Suggested Summer Reading List 10 titles recommended by the Media Specialist

1. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (A.R. level 5.2, Interest Level - Middle Grades) A Coretta Scott King Author Award winner, this story focuses on a young boy, Bud, who tackles racism and a range of other issues like homelessness, poverty, and familial issues during the Great Depression. 2. Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney (A.R level 4.8, Interest level – Upper Grades) A photograph of a missing girl on a milk carton leads Janie Johnson, 15, on a search for her real identity. 3. Flush by Carl Hiaasen (A.R level 5.0, Interest level – Middle Grades) An environmentally themed story about ocean pollutants harming turtles' habitats and the young boy determined to set things right. 4. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

(A.R level 4.2, Interest level – Upper Grades) A story about the perils of popularity, the courage of nonconformity and first love, and how an eccentric new student named Stargirl forever changes her high school. 5. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

(A.R level 5.7, Interest level – Middle Grades) This Newbery Honor book is a dramatic, heart-stopping story of a

boy, who following a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness must learn to survive with only a hatchet and his own wits.

6. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

(A.R level 4.7, Interest level – Middle Grades) The first book of a series of four that tells the sad story of Despereaux, where he falls deeply in love with Princess Pea and meets his cruel fate 7. The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

(A.R level 6.4, Interest level – Middle Grades) Book one from The Series of Unfortunate Events; this story chronicles the ill-fated lives of the Baudelaire children.

8. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (A.R level 4.5, Interest level – Upper Grades)

A pair of magical thrift-shop jeans leads 4 young girls into bruising and ultimately healing confrontations with love and courage, dying and forgiveness. 9. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos

(A.R level 4.9, Interest level – Middle Grades) To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers,

Joey has trouble paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription medications wear off and he starts getting worked up and acting wired.

10. Eragon by Christopher Paolini

(A.R level 5.6, Interest level – Upper Grades) The first of a series about a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage

called Eragon, who finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, interwoven with dragons, elves, and monsters.