Books for 7th - 8th Grade

Summer Bibliographies 2009

J/F/BARRY
Barry, Dave - Science Fair: A Story of Mystery, Danger, International Suspense, and a Very Nervous Frog
When Toby discovers a sinister plot involving his school’s science fair, he will do anything (including stealing the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile) to save America from certain doom. 394 p.

J/F/BAUER
Bauer, Joan - Peeled
The town of Banesville goes into panic mode when a dead man is found at the supposedly haunted Ludlow House. Student reporter Hildy is determined to uncover the facts behind this very strange story. 248 p.

J/F/BRASHARES
Brashares, Ann - 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows
The legacy of the Traveling Pants has been passed to three girls about to enter high school. Best friends since third-grade, now Ama, Jo and Polly face their first summer apart. Is their friendship strong enough to endure all of the changes happening in their lives? 318 p.

J/F/BROOKS
Brooks, Laurie - Selkie Girl
When Elin Jean finds a seal skin hidden in the rafters of her house, she uncovers a shocking secret about her mother and must decide where her own life lies—on the land or in the sea. 262 p.

J/F/BRUCHAC
Bruchac, Joseph - March Toward the Thunder
Louis, a young Abenaki Indian, enlists in the Union Army. During the spring and summer of 1864 he fights in some of the Civil War’s most brutal battles and experiences the horrors of war. 298 p.

J/F/DAVIS
Davis, Tanita S. - A la Carte
While trying to help her troubled friend Simon, Lainey continues to work towards her dream of becoming a celebrity chef with her own cooking show. 281 p.

J/F/DUNKLE
Dunkle, Clare B. - The Sky Inside
Martin’s family lives in a domed suburb and his sister Cassie is a genetically engineered, laboratory-produced “Wonder Baby.” When Cassie is taken from the family, Martin escapes his enclosed world to rescue her. 229 p.

J/F/FERRAIOLO
Ferraiolo, Jack D. - The Big Splash
Matt and his friends run an organized crime ring in the hallways of Franklin Middle School where they deal in forged hall passes, stolen tests, candy, and more. When someone “takes out” his partner with a squirt gun, Matt determined to find out who did it. 277 p.

J/F/FREITAS
Freitas, Donna - The Possibilities of Sainthood
Antonia Lucia Labella has two ambitions in life: experience her first kiss (preferably by Andy, the love of her life) and become the first living saint in Catholic history. 272 p.

J/F/GAIMAN
Gaiman, Neil - The Graveyard Book
Bod (short for Nobody) lives in a graveyard where he’s taught by ghosts. Before Bod can venture out beyond his graveyard, he must outwit the mysterious man who killed Bod’s real family. 312 p.

J/F/GEORGE
George, Jessica Day - Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow
An unnamed lass makes a magical deal with an isbjorn (a large, talking polar bear); if she stays in his castle for a year and a day, her family will become rich forever. 328 p.

J/F/GONZALEZ
Gonzalez, Julie - Imaginary Enemy
Jane has often written letters to her imaginary enemy, blaming him for her troubles. But she never expects him to write back to her! 241 p.

J/F/GREEN
Green, Tim - Football Hero
Ty Lewis has never been good at football like his superstar older brother Thane, who is being recruited by the NFL. Ty’s nasty Uncle Gus tries to use him to get insider information for his gambling ring, landing Ty and Thane in trouble with the Mafia. 297 p.

J/F/HALL
Hall, Barbara - The Noah Confessions
Lynnie has been expecting a new car for her 16th birthday, so she is shocked when all her father gives her is a set of old letters that her deceased mother once wrote to someone named Noah. The letters reveal some startling secrets and tragic events in her family’s past. 224 p.

J/F/HIAASEN
Hiaasen, Carl - Scat
When their class trip to the Black Vine Swamp ends with a suspicious fire and the disappearance of their biology teacher, Nick and Marta know something weird is going on. Can the friends find Mrs. Starch, and catch the real culprit? 371 p.

J/F/KEPHART
Kephart, Beth - Undercover
Elisa runs an undercover business ghostwriting love poems for boys in her class to give to the girls they like. She faces a crisis when she falls for a client who hires her to write letters for his girlfriend. 278 p.

J/F/KUHLMAN
Kuhlman, Evan - The Last Invisible Boy
After Finn’s father dies, he feels like he’s becoming invisible. Each day he sees his skin and hair grow paler. Just in case he does become invisible, Finn decides to write and illustrate his life story. 233 p.

J/F/MARRIOTT
Marriott, Zoe - The Swan Kingdom
After her mother’s mysterious death, Alexandra’s father the King marries an evil enchantress. Alexandra’s beloved brothers are changed into swans and fly away, while Alexandra is shipped off to a neighboring kingdom. She vows to defeat the wicked queen, free her brothers from their enchantment, and restore the kingdom. 253 p.

J/F/MASS
Mass, Wendy - Every Soul a Star
As crowds gather to witness the Great Eclipse, a total solar eclipse over Montana’s Moon Shadow campground, Ally, Bree, and Jack (three very different teens) meet and form a surprising friendship. 322 p.

J/F/MURPHY
Murphy, Pat - The Wild Girls
Joan and Sarah enter a short story they’ve written together in a writing contest and win first place, earning them unique opportunities that will change their lives. 288 p.

J/F/NAPOLI
Napoli, Donna Jo - The Smile
Elisabetta is introduced to Giuliano de’ Medici, whose family rules the city of Florence. Giuliano falls for her but after his father dies, politics and war separate the two. Years later she poses for artist Leonardo Da Vinci, who paints her smile—the smile that Giuliano fell in love with and which becomes Da Vinci’s best known work. 260 p.

J/F/NIELSEN-FERNLUND
Nielsen-Fernlund, Susin - Word Nerd
Ambrose yearns for independence and finally gets his chance when his over-protective mother takes a job. He becomes friends with the teenage ex-con next door and they start playing in Scrabble competitions. If his mom finds out how he’s spending his time, he’ll lose all the freedom he’s gained. 248 p.

J/F/RINALDI
Rinaldi, Ann - The Redheaded Princess
Young Elizabeth has been out of favor with her father King Henry VIII, but is brought back to court at the age of 10. As she grows older she must learn how to survive the royal plots and political intrigue at court. 214 p.

J/F/WILLIAMS
Williams, Suzanne - Bull Rider
Cam has always preferred skateboarding over bull riding, which is the family sport. But when his brother returns from the Iraq War with a brain injury, the two make a pact: if Cam can ride a bull to first place, his brother won’t give up hope that he can live a full life. 241 p.

Prepared by Rachel Andrews, Colleen Morrison, and Sarah Goers, May 2009