Seventh Grade Reading List Annotations 2008-2009

House of the Scorpion 
Matteo Alacran is a feudal drug lord in the country of Opium, which lies between the United States and Aztlan, formerly Mexico. All menial tasks are done by "eejits," humans in whose brains computer chips have been installed to insure docility. Alacran, or El Patron, has lived 140 years with the help of transplants from a series of clones, a common practice among rich men in this world. The intelligence of clones is usually destroyed at birth, but Matt, the latest of Alacran's doubles, has been spared simply because he belongs to El Patron. Gradually Matt realizes the fate that is in store for him, and with the help of Tam Lin, his bluff and kind Scottish bodyguard, he escapes to Aztlan. There he and other "lost children" are trapped in a more subtle kind of slavery before Matt can return to Opium to take his rightful place and transform his country.

Something for Joey
This is a true story of courage and love between two brothers. In 1973, while John Cappelletti was winning the Heisman Trophy as the outstanding college football player in America, his younger brother Joey was suffering from leukemia.

Tangerine
So what if he's legally blind? Even with his bottle-thick, bug-eyed glasses, Paul Fisher can see better than most people. He can see the lies his parents and brother live out, day after day. No one ever listens to Paul, though--until the family moves to Tangerine. In Tangerine, even a blind, geeky, alien freak can become cool. Who knows?

When Legends Die
When his father killed another brave, Thomas Black Bull and his parents sought refuge in the wilderness. There they took up life as it had been in the old days. But an accident claimed the father's life and the grieving mother died shortly afterward. Left alone, the young Indian boy vowed never to return to the white man's world, to the alien laws that had condemned his father.

Home Before Dark
Stella, a fourteen-year-old migrant worker, is looking for some roots to hold onto.  Stella's father, James Earl, decides to return to the family farm. Finally Stella has a place she can call home, somewhere she can explore all the exciting things going on in her life, like boys and friends.  But Stella's mother dies, and after a while, James Earl decides to marry again. Stella does not want to move again, after finally getting some roots established.

I am the Cheese
Imagine discovering that your whole life has been a fiction, your identity altered, and a new family history created. Suddenly nothing is as it once seemed; you can trust no one, maybe not even yourself. It is exactly this revelation that turns 14-year-old Adam Farmer's life upside down. As he tries to ascertain who he really is, Adam encounters a past, present, and future too horrible to contemplate. Suspense builds as the fragments of the story are assembled--a missing father, government corruption, espionage--until the shocking conclusion shatters the fragile mosaic.

Walk Two Moons (or any other)
13-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle travels west with her Grams and Gramps to Lewiston, Idaho, in order to find her missing mother. Sal's search for the truth about her mother becomes a journey of discovery about much more.

Slave Dancer
Snatched from the docks of New Orleans, thirteen-year-old Jessie is thrown aboard a slave ship where he must play his fife so that captured slaves will "dance," to keep their muscles strong and their bodies profitable for their owners' use.

Hiroshima
John Hersey recorded the stories of Hiroshima residents shortly after the explosion of the atom bomb there in 1945. The words of Miss Sasaki, Dr. Fujii, Mrs. Nakamara, Father Kleinsorg, Dr. Sasaki, and the Reverend Tanimoto create an unforgettable picture of what nuclear war is like.

Stormbreaker: An Alex Rider Adventure
Alex Rider is the 14-year-old hero of British author Horowitz's series of spy thrillers. In the first book, Stormbreaker, Alex discovers after the mysterious death of his uncle Ian that his uncle was not the bank vice-president he purported to be, but rather a spy for the British government. Now the government wants Alex to take over his uncle's mission: investigating Sayle Enterprises, the makers of a revolutionary computer called Stormbreaker.  Posing as a teenage computer whiz who has won a Stormbreaker promotional contest, Alex enters the factory and immediately finds clues from his uncle.

Farewell to Manzanar
During World War II a camp called Manzanar was created to house thousands of Japanese American internees. The Wakatsukis were ordered to leave their fishing business in Long Beach and take with them only the belongings they could carry.  Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston recalls life at Manzanar through the eyes of the seven-year-old child she was. She tells of her fear, confusion, and bewilderment as well as the dignity and great resourcefulness of people in oppressive and demeaning circumstances.

Across Five Aprils
During the Civil War, Jethro has to grow up fast.  He also has to consider both sides of the war, since he has family members in both armies.

Up a Road Slowly
Bright, sensitive, and a bit of a rebel, Julie faces the tough challenges of growing up smart and female. During her childhood, Julie learns bittersweet lessons in heartbreak and compassion and justice and love as only as children do. As idyllic as her country life seems, there is prejudice, meanness, and smallness of human spirit in all corners of the world.

Gentlehands
When a newspaper story claims that Buddy Boyle's grandfather is a former Nazi, the ensuing chaos threatens the boy's familial ties and a romantic relationship.

Wizard of Earthsea (any in series)
A reckless, awkward boy named Sparrowhawk becomes a wizard's apprentice. The boy comes to realize that his fate may be far more important than he ever dreamed possible. Great challenges await Sparrowhawk, including an almost deadly battle with a sinister creature, a monster that may be his own shadow.

Arms of the Starfish
Adam Eddington, a gifted marine biology student reports to his summer job on an island off Portugal.  Here Adam finds himself at the center of a deadly power struggle between his boss, the renowned scientist Dr. O'Keefe, and another group of Americans. As the danger escalates, Adam must make a decision that could affect the entire world--which side is he on?

Call of the Wild
During the Klondike gold rush of the 1890s, Buck, a big dog used to a comfortable life as a family pet, is stolen and sold in Alaska as a sled dog. In a climate where every day is a savage struggle for survival, the last traces of Buck's pampered existence are erased as his dormant primordial urges are awakened.

A Night to Remember
The story of the Titanic is told by several characters.  The author interviewed scores of surviving Titanic passengers, to fashion a gripping you-are-there account of the ship's sinking.

Anne of Green Gables (or any other)
The Cuthberts had decided to adopt an orphan. They wanted a sturdy boy to help with the chores. But the orphanage sent a girl instead - an impetuous, talkative redhead! But the longer Anne stayed, the harder it was for anyone to imagine life without her in the small Canadian town of Avonlea.

Never Cry Wolf
The Canadian Wildlife Service assigned the naturalist Farley Mowat to investigate why wolves were killing arctic caribou. This is his account of the summer he lived in the frozen tundra alone-studying the wolf population and developing a deep affection for the wolves.

Of Nightingales that Weep
Takiko, whose samurai father was killed in battle, is unhappy when her mother remarries an ugly potter. To get away from her miserable home, Takiko accepts a position at the imperial Japanese court. There, her beauty and nightingale voice captivate the handsome young warrior, Hideo -- who also turns out to be an enemy spy. As war breaks out, Takiko flees the court and is forced to choose between loyalty to her people and her love for Hideo.

A Day No Pigs Would Die
A Vermont farm boy raised in the Shaker Way must take on the duties of a man at age 13, because his father is dying.

Shades of Gray
The Civil War has left 12-year-old Will Page an orphan, and he is sent to his mother's relatives in the country in Virginia. Prepared to hate his uncle, a "coward" who refused to fight for either side, Will slowly comes to respect the man's position.

The Last Silk Dress
Susan, 14, of Richmond, helps the Southern cause during the Civil War by sewing and nursing the wounded.  After collecting silk dresses from ladies and prostitutes alike to be patched together for a reconnaissance balloon, Susan's view of the war changes; through her charismatic brother Lucien, she begins to see how slavery (and adultery) has undermined and all but destroyed her family.  She is forced to rethink and challenge the very system she was born into.  Does she have the courage to do what is right even though it may hurt the ones she loves?

The Moon is Down
Originally published during WWII, this book explores the effects of invasion on conquered and conquerors alike.  A small, peaceable town is occupied by enemy troops, and conmes face-to-face with evil imposed from the outside as well as betrayal from within the close-knit community.

The Hostage
Jamie Tidd and his father capture a giant killer whale, and learn that a marine park in California has offered $100,000 for just such a whale. Jamie's family could really use the money. But Jamie grows to admire the whale and he can't help wondering if it is right to keep the big mammal in captivity even if his family needs the money.

Jackaroo
There is much poverty in the kingdom and tales of Jackaroo, the legendary masked outlaw who helps the poor in times of trouble, are on everyone's lips. When Gwyn, the high-spirited daughter of the innkeeper, finds a disguise she believes to be that of Jackaroo, she decides to use it to help those less fortunate. But she learns that playing a hero isn’t as simple as she thought.

The Sword and the Stone
Young “Wart” slowly learns the code of being a gentleman. His remarkable old tutor, Merlin, even transforms him into various animals, so that he may experience life from all points of view. In every conceivable and exciting way he is readied for the day when he is destined to draw forth the marvelous sword from the magic stone and become the rightful King of England.

Pigman
John and Lorraine both come from constricting, unhappy homes. Unusual circumstances introduce them to a lonely old man with an awful secret. An intense friendship results, and together the three create a private world out of their zaniness and laughter. But the very energy which built this world soon works to destroy it, and John and Lorraine are left to deal with the results.

The Pigman’s Legacy
Mr. Pignati has been dead for four months when John and Lorraine visit his empty house-and discover an old man on the run from the tax collector. Convinced he's a sign from beyond the grave, John and Lorraine decide they've been given a chance to make up for what happened to their friend. Suddenly they're deep in another zany adventure with a surprising old man.

Eighth Grade Reading List Annotations 2008-2009

Arabian Nights
These are the tales that saved the life of Shahrazad, whose husband, the king, executed each of his wives after a single night of marriage. Beginning an enchanting story each evening, Shahrazad always withheld the ending: A thousand and one nights later, her life was spared forever.

More Than Meets the Eye
Liz Gaynor, 15, is delighted that her friendship with fellow classmate Ben Lee has taken a romantic turn. Liz's parents, however, are concerned--not only because Ben is Chinese, but he's also Liz's main competitor for a scholarship.  The book addresses prejudice, interracial dating, and cultural differences.

The Good Earth
Set among peasants in China in the 1920s, the story shows the life of Wang Lung, from his beginnings as an impoverished peasant to his eventual position as a prosperous landowner. He is aided immeasurably by his equally humble wife, O-Lan, with whom he shares a devotion to the land, to duty, and to survival.

The Secret Garden
When orphaned Mary Lennox, lonely and sad, comes to live at her uncle's great house on the Yorkshire moors, she finds it dreary. Then, she meets Dickon, a magical boy who can charm and talk to animals.  Together they find a secret garden, walled and locked, which has been completely forgotten for years and years.  As Mary, her sickly cousin Colin, and Dickon replant it, the secret garden begins to restore their health and good spirits.

Ender’s Game
Intense is the word for Ender's Game. Aliens have attacked Earth twice and almost destroyed the human species. To make sure humans win the next encounter, the world government has taken to breeding military geniuses -- and then training them in the arts of war... The early training, not surprisingly, takes the form of 'games'... Ender Wiggin is a genius among geniuses; he wins all the games... He is smart enough to know that time is running out. But is he smart enough to save the planet?

Where the Lilies Bloom
Mary Call has promised her dying father to keep her brother and sisters together forever on the mountain, and never to take any help from strangers. She is determined to keep her word. No matter what. At first she is sure she can manage, but then winter comes.

Burning Up
When teenaged Macey Clare and her new love Austin begin to explore the mysterious fire of 1959 that burned down a barn for a school project, their families and neighbors become strangely evasive. But the pieces begin to fit together when Macey and Austin discover that long ago the barn had been turned into an apartment, the inhabitant of which was the first--and last--black high school teacher in Shell Beach. Why was the building burned down? And, more importantly, whose hand lit the match? As they dig deeper, Macey and Austin become more frightened of the truth--of answers that will rekindle fires of bigotry much too close to their own lives.

Catherine Called Birdie
The 14-year-old daughter of a rustic knight records the events of her days in the year 1290, writing perceptive, scathing, and often funny observations about her family, friends, and would-be suitors. Birdy is a delightful, rebellious heroine, determined not to marry the man of her father's choice.

Rebecca
Married life should be blissfully idyllic for the new Mrs. de Winter, but she finds herself entrapped by an overwhelming sense of gloom, overshadowed by the ghostly presence of Maxim's former wife, Rebecca.  Mrs. de Winter begins to suspect that there is more to Rebecca's supposedly accidental death than she has been led to believe.

On Wings of Eagles
Follett presents the factual account of Ross Perot's daring plot to rescue two of his corporate employees from an Iranian prison. The book gives a compelling picture of Iran just before the revolution that put Ayatollah Khomeini in power.

Any title by Dick Francis
Generally set in the world of English steeplechasing, Dick Francis’s books are fast-paced murder mysteries with exciting plot twists.
           
Waiting for the Rain
This novel shows the bonds of friendship under the strain of apartheid as two lifelong friends, Tengo and Frikkie, come of age amidst the tragedy of South Africa.

Dove
In 1965, 16-year-old Robin Lee Graham began a solo around-the-world voyage from San Pedro, California, in a 24-foot sloop. Five years and 33,000 miles later, he returned to home port with a wife and daughter and enough extraordinary experiences to fill this bestselling book, Dove.

Among the Hidden
Born third at a time when having more than two children per family is illegal and subject to seizure and punishment by the Population Police, Luke has spent all of his 12 years in hiding.  Gazing through an air vent at new homes, he spies a child's face at a window after the family of four has already left for the day. Is it possible that he is not the only hidden child? Answering this question brings Luke greater danger than he has ever faced before, but also greater possibilities for some kind of life outside of the attic.

Old Man and the Sea
Tells the story of an old Cuban fisherman, down on his luck, and his supreme ordeal -- a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream.

Hesse, Karen Phoenix Rising
Nyle Sumner, 13, and her grandmother, living on a Vermont sheep farm, are completely surrounded by the grotesque results of an accident at a nuclear-power plant. Because of the accident, Nyle's cousin Bethany has radiation poisoning. Then Gran does the unthinkable: she takes in two fugitives who were exposed to the worst of the radiation, Miriam Trent and her son, Ezra, who is also sick with the poisoning. They stay in the back bedroom, the room marked by the death of Nyle's mother and grandfather. Now it seems likely that it will be the place that Ezra dies too.  How can Nyle face another loss?

Jungle Book
The lost boy raised by wolves in the jungles of India, Mowgli learns the ways of the jungle from the wise old bear, Baloo, and the great black panther, Bagheera. He is befriended by the faithful wolf, Gray Brother, and is carried off by the crafty Monkey-People -- only to be rescued by the mighty python, Kaa. And through it all, Mowgli knows that he must someday face his sworn enemy: the ferocious man-hating tiger, Shere Khan.

Beyond the Divide
Tells the story of an Amish girl who heads west with her father after he has been shunned by their community.

The Contender
Struggling to live respectably in a rundown ghetto, Alfred Brooks defends himself against junkies, thieves, and gangs.

Lisa’s War
Lisa is 12 years old when the Nazis invade Denmark. Lisa and her family each join the resistance, doing their part for their country while trying to hide their activities from the others. Lisa starts with a small assignment of delivering some pamphlets (and finds that frightening enough), but by the end she is helping to organize a mass evacuation of Danish Jews to Sweden.

On the Beach
A novel about the survivors of an atomic war, who face an inevitable end as radiation poisoning moves toward Australia from the North.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Francie, the protagonist, grows up in the slums of Brooklyn during the early part of the twentieth century, and life treats her badly. Less favored in her dysfunctional family than her brother, forced to leave school early, maltreated by fate and by people--she plunges forward, indomitable, courageous.

Shabanu
Set against the backdrop of desert life in present-day Pakistan, this book offers a passionate and deeply personal portrait of a young girl's struggle for identity growing up among camel-dealing nomads in a culture that forbids even token expressions of independence by women.

Bridge to the Sun
The author, an American, married a Japanese diplomat in 1931. After Pearl Harbor she went with her daughter and husband to spend WWII in Japan, and recounts her experiences in this book.

Surviving the Applewhites
Jake Semple, 13, is on the fast track to the juvenile detention center when he suddenly finds himself living in rural North Carolina with the outrageously eccentric Applewhite clan. Jake has been expelled from a long line of schools before coming to the Applewhites to be homeschooled. This extended family forms what a visiting reporter christens an "artistic dynasty," with various creative endeavors absorbing the adults' time and attention. Jake is left largely to his own devices, since the family doesn't believe in telling their charges what or when to study. Can the Applewhites change Jake’s negativity, or will Jake prove to be too much for them?

The Hobbit (or any of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy)
The setting of these books is MiddleEarth, in the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger. There are men, Hobbits, trolls, goblins, dwarves, dragons, elves, and many other magical creatures.

Dicey's Song (or any other)
 The four Tillerman children finally have a home at their grandmother's rundown farm on the Maryland shore. It's what Dicey has dreamed of for her three younger siblings, but after watching over the others for so long, it's hard to let go. Who is Dicey, if she's no longer the caretaker for her family?

A Boat to Nowhere
In their isolated village in Vietnam, Mai and her family thought themselves safe from war. But when the conquerors arrived and brought an end to peace, a dangerous escape aboard a fishing boat would become their last chance for survival.

Ninth Grade Reading List Annotations 2008-2009

Little Women
This book presents the March family--spirited Jo, beautiful Meg, sensitive Beth, and romantic Amy--as they make their transition from girlhood to womanhood.

Pride and Prejudice
Elizabeth Bennet is intelligent, generous, and sensible, but if provoked is not above skewering her antagonist with a piece of her exceptionally sharp -- but always polite -- 18th century wit. The point is, you spend the whole book absolutely fixated on the critical question: will Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy hook up? 

Hope Was Here (or any other)
16-year-old Hope's used to thinking on her feet-she hasn't become a terrific waitress by accident. But when she and her aunt Addie move from New York City to a small town in Wisconsin to run the Welcome Stairways Diner, she isn't sure she'll fit in. Then G.T., the owner of Welcome Stairways, decides to run for mayor even though he has leukemia. And his corrupt opponent, the incumbent, has a powerful group of supporters. Some think G.T. is crazy, but Hope sees the goodness and power in him. Will everyone else see it, too?

Jane Eyre
This is a suspense-filled romance about an unhappy orphan, Jane, and her life.  Eventually Jane becomes a governess at Thornfield, and falls in love with its owner, the mysterious Mr. Rochester.  Their love story is filled with difficulty, including a shocking revelation on their wedding day.

My Antonia
Set in Nebraska in the late 19th century, this is the story of the spirited daughter of a Bohemian immigrant family told through the romantic eyes of Jim Burden.  Jim's memories tell of the land and of Antonia, a girl who works the fields like a man and who hears the songs of old Bohemian women in the cries of a cricket. In Antonia, Willa Cather portrays one of the great women of literature - strong, capable, and honest.

Clancy  (any except Hunt for Red October)
Tom Clancy writes political thrillers, and is best known for his technically-detailed espionage and military science story-lines set during the Cold War.

Shogun
An explorer in seventeenth-century Japan, ambitious Englishman Blackthorne encounters the powerful and power-hungry Lord Toranaga and Catholic convert Lady Mariko.

Christie (any mystery)
Agatha Christie is the most popular mystery writer of all time. In a career that spans over half a century, her name is synonymous with brilliant deception, ingenious puzzles, and the surprise denouement. By virtually inventing the modern mystery novel, she earned her title as the Queen of Crime.  The best-loved and best-known of all of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot mysteries is Murder on the Orient Express-the story of one thrillingly exotic journey, one brutally stabbed victim, and seventeen extremely suspicious suspects.

The Chocolate War or Beyond the Chocolate War
You wouldn't think that Jerry Renault’s refusal to sell chocolates during his school's fundraiser would create such a stir, but it does; it's as if the whole school comes apart at the seams. To some, Jerry is a hero, but to others, he becomes a scapegoat--a target for their pent-up hatred.

The Andromeda Strain
When an unmanned satellite returns to earth lethally contaminated, four American scientists are ordered to a secret lab to work against the threat of a worldwide epidemic.

Young Joan
This book paints a fictional portrait of Joan of Arc, from her first visions until she leaves on her historic mission.

The Luck of Troy
When Prince Paris of Troy kidnapped Helen and her baby son Nico, the furious Greeks fought for years against his seemingly invincible city. But as Nico reaches his teens, he decides to take a hand in the war himself - by removing the ancient secret, Troy's "luck", from the temple.

Morning is a Long Time Coming
In the sequel to Summer of My German Soldier, Patty Bergen, now out Jenkinsville High School, travels to Germany to meet the family of Anton, the escaped German POW she had sheltered as a girl.

Black Like Me
In the Deep South of the 1950s, journalist John Howard Griffin decided to cross the color line. Using medication that darkened his skin to deep brown, he exchanged his privileged life as a Southern white man for the disenfranchised world of an unemployed black man. This true eyewitness history is a work about race and humanity that still has something important to say to every American.

Death, Be Not Proud
Johnny Gunther was only seventeen years old when he died of a brain tumor. During the months of his illness, everyone near him was unforgettably impressed by his level-headed courage, his wit and quiet friendliness, and, above all, his unfaltering patience through times of despair. This deeply moving book is a father's memoir of a brave, intelligent, and spirited boy.

All Creatures Great and Small (or any other)
This is the heartwarming true story of Dr. James Herriot, an English country veterinarian, whose humor and natural storytelling ability have captured the hearts of readers in a very special way.

A Separate Peace
Sharing a room at Devon, an exclusive New England prep school, in the summer prior to World War II, Gene and Phineas form a complex bond of friendship that draws out both the best and worst characteristics of each boy and leads ultimately to violence, a confession, and the betrayal of trust.

Gathering Blue
Kira, an orphan with a twisted leg, lives in a world where the weak are cast aside. She fears for her future until she is spared by the all-powerful Council of Guardians. Kira is a gifted weaver and is given a task that no other community member can do. While her talent keeps her alive and brings certain privileges, Kira soon realizes she is surrounded by many mysteries and secrets.

Spindle’s End (or any other)
Newbery Medalist McKinley embroiders and expands upon the tale of Sleeping Beauty, and creates a cast of action-oriented heroines.

We Goddesses
The Greek myths, told by their leading ladies in a charming, conversational, yet dramatic and modern way. The tellings of Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera intertwine (though none repeats a myth), enabling us to hear more than one perspective on events and motives -- say, for instance, their wrangle over the golden apple and the outbreak of the Trojan War.

Picard’s The Iliad of Homer
This is a readable retelling of Homer’s story about the Trojan War. NOTE: Other translations are NOT very accessible.

All Quiet on the Western Front
Paul Baumer enlisted with his classmates in the German army of World War I. Youthful and enthusiastic, they become soldiers. But as the horrible trench warfare plods on year after year, Paul holds fast to a single vow: to fight against the principles of hate that meaninglessly pits young men of the same generation but different uniforms against each other--if only he can come out of the war alive.

The King Must Die
This is an adaptation of the legend of Theseus who masters the art of bull leaping and slays the Minotaur in the process of fulfilling his destiny.

The Human Comedy
Set in Ithaca, in California's San Joaquin Valley during World War II, this book tells the story of the Macauley family -- a mother, sister, and three brothers whose struggles and dreams reflect those of America's second-generation immigrants. In particular, it focuses on fourteen-year-old Homer’s coming of age.

The Prince and the Pauper
Tom Canty, a poor boy, bears a striking resemblance to Prince Edward, heir to the throne of England. Through a series of mishaps, the boys change places, and those around them do not believe them when they each claim to be the other boy.

Dicey's Song (or any other)
 The four Tillerman children finally have a home at their grandmother's rundown farm on the Maryland shore. It's what Dicey has dreamed of for her three younger siblings, but after watching over the others for so long, it's hard to let go. Who is Dicey, if she's no longer the caretaker for her family?

The Once and Future King
This is an often humorous retelling of the Arthurian legend, from Arthur's birth to the end of his reign, and is based largely on Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur.

this page last updated: 07-May-2008