MERION AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT www.umreads.org SUMMER 2015

2015 Summer Reading Picks from the

Upper Merion Area Middle School Librarians Grades5-6

Heroes in Literature: What do they Teach us?

Here is a list of books with some of the best heroes in books. Each hero’s journey teaches us a lesson. What can we learn from these brave (and not so brave) heroes?

Every Hero has a Story

Who Me, a Hero?

A Soldier’s Secret: the incredible true story of Sarah Edmunds, a Civil War hero by Marissa MossCan someone be living a lie and still be a hero? Based on the true story of Sarah Emma Edmonds, who served in the Civil War as a man, this novel portrays a hero who nursed on the battlefield and spied for the Union Army. J MOSS

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg SloanWillow faces life by thinking with her amazing brain. When she loses her parents in a car accident, thinking doesn’t work. In the course of this novel, she turns into a hero by transforming lives around her in unexpected ways. J SLOAN

Death by Toilet Paper by Donna Gephart

Benjamin promised his dying father that he would take care of his mother. With the threat of eviction from their apartment and many other financial problems, will he win the Royal-T toilet paper contest to help his mother and be the hero that he wants to be? J GEPHART

El Deafo by Cece BellWhen Cece discovers that her hearing aid is so powerful that she can hear her teacher anywhere in the building, she begins to think of herself as a superhero. Will her new power help her make friends because that is her biggest wish? J GN BELL/J PAP/SET BELL

Football Hero by Tim GreenTroy has a unique ability. He can see future football plays. When his mom gets a job at the Atlanta Falcons, Troy thinks he can use his ability to change the chances of the Falcons. What would you do if you had an ability to foresee the future? Can Troy make himself a hero or wind up in very serious trouble? J GREEN

Mister Orange by Truus Matti

When Albie volunteers to serve in the army during World War II, he leaves his comic book collection and drawings of his own superhero with his younger brother, Linus. Linus’ understanding of bullies, war and comic book heroes change when he meets a famous artist, who helps Linus stand up to bullies and confront the realities of war for his brother. J MATTI

Rain Reign by Ann M. MartinRose and her adopted stray dog, Rain are more than a partnership. When a hurricane blows through Rose’s community, the storm causes more than property damage and Rain goes missing. Find out how Rose’s decision about her beloved dog makes her a hero. J MARTIN/J PAP SET MARTIN

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Mo and her friend Dale use their detective skills to solve a series of crimes: murder, bank robbery, and kidnapping. Mo’s quick thinking and humor gets her in over her head but in the end may make her a hero of hometown Tupelo Landing, North Carolina. J MYS TURNAGE

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The Heroic Quest...

The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan Will is too small and weak to be a knight so he is apprenticed to the Rangers, a mysterious group that Will and the other townspeople have always feared. What Will doesn’t know is that Rangers are the true protectors of the kingdom and a war is brewing on the frontiers. Will teaches us that the smallest among us can be the hero that saves us. J FANTASY FLANAGAN

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann Alex is classified as unwanted in his community’s coming of age ceremony and is sent off never to see his family again. Instead of a death farm, he finds himself in a magical school where he learns to tap into his creativity. Life is wonderful until a battle breaks out between the two worlds. The heroes in this tale must face loss, a difficult lesson to face. J FANTASY MCMANN

Vango: between sky and Earth by Timothee de Fombelle An action-packed tale, Vango is just one step ahead of being arrested for the murder of a priest. Set during the 1930’s, Vando search for the truth of his background while running from Hitler and Stalin. Is Vando a superhero, a murderer, a friend, or just crazy? J DE FOMBELLE

The Vindico by Wesley King FIve teens are kidnapped and trained to be supervillains. Do the weaknesses in their personalities make them heroes or villains in the end? (first book in a series) J SCIENCE FICTION KING

The Accidental Hero by Matt MykluschJack Blank’s bleak, dreary life at St. Barnaby’s Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten and Lost, an orphanage that sinks more and more into the swampland of New Jersey each passing year, is preparing him for a long, unhappy career as a toilet brush cleaner. He escapes through the comic books he secretly reads in the dark corners of the library. One icy, gray morning Jack receives two visitors that change his life forever.First, a deadly robot tries to blow him up. Then an emissary from a secret country called the Imagine Nation, comes to claim him. Jack discovers that he has an amazing ability that could make him the savior of the Imagine Nation and the world beyond, or the biggest threat they’ve ever faced. This teaches us to never give up on your own heroism. J PAP 1-M

Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

After being sucked up by a vacuum and nearly losing his life, an ordinary squirrel is transformed into a super-hero. Will Ulysses, the super-hero squirrel measure up to Flora’s expectations that have been developed through reading The Illuminated Adventures of the Amazing Incandesto? Will the duo of Flora & Ulysses combat adversity and find happiness in true super-hero fashion? NEWBERRY DICAMILLO

Hero by Mike LupicaZach Harriman knew his father was a hero. The President trusted him to settle foreign conflicts every day. But a super-hero? When Zach decides to investigate his father’s sudden death, people start telling Zach he is a hero, just like his dad. it certainly looks like it. Suddenly, he can fight grown men with super strength and even more surprising, he can fly. Zach teaches us that heroes seek the truth, even when the truth is scary. J LUPICA

The Hero’s Guide to Saving your Kingdomby Christopher HealyThe forgotten princes of several fairy tales must work together to triumph over an evil plot battling trolls, dragons, witches, and many other horrors. If they win this battle, will they finally become the heroes and be remembered by their real names?J FANTASY HEALY

The Hero Revealed: the extraordinary adventures of ordinary boy by William Boniface

Ordinary Boy might be the only person in Superopolis who doesn’t have any superpowers. Despite his lack of superpower, he teams up with some friends to fight the super-villain, Professor Brain-Drain. J BONIFACE

Nerds: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society ( a series) by Michael BuckleyWith leading edge technology, a group of nerdy students enhance their abilities and take on a crazy collection of villains. Will they triumph against the Hyena? If you enjoy ridiculous and funny, this is your series for fun. J BUCKLEY

Superheroes...

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Superheroes cont...

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes (Percy Jackson and the Olympians companion book) by Rick RiordanHear the stories of the Greek heroes straight from Percy himself. Who better to fill you in on the details which history left out? Percy gives you the inside scoop on who beheaded who, who fell in love and who got shot. We learn that heroes almost always have a hard time of it, before they are heroes. A must read for Riordan fans. Enjoy after August 18 !

Powerless by Matthew Cody

Superhero kids save their community from evil right up to the moment that they turn thirteen. As soon as they celebrate their birthday, they lose all their powers. What is robbing them of their power and can they solve the mystery before it’s too late? J MYS CODY

Saavy by Ingrid Law

What super power would you like to have? When Mibs turns thirteen, her special ability will be revealed. Right before her birthday, her father is seriously injured, and Mibs wants her saavy, her special ability to save him. In a wild journey to get to the hospital to wake her father up from a coma, Mibs fears she won’t get there in time to make a difference. J LAW, J CD LAW

Super Graphic: a visual guide to the comic book universe by Tim Leong

Can you imagine trying to understand the comic book universe with charts graphs and sadness scales? Share the adventures of the DC Comics through scatter plots and Venn Diagrams. J 741.5 LEO 2013

I am Malala: how one girl stood up for education and changed the world by Malala YousafzaiShot in the head while on the way to school in Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai will never be the same. She became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner and continues to advocate for the education of girls. Her story is an inspiration to standing up and holding on to one’s convictions. JB YOUSAFZAI

A Woman in the House (and Senate): how women came to the United States Congress, broke down barriers, and changed the country by Ilene Cooper

Do you know when the first woman was elected toCongress? Jeannette Pickering Rankin representedMontana in 1917. This book is filled with the storiesof influential women, past heroines who fought forthe rights of women to vote and modern heroineswho continue to champion for the civil rights of all.J 320.082 COO 2014

March, Book One by John LewisMarch, Book One is John Lewis’ memoir of the fight for civil rights written as a graphic history. Lewis is an American hero who protested in the lunch counter sit-in and Selma-Montgomery March. Lewis’ meeting with Dr King and his training as a non-violent protester changed his life, and he has represented Georgia in the House of Representatives since 1987. His book reminds us of all the heroes who made sacrifices for civil rights. J GN LEWIS

50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet!by Dennis Denenberg and Lorraine RoscoeWith short biographies on all the people we would expect to be on this list, this is a good book. Because it covers some unexpected heroes and presents the information in such a readable way, it becomes a great book. Fun to browse, it will introduce you to some heroes history often forgets. We learn that heroes aren’t always rewarded. J 920.073 DEN 2001

Heroes of the Environment: true stories of people who are helping to protect our environmentby Harriet Rohmer

This book contains stories of twelve individuals whose heroic actions will make a difference in cleaning up rivers, saving turtles, and recycling projects. Perhaps their stories will inspire you to become a hero for the environment.J 333.72 ROH 2009

Real Life Heroes--Now and Yesterday

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Can Animals be Heroes?

Stubby the War Dog: the true story of World War I’s bravest dog by Ann Bausum

A stump-tailed terrier, Stubby perfected his right-paw salute which amused Private Robert Conroy’s commanding officer. Stubby served side by side with Conroy behind enemy lines on the Western Front to earn a place in history for his brave deeds. J 355.4 BAU 2014

Animal Heroes: true rescue stories by Sandra Markle

Can animals be heroes? After reading the true stories of pets that saved their families and other stories about animals helping people, you’ll be a believer. J 636.088 MAR 2009

Cracker! the best dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata

Cracker, a German Shepherd was accepted into a military canine unit and trained to sniff out mines and bombs. She worked closely with her handler, Rick, protecting soldiers during the Vietnam War. When Rick is injured, separated from Cracker, and then sent home to recover, he loses Cracker. Rick is desperate to find Cracker, who he thinks has acted as a hero in the war. J KADOHATA / J PAP 1

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