School may be out soon, but that doesn’t mean that your tweens should stop reading for the summer. Make sure to send them off on vacation with a few titles in mind. For starters, give them a booklist, like this one prepared by New York Public Library. There’s something below for everyone, from time-travel fans to horse lovers.
JINKS, Catherine. The Paradise Trap. Egmont USA. 2012. ISBN 9781606842737. JLG Level: HIM: High Interest Middle School (Grades 5-8)
If you and your readers loved Jinks’s “Evil Genius” series (Houghton Harcourt), The Paradise Trap will be on top of the spring reading list. With classic storytelling and a dash of Greek mythology, this title presents a world almost too good to be true—a place and time specific to the wishes and dreams of each character who enters it. Every person’s fantasy starts out well enough, but when any of the tweens involved tries to leave, things get a little crazy—courtesy of the child-eating Siren, Ms. Molpe. Hidden staircases, clueless adults, and video games all add to the fun.
SMITH, Greg Leitich. Chronal Engine. illus. by Blake Henry. Houghton Harcourt. 2012. ISBN 9780547608495. JLG Level: HIM: High Interest Middle School (Grades 5-8)
What a crazy adventure! Siblings Max, Kyle, and Emma end up on their granddad’s ranch right before he has a heart attack. Before it’s too late, he tells them about his time machine. Somehow, a VW bug and the Cretaceous Period collide, the housekeeper’s daughter joins the hunt for missing twin Emma, and they all manage to dodge a hungry T. Rex and other dangerous dinosaurs. A fast read, best for those who like to dwell on details.
SCALETTA, Kurtis. The Tanglewood Terror. Knopf. 2011. ISBN 9780375967580. JLG Level: HIM: High Interest Middle School (Grades 5-8)
Mushrooms. Fungi, really. Most kids hate ‘em, but none with more reason than Eric and Mandy. Why? These mushrooms seem to be taking over the town! Looking back, it looks like history is about to repeat itself. A little scary, but realistic enough to give readers a good sense of the bond that develops between Eric and his often-annoying little brother Brian when bad things start to happen.
NERI, Greg. Ghetto Cowboy. illus. by Jesse Joshua Watson. Candlewick. 2011. ISBN 9780763649227. HIM: High Interest Middle School (Grades 5-8)
When Cole’s mom sends him out east to stay with his relatively unknown dad, things don’t feel good, at first. But then Cole begins to understand the connection between his father and the horses that he cares for, and realizes that they are a part of his history. Inner city kids and horse lovers will unite over this tale of loyalty, bonus oats, and a ton animal love.
Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.
This article originally appeared in the newsletter Extra Helping. Go here to subscribe.
About Dodie Ownes
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