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Reading Circle Program

INTERMEDIATE 5-8

The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones, by Helen Hemphill. Boyds Mills Press, ©2008. Prometheus Jones, born to a slave on the day President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, has always been lucky. When he wins a horse in a raffle, he and his friend Omer head out of town. They hook up with a cattle drive from Texas to North Dakota, and the adventures begin. Inspired by the autobiography of African-American cowboy Nat Love, this Western shows a side of cowboy life rarely depicted. Fiction.

Alive and Well in Prague, New York, by Daphne Grab. HarperCollins, ©2008. Matisse Osgood is a New York City girl. Her world crumbles when her father's Parkinson's disease worsens and her parents decide to leave Manhattan for a small town in upstate New York. As Matisse trudges through life in Prague, she dreams of waking up in her city apartment with a father who's well enough to walk with her in Central Park and a mother who doesn't pretend that everything is okay. When rumors surround Matisse at school and her father's symptoms worsen, Matisse realizes her new friends in Prague are the kind you can count on, and that country life is more magical than she thought. Fiction.

The Bear Makers, by Andrea Cheng. Boyds Mills Press, ©2008. Eleven-year-old Kata is too young to understand the political tensions swirling around her in post-World War II Hungary, where her once-successful father has become depressed, her mother illegally sells stuffed animals, and her older brother flees to the West. The author based her story on her Hungarian family history. This book reads like a memoir, and it is a thoroughly convincing recollection of a vanished world. Fiction.

Blaze of Silver, by K.M. Grant. Walker and Co., © 2008. Can a knight sacrifice everything he holds sacred in service to his king? King Richard is being held for ransom in Germany, and England is in chaos without a sovereign. The de Granvilles must deliver the treasure that will win their King's freedom. But the Old Man of the Mountain, leader of the assassins, is ready to take his revenge on Kamil. The fate of a king, the bonds of a friendship, and the depth of an enduring love will be in jeopardy as Will, Ellie, Kamil and Hosanna face the ultimate loyalty test. Book three of the de Granville trilogy. Fiction.

The Bronze Pen, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. Simon and Schuster, ©2008. Twelve-year-old Audrey Abbott dreams of becoming a writer, but with her father's failing health and the family's shaky finances, it seems there is no room for what her overworked mother would call a childish fantasy. So Audrey keeps her writing a secret until she meets a mysterious old woman who seems to read her mind. One day the woman gives Audrey a strange bronze pen and tells her to "use it wisely and to good purpose." It turns out to be perfect for writing her stories, but as Audrey writes, odd things start happening. Fiction.

Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson. Simon and Schuster, ©2008. As the Revolutionary War begins, 13-year-old slave Isabel wages her own fight for freedom. Isabel and her sister Ruth were promised freedom upon the death of their owner. In a cruel twist of fate, they become the property of a malicious New York City couple. These new owners have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. (Finalist for the National Book Award, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, ALA Notable Childrens Book, Booklist starred) Fiction.

Cool Ways to Remember Stuff, by Scholastic Inc. Staff. Scholastic, ©2008. An informative guide full of tips and tricks for remembering everything from math and spelling rules to tricky science, history and geography facts. A perfect learning companion to help any student who has ever struggled to remember multiplication tables, the spelling of the word "Mississippi," or the names of planets. 370.15

A Difficult Boy, by M. P. Barker. Holiday House, ©2008. In Farmington, Mass., in 1839, 9-year-old Ethan is an indentured servant of the wealthy Lyman family alongside Daniel, a boy scorned for being Irish. Ethan and Daniel live in fear of brutal treatment for the slightest wrong. Daniel's only respite comes from caring for the Lymans' horse, Ivy. He teaches Ethan horsemanship, and the two enjoy brief, exhilarating flights of freedom on horseback. Fiction.

Dragon Flight, by Jessica Day George. Bloomsbury USA, ©2008. With the Dragon Wars over, Creel finds herself bored with life as a seamstress. Then word comes that a bordering country has been breeding dragons in preparation for an invasion. Never one to sit around, Creel throws herself into an adventure that will reunite her with her dragon friend Shardas, pit her against a vicious new enemy and perhaps rekindle a friendship with Prince Luka. Funny, heart-felt, and action packed. Book two of the Dragon Slippers trilogy. Fiction.

The Dragon's Child: A Story of Angel Island, by Laurence Yep, with Kathleen S. Yep. HarperCollins, ©2008. In 1922, 10-year-old Gim Lew reluctantly leaves his village in China to accompany his father to America, but before they go he must prepare for a grueling test that he must pass without stuttering. At California's Angel Island, they encounter strict officials who strive to keep out unwanted immigrants. Includes facts about immigration from China and the experiences of the author's family. Fiction.

The Dragon Tree, by Jane Langton. HarperCollins, ©2008. Strange and magical things are occurring at the Hall family's home at 40 Walden Street. Now there's a terrible chain-saw sound buzzing in the town of Concord. Only one thing is worse for Eddy and Georgie Hall than that noise: the man who causes it, Mortimer Moon. When all the trees in town are falling to his hand and he threatens the mysterious tree sprouting in the Halls' backyard, Georgie and Eddy plan to stop him. Book eight of the Hall Family Chronicles. Fiction.

Exodus, by Julie Bertagna. Walker and Co., ©2008. Less than a hundred years from now, the world as we know it no longer exists. Cities have disappeared beneath the sea, technology no longer works, and human civilization has reverted to a more primitive state. On an isolated northern island, the people of Wing are trying to hold onto their way of life even as the sea claims precious acres and threatens their lives. Only Mara has the vision and the will to lead her people in search of a new beginning in this harsh, unfamiliar world. Book one of a series. Fiction.

Flight, by Elizabeth Stow Ellison. Holiday House, ©2008. Twelve-year-old Samantha adores her brother, a gifted athlete and brilliant artist who always seems to be in trouble. She struggles with how to help him when her parents will not have him tested for a learning disability. Loyalties are tested and loving bonds are strengthened when another secret is revealed. Fiction.

The Floating Circus, by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer. Bloomsbury USA, ©2008. Thirteen-year-old Owen is on an orphan train heading west when he hears that his younger brother would be more easily adopted without him. Owen jumps off the train and joins a riverboat circus. He spends his time cleaning animal cages, setting type in the print shop, and observing the entertainers. Inspired by the riverboat circuses of the 19th century, this memorable tale of prejudice, race and relationships brings little-known historical facts to life. Fiction.

Found, by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Simon and Schuster, ©2008. Thirteen-year-old Jonah has always known that he was adopted, but he's never thought it was a big deal. Then he and his friend, Chip, who's also adopted, begin receiving mysterious letters of warning. Jonah, Chip, and Jonah's sister, Katherine, are then plunged into a mystery that involves the FBI, a smuggling operation, an airplane that appeared out of nowhere, and people who seem to appear and disappear at will. The kids discover they are caught in a battle between forces that want very different things for Jonah and Chip. Book one of the The Missing series. Fiction.

The Great Receiver, by Elena Yates Eulo. Holiday House, ©2008. Fifteen-year-old Joey has always loved playing football with his dad, but has flubbed the tryouts for his high school team two years in a row. Instead, he serves as the team's water boy, but continues to dream of stardom. He gets his chance when the team's wide receiver is suspended for cheating, and the coach happens to see Joey make a stellar catch. Fiction.

Ghost Letters, by Stephen Alter. Bloomsbury USA, ©2008. When two modern-day kids discover a grotesque secret in an abandoned mailbox, they have no idea they are about to be drawn into a mystery. With the help of a genie and a phantom postman, the children communicate with a young calligrapher's apprentice who lived 125 years ago in a Himalayan village. Writing across continents and centuries, the children realize they can change history by delivering three letters that were never received. Fiction.

Going for Broke, by Meg McKinlay. Walker and Co., ©2008. Nathan is tired of watching other kids receive awards at assembly, so he hatches a plan to earn a place in the Amazing World Records book. He is willing to try anything to get recognition, so with a little planning and lots of daring, he and his mates make several attempts at world record feats. Each attempt is unsuccessful and usually painful, but they just might succeed. A good straightforward adventure, featuring the kinds of things boys of the book's target age are often up to. Fiction.

Hippie Chick, by Joseph Monninger. Boyds Mill Press, ©2008. Fifteen-year-old Lolly (short for Lollipop) Emmerson is a free-spirit with a hippie mother. She loves to spend time with her boyfriend, Nicky, and sail her Boston Whaler in the Florida Keys. One night she runs into an underwater obstacle and the boat flounders. After Lolly is knocked out and separated from the boat, she realizes that she's done for and accepts her fate. That's when the manatees arrive and take her to an isolated island. The story is told by Lolly after her rescue. It's an affecting account, beautifully told. Fiction.

House of Many Ways, by Diana Wynne Jones., HarperCollins, ©2008. Charmain Baker thought housesitting for her uncle would be easy. But her Great Uncle William is really the Royal Wizard Norland, and his modest cottage is more magical than she had guessed. (Booklist starred) Fiction.

Invasion of Sandy Bay, by Anita Sanchez. Boyds Mills Press, ©2008. The Massachusetts fishing village of Sandy Bay is the setting for this little-known incident from the War of 1812. Twelve-year-old Lemuel Brooks is kidnapped by a British warship when he is learning how to fish. Once returned to shore, he sounds the alarm about the British presence. When Lemuel is not satisfied with the mild response from the town's militia, he heads to the larger town of Gloucester and rouses Colonel Appleton. The colonel gathers his forces and takes charge over Sandy Bay's leaders. Surprisingly humorous, the story moves along at a rapid pace. Fiction.

It was September When We Ran Away the First Time, by D. James Smith. Simon and Schuster, ©2008. It's the first week of school at John Muir Junior High and Paolo has a lot on his mind. He's thinking about finding a place of his own with his brother Georgie and his cousin Billy. He's thinking about which booth they should work at during the upcoming carnival. He's thinking about Communism and the atom bomb, just like everyone else in Orange Grove, Calif., in 1951. But mostly, he's thinking about Billy and Veronica who have become victims of the community's ideas about who should be hanging out with whom. And it's this last thought that Paolo can't quite figure out. Suddenly, the boys have a real reason to be running away. Follow-up to Probably the World's Best Story About a Dog and the Girl Who Loved Me and The Boys of San Joaquin. Fiction.

Jay McGraw's Life Strategies for Dealing with Bullies, by Jay McGraw. Simon and Schuster, ©2008. On the Internet, on playgrounds, and in schools across the country, thousands of kids are picked on, teased, and harassed by bullies. This can jeopardize a child's development, unless they have the tools to help stop bullying in its tracks. This book helps kids identify potentially harmful situations and deal with bullies through tips, techniques and examples that apply to real-life situations. The author not only talks about bullies, he speaks to the bullies themselves to help them change their ways. A no-nonsense approach to bullying and the ways readers can handle it. 158.

Keeping the Night Watch, by Hope Anita Smith, illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Macmillan, ©2008. Many unanswered questions weigh on 13-year-old C.J. as he struggles to understand why his father walked out. His father returns, but C.J. is not as forgiving as other members of his family. He still feels the responsibility that fell on his shoulders when Daddy was gone, and he's not prepared to give that up. His anger is making him a stranger in his own home. Although written mainly in free verse, there's also a sonnet, and a 26-line piece where each line begins with a different letter of the alphabet. Lewis uses his brilliantly composed, watercolor-and-ink paintings to underscore the strong emotions of the text. (Booklist starred) Fiction.

The Lab, by Jack Heath. Scholastic, ©2008. Sixteen-year-old superhuman Six of Hearts is the strongest and most effective agent in The Deck, a team of special agents fighting for justice in a corrupt world. An action-packed, suspense-filled story. Book one in a series. Fiction.

The Last Invisible Boy, by Evan Kuhlman, illustrated by J.P. Coovert. Simon and Schuster, ©2008. Finn Garrett tells the tender yet humorous story of how he begins to disappear following his beloved dad's death. The 12-year-old awakens one morning to find a strand of white hair and less "pinkness" to his skin. Each day he grows whiter and less visible. He begins to write a memoir, which is an account of his and his family's grief over their devastating loss. While poignant and sad, the book turns upbeat as they begin to heal. He ultimately realizes the importance of memories, and of being the keeper of his father's stories. Fiction.

Lily Dale: Awakening,by Wendy Corsi Staub. Walker and Co., ©2008. Calla thought her boyfriend breaking up with her in a text message was the worst thing that could happen to her. But two weeks later, her mother died in a freak accident. When her father heads to California for a new job, they decide that Calla should spend a few weeks with the grandmother she barely knows while he gets them set in their new home. Suddenly, the fact that Calla's mother never talked about her past takes on more mysterious overtones. The longer she stays in Lily Dale, the stranger things become. Book one of the Lily Dale series. Fiction.

Mao's Last Dancer, by Li Cunxin. Walker and Co., ©2008. At the age of 11, Li Cunxin was selected to serve in Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution by studying at the elite Beijing Dance Academy. Having known bitter poverty in his rural China home, ballet would be his family's best chance for a better future. From one hardship to another, Cunxin demonstrated perseverance and an appetite for success that led him to be chosen as one of the first two people to leave Mao's China for a cultural dance exchange in America. But life in the U.S. was nothing like his communist indoctrination had led him to believe. Ultimately, he defected in a dramatic media storm, and danced with the Houston Ballet for 16 years. This inspiring story of passion, resilience, and a family's love captures the harsh reality of life in Mao's communist China and the exciting world of professional dance. Includes photos documenting Li's life. 792.802.

Masterpiece, by Elise Broach, illustrated by Kelly Murphy. Macmillan, ©2008. Eleven-year-old James lives in New York City, where his friend Marvin, the beetle, lives under the kitchen sink. After he gets a pen-and-ink set for his birthday, Marvin surprises James by creating an elaborate miniature drawing. James gets the credit for the picture and before these friends know it they are caught up in a staged art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A fast-paced mystery will have readers on the edge of their seats as they root for boy and beetle. Fiction.

Our Living Earth: A Story of People, Ecology and Preservation, photographs by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, text by Isabelle Delannoy. Abrams, ©2008. The scientific and technical advances of the last century have had major effects on the earth. How can humans in today's world respect nature and avoid doing irreparable damage to the planet? The author offers information to encourage readers to do what they can to help the planet. 779.

Out of His League, by Pat Flynn. Walker and Co., ©2008. Life for Ozzie, an Australian exchange student, is completely foreign when he arrives in a west Texas town. But his rugby skills translate to football as he becomes the star of a team in need of a miracle. As Ozzie settles in, America feels like the land of opportunity, and he finds himself torn between the lure of this new country and the ties that bind him to his home. This co-mingling of cultures offers a fresh perspective on life in a town where football is life and winning is everything. Fiction.

Pandora Gets Jealous, by Carolyn Hennesy. Bloomsbury USA, ©2008. Pandora Atheneus Andromaeche Helena (or Pandy for short) has the perfect prop for her school project: A box given to her father by Zeus. Pandy knows the box must never be opened, but of course accidents happen, and soon seven forms of evil and misery have escaped. Now Pandora must capture all seven, starting with jealousy, or go down in history as the girl who ruined the world. Book one in a series. Fiction.

Quest, by Kathleen Benner Duble. Simon and Schuster, ©2008. Hope, heartbreak and survival are told from four perspectives in this story centering on Henry Hudson's quest to find a Northwest Passage to Asia. His son, John Hudson, is eager to set sail with his father and explore the open seas and the New World. His girlfriend, Isabella, has her own adventures in store as a spy for the king. And while Richard Hudson simply wants his older brother, John, to return to London, John's shipmate Seth Syms is desperate to avoid returning to the city any time soon. Letters, diary entries, and personal narratives help to tell the story. Fiction.

The Quest Begins, by Erin Hunter. HarperCollins, ©2008. Three young bears of different species – one black, one polar, and one grizzly – travel on a perilous quest to the Northern Lights, escorting a shape-shifting grizzly cub whose destiny will affect them all. Book one in a series. Fiction.

The Reminder, by Rune Michaels. Simon and Schuster, ©2008. Daisy's mother died after battling cancer but Daisy, Daze for short, still hears her voice. Sometimes it's because her dad likes to watch old home movies when he can't sleep. Sometimes it's because her brother was too young to remember Mom and needs to be reminded by looking at photographs and watching videos. Sometimes it might just be her mind trying to work out what her therapist would call "issues." But this time, it is none of those things. It's something much more wonderful and terrifying, and it might allow Daze to save her mother's life. Fiction.

The Secret of Dinswood, by Ellen Alexander. Tate Publishing, ©2008. Emma loves her new boarding school, but shortly after arriving she hears the school is in danger of closing. For her, the academy in an old castle is an escape from her lonely home life. To save their academy, Emma and her friends embark on a dangerous treasure hunt fueled by a riddle left by the school's founder. Book one in a series. Missouri author

The Seer of Shadows, by Avi. HarperCollins, ©2008. Fourteen-year-old Horace is caught up in a plot to create fraudulent spirit photographs in New York City in 1872. The life of the photographer's assistant takes a frightening turn when he releases the spirit of a dead girl bent on revenge. (Publisher's Weekly starred) Fiction.

Sisters of the Sword, by Maya Snow. HarperCollins, ©2008. Set in the lush setting of 1216 Japan, this tale of revenge, love, heartbreak and swordplay follows two aristocratic sisters who disguise themselves as boys to take revenge on the uncle who betrayed their family. They take refuge at a training school for samurai. Book one of the Sisters of the Sword series. Fiction.

Slipping, by Cathleen Davitt Bell. Bloomsbury USA, ©2008. Michael Kimmel is an average eighth-grader who's too short to excel at basketball and too unmotivated to care about school. When the grandfather he barely knows suddenly dies, Michael can't understand why his dad seems so detached. But when the ghost of his grandfather contacts Michael and begins to show him scenes from the past, Michael suspects he must right the wrongs between his father and grandfather before he becomes trapped in the river of the dead. Fiction.

Spy! by Anna Myers. Walker and Co., ©2008. During the Revolutionary War, Jonah is torn between honoring his loyalist father's dying wish and taking up the cause of the patriots. Inspired by his teacher Nathan Hale, Jonah must learn to fight for what he knows is right. Using historical events, the author includes personal thoughts and feelings to show the conflicts faced by the colonists. A good supplement to American history studies. Fiction.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, by Jessica Day George. Bloomsbury, ©2008. Blessed or cursed with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she's known to her family) has always been an oddball. When a polar bear promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn't hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle. Fiction.

The 39 Clues: One False Note, by Gordon Korman. Scholastic, ©2008. Fourteen-year-old Amy and 11-year-old Dan turn down a million dollars at their grandmother's funeral. They give up the money to participate in an elaborate scavenger hunt that promises power and riches for the winner. The brother and sister find quickly that other family members in the globetrotting search will stop at nothing to win. Book two of the 39 Clues series. Fiction.

Trading Faces, by Julia DeVillers and Jennifer Roy. Simon and Shuster, ©2008. On the first day of seventh grade, twin sisters Payton and Emma have been assigned entirely different schedules. Without telling anyone, the twins switch places. The twins learn that playing a different role in life can be a lot of fun, and that no one is exactly the person the rest of the world thinks they are. While twins switching places is not a new plot, the story is fast paced and fun. Fiction.

Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning, by Danette Haworth. Walker and Co., ©2008. Spunky, headstrong Violet Raines is happy with her sleepy backwoods Florida town. Violet's world turns upside down when Melissa moves to town from big city Detroit. With the help of Violet's friends, her mom and a few run-ins with lightning, Violet realizes that growing up doesn't have to mean changing who you are. Fiction.

Walkaway, by Alden R. Carter. Holiday House, ©2008. Andy is tired of the way everyone treats him, especially his alcoholic father. Things only get worse when he goes to stay in his family's cabin in the Wisconsin woods. This time he can't take it anymore, and he decides to walk off into the depths of the wilderness and of his own mind. Soon hallucinations set in, and things really start to get out of control. From the Chickadee Court Mystery series. Fiction

Walter Wicks Optical Tricks, Tenth Anniversary Edition, by Walter Wick. Scholastic, ©2008. A book on optical illusions that will leave the reader wondering how the photographer does it. This combines fascinating illusions with explanations of how the tricks work. The images are treats for the eye and mind. Beautiful, challenging and fun, this book has to be seen to be believed. 152.48

Who Stole Uncle Sam? By Martha Freeman. Holiday House, ©2008. After their last success, Alex and Yasmeen made a pact to stop solving mysteries. When Alex's baseball coach, a patriotic war veteran nicknamed Uncle Sam, goes missing, it's hard for the young detectives to resist. Soon, the two are tracking clues involving portable toilets, lawn-care chemicals and secret baseball scouts. Fiction.

Wings: A Fairy Tale, by E.D. Baker. Bloomsbury USA, ©2008. When Tamisin discovers wings growing from her back she wants to know what is making her normal life so weird. Before she can piece together the facts, she is kidnapped by goblins and brought to a land of magical creatures including her real mother, Titania, the fairy queen. As she falls in love with a boy who is half goblin, and realizes the depth of her human parents' love for her, she finds that having beautiful wings sprout from your shoulders isn't all bad. Fiction.

Zenith, by Julie Bertagna. Walker and Co., ©2008. The search for a future is a terrifying fight for survival for 16-year-old Mara and her ship of refugees who are tracking the North Star in search of land in the mountains of Greenland to call home. Mara and a few others survive, hiking to a valley with a glacial lake where they settle permanently. This is the story of a plucky, imperfect heroine leading the way to an uncertain future in a hostile world. Sequel to Exodus.(Booklist starred) Fiction.