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Suggested Reading List for AOSRMiddle SchoolRising Seventh Graders Summer 2012
Fiction
TitleAuthorTheme/Topic
The Adventures of Tom SawyerTwain, MarkIrresistible tale of the adventures of two friends growing up in frontier America
ShaneSchaefer, JackA family gets stronger all because of the warm loving heart of a complete stranger
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. HydeStevenson, Robert LouisFine example of supernatural fiction revolving around good and evil, love and hate
The Martian ChroniclesBradbury, RayCatastrophic effects of invasions and colonization of foreign cultures
The Time MachineWells, H.G.How humanity “evolved” into the Morlocks and Eloi in the distant future
The War of the WorldsWells, H.G.Invasion against the Earth from outer space
Out of the DustHesse, KarenThe human heart in conflict with itself…facing life’s hardships with courage
Jungle DogsSalisbury, GrahamFacing your fear
Island of the Blue DolphinsO’Dell, ScottLeft Behind
Sarah BishopO’Dell, ScottStory of a girl on the run during the American Revolution
The CayTaylor, TheodoreShipwrecked
Earthquake at DawnGregory, Kristiana1906 San Francisco Earthquake
Because of Winn-DixieDiCamillo, KateLife with an eccentric but lovable dog in small town Florida
SkelligAlmond, DavidMichael discovers a strange creature living in his garage
Julie of the WolvesGeorge, Jean CraigheadLife alone on the Alaskan tundra
Nothing but the TruthAviGetting revenge has its consequences
Absolutely Normal ChaosCreech, SharonMary Louis is keeping a journal. Through her entries, the summer events come alive.
Among FriendsCooney, CarolineSix high school juniors discover surprising things about themselves in a diary assignment
Help WantedSilvey, AnitaTwelve quirky short stories about young people at work
The PigmanZindel, PaulA lonely widower who likes bad jokes and miniature pigsteaches John and Lorraine
important life lessons
The Adventures of UlyssesEvslin, BernardA fictional account of Ulysses’ travels and encounters
Heroes & Monsters of Greek MythEvslin & Hoopes
Adaline Falling StarOsborne, Mary PopeA young girl searches for her father and finds herself along the way
The Ch’i-Lin PurseFang, LindaA collection of favorite ancient Chinese stories
Forty Acres & Maybe a MuleRobinet, Harriette GillemA description of life for ex-slaves just after the Civil War
SounderArmstrong, William H.An African-American boy with his dog searches for his father
OddballsSleator, WilliamHilarious adventures of some kooky characters
Maniac MageeSpinelli, JerryLegends are made, not born…
Letters from a Slave GirlJacobs, HarrietStory of an escaped slave as she makes her way North
With Every Drop of BloodCollier, James L. and ChristopherRealistic story focusing on reasons the Civil War was fought
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963Curtis, PaulA family trip takes a terrifying turn…
Maniac MageeSpinelli, JerryLegends are made, not born…
Letters from a Slave GirlJacobs, HarrietStory of an escaped slave as she makes her way North
Darnell Rock ReportingDean, WalterWriting about serious issues CAN make a difference…
The YearlingRawlings, Marjorie KinnanThe story of a pet baby deer
Gathering BlueLowry, LoisAn orphan learns about her family and her village’s mysterious history
Talking to the SunKoch, Kenneth & Farrell, KateIs there a relationship between paint and poetry?
OutcastSutcliff, RosemaryA Roman trading ship is destroyed, and Beric is the only survivor…
The True Confessions of Charlotte DoyleAviA girl in conflict between a power-mad captain and his crew bound for the U.S.
Danger ZoneKlass, DavidU.S. basketball team trapped in events beyond their understanding in Rome.
All About Sam and Attaboy SamLowry, Lowry (Author of The Giver)Anastasia Krupnik describes her brother from birth to his mischievous early years
Star of Fear, Star of HopeHoestiandt, JoDuring the German occupation of Paris, Helen’s Jewish friend disappears
The Van Gogh CaféRylant, CynthiaMagic seems to happen in a café in Kansas
Lindsey and the JedgarElizabeth WahnLindsey and friends use Shakespeare to unlock the mystery on ElsinoreIsland
Non-fiction (NF)
TitleAuthorTheme/Topic
The Mexican American FamilyAlbumHoobler, Dorothy & ThomasHistorical events shaping the lives of Mexican Americans
The BuriedCity of PompeiTanaka, ShellyA scientific explanation for the eruption of Mt.Vesuvius
City: A Story of Roman Planning
& ConstructionMacaulay, DavidA description of how the ancient Romans built their cities
Bad GuysGlass, AndrewThe truth behind the legends of eight American outlaws
Prehistoric LifeLindsay, WilliamGreat photographs take you to life with the dinosaurs
The StarsRey, H.A.A new way of looking at the constellations
Mississippi ChallengeWalter, Mildred PittsThe African-American struggle for equal rights
Making Sense: Animal Perception
And CommunicationBrooks, BruceExplains how animals “talk” to each other
Ashanti to Zulu: African TraditionsMusgrove, MargaretAn introduction to the cultures of 26 Africans
Harriet Tubman: The Moses of Her PeopleBradford, SarahTubman’s many sacrifices and heroic acts during the Civil War
You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton?Fritz, JeanHistoric biography of Stanton who fought for women’s suffrage
Orphan Train RiderWarren, AndreaA true story of the orphan trains of the late 19c. and early 20century
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the WorldArmstrong, JenniferE. Shakleton tries to cross Antarctica with a crew of 27 explorers
Zlata’s DiaryFilipovic, ZlataA family’s struggle to survive during the Bosnia and Herzegovina conflict
Frank O. Gehry: Outside InGreenberg, J. & Jordan, S. The story of the life of an innovative architect
Lincoln: In His Own WordsMeltzer, MiltonSpeeches and writing from different periods of Lincoln’s life
Escape from Slavery: The Boyhood of Frederick Douglass
in His Own WordsDouglass, FrederickA firsthand description of slavery written by a great writer & speaker
Black Women Leaders of the Civil Rights
MovementAllen, ZitaThe contributions of women to the American Civil Rights Movement
Salting the Ocean Nye, Naomi Shihab (Poetry)One teacher’s collection of her favorite students’ poems
I’m Nobody! Who Are You?Dickinson,Emily(Poetry)Poems of Emily Dickinson, a great American talent
The Pig in the Spigot Wilbur, Richard(Poetry)Discover the magic of words within words…
It’s a Woman’s WorldPhilip, Neil (ed.)(Poetry)Some of the finest poetry of the 20th century, written by women
Science in Ancient MesopotamiaMoss, CarolThe Mesopotamians were far ahead of their time…
The Stone Age NewsRoberts, A. & MacDonald, F. (NF/F)An imaginary pre-historic newspaper
Street Smart! Cities of theAncient WorldWhat was city life like long ago?
The Mystery of the Mammoth BonesGiblin, James Cross In 1801, huge bones were discovered in New York…
Blizzard!Murphy, JimA force of nature can completely disrupt everyday life…
My Life in Dog YearsPaulsen, Gary Have you ever had a dog? Stories of special dogs…
Ancient RomeJames, Simon A tour of Rome in the days of the empire…
Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount St. HelenLauber, Patricia Photographs give you an up-close look at the eruption…
Through My EyesBridges, Ruby Battling prejudice
Science in Ancient EgyptWoods, Geraldine Learn ancient secrets of the Egyptians
How Would You Survive as An Ancient Greek?MacDonald, Fiona All about life in Ancient Greece
Children of the Wild WestFreedman, Russell Lives of children in 19th century American Old West
Duke Ellington: Giant of JazzOld, Wendie C. The life and times of a famous jazz musician
Julius CaesarGreen, Robert Biography of the famous leader of Ancient Rome
Black Stars: African American InventorsSullivan Otha & RichardThe stories of 25 Black American inventors who overcame prejudice
Changing Places: A Kid’s Viewof Shelter LivingChalofsky, M; Finland, G. & Wallace, J The stories of eight homeless children
Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of DiscoveryFreedman, RussellA biography of one of the 20th century’s most outstanding women.
Source: Elements of Literature (Introductory Course). Austin, TX: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 2007.