Author's Website - Mike Lupica
Reading level: 5.3
Twelve-year-old Michael Arroyo loves to play baseball. He has a good chance to pitch his way into the Little League World Series. Despite his talent, there are many obstacles in his way. Coaches for the other teams begin to question Micheal's age and wants proof that he's really twelve. His father dies after bringing Michael and his brother to the United States from Cuba, leaving the boys orphans. Michael has no parents and no birth certificate to prove his age. If Social Services finds out his secret, Micheal fears being separated from his brother, Carlos. How will Michael make ends meet, get his birth certificate, get back on the mound and avoid being separated from his brother? Find out in Heat by Mike Lupica.
Author's Website - Mike Lupica Reading level: 5.3
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Koji is a failure and unlucky. After failing as an apprentice to a dye maker, he is sent back home to his family. Koji runs away from home into the forest. In the forest, he is captured by a clan of Ninjas. The Ninjas are a mysterious group with impressive skills who have set themselves against the ruling samurai. Koji is given a choice, "Join us, or die!"
Based on facts, Blue Fingers gives you an opportunity to learn more about an era of history not often found in YA fiction. Immerse yourself in the world of sixteenth-century feudal Japan and the mysterious and dangerous world of Ninjas. Reading level: 6.3 "The character of Mordred is usually seen in Arthurian legends as the bad guy. He is the one who led to the downfall of King Arthur. We see of different side of Mordred in this tale of King Arthur and Camelot. Three women have sought out Mordred and asked for his help. Lady Alayna pleads with Mordred to help her when her 5-year-old daughter is kidnapped. Kiera has been kidnapped by an evil wizard who hopes to obtain Kiera's magical powers. Later, Nimue, who has been rumored to have killed Merlin, seeks Mordred's help. And finally, Kiera, now 14, needs Mordred's help when Camelot begins to fall apart. Join Mordred as he faces the demands of his position and learn what may have been going on in Mordred's life that led to the breakup of the Round Table."
-From Nancy Keane's Book Talks Quick and Simple Author's Website - Vivian Vande Velde Reading level: 5.7 Boniface and Prosper, upon the threat of being separated after the death of their parents, run away from Germany to Venice. The boys hook up with a band of homeless kids led by The Thief Lord. The Thief Lord never reveals his identity and never stays long in the abandoned theater where the kids live. He steals and gives the kids enough food and clothes to survive. The Thief Lord takes the boys on many fantastical adventures. Soon, the boys are being hunted down by a detective hired by their aunt and uncle and a greedy man named Barbarossa in search of a hidden treasure. Why is Barbarossa after the boys? Who is The Thief Lord and what secrets does he hold?
The Thief Lord - Movie Trailer Cornelia Funke - Author Website Reading Level: 6.8 "Listen, My Grandchildren.... You asked me about this medal of mine. There is much to be said about it. This small piece of metal holds a story that I was not allowed to speak for many winters. It is the true story of how Navajo Marines helped America win a great war.... I must remember not only the great secret with which I was trusted, but also all that happened to me and those like me."
For several decades after WWII, this story was classified by the United States. Just recently was this story allowed to become public. During WWII, the Navajo were used as code talkers using the Navajo language as the code. Ned Begay, a Navajo who joined the Marines at the age of sixteen, played a very important role in the war against Japan. In the past, the Japanese were able to break every code the Marines used to communicate. However, they were never able to break the code of the Navajo language. This novel is based on the story of the brave, young Navajo Native Americans working as code talkers during WWII. Code Talker Book Trailer Reading Level: 6.4 Imagine living in a city where there is no sky, sun, moon or stars. The only source of light comes from huge flood lights mounted around the city. The needs of the citizens of Ember are met through huge storerooms where people can obtain everything from baby food to light bulbs. But people are starting to notice something is wrong in the City of Ember. The lights of Ember are beginning to flicker and shut off completely for minutes at a time, leaving the city in complete and utter darkness. The storerooms are almost empty. The light bulbs are almost gone. No one is permitted to leave Ember and no one knows what lies beyond. Two hundred years ago, the original Builders of Ember left a secret message in a time-locked box with instructions on what to do when it is time to leave the city, but the box and the message are all but forgotten.
It is Assignment Day. Twelve-year-old Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow are ready to draw their work assignments for the next two years. Lina wants to be a messenger and have the freedom to run around the city. Doon wants to be assigned as a pipe worker, far below the city where an underground river powers a generator that provides electricity to the city. They each eventually get the job they want. Lina discovers the message left by The Builders of Ember, but the paper is full of holes and parts of the message are missing. Doon discovers a hidden, secret door underneath the city. Can the two decipher the message from The Builders and find a way out to save Ember before the lights go out forever? Jeanne DuPrau - Author Website City of Ember - Movie Trailer Reading level: 5.1 Other books in the series: The People of Sparks, The Prophet of Yonwood, The Diamond of Darkhold "Will loves to dig. So when his father suddenly disappears down one of the tunnels he's dug, Will knows he's got to go after him. But he has no idea how many surprises wait for him underground."
Strange, pale, musty-smelling men in long coats, hats and sunglasses are appearing around town. An unexplainable glowing orb turns up at the museum that Will's father works in. The tunnel Will and his friend, Chester, are digging is mysteriously blocked. Will's father discovers that a row of townhouses has an extra flue between each house that extends far into the ground. Will's father disappears one night down a tunnel he was secretly digging. Will and Chester go in search of Will's father. What awaits them below the town of Highfield? What happened to his father? Read Tunnels to discover the dangerous secrets living below London. T unnels - Book Trailer Tunnels - Scholastic Video Book Talk Tunnels - Website Reading Level: 8.4 "Ryan has to keep writing, no matter how much it hurts. He has to explain what happened that night."
Ryan is trying to remember what happened that night. He is secretly writing the full story in a journal. He's forbidden, since the accident, to see his best friend, Sarah. While Ryan is isolated and laboring to write the story in his journal, Sarah continues to investigate the mystery surrounding Skeleton Creek with her video camera. She secretly sends password-protected links to the videos to Ryan through email. "Do I wish we hadn’t gone into the woods? Do I wish Sarah hadn’t shot the video, as if that might have kept everything from happening? Sure. But that didn’t change anything. We kept working to find out the secret of Skeleton Creek’s name. And we ignored all the danger signs. We went too far, we asked too many questions. And we found out things that we’d never wanted to learn." Here is the super-cool part about this series! The reader can view Sarah's videos through a link and password provided in the story. This unique combination of reading and watching aids in drawing readers into the story. Read more here about Sarah's videos and how to access them (About Sarah's videos). Skeleton Creek Scholastic Book Trailer Skeleton Creek Website Other books in this series: Ghost in the Machine, The Crossbones, The Raven Reading level: 4.8 |