Great Books to Read

GREAT BOOKS TO READ

Holes, Louis Sachar

As further evidence of his family’s bad fortune, which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a difficult correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself.

 

Coming Home, Lauren Brook

Heartland is a horse farm where abused and frightened horses learn to trust again. Amy lives at Heartland and has watched her mom work with the horses and Amy has inherited her mom’s gift, the ability to listen to horses and to understand what they need. But when a tragic incident changes everything, Amy must cling to what her mom taught her. She must truly believe miracles can happen at Heartland.

 

A Question of Trust, Marion Dane Bauer

After Brad’s parents separate and his mom leaves, he and his brother find a half-wild cat that kills one of her kittens and they protect the surviving kittens.

 

A View from Saturday, E.L. Konigsburg

A tale about four 6th graders who are contestants in an Academic Bowl competition.

 

One Dog Day, Patrick Lewis and March Ramsey

In spite of the mockery of others, Jilly enters her dog in the county’s annual coon dog contest.

 

Life With Animals, Jane Goodall- by Elizabeth Ferber

 

The Pigman’s Legacy, Paul Zindel

Haunted by the memory of a dead friend, two teens join an old man in a series of misadventures.

 

Timothy of the Cay, Theodore Taylor

If you liked The Cay, you’ll love this sequel.

 

My Side of the Mountain, Jean George

Sam Gribley spends a winter alone in the Catskill Mountains.

 

Monkey Island, Paula Fox

At age 11, Clay finds himself homeless in New York City and struggles for the basics of life.

 

Jackie Robinson, Karen Coombs

This non-fiction book explores the life and career of Jackie Robinson, from his childhood in Pasadena, California through his struggles with prejudice and discrimination.