Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle by George Hagen

Hagen, George. Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2014. 371p.

Gabriel Finley loves solving riddles. He learned many riddles from his father, who has mysteriously disappeared. As Gabriel's twelfth birthday approaches, he meets a young raven and discovers that they can communicate with one another. He and the raven set forth on a quest to find Gabriel's father and to save their own lives, one riddle at a time.

Readers looking for a spooky, intriguing adventure filled with brainteasers and mystery will love this first book in a promising new series!   

Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar

Sachar, Louis. Fuzzy Mud. New York: Delacorte Press, 2015. 192 p.

In this fast-paced environmental thriller, fifth-grader Tamaya and her seventh-grade neighbor Marshall take a shortcut through the woods on their way home from school. During a conflict with a bully, they discover some "fuzzy mud," uncovering a corporate disaster that will soon affect their entire town.

Alternating between accounts of the middle schoolers' actions and transcripts of Senate hearings, this is a book that will keep readers hooked while sparking lively conversations in classroom environmental units.

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

Beasley, Cassie. Circus Mirandus. New York: Dial Books, 2015. 304 p.

Micah, a ten-year-old boy, has been under the care of his Grandpa Ephraim for many years. Micah's head and heart are filled with stories of a magical circus, Circus Mirandus, that changed his grandpa's life forever. When Grandpa Ephraim becomes gravely ill, however, strict Aunt Gertrudis moves in. Aunt Gertrudis does NOT believe in magic and forbids Micah from talking about it.  

Will Micah be able to help his grandpa achieve a mysterious miracle through Circus Mirandus while under the strict watch of Aunt Gertrudis? And what is the mysterious miracle after all...?

Warning: Once you start reading this book, you will not want to put it down until the mysterious request is revealed. Be prepared to feel every emotion as you flip through the pages of this magical, heartfelt and truly unforgettable journey!

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Applegate, Katherine. Crenshaw. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2015. 256p.

Jackson is a fifth grader who believes in hard facts. When his family comes upon financial trouble, he and his little sister are facing a tough move. In the midst of this difficult time, Jackson is VERY surprised by the return of his childhood imaginary friend, a large skateboarding cat named Crenshaw. Is Jackson losing his marbles, or will Crenshaw be able to help Jackson and his family when they need it the most? 

Alternating between humorous and tender, this book will warm readers' hearts while keeping them turning the pages to reach the ultimate resolution!  Fans of Katherine Applegate's Newbery Award winner The One and Only Ivan will definitely want to add this recent offering to their reading lists!

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Hunt, Lynda Mullaly. Fish in a Tree. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2015. 266p.

Ally, a sixth-grade girl who has moved to seven schools in seven years, has been able to fool many teachers and classmates in the past. Her jokes and refusal to do assignments have masked her true struggle, which Mr. Daniels, her new teacher, is determined to discover. This remarkable book about finding bravery, friendship, confidence and determination against all odds, will resonate with students and teachers alike. For anyone who has had a teacher who has changed his/her life or anyone who strives to be that teacher every day, this book is for you!

Fans of this heartfelt novel will also want to read Lynda Mullaly Hunt's poignant chapter book debut, One for the Murphys, and Patricia Polacco's picture books Thank You, Mr. Falker and The Junkyard Wonders.  

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Woodson, Jacqueline. Brown Girl Dreaming. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2014. 320 p.

This 2015 Newbery Honor Book is moving, inspirational and essential for writing workshop in grades 4 and up! Through free verse poems, acclaimed author Jacqueline Woodson shares her childhood with readers, giving us glimpses of the moments that shaped her development as a writer. While highlighting memories of life in Ohio, South Carolina and Brooklyn during the 1960s and 1970s, she expresses the frustrations and triumphs of desegregation, the joys of time spent with family and friends, the pain of losing loved ones, the excitement she feels when she begins emulating famous authors, and her gradual realization that, "Words are my brilliance."

This is a book that you and your students will revisit often! It's a beautiful read and a powerful mentor text.

All Four Stars by Tara Dairman

Dairman, Tara. All Four Stars. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2014.
 
Sixth-grader Gladys Gatsby has a passion for cooking but is banned from the kitchen after setting the curtains on fire one fateful evening. Living with parents who enjoy the convenience of nightly fast food and microwaved meals is especially frustrating for Gladys and her refined palate.

With the help of a gourmet grocery store owner, her aunt, an inspirational teacher, new friends, and friends' parents, Gladys tries to pursue her passion despite restrictions at home.

When a mix-up at a famous newspaper results in Gladys being offered a job as a restaurant critic, will she have what it takes to succeed? Can an eleven-year-old fulfill her dreams by writing reviews for an editor and readers who assume she is an adult?

This delectable story is the perfect treat for anyone who is interested in cooking, dining, writing, or pursuing a passion despite setbacks! It's also a tale for children who have dreamed of sharing their talents in a major way!

One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Hunt, Lynda Mullaly. One for the Murphys. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2012.

Carley Connors has been placed in foster care after a life-changing altercation with her mom and stepfather. When she moves in with seemingly perfect Julie Murphy, Julie's firefighter, Red-Sox-fanatic husband and their three rambunctious boys, Carley discovers a whole new world. She begins to learn about stereotypes, love, friendship and the person she hopes to be. As her mom starts recovering, though, Carley has to make tough decisions about who she is and where she really belongs.

Have tissues ready for this memorable, moving story that is an excellent choice for character development units and for discussions on the effects of stereotypes.

 

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

Graff, Lisa. Absolutely Almost. New York: Philomel Books, 2014. 288p.  

Albie is going into fifth grade and has always been told that he is almost successful. School is a struggle for him, as is making new friends. When he is forced to attend a public school, he is faced with the challenges of math club, spelling and reading difficulties, and tough decisions about which classmates to trust. Ultimately, he must decide whether or not being "cool" is worthwhile. With the help of a new nanny and an inspirational math teacher, Albie begins to discover that there are many things he does know after all.

This is a powerfully reflective book and one without easy, happy solutions. It will lead to many class discussions about the way that we treat one another and about how and why people are persistent despite major disappointments. One of the book's most memorable quotes, "You can't get where you're going without being where you've been," will make an especially poignant springboard for writing and conversation. Students could even create their own "Things I Know" lists after reading the book's final chapter!      

King George: What Was His Problem?: The Whole Hilarious Story of the American Revolution by Steve Sheinkin

Sheinkin, Steve. King George: What Was His Problem?: The Whole Hilarious Story of the American Revolution. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2012. 208p.

Readers will be captivated right from the start of this funny and informative book! In the introduction, Steve Sheinkin shares his "Confessions of a Textbook Writer," apologizing to all of us for his former job writing "those big books that break your back when you carry them and put you to sleep when you read them." The text that follows is filled with interesting, odd and oftentimes hilarious information that makes the major people and events in the American Revolution come alive. This is history the way it should be written... and read!

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Lord, Cynthia. Rules. New York: Scholastic, 2006. 214p.  

Twelve-year-old Catherine has spent much of her time writing rules to help her younger brother David through life. David, who has autism, requires a lot of attention from Catherine and their parents. 

Catherine is a talented artist who is starting to crave some attention of her own. A new girl has moved in next door, and Catherine hopes that they will become best friends. Meanwhile, Catherine meets a boy her age at her brother's appointments and explores a whole new world of communication and adventure with him. Will she be able to maintain both friendships while protecting her brother? When she is forced to make hard choices, what rules will Catherine decide to follow in her own life?

This beautifully-written, heart-wrenching book is sure to engage students in discussions about needs, responsibilities, social rules and choices we make regarding friendship. Based on the author's experiences within her own family, this story will also help students come to a better understanding of the people around them. Activities at the end of the book, such as "A New Set of Rules," can lead to meaningful writing opportunities in the classroom.    

The Magnificent 12: The Call by Michael Grant

Grant, Michael. The Magnificent 12: The Call. New York: Katherine Tegen Books, 2010. 227p.  

Twelve-year-old Mack MacAvoy is afraid of almost everything. He is shocked to receive a visit from a three-thousand-year-old man named Grimluk, who thinks that Mack is destined to save the world. After learning that he is one of the "Magnificent 12," a group that is called together to stop the Pale Queen from destroying Earth, Mack embarks on a dangerous quest with the help of his former bully, Stefan. Can a boy who fears everything become a hero? What will happen when a Golem (mud man) version of Mack takes his place at home and at school while he is gone?

This adventurous, laugh-out-loud hilarious first book in The Magnificent 12 series will keep readers thoroughly entertained as they root for an underdog of a hero! Chapters that alternate between the present and far-distant past and Golem's notes to Mack explaining everything that happens while Mack is away add humorous layers to the story.  




    

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

DuPrau, Jeanne. The City of Ember. New York: Yearling Books, 2004. 270p.  

Over two hundred years have passed since the city of Ember was designed to save the human race. The original builders left instructions to help the people of Ember in an emergency, but those instructions have been lost over time. The city's lights are beginning to burn out, and soon Ember will be in total darkness. 

Twelve-year-old Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow, her former classmate, are willing to risk everything to save their people. Will they succeed?

Continue the adventure by reading all four books in the Books of Ember series! 

  

  

The Hypnotists by Gordon Korman

Korman, Gordon. The Hypnotists. New York: Scholastic Press, 2013. 240p.  

In this fast-paced thriller, twelve-year-old Jax Opus discovers that he has hypnotic abilities and is a descendant of the two most powerful hypnotic families in history. When he is recruited by Sentia, an organization for mind-benders, he soon realizes that he has become part of a dangerous plot. What will he do with this new, perilous knowledge? Will Jax be able to save his friends and family before it's too late?

Readers who finish this first book in the series will be eager to read its sequel, Memory Maze!  

The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

Colfer, Chris. The Wishing Spell. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2012. 464p. 

Studious twelve-year-old Alex and her witty twin brother Conner fall into the Land of Stories after being sucked into a beloved fairy tale book given to them by their grandmother. While meeting many of the characters from the fairy tales they remember from childhood, they learn that the kingdoms within the Land of Stories can be very dangerous. They discover a journal containing a wishing spell and set out to find the wishing spell's items in order to return home to their mother, but a fierce opponent stands in their way.        

This thrilling, adventurous, and laugh-out-loud funny book is an outstanding choice for strong readers who are familiar with fairy tales from their own childhoods and have active imaginations! After reading this first book in The Land of Stories series, students will be excited to check out its sequels!

George's Secret Key to the Universe by Lucy and Stephen Hawking

Hawking, Lucy, and Stephen Hawking. George's Secret Key to the Universe. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2009. 336 p. 

George has trouble exploring his interests in science and space while living with parents who detest technology. When George's pet pig runs into the neighbor's house though, George's life changes drastically. He meets Eric, a scientist, Eric's daughter Annie, and a computer named Cosmos that can take them anywhere in the universe. George's travels through the universe will excite readers as they discover many interesting facts about stars, black holes, planets, and the many additional wonders of space. 

This book's fast-moving plot, the introduction of a villainous science teacher who is out to destroy Eric and steal Cosmos, and its many fascinating fact boxes make it a perfect book for middle-grade scientists. Children who love this book will want to read the rest of the series right away!

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

McMann, Lisa. The Unwanteds. New York: Aladdin, 2011. 390p. 

Heralded by critics as a cross between Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, this is the thrilling first book in a series that is sure to keep readers hooked!

In this book, readers are introduced to two twins, Aaron and Alex. Their society, Quill, separates its members into three categories: Wanted, Unwanted, and Necessary. Aaron, deemed "Wanted," begins to work his way up the ranks of Quill's government while Alex, the "Unwanted" twin, is sent to be purged from Quill. When Alex's termination leads not to death, but to a secret, creative land of Artime, will he be able to keep the secret? Or will Alex's desire to save his cold, calculating twin from a joyless existence in Quill lead him to expose the hidden land of Artime and the thousands of Unwanteds it protects?

Place this book and its sequels in the hands of fourth through eighth grade readers who enjoy fantasy and suspense... They will thank you!


   

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

Henkes, Kevin. The Year of Billy Miller. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2013. 229p. 

After falling and bumping his head on a family summer trip, Billy Miller is worried about starting second grade. He is afraid of forgetting things, wants his teacher to like him and is trying build the confidence to perform at a class poetry recital. Through four very moving sections, each of which describes his relationship with an important person in his life (Teacher, Father, Sister, Mother), readers are able to watch Billy Miller grow as he navigates the ups and downs of his second grade year.

This funny, heartwarming book will make a wonderful second grade read-aloud or an excellent independent reading selection for strong second or third grade readers.  

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Collins, Suzanne. Gregor the Overlander. New York: Scholastic, 2003. 308p. 

Gregor, an eleven-year-old boy, and his two-year-old sister, Boots, fall through a grate in their apartment building's laundry room. They soon discover that they have landed in the Underworld, a dark land located far, far beneath their New York City neighborhood.

The Underworld is filled with six-foot talking cockroaches, bats, spiders and rats, some of whom threaten the existence of the Underworld's human community. As Gregor and Boots set out on a quest to find their long-lost father, they realize that they are part of a prophecy in which they are expected to save the Underworld from destruction! Can two New York City kids save an entire land and find their father? 

This exciting first book in the Underland Chronicles series is sure to please adventure and fantasy fans! Its fast-paced action and laugh-out-loud humor make it an engaging page-turner that students will not want to put down!

Numbed! by David Lubar

Lubar, David. Numbed! Minneapolis: Millbrook Press, 2013. 143p.

During a math museum field trip, Logan and his mischievous friend Benedict enter a restricted area. They find a mathematician designing a robot that will soon go on exhibit. When Benedict insults the robot, it zaps both boys, causing them to lose their math skills. The two boys quickly realize how difficult life is without math! They return to the museum and are presented with a series of mathematical challenges to earn back their knowledge.

This book would be a great read-aloud for third or fourth grade classes or math groups, as students could try to solve each challenge themselves. Every chapter number is presented as an equation, creating even more opportunities for students to put their math skills to work!

For Logan's earlier adventures, read David Lubar's Punished, in which Logan is only able to speak in puns until he can collect enough oxymorons, anagrams and palindromes to stop his "pun-ishment" for talking back to an adult.