by E.D.E.N. SouthworthConditional Recommendation: Ishmael, though born motherless and impoverished, rises above his circumstances through humility, integrity and hard work.
Genre: Historical
Conditional Recommendation: Joe has always lived in New Jersey and Ravi is from India but together they must navigate fitting in, dealing with a bully, and the first week of school as 5th graders.
Genre: Contemporary
by Kenneth OppelConditional Recommendation: Matt, a young cabin boy, helps Kate, a passenger, discover a new species and together they endeavor to save their airship from murderous pirates.
Awards: 2004 Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature, 2005 Michael L. Printz Honor Book (ALA), 2005 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, 2004 Red Maple Award (OLA)
by John FlanaganUnconditional Recommendation: A 15-year-old orphan boy is recruited and trained to become a ranger and must, with his master, track dangerous creatures before evil Morgarath’s bidding results in someone’s death.
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
by Shannon HaleConditional Recommendation: A young girl from a small mountain village must decide who to believe, who she wants to be, and which side to take amidst the political unrest of the lowland city.
Genre: Fantasy
by Sid FleischmanUnconditional Recommendation: A bratty prince and his whipping boy have many adventures when they inadvertently trade places after becoming involved with dangerous outlaws.
Award: Newbery Medal
by Jennifer A. NielsenConditional Recommendation: The boy king must, against all odds, use all his cleverness and ability to save his kingdom from the three nations who wage war against him.
Genre: Adventure
by Shannon HaleUnconditional Recommendation: Through education and friendship a young girl learns where she belongs in her mountain community.
Award: 2006 Newbery Honor
by Gail Carson LevineUnconditional Recommendation: A timid young princess finds her courage when she faces fantastical creatures on her quest to find the knowledge to save her beloved sister.
Genre: Fantasy
by L. M. MontgomeryUnconditional Recommendation: A young orphan girl with a zest for life and a big imagination gets into adventures, scrapes, and makes many hilarious mistakes as she makes Green Gables her home.
Genre: Classic