What to do:
1. Start now by reading at least 3 books on the list.
2. Starting in November you'll be able to submit your vote for your favorite by February 1, 2013 at http://www.state.lib.la.us/literacy-and-reading/louisiana-young-readers-choice/
This year's books for grades 6-8 are listed below.
1. The Dead
Boys by Royce Buckingham. Teddy is
the new kid in town. He makes some very strange friends but eventually realizes
that these boys are actually dead. The sycamore tree, which seems to have
received its powers from nuclear waste, is the master villain, using its
branches to grab its victims. Teddy must try to save himself and the other
boys, but will he make it? This horror story will keep you reading but you
might not want to read it at night! IL: MG
- BL: 5.3 - AR Pts: 5.0
2. Heist
Society by Ally Carter. Kat’s friend,
Hale, arranges to have her kicked out of her exclusive boarding school where
she was attempting to lead a normal life away from her international jewel and
art thieving family. It seems that Kat’s father needs saving from an Italian
Mobster who thinks that her father stole his paintings. Book 2 in the series is Uncommon Criminals. IL: MG+ - BL: 5.5
- AR Pts: 9.0
3. Hide and
Seek by Katy Grant. When 14-year-old
Chase finds hidden “treasure” in the mountains near his family’s store in
Arizona, he discovers a mysterious note in a geocache. Chase encounters two
small boys who “need food” and when he tries to help them he gets involved in a
dangerous fight for his life. Will he find his way home and get help for
himself and the boys or will they all be lost? IL: MG - BL: 4.5
- AR Pts: 9.0
4. How to
Survive Middle School by Donna
Gephart. Eleven-year-old David Greenberg creates Talk Time videos starring his
pet hamster, Hammy, and uploads them to YouTube. He is dealing with a lot of
family and school drama and the videos are his outlet. David is popular online
but not in school. With the growing popularity of his videos there may even be
a television airing in his future. Fans of the “Wimpy Kid” books will enjoy
this one. IL: MG - BL: 3.9 - AR Pts: 6.0
5. The Limit by Kristen Landon. In this dystopian adventure,
thirteen year-old Matt is forced into a federal workhouse after his family goes
over their debt limit. While there, Matt discovers that things are not as they
seem. IL: MG - BL: 4.4 - AR Pts: 9.0
6. Little Blog
on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt
Bell. In an effort to bring their family closer, 13-year-old Gen’s mother signs
them up for a whole summer of “Frontier Camp”, which means no iPods, no cell
phones, not even electricity! When Gen sneaks her cell phone into camp and
begins to send secret texts back to her friends, they start a blog and Gen’s
stories get national attention. Add in a little romance with a fellow camper
and a jealous girl and Gen’s summer turns out to be a lot more interesting than
she ever anticipated. IL: MG+
- BL: 5.1 - AR Pts: 11.0
7. The Magnificent
12: The Call (Book 1) by Michael
Grant. Mack MacAvoy, a very ordinary twelve-year-old, has his life turned
upside down when a three-thousand-year-old man appears to inform him that he
must battle an evil force set to destroy the world. Mack’s mission is to travel
the world to discover eleven other twelve-year-olds, all of whom are members of
the Magnificent Twelve and save the world. This reluctant hero embarks on a
fast-paced, hilarious adventure that will keep readers wanting more. Book two
is The Magnificent 12: The Trap. IL: MG
- BL: 4.7 - AR Pts: 6.0
8. Max Cassidy:
Escape From Shadow Island by Paul
Adam. Only 14 years old, Max is the world’s foremost escape artist. By
following in his father’s footsteps he’s learned there is nothing he can’t get
himself out of. But with his father presumed dead and his mother imprisoned for
his murder, he is tested to his limit when he is visited by a mysterious man
claiming that Max’s father is still alive. Left with an eight digit clue, Max
leaves London for Santo Domingo and the impenetrable fortress of Shadow Island
for his greatest escape act yet. IL: MG - BL: 4.9
- AR Pts: 9.0
9. Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes. This story of Hurricane
Katrina is told through the eyes of 12-year-old Lanesha. She lives in the ninth
Ward with Mama Ya-Ya who is a seer and also the midwife who delivered Lanesha.
Mama Ya-Ya took her in and raised Lanesha since her mother died when she was
born. Lanesha can see and speak to spirits and as the water rises, she uses her
special gifts to escape and even rescue others.
IL: MG - BL: 3.3 - AR Pts: 4.0
10. The Strange
Case of Origami Yoda by Tom
Angleberger. Tommy and some of his fellow sixth graders keep a journal about
Dwight, the class loser, and his talking finger puppet. Is it the seemingly
inept Dwight spouting this sage advice or is Origami Yoda real? IL: MG
- BL: 4.7 - AR Pts: 3.0
11. Theodore
Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham. Theodore
has been around judges, lawyers and policemen all of his life and his parents
are attorneys. When any of his friends need advice they often turn to Theo
because of his interest and knowledge of legal matters. There is a highly
publicized murder trial going on and Theo gets more involved than he had ever
planned. The student he has been tutoring explains that his cousin is a key
witness in this trial but afraid to say anything. Book 2 is The Abduction. IL: MG -
BL: 5.2 - AR Pts: 8.0
12. Smile by Raina Telgemeier. In this light-hearted graphic
account, 11-year-old Raina is taken through a three year dental rollercoaster
of retainers, braces and corrective surgeries following an accident involving
her two front teeth, all the while having to navigate middle school, boys,
changing friendships and a Major Earthquake. IL: MG - BL: 2.6
- AR Pts: 1.0
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