Grades 6 - 8

The table below provides a list of Nichols Middle School Summer Reading Suggestions for Students Entering Grades 6, 7, & 8. Please review the instructions for new and returning students, including a list of books which should NOT be read.

Key to Book Genre:
A =Adventure
B = Biography or
Autobiography
C = Classic
F = Fantasy
H =Historical Fiction
M =Mystery
R =Realistic Fiction
SF =Science Fiction
Sp =Sports

 

Fiction, by Author:

A
Author Key Title
Abrahams, Peter M
M
Down the Rabbit Hole
Behind the Curtain
Alcott, Louisa May C
C
Little Men
Little Women
Alexander, Lloyd F
F
The Chronicles of Prydain (5 vols)
The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen
Anderson, Janet M,R The Last Treasure
Anderson, Laurie Halse R Speak
Avi A,H
A,H
H
M
A
Crispin: The Cross of Lead (2002 Newbery Medal)
Crispin: At the Edge of the World (sequel)
Don't You Know There's a War On?
Something Upstairs
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
B
Balliett, Blue M
M
Chasing Vermeer
The Wright 3
Barrie, James M. C Peter Pan
Barron, T.A. F The Lost Years of Merlin Series
Barry, Dave F
F
Peter and the Starcatchers
Peter and the Shadow Thieves (sequel)
Bauer, Joan R Hope Was Here
Billingsley, Frannie F The Folk Keeper
Birdsall, Jeanne R,H The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and A Very Interesting Boy
Bloor, Edward R Tangerine
Bradbury, Ray SF
SF
Fahrenheit 451
The Martian Chronicles
Bredsdorff, Bodil H The Crow-Girl: The Children of Crow Cove
Brooks, Bruce R The Moves Make the Man
Byars, Betsy M
A
Herculeah Jones Mystery Series
Trouble River
C
Card, Orson Scott SF Ender's Series
Choi, Sook Nyul H The Year of Impossible Goodbyes
Chotjewitz, David H Daniel Half-Human and the Good Nazi
Clements, Andrew SF Things Not Seen
Cole, Brock R The Goats
Colfer, Eoin F
M
Artemis Fowl Series
Half Moon Investigations Series
Constable, Kate F Chanters of Tremaris Trilogy
Cooney, Caroline R




H,A
The Face on the Milk Carton Trilogy
Goddess of Yesterday
Cooper, Susan F
H
The Dark Is Rising
King of Shadows
Corder, Zizou A Lionboy Series
Cormier, Robert R The Chocolate War
Creech, Sharon R
R
A
Ruby Holler
Walk Two Moons
The Wanderer
Crutcher, Chris R,Sp
R
R,Sp
Ironman
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
Whale Talk
Curtis, Christopher Paul R
H
Bud, Not Buddy
The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963
Cushman, Karen H
H
H
H
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple
Matilda Bone
The Midwife's Apprentice
Rodzina
D
DeLint, Charles F The Blue Girl
Dessen, Sarah R
R
R
R
Dreamland
Just Listen
Someone Like You
This Lullaby
De Mari, Silvana F The Last Dragon
DiCamillo, Kate R Because of Winn-Dixie
Donnelly, Jennifer R A Northern Light
Duncan, Lois R Killing Mr. Griffin
Duprau, Jeanne SF
SF
City of Ember
People of Sparks
E
Eager, Edward F Tales of Magic Series
Engdahl, Sylvia SF Enchantress From the Stars
F
Farmer, Nancy SF
SF
F
The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm
The House of the Scorpion
Sea of Trolls
Fleischman, Sid F The 13th Floor: A Ghost Story
Fox, Paula R
R
Monkey Island
One-Eyed Cat
Funke, Cornelia F
F
F
M
Dragon Rider
Inkheart
Inkspell
The Thief Lord
G
Gardner, Graham R Inventing Elliot
Gipson, Fred C Old Yeller
Going, K.L. R Fat Kid Rules the World
Gutman, Dan F,H,Sp Baseball Card Adventures (series)
H
Haddix, Margaret Peterson A
SF
Running Out of Time
Among the Hidden (The Shadow Children Sequence, Book 1)
Hale, Shannon A The Princess Academy
Hamilton, Virginia A Dies Drear Chronicle
Heneghan, James H The Grave
Henkes, Kevin R Olive's Ocean
Hesse, Karen H Witness
Hiaasen, Carl A,M
A,M
Flush
Hoot
Hinton, S. E. R That Was Then, This Is Now
Hoeye, Michael M Hermux Tantamoq Adventures
Hoffman, Alice F
F
Aquamarine
Indigo
Hunt, Irene H No Promises in the Wind
J
Jacques, Brian F Redwall Series (15 vols, thus far)
K
Kadohata, Cynthia R Kira-kira (2004 Newbery Award Winner)
Kerr, Phillip F Children of the Lamp Series
King, Stephen F The Eyes of the Dragon
Konigsburg, E. L. --
R
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place
The View From Saturday
Kubert, Joe H Yossel, April 19, 1943: A Story of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
L
Langton, Jane F The Hall Family Chronicles
Lawrence, Iain H,A The High Seas Trilogy
Leonard, Elmore M A Coyote's in the House
Levine, Gail Carson F Ella Enchanted
Lowry, Lois F
R
Gossamer
The Silent Boy
M
Martin, Ann R A Corner of the Universe
McKinley, Robin F
F
Beauty
The Hero and the Crown
Meyer, L. A. H,A
H,A
Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy
Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady
Montgomery, L. M. C Anne of Green Gables series
Moriarty, Jaclyn R The Year of Secret Assignments
Morris, Gerald F The Squire's Tales
Myers, Walter Dean R
R
--
Hoops
Me, Mop and the Moondance Kid
Scorpions
N
Nicholson, William F Wind on the Fire Series
Nimmo, Jenny F Charlie Bone (Children of the Red King Series)
O
O'Brien, Robert SF Z for Zachariah
O'Dell, Scott H Sing Down the Moon
P
Paolini, Christopher F The Inheritance Series
Park, Linda Sue H A Single Shard
Paterson, Katherine R
R
H
The Great Gilly Hopkins
Jacob Have I Loved
The Master Puppeteer
Paulsen, Gary H,A
R
A
Francis Tucket Series
Harris and Me
River (Sequel to Hatchet)
Pearsall, Shelley H,A Trouble Don't Last
Peck, Richard M
R
H
R
R
Dreamland Lake
A Long Way From Chicago
The River Between Us
The Teacher's Funeral
A Year Down Yonder
Perkins, Lynne Rae R
R
All Alone in the Universe
Criss Cross 2006 Newbery Medal
Pierce, Tamora F
F
F
The Immortals Series
Protector of the Small Series
The Song of the Lioness
Pope, Elizabeth F The Perilous Gard
Pratchett, Terry F The Wee Free Men
Pullman, Philip F
F
M
The Fireworkmaker's Daughter
His Dark Materials Trilogy
Sally Lockhart Trilogy
Pyle, Howard F The Book of King Arthur
R
Rinaldi, Ann H
H
Wolf by the Ears
Hang a Thousand Trees With Ribbons
Rowling, J. K. F Harry Potter series
S
Sachar, Louis R
R
Holes
Small Steps
Schmidt, Gary D. H Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
Sewall, Anna C Black Beauty
Sleator, William SF
SF
Interstellar Pig
Parasite Pig (Sequel to Interstellar Pig)
Soto, Gary R The Afterlife
Spinelli, Jerry R
R
Maniac Magee
Wringer
Springer, Nancy F,A Tales of Rowan Hood series
Steinbeck, John C The Red Pony
Stevenson, Robert Louis C
C
C
Kidnapped
The Strange Case of Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde
Treasure Island
Stroud, Jonathan F The Bartimaeus Trilogy
Sutcliff, Rosemary F Arthurian Trilogy
T
Taylor, Mildred H
H
H
The Land
Let the Circle Be Unbroken
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Tolan, Stephanie R Surviving the Applewhites
Tolkien, J. R. R. F
F
The Hobbit
Lord of the Rings
Turner, Megan Whalen A
A
A
The King of Attolia
The Queen of Attolia
The Thief
Twain, Mark C
C
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Prince and the Pauper
U
Updale, Eleanor H,M Montmorency Series
V
Van Draanen, Wendelin M Sammy Keyes Series
Voigt, Cynthia M
R
The Callendar Papers
The Tillerman Series:
W
Weeks, Sarah M,R So B. It
Wrede, Patricia F The Enchanted Forest Chronicles
Y
Yolen, Jane H
H
F
F
The Devil's Arithmetic
Girl in a Cage
Merlin
Sword of the Rightful King
Z
Zindel, Paul R The Pigman

 

Non-Fiction, by Author:

Author Key Title Call Number
  -- From Sea to Shining Sea: A Treasury of American Folklore and Folk Songs J810.8 FRO
  -- The Book of Rules: A Visual Guide to the Laws Of Every Commonly Played Sport and Game J796 BOO
A
Ardley, Neil -- Music (An Eyewitness Book) J781.91 ARD
B
Ball, Johnny -- Go Figure! A Totally Cool Book About Numbers J510.76 BAL
Ballard, Robert D. -- Exploring the Titanic J363.123 BAL
Bartoletti, Susan -- Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow J943.086 BAR
Borden, Louise B The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H. A. Rey JB REY
C
Carson, Rachel -- Silent Spring 632.9 CAR
Chaikin, Miriam -- Nightmare in History: The Holocaust J940.53 CHA
Collins, Mary B Airborne: A Photobiography of Wilbur and Orville Wright JB WRI
Colman, Penny -- Rosie the Riveter J331.4 COL
D
Dahl, Roald B
B
Boy
Going Solo
JB DAH
JB DAH
Dash, Joan B The Longitude Prize JB HAR
Delano, Marfe Ferguson B Inventing the Future: A Photobiography of Thomas Alva Edison JB EDI
Demi B Muhammad JB MUH
F
Fisher, Leonard Everett -- The Great Wall of China J931.04 FIS
Fleischman, John B Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science J616.858 FLE
Fleischman, Sid B The Abracadabra Kid: A Writer's Life JB FLE
Fleming, Candace B Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at a Remarkable Life JB ROO
Flodin, Mickey -- Signing for Kids (sign language) J419 FLO
Freedman, Russell B
--
--
B
B
Confucius: The Golden Rule
Give Me Liberty! The Story of the Declaration of Independence
Indian Chiefs
Lincoln: A Photobiography
The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights
JB CON
J973.313 FRE
J970.004 FRE
JB LIN
JB AND
G
Gantos, Jack B Hole in My Life B GAN
Giblin, James Cross B The Life and Death of Adolph Hitler JB HIT
Godfrey, Neale S. -- Neale S. Godfrey's Ultimate Kids' Money Book J332.024 GOD
Graham, Robin Lee -- Dove 910.41 GRA
Green, Joey -- The Mad Scientist Handbook: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Making Your Own Rock Candy, Anti-Gravity Machine, Edible Glass, Rubber Eggs, Fake Blood… J793.8 GRE
Greenberg, Jan B Romare Bearden: College of Memories JB BEA
Gunther, John B Death Be Not Proud B GUN
H
Harris, Nicholas -- The Incredible Journey Through the Human Body J612 HAR
Hoose, Phillip -- We Were There Too!: Young People in U.S. History J973 HOO
Hopkinson, Deborah -- Shutting Out the Sky J307.764 HOP
J
Janeczko, Paul -- Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers and Secret Writing J652.8 JAN
Jiang, Ji-li B Red Scarf Girl J951.056 JIA
Jurmain, Suzanne -- Freedom's Sons: The True Story of the Amistad Mutiny J326.0973 JUR
K
Keller, Helen B The Story of My Life B KEL
Kennedy, John F. -- Profiles In Courage 923.273 KEN
L
Lalicki, Tom B Spellbinder: The Life of Harry Houdini JB HOU
Lanier, Shannon -- Jefferson's Children: The story of One American Family J920 LAN
Lauber, Patricia --
--
Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mt. St. Helens
Who Came First? New Clues to Prehistoric Americans
J551.2 LAU
J970.01 LAU
M
Macaulay, David --
--
--
--
--
--
--
Building Big
Castle
City
Mosque
Pyramid
Unbuilding
Underground

J720 MAC
J728.81 MAC
J711.4 MAC
J726.2 MAC
J690.68 MAC
J690.523 MAC
J624.19 MAC
Montgomery, Sy -- The Tarantula Scientist J595.44 MON
Morrison, Toni -- Remember: The Journey to School Integration J379.263 MOR
Murphy, Jim --
--
Blizzard!: The Storm That Changed America
The Great Fire
J974.7104 MUR
J977.311 MUR
Myers, Walter Dean B The Greatest: Muhammad Ali JB ALI
N
Nelson, Peter -- Left for Dead: A Young Man's Search for Justice for the USS Indianapolis YA940.5459 NEL
P
Paulsen, Gary B Guts: The True Stories Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books JB PAU
R
Robinson, Sharon B Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America JB ROB
S
St. George, Judith -- In the Line of Fire: Presidents' Lives at Stake J364.1524 STG
Scieszka, Jon --
--
--
Guys Write for Guys Read
The Math Curse
Seen Art?
J 810.8 SCI
SCI
SCI
Sloan, Christopher -- Bury the Dead: Tombs, Corpses, Mummies, Skeletons and Rituals J393.1 SLO
Stanley, Jerry -- Cowboys & Longhorns J978 STA
Stein, Conrad -- The Trail of Tears J970.04 STE
V
Van Der Vat, Dan -- D-Day: The Greatest Invasion 940.5421 VAN
W
Washington, Booker T. B Up From Slavery B WAS
Winters, Kay -- Voices of Ancient Egypt J932 WIN
Y
Yates, Elizabeth B Amos Fortune: Free Man JB FOR

 

Poetry, by Author:

Author Key Title Call Number
  -- The Oxford Book of Children's Verse in America J811.008 OXF
  -- You and Me: Poems of Friendship J811.008 YOU
A
Adoff, Arnold -- Eats J811.54 ADO
B
Brenner, Barbara, ed. -- Voices: Poetry and Art From Around the World J808.81 VOI
C
Clinton, ed. -- I, Too, Sing America: Three Centuries of African American Poetry J811.008 I
D
Dickinson, Emily -- I'm Nobody! Who Are You? J811.4 DIC
F
Fleischman, Paul -- Joyful Noise J811.54 FLE
Frost, Robert -- You Come, Too! J811 FRO
G
Gordon, ed. -- Peeling the Onion: An Anthology of Poems
Greenberg, Jan -- Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by 20th Century American Art J811.608 HEA
H
Hopkins, Lee Bennett, ed. --
--
Hand In Hand: An American History Through Poetry
My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States
J811.008 HAN
J811.008 MY
J
Janeczko, Paul B., ed. -- Stone Bench in an Empty Park J811.041 STO
K
Katz, Bobbi, ed. -- We the People: Poems J811.54 KAT
N
Nash, Ogden -- Selected Poems of Ogden Nash: 650 Rhymes, Verses, Lyrics, and Poems
P
Panzer, Nora, ed. -- Celebrate America in Poetry and Art J811.008 CEL
R
Rochelle, ed. -- Words With Wings: A Treasury of African American Poetry and Art J811.008 WOR
Rosenberg, Liz, ed. -- Light Gathering Poems J808.81 LIG
S
Sandburg, Carl -- Poetry for Young People J811.52 SAN
Scieszka, Jon -- Science Verse On Order
Silverstein, Shel --
--
--
Falling Up
A Light In the Attic
Where the Sidewalk Ends
J811.54 SIL
J811.54 SIL
J811.54 SIL
Stevenson, Robert Louis -- A Child's Garden of Verses J821 STE
V
Viorst, Judith -- If I Were In Charge of the World and Other Worries J808.1 VIO