Explore Norse Myths! by Anita Yasuda illustrated by Bryan Stone

With 25 Great Projects
An excellent resource when studying about the Norsemen/Vikings.
We made the flat bread recipe and enjoyed the Norse Mad Libs!
Guided Reading Level: W
-Borrowed from the library.

Wandmaker's Apprentice by Ed Masessa*

My ten year old had been waiting for this sequel to be published many months now and eagerly read it in a couple of days.
Henry and his sister Brianna convince the wandmaker, Master Coralis to accept them as apprentices.  As Henry and his sister learn the secrets, they and the other apprentices realize that that evil is lurking and it may be someone who is trusted.
My son said this book was exciting and almost too scary to read right before falling asleep!!
Guided reading level: W (6th grade)
*Highly recommend.
-We own this book.

Wings of Fire-The Dark Secret #4 by Tui T. Sutherland

Every spare moment my ten year old steals away to read this series. He announced that "Tui T. Sutherland" is his new favorite author! He read it to himself.
Starflight, a Nightwing,  is the main character in this book.  He finally meets his tribe and finds himself in situations where he is the fighting to save himself but knows his friends, the Rainwings, need his help.
Warnings/consideration: violence with dragon fights/war
Guided Reading Level: W (5th-6th)
-Borrowed from the library.

The Wings of Fire #3 The Hidden Kingdom by Tui T. Sutherland

My ten year old is devouring this series.  He really likes it!
In book 3 the five dragonets venture into the RainWing Kingdom, hoping to find reprieve since the RainWings aren't fighting in the battle.  Their respite, however, is cut short when they realize Rainwings are mysteriously disappearing and the queen is not trying to resolve the issue.  Soon they investigate and find themselves in danger once again.
Guided Reading Level: W (5th-6th)
-Borrowed from the library.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling illustrated by Mary GrandPre

Harry and his friends are excited about the Tri-Wizard Tournament.  Harry's enthusiasm, however, quickly dissipates when his name is drawn as a contestant.  As he prepares for each task, he becomes more aware of the rise of Lord Voldemort.   The book contains sooo much more action and character development than the movie (of course!).
We listened to this book on CD as a family.
Warnings: magical violence (murder); Mad Eye Moody swears often throughout the book (dn).  This book is definitely darker than the first three.
Reading Level: W (5th grade and older)

The Chronicles of Narnia The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis*

My fourth grader read this book to himself.  He has been reading the series, in order,  since this summer.
A false Aslan is said to be roaming in Narnia.  Eustace and Jill are brought to Narnia to find the true Aslan and restore order and trust to the beloved land.
Guided Reading Level: W (6th grade)
-We own this book.
*Highly recommend.

The Chronicles of Narnia #6-The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis*

Eustace and Jill enter Narnia and set out to accomplish a task for Aslan which requires them to face the Witch.
My nine year old read this book to himself.  This is his review/summary:
"I really liked it.  There were giants in it.  They went underground and met these people who were under the Witch's spell.  The evil people took them to the Witch's castle.  Then she wasn't there so they took them to another person who was under the Witch's spell. The person was really Prince Rillian.  The only time he is allowed to speak correctly (not tell lies) is when he is in the silver chair.  But the silver chair is what bewitches him.  They release him.  Then the Witch returns and she tries to hypnotize them too." He did not want to give away the ending!
He said one part was gruesome (beheading the Witch).
*Highly recommend.
-We own this book.
Guided Reading Level: W (end of 5th grade/beginning of 6th)

Wandmaker by Ed Masessa

My nine year old read this to himself.
He loved and is hoping for a sequel.
Henry Leach discovers that he has descended from a line of wandmakers and that he has mysterious powers.  Unfortunately his pesky little sister is caught in the crossfire of his first spell.
While trying to restore her to her normal self, he also must contend with an evil wandmaker.
-My son owns this book.
**Update 7/9/16-I emailed the author and he replied!  He is currently revising a sequel to this book called  Wandmaker's Apprentice! It will be published in the summer of 2017.  **
Guided Reading Level: W (5th-6th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 5th 

Theodore Boone-Kid Lawyer #1 by John Grisham

I loved reading John Grisham suspense novels during high school, college and beyond so I was eager to read his series for younger readers.
I won't be recommending this series yet to my nine year old (see warnings/points to discuss).
Both of Theo's parents are lawyers so he spends a lot of time hearing the law and hanging around the courtroom.  He even offers legal advice to his classmates and even school employees!
Then an unknown witness to a murder shares vital information with Theo . . .while the trial is occurring.  Theo must think and act quickly or the murderer may walk as a free man.
The book does not end with a neat conclusion.
Very exciting and well written.  I was not disappointed!
I also like Theo's kind heart and how his family is willing to help the less fortunate (they serve meals and offer legal services/tutoring in a soup kitchen).
Guided Reading Level: W (5th/6th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.2
Warnings/points to discuss: Mentions a couple of characters abusing drugs, Uncle Ike drinks excessively, Theo's dad smokes a pipe, His best friend April is enduring a divorce and parents are fighting for custody -both parents have been neglectful, Theo has a crush on a courthouse employee and begins to notice a girl in his class (nothing sexual or inappropriate), the murder is described, murder, illegal immigrants

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster illustrated by Jules Feiffer

My nine year old read this book to himself.  He said it was weird but he liked it.  He said Milo encountered many weird people!
Milo is bored with everything.  Then a tollbooth appears in his room and transports him to various fantasy lands.
When he returns, Milo views life a bit differently!
-We own this book.
Guided Reading Level: W (end of 5th; beginning of 6th)
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.4

The Castle Behind the Thorns by Merrie Haskell*

Before I could read this book, my third grader grabbed it and read it!
He thoroughly enjoyed reading it and loved the adventure and suspense.
Sands wakes up in a cursed castle with its outside walls smothered in thorns.  When Sands tries to escape, the thorns reach out and pierce him, grab him.  There is no escape.  As he explores the castle, he sees that everything is sundered.  Nothing is usable.  So he proceeds to mend things he needs.
In the process he discovers a corpse and he carefully lays it in its crypt.  The corpse is resurrected. . . Perrotte, the castle's lost heir.  Together they mend the castle and realize that there is a magic occurring as the more they mend, the thorns descend and life begins to thrive within the walls.
For a complete healing, however, deeper mending must transpire . . .forgiveness.
I really liked the themes of forgiveness and friendship.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level: W (6th grade)
Strategy: check for understanding (as the point of view changes often between characters/chapters; sometimes Perrotte has flashbacks to her former life and death)
Points to discuss/warnings: A dead person and a falcon are resurrected. The characters pray to the Saints and the Saints appear to talk to them and give advice/direction.  Perrotte is murdered by her stepmother (but the stepmother only meant for her to sleep a long time so she can give the inheritance to her own daughter).

Masters of Disaster by Gary Paulsen

Boys will love reading this book about adventure, high risk activities and poop!
Henry is the Mastermind; Reed is the brawn; and Riley is the journalist behind each adventure.  The boys (that is Reed) bikes off a roof onto a pool cover; survive a weekend in the woods (until they encounter a few escapees from a traveling circus); collect specimen from a dumpster (that is Reed); solve a hundred year old murder mystery and provide the best Memorial Day parade ever!  The final chapter accumulates when the boys pull a prank on a bully whom the teachers and principal even fear.
This book is what I consider a "hi-lo" book.  It is a 4th grade reading level(according to Yearling-back cover) but will appeal to middle school/junior high boys who are struggling and/or reluctant readers.
I am not going to let my third grader read it because . . . .
Points to discuss with younger elementary readers: The bully (Dwight) mentions his sister buying a training bra.  The boys want to attract the attention of the opposite sex.  Their interest in girls is beginning but nothing inappropriate is mentioned/explained.
Guided Reading Level: W (5th and higher)
Grade Level Equivalent: 9.4
Borrowed from the library

If your child likes this book, he/she will like these books: Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat and Soup books by Robert Newton Peck (although there is some swearing in these books).

Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar*

Jonathan Fitzman creates Biolene, a bacteria, to be burned for clean fuel and energy.  One of the microbes mutates.
Marshall, a seventh grader at Woodridge Academy is sick of Chad, his taunts and threats.  Today Chad has declared he will settle things between them once and for all after school.  So Marshall takes a "short cut" home, the forbidden woods.  Tamaya, a fifth grader, always walks home with him so she follows.

As they wander in the woods (not really a short cut), Tamaya falls into a patch of mud that she describes as "fuzzy mud".  Something is growing on it.

They hear someone in the woods.  It is Chad.  He has pursued them.  To defend herself and Marshall, Tamaya throws the mud in Chad's face.  They escape.

When Tamaya arrives home to an empty house, she notices that her hand, where the mud was plastered,  is starting to blister with a coating of white powder.

A very exciting story!

I could see a teacher having a debate about Biolene after students read the story.  Lots of extended learning potential with this book!
Chapters switch from Tamaya's point of view to Marshall's perspective.  Some chapters contain hearings and interviews concerning the outbreak.  As a result, readers will have to monitor their comprehension and check for understanding.
Strategies: asking questions, character development, inferring, check for understanding
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level: W (5th and higher)
Grade Level Equivalent: 5th

Hero by Mike Lupica

Zach Harriman just knew the day when bad news was waiting for him at home.  It was.  His dad's plane had crashed and his dad had not survived.
Zach's dad was rarely home.  Always on trips, trying to save the world, protect the president of the United States.  But in the end, he could not even save himself.
Then Zach discovers that he has superpowers.  Apparently he inherited them from his dad.  Now it is up to him to save the world from the "Bads".
This book is very exciting and kept me turning pages until I finished it.  It, however, left me unsatisfied.  I felt like I had more questions than answers when I closed the book.  It felt unfinished.  Large portions of the book dealt with Zach trying to figure out which person was lying, what exactly was happening to him and how his dad died.  I wanted answers quickly and then for the story to move onto to him fighting the "Bads".
I read online that there may be a sequel but that was four years ago that Mr. Lupica stated the possibility.
I think most readers will love this book so I recommend it to late elementary/junior high students.  Zach is also admirable character.
Guided Reading Level: W (6th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.5
**Perfect for reluctant boy readers-reading level  is lower but not a babyish book.
I borrowed this book from the library.
Points to discuss/warnings: a boy in his class bullies him a bit in the beginning, Zach deals with death of dad, some fights against other people with superpowers.

The Harmonica by Tony Johnston illustrated by Ron Mazellan*

This story was inspired by a true story concerning Henryk Rosmaryn (who later changed his name to Henry Rosmarin when he came to the United States).
This story is told in first person and is very lyrical (like music!) with lots of similes and metaphors.
Nazis take a young Jewish Polish boy into a camp, away from his parents.  His precious possession, his harmonica, he keeps hidden but plays it one night when he senses his parents have died.  The commandant of the camp overhears him and demands that he plays Schubert for him.
The boy feels like he is aiding the enemy by playing for the commandant but his conscience is later relieved when he learns he is bringing hope to his fellow prisoners.
Strategies: figurative language, inferring
*Highly recommend.
The illustrations depict the mood of the story well.
Guided Reading Level: W (6th grade and older)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.7
Borrowed from the library.