Savy by Ingrid Law

 

This book was an Iowa Children's Choice Award book in 2011-2012. 

Thirteen is when a Beaumont’s savvy hits—and with one brother who causes hurricanes and another who creates electricity, Mibs Beaumont is eager to see what she gets. But just before the big day, Poppa is in a terrible accident. And now all Mibs wants is a savvy that will save him. In fact, Mibs is so sure she’ll get a powerful savvy that she sneaks a ride to the hospital on a rickety bus with her sibling and the preacher’s kids in tow. After this extraordinary adventure—full of talking tattoos and a kidnapping—not a soul on board will ever be the same.

Reading level: DRA 50

Allies By Alan Gratz

June 6, 1944: The Nazis are terrorizing Europe, on their evil quest to conquer the world. The only way to stop them? The biggest, most top-secret operation ever, with the Allied nations coming together to storm German-occupied France.

Welcome to D-Day.

I think Alan Gratz is a very good author. This is a war book and war isn't always "kid friendly". Alan Gratz does a good job writing from multiple perspectives. This gives us an idea on how war touches MANY people. I debated putting this on our third grade blog but reminded myself that kids play video games that are just as graphic. If you like history this is a good book for you!
This is a higher reading level; maybe 4th or 5th grade. 

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Wishtree

By Katherine Applegate

 

Trees can't tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories. . . .
Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood "wishtree"―people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches. Along with a crow named Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red's hollows, this wishtree watches over the neighborhood.
You might say Red has seen it all.
Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red's experience as a wishtree is more important than ever.

Harry Potter Series

By J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.

My son and I are reading this series. We are currently on the fifth book. After each book we watch the movie together. This has become one of my favorite times of the day. J.K. Rowling did a fantastic job with these books. I bet you will enjoy them, even if this isn't your typical genre! 

Grade level 5-8 grades

Lexiles: 880-1030

Wildfire By Rodman Philbrick

Wildfire

By Rodman Philbrick

Flames race toward Sam Castine's summer camp as evacuation buses are loading, but Sam runs back to get his phone. Suddenly, a flash of heat blasts him as pine trees explode. Now a wall of fire separates Sam from his bus, and there's only one thing to do: Run for his life. Run or die.

Lungs burning, Sam's only goal is to keep moving. Drought has made the forest a tinderbox, and Sam struggles to remember survival tricks he learned from his late father. Then, when he least expects it, he encounters Delphy, an older girl who is also lost. Their unlikely friendship grows as they join forces to find civilization.

The pace never slows, and eventually flames surround Sam and Delphy on all sides. A powerful bond is forged that can only grow out of true hardship-as two true friends beat all odds and outwit one of the deadliest fires ever.

At the end of the novel, information about wildfires and useful safety tips add to the reader's understanding of one of the US's most dangerous natural disasters.

Words on Fire

Words on Fire

By Jennifer A. Nielsen

Danger is never far from Audra's family farm in Lithuania. She always avoids the occupying Russian Cossack soldiers, who insist that everyone must become Russian -- they have banned Lithuanian books, religion, culture, and even the language. But Audra knows her parents are involved in something secret and perilous.

In June 1893, when Cossacks arrive abruptly at their door, Audra's parents insist that she flee, taking with her an important package and instructions for where to deliver it. But escape means abandoning her parents to a terrible fate.

As Audra embarks on a journey to deliver the mysterious package, she faces unimaginable risks, and soon she becomes caught up in a growing resistance movement. Can joining the underground network of book smugglers give Audra a chance to rescue her parents?

 AMAZING Read!!!!

finding PERFECT by Elly Swartz

Finding Perfect is a beautiful story that all middle grade readers should dive into! Molly is trying to navigate school, her mom being gone, family, friends, and OCD. Readers will love her journey and learn so much about compassion, support, love of family and friendship.

This book was such an interesting read for me. The longer I teach the more students I see with some form of anxiety or fear of not having things perfect. As a kid, this was me. I obsessed over little things, counted in my head and worried if I didn't do something right I would cause an accident. This is something I would read along with my child to talk about Molly's fears.