Welcome to Bryant Middle School's
Summer Reading List
Fifth Grade and Above
Alia’s Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq. Mark Stamaty
The true story of Iraqi librarian Alia Muhammad Baker, who hid more than 30,000 library books before the invasion of Iraq. Graphic-novel format.
Aliens Ate my Homework. Bruce Coville.
One of several titles in a series about aliens who infiltrate a school. Funny and entertaining.
Ballad of Lucy Whipple. Karen Cushman
During the California gold rush, Lucy suffers through six years of deprivations and homesickness in a small mining camp. Eventually her pining and longing change to contentment. Affecting and engaging.
The Birchbark House and The Game of Silence. Louise Erdich
The story of Little Frog, an adopted Ojibwa girl who lives on Madeline Island in Lake Superior. Ojibwa life is described in vivid detail, as is the impact of the arrival of settlers.
Bud, Not Buddy. Christopher Paul Curtis.
A 10-year-old boy in Depression-era Michigan sets out to find his father.
Chasing Vermeer. Blue Baillot
A mystery set in the art world. Exciting and educational!
The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen: M.T. Anderson’s Thrilling Tales. M.T. Anderson
More hilarious mysteries from the author of Whales on Stilts.
Crispin: The Cross of Lead. Avi
An action-packed historical narrative that follows the frantic flight of a 13-year-old peasant boy across 14th-century England.
Everything on a Waffle. Polly Horvath
In a quaint restaurant, everything comes on a waffle--lasagna, fish, you name it. A young girl waits for her parents to return while helping her aunt by waiting on tables in this restaurant.
The Five Ancestors series: Tiger, Monkey, Snake, Crane, Dragon. Jeff Stone
Five young martial arts experts must use their unique personalities and strengths to avenge the death of their master and destruction of their dojo. Each book features one character. Intricate plots, lots of martial arts action, well-defined characters.
Flush. Carl Hiaasen
Another funny ecological mystery from the author of Hoot.
The Frog Princess and Dragon’s Breath. E. D. Baker
Very funny, very detailed, very busy fractured fairy tales, featuring girls as protagonists, but appealing to everyone. Lots of inside jokes and innuendos.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. E.L. Konigsburg
Two children run away and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They are drawn into solving a mystery regarding the creator of a beautiful statue.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. J.K. Rowling
Harry is 16, and the battle against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is heating up. 6th in a series.
Holes. Louis Sachar
A falsely-accused boy is sent to a labor camp run by a sadistic tyrant. He solves 3 mysteries concerning the present, the past and the distant past. Funny and touching Newbery winner.
Hoot. Carl Hiaasen
An ecological mystery about tiny dwarf owls, a strange wild boy, and a pancake empire.
I Was a Rat and The Scarecrow and his Servant. Phillip Pullman.
Extremely funny stories that parallel, twist, and bludgeon classic fairy tale conventions. Readers will love figuring out clues and connections.
A Long Way from Chicago: A Novel in Stories. Richard Peck
When Joey and his sister Mary Alice travel from their home in Chicago to their Grandmother's small town, they don't expect the crazy adventures and eccentric characters they encounter there.
Love That Dog. Sharon Creech
A novel written in verse about a boy who, unwillingly and begrudgingly, comes to appreciate poetry.
Maniac Magee. Jerry Spinelli
A tall tale about a boy who becomes a neighborhood legend and source of local inspiration.
Only You Can Save Mankind. Terry Pratchett.
A video game turns out to be real – and it’s up to one boy to save the universe.
Roman Mysteries: Assassins of Rome, Thieves of Ostia, Enemies of Jupiter, Pirates of Pompeii, Secrets of Vesuvius, Gladiators of Capua, Dolphins of Laurentum
Caroline Lawrence
Four orphans solve mysteries in Ancient Rome. Painless vocabulary and history lessons.
The Serpent Came to Gloucester. M. T. Anderson
This picture book for older students telling the story of a friendly sea serpent that spent a couple summers off the New England coast. Told in rhyme.
The Tale of Despereaux. Kate DiCamillio
Despereaux Tilling, the new baby mouse, is different from all other mice. A swashbuckling adventure story that spans battles between good and evil.
The Time Hackers. Gary Paulsen
Strange relics from the past begin appearing, and then two friends find themselves transported into different historic eras. The culprit? A laptop. Very, very funny adventures.
Time Warp Trio series. Jon Sciezka
Hilarious, ridiculous, unforgivable treks into the past. No era is safe!
The View from Saturday. E. L. Konigsburg
The ties that bind four members of an extraordinarily successful 6th-grade quiz bowl team.
Whales on Stilts. M.T. Anderson
A very funny, very action-packed mystery story, by a master writer.
Whittington. Alan W. Armstrong
Three simultaneous plots tell of a barn cat struggling to find a home, a young boy struggling to learn to read, and both being inspired by the British folk tale, Dick Whittington’s Cat. A satisfying read on many levels with numerous applications.
Willow Run. Patricia Reilly Giff
Meggie and her family move to Michigan so her father can build airplanes at the Willow Run plant during World War II.
A Year down Yonder. Richard Peck
Chicago-bred Mary Alice has been sentenced to a year-long stay in rural Illinois with her irrepressible, rough and gruff grandmother.
Sixth Grade and Above
The Abracadabra Kid. Sid Fleischman
A very funny memoir from the best-selling children’s and young adult author.
Al Capone Does My Shirts. Gennifer Choldenko
When his Dad accepts a job as a guard at Alcatraz Prison in 1935, Moose has to make all sorts of adjustments. Very funny and lots of painless history lessons!
Bad Boy. Walter Dean Myers
Best-selling, award-wining author recounts his youth in this memoir.
Boston Jane series An Adventure, The Claim, Wilderness Days. Jennifer L. Holm
Proper young lady Jane travels cross country, from Philadelphia to the Pacific Northwest, to join her fiancé. She arrives; he’s gone; Jane is left to make it on her own. Lots of humor, lots of action.
Bucking the Sarge. Christopher Paul Curtis
A contemporary story set in Flint, Michigan, about a boy trying to come to terms with his tough, manipulative mother, “The Sarge”.
Catherine, Called Birdy. Karen Cushman
A very funny journal kept by a young lady of noble birth, describing her daily activities, and her father’s unsuccessful attempts to find her a proper suitor. Diary format.
Chinese Cinderella. Adeline Yen Mah
The memoir of an “unwanted” Chinese daughter growing up in China and Hong Kong.
Code Talker. Joseph Bruchac
Based on fact, this is the story of Native American Marines during World War II who communicated in “code” – the Navaho language.
Coraline. Neil Gaimon
Truly creepy and scary parallel universe tale. Satisfying and reassuring ending.
Crazy Lady! Leslie Jane Conly
A gritty, realistic look at growing up in the inner city from the viewpoint of a seventh-grader, who befriends a street-person - the neighborhood “crazy lady”.
Criss Cross. Lynne Ray Perkins
Seemingly unrelated stories show how lives cross and affect each other. Newbery winner!
Crooked River. Shelley Pearsall
It’s the Ohio wilderness, and Indian John has been accused of murder. The author consulted period trial transcripts to recreate an authentic and gripping atmosphere.
Diamond Brothers: Falcon’s Malteser, Public Enemy # 2, South by Southeast, Three of Diamonds. Anthony Horowitz
The world’s most inept private detective team (two brothers, one of normal intelligence, one decidedly not) tackle international conspiracies. Lots of action, lots of humor.
Dragon’s Gate. Laurence Yep
The adventures of a 14-year-old Chinese boy who crosses the ocean to California to work on the Transcontinental Railroad. Lots of action.
Define Normal. J.A. Peters
A “straight-A, perfect, nice girl” is assigned as a peer counselor to a notorious “punker” student who likes black lipstick and tattoos. The two eventually, very eventually, become best friends.
Echohawk. Linda Durrant
After his parents are killed in a raid, a young pioneer boy is adopted and raised as a Mohican. Eventually he finds he must choose between the two cultures.
Ella Enchanted. Gail Carson Levine.
An appealing fairy tale with a strong heroine, who triumphs despite being cursed. Very funny – and enchanting!
Esperanza Rising. Pam Munoz Ryan
Set during the Depression, this is the story of a privileged young Mexican girl who must immigrate to the United States and work as a maid after her father dies. Inspirational.
The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters. Judy Sierra
A very funny field guide to monsters of the world. Great illustrations, very witty captions.
Guardians of Ga’Hoole series (twelve titles and growing). Kathryn Lasky
Battle for survival in the Owl Kingdom, featuring all the aspects of high fantasy: good vs. evil, basic survival, mythology and legend. Strong characterization.
Hit the Road. Caroline Cooney
Her parents have gone on a cruise, and new driver Brit goes to stay with her Grandmother – only to find that Grandma has big plans for a major road trip.
I was a Professional Teenage Wrestler. Ted Lewin
Very funny memoir.
Inkheart.
Inkspell. Cornelia Funke
In the first book, fictional characters cross into our world and become part of our lives. In the sequel, readers cross into fictional settings and become part of the story. For book lovers!
King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography. Chris Crutcher
Hysterically funny telling of the misadventures of celebrated children’s book author Chris Crutcher, while he was growing up in Cascade, Idaho.
Lady Grace Mysteries: Assassin, Betrayal, Conspiracy, Deception, Exile, Gold
Patricia Finney and Lady Grace Cavendish.
A 13-year-old lady-in-waiting at the court of Elizabeth I solves mysteries and deals with intrigues. Diary format.
Lily’s Crossing. Patricia Reilly Giff
A very funny and touching story about life on the home front during World War II, as a young girl deals with deprivation, patriotic activities, and her mother’s recent death.
Messenger. Lois Lowrey
Like The Giver, this book tells the story of a futuristic society struggling to preserve their way of life as they deal with “newcomers”. A thoughtful book about tolerance and acceptance.
My Friend the Enemy. J. B. Chaney
Hazel lives on the slopes of Mt. Hood, and spends her time spotting for enemy aircraft. What she actually discovers is a boy hiding from being sent to a Japanese internment camp. Touching story of friendship, patriotism, and trust based on actual events.
October Sky. Homer Hingham
A memoir by one of the “Rocket Boys”, teens from West Virginia coal country who became obsessed with rockets during the 1950’s.
Peter and the Star catchers. David Berry
This is billed as a “prequel” to the classic story of Peter Pan, and tells the story of how Peter first became a lost boy, and learned to fly. Very funny, and first in a series!
Pictures of Hollis Woods. Patricia Reilly Giff
An orphan found in Hollis Wood spends her entire life moving from foster home to foster home until she finally finds a real home, with an older artist, but then realizes that she has to become the caretaker.
Rascal. Sterling North
A family adopts a wild raccoon. This is a true story, told in memoir format.
The Ravenmaster’s Secret. Elvira Woodruff
A boy whose father is the ravenmaster at the Tower of London helps a Jacobite prisoner escape. Lots of atmosphere, painless history lessons.
Red Land, Yellow River. Ange Zhang
A memoir of a boy growing up during China’s Cultural Revolution.
Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution. Jaing Ji-Li
Replay. Sharon Creech
A boy appearing in a play for the first time gets all sorts of advice from his huge Italian family – whether he wants it or not.
Rodzina. Karen Cushman
Orphans travel west by train in 1811. The younger, cuter children find homes right away. Will anyone ever want Rodzina? Lots of history & geography, and a very likeable heroine.
The Ropemaker. Peter Dickinson
A sweeping epic about a quest through a magical land. Lots of action and adventure!
Troll Fell. Katherine Langrish
An exciting tale about an orphan Viking boy coping with trolls, elves, and, perhaps worst of all - scheming relatives.
Under the Watson’s Porch. Susan Shreve
The story of a friendship between a lonely girl and the foster boy who moves in next door. They decide to start a summer camp for younger children – under the neighbor’s porch.
Walking with the Dead. L. M. Falcone
An ancient mummy is reanimated, and leads Alex and his friend Freddy into the Greek underworld, where they have encounters with a minotaur, Medusa and even Hades himself.
Wild Man Island. Will Hobbs
A young boy becomes stranded on an island while looking for the spot where his scientist father died. He thinks he’s all alone – until a mysterious stranger seems to appear.
The Witches’ Boy. Michael Gruber
An “ugly” baby is left on a witch’s doorstep. She has no interest in becoming a mother, but eventually, as the boy grows up, their relationship changes. Watch for references to lots of other fairy tales!
Wright & Wong: The Case of the Prank that Stank, The Case of the Nana Napper, The Case of the Trail Mix Up, The Case of the Slippery Soap. Laura Burns and Melinda Metz
Boy genius Orville Wright (who has Asperger’s Syndrome) teams up with his best friend, Agatha Wong, to solve mysteries at Placid Middle School.
High School
The following suggestions vary in content and complexity. Parents are encouraged to review selections to ensure suitability for individual students.
The Bean Trees. Barbara Kingsolver
A young woman tells her adventurous story of leaving her home state of Kentucky and the characters and conflicts she encounters.
Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast. Robin McKinley
The plot follows the renowned legend, with an updated main character.
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. Laurie R. King
Retired Sherlock Holmes meets his intellectual match in 15-year old Mary Russell who challenges him to investigate yet another case.
Beloved. Toni Morrison
Haunted by memories of her life as a slave, Sethe struggles to enjoy the freedom of her new home.
Brave New World. Aldous Huxley
This classic science fiction work presents a chilling version of the future where the population lives in a utopian World State.
Cheating Lessons. Nan Willow Cappo
When her team is announced as finalists in the state Classics Bowl contest, Bernadette suspects that cheating may have been involved.
Cold Mountain. Charles Frazier
Inman, a wounded Civil War soldier, endures the elements, the Guard, and his own weakness and infirmity to return to his sweetheart, Ada, who is fighting her own battle to survive while farming in North Carolina.
Ellen Foster. Kaye Gibbons
Casting an unflinching yet humorous eye on her situation, 11-year-old Ellen survives the death of her mother, and abusive father, and uncaring relatives to find a loving home and a new mother.
Feed. Anderson, M.T.
In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble.
Geeks: How Two Boys Rode the Internet out of Idaho. Jon Katz
A year after graduating from high school, two young technically savvy misfits explore the world beyond home.
Girl With a Pearl Earring. Tracie Chevalier
Set in the 17th century Dutch culture, this historical novel describes a young girl who becomes the inspiration for real life artist Vermeer’s most celebrated painting.
The Grass Dancer. Susan Power
This multigenerational tale of a Sioux family ends in the 1980’s with the love story of Charlene Thunder and grass dancer Harley Wind Soldier.
Grendel. John Gardner
In a unique interpretation of the Beowulf legend, the monster Grendel relates his struggle to understand the ugliness in himself and mankind in the brutal world of 14th century Denmark.
Hole in My Life. Jack Gantos
Scared silly by the violence he saw around him daily, Ganto’s only lifeline was a battered copy of The Brothers Karamazov, which he painstakingly turned into an impromptu journal by writing in the spaces between the lines of text.
Home of the Braves. David Klass
Eighteen-year-old Joe, captain of the soccer team, is dismayed when a hotshot player from Brazil threatens to take over his team and girlfriend.
Homeless Bird. Gloria Whelan
Set in India, a young 13-year-old widow finds herself cast out of her society.
Hope Was Here Joan Bauer
When sixteen-year-old Hope and the aunt who raised her move from Brooklyn to Mulhoney, Wisconsin to work in a diner, they become involved in a political campaign to oust the town’s corrupt mayor.
The House on Mango Street 1991. Sandra Cisneros
In short poetic stories, the author describes life in a low-income, predominantly Hispanic neighborhood in Chicago.
In Country. Bobbi Ann Mason
Sam Hughes, whose father was killed there before she was born, feels Inn the summer of 1984, the effects of the war in Vietnam.
Killer Angels. Michael Shaara
Officers and foot soldiers from both the Union and the Confederacy steel themselves for the boldly Battle of Gettysburg.
A Lesson Before Dying. Ernest Gaines
A disillusioned teacher, Grant Wiggins, is sent into the penitentiary to help a slow learner gain a sense of dignity and self-esteem before his execution.
The Member of the Wedding. Carson McCullers
Set during Word War II, this story chronicles the summer of a 12-year-old girl dealing with the wedding of her brother.
Memories of Summer. Ruth White
Set in Appalachia in the 1950’s, Lyric’s widowed father moves her and her sister to Michigan, hoping for a better life.
Montana 1948. Larry Watson
This novel tells the story of a middle class Montana family torn apart by a scandal.
No Condition is Permanent. Christina Kessel
When shy Jodie, travels with her anthropologist mother to Sierra Leone, she becomes fast friends with a village girl.
Nothing But the Truth. Avi
Structured as a series of journal entries, the story of Philip Malloy and high school politics is told with humor and satire.
Princess Bride. William Goldman
This timeless tale pits country against country, good against evil, and love against hate. This is an incredible journey and love story includes monstrous and gentle beasts as well as some memorable surprises.
Rats Saw God. Rob Thomas
To make up credit for a failed English class, 18-year-old Steve York, decides to chronicle the events in his sophomore and junior year.
Rite of Passage. Richard Wright
15-year-old Johnny Gibbs, runs away to the streets of Harlem and finds violence.
Rules of the Road. Joan Bauer
When hired to be the driver for a retired shoe store president, Jenna takes the keys to a white Cadillac and begins a summer-long cross-country adventure.
The Secret Life of Bees. Sue Kidd
In this coming-of-age story, 14-year-old Lily Owen runs from home to protect her friend, solve a mystery and discover the true story of her mother.
Shattering Glass. Gail Giles
When Rob, the charismatic leader of the senior class, turns the school nerd into Prince Charming, his actions lead to unexpected violence.
Stargirl. Jerry Spinelli
Set in a small in Arizona, this story tells of high school relationships through the eyes of a supernatural teen character.
Step from Heaven. An Na
Young u, a Korean girl, tell her story of growing up in a small village until she is an A-student ready to leave for college.
The Things They Carried. Tim O’Brien
Weapons and good –luck charms are carried by U.S. soldiers in Vietnam and represent their stories.
This Land Was Made For You and Me: The Life and Songs of Woody Guthrie. Elizabeth Partridge
This story of the folk musician, who wrote over three thousand songs, draws from personal experiences growing up in Oklahoma and Texas.
Tomorrow When the War Began. John Marsden
Returning from a camping trip in the Australian bush, seven friends discover their country has been invaded and everyone in town has been taken prisoner.
With Their Eyes: September 11th the View from a High School at Ground Zero.
First hand stories from students at Stuyvesant High School, a few blocks from the World Trade Center, reveal how lives were changed forever.