Make Way For Dyamonde Daniel
by Nikki Grimes
Dyamonde's parents have divorced. She's moved to a new neighborhood. She's going to a new school. She's left all of her friends behind. How will Dyamonde find happiness with all of these changes?
Published: 2009
Genre: Realistic fiction
Locations: Classroom and Amazon
How Oliver Olson Changed the World
by Claudia Mills
Oliver Olson's teacher wants everyone in his third grade class to write about a way to "change the world." Oliver knows his classmates have some good ideas, but Oliver doesn't think he can come up with a good one because of his parents. They do his homework, tie his shoes, and don't let him sleep over anywhere. Oliver can't imagine that a boy like himself can change the world. Read the book to see if he can.
Published: 2011
Genre: Realistic fiction
Locations: Classroom library, public library, and Amazon
The Summer Before Boys
by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Julia's life is changing. Her mother is serving in Iraq, her father is busy with work, so she is living with her sister who is 22 years older and sharing a room with her niece, Eliza, who is the exact same age as she.
Julia and Eliza are best friends but Julia is growing up faster. She worries about her mother's safety in Iraq. She has trouble playing the imaginative games she and Eliza have always played. Finally, she is starting to discover boys. Will Julia be able to maintain her friendship with Eliza with all of these changes swirling about her?
Published: 2011
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Locations: Classroom, public library, and Amazon
Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally)
by Lisa Yee
Bobby, a boy, and Holly, a girl, have been best friends forever. But now that they are fourth graders, Holly is starting to develop interests that Bobby doesn't think are so neat. She is wearing nice clothes, doing her nails, styling her hair and hanging out with other girls. Can Holly and Bobby's friendship survive?
Published: 2009
Genre: Realistic fiction
Locations: Classroom, public library, and Amazon.
Rule of Three
(The Sisters Club: Book 2)
by Megan McDonald
Alex is the actor in the family. Stevie is the singer. But when their school has a musical, both girls want to try out for the lead. How will the sisters handle this competition. Will they fight? Will they be supportive of each other? Will either one of them get the lead? Read this fantastic book to find out.
Published: 2009
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Locations: Classroom, public library, and Amazon
Judy Moody, M.D.The Doctor Is In!
by Megan McDonald
After her class studies the human body, Judy Moody gets Dr. on her brain. Read this book if you want to laugh at silly little medical adventures involving Judy, her brother Stink, her friends, and pets.
Published: 2004
Genre: Realistic fiction
Locations: Classroom, school library, public library, and Amazon
My Life as a Fifth-Grade Comedian
by Elizabeth Levy
10 year old Bobby loves to tell jokes and make people laugh. But those jokes are getting him in trouble at home and at school. If he can't turn things around he's going to be sent to a special school for troublemakers. Can he learn to control himself and stay in school?
As always, you'll need to read the book to find out. So stop telling jokes, go get the book, sit down and read!
Published: 1997
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Locations: Classroom and Amazon
Jim Ugly
by Sid Fleschman
Jake, his dad, and his dad's dog Jim Ugly are in hiding because a bounty has been placed on his father's head. When his dad suddenly dies, Jake doubts the death and goes off to find his dad with the help of Jim Ugly. Will Jake be able to track down his dad? Read this exciting adventure to find out.
Published: 1992
Genre: Historical Fiction/Adventure
Locations: Classroom, school library, public library, and Amazon
Never Mind! A Twin Novel
by Avi and Rachel Vail
Ed is messy, short, the class clown, has one friend, and attends a less prestigious school.
Meg is neat, tall, studious, has lots of friends, and attends a prestigious school.
Even though they are very different and attend different schools, they have a lot in common because Ed and Meg are twins.
Meg's goal is to be popular. She wants to be popular so badly she tells a lie. She says that Ed is tall and a very good musician with a famous band. As you already know, Ed isn't tall. He also isn't a famous musician. He doesn't even play an instrument. Meg figures no one will ever find out because Ed goes to a different school.
Trouble is Ed finds out. He even calls Meg's new friends and tells them his band will play a concert at one of their parties. Ed's goal isn't to play music, remember he's not a musician, his goal is to embarrass his sister.
How will things turn out for these two distinctly different twins? Read Never Mind! to find out.
Published: 2004
Genre: Realistic fiction
Locations: Classroom, school library, public library, and Amazon
Marty McGuire Digs Worm
(Marty McGuire series)
by Kate Messner
After a scientists visits and challenges Marty's school to create a "Save the Earth Project," Marty and her grandma come up with a plan to create a compost bin with 3000 worms to be stored in the school cafeteria. Can Marty and her classmates be patient enough for the worms to do their work? Even more important, can Marty take care of 3,000 worms? I'm not telling, so read Marty McGuire Digs Worms if you are curious to find out.
Published: 2012
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Locations: Classroom library, public library, and Amazon
Utterly Me, Clarice Bean
(fifth book in series)
by Lauren Child
Clarice Bean's favorite book character is Ruby Redfort, child detective. Clarice could use Ruby's help because Clarice has some problems. Her older brother is acting weird. Her younger brother is very whiny. Her grandpa is sneaking around. She's having trouble with daydreaming in school. Finally, Clarice and her best friend Betty Moody have to create a project about a book and what they learned from it. How will Clarice handle all of these problems? You'll need to read this wonderful book to find out.
The Time Bike
(Hall Family series)
by Jane Langton
Two story lines run throughout The Time Bike. First Eddy discovers that a bicycle he received from his eccentric uncle can travel through time. This leads Eddy to experiment with time travel while trying to keep it secret. The second story line involves Eddy's family trying to save their home from an evil banker. Will Eddy survive his travels through time? Will the family save their home? Read The Time Bike to find out.
Published: 2000
Genre: Science Fiction
Locations: Classroom library
Half Upon a Time
James Riley
Jack lives in a magical world filled with spells and magic charms. His grandpa wants him to be a hero but Jack is resistant. That resistance disappears when a girl, wearing a "Punk Princess" shirt falls from the sky. She has come from another dimension searching for her kidnapped grandmother. Can Jack and the "Princess" track her down? Read Half Upon a Time to find out.
Published: 2010
Genre: Fantasy
Locations: Classroom library, public library, and Amazon
Fairest of All
(Whatever After series)
by Sarah Mlynowski
Everything in Abby's life is pretty typical until she and her little brother Jonah get sucked through a magic mirror and end up in fairy tale land. At first Abby only has two goals: protect her brother and get home. But then they meet Snow White and mess up Snow White's life, so now they have three goals: protect her brother, get home, and fix Snow White's story. Can she do it? You'll need to read Fairest of All to find out.
Published: 2012
Genre: Fantasy
Locations: Classroom Library, Public Library, and Amazon
Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little
by Peggy Gifford
Summer is coming to an end and Moxy Maxwell, a wonderfully lovely character, needs to read Stuart Little before school starts. This really shouldn't be a problem for Moxy but she keeps getting distracted by more interesting activities. Will she ever be able to focus on Stuart Little, and get her assignment done? Read this first book in a great series to find out.
Published: 2007
Genre: Realistic fiction
Locations: Classroom library, public library, and Amazon
All of the Above
by Shelley Pearsall
This story is about a group of students that set out on a quest to impress everyone. When Mr. Collins challenges his inner city Cleveland 7th grade math class to set a world record by building a giant tetrahedron, four of his students step up to the challenge. James lives with negligent uncle and is an artist that isn't interested in school. Marcel wants to be a star but his dad wants him to cook BBQ. Rhondell dreams of going to college but thinks she is too poor. Finally, Sharice is a foster child who is very helpful. Can this motley group achieve their goal and become world record holders? There is only one way to find out, read All of the Above.
Published: 2006
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Locations: Classroom library, school library, public library, and Amazon
The Egypt Game
by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
When April moves from her mother's home to live with her grandma, she isn't quite sure what to do. With the help of the "Egypt Game", a game she co-invented, she starts to make some unlikely friends. The "Egypt Game" is played in the fenced in back lot of a antique store owned by the creepy "Professor."
Except for being behind the "Professor's" store, the game seems like total fun. It starts to get a little scarier when secret messages start to appear and a murder occurs in the neighborhood. Is the "Egypt Game" all fun and games or is something sinister afoot?
The Discovery
(Book One: Dive)
by Gordon Korman
Four teenagers, Kaz, Dante, Adriana, and Star, are chosen to intern with Poseidon Oceanographic Institute in the Caribbean. The youngsters are going to be diving for team leader Tad Cutter and his staff of professionals. Interesting enough, Kaz, Dante, and Adriana have very little diving experience and wonder why they were chosen to intern.
After awhile, the interns notice that the main team is not doing what they say they are doing. The get suspicious and their summer internship gets pretty exciting. You'll need to read The Discovery to see just how exciting the interns's lives get.
Reviewers Note: This book ends with a cliff hanger and you will need to read the other two books in the trilogy to get the full story.
Published: 2003
Genre: Adventure
Locations: Classroom library, public library, and
The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo
by Judy Blume
Freddy Dissel was the middle child of five children and he didn't feel very special. He wasn't the biggest. He wasn't the smallest. He was just stuck smack dab in the middle. Will Freddy ever feel special? Read The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo to find out.
Published: 1981
Genre: Realistic fiction
Locations: Classroom library, school library, public library, and Amazon
Mr. Burke is Berserk
(My Weirder School book 4)
by Dan Gutman
Ella Mentry School is facing massive budget cuts. Administrators are going to cut art, music, playground equipment, glue sticks, and more. How will AJ and his friends save their school?
I'll tell you right now, somebody has a plan to save the school from budget cuts (you can probably guess who) but I'm not going to tell you the crazy way they do it. Yeah, that's right, you'll need to read Mr. Burke is Berserk! to find out how Ella Mentry School is saved.
Published: 2012
Genre: Exaggerated realistic fiction
Locations: Classroom library and Amazon
A Year Down Yonder
by Richard Peck
It is 1937, and just like everyone else, Mary Alice's family is suffering through the Depression. To help make ends meet, Mary Alice is sent from her home in Chicago to live in a small town with her Grandma Dowdel. Grandma Dowdel is a straight talking, shotgun totting, all business kind of lady. Can Mary Alice survive living with her grandma in these new to her rural surroundings?
Published: 2000
Genre: Historical Fiction
Locations: Classroom library, school library, public library, and Amazon
Piper Reed Navy Brat
by Kimberly Willis Holt
Piper Reed's dad is in the navy so she moves a lot. In this book, her family moves from San Diego, California to Pensacola, Florida after the school year starts. As you can guess, moving in the middle of the school year leads to a whole bunch of adventures. Read Piper Reed Navy Brat to see how Piper deals with a new house, a new school, a new city, and new friends.
Published: 2007
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Location: Class library, school library, public library, and Amazon
Goblins in the Castle
by Bruce Coville
Ever since he was found as an orphan, William has spent his days exploring every part of the Baron's castle except for the forbidden and locked tight North Tower. His life follows that simple routine until an invisible force leads him to open the tower door unleashing some very angry goblins. With the goblins on the loose, William sets off on a surprising quest to lock the goblins back up. Read this book if you want to see if William can be successful, and trust me you'll want to read this awesome ending.
Published: 1992
Genre: Fantasy
Location: Classroom library, public library, and Amazon
Belle Teal
by Ann M. Martin
Fifth grader Belle Teal is one of the kindest, sweetest girls you'll ever meet, but she has a whole heap of problems to deal with in the early 1960's. First, her mama can't keep a job. Second, her grandma is going senile. Third, the new girl at school has decided to pick on her. Finally, her formerly all white school is being integrated and Belle doesn't know how to deal with all the hate she is witnessing. You'll want to see how she deals with all these challenges, so please read Belle Teal.
Published: 2001
Genre: Historical Fiction
Locations: Classroom library, school library, and Amazon
Frozen Stiff
by Sherry Shahan
While their moms are out of town, cousins Cody and Derek sneak off to explore Alaska's isolated Russell Fjord Wilderness in their kayaks. Even when things go smoothly, exploring the fjord can be very dangerous and when things don't go smoothly they get down right terrifying. Guess what? Things don't go smoothly. Will Cody and Derek survive their little adventure? Read Frozen Stiff to find out.
Published: 1998
Genre: Adventure,
Location: Classroom library and Amazon
