The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw*

*A Newbery Honor book
I read this book aloud to my boys as part of our history curriculum.  We enjoyed this exciting book!
Ranofer's father, a goldsmith, has died and now Ranofer lives with his half brother Gebu who is a stone mason.  Gebu is harsh, beating him when he is displeased and providing minimal food for Ranofer.  Eventually Gebu forces Ranofer to work for him, spending the day completing difficult, mindless tasks at the stone cutter shop.
Then Gebu begins to act suspiciously.  Ranofer and his friends, Heqet and the Ancient, investigate and find themselves in a very dangerous situation.  Will anyone believe their discovery?
*Highly recommend.
-We own this book.
Guided Reading Level: V (5th grade)
Warning: Gebu physically abuses Ranofer.

Return to Gone-Away by Elizabeth Enright illustrated by Beth and Joe Krush*

I enjoyed the beauty of Gone-Away Lake and its quirky characters so much earlier this summer that I too needed to return!
Portia's parents purchase Villa Caprice, a grand house that has been abandoned near Gone Away Lake, and spend the summer attempting to coax it back to beauty.  The children fill the summer exploring with their cousin and new friends, and also unearthing treasures in the cluttered house.  Julian, Portia's cousin, is determined to find the house's safe.
I love the word choice and the apt description of God's creation-people and nature. This is a book in which I enjoy the writing as much as the story line.
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.
Guided Reading Level: V (5th grade)
Point to discuss: The girls consult a book which contains advice based on the Zodiac signs.  The author causes the reader to realize it is faulty when a big event proves the prediction/warning incorrect.  The characters say "heck" sometimes and other slangs.

Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright*

Award winner-Newbery Honor Book
Portia and her brother Foster spend the summer with their aunt,  uncle and cousin Julian in the country.  On the their first day together, Portia and Julian discover a seemingly abandoned row of homes along a swamp.  Two homes, however, appear maintained.  Soon the two cousins befriend a brother and sister who still reside along the swamp in separate homes.  Mrs. Cheever (the sister) and Mr. Payton (the brother) regale the cousins with stories of their childhood when the swamp was a lake and the resort community homes burst with laughter and chatter from children and their families.
The siblings graciously allow the cousins to fix up an attic in an abandoned home for a club house.  They keep their outings to Gone-Away Lake a secret until a near death occurs.
A wonderful gentle book that celebrates summer, the outdoors and God's creation.  I loved the description of animals, insects, the woods, the swamp and various plants/flowers.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level: V (5th/6th grade)
Points to discuss: The words "heck" and "darn" are used throughout the book.  Chewing tobacco is mentioned a couple of times.  DDT is also referenced (most kids might not know what it is).  Portia and Julian keep their outings and friendship with Mrs. Cheever and Mr. Payton a secret from adults-deception.  Mrs. Cheever shares a story of an adult from her childhood who would raise kittens for the summer and then in September have them chloroformed!  Mrs. Cheever and her friend do rescue the kittens summers thereafter.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien*

Winner of the John Newbery Medal
Mrs. Frisby's youngest child, has pneumonia and should not venture into the cold spring air for a month.  Farmer Fitzgibbons, however, is planning to plow the garden where their home is situated in five days. She needs to move her family to their summer home immediately.   Through a variety of events, Mrs. Frisby goes to the rats nearby for help.  She is flabbergasted when she views their sophisticated community.  She learns more about her deceased husband and how the rats have become such intelligent creatures.
Can the rats help her?  To her surprise, Mrs. Frisby may be able to help the rats!
*Highly recommend.
Guided Reading Level: V (end of 5th grade)
Strategies: vocabulary expansion, monitoring, predicting, check for understanding

Guardians of Ga'Hoole -Capture by Kathryn Lasky*(audio) Read by Pamela Garelick

Soren, a barn owl, finds himself falling out of his beloved fir tree in the forest of Tyto.  Not having his flight feathers yet, he begins to believe he will die on the forest floor.  Then an owl snatches him and carries him off to an evil place where owls are moon blinked and trained for nefarious deeds.  He befriends Gylfie, an elf owl, and together they make plans to escape.  Along the way they encounter heroic owls willing to die for other owls.
*Highly recommend for upper elementary/junior high.
-Borrowed from the library.
My sons and I listened to this audio book to and from our school commute.
Guided Reading Level: V (5th-6th grade)
Warnings: Some of the fights between owls are descriptive and bloody.  A couple of owls die.  The owls swear in "owl language" (not human curse words-like "rat drops").  The word "hell" is uttered in a rhyme during a battle scene.

By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman*

What a fun read!
This title was highly recommended on a blog I read and on Amazon it had great reviews.
If you have boys (and girls) who like adventure, this book will satisfy.
Jack and his sisters live with his Aunt Arabella and the butler, Praiseworthy,  in Boston.   Arabella falls on hard times and her inheritance is almost depleted. The family home may have to be sold.  Jack has heard about men striking it rich in California so he runs away, hoping to save the family home.  He, however, does not travel the tumultuous seas alone . . .faithful Praiseworthy joins the adventure.
Each chapter is full of excitement and predicaments.  I loved anticipating how Praiseworthy would rescue them from impending disaster.
*We absolutely loved this book and highly, highly recommend it!
-We own this book.
Guided Reading Level: V (5th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 6.2
Strategies: inferring, predicting, asking questions, character traits, vocab. expansion (Gold Rush and ship terminology), schema building
Warning/point to discuss: tobacco use-especially cigars and chewing tobacco.

Capture the Flag by Kate Messner*

Anna, Jose, and Henry meet while they are stuck in an airport during a winter snowstorm.  During their stay, news breaks out that the flag that inspired Frances Scott Key to compose "The Star-Spangled Banner" has been stolen.  When all three discover that they have family members part of the Silver Jaguar Society, sworn to preserve the world's historical artifacts, they set out to find the missing flag at the airport and capture who stole the flag.
Crazy events like driving airport vehicles and scrambling in the luggage area coupled with loyalty to friends and mankind make this book a winner!
Point to discuss: I did not like how a political character who wanted immigration reform was portrayed.  The author made it seem like those who want immigration reform are prejudice and narrow-minded.  A bit of subtle politics was integrated into the story.
*Highly recommend.
Guided Reading Level: V (5th/6th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.3
More books in series-Silver Jaguar Society Mysteries
                                  #2 Hide and Seek
                                  #3 Manhunt

Holes by Louis Sachar

Awarding winning book-Newbery Medal
Stanley's family does not have good luck.   They blame everything that goes wrong on the curse placed on his "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and his future generations.
Then Stanley is falsely accused of stealing a famous basketball star's shoes and sent to youth detention camp.  But this camp is not your typical camp.  To build character, each day the boys must dig holes-five feet wide and five feet deep.    The warden, who runs the camp, is looking for something and is utilizing the boys to do the, literally, dirty work.
I loved how Mr. Sachar interweaves three different stories into one big story (Stanley's, his great-great grandfather's and Zero's).  Very well written in that regard.
Strategies: check for understanding (The chapters flip from modern day to when his great-great grandfather was alive), inferring
Guided Reading Level: V (5th-6th) **I agree with this level more than the 4.6 level.
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.6

I read this book aloud to my kindergartner and third grader after we watched the movie.  I skipped a few parts/sentences as I thought it was not appropriate for them.  Please read the warnings.
Warnings: The counselor, Mr. Pendanski, is quite cruel and demeaning to the boys.  Mr. Sir and the Warden are also cruel but Mr. Pendanski says some awful comments about the boys.  Pg. 150-word "h-ll" included. Pg. 161 the boys talk about how a particular girl would look great in a bathing suit (don't need my boys thinking about that!!).  When Zero escapes it is a bit violent.

Stay Alive #1: Crash by Joseph Monninger

The Junior Action News Team was flying to Alaska to film about the Iditarod when their plane crashed into a remote Alaska lake.  The pilot dies as the plane lands.  The team now must work together to survive with little food or equipment.
This book certainly will keep readers engrossed as they experience the characters' agony as they wonder if anyone is looking for them and as they wait and wait  and try to "stay alive".
I did not like the fact that a few characters die.
A plot-driven book-very exciting.
Guided Reading Level: V (5th/6th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 5th grade
More titles in this series: #2-Cave In, #3 Breakdown, #4 Flood
Link to series:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Stay%20Alive%20Series%22?Ns=P_Series_Number&Ntk=P_Series_Title&Ntx=mode%20matchall

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit*

What would you do if you had the opportunity to live forever?  Winnie is faced with this decision when she encounters the Tuck family who by drank from a spring, not knowing the water would allow them to live forever.
Lurking behind the scenes is a stranger who knows exactly what he wants to do with the water.
I love all the figurative, descriptive language in the book.
*Highly recommend.
Guided Reading Level: V
Grade Level Equivalency:  5.9
Points to discuss/warnings: Ma Tuck murders a man, kidnapping

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech*

Twins, Florida and Dalla,  have experienced the cruelty of mankind as they live in a children's home, Boxton Creek Home for Children, directed by Mr. and Mrs. Trepid and have had their share of foster homes.  When elderly couple, Tiller and Sairy Morey, take the children to their home in Ruby Holler, the children slowly begin to hope and trust.
An exciting adventure in the woods and on the river solidify the relationships.
Then there is a mysterious man named "Z".  What is his connection to the Trepids, the Moreys and the children?
A book of hope.
*Highly recommend.
Points to discuss/warnings:  People treat Florida and Dallas cruelly.  Parents abandoning children.
Guided Reading Level:  V (5th grade-5.4)

Fly Guy's Amazing Tricks by Tedd Arnold*

The newest, funny book about Buzz and his pet fly, Fly Guy.
Fly Guy's new tricks come in handy when an older boy teases Buzz.
*Highly recommend.
Guided Reading Level: V