Win a Kindle Voyage or tickets to a fun, family activity during our
Second Annual Summer Reading Spur!
June 15 – August 14, 2015
Here's how:
Choose five books
Read them in full
Email [email protected]
Please remember:
Every five age appropriate books your child reads will earn them one entry into the Summer
Reading Spur raffle. (Parents of preschool and elementary aged children may read to - or with their children.)
To enter, please only list five books per email, and be sure to include your child's name, grade,
campus, and the books' titles and authors.
There is no limit to the number of entries you may submit, and all entries are valid until the
close of the Spur. Please practice the honor system.
Winners and notifications:
One winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Stratford's Facebook page by 3:00 p.m.
on each of the dates listed below (for a total of five winners throughout the Spur).
June 26
July 10
July 24
August 7
August 14
Prizes:
The first four winners may choose a 4 Pack of Tickets to one of the activities listed below (based
on availability). The grand prize winner (announced on August 14) will receive a Kindle Voyage.
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
Paramount's Great America
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Middle School Suggested Reading List, 2015
1. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
The tale of Taran, assistant pig keeper, has been entertaining young readers for generations. Set
in the mythical land of Prydain (which bears a more than passing resemblance to Wales), Lloyd
Alexander's book draws together the elements of the hero's journey from unformed boy to
courageous young man…What brings the tale of Taran to life is Alexander's skillful use of humor,
and the way he personalizes the mythology he has so clearly studied.
2. The Town Cats and Other Tales by Lloyd Alexander
Alexander works his usual magic with these eight tales of remarkable felines: in one, Pescato and
a mayor trade places to outwit a royal villain; in another, Quickset tricks a greedy grocer with the
promise of a beautiful golden egg.
3. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
This sensitive story of four sisters who must adjust to life in America after having to flee from the
Dominican Republic is told through a series of episodes beginning in adulthood, when their lives
have been shaped by U. S. mores, and moving backwards to their wealthy childhood on the
island. (Young Adult Literature)
4. Alicia My Story by Alicia Appleman-Jurman
After losing her entire family to the Nazis at age 13, Alicia Appleman-Jurman went on to save the
lives of thousands of Jews, offering them her own courage and hope in a time of upheaval and
tragedy. Not since The Diary of Anne Frank has a young voice so vividly expressed the capacity
for humanity and heroism in the face of Nazi brutality.
5. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Based on an actual epidemic of yellow fever in Philadelphia that wiped out 5,000 people--or 10
percent of the city's population--in three months. In the foreground of this story is 16-year-old
Mattie Cook, whose mother and grandfather own a popular coffee house on High Street.”
6. Nothing But the Truth by Avi
Structured as a series of journal entries, memos, letters and dialogues, this highly original novel
emerges as a witty satire of high school politics, revealing how truth can easily become distorted.
7. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
One of the true classics of American literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has stirred the
imagination of young and old alike for over four generations. Originally published in 1900, it was
the first truly American fairy tale, as Baum crafted a wonderful fantasy out of such familiar items
as a cornfield scarecrow, a mechanical woodman, and a humbug wizard who used old-fashioned
hokum to express that universal theme, ‘There's no place like home’.
8. Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
Bradbury presents himself as a nameless narrator who meets the Illustrated Man--a wanderer
whose entire body is a living canvas of exotic tattoos. What's even more remarkable, and
increasingly disturbing, is that the illustrations are themselves magically alive, and each proceeds
to unfold its own story, such as "The Veldt," wherein rowdy children take a game of virtual reality
way over the edge. Or "Kaleidoscope," a heartbreaking portrait of stranded astronauts about to
reenter our atmosphere--without the benefit of a spaceship. Or "Zero Hour," in which invading
aliens have discovered a most logical ally--our own children.
9. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Buddy is a scrappy 10-year-old philosopher and orphan who has run from abusive foster homes
and Hoovervilles in 1930s Michigan. An idea plants itself in his head that Herman E. Calloway,
standup-bass player for the Dusky Devastators of the Depression, is his father.
10. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
Twelve-year-old Moose Flanagan and his family move to Alcatraz Island in 1935, where his father
gets a job in the prison which housed such noted criminals as Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.
11. Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
Bobby Phillips is an average fifteen-year-old-boy. Until the morning he wakes up and can't see
himself in the mirror. Not blind, not dreaming-Bobby is just plain invisible. There doesn't seem to
be any rhyme or reason to Bobby's new condition; even his dad the physicist can't figure it
out. For Bobby that means no school, no friends, no life. He's a missing person. Then he meets
Alicia. She's blind, and Bobby can't resist talking to her, trusting her. But people are starting to
wonder where Bobby is. Bobby knows that his invisibility could have dangerous consequences
for his family and that time is running out. He has to find out how to be seen again-before it's too
late.
12. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle's mother has disappeared. While tracing her steps on a
car trip from Ohio to Idaho with her grandparents, Salamanca tells a story to pass the time about
a friend named Phoebe Winterbottom whose mother vanished and who received secret
messages after her disappearance. (Newbery Winner)
13. Tiger Rising by Kate Dicamillo
Walking through the misty Florida woods one morning, twelve-year old Rob Horton is stunned to
encounter a tiger — a real-life, very large tiger — pacing back and forth in a cage. What's more,
on the same extraordinary day, he meets Sistine Bailey, a girl who shows her feelings as readily
as Rob hides his. As they learn to trust each other, and ultimately, to be friends, Rob and Sistine
prove that some things — like memories, and heartache, and tigers — can't be locked up forever.
14. Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
“This unusual book provides an insider's look at the life of Birdy, 14, the daughter of a minor
English nobleman. The year is 1290 and the vehicle for storytelling is the girl's witty, irreverent
diary. She looks with a clear and critical eye upon the world around her, telling of the people she
knows and of the daily events in her small manor house.”
15. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
When David Copperfield escapes from the cruelty of his childhood home, he embarks on a
journey to adulthood which will lead him through comedy and tragedy, love and heartbreak and
friendship and betrayal. Over the course of his adventure, David meets an array of eccentric
characters and learns hard lessons about the world before he finally discovers true happiness.
Charles Dickens's most celebrated novel and the author's own favorite, David Copperfield is the
classic account of a boy growing up in a world that is by turns magical, fearful, and grimly
realistic.
16. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
A perennial favorite, this work continues to hold appeal for adventure lovers. Full of intrigue,
swordplay, and revenge, it is the story of d'Artagnan, a young nobleman who travels to Paris in
hopes of joining the Musketeers, a group of swashbuckling adventurers who serve King Louis
XIII. His wit and fighting ability make d'Artagnan a welcome addition to their ranks, and together
the four young men work to foil the King's evil rival, Cardinal Richelieu.”
17. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
Blink is about the first two seconds of looking--the decisive glance that knows in an instant.
Gladwell campaigns for snap judgments and mind reading with a gift for translating research into
splendid storytelling.
18. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
This story of a tragically injured young silversmith who ends up hip-deep in the American
Revolution is inspiring, exciting, and sad. Winner of the prestigious Newbery Award in 1944.
19. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
Kyle Keeley is the class clown, popular with most kids, (if not the teachers), and an ardent fan of
all games: board games, word games, and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello,
the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, just so happens to be the genius behind
the building of the new town library. Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of the first 12 kids
in the library for an overnight of fun, food, and lots and lots of games. But when morning comes,
the doors remain locked. Kyle and the other winners must solve every clue and every secret
puzzle to find the hidden escape route. And the stakes are very high.
20. Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston describes vividly the life in the American Japanese detention camp
and the humiliations suffered by the detainees... A sober and moving personal account.
21. Downriver and River Thunder by Will Hobbs
This riveting series includes an author's note about his own rafting experiences and has been
ranked by the American Library Association as a "100 Best of the Best" for twenty-five years—a
testament to the enduring popularity of the action and adventure that await in Downriver. Note:
Read the books in sequence.
22. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
The journal of Charlie Gordon, a mentally retarded adult who becomes a genius after undergoing
a brain operation. Keyes gives Charlie Gordon a voice that conveys the full range of emotions
Charlie experiences before and after the operation.
23. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
An American classic and great bestseller for over thirty years, A Separate Peace is timeless in its
description of adolescence during a period when the entire country was losing its innocence to
the Second World War.
Set at a boys' boarding school in New England during the early years of World War II, A Separate
Peace is a harrowing and luminous parable of the dark side of adolescence. Gene is a lonely,
introverted intellectual. Phineas is a handsome, taunting, daredevil athlete. What happens
between the two friends one summer, like the war itself, banishes the innocence of these boys
and their world. A bestseller for more than thirty years, A Separate Peace is John Knowles's
crowning achievement and an undisputed American classic.
24. Savvy by Ingrid Law
Recounts the adventures of Mibs Beaumont, whose thirteenth birthday has revealed her "savvy"-a magical power unique to each member of her family--just as her father is injured in a terrible
accident. A modern classic.
25. Wrinkle in Time (series) by Madeline L’Engel
The title book won a Newbery Medal in 1963. Combining theology, fantasy, and science, it is the
story of travel through space and time to battle a cosmic evil.
26. Chronicles of Narnia (1-7) by C.S. Lewis
The series follows four children who travel repeatedly to a world in which they are far more than
mere children and everything is far more than it seems.
27. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
One of C.S. Lewis's most imaginative creations, this world-famous book is a humorous
correspondence between the devil Screwtape and his apprentice Wormwood, whose job is to
produce a human's soul for eternity in hell. Filled with astute insights into temptation, repentance,
and grace, this wonderful tale intelligently explores what it means to live a good, honest life and is
a favorite of Lewis fans.
28. The Giver by Lois Lowry
In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no unemployment, and where every family
is happy, 12-year-old Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. Under the
tutelage of the Elders and an old man known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about
his utopian world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy. (Newbery winner)
29. The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean
Haoyou is a 12 year old in 13th century China, just conquered by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan.
He goes to see his beloved father off on another shipping journey when wicked first mate Di Chou
puts in motion a terrible plot.
30. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Wonder is a rare gem of a novel--beautifully written and populated by characters who linger in
your memory and heart. August Pullman is a 10-year-old boy who likes Star Wars and Xbox,
ordinary except for his jarring facial anomalies. Homeschooled all his life, August heads to public
school for fifth grade and he is not the only one changed by the experience--something we learn
about first-hand through the narratives of those who orbit his world. August’s internal dialogue
and interactions with students and family ring true, and though remarkably courageous he comes
across as a sweet, funny boy who wants the same things others want: friendship, understanding,
and the freedom to be himself. “It is only with one’s heart that one can see clearly. What is
essential is invisible to the eye.”
31. Eragon (series) by Chirstopher Paolini
Fifteen-year-old Eragon believes that he is merely a poor farm boy--until his destiny as a Dragon
Rider is revealed. Gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old
storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his
choices could save--or destroy--the Empire.
32. Lyddie by Katherine Patterson
In 1843, three years after her father abandons his failing Vermont farm, 10-year-old Lyddie and
her younger brother Charles are hired out as servants, while Mama and the two youngest
children go off to live with relatives…The girl is seized by a burning desire to gain independence
by attending college.
33. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Billy, Old Dan and Little Ann — a Boy and His Two Dogs... A loving threesome, they ranged the
dark hills and river bottoms of Cherokee country. Old Dan had the brawn, Little Ann had the
brains -- and Billy had the will to train them to be the finest hunting team in the valley. Glory and
victory were coming to them, but sadness waited too. And close by was the strange and
wonderful power that's only found... An exciting tale of love and adventure you'll never forget.
34. The Lightning Thief (series) by Rick Riordon
“The escapades of the Greek gods and heroes get a fresh a contemporary 12-year-old New
Yorker who learns he's a demigod.”
35. Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
The late Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (1974) concerns the battle of Gettysburg and was
the basis for the 1993 film Gettysburg. Shaara’s depiction of Gettysburg plays out almost like a
classic Greek tragedy. This is a phenomenal book!
36. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Black Beauty tells the story of the horse's own long and varied life, from a well-born colt in a
pleasant meadow to an elegant carriage horse for a gentleman to a painfully overworked cab
horse. This classic is a beautiful portrayal of a creature’s fall from greatness to a cruel existence
and his ultimate rescue in his last days.
37. The Dragon Scroll (series) by I.J. Parker
In an adventure filled with highway bandits, unscrupulous politicians, and renegade monks, The
Dragon Scroll introduces readers to the lively world of eleventh-century Japan and an
irrepressible hero—Sugawara Akitada. On his first official assignment, Akitada—an impoverished
nobleman and earnest young government clerk in the Ministry of Justice—is sent from the capital
city on a nearly impossible mission to the distant province of Kazusa to discover why tax convoys
are disappearing. In the politically murky world of the Japanese court, he has been set up to fail.
Against the odds, the ever-resourceful Akitada, his elderly servant Seimei, and his impudent
bodyguard Tora are determined to fulfill their mission and discover the truth in a town of
dangerous secrets.
38. Black Arrow by R.L. Stevenson
In this swashbuckling novel, by the author of Treasure Island, young Dick Shelton is left
orphaned. So he seeks the help of the mysterious Black Arrow fellowship. Brimming with
adventure and suspense, this is a portrait of England during the War of the Roses, when many,
like Dick, were torn between their loyalties.
39. Ivanhoe by Walter Scott
Wilfred of Ivanhoe returns from the Crusades to face the disapproval of his father, who disinherits
him for his political allegiances and his love for the Lady Rowena. He gets caught up in the
power-struggle between King Richard and Prince John. Set in 12th-century England, Ivanhoe is
both a gripping historical novel and a study of human morality.
40. Crystal Cave – The Arthurian Saga (series) by Mary Stewart
Mary Stewart tells the Arthurian legend in her own unique way, bringing to life one of the world's
greatest legends and mysteries, shedding a fascinating new light on the turbulence and mystery
of fifth-century Britain.
41. Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred Taylor
This Newbery Award-winning book is the bittersweet and beautifully written story of the Logans, a
poor black family struggling through poverty and racism in Depression-era Mississippi. Through
the eyes of Cassie, the feisty only daughter, we come to admire the dignity, courage, and
resourcefulness of this close-knit family.
42. The Cay by Theodore Taylor
This is a classic novel about racism and a young man's realization that skin color does not matter.
43. The Children of Húrin by J.R.R. Tolkien
The first complete book by J.R.R. Tolkien in three decades--since the publication of The
Silmarillion in 1977--The Children of Húrin reunites fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
with Elves and Men, dragons and Dwarves, Eagles and Orcs. Presented for the first time as a
complete, standalone story, this stirring narrative will appeal to casual fans and expert readers
alike, returning them to the rich landscape and characters unique to Tolkien.
44. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
The hobbit Frodo and his elfish friends get swept up in a mighty conflict with the dark lord Sauron,
the monstrous Gollum, the Cracks of Doom, and the awful power of the magical Ring. The book's
characters--good and evil--are recognizably human, and the realism is deepened by the
magnificent detail of the vast parallel world Tolkien devised, inspired partly by his influential
Anglo-Saxon scholarship and his Christian beliefs.
45. Angel on the Square by Gloria Whelan
A young girl joins Russian Tsar Nikolai II, Empress Alexandra, and their children when her mother
becomes one of the empress's ladies-in-waiting. Katya Ivanova, as companion to the Romanov
children, has an insider's view of the crumbling of tsarist Russia from 1913 to 1918.
46. Night by Ellie Wiesel
In Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel's memoir Night, a scholarly, pious teenager is wracked with guilt at
having survived the horror of the Holocaust and the genocidal campaign that consumed his
family. His memories of the nightmare world of the death camps present him with an intolerable
question: how can the God he once so fervently believed in have allowed these monstrous events
to occur?
47. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
When the Time Traveller courageously stepped out of his machine for the first time, he found
himself in the year 802,700--and everything has changed. In another, more utopian age,
creatures seemed to dwell together in perfect harmony. The Time Traveller thought he could
study these marvelous beings--unearth their secret and then retum to his own time--until he
discovered that his invention, his only avenue of escape, had been stolen. H.G. Well's famous
novel of one man's astonishing journey beyond the conventional limits of the imagination first
appeared in 1895. It won him immediate recognition, and has been regarded ever since as one
of the great masterpieces in the literature of science fiction.
48. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
When massive, intelligent aliens from Mars touch down in Victorian England and threaten to
destroy the civilized world, humanity's vaunted knowledge proves to be of little use. First
published in 1898, H.G. Wells's masterpiece of speculative fiction has thrilled and delighted
generations of readers, spawned countless imitations, and inspired dramatizations by such
masters as Orson Welles and Steven Spielberg. The War of the Worlds is a fantasy that is both
startlingly up-to-date and in touch with the most ancient of human fears.
49. The Gadget by Paul Zindel
It's 1945, and 13-year-old Stephen has just reached the gates of the top secret military base in
Los Alamos, New Mexico. He has come to join his father, a famous physicist who is working on a
covert project for the Allies.
50. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Death itself narrates this deeply affecting tale of young book lover Liesel, her loving foster
parents, and the Jew hiding in their basement. They struggle, with their small, poor community, to
endure the double-edged dangers of Nazi Germany. Zusak's poignant tribute to words, survival,
and their inevitable entwinement is a tour de force to be not just read but inhabited.
Highlighted titles are available in Stratford’s eBook Library