DCISM DRAGONS READING LIST
6th GRADE
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and
privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern
California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing
Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
The Circuit by Francisco Jimenez
An autobiographical novel based in part on Jimenez’s journey from
Mexico to the United States of America. The book, narrated by the
child's point of view, follows the life of young Panchito and his
family as they move from one location to another to harvest crops
in the United States.
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to
be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city,
perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions.
Almost astronauts by Tanya lee stone
ALMOST ASTRONAUTS is the story of thirteen true pioneers
of the space age. Here is the tale of thirteen women who
proved that they were not only as tough as the toughest man
but also brave enough to challenge the government. They
were blocked by prejudice, jealousy, and the scrawled note of
one of the most powerful men in Washington.
7th GRADE
Buried Onions by Gary Soto
Life is a struggle for 19-year-old Eddie as he survives one day at a
time in Fresno, California. He lives in a rough neighborhood
plagued by drive-bys, drugs, and desperate people. After his
cousin Jesus is killed, Eddie's aunt pressures him to avenge her
son's death. Eddie drops out of City College and works odd jobs,
all the while pondering this, the latest of the senseless killings that
have become a fact of life within the community. A run of bad luck
adds to his frustration as he is caught up in the violence he hates.
The boy in the striped pajamas by john
boyne
When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that
his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a
promotion and the family must move from their home to a new
house far far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to
do.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riodan
Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t to focus on his
schoolwork. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp
for demigods (half human, half god), where he learns that the father
he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds
and together with his friends, Percy sets out on a quest across the
United States to reach the gates of the Underworld and prevent a
catastrophic war between the gods.
Maniac magee by jerry spinelli
Maniac Magee is a folk story about a boy, a very excitable boy. One
that can outrun dogs, hit a home run off the best pitcher in the
neighborhood, tie a knot no one can undo. "Kid's gotta be a
maniac," is what the folks in Two Mills say. It's also the story of how
this boy, Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee, confronts racism in a small
town, tries to find a home where there is none and attempts to
soothe tensions between rival factions on the tough side of town.
9th GRADE
The outsiders by s.e. hinton
Written over forty years ago, S. E. Hinton's classic story of the
struggle between the Socs and the Greasers remains as powerful
today as it was the day it was written.
Estrella’s Quinceañera by Malin Alegria
Estrella is mortified when plans begin for her quinceañera. She
envisions a large, tacky celebration and a gaudy, fufu rufu gown. Even
worse, her damas are bitter childhood friends who accuse Estrella of
abandoning them since she won a scholarship to a private school in the
ritziest neighborhood in San Jose. Then Estrella falls for Speedy, a
former grade-school classmate who is also Mexican American, and she
feels increasingly conflicted as she moves between her wealthy school
friends and the "one big crazy family" of her barrio.
The color of water by james mcbride
This is the autobiography of James McBride first published in
1996; it is also a tribute to his mother. McBride depicts the
conflicting emotions that he endured as he struggled to discover
who he truly was, as his mother narrates the hardships that she
had to overcome as a white, Jewish woman who chose to marry
a black man in the 1940s.
10th GRADE
How the Garcia girls lost their accent by
Julia alvarez
Told in reverse chronological order and narrated from shifting
perspectives, the text possesses distinct qualities of a
bildungsroman novel. Spanning more than thirty years in the lives
of four sisters, the story begins with their adult lives in the United
States and ends with their childhood in the Dominican Republic,
from which their family was forced to flee due to the father’s
opposition to Rafael Leónidas Trujillo's dictatorship.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Celie is a poor black woman whose letters tell the story of 20
years of her life, beginning at age 14 when she is being abused by
her father and attempting to protect her sister from the same fate,
and continuing over the course of her marriage to "Mister," a brutal
man who terrorizes her. Celie eventually experiences love and
independence provided by her close friend Shug, which pushes
her finally toward an awakening of her creative and loving self.
PARENTAL WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS ADULT
THEMES
The Incredibly True Diary of a Part-time
Indian by Sherman Alexie
In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman
Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on
the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into
his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to
attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other
Indian is the school mascot.