his Egyptologist father, Julius, across the globe. When they visit the British Museum to reunite with Carter's sister, a mysterious figure banishes Julius, sending the siblings on a dangerous adventure to save their dad. Some violence. For grades 5-8 and older readers. PR018576 & DB071322

Freaky Friday Author: Rodgers, Mary. After thirteen-year-old Annabel Andrews and her mother have a heated argument over freedom and responsibility, Annabel wakes up on a Friday morning and realizes she has turned into her mother. For grades 5-8. PR004058 & DB047767

Footsy Author: Rydberg, Ernie. When Skip Peterson agrees to drive a stranger's sports car, he not only gets a traffic ticket but also becomes involved with a ring of vicious car thieves. For grades 5-8. PR000604 & DB007879

Holes Author: Sachar, Louis. Stanley Yelnats IV finds himself in a detention center for possessing stolen property that he didn't take. While digging holes under the summer Texas sun, he sees a fellow inmate running away—and follows him. Legends, loyalty, and buried treasure are revealed as Stanley learns to survive. For grades 5-8. Newbery Medal. PR003434 & DB047444

Small Steps Author: Sachar, Louis. Three years after being released from Camp Green Lake, Armpit, from Holes, is turning his life around in Austin, Texas, with the encouragement of his ten-year-old neighbor, Ginny, who has cerebral palsy. Then he meets a celebrity teen singer. Schneider Family book Award. For grades 5-8. 2006. PR014892 & DB061629

The Sign of the Beaver Author: Speare, Elizabeth George. Left alone for months to guard his family's wilderness home in eighteenth-century Maine, Matt doubts that he can survive until a resourceful Indian boy befriends him and teaches him how to live in the forest. For grades 5-8 and older readers. Newbery honor book. PR004177 & DB021639

When You Reach Me Author: Stead, Rebecca. New York City, 1979. Twelve-year-old Miranda helps her mother prepare to be on a television game show. Meanwhile Miranda tries to understand why her best friend Sal doesn't want to hang out anymore—and why someone is sending Miranda tiny notes from the future. For grades 5-8. 2009. PR018693 & DB069837

Cay Author: Taylor, Theodore. When the freighter on which they are traveling is torpedoed by a German submarine during World War II, a twelve-year-old white boy, blinded by a blow on the head, and an elderly black deckhand are stranded on a desert island in the Caribbean. The man's wisdom and love enable the boy to acquire courage and insight and to overcome his bigotry. For grades 5-8. PR000646 & DB034450

The Great Good Thing Author: Townley, Roderick. Twelve-year-old Princess Sylvie's storybook kingdom really is a storybook, where nothing ever changes. Whenever the book is opened, the characters scramble madly to reach their proper place, over and over. Then Sylvie discovers she can enter new worlds with the Reader and find new adventures. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2001. PR010864 & DB053785

Flipped Author: Van Draanen, Wendelin. In alternating chapters, neighbors Juli Baker and Bryce Loski describe how their feelings for each other and thier families have changed since second grade. Juli used to chase Bryce, and now he wishes she still did. For grades 5-8. PR012860 & DB069841

Moon over Manifest Author: Vanderpool, Clare. Great Depression, 1936. Drifter Gideon Tucker sends his twelve-year- old daughter Abilene to stay with his friend Shady Howard, a saloon- owner-turned-pastor, in Manifest, Kansas, where Gideon grew up. Abilene discovers a cigar box full of papers and odds and ends that lead her to long-held secrets. For grades 5-8. Newbery Medal. 2010. PR019283 & DB072632

Suitcase Author: Walter, Mildred Pitts. What do you do when you're eleven years old, over six feet tall, and not only hate basketball, but can't play the game? Alexander "Suitcase" Bingham really wants to know. He's sick and tired of being picked in gym class. He's sick and tired of being teased about his size. And he's sick and tired of not being the athletic son his daddy seems to want. Xander has had enough. Whatever it takes to show the gym rats he can beat them at their own game, he's determined to do. For grades 5-8. PR009581 & RC050810

Gulf Author: Westall, Robert. Young Tom and Andy are brothers in an ordinary English family. During the Gulf War in 1991, Tom notices that Andy is behaving in bizarre ways—scratching imagined lice on his body and speaking in Arabic. It turns out that Andy psychically identifies with a doomed Iraqi boy who is fighting in the war. Violence. For grades 5-8. PR006355 & RC043584

Belle Prater's Boy Author: White, Ruth. When twelve-year-old Woodrow Prater's mother, Belle, mysteriously vanishes from the family's Appalachian shack, Woodrow moves into town to live with his grandparents. Beautiful next-door cousin Gypsy first seeks to discover cross-eyed Woodrow's secret and then comes to respect him for who he is. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor Book. PR010151 & DB045802

Tadpole Author: White, Ruth. Kentucky, 1955. Ten-year-old Carolina tells about the summer her favorite cousin, thirteen-year-old Tadpole, runs away from his abusive uncle to visit her family. Learning that the orphaned boy is being whipped, the family tries to figure out how to keep Tadpole. For grades 5-8. 2003. PR013182 & DB057030

Before Green Gables Author: Wilson, Budge. This prequel to Anne of Green Gables portrays Anne's childhood before her eleventh birthday. Anne's parents died in an epidemic when she was a baby, leading her to have many adventures at foster homes, orphanages, and school. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2008. PR016834 & DB066224

Swiss Family Robinson Author: Wyss, Johann. A shipwrecked family's resourceful members search their storm- battered boat for survival supplies, build a raft, and row to an island. They make camp and explore their surroundings, finding both food and wild animals. A retelling of The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss. For grades 5-8. 2007. PR003669 & DB025111