Suggested Reading List for Rising Sixth Graders



Suggested Reading List for AOSR Middle School Rising Seventh Graders Summer 2012

Fiction

Title Author Theme / Topic

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Twain, Mark Irresistible tale of the adventures of two friends growing up in frontier America

Shane Schaefer, Jack A family gets stronger all because of the warm loving heart of a complete stranger

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Stevenson, Robert Louis Fine example of supernatural fiction revolving around good and evil, love and hate

The Martian Chronicles Bradbury, Ray Catastrophic effects of invasions and colonization of foreign cultures

The Time Machine Wells, H.G. How humanity “evolved” into the Morlocks and Eloi in the distant future

The War of the Worlds Wells, H.G. Invasion against the Earth from outer space

Out of the Dust Hesse, Karen The human heart in conflict with itself…facing life’s hardships with courage

Jungle Dogs Salisbury, Graham Facing your fear

Island of the Blue Dolphins O’Dell, Scott Left Behind

Sarah Bishop O’Dell, Scott Story of a girl on the run during the American Revolution

The Cay Taylor, Theodore Shipwrecked

Earthquake at Dawn Gregory, Kristiana 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

Because of Winn-Dixie DiCamillo, Kate Life with an eccentric but lovable dog in small town Florida

Skellig Almond, David Michael discovers a strange creature living in his garage

Julie of the Wolves George, Jean Craighead Life alone on the Alaskan tundra

Nothing but the Truth Avi Getting revenge has its consequences

Absolutely Normal Chaos Creech, Sharon Mary Louis is keeping a journal. Through her entries, the summer events come alive.

Among Friends Cooney, Caroline Six high school juniors discover surprising things about themselves in a diary assignment

Help Wanted Silvey, Anita Twelve quirky short stories about young people at work

The Pigman Zindel, Paul A lonely widower who likes bad jokes and miniature pigs teaches John and Lorraine

important life lessons

The Adventures of Ulysses Evslin, Bernard A fictional account of Ulysses’ travels and encounters

Heroes & Monsters of Greek Myth Evslin & Hoopes

Adaline Falling Star Osborne, Mary Pope A young girl searches for her father and finds herself along the way

The Ch’i-Lin Purse Fang, Linda A collection of favorite ancient Chinese stories

Forty Acres & Maybe a Mule Robinet, Harriette Gillem A description of life for ex-slaves just after the Civil War

Sounder Armstrong, William H. An African-American boy with his dog searches for his father

Oddballs Sleator, William Hilarious adventures of some kooky characters

Maniac Magee Spinelli, Jerry Legends are made, not born…

Letters from a Slave Girl Jacobs, Harriet Story of an escaped slave as she makes her way North

With Every Drop of Blood Collier, James L. and Christopher Realistic story focusing on reasons the Civil War was fought

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 Curtis, Paul A family trip takes a terrifying turn…

Maniac Magee Spinelli, Jerry Legends are made, not born…

Letters from a Slave Girl Jacobs, Harriet Story of an escaped slave as she makes her way North

Darnell Rock Reporting Dean, Walter Writing about serious issues CAN make a difference…

The Yearling Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan The story of a pet baby deer

Gathering Blue Lowry, Lois An orphan learns about her family and her village’s mysterious history

Talking to the Sun Koch, Kenneth & Farrell, Kate Is there a relationship between paint and poetry?

Outcast Sutcliff, Rosemary A Roman trading ship is destroyed, and Beric is the only survivor…

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle Avi A girl in conflict between a power-mad captain and his crew bound for the U.S.

Danger Zone Klass, David U.S. basketball team trapped in events beyond their understanding in Rome.

All About Sam and Attaboy Sam Lowry, Lowry (Author of The Giver) Anastasia Krupnik describes her brother from birth to his mischievous early years

Star of Fear, Star of Hope Hoestiandt, Jo During the German occupation of Paris, Helen’s Jewish friend disappears

The Van Gogh Café Rylant, Cynthia Magic seems to happen in a café in Kansas

Lindsey and the Jedgar Elizabeth Wahn Lindsey and friends use Shakespeare to unlock the mystery on Elsinore Island

Non-fiction (NF)

Title Author Theme/Topic

The Mexican American Family Album Hoobler, Dorothy & Thomas Historical events shaping the lives of Mexican Americans

The Buried City of Pompei Tanaka, Shelly A scientific explanation for the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius

City: A Story of Roman Planning

& Construction Macaulay, David A description of how the ancient Romans built their cities

Bad Guys Glass, Andrew The truth behind the legends of eight American outlaws

Prehistoric Life Lindsay, William Great photographs take you to life with the dinosaurs

The Stars Rey, H.A. A new way of looking at the constellations

Mississippi Challenge Walter, Mildred Pitts The African-American struggle for equal rights

Making Sense: Animal Perception

And Communication Brooks, Bruce Explains how animals “talk” to each other

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions Musgrove, Margaret An introduction to the cultures of 26 Africans

Harriet Tubman: The Moses of Her People Bradford, Sarah Tubman’s many sacrifices and heroic acts during the Civil War

You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton? Fritz, Jean Historic biography of Stanton who fought for women’s suffrage

Orphan Train Rider Warren, Andrea A true story of the orphan trains of the late 19c. and early 20century

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World Armstrong, Jennifer E. Shakleton tries to cross Antarctica with a crew of 27 explorers

Zlata’s Diary Filipovic, Zlata A family’s struggle to survive during the Bosnia and Herzegovina conflict

Frank O. Gehry: Outside In Greenberg, J. & Jordan, S. The story of the life of an innovative architect

Lincoln: In His Own Words Meltzer, Milton Speeches and writing from different periods of Lincoln’s life

Escape from Slavery: The Boyhood of Frederick Douglass

in His Own Words Douglass, Frederick A firsthand description of slavery written by a great writer & speaker

Black Women Leaders of the Civil Rights

Movement Allen, Zita The 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 World Philip, Neil (ed.) (Poetry) Some of the finest poetry of the 20th century, written by women

Science in Ancient Mesopotamia Moss, Carol The Mesopotamians were far ahead of their time…

The Stone Age News Roberts, A. & MacDonald, F. (NF/F) An imaginary pre-historic newspaper

Street Smart! Cities of the Ancient World What was city life like long ago?

The Mystery of the Mammoth Bones Giblin, James Cross In 1801, huge bones were discovered in New York…

Blizzard! Murphy, Jim A force of nature can completely disrupt everyday life…

My Life in Dog Years Paulsen, Gary Have you ever had a dog? Stories of special dogs…

Ancient Rome James, Simon A tour of Rome in the days of the empire…

Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount St. Helen Lauber, Patricia Photographs give you an up-close look at the eruption…

Through My Eyes Bridges, Ruby Battling prejudice

Science in Ancient Egypt Woods, 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 West Freedman, Russell Lives of children in 19th century American Old West

Duke Ellington: Giant of Jazz Old, Wendie C. The life and times of a famous jazz musician

Julius Caesar Green, Robert Biography of the famous leader of Ancient Rome

Black Stars: African American Inventors Sullivan Otha & Richard The stories of 25 Black American inventors who overcame prejudice

Changing Places: A Kid’s View of Shelter Living Chalofsky, M; Finland, G. & Wallace, J The stories of eight homeless children

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery Freedman, Russell A biography of one of the 20th century’s most outstanding women.

Source: Elements of Literature (Introductory Course). Austin, TX: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 2007.

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