To the teacher: The following content‐area reading lists were developed in response to the key requirements of the Common Core State Standards for Reading that all students be able to understand texts of increasing complexity as they progress through school. By the time they complete the core, students must be able to read and comprehend independently and proficiently the kinds of complex texts commonly found in college and careers (Common Core, Appendix A, p. 2). ACT, Inc. released a report in 2006 which showed that students proficient in “making inferences while reading or answering questions related to particular cognitive processes, such as determining main ideas or determining the meaning of words and phrases in context” scored higher on the ACT than those students who did not possess those skills (Common Core, Appendix A, p. 2). This report also determined that instruction based only on “higher‐order” or “critical” thinking was insufficient to prepare students for college and careers. In other words, what students could read, in terms of text complexity, was at least as important as what they could do with what they read. Text complexity is defined by: 1. Qualitative measures – levels of meaning, structure, language conventionality and clarity, and knowledge demands 2. Quantitative measures – readability and other scores of text complexity 3. Reader and Task – background knowledge of reader, motivation, interests, and complexity generated by tasks assigned The reading lists contained in this document provide a brief synopsis of each title along with a quantitative measure, the Lexile level. Lexile levels use word frequency and sentence length to determine a text’s complexity. The Common Core Standards advocate a “staircase” of increasing text complexity, so that students can develop their reading skills and apply them to more difficult texts. Current Lexile ranges have been adjusted upward to ensure students are college and career ready by the end of high school. The chart below shows the quantitative progression of Lexile levels through grade bands. Current
Lexile Band
"Stretch"
Lexile Band
K–1
N/A
N/A
2–3
450L–725L
450L–790L
4–5
645L–845L
770L–980L
6–8
860L–1010L
955L–1155L
9-10
960L–1115L
1080L–1305L
11–CCR
1070L–1220L
1215L–1355L
When selecting or recommending a book for students to read, it is important to remember that all 3 components of text complexity be considered. The following example, taken directly from the Common Core State Standards document, demonstrates how quantitative and qualitative measures of text along with reader and task considerations come into play when assessing a book’s readability. Example: The Grapes of Wrath (Grades 9–10 Text Complexity Band)
Excerpt: Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking, 1967 (1939).
The man took off his dark, stained hat and stood with a curious humility in front of the screen.
“Could you see your way to sell us a loaf of bread, ma’am?”
Mae said, “This ain’t a grocery store. We got bread to make san’widges.”
“I know, ma’am.” His humility was insistent. “We need bread and there ain’t nothin’ for quite a piece, they say.”
“’F we sell bread we gonna run out.” Mae’s tone was faltering.
“We’re hungry,” the man said.
“Whyn’t you buy a san’widge? We got nice san’widges, hamburgs.”
“We’d sure admire to do that, ma’am. But we can’t. We got to make a dime do all of us.” And he said embarrassedly, “We ain’t got
but a little.”
Mae said, “You can’t get no loaf a bread for a dime. We only got fifteen-cent loafs.”
From behind her Al growled, “God Almighty, Mae, give ‘em bread.”
“We’ll run out ‘fore the bread truck comes.”
“Run out then, goddamn it,” said Al. He looked sullenly down at the potato salad he was mixing. Mae shrugged her plump shoulders
and looked to the truck drivers to show them what she was up against.
She held the screen door open and the man came in, bringing a smell of sweat with him. The boys edged behind him and they went
immediately to the candy case and stared in—not with craving or with hope or even with desire, but just with a kind of wonder that
such things could be. They were alike in size and their faces were alike. One scratched his dusty ankle with the toe nails of his other
foot. The other whispered some soft message and then they straightened their arms so that their clenched fists in the overall
pockets showed through the thin blue cloth.
Mae opened a drawer and took out a long waxpaper-wrapped loaf. “This here is a fifteen-cent loaf.”
The man put his hat back on his head. He answered with inflexible humility, “Won’t you—can’t you see your way to cut off ten cents’
worth?”
Al said snarlingly, “Goddamn it, Mae. Give ‘em the loaf.”
The man turned toward Al. “No, we want ta buy ten cents’ worth of it. We got it figgered awful close, mister, to get to California.”
Mae said resignedly, “You can have this for ten cents.”
“That’d be robbin’ you, ma’am.”
“Go ahead—Al says to take it.” She pushed the waxpapered loaf across the counter. The man took a deep leather pouch from his
rear pocket, untied the strings, and spread it open. It was heavy with silver and with greasy bills.
“May soun’ funny to be so tight,” he apologized. “We got a thousan’ miles to go, an’ we don’ know if we’ll make it.” He dug in the
pouch with a forefinger, located a dime, and pinched in for it. When he put it down on the counter he had a penny with it. He was
about to drop the penny back into the pouch when his eye fell on the boys frozen before the candy counter. He moved slowly down
to them. He pointed in the case at big long sticks of striped peppermint. “Is them penny candy, ma’am?”
Mae moved down and looked in. “Which ones?”
“There, them stripy ones.”
The little boys raised their eyes to her face and they stopped breathing; their mouths were partly opened, their half-naked bodies
were rigid.
“Oh—them. Well, no—them’s two for a penny.”
“Well, gimme two then, ma’am.” He placed the copper cent carefully on the counter. The boys expelled their held breath softly. Mae
held the big sticks out.ve
Measures Quantitative Measures
Qualitative Measures
Levels of Meaning
There are multiple and often implicit levels of meaning
within the excerpt and the novel as a whole. The surface
level focuses on the literal journey of the Joads, but the
novel also works on metaphorical and philosophical
levels.
Structure
The text is relatively simple, explicit, and conventional in
form. Events are largely related in chronological order.
Language Conventionality and Clarity
Although the language used is generally familiar, clear,
and conversational, the dialect of the characters may
pose a challenge for some readers. Steinbeck also puts a
great deal of weight on certain less familiar words, such
as faltering. In various portions of the novel not fully
represented in the excerpt, the author combines rich, vivid,
and detailed description with an economy of words that
Quantitative Measures
The quantitative assessment of The Grapes of Wrath
demonstrates the difficulty many currently existing
readability measures have in capturing adequately the
richness of sophisticated works of literature, as various
ratings suggest a placement within the grades 2–3
text complexity band. A Coh-Metrix analysis also tends
to suggest the text is an easy one since the syntax is
uncomplicated and the author uses a conventional
story structure and only a moderate number of abstract
words. (The analysis does indicate, however, that a great
deal of inferencing will be required to interpret and connect
the text’s words, sentences, and central ideas.)
Reader-Task Considerations
These are to be determined locally with reference to
such variables as a student’s motivation, knowledge, and
experiences as well as purpose and the complexity of
the task assigned and the questions posed.
requires heavy inferencing.
Knowledge Demands
The themes are sophisticated. The experiences and
perspective conveyed will be different from those of many
students. Knowledge of the Great Depression, the “Okie
Migration” to California, and the religion and music of
the migrants is helpful, but the author himself provides
much of the context needed for comprehension.
Recommended Placement
Though considered extremely easy by many quantitative
measures, The Grapes of Wrath has a sophistication of
theme and content that makes it more suitable for early
high school (grades 9–10), which is where the Standards
have placed it. In this case, qualitative measures have
overruled the quantitative measures. lacement
(Common Core, Appendix A, pp. 13-14)
The lists in this document are not meant to be required reading lists. Use your professional judgment of the text and the student’s background when making reading recommendations/selections. K‐1 Grade Band Grades K/1
Literary Text
Stories
Hi! Fly Guy by Ted Arnold
When Buzz captures a fly to enter in The Amazing Pet Show, his parents and the judges tell him that a fly cannot be
a pet, but Fly Guy proves them wrong. 280L, GR H
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Sam-I-Am mounts a determined campaign to convince another Seuss character to eat a plate of green eggs and ham.
It contains a limited vocabulary but unlimited exuberance of illustration. 30L, GR J
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
A baby bird has a number of adventures while looking for its mother after falling out of its nest. BR, GR I
Corduroy by Freeman
A toy bear in a department store wants a number of things, but when a little girl finally buys him he finds what he
has always wanted most of all. 600L, GR K
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
A Caldecott Medal winner that conveys the silent wonder of a city snowfall and a small boy's solitary delight in it.
500L AD, GR J
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
Everyone tells a small boy that the carrot seed he has planted will never grow, but his patience is rewarded.
230L AD, GR G
Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
Five further adventures of two best friends as they share cookies, plant a garden, and test their bravery. 330L, GR K
Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel
Welcome to Owl's cozy home. Owl lives by himself in a warm little house. One evening he invites Winter to sit by
the fire. Another time he finds strange bumps in his bedroom. And when Owl goes for a walk one night, he makes a
friend that follows him all the way home. 370L, GR J
Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
Meet Little Bear, a friend to millions of children. And meet Mother Bear, who is there whenever Little Bear needs
her. When it is cold and snowy outside, she finds just the right outfit for Little Bear to play in. When he goes to the
moon, she has a hot lunch waiting for him on his return. At night she helps him get to sleep. And, of course, she
"never" forgets his birthday. 370L, GR J
Knuffle Bunny, A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems
After Trixie and daddy leave the laundromat, something very important turns up missing. 120L, GR I
Read Aloud Stories
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
The unexpected delivery of a large crate containing an Antarctic penguin changes the life and fortunes of Mr.
Popper, a house painter obsessed by dreams of the Polar regions. 910L GR Q
The Paper Crane by Molly Bang
A mysterious man enters a restaurant and pays for his dinner with a paper crane that magically comes alive and
dances. 790L, GR L
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
This classic tale of a Kansas farm girl transported to a magical land is brought alive with whimsical illustrations.
1000L, GR V
Grace for President by DiPucchio
When Grace discovers that there has never been a female U.S. president, she decides to run for school president.
570L, GR F
Family Pictures by Carmen Lomas Garza
The author describes, in bilingual text and illustrations, her experiences growing up in a Hispanic community in
Texas. 750L, GR M
A Story, a Story by Gail E. Haley
Recounts how most African folk tales came to be called "Spider Stories". 590L AD, GR O
Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
When Kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk, she ends up tired, wet, and hungry trying to reach it. 360K,
GR G
Aunt Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard
Sara and Susan share tea, cookies, crab cakes, and stories about hats when they visit their favorite relative, Aunt
Flossie. 400L, GR M
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A year in the life of two young girls growing up on the Wisconsin frontier, as they help their mother with the daily
chores, enjoy their father's stories and singing, and share special occasions when they get together with relatives or
neighbors. 930L, GR Q
Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young
Three sisters staying home alone are endangered by a hungry wolf who is disguised as their grandmother. 670L,
GR S
Informational Text
My Five Senses by Aliki
A simple presentation of the five senses, demonstrating some ways we use them. 590L, GR H
A Weed is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver by Aliki
Brief text and pictures present the life of the man, born a slave, who became a scientist and devoted his entire life to
helping the South improve its agriculture. 640L AD, GR P
What is a Reptile? Now I Know by Gilda and Melvin Berger
430L, GR E
A Tree is a Plant by Clyde Robert Bulla
A tree is the biggest plant that grows. Trees can live for a very long time, and they are alive all year long, even when
they look dead in winter. In this newly illustrated book, you will learn how a tree grows and how it gets food and
water. You can also find out what happens to water after it travels through a tree's roots, branches, and leaves, and
how to figure out a tree's age. Clyde Robert Bulla's simple and concise text and Stacey Schuett's lush illustrations
follow a tree's continuous life cycle through spring, summer, winter, and fall. 290L, GR I
Ten Black Dots by Donald Crew
A counting book which shows what can be done with ten black dots-- one can make a sun, two a fox's eyes, or eight
the wheels of a train. 270L AD, GR F
Firefighters A to Z by Chris L. Demarest
A is for Alarm that rings loud and clear. B is for Boots stowed in our bunker gear. From A to Z, volunteer firefighter
and fine artist Chris Demarest presents a day-in-the-life of firefighters whose job it is to answer the call to put out
fires and save property and lives. In a simple, informative text and with glowing realistic illustrations that
thoroughly envelop the reader, the danger of fire and the courageous job firefighters do every day are brought to life
for readers everywhere. 310L AD, GR F
Starfish by Edith Thacher Hurd
This is a simple introduction to the appearance, growth, habits, and behavior of starfish. 170L, GR I
I Am an Apple by Jean Marzollo
This book depicts a bud on an apple tree as it grows into an apple, ripens, is harvested, and provides seeds as a
promise for the future. 120L, GR F
The Greatest Gymnast of All: Math Start by Murphy
While performing an energetic gymnastic routine, Zoe demonstrates such spatial opposites as on and off, inside and
outside, and over and under. 110L, GR G
Guess Whose Shadow? by Stephen R.Swinburne
This book is an introduction to the concept of shadows. 140H, GR G
Read-Aloud Informational Text
George Washington Carver by Lynea Bowdish
This is an introduction to the life of the African American scientist who overcame great hardship to make unusual
and important discoveries in the field of agriculture. 350L, GR J
Red-Eyed Tree Frog by Joy Cowley
This frog found in the rain forest of Central America spends the night searching for food while also being careful not
to become dinner for some other animal. 350L AD, GR I
Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean by Arthur Dorros
Explains how water flows from brooks, to streams, to rivers, over waterfalls, through canyons and dams, to
eventually reach the ocean. 600L, GR J
Fire! Fire! By Gail Gibbons
Examine fire fighters working in the city, in the country, in the forest, and on the waterfront. 590L, GR M
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Robin Page and Steve Jenkins
Readers can explore the many amazing things animals can do with their ears, eyes, mouths, noses, feet, and tails in
this beautifully illustrated interactive guessing book. 620L, GR J
Earthworms by Clair Liewellyn
This book describes the physical characteristics, behavior, habitat, and life cycle of the earthworm. 700L, GR K
Icky Bug Shapes by Jerry Pallotta
Kids will love learning their shapes with help from icky bugs. All the familiar shapes, such as squares, rectangles,
circles, stars, and others are covered in this adorable young picture book. 490L, GR K
A Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen
This book describes the seasonal changes on a farm and surrounding countryside throughout the year. This is a book
about farm animals, and what happens during one year on a farm. In January, the cows stay in the barnyard, and the
chickens don't lay many eggs. By March, you can tell spring is coming: the barn is filled with baby animals. Month
by month, the animals at Maple Hill Farm sense the changing seasons and respond to the changes. Through gently
humorous text and charming illustrations, Alice and Martin Provensen capture one year at their beloved Maple Hill
Farm in a way sure to delight city slickers and country folk alike. 560L
Where Do Puddles Go? By Robinson
Explains the water cycle, showing how water evaporates to form clouds and clouds release water as rain. 570L, GR I
Amazing Whales! By Sarah L. Thompson
How big are whales? How do whales breathe? Do they live alone or in groups? Why are so many whales in danger?
This exceptional book for beginning readers explores one of the most amazing animals in the sea. Featuring
breathtaking photographs from the Wildlife Conservation Society, Amazing Whales! is the latest title in a new I Can
Read Book series about the fascinating animals that share our world and how we can help to keep them healthy and
safe. 630L, GR O
Poetry
“As I Was Going to St. Ives” by Anonymous
“Wouldn’t You” by John Ciardi
“Drinking Fountain” by Marchette Chute
“Singing-Time” by Rose Fyleman
“Covers” by Nikki Giovanni
“By Myself” by Eloise Greenfield
“Poem” by Langston Hughes
“Celebration” by Alonzo Lopez
“Halfway Down” by A.A. Mine
“It Fell in the City” by Eve Merriam
“Mix a Pancake” by Christina Rossetti
“Two Tree Toads”
Read Aloud Poetry
“The Fox’s Foray” by Anonymous
“April Rain Song” by Langston Hughes
“Over in the Meadow” by John Langstaff
“The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear
“Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin” by Lloyd Moss
2‐3 Grade Band Grades 2/3
Literary Text
Stories
The Fire Cat by Esther Averill
When Pickles, a yellow cat with black spots, is rescued from a tree by firemen, he goes to live at the firehouse.
400L, GR J
The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron
Julian learns that fibbing and telling stories can lead to a heap of trouble. 520L, GR N
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
A young boy determines to rescue a poor baby dragon who is being used by a group of lazy wild animals to ferry
them across the river on Wild Island. 990L,GR N
The Raft by Jim LaMarche
Reluctant Nicky spends a wonderful summer with Grandma who introduces him to the joy of rafting down the river
near her home and watching the animals along the banks. 540L, GR O
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
When their father invites a mail-order bride to come live with them in their prairie home, Caleb and Anna are
captivated by their new mother and hope that she will stay. 560L, GR R
Henry and Mudge: The First Book of the Adventures by Cynthia Rylant
Henry, feeling lonely on a street without any other children, finds companionship and love in a big dog named
Mudge. 470L, GR J
The One-Eye Giant by Mary Pope Osborne
Retells a part of the Odyssey in which King Odysseus fights the cyclops. 760L, GR P
The Lighthouse Family: The Storm by Cynthis Rylant
Pandora the cat becomes a lighthouse keeper and saves the life of Seabold the dog, and together the two of them
create a family with three young mice rescued from the sea. 700L, GR M
Poppleton in Winter by Cynthia Rylant
Poppleton the pig makes a new friend after an icicle accident, creates a bust of Cherry Sue, and gets a wintry
birthday surprise from his pals. 380L, GR J
The Treasure by Url Shulevitz
This is a retelling of the traditional English tale in which a poor man follows the advice of his dream and is
eventually led to a treasure. 490L
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman
Cowgirl Kate and her cowhorse Cocoa, who is always hungry, count cows, share a story, and help each other fall
asleep. 390L.GR J
Amos and Boris by William Steig
Amos the mouse and Boris the whale: a devoted pair of friends with nothing at all in common, except good hearts
and a willingness to help their fellow mammal. They meet after Amos sets out to sea in his homemade boat, the
"Rodent, and soon finds himself in extreme need of rescue. Enter Boris. But there will come a day, long after Boris
has gone back to a life of whaling about and Amos has gone back to his life of mousing around, when the tiny
mouse must find a way to rescue the great whale. 690L AD, GR L
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
Hare turns his bad luck around by striking a clever deal with the rich and lazy bear down the road. 580L, GR L
Read Aloud Stories
The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbit
In this classic novel by a Newbery Honor author, the Prime Minister is compiling a dictionary, and when no one at
court can agree on the meaning of delicious, the King sends his 12-year-old messenger Gaylen to poll the country.
910L, GR U
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression, escapes a bad foster
home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father--the renowned bandleader, H.E. Calloway of
Grand Rapids. 950L, GR T
Uncle Jed’s Barbershop by Margaree King Mitchell
Sarah Jean's Uncle Jed was the only black barber in the county. He travelled far to cut his customers' hair--and he
dreamed of the day when he could open his very own barbershop. With Ransome's richly colored paintings
brimming with life, this is a stirring tale of dreams long deferred and finally realized. It’s a 1994 Coretta Scott King
Illustrator Honor Book. 710L, GR P
Sign Painter by Allen Say
An assignment to paint a large billboard in the desert changes the life of an aspiring artist. 250L
Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street by Schotter
When Eva sits on her stoop trying to complete a school assignment by writing about what happens in her
neighborhood, she gets a great deal of advice and action. 600L, GR P
The Cricket in Times Square by George Seldon
After Chester lands, in the Times Square subway station, he makes himself comfortable in a nearby newsstand.
There, he has the good fortune to make three new friends: Mario, a little boy whose parents run the falling
newsstand, Tucker, a fast-talking Broadway mouse, and Tucker's sidekick, Harry the Cat. The escapades of these
four friends in bustling New York City makes for lively listening and humorous entertainment. And somehow, they
manage to bring a taste of success to the nearly bankrupt newsstand. 780L, GR S
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
An affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named Charlotte, who lives in the rafters
above his pen. A prancing, playful bloke, Wilbur is devastated when he learns of the destiny that befalls all those of
porcine persuasion. Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins a web that reads "Some Pig," convincing the
farmer and surrounding community that Wilbur is no ordinary animal and should be saved. In this story of
friendship, hardship, and the passing on into time, E.B. White reminds us to open our eyes to the wonder and
miracle often found in the simplest of things. 680L, GR R
Informational Text
A Medieval Feast by Aliki
This book describes the preparation and celebration of a medieval feast held at an English manor house entertaining
royal guests. 840L, GR Q
Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions Around the World by Selby Beeler
Consists of brief statements relating what children from around the world do with a tooth that has fallen out. It
includes facts about teeth. 770L AD, GR M
The Cloud Book by Tomie dePaola
This fun-filled, interesting book introduces readers to the 10 most common types of clouds, myths that have been
inspired by their shapes, and what they can tell about coming weather changes. 680L, GR N
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca
Here is the story of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon -- a story of leaving and returning during the summer of
1969, and a story of home, seen whole, from far away by steady astronauts in their great machines. 990L, GR N
So You Want to be President? By Judith St. George
This books presents an assortment of facts about the qualifications and characteristics of U.S. presidents, from
George Washington to Bill Clinton. 730L, GR S
Bicycle Book by Gail Gibbons
Traces the history and evolution of the bicycle, the different kinds and how they work. 530L, GR P
From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
This books explores the intricate relationship between seeds and the plants which they produce. 660L, GR M
Boy, We were Wrong About Dinosaurs by Kathleen V. Kudinski
Examines what is known about dinosaur bones, behavior, and other characteristics and how different the facts often
are from what scientists, from ancient China to the recent past, believed to be true. 900L AD, GR P
Bats: Creatures of the Night by Joyce Milton
Did you know that bats are not blind? That the smallest bat is the size of a bee? Kids will learn all this and more in
this exciting book about one of nature's most misunderstood creatures. 510L, GR K
Martin Luther King and the March on Washington by Frances E. Ruffin
On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people came to the nation's capital. They came by plane, by bus, by car-even on roller-skates--to speak out against segregation and to demand equal rights for everyone. They also came to
hear the words of a very special leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. Told with a wonderful immediacy, this book
captures the spirit of this landmark day in American history and brings Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech to vivid
life for young children. 480L, GR N
Read-Aloud Informational Text
Ah, Music by Aliki
This book surveys the history and components of music, concentrating on Western musical traditions. 910L, GR N
Wild Track! A Guide to Nature’s Footprints by Jim Arnlsky
When children learn to recognize and read animal tracks they're actually mastering an ancient language of shapes
and patterns--and gaining knowledge of the natural world. Acclaimed artist and naturalist Jim Arnosky has created a
breathtaking and informative reference on the subject, filled with intricately drawn prints from creatures both wild
and domestic, as well as large-scale paintings of the animals in their environment. Some of the art, labeled in
Arnosky's own handwriting, even looks as if it came straight out of his personal notebooks. And best of all, many of
the tracks are true to size, so kids can compare the trace left by a big-footed polar bear (whose paws act as
snowshoes in its icy environment) with that of a small bird. Adding to the eye-catching illustrations are four
awesome gatefolds that display paintings of a bobcat, wolf, deer, and a variety of hoofed animals right next to their
prints. Every spread has plenty of details on how to interpret the footprint, and the featured menagerie includes
bighorn sheep and goats, chipmunks and rabbits, grizzlies and brown bears, horses and burros, domestic cats and
dogs, and even slithering reptiles! 1040
Ruby’s Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges
In China, at a time when few girls are taught to read or write, Ruby dreams of going to the university with her
brothers and male cousins. 600L, GR N
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles
For months, six-year-old Ruby Bridges must confront the hostility of white parents when she becomes the first
African American girl to integrate Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960. 730L AD, GR O
What the World Eats by Faith D’Aluisio
A photographic collection exploring what the world eats featuring portraits of twenty-five families from twenty-one
countries surrounded by a week's worth of food. 1150
14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy
In June of 2002, a very unusual ceremony begins in a far-flung village in western Kenya. An American diplomat is
surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed on the American men, women, and
children, and he is there to accept it. The gift is as unsought and unexpected as it is extraordinary. A mere nine
months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely from American and
Maasai as these legendary warriors offer their gift to a grieving people half a world away. Word of the gift will
travel news wires around the globe. Many will be profoundly touched, but for Americans, this selfless gesture will
have deeper meaning still. For a heartsick nation, the gift of fourteen cows emerges from the choking dust and
darkness as a soft light of hope-and friendship. An afterword by Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah-the Maasai warrior at the
center of the story-provides additional information about his tribe and their generous actions. 540L
Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman
Photographs and text trace the life of the Civil War President. 1110, GR V
Richard Wright and the Library Card by William Miller
Based on a scene from Wright's autobiography, Black Boy, in which the seventeen-year-old African-American
borrows a white man's library card and devours every book as a ticket to freedom. 700L
Animals of Africa, Planet Earth Reader by Ryan-Herndon
This book explores the large continent of Africa and the different habitats where animals live. 870L, GR O
If the World Were a Village: A Book About the World’s People by David J. Smith
Comparing the world population to a village of 100 persons, the author reveals such facts as the languages of the
village, how much each earns, if the person is literate, has a television and has enough to eat. 710L, GR S
Poetry
“Autumn” by Emily Dickinson
“Something Told the Wild Geese” by Rachel Field
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
“Knoxville Tennessee” by Nikki Giovanni
“Grandpa’s Stories” by Langston Hughes
“A Bat is Born” by Randall Jarrell
“Weather” by Eve Merriam
“Afternoon on a Hill” by Edna St. Vincent Millay
“Who Has Seen the Wind” by Christina Rossetti
“Eating While Reading” by Gary Soto
Read-Aloud Poetry
“The Pied Piper of Hamelin” by Robert Browning
“The Song of the Jellicles” by T.S. Elliot
“Fireflies” by Paul Fleischman
“Your World” by Georgia Douglas Johnson
“The Jumblies” by Edward Lear
4‐5 Grade Band 4‐5 Grade Band Grades 4/5
Literary Text
Stories
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit
Granted eternal life after drinking from a magic spring, the Tuck finds that living forever at one age is less a blessing
than it might seem. 720L, GR V
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodges Burnett
Ten-year old Mary come to live in a lonely house on the Yorkshire moors and discovers an invalid cousin and
mysteries of a locked garden. 970L, GR U
The Report Card by Andrew Clements
The acclaimed author takes on standardized tests--how they influence teaching, learning, and even friendship--in his
new novel that will strike a chord with every American student and teacher. 700L, GR R
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression, escapes a bad foster
home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father--the renowned bandleader, H.E. Calloway of
Grand Rapids. 950L, GR T
The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich
Omakayas, a seven-year-old Native American girl of the Ojibwa tribe, lives through the joys of summer and the
perils of winter on an island in Lake Superior in 1847. 970L, GR T
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery
An aviator whose plane is forced down in the Sahara Desert encounters a little prince from a small planet who
relates his adventures in seeking the secret of what is important in life. 710L, GR X
The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
Young Alec Ramsay is shipwrecked on a desert island with a horse destined to play an important part in his life.
Following their rescue, their adventure continues in America. 780L
M.C. Higgins, the Great by Virginia Hamilton
As a slag heap, the result of strip mining, creeps closer to his house in the Ohio hills, fifteen-year-old M.C. is torn
between trying to get his family away and fighting for the home they love. 620L, GR X
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L.Konigsburg
When suburban Claudia Kincaid decides to run away, she knows she doesn't just want to run "from" somewhere, she
wants to run "to" somewhere -- to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and, preferably, elegant. She chooses the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Knowing that her younger brother Jamie has money and thus can
help her with a serious cash-flow problem, she invites him along. Once settled into the museum, Claudia and Jamie
find themselves caught up in the mystery of an angel statue that the museum purchased at auction for a bargain price
of $225. The statue is possibly an early work of the Renaissance master, Michelangelo, and therefore worth millions.
Is it? Or isn't it? Claudia is determined to find out. Her quest leads her to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the remarkable
old woman who sold the statue, and to some equally remarkable discoveries about herself. &00L, GR S
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a
quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.
820L
Zlateh the Goat by Isaac Bashevis Singer
This is a delightful and distinguished book of seven tales from middle European folklore by the winner of the 1978
Nobel Prize for Literature. 850L
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
After his parents die, Jeffrey Lionel Magee's life becomes legendary, as he accomplishes athletic and other feats
which awe his contemporaries. 820L, GR W
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by JohnSteptoe
Mufaro's two beautiful daughters, one bad-tempered, one kind and sweet, go before the king, who is choosing a
wife.720L, GR T
Song of the Trees by Mildred D. Taylor
During the Depression, a rural black family, deeply attached to the forest on their land, tries to save it from being cut
down by an unscrupulous white man. 710L, GR S
Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World by Mildred Pitts Walter
Suffering in a family full of females, ten-year-old Justin feels that cleaning and keeping house are women's work
until he spends time on his beloved grandfather's ranch. 620L, GR P
Informational Text
Discovering Mars: The Amazing Story of the Red Planet by Melvin Berger
This is a good introduction to the known planet with the most Earth-like environment. The basic history of what was
thought of the planet is covered; quite naturally it is back-loaded to the present. Unfortunately, a great deal of
misconceptions about Mars still exists; fortunately this book will clear up most of them. It is still a quality
contribution to the scientific literature for children. 670L
You Want the Women to Vote by Jean Fritz
With her trademark humor and anecdotal style, the Newbery Honor Award-winner and preeminent biographer for
young people turns her attention to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the lively, unconventional spokeswoman of the woman
suffrage movement. Convinced from an early age that women should have the same rights as men, Lizzie embarked
on a career that changed America. 870L, GR W
The Story of Muhammad Ali by Leslie Garrett
This book profiles the life and career of Muhammad Ali. 980L, GR Q
A History of US by Joy Hakim
Master storyteller Joy Hakim has excited millions of young minds with the great drama of American history in her
award-winning series A History of US. Hailed by historians, educators, and parents for its exciting, thoughtprovoking narrative, the books have been recognized as a break-through tool in teaching history and critical reading
skills to young people. And the kids themselves agree. 820L. GR W
Hurricanes: Earth’s Mightiest Storms by Patricia Lauber
Tells how hurricanes form, how scientists study them, and how they have affected the United States throughout this
century. 900
Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea by Sy
Montgomery
Readers meet the elusive Matschie's tree kangaroo, who makes its home in the ancient trees of Papua New Guinea's
cloud forest. Full-color photos. 830L, GR U
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson
Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its
beginnings in the 1920s through the decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. It includes
illustrations from oil paintings by artist Kadir Nelson. 900L
The Kid’s Guide to Money: Earning It, Saving It, Spending It, Growing It, Sharing It by Steve
Otfinoski
Explains ways kids can earn money; how to save for a big purchase; how to get the most value for your money; how
the stock market works; plus money moments such as did you know that a stamp that cost 5 cents in 1947 was sold
for a million dollars in 1981? 970L
Rosa Parks, My Story by Rosa Parks
“The only tired I was, was tired of giving in". These are the simple yet eloquent words of Rosa Parks, who on
December 1, 1955, refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus, sparking the Montgomery,
Alabama, bus boycott. Written in her own straightforward and moving language, this is her compelling story. 970L,
GR U
Achoo! The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read About Germs by Trudee Romanek
Probe the secrets of illness and sniff out what germs are, why they sometimes make us sick, how our bodies battle
them, and how vaccines protect us against them. 990L, GR V
My Librarian is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World by Margriet
Ruurs
Describes unusual mobile libraries found around the world. 980L, GR Q
Horses by Seymour Simon
What animal can . . . run so fast, its feet don't always touch the ground, weigh more than 2,000 pounds, sense
people's emotions by their smell, and wear shoes? Why, a horse, of course! Horses are some of the most fascinating
-- and important -- creatures on Earth. Horses have carried medieval knights into battle, transported settlers to the
American West, and hauled fire engines and buses. They even turned the wheels that provided power for factories!
But one of their greatest, most enduring gifts to us is companionship and trust. So come along with Seymour Simon
and learn more about these amazing animals -- straight from the horse's mouth! 930L, GR R
Volcanoes by Seymour Simon
Volcanoes don't always look like mountains--they aren't always full of fire. Some are holes in the ground, some
form under the sea. Despite their reputation for destruction, volcanoes produce new mountains, new islands and new
soil. Visit some of the world's most remarkable volcanoes with one of the most outstanding science writers in
children's books. Full-color photos are included. 880L
A Place for Butterflies by Stewart
This fact-filled, colorful look at the amazing world of butterflies includes a call to action to protect these beautiful
insects. Melissa Stewart shares with young readers the basic facts about butterflies, including how they transform
from caterpillar to butterfly, where they live, what they eat, and how they benefit plants and animals. Sidebars
throughout the book contain information on human action that has harmed butterflies in the past and the many ways
people can protect certain butterfly populations, such as by preserving forests and meadows and cutting down on
pesticide use. Also included are pointers on how youngsters can help butterflies in their own neighborhood. Stewart
reminds children of the interconnectedness of our world and shows how the actions of one species can inadvertently
harm another. Bond's realistically detailed watercolor illustrations highlight the diversity of the species, from the
Schaus swallowtail butterflies in southern Florida to the endangered Mitchell's satyrs. 980L, GR R
Toys!: Amazing Stories Behind Some Great Inventions by Don Wulffson
This is a fresh, intriguing look at the stories behind great toy inventions. "Originally, Play-Dough only came in
white. There's a good reason for this. You see, Play-Dough didn't start out as a toy. It started out as a product for
cleaning wallpaper." Have you ever wondered who invented Lego, Mr. Potato Head, or toy trains? Here are the
fascinating stories behind these toy inventions and many others. Learn why the see-saw was popular with the
Romans, how the Slinky was used during the Vietnam War, and the reason Raggedy Ann has a red heart on her
chest that says "I love you." From dolls and checkers to pinball and the modern video game, there's a wide selection
here for boys and girls alike. With humor and wit, this intriguing book serves up slices of cultural history that will
inspire young readers to start thinking up their own toy inventions. 920L
Poetry
“The Echoing Green” by William Blake
“A Bird Came Down the Walk” by Emily Dickinson
“Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf” by Roald Dahl
“Dust of Snow” by Robert Frost
“The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus
“Words Free As Confetti” by Pat Mora
“They Were My People” by Grace Nichols
“Fog” by Carl Sandburg
“Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Lawrence Thayer
6‐8 Grade Band Grades 6-8
Literary Text
Classic Fiction
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capital surrounded by
twelve outlying districts. The Capital is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to
participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who
lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her
impoverished district in the Games. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival
against humanity and life against love. 810L
Dark is Rising by Susan Copper
On the Midwinter Day that is his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers a special gift — that he is destined to
seek the six magical Signs of Light. He is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the world from
domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. And for the twelve days of Christmas, while the Dark is rising, life for
Will is full of wonder, terror, and delight. 920L
The Miracle Worker by William Gibson
A play that describes the relationship between Helen Keller, a deaf blind and initially almost feral child, and Anne
Sullivan, the teacher who introduced her to education, activism, and international celebrity. NP
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Unfortunately, Roy's first acquaintance in Florida is Dana Matherson, a well-known bully. Then again, if Dana
hadn't been sinking his thumbs into Roy's temples and mashing his face against the school-bus window, Roy might
never have spotted the running boy. And the running boy is intriguing: he was running away from the school bus,
carried no books, and — here's the odd part — wore no shoes. Sensing a mystery, Roy sets himself on the boy's
trail. The chase introduces him to potty-trained alligators, a fake-fart champion, some burrowing owls, a renegade
eco-avenger, and several extremely poisonous snakes with unnaturally sparkling tails. 760L
Giver by Lois Lowry
December is the time of the annual Ceremony at which each twelve-year-old receives a life assignment determined
by the Elders. Jonas watches his friend Fiona named Caretaker of the Old and his cheerful pal Asher labeled the
Assistant Director of Recreation. But Jonas has been chosen for something special. When his selection leads him to
an unnamed man — the man called only the Giver — he begins to sense the dark secrets that underlie the fragile
perfection of his world. 760L
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
A brilliant, emotionally charged novel about two boys. One is a slow learner, too large for his age, and the other is a
tiny, disabled genius. The two pair up to create one formidable human force known as "Freak the Mighty". 1000L
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Presents the story of Dr. Frankenstein and his obsessive experiment that leads to the creation of a monstrous and
deadly creature. 1170L
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
A poor fisherman dreams of wealth and happiness for his family when he finds a priceless pearl. 1010L
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Decades ahead of his time, H.G. Wells leaps beyond the bounds of conventional imagination to tell the story of the
Time Traveler. An innovative scientist pilots a time machine and finds a world utterly changed, and in which the
Time Traveler finds himself an alien on his own planet. When the Time Traveler courageously stepped out of his
machine for the first time, he found himself in the year 802,701 — and everything has changed. In another, more
utopian age, creatures seemed to dwell together in perfect harmony. The Time Traveler thought he could study these
marvelous beings — unearth their secret and then returns to his own time — until he discovered that his invention,
his only avenue of escape, had been stolen. 10101L
Historical Fiction
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom. Promised freedom
upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious
New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth
and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who
know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel
realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom. 780L
Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez
In the early 1960s in the Dominican Republic, twelve-year-old Anita learns that her family is involved in the
underground movement to end the bloody rule of the dictator, General Trujillo. 890L
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Bored and lonely after his family moves from Berlin to a place called "Out-With" in 1942, Bruno, the son of a Nazi
officer, befriends a boy in striped pajamas who lives behind a wire fence.1080L
Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
Enter the world of ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Momma and
Dad decide it's time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with the amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons head
south to Birmingham, Alabama...toward one of the darkest moments in America's history. 1000L
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
A poem cycle that reads as a novel, Out of the Dust tells the story of a girl named Billie Jo, who struggles to help her
family survive the dust-bowl years of the Depression. Fighting against the elements on her Oklahoma farm, Billie Jo
takes on even more responsibilities when her mother dies in a tragic accident. A testament to the American spirit,
this novel is an instant classic. NP
The Secret Lives of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Fourteen-year-old Lily lost her mother in a gun accident ten years ago and has lived a decade of loneliness and
abuse at the hands of her father. Set in the turbulent 1960s, The Secret Life of Bees gives the reader a look at what it
was like to be African American in the southern United States as Lily and her nanny run away from home. In her
debut novel, Sue Monk Kidd follows Lily as she is taken in by three black, bee-keeping sisters in South Carolina.
She explores Lily's search for the truth about her mother; her courage to tear down racial barriers; and her joy as she
claims her place within a community of women. As she enters their mesmerizing secret world of bees and honey,
she discovers a place where she can find the single thing her heart longs for most. 840L
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
A young dog, abused by men and his hungry rivals on a Klondike dog team, escapes to join a wolf pack. 1120L
I, Juan De Pareja by Elizabeth Trevino
Although Juan is a slave, a friendship develops between him and his benevolent master, the great Spanish artist
Velazquez, who secretly teaches him to paint. 1100L
Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen
Samuel, 13, spends his days in the forest, hunting for food for his family. He has grown up on the frontier of a
British colony, America. Far from any town, or news of the war against the King that American patriots have begun
near Boston. But the war comes to them. British soldiers and Iroquois attack. Samuel's parents are taken away,
prisoners. Samuel follows, hiding, moving silently, determined to find a way to rescue them. Each day he confronts
the enemy, and the tragedy and horror of this war. But he also discovers allies, men and women working secretly for
the patriot cause. And he learns that he must go deep into enemy territory to find his parents: all the way to the
British headquarters, New York City. 870L
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
When Esperanza and Mama are forced to flee to the bountiful region of Aguascalientes, Mexico, to a Mexican farm
labor camp in California, they must adjust to a life without fancy dresses and servants like they were accustomed to
on Rancho de las Rosas. Now they must confront the challenges of hard work, acceptance by their own people, and
economic difficulties brought on by the Great Depression. When Mama falls ill and a strike for better working
conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperanza must relinquish her hold on the past and learn to embrace a
future ripe with the riches of family and community. 750L
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
Winner of the 1977 Newbery Medal and nominated for the National Book Award, the story of Carrie Logan, an
independent girl growing up relatively protected in a loving family, is culled from author Mildred Taylor's own
family's life. It not only stands as an important addition to the cumulative record of the African-American
experience, but crafted with astonishing verisimilitude, it stands as well as an important contribution to young adult
literature, as well. 920L
Informational Text
English Language Arts
I Am A Star: Child Of The Holocaust by Inge Auerbacher
Holocaust survivor Inge Auerbacher tells her poignant story of life in the Terezin concentration camp in
Czechoslovakia, where she was sent with her family at age 7, and was one of only 100 children out of 15,000 to
survive. Through prose and poetry, she tells the agonizing and remarkable story of her family and survival. 950L
Nelson Mandela by Barry Denenbery
This biography traces Nelson Mandela's life from childhood, through to his 26-year-long imprisonment, and finally
to his release in 1990. As a child in South Africa, Nelson was expected to one day become the chief of his tribe. He
decided to choose a different path and dedicate his life to what he believed were more worthy causes: freedom and
equality for blacks in South Africa, and author Denenberg gives readers a clear historical profile of the antiapartheid movements in that country. 990L
Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science, by John Fleischman
The fascinating story of the construction foreman who survived for ten years after a 13-pound iron rod shot through
his brain. Gage's misfortune actually played an intriguing and important role in the development of our knowledge
of the brain. 1030L
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass
The searing autobiography of the slave who became an advisor to Lincoln and the conscience of a nation. 1120L
Leonardo da Vinci by Kathleen Krull
People hear his name and think artistic genius of the Renaissance, creator of the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
Yet here is a different Leonardo da Vinci. . . Leonardo the scientist. For more than thirty years - half his life - he was
obsessively devoted to investigating everything in the natural world. Nothing escaped his interest - how our eyes
see, why the sky is blue, what forces build mountains, how light travels, and where water comes from. 1010L
Albert Einstein by Allison Lassieur
Discover the life stories of important inventors and scientists. Find out how they made their great discoveries and
how their lives shaped their work. Interesting sidebars provide information on the times in which the subjects lived,
and a comparative timeline provides additional historical connections. This book explores the life and work of
Albert Einstein, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist. Born in 1879 in Ulm, Germany, Einstein is considered to be one
of the greatest scientific theorists of all time. His theories, including the theory of relativity, changed our
understanding of the physical world. 950L
The Great Fire by Jim Murphy
The Great Fire of 1871 was one of the most colossal disasters in American history. Overnight, the flourishing city of
Chicago was transformed into a smoldering wasteland. The damage was so profound that few people believed the
city could ever rise again. By weaving personal accounts of actual survivors together with the carefully researched
history of Chicago and the disaster, Jim Murphy constructs a riveting narrative that recreates the event with drama
and immediacy. And finally, he reveals how, even in a time of deepest despair, the human spirit triumphed, as the
people of Chicago found the courage and strength to build their city once again. 1130L
The Greatest: Muhammad Ali by Walter Dean Myers
The life and times of Muhammad Ali, who transformed boxing and became one of the world's most engaging and
charismatic athletes, as told by renowned Newbery Honor author Walter Dean Myers. It is the perfect choice for
both young adult sports fans and fans of the author himself. 1030L
Making It Home: Real-Life Stories from Children Forced To Flee by Beverley Naidoo
Children from around the world share their personal experiences with war and other forms of conflict that have
shattered their homes and families, in a powerful volume that shows readers what it's like to be a refugee. NP
Freedom's Children by Ellen Levin
In this inspiring collection of true stories, thirty African-Americans who were children or teenagers in the 1950s and
1960s talk about what it was like for them to fight segregation in the South-to sit in an all-white restaurant and
demand to be served, to refuse to give up a seat at the front of the bus, to be among the first to integrate the public
schools, and to face violence, arrest, and even death for the cause of freedom. 760L
Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry
Born a slave, Harriet Tubman dreamed of freedom. And through hard work and her willingness to risk everythingincluding her life-she was able to make that dream come true. She was the legendary "Moses," delivering hundreds
from the desert of slavery. With indisputable narrative skill, Ann Petry recreates the life of a woman of great
strength, bravery, and unshakeable moral fiber. 1000L
History/Social Studies
Give Me Liberty! By Russell Freedman
Russell Freedman's Give Me Liberty! The Story of the Declaration of Independence recounts the American colonists'
arduous journey to freedom in a richly detailed narrative, complete with prints and illustrations. It is astonishing that
a document as awe-inspiring as the Declaration of Independence could be produced under the conditions outlined in
this book. While bad news trickled in from the Continental Army, delegates worked together to unite the colonies in
revolution against Mother England. Reading Freedman's words, the reader is transported back in time and ready to
join the fight for independence. 1070L
Around the World in a Hundred Years, From Henry the Navigator to Magellan by Jean Fritz
History is brought to life once again through the creative pen of Jean Fritz. True tales of our world's greatest 15th
century explorers — from Bartholomew Diaz and Christopher Columbus, to Juan Ponce de Leon and Vasco Nunez
de Balboa — are fascinatingly portrayed, complimented with the softly shaded pencil illustrations of Anthony
Bacon Venti. Readers are led through a one-hundred-year period when Europeans explored the world and mapped
the globe, while selfishly feeding their own curiosity and greed along the way. 1050L
The Chinese American Album by Dorthy Hoobler
The Chinese American Family Album is a scrapbook of family letters and diary entries, official documents,
newspaper articles, and excerpts from literature of the past and present--a personal remembrance of an extended
family of Chinese immigrants and their descendants. 1040L
Ancient India by Virginia Schomp
This book looks at the culture and people of ancient India. Topics explored include religious practices and the roles
of Brahman priests in society. This comprehensive title covers several important eras, including the Indus Valley
Civilization and Vedic periods. 1090L
The Ancient Aztecs by Liz Sonneborn
Beginning in the late 1300s, the Aztecs were a group of American Indian peoples who lived in what today is
Mexico. Most of the Aztecs were commoners, who provided the labor needed for the culture to thrive. They built
impressive pyramid-type structures and cities, such as Tenochtitlan. The culture collapsed when Spanish
conquistadors overtook the Aztecs in the 1500s. 1030L
Science, Mathematics, and Technical Subjects
The Wright Brothers by Russell Freeman
This is the story of the first powered, sustained, and controlled airplane flight, and the men behind it. 1160L
The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body by David Macaulay
In this comprehensive and entertaining resource, multi award-winner David Macaulay reveals the inner workings of
the human body as only he can. This one-of-a-kind book takes readers on a visual journey through the human body.
With his trademark humor, Macaulay builds a body and explains how it works.
Antarctica by Walter Dean Myers
Walter Dean Myers brings the dramatic race to the South Pole to life in Antarctica, tracking the explorers of the
South Pole - including James Cook, Ernest Shackleton, and Richard Evelyn Bird - and the dangers they encountered
there, as well as their contributions to science. The heroism and adventure - and the ultimate failure - of the
expeditions are depicted in Myer's powerful prose, and through the photos, maps, and illustrations that complement
the text. 1100L
The Brain by Seymour Simon
This very informative book details the brain and its functions. 900L
Oceans by Seymour Simon
Have you ever noticed how blue Earth looks in photographs taken from space? This is because of our oceans. Earth
is the only planet in our Solar System with water on its surface—more than 1.5 quintillion tons of water—and it's
constantly in motion. You don't have to live near the ocean to know its power. Changes in temperature far out in the
sea can cause a drought thousands of miles away. The oceans affect us all. Award-winning science writer Seymour
Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to update his remarkable, in-depth exploration of the oceans.
990L
9‐10 Grade Band Grades 9/10
Literary Text
Classic Fiction
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Achebe’s first novel portrays the collision of African and European cultures in people’s lives. Okonkwo, a great
man in Igbo traditional society, cannot adapt to the profound changes brought about by British colonial rule. Yet, as
in classic tragedy, Okonkwo’s downfall results from his own character as well as from external forces. 890L
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Each of Cisneros’ vignettes contains an important part of the story of Esperanza, a Chicana girl living in the poorest
corner of the city. Becoming an adult turns out to be a challenge. These vignettes are not mere collections of random
thoughts and uneducated language, but a poetic story with a well-drawn setting, characterization, and gripping tone.
Even though the story evolves around Hispanics, the tension it examines affects all races. 870L
A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris
A Yellow Raft in Blue Water takes place on a Native American reservation in Montana and explores the lives of
three women: Rayona, Christine, and Ida. Ida is the mother of Rayona and the grandmother of Rayona. The book is
divided into three sections, one for Rayona's life, one for Christine's life and one for Ida's life. Michael Dorris
journeys back in time and provides the reader with history from the character's perspective. The novel explores true
family love that isn’t always visible to an outsider. 980L
The Odyssey by Homer
After ten years of war, Odysseus turns his back on Troy and sets sail for home. But his voyage takes another ten
years and he must face many dangers—including Polyphemus, the greedy one-eyed giant, Scylla, the six-headed sea
monster and even the wrath of the gods themselves—before he is reunited with his wife and son. 1050L
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
“When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a
monstrous vermin.” With this startling, bizarre, yet surprisingly funny first sentence, Kafka begins his masterpiece,
The Metamorphosis. It is the story of a young man, transformed overnight into a giant beetle-like insect, who
becomes an object of disgrace to his family, an outcast in his own home, a quintessentially alienated man. 1320L
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The animals on Mr. Jones' farm have had enough of what they deem to be slavery. They're tired of being ordered
around by humans while they see no benefits in their daily work. This is all sparked by a dream that the boar, Major,
had about a unique place where animals called the shots and never had to be ordered around by humans ever again.
He tells them a revolution is very much needed. When Major dies, the animals act quickly and are able to overthrow
the alcoholic farmer and his thugs from his very own farm. The pigs are in charge now, as they claim that they are
much smarter than the others and know how to lead. What seems to be paradise quickly transforms. 1170L The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
First published in 1939, The Grapes of Wrath is a landmark of American literature. This Pulitzer Prize-winning epic
of the Great Depression chronicles the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s and tells the story of one Oklahoma farm
family forced to travel west to the promised land of California. A portrait of conflict between the powerful and the
powerless, the novel captures the horrors of the Depression and probes the very nature of equality in America. 680L
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Encompassing two generations and a rich blend of Chinese and American history, the story of four struggling,
strong women also reveals their daughters’ memories and feelings. 930L
The Piano Lesson by August Wilson
August Wilson's sensitive story of a family's struggle to reconcile the past with the present centers on the carved
piano which dominates the living room of Doaker Charles and his niece, Berniece. The legs of the piano are carved
with faces of their slave ancestors, carvings made by a distant relation who was owned by the Sutter family and
working on their farm in Mississippi before Emancipation. Berniece's brother Boy Willie, recently released from a
prison farm and penitentiary, has come to Pittsburgh determined to sell this ancient piano in which he claims
half-ownership. The struggle of Boy Willie and Berniece over possession of the piano gradually broadens as they
reveal the past, incorporating vivid pictures of the family's tenuous survival from slavery to the present. NP
Historical Fiction
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
A Confederate soldier, Inman, deserts the army after he has a serious injury. He treks across the southern states in
order to get back to the love of his life, Ada. Inman meets interesting, barbaric, vicious and victimized people, all
who have been ravaged by the Civil War. His journey is physically and emotionally exhausting and he is
traumatized by the violence he sees around him. The chapters rotate between Ada's and Inman's stories. 1210L
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman by Ernest Gaines
Set in rural Louisiana, the novel recollects the fictional tape-recorded reflections of the elderly Jane Pitman. The
novel traces Jane’s life -- from surviving a massacre by former Confederate soldiers as a child at the end of the Civil
War, to Jane’s commitment to Christianity after the death of her husband, and finally, to her impassioned
confrontation of a plantation owner. Gaines’s characterization of Miss Jane Pitman conjures up allusions to both The
Odyssey and Huckleberry Finn. 710L
Informational Text
Autobiography/Biography
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
After their parents' separation, young Marguerite and her brother, Bailey, are sent to live with their strong-willed
grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas, deep in the segregated South. Angelou also describes her time spent with her
other grandmother in St. Louis, as well as her young adulthood in San Francisco. The overall time period of the
book overlaps that of World War II. Angelou recalls vividly the authors who made an impact on her during her
childhood and young adulthood: James Weldon Johnson, Edgar Allan Poe, William Shakespeare, and others. 1070L
Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals
One of nine teenagers integrated into Little Rock’s Central High School in 1957, Beals recounts her traumatic year
in almost-tangible detail. Not only do readers become privy to the ugly harassment to which she was subjected, but
also the strength and dignity of being forced to grow up quickly. 1000L
Martin Luther King: Peaceful Warrior by Ed Clayton
When he was a young man, Martin Luther King wanted a career helping people. He felt that as a minister he could
speak out against racial injustice. Following the example of the Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. King chose
nonviolence as the keystone of his fight for civil rights. Dr. King became a leader of the civil rights movement. In
1955, he helped to organize the famous Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott. Freedom rides, sit-ins, and protest
marches strengthened the battle against discrimination. As a result of these, in 1964 the United States Congress
passed the historic Civil Rights Bill. Dr. King received world acclaim when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
1040L
Alice Walker by Stephanie Fitzgerald
Born in 1944 in the segregated South, Alice Walker grew up to be a leading voice for African Americans. A writer
and political activist, she addresses issues of race, gender, and violence in her novels, essays, poems, and stories.
Her 1983 novel, The Color Purple, won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, marking the first time an African-American
woman received that honor. 1050L
Jesse Owens by Jim Gigliotti
A biography of African-American runner Jesse Owens. 1040L
Madame Curie: A Biography by Eva Curie and Vincent Sheean
The book documents the story of Marie Curie, a native Pole who would seem out of place in France and--being a
woman in a more prejudiced historical moment and being a member of the scientific community in general.
Although this was the case, it did not stop her from becoming one of the most prolific and important scientists in the
realm of physics and chemistry. 1060L
We Beat the Street by Dr. Sampson Davis, Dr. George Jenkins, Dr. Rameck Hunt with
Sharon M. Draper
An account of three inner city boys who succeed in overcoming the odds, entering college and fulfilling their
dreams, We Beat the Street selects incidents from the lives of each of the three doctors in order to illustrate the
roadblocks they navigated and the truth that street life does not pay off in the end. The reader follows Sampson,
George and Rameck as they journey from first grade through medical school and watches them as they achieve their
goals in triumph. 860L
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
Douglass, who acts as both the narrator and the protagonist in his autobiography, charts his progression from an
uneducated, oppressed slave to a worldly, articulate political commentator. Douglass, a house slave, is taught to read
by his mistress, Miss Sophia Auld, who continues teaching Douglass even after it is forbidden by her husband.
Subsequently, two themes arise: ignorance as a tool for slavery and knowledge as a path to freedom. 1080L
Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang
Ji-Li Jiang, a distinguished student, is teased at school because of her family’s past. She watches in terror as her
favorite teachers are harassed at school, people’s homes are ransacked and her father is put in work detention.
During all of the turmoil, Ji-Li is forced to choose between her family and the honor she has worked so diligently to
achieve. Jiang recounts with clarity the story of her life being torn apart by the Cultural Revolution and its effects on
her own thoughts about Chinese Communism. 780L
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
Helen Keller’s extraordinary account of the struggles associated with overcoming the challenges of being deaf and
blind is commonly regarded as a masterpiece. Here, Keller narrates her deepest thoughts about her dark human life
and her difficult quest to claim a mind of her own. Inspiring! 1090L
Maya Angelou by L. Patricia Kite
An introduction to the life and career of American woman of letters Maya Angelou. 1060L
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
Krakauer investigates the fundamental causes of the day eight climbers were killed and several others were stranded
by a “rogue storm” while attempting to summit Mr. Everest. Readers are given new insight into not only Krakauer’s
ill-fated 1996 climb, but also into the pursuit of Everest, itself. The book includes over 250 photographs, the
majority of which were taken during the expedition by the climbers. 1320L
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
Set in China at the close of WWII, Adeline’s mother dies while giving birth to her. Her father then marries a
powerfully-rich, French-Chinese woman, who despises Mah (Adeline) and takes away everything dear to her.
Throughout the book, Adeline overcomes the hardships associated with her family’s ill-treatment of her. 960L
Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman
Art Spiegelman attempts to graphically recount the story of his father Vladek’s life as a Jew in Nazi-occupied
Poland. The novel is one of both memory and interpretation. Spiegelman figuratively supplements his historical
rendering in two ways: through the depiction of different races as animals and the insertion of himself as a character
into the story. NP
Maus II: A Survivor’s Tale: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman
The second installment picks up where the first part ended. Things are not going well at home. Artie continues his
interviews with Pavel and gains more perspective on how Vladek survived Auschwitz. During this father-son
moment, we are reminded of the impact of historical tragedy. NP
Black Boy by Richard Wright
Richard Wright grew up in Mississippi at the turn of the nineteenth century. Though most of the book concentrates
on what he endured during his troubled childhood, Wright also provides a sobering account of the discrimination he
endured while working in the South, bringing home the dehumanization brought about by Jim Crow. 950L
Memoir
Unafraid of the Dark by Rosemary L. Bray
In her deeply affecting, vividly written memoir, Rosemary L. Bray describes with remarkable frankness growing up
poor in Chicago in the 1960s, and her childhood shaped by welfare, the Roman Catholic Church, and the civil rights
movement. Bray writes poignantly of her lasting dread of the cold and the dark that characterized her years of
poverty; of her mother's extraordinary strength and resourcefulness; and of the system that miraculously enabled her
mother to scrape together enough to keep the children fed and clothed. Bray's parents, held together by their
ambitions for their children and painfully divided by their poverty, punctuate young Rosemary's nights with their
violent fights and define her days with their struggles. This powerful, ultimately inspiring book is a moving
testimony of the history Bray overcame, and the racial obstacles she continues to see in her children's way. 1050L
Having Our Say -- The Delaney Sisters’ First 100 Years by Sarah and Elizabeth Delaney
with Amy Hill Hearth
These two extraordinary women tell their story about how their family survived through segregation and racism in
the South. Sadie and Bessie encountered racism early in their lives while the Jim Crow laws were in play.
Throughout the South, it was required that blacks and whites were separated and had their own facilities. Even with
all the obstacles, all of the Delaney children go to college to become teachers or other professions that deal with
helping others. 890L
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
As the book opens, we find Herriot (a veterinarian in England just after WWII) arriving in Yorkshire to assist
Siegfried Farnon. Herriot retraces his experiences in becoming accustomed to Siegfried, but also his younger
brother, Tristan, and all of the farmers who make their living in Yorkshire Dales. As if this isn’t idyllic enough,
James will fall in love. 990L
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
Persepolis is the story of one girl’s experience during the fall of the Shah of Iran, the ensuing Islamic Revolution,
and war with Iraq. Only it's not told in plain text, but rather is pictured in comic book style. The pictures in
Persepolis, coupled with Marjane's rich historical account, compounds and achieves emotional critical mass. 380L
Night by Elie Wiesel
Wiesel’s work hedges so close to the truths of those who were prisoners of the Holocaust, it is commonly treated as
autobiographical. Recounting a teenager’s guilt at having survived the genocide that consumed his family, Wiesel’s
1960 memoir still reminds us that there was a dangerous precedent set for the continuing systematic mistreatment of
others. 590L
The Lost Garden by Laurence Yep
Laurence thought of himself as American, especially since he didn’t speak Chinese and couldn’t understand his
grandmother, who lived in Chinatown. But others saw him as different in the conformist America of the 1950s. In
this engaging memoir, the author tells how writing helped him start to solve the puzzle. 1110L
Survival/Coming of Age
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a semi-autobiographical tale by Sherman Alexie, written for
teen readers, that is both heartbreaking and jubilant. It is the story of Arnold, who has survived a precarious infancy
and is growing up on a reservation outside Spokane. It is the powerful story of friendship between two teenage boys
who have grown up together on the reservation. It is also the story of Arnold's journey, after he is persuaded by the
math teacher to escape the “rez school” and transfer to a high school twenty-two miles away. 600L
Nonfiction
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Alexander Brown
This 1970 text serves as a challenge to the commonly-held view of pioneers’ westward advancement. Beginning
with the Long Walk of the Navajos in 1860 and culminating thirty years later with the massacre of Sioux men,
women, and children at Wounded Knee, it tells how American Indians lost their land and lives to an expanding
white society. The text is supplemented by multiple period photos. 1080L
Come All You Brave Soldiers by Clinton Cox
Over 5,000 African-American men, some slaves, some free, enlisted in the Continental Army during the American
Revolution. These men risked their lives to help gain freedom for a country that enslaved and oppressed them and
their brothers and sisters. In his meticulously researched and riveting account, Clinton Cox tells one of the most
remarkable and moving stories in American history. 1270L
Hiroshima by John Hersey
First-hand accounts from the people who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. 1190L
Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy
The inspiring true accounts of eight unsung heroic acts by American patriots at different times throughout our
nation’s history, Kennedy’s book became an instant classic and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. 1410L
Self-Help/Advice
The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Teens by Sean Covey
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens speaks directly to teens, using language and real-life scenarios of
particular interest to teens. By engaging this audience on their level and without being condescending, Sean Covey
addresses the issues that concern young people: relationships, peers, parents, school choices, life choices, and
monumental matters about the future — giving them hope, direction and specific skills to craft extraordinary lives.
870L
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul by Kimberly Kirberger, Jack Canfield, and Mark Victor
Hansen
This popular collection shares anecdotes about friendship, family life, love, kindness, success, learning, and
ambition. 930L
Stay Strong by Terrie Williams
As the head of her own public relations firm, Terrie Williams has worked with some of the biggest names in
entertainment, like Chris Rock, Janet Jackson and Wesley Snipes. Here, she tells the amazing story of her career and
shares the secrets of her success — the same secrets she shares with the stars. 890L
11‐CCR Grade Band
Grades 11/12
Literary Text
Classic Fiction
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
In one of the most universally loved and admired English novels, a country squire of no great means must marry off
his five vivacious daughters. Jane Austen's art transformed this effervescent tale of rural romance into a witty,
shrewdly observed satire of English country life. 1100L
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Orphaned in childhood and despised by the cruel aunt who is her only known relative, Jane Eyre has no one but
herself to trust. Unaided by money, family, or beauty, Jane relies on her intelligence and integrity to help her
survive. After Jane secures a position as governess in mysterious, beautiful Thornfield mansion, she becomes deeply
enmeshed with her moody employer, Mr. Rochester. But Rochester guards a dark and terrible secret — a secret that
will force Jane to choose between the principles that define her and the only love she has ever known. 890L
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Told by a young black man, this is a novel about finding your identity instead of relying on others to define you. The
novel begins with the narrator getting a scholarship to attend a Southern Negro college; then he gets expelled. The
narrator moves north to New York City, where he becomes a factory worker and then a spokesman for a social
activist group. In every situation, he is used—not accepted. This realization causes him to question his existence. In
a larger sense, this is a book about race in America, i.e. what it means to be black in America. 950L
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
The members of the poverty-stricken Bundren family spend the entire novel on a journey to bury Addie, the mother
of the family, in her hometown. The journey is impeded by obstacles (a rotting corpse, a son going insane, a
daughter trying to get an abortion, etc.); and along the way readers learn about the past, present, and future of the
Bundrens through Faulkner’s use of multiple viewpoints. 870L
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Jay Gatsby meets Daisy Buchanan before the novel opens. She is rich; he is poor. They fall in love, but while
Gatsby fights in WWI, Daisy marries the rich Tom Buchanan. After the war, Gatsby becomes a self-made
millionaire, possibly through illegal means, and throws lavish parties waiting to run into Daisy. When they do meet
again, tragedy ensues. 1070L
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
This play is about a few weeks in the life of the Youngers, an African American family living on the South Side of
Chicago in the 1950s. The family clashes over how to spend $10,000 dollars they receive from the deceased Mr.
Younger's life insurance policy. Their ideas for the money range from buying a house and paying for medical
school, to investing in a liquor store. The family ends up realizing that getting ahead takes more than money. NP
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
The main character, an African-American woman in her early forties named Janie Crawford, tells the story of her
three marriages to her friend Phoeby. Her first marriage is to Logan Killicks, an older man and farmer. Janie is
mainly his domestic helper rather than a lover or partner. Janie’s second marriage happens when she runs off with
Jody (Joe) Starks, who takes her to the first all black community in the U.S., Eatonville, Fla. To Joe, Janie is a
trophy wife. After Starks passes away, Janie finds herself financially independent and falls in love with a drifter and
gambler named Tea Cake with whom she leaves town. Later, she is tried for his murder. 1080L
Volpone by Ben Jonson
This play has many characters pretending to be something they are not. The title character, Volpone, a Venetian
gentleman, begins by pretending to be on his deathbed after a long illness in order to dupe those who aspire to his
fortune. Mosca, his assistant, helps with the pretense and they all end up in court. However, this does not stop their
schemes; they continue until Volpone turns on Mosca. NP
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Namesake takes the Ganguli family from their tradition-bound life in Calcutta through their transformation into
Americans. On the heels of their arranged wedding, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli settle together in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. An engineer by training, Ashoke adapts far less warily than his wife, who resists all things American
and pines for her family. When their son is born, the task of naming him betrays the vexed results of bringing old
ways to the new world. Named for a Russian writer by his Indian parents in memory of a catastrophe years before,
Gogol Ganguli knows only that he suffers the burden of his heritage as well as his odd, antic name. 1210L
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
This 1949 play centers on a traveling salesman, Willy Loman, and his family. His patient and loving wife, Linda,
has recently found evidence that Willy has tried to commit suicide and knows that he purposefully has crashed his
car many times. His two grown sons, Biff and Happy, know about their father’s suicide attempts and his extramarital
affair. Willy spends much of the play in imaginary conversations with his millionaire brother contemplating why he
can't become materially successful. Willy dreams of the American Dream of material success, but cannot attain
it and therefore feels like a failure. NP
The Human Comedy by William Saroyan
With many allusions to Homer’s Odyssey, this is a novel about Homer Macauley, a 14-year-old boy growing up
fatherless in California. To make money for the family, he takes a job as a telegraph boy and sometimes he has to
deliver the news to a family that a son has died in World War II. Despite having to grow up too soon, Homer
remains honest and hopeful. 760L
The Tragedy of Hamlet by William Shakespeare
The play is about how Prince Hamlet of Denmark gets revenge on his Uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's
father and married Hamlet’s mother. NP
Informational Text
Autobiography/Biography
The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou
This autobiographical work takes us through one of the most exciting and formative periods of Angelou's amazing
life: her beginnings as a writer and a political activist in New York. She has encounters with everyone from Billie
Holiday to James Earl Jones to Malcolm X and learns from them. 870L
Forgotten Americans by Willard Sterne Randall and Nancy Nahra
This entertaining book shines a light on overlooked figures. Traditional histories have often neglected these people
for many reasons. Some were on the losing side of a conflict (Tecumeseh), some worked behind the scenes (Annie
Turner Wittenmyer), and some because their actions now seem unsavory (Tom Quick). 1280L
Desert Exile by Yoshiko Uchida
Autobiographical account of the internment of the Japanese American authors’ family in 1942. 1280L
Memoir
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
The memoir part of this book gives King’s memories of the events that inspired his novels. The other parts of the
book give advice on honing the writing craft including a section over mechanics, vocabulary, grammar, etc. 1110L
Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts by Maxine Hong Kingston
Divided into five interwoven stories, this memoir is about growing up Chinese American in Stockton, California.
The author describes two worlds: "solid America," the place her parents emigrated to and became owners of a
laundromat, and the China of her mother's "talk-stories” where women were warriors and her mother was a doctor
who could cure the sick and scare away ghosts. In China, a ghost is a supernatural being; in America it is anyone
who is not Chinese. 880L
Farewell to Manzanar: A True Story of Japanese American Experience During and After World
War II Internment by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James Houston.
This memoir explores a young girl’s trials of living in a Japanese internment camp. After she is freed and permitted
to go home, she explains the prejudice she experiences while trying to readjust to life in an American high school.
While getting involved in school, she abandons her Japanese heritage, a decision she later regrets making. 1040L
When I Was a Soldier: A Memoir by Valerie Zenatti
What is it like to be a young woman in a war? At a time when Israel is in the news every day and politics in the
Middle East are as complex as ever before, this story of one girl’s experience in the Israeli National Army is both
topical and fascinating. 940L
Nonfiction
Black Women Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement by Zita Allen
Informational text based on personal interviews in many cases. 1310L
Working-Class War by Christian G. Appy
Working-Class War explores the experience and attitudes of the 2.5 million American enlisted men who served in
Vietnam, painting a compelling portrait of the war as it was lived by the troops who fought it. 1280L
Girls: A History of Growing Up Female in America by Penny Colman
This book traces the spirited history of growing up female in America from the perspective of the girls themselves.
There are stories from the wilderness and the cities, from the fields and the factories, told by girls of different races,
ethnicities, religions, and classes, by girls with heartaches and girls with dreams. 1020L
Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois
“The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line.” Thus speaks W.E.B. DuBois in The Souls of
Black Folk, one of the most prophetic and influential works in American literature. In this collection of essays, first
published in 1903, DuBois dares to describe the magnitude of American racism and demand an end to it. He draws
on his own life for illustration. The Souls of Black Folk both anticipated and inspired much of the black
consciousness and activism of the 1960s and is a classic in the literature of civil rights. 1280L
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
In 1999 and 2000, Ehrenreich, a privileged and articulate writer, experienced life in America making minimum
wage when she attempted to live as an "unskilled," working-class person. She worked as a waitress, a cleaning lady,
a nursing home aide, and a Wal-Mart employee. Transportation costs and high rents forced her to learn the tricks of
the trade from her co-workers, who exemplify the pitfalls of the working class. 1340L
Women of the West by Dorothy Gray and Paula M. Marks
The independent-minded western woman was often eclipsed in popular literature by sensations like Calamity Jane
and Belle Starr. Dorothy Gray looks at the actual lives of women who made their own way out west: Sacajawea,
Narcissa Whitman, Esther Morris and Carries Chapman Catt, Susette “Bright Eyes” La Flesche, Willa Cather, Ann
Eliza Young, Bethenia Owens-Adair and Anna Howard Shaw, Agnes Morley Cleaveland, Mary “Yellin” Lease,
Biddy Mason, and Donaldina Cameron. 1280L
Wall Street by Charles R. Geisst
How did a small, concentrated pocket of lower Manhattan come to have such enormous influence in national and
world affairs? Economic historian Charles Geisst answers this question as he provides the first history of Wall
Street, ranging from the loose association of traders meeting on New York sidewalks and coffee houses in the late
18th century, to the modern billion-dollar computer-driven colossus of today. 1280L
Andy Warhol, Prince of Pop by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
The name Andy Warhol is synonymous with the 1960s American art movement known as Pop. Warhol’s rise, from
poverty to wealth, from obscurity to status as a Pop icon, is an absorbing tale—one in which the American dream of
fame and fortune is played out in all of its success and its excess. 1120L
Historic Speeches of African-Americans by Warren J. Halliburton
A fascinating collection of speeches by great African Americans including James Forten, Sr., Sojourner Truth,
Blanche Bruce, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Shirley Chisholm,
Barbara Jordan, Jesse Jackson, and many more. Each speech is introduced with a brief biographical note about the
speaker. 1300L
Black, Blue and Gray by Jim Haskins
An historical account of the role of African-American soldiers in the Civil War. 1280L
Chicana Creativity and Criticism by Maria Herrera-Sobek
Poetry, art, and criticism by major Chicana writers and artists. 1280L
Harlem Stomp! by Laban Carrick Hill
A historical exploration and a lively celebration of the Harlem Renaissance, and the first trade book in the market on
this subject for young adults. 1270L
Black Indians by William Loren Katz
Katz explores the little-told history of people with dual African and Native American ancestry or African Americans
who lived primarily with Native Americans. Using fascinating biographies and detailed research, he creates a
chronology of this hidden heritage during the settlement of the American West. 1130L
Black Pioneers by William Loren Katz
This book traces the experiences of African-American pioneers who settled in the Midwest. From Ohio to Kansas,
the challenges, support, and racism encountered by people including Dred Scott and Sarah Jane Woodson are
explored. 1170L
Of Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez
Originally published in 1978, this special edition of the National Book award finalist includes an entirely new
afterward in which the author considers the current state of knowledge about wolves and recent efforts to
reintroduce wolves to their former habitats in American wilderness areas. 1280L
ESPN Sports Century by Michael Mac Cambridge, Chris Berman, and David Halberstam
ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, has combined its considerable resources with the talents of some of sports’
most renowned authors, academics, commentators, and observers to create this memorable chronicle of sports in our
century. ESPN Sports Century is a fitting tribute to the greatest athletes, best teams, biggest games, and most
unforgettable moments, which have enthralled us while also influencing our political, social, and cultural
development as a nation. 1280L
Left for Dead by Pete Nelson
Just after midnight on July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. The ship sank
in 14 minutes. More than 1,000 men were thrown into shark-infested waters. The United States Navy did not even
know they were missing. The Navy needed a scapegoat for this disaster. So it court-martialed the captain for
“hazarding” his ship. The survivors knew their captain was not to blame. For 50 years they worked to clear his
name, even after his untimely death. But the Navy would not budge—until an 11-year-old boy named Hunter Scott
entered the picture. His history fair project on the Indianapolis soon became a crusade to restore the captain’s good
name and the honor of the men who served under him. 1260L
Shakespeare Alive! by Joseph Papp and Elizabeth Kirkland
From Joseph Papp, America’s foremost theatre producer, and writer Elizabeth Kirkland: a captivating tour through
the world of Shakespeare. Open the book and elbow your way into the Globe with the groundlings. You’ll be
joining one of the most democratic audiences the theatre has ever known—alewives, apprentices, shoemakers and
nobles—in applauding the dazzling wordplay and swordplay brought to you by William Shakespeare. 1280L
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Schlosser gives the history of the development of American fast food and brings to light some shocking behind-thescenes facts about the products we eat there. He finds that little is being done to make the food safe and to help the
American diet. 1240L
The History of Rock and Roll by David Shirley
This entertaining book tells the real story of rock and roll from its beginnings to the present. It covers the trends,
stories, scandals, and personalities, and all the genres, including rockabilly, folk rock, blues rock, art rock, glare
rock, heavy metal, disco, funk, punk, new wave, rap, and grunge. 1410L
I Am an American: A True Story of Japanese Internment by Jerry Stanley
The true story of a Japanese man sent to an internment camp by the U.S. government because of his Japanese
ancestry. 1180L
Baseball by Mark Stewart
The perfect resource for sports, this book includes extensive statistics and ideas for further reference. 1250L
A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League
by Ron Suskind
Cedric Jennings is the illegitimate son of a drug dealer and an underpaid working mother. As a talented black
teenager struggling to succeed in one of the worst public high schools in Washington, D.C., Cedric draws upon
many sources of inspiration (church, teachers, music, math) to stay true to his goal of getting into a superior college.
Despite many setbacks, he graduates from high school and attends Brown University. 1080L
Self-Help/Advice
Cool Careers Without College for People Who Love to Organize, Manage, and Plan by Robert
Greenberger
The author makes suggestions for interesting, rewarding careers that do not require a college diploma. 1280L
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul by Kimberly Kirberger, Jack Canfield, and Mark Victor
Hansen
This popular collection shares anecdotes about friendship, family life, love, kindness, success, learning, and
ambition. 930L