by Kevin EmersonConditional Recommendation: Suspenseful events and amazing discoveries of two 13-year-olds as they struggle to survive their last day on Mars.
Genre: Science Fiction
by Michael CrichtonConditional Recommendation: A team of consultants and two kids visit an island where dinosaurs have been genetically engineered and they must deal with the consequences or die.
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
by Kenneth OppelConditional Recommendation: Matt, Kate, Captain Walken and a new crew embark on the first expedition to space and on the way discover new celestial life forms and face dangerous odds of making it back to earth.
Award: CLA Book of the Year for Children Award (2009)
by Michael MorpurgoConditional Recommendation: The story of the First World War as told from the perspective of a farm horse turned cavalry horse.
Genre: Historical, Animal
by Kenneth OppelConditional Recommendation: Matt Cruse’s adventures continue as he, Kate and a gypsy race to recover the ghost ship Hyperion and its treasures before falling prey to deadly high-altitude life forms and other sailors who seek its riches.
Awards: Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award for Adult Middle Reader (2006), OLA Forest of Reading Red Maple Award for Fiction (2006)
by Laura Ingalls WilderUnconditional Recommendation: Young Laura Ingalls and her family make a living working the land and hunting the woods in 1871 Wisconsin.
Genre: Historical, Autobiographical Fiction
by John FlanaganConditional Recommendation: Trapped in Skandia by the invading Temujai army, Will, Horace, Evanlyn, Halt and Erak must unite to defend themselves against the threatening enemy.
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
by John FlanaganConditional Recommendation: While Will and Evanlyn try to survive and escape captivity from the Skandians, Halt and Horace battle knight after knight in their efforts to reach Skandia and rescue Will.
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
by Brandon MullConditional Recommendation: A thirteen-year-old boy accidentally falls into a fantastical world and is thrust on a dangerous mission to overthrow an evil and clever king.
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
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)