| Title | Author | Grade Level | Rating | Comments |
| Ashwater Experiment | Amy Goldman Koss | 5.2 |    |
Definitely a book for girls; good message |
| Autumn Street | Lois Lowery | 6.2 |
|
Mature themes; wonderful story but surprising and powerful ending |
| Because of Winn Dixie | Kate DiCamillo | 5.1 | |
One of my favorites; a truly enjoyable book with a great message |
| Belle Prater's Boy | Ruth White | 5.3 | |
Touching story of family and friends |
| Christmas Rat | Avi | 5.5 | |
Interesting ideas, suspenseful; mature themes |
| Crash | Jerry Spinelli | 5.1 | |
A fun story about a bully who learns to appreciate a nerdy neighbor. Great characters! |
| Dave at Night | Levine | 5.4 | |
Some interesting characters; different |
| Everything on a Waffle | Polly Horvath Lowery | 5.3 |
|
Sweet story about a small town girl and her strange family. Newberry Honor winner. Includes real recipes to try at home! |
| The Fear Place | Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | 5.8 | |
Disappointing book; great title for a story that builds little fear |
| Fig Pudding | Ralph Fletcher | 5.3 | |
Funny short story with sad ending |
| Goodnight, Mr. Tom | Michelle Mogorian | 6.5 | |
Beautiful, touching story of an old man who opens his heart to an abused little boy. Very muture themes throughout. |
| Hababi | Naomi Nye | 5.8 | |
Highly acclaimed book that I just didn't enjoy; young girl tries to deal with living in war torn Palestine |
| Holes | Louis Sacher | 5.5 |
|
Very fun, weird, surprising, DIFFERENT. A great read. |
| Homeless Bird | Gloria Whelan | 5.3 | |
Set in India, interesting story of a girl left to her own resources. Some mature ideas. |
| Hope Was Here | Joan Bauer | 5.3 | |
Excellent story; wonderful characters; touching ending; a definite read |
| Junebug | Alice Mead | 5.5 | |
Some mature themes; believable characters; short read |
| The Kidnappers | Wilo Davis Roberts | 5.5 | |
Not one of Roberts's better books; predictable |
| Loser | Jerry Spinelli | 5.2 | |
Another Spinelli story about a boy who has trouble fitting in. Crash is better |
| Love That Dog | Sharon Creech | 4.5 | |
Quick read written in poetic verse. Good classroom book to read during a poetry unit. |
| Miracles on Maple Hill | Virginia Sorrenson | 5.5 | |
Beautifully descriptive; story is slow and old fashioned |
| The Moves Make the Man | Bruce Brooks | 7.0 | |
Highly acclaimed. Great sports book (basketball), but mature themes make this book for older readers only. |
| Pinballs | Betsy Byars | 5.7 | |
Though easy to read, mature themes make this book a higher reading level |
| Scared Stiff | Wilo Davis Roberts | 5.5 | |
Very fun; lots of cliffhangers and suspense; a great read |
| The Secret School | Avi | 5.5 | |
Wholesome story if a little predictable. |
| Shiloh | Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | 5.3 | |
Great animal story with a happy ending; followed by several good sequels. Good for reluctant readers. |
| Sons of Liberty | Adele Griffen | 6.3 | |
A good read, but mature themes throughout. For older readers. |
| Spider Sparrow | Dick King-Smith | 5.3 | |
Cute stories about a special boy who has a gift with animals. Sad in some parts. |
| Stargirl | Jerry Spinelli | 6.2 | |
Some teenage romance. Very touching story about being yourself. |
| Strider | Beverly Cleary | 5.3 | |
Typical Beverly Cleary; few big problems, memorable characters |
| Summer of the Monkeys | Wislon Rawls | 5.8 | |
Wonderful story; very humorous; a longer novel |
| Summer of the Swans | Betsy Byars | 5.3 | |
A "growing-up" type story; well-written about a young girl and her mentally retarded brother |
| The Tiger Rising | Kate DiCamillo | 4.8 | |
Short touching book about two outcasts who become friends and face their pasts. | Throwing Smoke | Bruce Brooks | 5.4 | |
Another strange story by Bruce Brooks; almost falls into fantasy category |
| Touching Spirit Bear | Ben Mickaelson | 6.5 | |
Mature themes; excellent book for discussion |
| Walk Two Moons | Sharon Creech | 5.2 | |
My all time favorite. A good story until the end then...WOW! |
| What Hearts | Bruce Brooks | 5.9 | |
Very strange but enjoyable read; good messages abound |
| When Zachary Beaver Came to Town | Kimberly Holt | 5.5 | |
Great characters; could have been a more powerful story, but still an enjoyable read |