Athlete vs. Mathlete by W. C. Mack
Category: Realistic Fiction
Synopsis: Owen Evans lights up the scoreboards. His brother, Russell, rocks the school boards. These twin brothers couldn't be more different. They've long kept the peace by going their separate ways, but all that is about to change. The new basketball coach recruits Russell for the seventh grade team and a jealous Owen has to fight to stay in the game. When someone tries to steal Russell's spot as captain of the mathlete team, will the two be able to put aside their differences in order to save his position? Or will they be sidelined?
Selling points: Perfect for fans of Matt Christopher and Andrew Clements alike, this is a lighthearted and hilarious look at what happens when brains meets brawn meets basketball. Reluctant readers, especially boys, may be drawn to this one.
AR reading level: 3.9
Paperback: $7.99
Kindle: $5.24
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15792869-athlete-vs-mathlete
Synopsis: Owen Evans lights up the scoreboards. His brother, Russell, rocks the school boards. These twin brothers couldn't be more different. They've long kept the peace by going their separate ways, but all that is about to change. The new basketball coach recruits Russell for the seventh grade team and a jealous Owen has to fight to stay in the game. When someone tries to steal Russell's spot as captain of the mathlete team, will the two be able to put aside their differences in order to save his position? Or will they be sidelined?
Selling points: Perfect for fans of Matt Christopher and Andrew Clements alike, this is a lighthearted and hilarious look at what happens when brains meets brawn meets basketball. Reluctant readers, especially boys, may be drawn to this one.
AR reading level: 3.9
Paperback: $7.99
Kindle: $5.24
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15792869-athlete-vs-mathlete
The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
Category: Fantasy
Synopsis: On a daring quest to save a life, two friends are hurled into another world, where an evil sorceress seeks to enslave them. But then the lion Aslan's song weaves itself into the fabric of a new land, a land that will be known as Narnia. And in Narnia, all things are possible.
Selling points: This is the first book in the classic Chronicles of Narnia series. Many students may already be familiar with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe but not necessarily with the prequel. Maybe they’ll read the whole series! This should also satisfy the fantasy fans.
AR reading level: 5.4
Paperback: $7.99
Kindle: $6.64
http://www.thrivingfamily.com/Family/Media/book-reviews/m/magicians-nephew.aspx
Synopsis: On a daring quest to save a life, two friends are hurled into another world, where an evil sorceress seeks to enslave them. But then the lion Aslan's song weaves itself into the fabric of a new land, a land that will be known as Narnia. And in Narnia, all things are possible.
Selling points: This is the first book in the classic Chronicles of Narnia series. Many students may already be familiar with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe but not necessarily with the prequel. Maybe they’ll read the whole series! This should also satisfy the fantasy fans.
AR reading level: 5.4
Paperback: $7.99
Kindle: $6.64
http://www.thrivingfamily.com/Family/Media/book-reviews/m/magicians-nephew.aspx
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
Category: Historical Fiction
Synopsis: "We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful" is the motto of Deza Malone's family. Deza is the smartest girl in her class in Gary, Indiana, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But it's 1936 and the Great Depression has hit Gary hard, and there are no jobs for black men. When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother, Jimmie, go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. Jimmie's beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, while Deza and Mother find a new home, and cling to the hope that they will find Father. The twists and turns of their story reveal the devastation of the Depression and prove that Deza truly is the Mighty Miss Malone.
Selling points: It was an Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2012, and who doesn’t love Christopher Paul Curtis, the author of favorites such as The Watsons Go to Birmingham and Bud, Not Buddy?
AR reading level: 4.7
Paperback: $7.99
Kindle: $7.59
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-mighty-miss-malone
Synopsis: "We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful" is the motto of Deza Malone's family. Deza is the smartest girl in her class in Gary, Indiana, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But it's 1936 and the Great Depression has hit Gary hard, and there are no jobs for black men. When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother, Jimmie, go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. Jimmie's beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, while Deza and Mother find a new home, and cling to the hope that they will find Father. The twists and turns of their story reveal the devastation of the Depression and prove that Deza truly is the Mighty Miss Malone.
Selling points: It was an Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2012, and who doesn’t love Christopher Paul Curtis, the author of favorites such as The Watsons Go to Birmingham and Bud, Not Buddy?
AR reading level: 4.7
Paperback: $7.99
Kindle: $7.59
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-mighty-miss-malone
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson
Category: Nonfiction
Synopsis: In this award-winning book, critically acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson weaves together the voices and stories of real TITANIC survivors and witnesses to the disaster -- from the stewardess Violet Jessop to Captain Arthur Rostron of the CARPATHIA, who came to the rescue of the sinking ship. Packed with heartstopping action, devastating drama, fascinating historical details, loads of archival photographs on almost every page, quotes from primary sources, and painstaking back matter, this gripping story, which follows the TITANIC and its passengers from the ship's celebrated launch at Belfast to her cataclysmic icy end, is sure to thrill and move readers.
Selling points: It’s an engaging nonfiction book! It is also a Sibert Honor Book, a YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist, an ALA Notable Children's Book, an IRA Teacher's Choice, a KIRKUS Best Young Adult Book of the Year, a HORN BOOK Fanfare Book, and a Cybils Award Finalist.
AR reading level: 7.4
Paperback: $7.99
Kindle: $5.99
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12479015-titanic
Synopsis: In this award-winning book, critically acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson weaves together the voices and stories of real TITANIC survivors and witnesses to the disaster -- from the stewardess Violet Jessop to Captain Arthur Rostron of the CARPATHIA, who came to the rescue of the sinking ship. Packed with heartstopping action, devastating drama, fascinating historical details, loads of archival photographs on almost every page, quotes from primary sources, and painstaking back matter, this gripping story, which follows the TITANIC and its passengers from the ship's celebrated launch at Belfast to her cataclysmic icy end, is sure to thrill and move readers.
Selling points: It’s an engaging nonfiction book! It is also a Sibert Honor Book, a YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist, an ALA Notable Children's Book, an IRA Teacher's Choice, a KIRKUS Best Young Adult Book of the Year, a HORN BOOK Fanfare Book, and a Cybils Award Finalist.
AR reading level: 7.4
Paperback: $7.99
Kindle: $5.99
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12479015-titanic