Theme 1
A
Day No Pigs Would Die
by
Robert Newton Peck
A boy in rural Vermont, whose father slaughters pigs, develops
a new understanding of family and home.
Tree
by Leaf
by
Cynthia Voigt
Clothilde's family problems are multiplied when her father
returns from World War I alive, but disfigured and depressed.
Walker
of Time
by
Helen Hughes Vick
A fifteen-year-old Hopi boy and his funny, sympathetic Anglo
friend travel seven hundred years back in time. Here they
help a dying civilization to begin the move to a new home.
Missing
May
by
Cynthia Rylant
Summer has had many homes, but when she joins her aunt and
uncle, she is welcomed and shares in their deep love for one
another. When Aunt May dies, Summer and Uncle Ob must come
to terms with their loss.
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Theme
2
Cezanne
Pinto
by
Mary Stolz
In this fictional memoir, an elderly man tells his story of
being born into slavery, escaping to freedom, serving in the
Civil War, and becoming a cowboy in Texas. As he nears his
ninetieth birthday, Cezanne Pinto remembers his lifelong struggle
for freedom and the friends who helped him along the way.
Far
North
by
Will Hobbs
Fifteen-year-old Gabe must rely on another teenager and an
elderly Native American hunter after their plane crashes in
the frozen Canadian wilderness. As they struggle to survive,
Gabe develops a new appreciation for the world of the Far
North and its inhabitants.
Timothy
of the Cay
by
Theodore Taylor
This follow-up to the acclaimed novel The Cay traces
the life of Timothy, who goes to sea as a boy and grows up
to command a ship. It also tells of Philip, who hopes to regain
his sights after being blinded in a shipwreck and rescued
by Timothy.
Walk
Two Moons
by
Sharon Creech
What do you do when you need your mother, and your grandparents
need you? In this story, thirteen-year-old Sal and
her grandparents set out on a long drive to find Sal's missing
mother and solve both problems. Along with a serious theme,
there is humor in their search.
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Theme
3
Shabanu:
Daughter of the Wind
by
Suzanne Fisher Staples
Shabanu is part of a family of nomads in Pakistan. She loves
her life, but when she is faced with marriage to a man chosen
for her, she tries to run away. The difficult life of the
herders in a barren land is depicted realistically.
The
Rain Catchers
by
Jean Thesman
Growing up in a house if strong, funny, creative women, fourteen-year-old
Grayling discovers the power of telling stories. She also
learns how to make decisions of her own.
American
Dragons: Twenty-Five Asian American Voices
edited
by Laurence Yep
The stories in this collection are grouped by such themes
as the relationships between generations, experiences of World
War II, and the need to question who we are and where we go
from here.
Banner
in the Sky
by
James Ramsey Ullman
When Rudi's father dies in an attempt to scale a mountain
in the Alps, Rudi decides that he must conquer the peak that
killed his father. The author, and experienced climber, adds
detailed information to a tense tale of courage and determination.
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Theme
4
When
the Legends Die
by
Hal Borland
Left alone in the wilderness when his parents die, Thomas
Black Bull uses the survival skills his mother has taught
him. He eventually learns how to make his way in the world,
facing mischief as well as suffering.
A
String in the Harp
by
Nancy Bond
When Peter Morgan finds an ancient harp key, he enters a frightening
world, moving between two historical periods and between the
practical and the magical. Peter and his sisters much find
the source of the mischief as they are threatened by the key,
the past, and modern laws.
Nothing
But the Truth: A Documentary Novel
by
Avi
Philip Malloy discovers how a single act of mischief can change
his life and the lives of innocent people. Told through written
announcements, journal entries, and newspaper articles—the
story shows how lies and mistakes can pile up until few really
know the truth.
The
Thirteen Clocks
by
James Thurber
This funny tale of mischief combines unusual language, a fantastic
plot, and an intriguing cast of characters, including a princess
and an evil duke.
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Theme
5
Across
Five Aprils
by
Irene Hunt
Jethrow Creighton fights for freedom in his own way as he
is left with the responsibility of maintaining his family's
farm when the men and older boys join the army.
Out
of the Dust
by
Karen Hesse
Fourteen-year-old Billie Jo lost her mother in an accident
for which Billie Jo blames her father and herself. In her
journal, she records her life in the Oklahoma dust bowl during
the Great Depression.
Laborers
for Liberty: American Women 1865–1890
by
Harriet Sigerman
This is the story of American women from New England to New
Mexico as they meet new freedoms and challenges, new work
opportunities and falling barriers.
I
Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly: The Diary of Patsy, a
Freed Girl
by
Joyce Hansen
In this fictional account, Patsy keeps a diary of her life
during the important year of 1865, as slavery ends and the
South adjusts to new circumstances.
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Theme
6
The
Glory Field
by
Walter Dean Myers
This is a story of the Lewis family, beginning in their African
homeland and ending in contemporary America. Throughout the
decades, they manage to maintain continuous ownership of a
piece of land, the Glory Field. The author focuses on a strong
teenage character in each generation as he tells their story.
SOS
Titanic
by
Eve Bunting
A the Titanic sinks, Irish immigrants trapped in cabins
below deck awaken to new values and extend help to old enemies,
as well as to family members.
Parrot
in the Oven: mi vida
by
Victor Martinez
Manny Hernandez is fourteen, and his father has him convinced
that he is "just a penny"—not worth much. One way to
be worth a lot is to be a part of a gang, and Manny must decide.
Lupita
Mañana
by
Patricia Beatty
Lupita Torres is thirteen when she and her older brother enter
the United States to find work and support their widowed mother
and younger siblings. The two must weigh the need to find
jobs with the dangers and difficulties of crossing a border
illegally.
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Theme
7
Number
the Stars
by
Lois Lowry
Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen live in
Copenhagen, Denmark, a city of shortages and Nazi soldiers.
When the Germans begin to "relocate" Copenhagen's Jews in
1943, Ellen moves in with Annemarie's family. Soon Annemarie
must risk her own life to save her friend.
After
the War
by
Carol Matas
Ruth is fifteen when she is freed from a Nazi concentration
camp and fears that she is the only surviving member of her
family. She joins an underground organization to make a dangerous
and illegal journey to Palestine. Along the way, she rediscovers
her inner strength and finds reasons for hope.
The
Island on Bird Street
by
Uri Orlev
A Jewish boy, left on his own for months during World War
II, learns to survive in a ruined house in the Warsaw Ghetto
of Poland. He learns how to find food, contact others, and
live amid constant danger.
I
Am Fifteen - and I Don't Want to Die
by
Christine Arnothy
The autobiography of Christine Arnothy focuses on one terrifying
year during World War II when the author's family hid in the
cellars of Budapest as German and Russian armies battled for
control of Hungary.
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Theme
8
The
House of Dies Drear
by
Virginia Hamilton
The house is old, huge, and guarded by a cross caretaker.
In addition, there are supposed to be a buried treasure and
a ghost. Thomas and his family discover the history of the
house and of their own ancestors as they explore the building's
connection with the Underground Railroad.
Companions
of the Night
by
Vivian Vande Velde
Sixteen-year-old Kerry is always sensitive to her little brother
Ian's tears. As a result, she agrees to make a scary late-night
trip to the laundromat to recover Ian's stuffed bear. At the
laundromat, Kerry's scary adventure begins.
Redwall
by
Brian Jacques
The creatures living at Redwall Abbey are a peaceful group
until the king of vermin declares war against them. Matthias,
an apprentice mouse, sets out to find a magic sword that can
save Redwall. This is the first book in a series of more than
ten tales of quests and fights between good and evil.
Foundation
by
Isaac Asimov
This book is the first in a series of books that combine science
and technology with human strengths and weaknesses. Characters
must struggle to achieve their dreams in this classic science
fiction novel.
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