Choosing great books
When you are trying to find a great book to read, keep these hints in mind:
It's ok to read books that are
*easy some of the time (a fast read because you know all of the words & understand the plot and characters without too much thought)
**right on target most of the time (you know most of the vocabulary words, and can understand the rest through context clues, and you carry on some thoughtful questioning and commenting in your head as you read to help you understand the plot and characters)
***sometimes challenging (you may have to ask about or look up some words, and you may have to reread some passages to understand what has happened in the story)
Read from a variety of genre (types) of books, including, but not limited to the following:
mystery science fiction historical fiction
non-fiction poetry tall tales horror
romance young adult fiction
fairy tales essays adventure
Picking the right book for you - if the following lists and websites don't help, ask your parents, teachers, or a local librarian for advice!
Recommended titles (alphabetical by title) :
| A-E | The Afterlife by Gary Soto, Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville, Battle Dress by Amy Efaw, Bound by Donna Jo Napoli. Breaking Rank by Krusten D. Randall, Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (Newbery Honor), The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, The Color of Absence: 12 stories about loss and hope edited by James Howe, Define Normal by Julie Anne Peters |
| F-M |
The Face on the Milk Carton (& series) by Caroline B. Cooney, Hanging onto Max by Margaret Bechard, Heaven by Angela Johnson, The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley, Hoot by Carl Hiaasen (Newbery Honor), Leaving Fishers by Margaret Peterson Haddix, the Losing Christina series by Caroline B. Cooney, A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass, The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman, Morning Girl by Michael Dorris |
| N-R |
On the Fringe edited by Donald R. Gallo, One Fat Summer by Robet Lipstyle, One-Eyed Cat by Paula Fox, Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, Quiver by Stephanie Spinner, Park's Quest by Katherine Paterson, Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff (Newbery Award), Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred D. Taylor |
| S-Z | A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples, Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson (Newbery Honor), Sights by Suzanna Vance, Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, A Step from Heaven by An Na, Tangerine by Edward Bloor, Turnabout by Margaret Peterson Haddix (ALA Best Book), Whale Talk by Cris Crutcher, When Jeff Comes Home by Catherine Atkins, When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt, Witness by Karen Hesse |
*You can read others by these authors as well!
Click here to read recommendations from the 05-06 7th grade class!
or here from the 06-07 7th grade class!
Or here from the 07-08 7th grade class...
Recommended authors (alphabetical by last name):
| A- E |
Avi, T.A. Barron, Susan Cooper, Sharon Creech, Chris Crutcher, Sharon Draper, Lois Duncan |
| F-M |
Virginia Hamilton, Brian Jacques, Kathryn Lasky, Lois Lowry, Carol Matas, Walter Dean Myers |
| N-R |
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Joan Lowry Nixon, Rodman Philbrick, Gary Paulsen, Richard Peck, Ann Rinaldi, J.K. Rowling |
| S-Z |
Louis Sachar, Jerry Spinelli, Mildred D. Taylor, Cynthia Voigt |
Websites to help you:
http://www.guysread.com/ Author Jon Scieszka produced this site especially with gentlemen in mind! All material copyright, Jon Scieszka
http://www.nancykeane.com/ Lots of titles, and updated pretty regularly with links to search
http://www.bookadventure.com/qt/booklist.asp Book Adventure-allows you to enter grade level & difficulty level, as well as categories of books you'd like to read. You can also search by title or author, and take quizzes to check your understanding.
http://www.teens-connect.com/ Part of the Columbus Metropolitan Library site, this 'teen' focused section offers book lists as well as critiques by other teens, and you can search for books through this page as well.
Want to add to this page? Submit your suggestions to Sra. Thompson in this format:
Name:
Book Title:
Author:
One paragraph summary:
Reason I'd recommend it to other teens: