LibGuides: Roland Park Country School: Middle School Summer Reading

Assigned Summer Reading

Hello students! On this LibGuide you will find the titles required and recommended by the Middle School English teachers and your librarian. The required titles are organized in grade level boxes below. Each grade level is required to read three titles (including one by our next visiting author, Joseph Bruchac), but we encourage you to read more! Check out the many wonderful titles listed below the required options.

While you can no longer access our physical library, you can access many of these titles through our SORA digital library. Did you know that you can expand our SORA collection by connecting it to your public library's collection? If you don't see a title on SORA that you want to read, send an email to Ms. Fox.

You can also help to keep our local independent bookstores in business by ordering new books through their online stores. Books that you purchase through local independent bookstores will be shipped directly to you! Check out the Ivy Bookshop's RPCS Summer Reading page.

Happy Reading!

Pick One Book by Future Visiting Author Joseph Bruchac

Please make sure you read one of next year's visiting author Joseph Bruchac's books. Choose one title from this box.

Bearwalker by Joseph Bruchac; Sally Wern Comport (Illustrator)
Call Number: J FIC BRU
ISBN: 9780061123153
Publication Date: 2010-08-24
Although he is the littlest student in his class, thirteen-year-old Baron Braun calls upon the strength and wisdom of his Mohawk ancestors to face both man and beast when he tries to get help for his classmates, who are being terrorized during a school field trip in the Adirondacks.
Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
Call Number: J FIC BRU
ISBN: 9780803729216
Publication Date: 2005-03-17
After being taught in a boarding school run by whites that Navajo is a useless language, Ned Begay and other Navajo men are recruited by the Marines to become Code Talkers, sending messages during World War II in their native tongue.
The Heart of a Chief by Joseph Bruchac
Call Number: J FIC BRU
ISBN: 9780141312361
Publication Date: 2001-08-27
An eleven-year-old Penacook Indian boy living on a reservation faces his father's alcoholism, a controversy surrounding plans for a casino on a tribal island, and insensitivity toward Native Americans in his school and nearby town.
The Legend of Skeleton Man (2 book collection) by Joseph Bruchac
Call Number: J FIC BRU
ISBN: 9780062747686
Publication Date: 2019-01-15
Molly's father grew up on the Mohawk Reserve of Akwesasne, where he learned the best scary stories. One of her favorites was the legend of Skeleton Man, a gruesome tale about a man with a deadly, insatiable hunger. But ever since her parents mysteriously vanished, those spooky tales have started to feel all too real. And things go from bad to worse for Molly when a stranger shows up one day and claims to be her great-uncle. A ghostly thin man she's never seen before. A man who reminds her an awful lot of the Skeleton Man.
The Warriors by Joseph Bruchac
Call Number: J FIC BRU
ISBN: 9781581960228
Publication Date: 2004-08-01
An Iroquois boy known on the reservation for his talent at the sacred game of lacrosse moves to Maryland with his mother and grows frustrated with the misleading statements about Native Americans that his new lacrosse coach makes.
Whisper in the Dark by Joseph Bruchac; Sally Wern Comport (Illustrator)
Call Number: J FIC BRU
ISBN: 9780060580896
Publication Date: 2009-06-30
Maddy has always loved scary stories, especially the spooky legends of her Native American ancestors. But that was before she heard about the Whisperer in the Dark, the most frightening legend of all.

Rising 6th Grade

Click here for the 6th Grade Summer Reading assignment

1) All rising 6th grade students should read:

Gaby, Lost and Found by Angela Cervantes
Call Number: J FIC CER
ISBN: 9780545798631
Publication Date: 2015-04-28
224 pages

2) Choose one of the following titles to read:

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Call Number: BIO WOO
ISBN: 9780147515827
Publication Date: 2016-10-11
368 pages, Memoir in Verse
I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day
Call Number: J FIC DAY
ISBN: 9780062871992
Publication Date: 2019-10-01
272 pages
The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
Call Number: J FIC PER
ISBN: 9780425290422
Publication Date: 2018-07-17
336 pages, plus black and white illustrations, collage art
Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya
Call Number: J FIC CAR
ISBN: 9780451479747
Publication Date: 2020-06-30
336 pages

3) Choose one book to read from the box above labeled Pick One Book by Future Visiting Author Joseph Bruchac.

Suggested Titles: Fiction

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Call Number: J FIC OKO
ISBN: 9780142420911
Publication Date: 2017-07-11
Twelve-year-old Sunny Nwazue, an American-born albino child of Nigerian parents, moves with her family back to Nigeria, where she learns that she has latent magical powers which she and three similarly gifted friends use to catch a serial killer.
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds; Brendan Kiely
Call Number: J FIC REY
ISBN: 9781481463331
Publication Date: 2015-09-29
(Available on SORA) When sixteen-year-old Rashad is mistakenly accused of stealing, classmate Quinn witnesses his brutal beating at the hands of a police officer who happens to be the older brother of his best friend. Told through Rashad and Quinn's alternating viewpoints.
Butterfly Yellow by Thanhhà Lai
Call Number: J FIC LAI
ISBN: 9780062229212
Publication Date: 2019-09-03
(Available on SORA) "In the final days of the Vietnam War, Hang takes her little brother, Linh, to the airport, determined to find a way to safety in America. In a split second, Linh is ripped from her arms, and Hang is left behind in the war-torn country. Six years later, Hang has made the brutal journey from Vietnam and is now in Texas as a refugee. She doesn't know how she will find the little brother who was taken from her until she meets LeeRoy, a city boy with big rodeo dreams, who decides to help her. Hang is overjoyed when she reunites with Linh. But when she realizes he doesn't remember her, their family, or Vietnam, her heart is crushed. Though the distance between them feels farther than ever, Hang has come so far that she will do anything to bridge the gap"--OCLC.
Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Call Number: J FIC SLO
ISBN: 9780142422861
Publication Date: 2014-09-16
In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family.
The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
Call Number: J FIC LEE
ISBN: 9781524740955
Publication Date: 2019-08-13
(Available in SORA) "1890, Atlanta. By day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel Caroline Payne, the daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for 'the genteel Southern lady'"--Provided by publisher.
The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao
Call Number: J FIC ZHA
ISBN: 9781547602001
Publication Date: 2019-10-15
This richly woven contemporary fantasy debut, full of humor, magic, and heart, will appeal to readers who love Roshani Chokshi and Sayantani DasGupta.
Drum Roll, Please by Lisa Jenn Bigelow
Call Number: J FIC BIG
ISBN: 9780062791146
Publication Date: 2018-06-26
Find the confidence to rock out to your own beat in this big-hearted middle grade novel. Not to be missed by fans of Raina Telgemeier's Drama and Tim Federle's Better Nate Than Ever!
Dry by Neal Shusterman; Jarrod Shusterman
Call Number: J FIC SHU
ISBN: 9781481481960
Publication Date: 2018-10-02
(Available on SORA)A lengthy California drought escalates to catastrophic proportions, turning Alyssa's quiet suburban street into a warzone, and she is forced to make impossible choices if she and her brother are to survive. The drought--or the Tap-Out, as everyone calls it--has been going on for a while now. Everyone's lives have become an endless list of don'ts: don't water the lawn, don't fill up your pool, don't take long showers. Until the taps run dry. Suddenly, Alyssa's quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation; neighbors and families turned against each other on the hunt for water. And when her parents don't return and her life--and the life of her brother--is threatened, Alyssa has to make impossible choices if she's going to survive.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Call Number: J FIC TAH
ISBN: 9781595148049
Publication Date: 2016-02-09
(Available in SORA) "Laia is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire's greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution"--Provided by publisher.
Endling #1: the Last by Katherine Applegate
Call Number: J FIC APP
ISBN: 9780062335548
Publication Date: 2019-03-05
In this first book of an epic middle grade series, Katherine Applegate takes us on an unforgettable journey.
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Call Number: J FIC HUN
ISBN: 9780399162596
Publication Date: 2015-02-05
(Available in SORA) Sixth-grader Ally excels at covering the fact that she cannot read, but at her seventh school in as many years she is challenged to admit she needs help.
Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott; Mikki Daughtry (As told to); Tobias Iaconis (As told to)
Call Number: J FIC LIP
ISBN: 9781534451568
Publication Date: 2019-02-05
(Available on SORA) Seventeen-year-olds Stella and Will, both suffering from cystic fibrosis, realize the only way to stay alive is to stay apart, but their love for each other is slowly pushing the boundaries of physical and emotional safety.
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Call Number: J FIC RHO
ISBN: 9780316262286
Publication Date: 2018-04-17
A heartbreaking and powerful story about a black boy killed by a police officer, drawing connections through history, from award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Call Number: J FIC THO
ISBN: 9780062498533
Publication Date: 2017-02-28
(Available in SORA) “As we continue to fight the battle against police brutality and systemic racism in America, THE HATE U GIVE serves as a much needed literary ramrod. Absolutely riveting!”
— Jason Reynolds, bestselling coauthor of ALL AMERICAN BOYS
Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby
Call Number: J FIC MEL
ISBN: 9781616209063
Publication Date: 2019-05-07
(Available on SORA) Nicole Melleby’s Hurricane Season is a radiant and tender novel about taking risks and facing danger, about friendship and art, and about growing up and coming out. And more than anything else, it is a story about love—both its limits and its incredible healing power.
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
Call Number: J FIC BOW
ISBN: 9781454923459
Publication Date: 2017-09-05
(Available on SORA) The paperback edition of the bestselling middle grade novel about a spunky girl born without arms and a boy with Tourette syndrome navigating the challenges of middle school, disability, and friendship--all while solving a mystery in a western theme park.
King of the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
Call Number: J FIC CAL
ISBN: 9781338129335
Publication Date: 2020-02-04
(Available on SORA) In a small but turbulent Louisiana town, one boy's grief takes him beyond the bayous of his backyard, to learn that there is no right way to be yourself.
The Long Ride by Marina Budhos
Call Number: J FIC BUD
ISBN: 9780553534221
Publication Date: 2019-09-24
(Available on SORA) "[Budhos] portrays with nuance the ways multiracial identities, socio-economic status, microaggressions, and interracial relationships can impact and shape identity. Readers will find a powerful window into the past and, unfortunately, a way-too-accurate mirror of the present." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred
Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee
Call Number: J FIC DEE
ISBN: 9781534432376
Publication Date: 2019-10-01
(Available on SORA) For seventh-grader Mila, it starts with some boys giving her an unwanted hug on the school blacktop. A few days later, at recess, one of the boys (and fellow trumpet player) Callum tells Mila it's his birthday, and asks her for a "birthday hug." He's just being friendly, isn't he? And how can she say no? But Callum's hug lasts a few seconds too long, and feels...weird. According to her friend, Zara, Mila is being immature and overreacting. Doesn't she know what flirting looks like?
Midsummer's Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca
Call Number: J FIC LAR
ISBN: 9781499808889
Publication Date: 2019-06-11
(Available on SORA) “An enchanting treat of a middle-grade novel, LaRocca’s debut is baked to perfection. You don’t need to be a Shakespeare fan to enjoy this modern fantasy twist on A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the third act (so to speak) takes a wonderful, unexpected turn. It’s the perfect book for young bakers and those who love stories about family and friendship!”
Nikki on the Line by Barbara Carroll Roberts
Call Number: J FIC ROB
ISBN: 9780316521901
Publication Date: 2019-03-05
(Available on SORA)Nikki wants to be a basketball star... but between school stress, friend drama, and babysitting woes, will she be able to make it on her new team? Judy Blume meets Mike Lupica in this pitch-perfect, action-packed, and funny novel.
Nine, Ten: a September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin
ISBN: 9781442485075
Publication Date: 2017-05-16
(Available on SORA) These four kids don’t know one another, but their lives are about to intersect in ways they never could have imagined. Award-winning author Nora Raleigh Baskin weaves together their stories into an unforgettable novel about that seemingly perfect September day—the day our world changed forever.
The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel
Call Number: J FIC BAL
ISBN: 9781452169989
Publication Date: 2019-08-20
(Available on SORA) This is a heartfelt poetic portrayal of a girl growing up, fitting in, and learning what it means to belong.
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
Call Number: J FIC WAR
ISBN: 9780062747808
Publication Date: 2019-05-28
(Available in SORA) "Jude never thought she'd be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives. At first, everything in America seems too fast and too loud. The American movies that Jude has always loved haven't quite prepared her for starting school in the US --and her new label of 'Middle Eastern,' an identity she's never known before. But this life also brings unexpected surprises--there are new friends, a whole new family, and a school musical that Jude just might try out for. Maybe America, too, is a place where Jude can be seen as she really is"--Provided by publisher.
Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
Call Number: J FIC WAT
ISBN: 9781681191058
Publication Date: 2017-02-14
(Available on SORA) Tired of being singled out at her mostly-white private school as someone who needs support, high school junior Jade would rather participate in the school's amazing Study Abroad program than join Women to Women, a mentorship program for at-risk girls.
Posted by John David Anderson
Call Number: J FIC AND
ISBN: 9780062338204
Publication Date: 2017-05-02
(Available on SORA) When cell phones are banned at their school, students start communicating through sticky notes left all over the school, triggering a wave of bullying activities in the wake of a new girl's arrival.
Rebound by Kwame Alexander
Call Number: J FIC ALE
ISBN: 9780544868137
Publication Date: 2018-04-02
(Available in SORA) In the summer of 1988, twelve-year-old Chuck Bell is sent to stay with his grandparents, where he discovers jazz and basketball and learns more about his family's past.
Restart by Gordon Korman
ISBN: 9781338053807
Publication Date: 2018-03-27
From the #1 bestselling author of Swindle and Slacker, Restart is the spectacular story of a kid with a messy past who has to figure out what it means to get a clean start.
The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen
Call Number: J FIC DES
ISBN: 9780062933621
Publication Date: 2019-06-04
(Available on SORA) From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah Dessen comes a big-hearted, sweeping novel about a girl who reconnects with a part of her family she hasn't seen since she was a little girl--and falls in love, all over the course of a magical summer.
Rick by Alex Gino
ISBN: 9781338048100
Publication Date: 2020-04-21
(Available on SORA) As they did in their groundbreaking novel GEORGE, in RICK, award-winning author Alex Gino explores what it means to search for your own place in the world . . . and all the steps you and the people around you need to take in order to get where you need to be.
Running Through Sprinklers by Michelle Kim
Call Number: J FIC KIM
ISBN: 9781481495295
Publication Date: 2019-04-16
(Available on SORA)Two life-long best friends grow up and begin to grow apart in this honest, deeply felt middle grade debut.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Call Number: J FIC SEP
ISBN: 9780399160301
Publication Date: 2016-02-02
(Available on SORA) Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four secrets. Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies... and war. As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. Yet not all promises can be kept.
A School for Unusual Girls by Kathleen Baldwin
Call Number: J FIC BAL
ISBN: 9780765376015
Publication Date: 2016-05-03
(Available on SORA) "England, 1814. After accidentally setting her father's stables on fire while performing a scientific experiment, Miss Georgiana Fitzwilliam is sent to Stranje House where she meets Lord Sebastian Wyatt. Thrust together in a desperate mission to invent a new invisible ink for the English war effort, Georgie and Sebastian must find a way to work together without losing their heads-or their hearts."
The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani Dasgupta
Call Number: J FIC DAS
ISBN: 9781338185706
Publication Date: 2018-02-27
(Available on SORA) Up until her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala considered herself an ordinary sixth-grader in Parsippany, New Jersey, but then her parents disappear and a drooling rakkhosh demon shows up in her kitchen, and soon she is swept into another dimension, full of magic, winged horses, talking birds (very annoying), and cute princes--and somehow Kiranmala needs to sort it all out, find her parents, and basically save the world.
Slay by Brittney Morris
Call Number: J FIC MOR
ISBN: 9781534445420
Publication Date: 2019-09-24
(Available on SORA) An honors student at Jefferson Academy, seventeen-year-old Keira enjoys developing and playing Slay, a secret, multiplayer online role-playing game celebrating black culture, until the two worlds collide.
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
Call Number: J FIC KEL
ISBN: 9781524770266
Publication Date: 2019-12-31
(Available on SORA) “A great book about the importance of community, understanding, and the spirit of adventure, Song for a Whale follows a young deaf girl whose curiosity is piqued by the story of a whale that is singularly unable to communicate with other whales. As the only deaf member in a hearing family, Iris immediately recognizes the severe loneliness of this situation, and her surge of empathy leads her to embark on a quest of growth and catharsis."
Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh
Call Number: J FIC OH
ISBN: 9780062430090
Publication Date: 2018-06-26
(Available on SORA) A riveting ghost story and captivating adventure, this tale will have you guessing at every turn!
The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh
Call Number: J FIC YEH
ISBN: 9780316236690
Publication Date: 2018-09-18
(Available on SORA) Everything in Bea's world has changed. She's starting seventh grade newly friendless and facing big changes at home, where she is about to go from only child to big sister. Feeling alone and adrift, and like her words don't deserve to be seen, Bea takes solace in writing haiku in invisible ink and hiding them in a secret spot. But then something incredible happens--someone writes back.
The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani
Call Number: J FIC HIR
ISBN: 9780375871672
Publication Date: 2013-02-12
(Available on SORA) By the author of the Newbery Honor Book The Night Diary, a thoughtful and relatable story about cultural identity, friendship, and what it means to fit in without losing who you are.
Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen
Call Number: J FIC VAN
ISBN: 9781101940471
Publication Date: 2019-01-22
From the award-winning author of The Running Dream and Flipped comes a remarkable portrait of a girl who has hit rock bottom but begins a climb back to herself at a wilderness survival camp.
Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli; Aisha Saeed
Call Number: J FIC ALB
ISBN: 9780062937049
Publication Date: 2020-02-04
( Available on SORA) "Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate--as long as he's behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let's face it, speaking at all to almost anyone), Jamie's a choke artist. There's no way he'd ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes . . . until he meets Maya. Maya Rehman's having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing--with some awkward dude she hardly knows--is beyond her. Going door to isn't exactly glamorous, but maybe it's not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer--and so are Maya and Jamie"--Dust jacket.
You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins
Call Number: J FIC PER
ISBN: 9781250233868
Publication Date: 2019-04-02
(Available in SORA) This elegant young adult novel captures the immigrant experience for one Indian-American family with humor and heart. Told in alternating teen voices across three generations, You Bring the Distant Near explores sisterhood, first loves, friendship, and the inheritance of culture--for better or worse.
You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly
Call Number: J FIC KEL
ISBN: 9780062414199
Publication Date: 2019-04-09
(Available on SORA) Told in alternate chapters, You Go First is the story of Charlotte Lock and Ben Boxer, who are united by their love of online Scrabble. Lottie's dad is sick and her friend group is undergoing some painful changes. Ben's parents are divorcing, and he decides to run for student government to make new friends and implement changes to his school's recycling program. Their friendship is a point of stability during a period of upheaval for both kids.

Rising 7th Grade

Click here for the 7th Grade Summer Reading Assignment

1) Choose one of the following titles to read:

Apple in the Middle by Dawn Quigley
Call Number: J FIC QUI
ISBN: 9781946163073
Publication Date: 2018-08-02
264 pages
Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender
Call Number: J FIC CAL
ISBN: 9781338129311
Publication Date: 2019-10-01
240 pages
My Basmati Bat Mitzvah by Paula Freedman
Call Number: J FIC FRE
ISBN: 9781419708060
Publication Date: 2013-10-01
272 pages
New Kid by Jerry Craft (Illustrator)
Call Number: 741.5 CRA
ISBN: 9780062691194
Publication Date: 2019-02-05
Graphic novel format (available in SORA)

2) Read one Free Choice book (scroll down on this Libguide for suggested titles)

3) Choose one book to read from the box above labeled Pick One Book by Future Visiting Author Joseph Bruchac.

Graphic Novels

Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists by Mikki Kendall; Anna D'Amico
Call Number: 323.3 KEN
ISBN: 9780399581793
Publication Date: 2019-11-05
A bold and gripping graphic history of the fight for women's rights
Anne Frank's Diary by Anne Frank (Text by); David Polonsky (Illustrator); Ari Folman (Adapted by)
Call Number: 741.5 FRA
ISBN: 9781101871799
Publication Date: 2018-10-02
A timeless story rediscovered by each new generation, The Diary of a Young Girl stands without peer. For both young readers and adults it continues to capture the remarkable spirit of Anne Frank, who for a time survived the worst horror the modern world has seen—and who remained triumphantly and heartbreakingly human throughout her ordeal.
Becoming Brianna by Terri Libenson (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780062894540
Publication Date: 2020-05-05
In the most recent installment in the Emmie and Friends series, all the crushes, humiliations, boredom, and drama of middle school are compressed into one surprising day in this extraordinary novel. Perfect for fans of Raina Telemeier and Jennifer L. Holm.
Becoming RBG by Debbie Levy; Whitney Gardner (Illustrator)
Call Number: BIO GIN
ISBN: 9781534424562
Publication Date: 2019-11-05
". . . a biographical graphic novel about celebrated Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a modern feminist icon--a leader in the fight for equal treatment of girls and women in society and the workplace. She blazed trails to the peaks of the male-centric worlds of education and law, where women had rarely risen before." --Provided by publisher.
The Black Mage by Daniel Barnes; D. J. Kirkland
Call Number: 741.5 BAR
ISBN: 9781620106525
Publication Date: 2019-10-29
Harry Potter meets Final Fantasy in this subversive original graphic novel where race, history and magic collide.
Brazen by Pénélope Bagieu (Illustrator)
Call Number: 741.5 BAG
ISBN: 9781626728691
Publication Date: 2018-03-06
Throughout history and across the globe, one characteristic connects the daring women of Brazen: their indomitable spirit.
The Crossover (Graphic Novel) by Kwame Alexander; Dawud Anyabwile (Illustrator)
Call Number: 741.5 ALE
ISBN: 9781328960016
Publication Date: 2019-09-24
Kwame Alexander’s New York Times bestseller and Newbery Medal–winning The Crossover is vividly brought to life as a graphic novel with stunning illustrations by star talent Dawud Anyabwile.
Ignite by Meg Cabot; Cara McGee
Call Number: 741.5 CAB
ISBN: 9781401286200
Publication Date: 2019-10-29
Thirteen-year-old Dinah Lance is in a rock band with her two best friends and has a good relationship with her mom, but when a mysterious figure threatens her friends and family, she learns more about herself and her mother's secret past.
The Life of Frederick Douglass by David F. Walker; Damon Smyth (Illustrator); Marissa Louise (Illustrator)
Call Number: BIO DOU
ISBN: 9780399581441
Publication Date: 2019-01-08
A comic book-style biography of escaped slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
Nat Enough by Maria Scrivan (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338538212
Publication Date: 2020-04-07
Natalie has never felt that she's enough -- athletic enough, stylish enough, or talented enough. And on the first day of middle school, Natalie discovers that things are worse than she thought -- now she's not even cool enough for her best friend, Lily!
New Kid by Jerry Craft (Illustrator)
Call Number: 741.5 CRA
ISBN: 9780062691194
Publication Date: 2019-02-05
Graphic novel format (available in SORA)
Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani
Call Number: 741.5 CHA
ISBN: 9781626720879
Publication Date: 2017-10-03
Priyanka Das has so many unanswered questions: Why did her mother abandon her home in India years ago? What was it like there? And most importantly, who is her father, and why did her mom leave him behind?
Romeo and Juliet by Gareth Hinds (Illustrator)
Call Number: 741.5 Hin
ISBN: 9780763659486
Publication Date: 2013-09-10
(Available in SORA) When Romeo and Juliet first meet, they don't know they're from rival families-- and when they find out, they don't care. An adaptation faithful to Shakespeare's original text, Hinds transports readers to the sun-washed streets and market squares of Shakespeare's Verona.
Sanity and Tallulah by Molly Brooks (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781368008440
Publication Date: 2018-10-16
"Sanity and Tallulah live in a space station at the end of the galaxy. When Sanity's illegally created three-headed kitten escapes, the girls have to turn their home upside down to find her in this graphic novel"--Provided by publisher.
Speak: the Graphic Novel by Emily Carroll (Illustrator); Laurie Halse Anderson
Call Number: 741.5 AND
ISBN: 9780374300289
Publication Date: 2018-02-06
The critically acclaimed, award-winning, modern classic Speak is now a stunning graphic novel.
Sunny Rolls the Dice by Jennifer L. Holm; Matthew Holm (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338233148
Publication Date: 2019-10-01
From the award-winning duo of Jennifer and Matthew Holm comes the third book in the bestselling Sunny series, Sunny Rolls the Dice -- full of heart, laughs, and adventure!
Trickster by Matt Dembicki (Editor)
Call Number: 398.2 TRI
ISBN: 9781555917241
Publication Date: 2010-06-01
In Native American traditions, the trickster takes many forms, from coyote or rabbit to raccoon or raven. The first graphic anthology of Native American trickster tales, Trickster brings together Native American folklore and the world of comics.
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson (Illustrator); Omar Mohamed; Iman Geddy (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780525553908
Publication Date: 2020-04-14
A timely, powerful, and important book for our time. This memoir of a childhood largely spent in a Kenyan refugee camp is skillfully adapted into a graphic novel.

Rising 8th Grade

Click here for the 8th Grade Letter for English and History

Click here for a PDF of the English Assignment

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1) All rising 8th grade students should read the title listed below:

Gathering Blue by Lowry Lois
Call Number: J FIC LOW
ISBN: 9780547904146
Publication Date: 2013-03-05
256 pages

Click here for the History Assignment

2) All rising 8th grade students should read the following title:

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei; Justin Eisinger; Steven Scott; Harmony Becker (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781603094504
Publication Date: 2019-07-16
Graphic novel format

3) Choose one book to read from the box above labeled Pick One Book by Future Visiting Author Joseph Bruchac.

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Suggested Titles: Non-fiction

Becoming RBG by Debbie Levy; Whitney Gardner (Illustrator)
Call Number: BIO GIN
ISBN: 9781534424562
Publication Date: 2019-11-05
". . . a biographical graphic novel about celebrated Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a modern feminist icon--a leader in the fight for equal treatment of girls and women in society and the workplace. She blazed trails to the peaks of the male-centric worlds of education and law, where women had rarely risen before." --Provided by publisher.
Breaking Through by Sue Macy
ISBN: 9781426336768
Publication Date: 2020-02-04
Award-winning author Sue Macy offers a fresh and timely account of women in sports in the 1920s, and how their determination, talent, and defiance in the face of criticism promoted women's rights, redefined femininity, and changed the course of history.
Facing Frederick by Tonya Bolden
ISBN: 9781419725463
Publication Date: 2018-01-09
"Bolden’s insightful, and impeccably researched, biography reveals, instead, a multifaceted man who would travel many paths and constantly redefine himself . . . Bolden’s beautiful, sophisticated narrative demonstrates that throughout all of his responsibilities, Douglass never lost sight of his biggest role—humanitarian."
Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston; James D. Houston
ISBN: 9781328742117
Publication Date: 2017-07-11
During World War II a community called Manzanar was created in the high mountain desert country of California. Its purpose was to house thousands of Japanese Americans. Among them was the Wakatsuki family, who were ordered to leave their fishing business in Long Beach and take with them only the belongings they could carry. Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, who was seven years old when she arrived at Manzanar in 1942, recalls life in the camp through the eyes of the child she was.
The Fierce 44 by Robert Ball (Illustrator); The Staff The Staff of The Undefeated
ISBN: 9781328940629
Publication Date: 2019-12-24
From visionaries to entrepreneurs, athletes to activists, the Fierce 44 are beacons of brilliance, perseverance, and excellence. Each short biography is accompanied by a compelling portrait by Robert Ball, whose bright, graphic art pops off the page.
Finding the Edge by Kristi Yamaguchi (Foreword by)
Call Number: BIO CHE
ISBN: 9780062822680
Publication Date: 2017-11-28
A biography of U.S. Champion figure skater Karen Chen.
G. O. A. T. - Simone Biles by Susan Blackaby
Call Number: BIO BIL
ISBN: 9781454932062
Publication Date: 2019-11-12
Looks at the life of American Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles.
Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults) by Bryan Stevenson
Call Number: BIO STE
ISBN: 9780525580034
Publication Date: 2018-09-18
(Available in SORA) "Bryan Stevenson details from his personal experience his many challenges and efforts as a lawyer and social advocate, especially on behalf of America's most marginalized people"--Provided by publisher.
Lady Tigers in the Concrete Jungle by Dibs Baer
ISBN: 9781643130651
Publication Date: 2019-10-01
A rousing and empowering story of dedication and overcoming all odds, featuring the tough and unforgettable athletes of the champion Lady Tigers softball team.
My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero; Erica Moroz
Call Number: Bio Guerrero
ISBN: 9781250134868
Publication Date: 2018-07-17
The star of Orange Is the New Black and Jane the Virgin, Diane Guerrero presents her personal story in this middle grade memoir about her parents' deportation and the nightmarish struggles of undocumented immigrants and their American children.
Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar; Kathleen Van Cleve
ISBN: 9781534416178
Publication Date: 2019-01-08
(Available on SORA) A National Book Award Finalist for Nonfiction, Never Caught is the eye-opening narrative of Ona Judge, George and Martha Washington’s runaway slave, who risked everything for a better life—now available as a young reader’s edition!
One Person, No Vote by Carol Anderson; Tonya Bolden
Call Number: 324.6 AND
ISBN: 9781547601073
Publication Date: 2019-09-17
"[A young reader's adaptation that] chronicles . . . the rollbacks to African American participation in the vote since the 2013 Supreme Court decision that eviscerated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The author explains how voter suppression works, from photo ID requirements to gerrymandering to poll closures. And with vivid characters, she explores the resistance: the organizing, activism, and court battles to restore the basic right to vote to all Americans as the nation gears up for the 2020 presidential election season"--Provided by publisher.
Pure Grit by Mary Cronk Farrell; Diane Carlson Evans (Foreword by)
Call Number: 940.54 Far
ISBN: 9781419710285
Publication Date: 2014-02-25
When the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 blasted the United States into World War II, 101 American Army and Navy nurses serving in the Philippines were suddenly treating wounded and dying soldiers while bombs exploded all around them. This is their story of sisterhood and suffering, of tragedy and betrayal, of death and life.
Queer, 2nd Edition by Kathy Belge; Marke Bieschke
ISBN: 9781942186489
Publication Date: 2019-10-01
Updated in 2018, Queer is a humorous, engaging, and honest guide that helps LGBT teens come out to friends and family, navigate their new LGBT social life, figure out if a crush is also queer, and rise up against bigotry and homophobia.
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
Call Number: 363.17 MOO
ISBN: 9781492649359
Publication Date: 2017-04-18
As World War I raged across the globe, hundreds of young women toiled away at the radium-dial factories, where they painted clock faces with a mysterious new substance called radium. Assured by their bosses that the luminous material was safe, the women themselves shone brightly in the dark, covered from head to toe with the glowing dust. With such a coveted job, these "shining girls" were considered the luckiest alive -- until they began to fall mysteriously ill.
Very, Very, Very Dreadful by Albert Marrin
Call Number: 614.5 MAR
ISBN: 9781101931462
Publication Date: 2018-01-09
(Available in SORA) From National Book Award finalist Albert Marrin comes a fascinating look at the history and science of the deadly 1918 flu pandemic - and the chances for another worldwide pandemic.
We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai
Call Number: 305.23 You
ISBN: 9780316523646
Publication Date: 2019-01-08
"Malala Yousafzai introduces some of the people behind the statistics and news stories we read or hear every day about the millions of people displaced worldwide. Malala's experiences visiting refugee camps caused her to reconsider her own displacement-- first as an Internally Displaced Person when she was a young child in Pakistan, and then as an international activist who could travel anywhere in the world except to the home she loved. In We Are Displaced, which is part memoir, part communal storytelling, Malala not only explores her own story, but she also shares the personal stories of some of the incredible girls she has met on her journeys-- girls who have lost their community, relatives, and often the only world they've ever known. In a time of immigration crises, war, and border conflicts, We Are Displaced is an important reminder from one of the world's most prominent young activists that every single one of the 68.5 million currently displaced is a person-- often a young person-- with hopes and dreams."--Dust jacket flap.
We Are Not yet Equal by Carol Anderson; Tonya Bolden
Call Number: 323.1196 AND
ISBN: 9781547602520
Publication Date: 2019-10-29
(Available on SORA) “[A]n accessible narrative form, showing young people through pivotal historical events the ways in which white rage has been able to effectively undermine black-led social movements for equality and justice.” — Starred review, Kirkus Reviews
We Had to Be Brave by Deborah Hopkinson
ISBN: 9781338255720
Publication Date: 2020-02-04
Sibert Honor author Deborah Hopkinson illuminates the true stories of Jewish children who fled Nazi Germany, risking everything to escape to safety on the Kindertransport.
Wolfpack by Abby Wambach
Call Number: 155.3 WAM
ISBN: 9781250217707
Publication Date: 2019-04-09
(Available in SORA) Wambach delivers eight new rules to help women change the landscape of their lives and world.
Women in Sports by Rachel Ignotofsky
Call Number: 920 IGN
ISBN: 9781607749783
Publication Date: 2017-07-18
"... highlights the achievements and stories of fifty notable women athletes--from well-known figures like tennis player Billie Jean King and gymnast Simone Biles, to lesser-known athletes like skateboarding pioneer Patti McGee and Toni Stone, the first woman to play baseball in a men's professional league"--Provided by publisher.