Nichols Middle School

Dear Parents,
Nichols
Middle
School
Summer reading is part of life at Nichols. In addition to
developing and extending skills, it is important that students
experience the pleasure of discovery, reflection, and imagination that
a good book provides.
Summer reading is used to review, supplement, or introduce
content that will be part of the regular school year. Middle School
students are asked to read a minimum of five books: the required
book plus the students' own selections.
This booklet contains both a list of required books for each
grade level and a variety of other summer reading choices. The books
in this list are divided into Middle Reader books, which are
appropriate for all middle school students and Young Adult books,
which contain challenging vocabulary and more mature subject
matter. The titles are suggestions, but please encourage your child to
select at least one title marked with an asterisk. These books deal
with a diversity of characters and settings, and should serve to
expand your child's reading and world experience.
Summer Reading List
Grades 5 through 8
2015
Students do not need to write summer book reports, but must
be prepared to discuss and write compositions about the books during
the first weeks of school in September. Please have your child record
the titles and authors of all books read over the summer on the record
sheet that they will be given in English class, and sign your name
when each book is completed. This form is due on the first day of
school. Please talk with your child about how to make reading a
part of his or her summer plans.
Sincerely,
Carol Sue Stapleton
Middle School Librarian
NICHOLS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Required Reading List
5th Grade: Babbitt, Natalie - Search for Delicious
Summer Reading List
2015
For Students Entering Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8
The following authors have written so many books, we cannot list every title.
Please consider books by:
Buyea, Rob, - Because of Mr. Terupt
6th Grade: Sachar, Louis—Holes
7th Grade: Ritter, John H. - The Boy Who Saved
Baseball
8th Grade: Portis, Charles - True Grit
Alexander, Lloyd
Avi
Beatty, Patricia
Bauer, Joan
Christie, Agatha
Cooper, Susan
Dahl, Roald
DiCamillo, Kate
Fox, Paula
George, Jean Craighead
Haddix, Margaret Peterson
Horowitz, Anthony
Ibbotson, Eva
Jacques, Brian
Jones, Diana Wynne
Konigsburg, E.L.
Lasky, Kathryn
L'Engle, Madeleine
McCaffrey, Anne
Nixon, Joan Lowery
O'Dell, Scott
Paterson, Katherine
Paulsen, Gary
Peck, Richard
Pierce, Tamora
Rinaldi, Ann
Rowlings, J.K.
Spinelli, Jerry
Voigt, Cynthia
Yep, Laurence
8th Grade (New Students Only):
In addition to the Portis required book, new students should read
Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard
Evslin (Bantam Press). The last three books may be titles of their
own choosing.
ADVENTURE—Middle Readers
Alexander, Lloyd The High King
Creech, Sharon The Wanderer
Eames, Brian The Dagger Quick
George, Jean Craighead Julie of the Wolves*; My Side of the Mountain
Gutman, Dan ...and me series
Harper, Suzanne The Unseen World of Poppy Malone: A Gaggle of Goblins
Higson, Charlie James Bond Adventures series
Hobbs, Will Ghost Canoe; Far North
Horowitz, Anthony The Alex Rider series
Konigsburg, E.L. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
London, Jack White Fang
Paulsen, Gary Hatchet; Brian’s Return; Brian’s Winter, Voyage of the Frog
Sperry, Armstrong Call It Courage*
Taylor, Theodore A Sailor Returns
ADVENTURE—Young Adults
Bartholomew, Lois T. The White Dove
Borland, Hal When the Legends Die*
Fox, Paula The Slave Dancer*
Greene, Bette Summer of My German Soldier*
Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders
Jacques, Brian Castaways of the Flying Dutchman
Krakauer, Jon Into Thin Air
Paulsen, Gary Canyons
Rees, Celia Pirates!
Schaefer, Jack Shane
Verne, Jules Around the World in 80 Days
Conflict/REALISTIC FICTION— Middle
Readers
Auch, Mary Jane The Road to Home; The Journey to Nowhere
Avi The Secret School
Babbitt, Natalie The Eyes of the Amaryllis
Banks, Kate Dillon Dillon
Bauer, Joan Close to Famous, Rules of the Road, Sticks
Beatty, Patricia Lupita Manana*
Betancourt, Jeanne My Name is Brian*
Blume, Judy Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Burg, Shana Laugh with the Moon
Byars, Betsy Summer of the Swans
Caldwell, V.M. The Ocean Within
Cerrito, Angela The End of the Line
Cleary, Beverly Dear Mr. Henshaw; Henry Huggins; Strider
Clements, Andrew Frindle; The Landry News; Lunch Money; The School
Story; Things Not Seen
Cowing, Sue You Will Call Me Drog
Creech, Sharon Bloomability; Love That Dog; Hate That Cat; Granny
Torrelli Makes Soup; Chasing Redbird; The Castle Corona
Curtis, Christopher Paul The Watsons Move to Birmingham*, The Mighty
Miss Malone*
Danzinger, Paula P.S. Longer Letter Later; Snail Mail No
More; Pistachio Prescription
De Clements, Barthe Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade
DiCamillo, Kate Because of Winn-Dixie; The Tiger Rising
Draper, Sharon Forged by Fire*
Fenner, Carol Yolanda’s Genius
Fitzgerald, Dawn Soccer Chicks Rule
Fitzhugh, Louise Harriet the Spy
Gantos, Jack Joey Pigza Loses Control; What Would Joey Do?
George, Jean Craighead The Missing 'Gator of Gumbo-Limbo
Giff, Patricia Reilly The Girl Who Knew It All; Left-Handed Shortstop;
Pictures of Hollis Woods
Henkes, Kevin Olive’s Ocean
Holt, Kimberly Willis When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
Ibbotson, Eva Journey to the River Sea
Jacobson, Jennifer Richard Small as an Elephant
Kehret, Peg My Brother Made Me Do It
Kerr, Judith When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit*
Konigsburg, E.L. The View From Saturday
Korman, Gordon No More Dead Dogs; Ungifted
L'Engle, Madeleine Meet the Austins
Lord, Bette Bao In the Year of the Boar & Jackie Robinson*
Martin, Ann M. A Corner of the Universe
Mass, Wendy A Mango Shaped Space; Every Soul a Star; Jeremy Fink and
the Meaning of Life
Mohr, Nicholasa Felita*; Going Home*
Palacio, R.J. Wonder
Paterson, Katherine The Great Gilly Hopkins; Flip-Flop Girl; The Same
Stuff as Stars
Peck, Richard The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp
Price, Susan Ghost Song*
Rocklin, Joanne One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street
Sachar, Louis Holes
Shreve, Susan Trout and Me
Stead, Rebecca Liar and Spy
Streatfield, Noel Theater Shoes
Taylor, Theodore The Maldonado Miracle*
Turnage, Sheila Three Times Lucky
White, Ruth Bell Prater’s Boy
Yep, Laurence Ribbons*
Conflict/REALISTIC FICTION—Young
Adults
Alexie, Sherman The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Avi A Place Called Ugly; Nothing But the Truth
Bauer, Joan Hope Was Here; Peeled; Rules of the Road; Stand Tall; Sticks;
Close to Famous
Blume, Judy Deenie; Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Borland, Hal When the Legends Die*
Brashares, A. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books
Byars, Betsy Summer of the Swans
Cabot, Meg All-American Girl, Shadowland, Avalon High
Cerrito, Angela The End of the Line
Cormier, Robert The Chocolate War; Beyond the Chocolate War
Haddix, Margaret Peterson Don’t You Dare Read This Mrs. Dumphrey
Hamilton, Virginia M.C. Higgins the Great*
Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders
Holland, Isabelle The Man Without a Face
Holman, Felice Slake’s Limbo*
Koss, Amy Goldman Side Effects
Laird, Elizabeth Kiss the Dust
Les Becquets, Diane The Stones of Mourning Creek
Levoy, Myron Alan and Naomi*
Moore, Yvette Freedom Songs*
Myers, Walter Dean Won't Know Till I Get There
Neri, Greg Ghetto Cowboy
Nielsen, Susin The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
O’Connor, Sheila Sparrow Road
O'Neal, Zibby The Language of Goldfish
Paterson, Katherine Jacob Have I Loved
Peters, Julie Anne Define Normal
Rawls, Wilson Where the Red Fern Grows
Salm, Arthur Anyway*: *A Story About Me with 138 Footnotes, 27
Exaggerations, and 1 Plate of Spaghetti
Scheier, Leah Secret Letters
Sebestyen, Ouida Far From Home*
Singer, Marilyn Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls
Smith, Jennifer E. Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Spinelli, Jerry Maniac Magee*; Stargirl; Wringer; Crash
Staples, Suzanne Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind*
Tashjian, Janet The Gospel According to Larry
Thomas, Joyce Carol, ed. A Gathering of Flowers (short stories)*
Uchida, Yoshiko Journey Home*
Van Draanen, Wendelin Flipped
Wartski, Maureen Crane A Boat to Nowhere*; A Long Way From Home*
Whitaker, Alecia Queen of Kentucky
Wojciechowska, Maia Shadow of a Bull*
Wolff, Virginia Auwer True Believer; Make Lemonade; The Full House
Yee, Lisa Warp Speed
Zindel, Paul The Pigman
FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION—Middle
Readers
Alexander, Lloyd The High King; Time Cat
Banks, Lynn Reid Indian In the Cupboard Series
Bernstein, Nina Magic by the Book
Burgis, Stephanie Kat, Incorrigible
Clements, Andrew School Story; Things Not Seen, Lunch Money
Coatsworth, Elizabeth The Cat Who Went to Heaven
Colfer, Eoin
Artemis Fowl series
Collins, Suzanne Gregor and the Code of Claw; Gregor the Overlander
Conley, Jane Leslie R.T. Rats of NIMH series
Corder, Zizou LionBoy
Coville, Bruce Juliet Dove: Queen of Love; Jeremy Thatcher: Dragon
Hatcher; The Monster’s Ring
Cowing, Sue You Will Call Me Drog
Dahl, Roald Matilda, The Witches, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The
BFG
DiCamillo, Kate A Tale of Despereaux
DuPrau, Jeanne City of Ember; The People of Sparks
Farmer, Nancy The Ear, the Eye and the Arm*; Sea of Trolls, The House of
the Scorpion; The Land of the Silver Apples
Ferris, Jean Once Upon a Marigold
Fletcher, Susan. Shadow Spinner*
Funke, Cornelia The Thief Lord; Dragon Rider; Inkheart
Gaiman, Neil Coraline
Gidwitz, Adam A Tale Dark and Grim; In a Glass Grimmly
Haddix, Margaret Peterson Just Ella; The Hidden series; Running Out of
Time; The Missing series; Turnabout
Hale, Shannon Princess Academy
Harper, Suzanne The Unseen World of Poppy Malone: A Gaggle of Goblins
Harris, Lewis A Taste for Red
Hartley, A.J. Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact
Hawking, Lucy and Stephen George’s Secret Key to the Universe; George’s
Cosmic Treasure Hunt
Healy, Christopher The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom
Hunter, Mollie A Stranger Came Ashore
Ibbotson, Eva Island of the Aunts; Dial-A-Ghost; Secret of Platform 13;
Which Witch?; The Ogre of Oglefort
Jacques, Brian Redwall series
Juster, Norman Phantom Tollbooth
Kloepfer, John The Zombie Chasers
L'Engle, Madeleine Wind in the Door
Levine, Gail Carson Ella Enchanted; The Two Princesses
of Bamarre; The Wish; Ever; Fairest
Lewis, C.S. Chronicles of Narnia series
Loftin, Nikki Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy
Mould, Chris Pip and the Wood Witch Curse
Nelson, O.T. The Girl Who Owned A City
Nimmo, Jenny Charlie Bone series
O'Brien, Robert Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Oliver, Lauren Liesl & Po
Rowlings, J.K. Harry Potter series
Sage, Angie Septimus Heap series
Schlitz, Laura Amy Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!; Splendors and Glooms
Selden, George The Cricket in Times Square
Sharp, Margery The Rescuers
Shulman, Polly The Grimm Legacy
Verrillo, Erica F. Ellissa’s Odyssey; Ellissa’s Quest; World’s End
White, E.B. Charlotte's Web; Stuart Little; The Trumpet of the Swan
FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION—Young
Adults
Adams, Douglas Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Alexander, Lloyd Taran Wanderer
Ashby, Amanda Fairy Bad Day
Asimov, Isaac I, Robot
Barry, Dave Peter Pan and the Starcatcher series
Barron, T.A. Child of the Dark Prophecy; Shadows of the Stars
Bradbury, Ray The Illustrated Man; Something Wicked This Way Comes
Bradford, Richard Red Sky at Morning
Canavan, Trudi The High Lord; The Wizard Heir; The Warrior Heir
Card, Orson Scott Ender’s Game; Ender’s Shadow
Chabon, Michael Summerland
Clement-Davies, David Fire Bringer; The Sight; Fell
Clements, Andrew Things Not Seen
Cooper, Susan King of Shadows; Over Sea, Under Stone
Gier, Kerstin Ruby Red
Haddix, Margaret Peterson Turnabout; Escape from Memory
Harris, Rachel My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century
Hartley, A.J. Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact
Hoffman, Mary Starganza series
Hurmence, Belinda A Girl Called Boy*
Ibbotson, Eva Secret of Platform 13; Which Witch
James, Mary Shoebag
Kendall, Carol The Gammage Cup
Keyes, Morgan Darkbeast
Kloepfer, John The Zombie Chasers series
Lasky, Kathryn Guardians of Ga’Hoole series
LeGuin, Ursula A Wizard of Earthsea
Lowry, Lois Gathering Blue
McCaffrey, Anne Dragondrums; Dragonflight
McKinley, Robin The Blue Sword; Spindle’s End; Beauty: A Retelling of the
Story of Beauty and the Beast
Meloy, Maile The Apothecary
O’Brien, Robert C. Z for Zachariah
Paolini, Christopher Eragon series
Patterson, James Maximum Ride series
Peters, Andrew Ravenwood
Pullman, Philip His Dark Materials series
Putney,Mary Jo Dark Mirror
Riorden, Rick Percy Jackson series
Schlitz, Laura Amy Splendors and Glooms
Schmidt, Gary Straw Into Gold
Selznick, Brian The Invention of Hugo Cabret; Wonderstuck
Snyder, Zilpha The Egypt Game
Stroud, Jonathan The Bartimaeus Trilogy
Sutcliff, Rosemary The Dragonslayer
Tan, Shaun Lost & Found
Tingle, Rebecca The Edge on the Sword
Tolkien, J.R.R. Lord of the Rings series
Verne, Jules Around The World in 80 Days
Wells, H.G. War of the Worlds
ANIMAL—Middle Readers
Anderson, Laurie Halse Homeless; Manatee Blues; Say Goodbye
Applegate, Katherine The One and Only Ivan
Armstrong, William H. Sounder
Conly, Jane Leslie R.T., Margaret, and the Rats of NIMH;
Racso and the Rats of NIMH
DiCamillo, Kate Because of Winn-Dixie; The Tale of Despereaux
George, Jean Craighead Julie of the Wolves*; My Side of the Mountain;
Far Side of the Mountain
Grogan, John Marley: A Dog Like No Other
Henry, Marguerite King of the Wind
Herlong, M.H. Buddy
Hesse, Karen Music of the Dolphins
Hiaasen, Carl Chomp
Hobbs, Valerie Sheep
Karwoski, Gail Langer Seaman: The Dog Who Explored the West with
Lewis & Clark
Kadohata, Cynthia Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam
Korman, Gordon The Swindle series
Martin, Ann M. A Dog’s Life: The Autobiography of a Stray
Matthews, L.S. A Dog for Life
Naylor, Phyllis R. Shiloh; Saving Shiloh; Shiloh Season
Nazum, K.A. The Leanin’ Dog
Neville, Emily It's Like This, Cat
North, Sterling Rascal; The Wolfling
O'Brien, Robert C. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
O’Dell, Scott Island of the Blue Dolphins*
Selden, George The Cricket in Times Square
Sharp, Margery The Rescuers
Smith, Roland The Captain’s Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark
Tribe*; Elephant Run*; Thunder Cave*; Cryptid Hunters*
Taylor, Theodore Trouble With Tuck; Tuck Triumphant
White, E.B. Charlotte's Web; Stuart Little; The Trumpet of The Swan
Wojciechowska, Maia Shadow of the Bull*
Bell, Juliet Kepler’s Dream
Bellairs, John Any of the John Bellairs books
Berlin, Eric The Potato Chip Puzzles, The Puzzling World of Winston Breen
Broach, Elise Missing on Superstition Mountain
Carey, Benedict Poison Most Vial
Dahl, Michael Finnegan Zwake Mystery series
Feinstein, John Change-Up: Mystery at the World Series
Fitzgerald, John The Great Brain series
Hahn, Mary Downing Closed for the Season
Hoobler, Dorothy & Thomas In Darkness, Death; A Samurai Never Fears
Death; The Sword That Cut the Burning Grass
Korman, Gordon On the Run series; Swindled series
Lawrence, Caroline The Roman Mysteries series; The Case of the Deadly
Desperados
L’Engle, Madeleine Wind in the Door; A Wrinkle in Time
Peacock, Shane Death in the Air; Eye of the Crow; Vanishing Girl
Peck, Richard Ghost I Have Been; The Ghost Belonged To Me; Are You in
the House Alone?
Raskin, Ellen The Westing Game
Snicket, Lemony Series of Unfortunate Events series
Springer, Nancy An Enola Holmes Mystery series
VanDraanen, Wendelin Sammy Keyes series
ANIMAL —Young Adults
MYSTERY—Young Adults
Burnford, Sheila The Incredible Journey
Durrell, Gerald My Family and Other Animals
Farley, Walter The Black Stallion
Gipson, Fred Old Yeller
Herriot, James All Creatures Great and Small
Hiaasen, Carl Chomp
Kipling, Rudyard Just So Stories
Kjelgaard, James Big Red
Langton, Jean The Fledgling
London, Jack White Fang
Mowat, Farley Never Cry Wolf; The Dog Who Wouldn't Be
Rawls, Wilson Where the Red Fern Grows
MYSTERY—Middle Readers
Avi Midnight Magic; Murder at Midnight
Allison, Jennifer Gilda Joyce series
Barrett, Tracy The Beast of Blackslope, The Case That Time Forgot, The
Hundred-Year-Old Secret
Beil, Michael D. Red Blazer Girls series
Aiken, Joan The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Christie, Agatha Any of the Agatha Christie books
Clark, Sherryl Dying To Tell Me
Cooney, Caroline Both Sides of Time; Face on the Milk Carton; Voice on
the Radio; Wanted!; Whatever Happened to Janie?
Duncan, Lois Daughters of Eve; Twisted Window
Frost, Helen Hidden
Holland, Isabelle The Man Without a Face
Mazer, Norma The Solid Gold Kid; I Love You, Stupid
Nixon, Joan Lowry The Weekend was Murder; Murdered, My Sweet
Peck, Richard Are You In the House Alone?; A Day No Pigs Would Die
Pullman, Philip The Sally Lockhart quartet
Scheier, Leah Secret Letters
Thomson, Sarah L. Mercy: The Last New England Vampire
Valentine, Jenny Double
HUMOR—Middle Readers
Blume, Judy Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and others
Cleary, Beverly Dear Mr. Henshaw; Henry Huggins; Strider
Curtis, Christopher Paul Mr. Chickbee's Funny Money
Dahl, Roald Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Fitzgerald, John The Great Brain series
Hiaasen, Carl Chomp
Howe, James and Deborah Howe Bunnicula; Howliday Inn
Kinney, Jeff Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
Mowat, Farley The Dog Who Wouldn't Be
Peck, Richard A Long Way From Chicago; A Year Down Yonder
Robinson, Barbara Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Rockwell, Thomas How to Eat Fried Worms
Rodgers, Mary Freaky Friday
Smith, Clete Barrett Aliens on Vacation; any Intergalactic Bed &
Breakfast series book
HISTORICAL FICTION—
Middle Readers
Almond, David Kit’s Wilderness
Alvarez, Julia Before We Were Free*
Anderson, Laurie Halse Fever, 1793; Forge; Chains*
Avi Midnight Magic; Crispin: The Cross of Lead; Don’t You Know There’s
a War On?; Secret School
Babbitt, Natalie The Eyes of the Amaryllis
Beatty, Patricia The Coach That Never Came; Charley Skedaddle
Blackwood, Gary Shakespeare’s Scribe; The Shakespeare Stealer
Bruchac, Joseph. Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines*
Clark, Margaret Goff Freedom Crossing*
Crossley-Holland, Kevin The Seeing Stone: Arthur
Curtis, Christopher Paul Elijah of Buxton*; Watsons Go to Birmingham*
Cushman, Karen Midwife's Apprentice; Alchemy and Meggy Swann;
Matilda Bone
Ellis, Deborah The Breadwinner
Fast, Howard April Morning
Fletcher, Susan Shadow Spinner*
Forbes, Esther A Mirror for Witches; Johnny Tremain
Giff, Patricia Reilly Lily’s Crossing
Hesse, Karen Letters From Rifka*; Out of the Dust
Lasky, Kathryn The Night Journey*, Ashes*
Latham, Jean Lee Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
Lawrence, Caroline The Roman Mysteries series
Lawson, Robert Ben and Me
Levine, Gail Carson Dave at Night*
Lewis, Elizabeth Foreman Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze*
Lowry, Lois Number the Stars*
Mazer, Harry Heroes Don’t Run; The Last Mission
Meyer, Carolyn Beware, Princess Elizabeth; Mary, Bloody Mary; Doomed
Queen Anne; Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de Medici; The True
Adventures of Charley Darwin
O'Dell, Scott My Name is Not Angelica*; Streams to the River, River to the
Sea
Park, Linda Sue A Single Shard*
Paterson, Katherine Jip, His Story; Master Puppeteer*; Sign of the
Chrysanthemum*
Petry, Ann Tituba of Salem Village*
Preus, Margi Shadow on the Mountain
Reiss, Joanna The Upstairs Room*; The Journey Back*
Rinaldi, Ann Come Juneteenth*; Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons*;
Keep Smiling Through; Redheaded Princess; Wolf by the Ears
Schlitz, Laura Amy Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval
Village; Splendors and Glooms
Speare, Elizabeth The Witch of Blackbird Pond; Sign of the Beaver*
Whelan, Gloria Homeless Bird*; Angel on the Square
Willard, Barbara If All the Swords in England
Yep, Lawrence Dragonwings*
Yolen, Jane Devil's Arithmetic*
HISTORICAL FICTION—Young Adults
Aiken, Joan The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Alexander, Lloyd The Arkadians
Avi The Fighting Ground; Don’t You Know There’s a War On?
Bagdasarian, Adam Forgotten Fire*
Beatty, Patricia Lupita Manana*
Bell, William Forbidden City*
Bennett, Cherie and Jeff Gottesfield Anne Frank and Me, The Play
Blos, Joan A Gathering of Days
Bond, Victoria and T.R. Simon Zora and Me
Borton de Trevino, Elizabeth I, Juan de Pareja*
Boyne, John The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: A Fable
Broach, Elise Shakespeare’s Secret
Buffie, Margaret Winter Shadows
Cather, Willa Shadows on the Rock
Collier, James Lincoln My Brother Sam is Dead; Who is Carrie*; Jumpship
to Freedom*
Cooper, Susan King of Shadows
Dalgliesh, Alice The Courage of Sarah Noble
Draper, Sharon M. Forged by Fire
Edmonds, Walter D. Drums Along the Mohawk*
Fitzmaurice, Kathryn A Diamond in the Desert
Fox, Paula The Slave Dancer*
Greene, Bette Summer of My German Soldier*
Hamilton, Virginia House of Dies Drear*; Mystery of Drear House*
Hesse, Karen Out of the Dust; Witness
Hunt, Irene Across Five Aprils
Hurmence, Belinda A Girl Called Boy*
Keith, Harold Rifles for Watie
Laird, Elizabeth Kiss the Dust
Levine, Kristin The Lions of Little Rock
Lewis, Elizabeth Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze*
Liele, Janet Taylor The Art of Keeping Cool
Marsden, Carolyn The White Zone*
Matas, Carol In My Enemy’s House*
Montgomery, Lucy Anne of Green Gables
Myers, Walter Dean Fallen Angels
Na, An A Step from Heaven
Nairdoo, Beverley Burn My Heart*
Neri, Greg Ghetto Cowboy
Nixon, Joan Lowery Land of Hope*; Land of Promises*; Land of Dreams*
Pausewang, Gudrun The Final Journey
Pearsall, Shelley Jump into the Sky
Peck, Richard The River Between Us; A Season of Gifts; Long Way from
Chicago
Pinkney, Andrea Davis Bird in a Box
Richter, Hans Peter Friedrich*
Rinaldi, Ann Any young adult book by this author
Schlitz, Laura Amy Splendors and Glooms
Schmidt, Gary D. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
Sebestyen, Ouida Far From Home*
Shaara, Michael Killer Angels
Staples, Suzanne Fisher Shiva’s Fire*
Taylor, Mildred The Land
Temple, Frances Taste of Salt: Story of Modern Haiti*
Thomson, Sarah L. Mercy: The Last New England Vampire
Uchida, Yoshiko Journey Home*
Wiseman, David Jeremy Visick
Wojciechowska, Maia Shadow of a Bull*
Nonfiction
We have added non-fiction books to our summer
reading list because many readers enjoy true stories
and factual information. There are many different
subjects covered in non-fiction books; please feel
free to choose a title from an area that interests
you. This is only a starting point.
NONFICTION—MIDDLE READERS
Agard, John and Satoshi Kitamura The Young Inferno
Allen, Thomas B. Mr. Lincoln’s High Tech War
Batten, Jack The War to End All Wars: The Story of World War I
Bausum, Ann Denied, Detained, Deported: Stories of the Dark Side of
American Immigration*
Butzer, C.M. Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel
Chevat, Richie The Omnivore’s Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You
Eat
Hakim, Joy A History of US series
Hakim, Joy Story of Science series
Hoose, Phillip M. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice*
Jiang, Ji-Li The Magical Monkey King: Classic Chinese Tales
Jurmain, Suzanne Yellow Death: A True Story of Medical Sleuthing
Martin, Russell The Mysteries of Beethoven’s Hair
Murphy, Jim Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting
Osborne, Linda Barrett Traveling the Freedom Road: From Slavery and
Civil War through Reconstruction
St. George, Judith The Duel: The Parallel Lives of Alexander Hamilton
and Aaron Burr
Swanson, James L. Chasing Lincoln’s Killer
Walker, Sally M. Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and
Colonial Maryland
NONFICTION–YOUNG ADULT
Aronson, Marc Art Attack: A Short Cultural History of the Avant-Garde
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell They Called Themselves the KKK: The Birth of
an American Terrorist Group
Bowers, Rick Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network
That Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement
Heiligman, Deborah Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith
Jacobs, Thomas A. Teen Cyberbullying Investigated: Where Do Your
Rights End and Consequences Begin?
Simmons, Rachel Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls
Rubalcaba, Jill Every Bone Tells a Story: Hominin Discoveries, Deductions
and Debates
BIOGRAPHIES/MEMOIRS–Middle Readers
Any of the Great Lives Series
Adler, David A. Frederick Douglass: A Noble Life*
Angel, Ann John Glenn: Space Pioneer
Cameron, Ann The Kidnapped Prince: The Life of Olaudah Equiano*
Coren, Michael J.R.R. Tolkien: The Man Who Created The Lord of the
Rings
Fleischman, Sid Sir Charlie Chaplin: The Funniest Man in the World
Frank, Anne Diary of a Young Girl*
Gilbreth, Frank B. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey Belles on Their Toes
Guthridge, Sue Thomas A. Edison: Young Inventor
Jiang, Ji-li Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution
Krass, Peter Sojourner Truth*
Lord, Walter A Night to Remember
McClard, Megan Harriet Tubman, Slavery and the Underground Railroad*
Nelson, Marilyn Carver*
Paulsen, Gary Guts: The True Story Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books
Seaver, James E. Captured by Indians: The Life of Mary Jemison
Shorto, Russell Abraham Lincoln: To Preserve the Union
Stone, Tanya Lee Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream
Tillage, Leon Walter Leon’s Story*
BIOGRAPHIES/MEMOIRS—Young
Adults
Angel, Ann Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing
Calcines, Eduado F. Leaving Glorytown: One Boy’s Struggle Under Castro
Hillenbrand, Laura Seabiscuit: An American Legend; Unbroken: A World
War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemtion
Madden, Kerry Harper Lee
Smithson, Ryan Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI
Spiegelman, Art Maus: A Survivor’s Tale*
Wiesel, Elie Night*
Woodson, Jacqueline Brown Girl Dreaming
Wright, Simeon Simeon’s Story: An Eyewitness Account of the Kidnapping
of Emmett Till*
SPORTS (Fiction & Nonfiction) —
Middle Readers
Aronson, Sarah Beyond Lucky
Christopher, Matt Soccer Halfbacks
Cochrane, Mick The Girl Who Threw Butterflies
Dygard, Thomas Quarterback Walk-on
Giff, Patricia The Girl Who Knew It All; Left-handed Shortstop
Green, Tim Unstoppable; Football Genius; Deep Zone; The Big Time
Gutman, Dan Jackie & Me; Honus & Me; Shoeless Joe & Me
Lupica, Mike Any young adult sports book by this author
Ritter, John H. The Boy Who Saved Baseball; Choosing Up Sides; Over the
Wall; Under the Baseball Moon
Tunis, John R. The Kid Comes Back; Highpockets; The Kid From
Tomkinsville
SPORTS (Fiction & Nonfiction) —
Young Adults
Alexander, Kwame The Crossover
Aronson, Sarah Beyond Lucky
Fitzmaurice, Kathryn A Diamond in the Desert
Green, Tim Unstoppable; Football Genius; Deep Zone; The Big Time
Lipsyte, Robert The Contender*; The Brave*
Myers, Walter Dean Hoops*
Soto, Gary Pacific Crossing*
Environmentalism (Fiction &
Nonfiction) —Middle Readers
Babbitt, Natalie The Eyes of the Amaryllis
Conley, Jane Leslie Racso and the Rats of NIMH
George, Jean Craighead The Missing 'gator of Gumbo-Limbo; My Side of
the Mountain; Far Side of the Mountain
Hiaasen, Carl Hoot; Flush; Scat
Rohmer, Harriet Heroes of the Environment: True Stories of People Who
are Helping to Protect our Environment
ENVIRONMENTalism—Young Adults
Carson, Rachel The Silent Spring
Gore, Al Earth in the Balance
L'Engle, Madeleine A Ring of Endless Light
Paulsen, Gary Tracker; The Island
Sivertsen, Linda Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Leading an
Eco-Friendly Life
Classics for Middle Readers and Young Adults
Because there is a wide range of readability, use the following difficulty scale
as a general guideline when choosing classics:
(1) easy reading, vocabulary, large type, and numerous illustrations
(2) moderate level of vocabulary, type size, illustrations, and style
(3) challenging reading, vocabulary, style, and format
Alcott, Louisa May Little Women (3)
Andersen, Hans Christian Fairy Tales (2)
Bagnold, Enid National Velvet (1)
Barrie, James Peter Pan (2-3)
Baum, L. Frank The Wizard of Oz (1)
Brontë, Charlotte Jane Eyre (3)
Burnett, Frances H. The Secret Garden; Little
Princess (2)
Crane, Stephen The Red Badge of Courage (3)
Collodi, Carlo Pinocchio (1)
Defoe, Daniel Robinson Crusoe (3)
Dodge, Mary Mapes Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates (3)
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (3)
Dumas, Alexandre Count of Monte Cristo (3); The Three Musketeers (2)
Farley, Walter The Black Stallion (1)
Irving, Washington Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories (2)
Kipling, Rudyard The Jungle Book* (2)
Knight, Eric Lassie Come Home (1)
Lenski, Lois Strawberry Girl (1)
Lindgren, Astrid Pippi Longstocking (2)
Lofting, Hugh The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle (1-2)
London, Jack Call of the Wild (3); White Fang (3)
Merrill, Jean The Pushcart War* (2)
Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan The Yearling (2)
Sewell, Anna Black Beauty (1)
Shelley, Mary Frankenstein (3)
Spyri, Johanna Heidi (1-2)
Stevenson, Robert Louis The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (3);
Kidnapped (2); Treasure Island (2)
Stoker, Bram Dracula (3)
Travers, Pamela L. Mary Poppins (1)
Twain, Mark The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (3); The Adventures of
Tom Sawyer (2); The Prince and the Pauper (3)
Verne, Jules Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (2); Journey to the
Center of the Earth (2)
Webster, Jean Daddy Long Legs (2)
Wyss, J.R. Swiss Family Robinson (3)
Nichols
School
1250 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY 14216
www.nicholsschool.org
Middle School 716-332-5100
Middle School Fax 716-877-1090