Into the Wild

Into the Wild is by Jon Krakauer. In April 1992, Chris McCandless took out alone into the Alaskan wilderness. Four months later his body was found by a party of moose hunters. He had died of starvation. What caused this young man from an upper middle class East Coast family to donate his savings to charity, sell his possessions, abandon his car, burn the last of his cash and invent a new life for himself? A fascinating true story of young man's search for himself and the devastating consequences.

Ratings: 10th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is by Maya Angelou. A classic memoir of this amazing African American poet. It follows her life from the rural poverty of Stamps, Arkansas, to the time she spends living with her divorced parents. An amazing look into an amazing life.

Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).

The Kid Who Ran for President

The Kid Who Ran for President is by Dan Gutman. Judson Moon, twelve-years-old, decides to run for President of the United States. Will anyone take him seriously? Will he take himself seriously? Can he really win?

Ratings: 5th grade - 5 out of 10.  

Haunting at Home Plate

Haunting at Home Plate is by David Patneaude. A group of young baseball players struggle to pull their team together and win a championship after their manager and two of their best players leave the team. Are they being helped by the ghost of a dead boy who loved baseball?

Ratings: 5th grade - 6 out of 10.

Fair Weather

Fair Weather is by Richard Peck. Rosie, her sister, brother, and grandfather leave their family farm to head for Chicago to see the World's Fair. They stay with their Aunt Euterpe and experience the thrill of a lifetime at the 1893 World's Fair. A wonderful piece of historical fiction for young readers.

Ratings: 5th grade - 9 out of 10.

The Charge of the Light Brigade and Other Poems

The Charge of the Light Brigade and Other Poems is by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. A fantastic selection of Tennyson's work. A must for poetry lovers.

Ratings: 8th grade - 8 out of 10.

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall is by Mary Downing Hahn. When twelve-year-old Florence arrives from the orphanage to live with her Uncle, Aunt, and invalid cousin at Crutchfield Hall she looks forward to a new life. Instead she finds herself haunted by the ghost of her dead cousin, Sophia, who wants her to do something for her - something evil.

Ratings: 6th grade - 7 out of 10.

In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood is by Truman Capote. This magnificent true crime classic is a must read. It relates the story of the the multiple homicide that took place on an farm in Kansas in 1959. It details the crime, its aftermath, and the search for the killers. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended book.

Ratings: 12th grade - 10 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence).

Wintergirls

Wintergirls is by Laurie Halse Anderson. Lia and Cassie have been best friends for most of their lives. They embark on a deadly contest to see which of them will be the skinniest girl in school. When Cassie dies and Lia is left behind she becomes haunted by her friend's memory and her own guilt. She couldn't save Cassie, can she save herself? A stunning novel that takes you deep into the minds of girls with eating disorders. A powerful, if painful, read that should be required reading for all young girls and their parents.

Ratings: 10th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).

A Pirate Looks at Fifty

A Pirate Looks at Fifty is by Jimmy Buffett. For his fiftieth birthday Jimmy and family decide to take a trip through the Caribbean and South America, including stops in Costa Rica, Brazil, Columbia, and a score of islands. This delightful travelogue allows all Parrotheads to go along for the ride. Buffett also brings in moments from the past and intertwines them with the present. You will find yourself wanting to head south on your own. All Buffett fans will love this look into the life of their favorite singer/songwriter/adventurer.

Ratings: 11th grade - 10 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).

Forever

Forever is by Maggie Stiefvater. The final book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. Cole continues to search for a cure for the wolves as Isabella's father sets up a hunt to kill them all. Sam and Grace must work with their friends to save the wolves of Mercy Falls from extermination. Will they succeed? Which wolves will live and which will die? Do Grace and Sam have any chance of being together forever? A satisfying conclusion to this enjoyable series.

Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity) - AC (some mature thematic content).

Infamous

Infamous is by Sherrilyn Kenyon. The third book in The Chronicles of Nick. Nick's life has never been easy, but the suck quotient is about to go through the roof. Someone has created a website that is posting all kinds of true and false information about the kids at his school, including Nick. While he tries to discover who is behind the website he must fight off demons of all varieties, including his evil father, keep his mother happy, make good grades, fulfill the responsibilities of his job, continue his studies with Caleb, and manage to keep his girlfriend. All in a day's work for a teenager who will either become mankind's greatest hero or destroy the world.

Ratings: 9th grade - 10 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity) - V (violence) - AC (some mature thematic content).

Brisingr

Brisingr is by Christopher Paolini. The third installment in the Inheritance Cycle. The war against the Empire continues. Eragon, at the request of Nasuada, travels to the city of the dwarfs to make sure a king sympathetic to the Varden is selected. Roran struggles to find his place with the Varden. After the new dwarf king is crowned, Eragon and Saphira return to Oromis to learn the secret of Galbatorix's power and how he can be defeated. Another excellent book filled with plot twists and adventure.

Ratings: 8th grade - 8 out of 10.

A War Like No Other: How the Athenians & Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War

A War Like No Other: How the Athenians & Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War is by Victor Davis Hanson. A masterfully detailed and well-researched exposition on the thirty year war between Sparta and Athens. Hanson does a brilliant job of explaining not just what happened, but why it happened. He examines not just the what and who, but the how and why. A great read for fans of ancient Greece.

Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10.

Death Comes to Pemberley

Death Comes to Pemberley is by P.D. James. If you are a fan of Austin's Pride and Prejudice you will love this mystery which involves all of your favorite characters from the original story. Six years have passed since Darcy and Elizabeth married. On the night of their annual ball Lydia arrives, uninvited, screaming that Wickham has been murdered on the grounds of Pemberley. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam set out to locate the body and all find themselves involved in a murder mystery of the first order. Will the honor of Pemberley be blackened forever? Will Darcy and Elizabeth hold up under the intense public scrutiny? Written in the style of the Austin novel this book is a joy to lovers of Darcy and Elizabeth of all ages.

Ratings: 11th grade - 10 out of 10.

Crossed

Crossed is by Ally Condie. The second book in the Matched trilogy. Cassia makes her way to the Outer Provinces to search for Ky who has been taken there by the Society to be killed in the war. Ky manages to escape into the Carving, as does Cassia who finds him there. Together again they must decide whether to join the Farmers or the rebellion, known as the Rising. They must also learn to trust each other with their secret past and conquer their fears and guilt. A wonderful sequel that will have you waiting anxiously for the third installment.

Ratings: 8th grade - 10 out of 10 - V (violence).

A Christmas Memory, One Christmas, The Thanksgiving Visitor

A Christmas Memory, One Christmas, and The Thanksgiving Visitor is by Truman Capote. This charming series of three semi-autobiographical tales will charm every reader. A Christmas Memory speaks to Capote's love for his "friend" with whom he spends Christmas making fruit cakes. One Christmas tells of Capote's Christmas in New Orleans with the father he hardly knew. The Thanksgiving Visitor tells of the school bully who his "friend" invites to the family's Thanksgiving feast and the fiasco that ensues. A must read selection of short stories that will touch the heart and make you laugh and cry.

Ratings: 7th grade - 10 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity).

Bite Me: A Love Story

Bite Me: A Love Story is by Christopher Moore. The third book in the Bloodsucking Fiends series. Abby Normal wants to be a vampire; but right now she, her boyfriend Steve, two cops, and an assorted group of misfits are trying to destroy Chet the vampire cat who is on a killing spree. She manages to accidentally free her vampire friends Jody & Tommy, whom she had trapped in a bronze statue in their mist forms, and all together they engage in one of Moore's darkly funny romps through San Francisco. If you enjoy Moore's work, you'll love this one as well.

Ratings: Adult - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content).

Ireland's Pirate Queen: The True Story of Grace O'Malley

Ireland's Pirate Queen: The True Story of Grace O'Malley is by Anne Chambers. A fascinating tale of Granuaile, the famous female Irish pirate. This book details her life and times, and her visit to the court of Queen Elizabeth I. It is a very detailed account and sometimes hard to follow because of the old English and Irish, but it is well worth the time. The book gives you new insight on the history of Ireland and its interactions with England.

Ratings: 9th grade - 7 out of 10.

The Collected Poems of Rupert Brooke

The Collected Poems of Rupert Brooke is by Rupert Brooke. A collection of poems by the magnificent English poet who died, too young, in WWI. His poetry is powerful and moving. A must read collection.

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity).

A Child's Garden of Verses

A Child's Garden of Verses is by Robert Louis Stevenson. A must read classic for all poetry lovers. These verses bring back the joys of childhood in a way few poets can manage.

Ratings: 5th grade - 10 out of 10.

Claude McKay Selected Poems

Claude McKay Selected Poems is by Claude McKay. A fantastic selection of poetry from this classic African American poet.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is by J.K. Rowling. The sixth book in the Harry Potter series. Harry and Dunbledore mine Tom Riddle's history to discover a way to kill Lord Voldemort once and for all. This installment is loaded with the adventure and excitement that you have come to expect from this series.

Ratings: 8th grade - 6 out of 10 - V (violence).

Albert Einstein: A Phtographic Story of a Life

Albert Einstein: A Photographic Story of a Life is by Frieda Wishinsky. Another great book in this magnificant series of nonfiction for younger readers.

Ratings: 6th grade - 8 out of 10.

Great Short Poems

Great Short Poems is edited by Paul Negri. A fantastic collection of short poetry.

Ratings: 7th grade - 10 out of 10.

Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights is by Emily Bronte. This is a must read classic for all readers. It is the tale of Catherine and Heathcliff who are in love but can't be together. Catherine's marriage to another and Heathcliff's treatment by her brother lead him to seek to destroy everything that keeps him from Catherine. A classic tale of love and revenge. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended book.

Ratings: 10th grade - 10 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content).

The Way of the Warrior

The Way of the Warrior is by Chris Bradford. The first book in the Young Samurai series. Jack is traveling with his father, who is a ship's navigator, to try to open up trade with Japan. His father and the entire crew are killed by a one-eyed Samurai. Jack finds himself shipwrecked and taken in by a Japanese family. He must learn the war of the warrior to stay alive and to get revenge for his father's death. Boys will love this series!

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10 - V (violence).

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is by Ransom Riggs. This is a very peculiar book. It is based around a strange collection of vintage photographs. When Jacob's grandfather is killed by a monster no one but he saw, he follows the trail of his grandfather's childhood to an island off the coast of Wales where he makes a strange and terrifying discovery. This book is strange but worth the read. Boys should enjoy it.

Ratings: 8th grade - 7 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity) - AC (some mature thematic content) - V (violence).

100 Best Loved Poems

100 Best Loved Poems is edited by Philip Smith. A magnificent collection of poems from some of the best poets of all time.

Ratings: 7th grade - 10 out of 10.

The Diamond of Darkhold

The Diamond of Darkhold is by Jeanne DuPrau. The fourth Book of Ember finds Lina and Doon returning to the abandoned city. Doon bought an ancient book from a roamer and believes that a gem has been left for the people of Ember that will make their lives better and help them to rebuild their world. This is a much better tale than the second or third books in this series. The excitement and adventure will be enjoyed by boys and girls alike.

Ratings: 7th grade - 8 out of 10.

The Peach Keeper

The Peach Keeper is by Sarah Addison Allen. If you are a fan of this marvelous author - this book will be not disappointment. Willa Jackson comes from an old Southern family down on it's luck. Her ancestral home, the Blue Ridge Madam, has not belonged to her family since her grandmother's day. It has now been purchased by the Osgood's and they are turning it into an inn. When a skeleton is found on the property, Willa and Paxton Osgood set out to solve the family mystery. A charming tale of friendship, self discovery, and romance.

Ratings: 9th grade - 10 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content) - MP (mild profanity).

Swan: Poems and Prose Poems

Swan: Poems and Prose Poems is by Mary Oliver. Another magnificent collection of poems by this must read master of nature poetry.

Ratings: 7th grade - 10 out of 10.

The Kings of Clonmel

The Kings of Clonmel is by John Flanagan. The eighth installment in the Ranger's Apprentice series. A mysterious religious cult has sprung up in neighboring kingdoms and threatens Araluen. Halt, Horace, and Will travel to the kingdom of Clonmel to learn who is behind this cult and to stop them before they take over the kingdom. Another great addition to this magnificent series. We learn more about Halt's history in this book; you won't be able to wait for the next book.

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10.

The Art of War: The Classic Text on the Conduct of Warfare

The Art of War: The Classic Text on the Conduct of Warfare is by Sun Tzu. This must read classic is not just about the principles of war, but the principles of life. It is an easy read and a short one, but don't let it's brevity deceive you - the ideas and philosophy it lays out are deep, rich, profound and not mined in one read. This is a Reader's Corner Highly Recommended book and one you must read before you die. It is rated 10th grade due to the depth of content even though it can be read by much lower readers.

Ratings: 10th grade - 10 out of 10.