Wednesday, January 13, 2010

La Linea

by Ann Jaramillo
Lexile: 650
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Miguel has finally received word that his parents have the money for him to travel north to join them in California. As he puts his plan into place, his sister Elena decides that it's not fair that she is being left behind. Elena decides to sneak along which foils Miguel's plan. Now they have even more obstacles in front of them. Can they come up with a plan to cross la linea and be reunited with their parents?

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Survival

by Paul Dowswell
Lexile: 1080

This is a collection of 10 survival stories about real people who have come face to face with death and survived. From terror in the skies and space to shark attacks to a frightening experience inside an active volcano, these short stories will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Jar of Dreams

by Yoshiko Uchida
Lexile: 970

Rinko, an 11 year old, growing up in California during the Depression, is struggling to fit in. She is Japanese and feels very different from most of her classmates. She and her family are targets of discrimination which makes her feel embarrassed about her heritage until her Anut Waka comes from Japan to visit for the summer. Rinko learns a lot about her heritage and about herself and discovers that she can develop her American self without losing her Japanese self.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

On My Honor

by Marion Dane Bauer
Lexile: 750

Joel and Tony are on their first solo trip to a state park. Joel can hardly believe that his father gave him permission to ride all the way there on his bike. Their plans change when Tony stops his bike at the dangerous Vermillion River. Joel and Tony argue and Joel dares Tony to swim out to the sandbar. When Joel reaches the sandbar, he is alone.

No More Dead Dogs

by Gordon Korman
Lexile: 610

Wallace Wallace never lies and sometimes this gets him into trouble. When he is asked to write a book review for his Language Arts class, Wallace reports that he hates the book. His teacher, Mr. Fogelman, refuses to accept his work and assigns him detention until he writes a worthy review. Mr. Fogelman's plan backfires when Wallace gets involved with the school play that Mr. Fogelman is directing which is based on the same book Wallace needs to review. Thanks to Wallace, the play begins to take on many new directions.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Fire From the Rock

by Sharon Draper
Lexile: 830

Sylvia Patterson is growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas during a turbulent time in history when Central High School is being forced to integrate. Sylvia is one of the students chosen to attend. She must decide if she is up for the challenge. All she really wants to do is go to high school, be a cheerleader, and find a boyfriend. Does she have the strength to stand up to all the people who are against integration?

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman
Lexile: 820

Nobody "Bod" Owens is being raised in a graveyard after his family is brutally murdered. His guardian, the mysterious Silas, and his new parents, Mr. and Mrs. Owens, do their best to protect him from the evil man Jack who wishes to destroy him. Bod struggles with whether or not he should leave the safety of the graveyard...