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South Orange-Maplewood School District Summer Reading
2011-2012
1
Intermediate Grades: 3-5 ADVENTURE
GUTMAN, DAN. Never Say Genius
As their cross-country journey with their parents continues through the Midwest, the precocious brother and sister uncover a secret
government plot to use “YAGs” or Young American Geniuses, to solve the complex problems of the nation, and find that they are on the list.
Suddenly, their 3,000 mile road trip becomes a lot more interesting.
also: Mission Unstoppable (#1 of the Genius Files)
BIOGRAPHY
D’AGNESE, JOSEPH. Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci
Leonardo does his math problems so quickly that he has plenty of time to look out the window and count other things in nature. His
teacher, however, chastises him for daydreaming and the other students call him a "blockhead."
FLEMING, CANDACE. Amelia Lost: the Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart
A chilling recounting of Earhart’s final flight and the search that followed—Fleming seeks to uncover the “history in the hype,” pointing
out numerous examples in which Earhart took an active role in mythologizing her own life.
HOOSE, PHILLIP. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
Presents an account of fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin, an African-American girl who refused to give up her seat to a white woman on a
segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, nine months before Rosa Parks, and covers her role in a crucial civil rights case.
SAY, ALLEN. Drawing From Memory
Caldecott Medalist Allen Say presents a stunning graphic novel chronicling his journey as an artist during WWII, when he apprenticed
under Noro Shinpei, Japan's premier cartoonist. DRAWING FROM MEMORY is Allen Say's own story of his path to becoming the
renowned artist he is today.
EARLY READER
SCHNEIDER, JOSH. Tales for Very Picky Eaters
Does lumpy oatmeal make you gag? How about broccoli? Eggs too slimly for you? If you answered yes then this book is for you.
South Orange-Maplewood School District Summer Reading
2011-2012
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FANTASY
JENKINS, EMILY. Toys Come Home
Do you want to know what toys do when you are not home? This book is perfect for reading aloud to the whole family. In this stand alone
prequel to Toys Go Out and Toys Dance Party, six linked stories tell how Lumphy, StingRay, and Plastic become part of a little girl's toy
collection and follow their adventures as they make friends with some of her other toys and try to navigate in the world of
real people.
also: Toys Go Out and Toys Dance Party
MARTIN, ANN. Runaway Dolls
Best friends Annabelle and Tiffany risk placing all of dollkind in danger when they run away while trying to prevent Tilly from being sent
back to London before they can determine if she is Annabelle's long-lost baby sister.
also: Doll People and The Meanest Doll in the World
MELOY, COLIN. Wildwood
When her baby brother is kidnapped by crows, seventh-grader Prue McKeel ventures into the forbidden Impassable Wilderness--a
dangerous and magical forest in the middle of Portland, Oregon--and soon finds herself involved in a war among the various inhabitants.
SCHLITZ, LAURA AMY. Night Fairy
Flory is a night fairy who’s still getting used to her beautiful wings when an encounter with a bat makes her unable to fly. Dropped in a
strange garden she has to make it on her own.
URSU, ANNE. Breadcrumbs
Hazel's mom is pushing her to make some female friends, and Jack is more interested in hanging out with his male friends than with
Hazel. Enjoy this story and its magical twists and turns when Jack is taken away and Hazel is the one to rescue him!
FICTION
ANGLEBERGER, TOM. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
Tommy and his friends think that Dwight is a weirdo who’s “always talking about robots or spiders or something.” In true Dwight fashion,
he shows up at school one day brandishing a little origami Yoda finger puppet.
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also: Darth Paper Strikes Back; Fake Moustache; Horton Halfpott
BIRDSALL, JEANNE. The Penderwicks at Point Mouette
When summer comes around, it's off to the beach for Rosalind . . . and off to Maine with Aunt Claire for the rest of the Penderwick girls, as well as their
old friend, Jeffrey.
also: The Penderwicks; The Penderwicks on Gardam Street
CLEMENTS, ANDREW. Troublemaker
When his older brother gets in serious trouble, sixth-grader Clay decides to change his own mischief-making ways, but he cannot seem to
shake his reputation as a troublemaker.
also: We the Children and Extra Credit
HENKES, KEVIN. Junonia
Alice and her parents spend the week of Alice's tenth birthday as they always do on Sanibel Island, Florida, but Alice gets upset when she
discovers some of the people who are always there are missing and new ones have arrived, and Alice wants things to be like they have
always been.
PALACIO, R. J. Wonder
Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-
schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunting and fear of his classmates as
he struggles to be seen as just another student.
PARATORE, COLEEN. Sweet and Sunny
Despite facing a host of problems, old and new, optimistic third-grader Sunny continues her quest to create a national Kid's Day and
improve other holidays, especially the upcoming Valentine's Day, while bringing joy to those around her.
also: Sunny Holiday
RASCHKA, CHRISTOPHER. Seriously Norman
Why are grown-ups so insane? That's the question Leonard, Norman, Anna and Emma (the twins) try to answer with the help of Norman's
new tutor, Balthazar Birdsong (who is also fairly nuts).
SCHMIDT, GARY D. Okay for Now
South Orange-Maplewood School District Summer Reading
2011-2012
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This book weaves multiple themes in a story filled with unusual characters and invaluable lessons about love, creativity, and survival.
SELZNICK, BRIAN. Wonderstruck
Written by the author of Hugo Cabret, this book which is told in words and pictures with over 400 pages of artwork is Rosie and Ben’s
story of their search for what is missing in their lives. What happens will surprise you.
also: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
SHANG, WENDY WAN-LONG. The Great Wall of Lucy Wu
Lucy knows that sixth grade is going to be the best year ever: she’s getting her own room (finally) now that her sister is off to college and she
and her best friend Madison are ready to rule the basketball courts.
VAIL, RACHEL. Justin Case
It’s the summer after third grade, and Justin has nothing to worry about, except when his bravery is tested. When he goes away to camp for
the summer, he gets to experience all of the new and interesting things the other kids do: bugs, riding the bus to camp everyday, mess hall
food and flip-flops. Will Justin be brave enough to take on the summer before entering fourth grade?
WEEKS, SARAH. Pie
Family and friendship couldn’t be more important after Alice’s Aunt Polly passes away. But what happened to Aunt Polly’s famous pie
recipe? Did she leave it in a will to somebody? Everyone in town is trying to be the winner in the next pie-contest, including Alice’s mother
and some of her friends.
ZIMMER, TRACIE VAUGHN. Reaching for Sun
Josie faces lots of challenges, including cerebral palsy, social isolation, and bulldozers tearing up her neighborhood. Then she meets Jordan,
a geeky kid who brings new ideas into her life.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
FREDERICK-FROST, ALEXIS. Adventures in Cartooning: How to Turn Your Doodles into Comics
Once upon a time…a princess tried to make a comic, and with the help of a magical cartooning elf, she learned how to do it well enough to
draw her way out of an encounter with a dangerous dragon, near-death by drowning and into her very own adventure.
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2011-2012
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SPIRES, ASHLEY. Binky the Space Cat
Binky is a space cat - at least in his own mind. He's really a house cat who has never left the family "space station." Unlike other house cats,
Binky has a mission: to blast off into outer space (outside), explore unknown places (the backyard) and battle aliens (bugs).
VERNON, URSULA. Dragonbreath 6: Revenge of the Horned Bunnies
Ride 'em, cowboy! Danny's off to summer camp! Danny Dragonbreath is counting down the days to his awesome western summer camp . .
. until he gets the terrible news that his annoying younger cousin Spencer is going too. Good-bye, Danny the Cowboy; Hello, Danny the
Babysitter.
also: Dragonbreath 1 - 5
WIGHT, ERIC. Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom
Frankie hates cleaning his room. And his mom says he never has to clean it again. With Frankie’s imagination, he journeys along with his
side-kick Argyle into the “closet of doom”!
also: Frankie Pickle & the Pine Run 3000; Frankie Pickle & the Mathematical Menace
HISTORICAL FICTION
BLUE, ROSE. Ron’s Big Mission
Nine-year-old Ron, a frequent visitor to the Lake City Public Library in South Carolina in the 1950s, where he pores over books on airplanes
and flight, makes his own quiet stand against segregation when he decides to apply for his own library card. Based on the life of astronaut
Ron McNair.
COLE, HENRY. Nest for Celeste: A Story about Art, Inspiration and the Meaning of Home
At Oakley
A plantation near New Orleans, temporary home to naturalist John James Audubon and his assistant, Joseph Mason, houses a mouse
named Celeste. Industrious and sweet, she forages for food in the dining room and weaves baskets of grass. Unfortunately, she is harassed
by resident rats, and, attempting to assuage their hunger, she is trapped by a cat and unable to return to her nook under the floorboards.
GANTOS, Jack. Dead End in Norvelt
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2011-2012
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In this 2012 Newbery Award winner, we meet twelve-year-old Jack Gantos who spends the summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses.
He is is assigned to help an elderly neighbor with a most unusual chore involving the newly dead, molten wax, twisted promises, Girl Scout
cookies, underage driving, lessons from history, typewriting, and countless bloody noses.
LAI, THANHHA. Inside Out and Back Again
Through a series of poems, a young girl chronicles the life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave Vietnam
and resettle in Alabama.
MORRIS, GERALD. The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True
Sir Gawain, the only undefeated knight in King Arthur's court, eventually learns the value of friendship, courtliness, and courtesy after a
challenge from the Green Knight.
STEAD, REBECCA. When You Reach Me
As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1980s television game show, "The $20,000 Pyramid," a twelve-year-old New York City girl
tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.
VANDERPOOL, CLARE. Moon over Manifest
Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works
a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn
about the boy her father once was.
WILLIAMS-GARCIA, RITA. One Crazy Summer
Three sisters are sent to live with their mother who ran off years ago. She is a poet, living in California, and involved with the Black Panther
Movement.
HUMOR
AMATO, MARY. Snarf Attack, Underfoodle, and the Secret of Life
This book contains three stories in which brothers and best friends Wilbur and Orville Riot catch a thief, overthrow a king, and find a
treasure, which includes rules to some of their made-up games.
also: Drooling & Dangerous; Stinky & Successful; Take the Mummy & Run
HEALY, CHRISTOPHER. The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom
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Did you ever want to know more about the “Prince Charmings” in favorite fairytales? Debut local author, Chris presents a close-up of
Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Gustav, in all their imperfect glory. Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, they encounter
trolls, witches, and dragons during their quest to become heroes in this very funny, interwoven tale of mayhem.
SCIESZKA, JON. Knucklehead
This book will tickle your funny bone as you read these almost true hilarious stories of growing up in the fifties with five brothers.
also: Guys Read: Funny Business
SEEGERT, SCOTT. Vordak the Incomprehensible: How to Grow Up and Rule the World
This fictionalized self-help manual calls on kids to embrace their inner evil and learn to rule the world with anecdotes, rhymes and
cartoons.
also: Rule the School
SMITH, LANE. It’s a Book
Slapstick humor ensues in a face-off when one character reared on a diet of Web 2.0 and gaming can’t understand what to do with a
book!
MYSTERY
CRONIN, DOREEN. The Trouble with Chickens
J. J. Tully, a former search-and-rescue dog, is supposed to be resting and relaxing after a noble career. But he is hardly settled into his new
home before a mama chick named Mildred wants him to find two of her brood that have gone missing.
WOOD, MARYROSE. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling
Three young children have been raised by wolves and must learn how to behave in a civilized manner. Could a 15-year-old governess
possibly tame them?
also: The Hidden Gallery
NONFICTION
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ARONSON, MARC. Trapped: How the World Rescued 33 miners from 2,000 feet below the Chilean Desert
In early August 2010, the unthinkable happened when a mine collapsed in Copiapo, Chile, and 33 miners were trapped 2,000 feet below the
surface. For sixty-nine days they lived on meager resources and increasingly poor air quality. When they were finally rescued, the world
watched with rapt attention and rejoiced in the amazing spirit and determination of the miners. What could have been a terrible tragedy
became an amazing story of survival.
also: Sugar Changed the World: a story of spice, magic, slavery, freedom, and science
NELSON, KADIR. Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans
This beautifully illustrated and inspiring book demonstrates that in gaining their freedom and equal rights, African Americans helped our
country achieve its promise of liberty and justice—the true heart and soul of our nation.
also: We are the Ship
POETRY
RACZKA, BOB. Lemonade and Other Poems Squeezed From a Single Word
Part anagram, part rebus, part riddle – these poems capture a scene from a child's daily life and present a puzzle to solve. Sometimes sweet
and sometimes funny, but always clever, these poems are fun to read and even more fun for kids to write.
also: Guyku
SCHERTLE, ALICE. Button Up! Wrinkled Rhymes
The outfits in this book are brought to life with personalities by Schertle's wry poetry and Mathers's exuberant cast of animal characters.
The duds on display in this poetry collection are as unique as the critters who wear them.
SINGER, MARILYN. Mirror Mirror: a Book of Reversible Verse
A collection of short poems which, when reversed, provide new perspectives on the fairy tale characters they feature.
SILVERSTEIN, SHEL. Everything on It: Poems and Drawings
This collection of never before published poetry by everyone’s favorite Shel Silvestein will delight and amaze you. Lovetobutcants?
Impossible!
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2011-2012
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TUNNELL, MICHAEL O. Candy Bomber: the Story of the Berlin Airlift’s “Chocolate Pilot”
The year was 1948, and the Soviet Union had closed access to West Berlin in an attempt to starve the people into accepting Communist rule.
It isn’t long before kids look up in the sky, sees a plane and a pilot dropping candy!
WARDLAW, LEE. Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku
“Dogs have hair and cats have fur. Dogs whine, yip, howl and bark, while cats purr”. Read about this amazing story of a boy who adopts a
stray cat, all in the form of a haiku!
SPORTS
KELLY, DAVID. Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse
A telling of the true story behind the creation--and breaking--of the Curse of the Bambino, inflicted on World Series champions the Boston
Red Sox after they traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1918.
McKISSACK, PAT. The Home-Run King
Brothers Tank and Jimbo Turner love sneaking into Nashville's Sulphur Dell Ballpark to watch the superstars of Negro League baseball.
When Josh Gibson, the famous home-run hitter for the Homestead Grays, bunks at their house, the boys think they're one step away from
heaven.
also: the other titles in the Scraps of Time series
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2011-2012
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Books in a Series:
Here are some suggestions for series books for intermediate readers.
Adventures of Ook and Gluk series by Dav Pilkey
Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls series by Meg Cabot
Al's World series by Elise Leonard
Alvin Ho series by Lenore Look
Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi
Anna Hibiscus series by Atinuke
also: No. 1 Car Spotter series by Atinuke
Babymouse series by Jennifer Holm
also: Squish series
Babysitter’s Club Graphic Novel series by Ann Martin
Beast Quest: The Dark Realm series by Adam Blade
Big Nate series by Lincoln Pierce
Blast to the Past series by Stacia Deutsch
Bone series by Jeff Smith
Calendar Mysteries series by Ron Roy
also: Capital Mysteries series
Calvin and Hobbes series by Bill Watterson
Charlie Small series
Chet Gecko series by Bruce Hale
Clarice Bean series by Lauren Child
Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker
Complicated Life of Claudia Cristina Cortez series by Diana Gallagher
Cool Sports Facts series
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David Mortimer Baxter series by Karen Tayleur
Dessert First series by Hallie Durand
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
Dragon Slayer’s Academy series by Kate McMullan
also: Myth O Mania series
Dragonbreath series by Ursula Vernon
Dyamonde Daniel series by Nikki Grimes
Easy-to-read Spooky Tales series by Veronika Charles
Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart
Ellray Jakes series by Sally Warner
Fashion Kitty series by Charise Harper
Field Trip Mysteries series by Steven Brezenoff
Franny K. Stein series by Jim Benton
Genius Files series by Dan Gutman
also:The Baseball Card series also: My Weird School series; My Weird School Daze series;
and My Weirder School
Geronimo Stilton series
also: Thea Stilton series
Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler
I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis
Jake Drake series by Andrew Clements
Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald
also: Stink series also: Sisters Club: Rule of Three series
Julian Rodriguez series by Alexander Stadler
Liberty Porter, First Daughter by Julia DeVillers
Lunch Lady series by Jarrett Krosoczka
Magic Thief series by Sarah Prineas
Max Disaster series by Marissa Moss
Max Finder Mystery series by Liam O’Donnell
Merlin’s Dragon series by T.A. Barron
The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Stewart Trenton Lee
Oggie Cooder series by Sarah Weeks
Ottoline series by Chris Riddell
Pandora series by Carolyn Hennesy
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
also: The Kane Chronicles series
Ready Freddy series by Abby Klein
Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch
Secrets of Droon series by Tony Abbott
Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Shredderman series by Wendelin Van Draanen
Simon Bloom series by Michael Reisman
Sister Magic series by Anne Mazer
Sisters 8 series by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley
also: Nerds series
Starcatchers series by Dave Barry
Theodore Boone series by John Grisham
Third-Grade Detectives series by George Edward Stanley
39 Clues series
Ulysses Moore series
Warriors series by Erin Hunter
also: The Seekers series and The Warriors Graphic Novel series
Willimina series by Valerie Wesley
Who was . . .? biography series
Young Masters Little Wisdom series by Bunny Hull
Zack Files series by Dan Greenburg
also: Weird Planet series
Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs series by Sharon Draper
also: Sassy series
AUTHORS TOO GOOD TO MISS:
Here are some great authors to explore for intermediate readers:
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Nic Bishop, Andrew Clements, Kate DiCamillo, Hallie Durand, Dan Gutman, Mary Downing Hahn, Carl Hiaasen, Gordon Korman, Kathleen
Krull, Wendy Mass, Gary Paulsen, Jack Prelutsky, Graham Salisbury
Here are some recommended reading websites, too:
http://www.readkiddoread.com/home
Author James Patterson works with children’s book expert, Judy Freeman, to present a resource-rich website full of “unforgettable titles bound
to turn kids on to books.”
http://guysread.com
Author, Jon Scieszka has created a wonderful websites of suggested titles specifically aimed toward boys; but, don’t kid yourself, girls will love
these books as well.
http://www.abookandahug.com
A book and a hug was created to help you find a book for your child. It's important to match children up with books they want to read and
this website can make all the difference in the world helping your child figure out their "reading personality."
Maplewood Memorial Library South Orange Public Library
www.maplewoodlibrary.org www.sopl.org
51 Baker Street, Maplewood 65 Scotland Road, South Orange
(973) 762-1622 ext 5005 (973) 762-0230
Maplewood Library Hilton Branch This list is available online at the public
1688 Springfield Ave., Maplewood library sites.
(973) 762-1688
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