The Soddy-Daisy Community Library is proud to present our 2020 Summer Reading Recommendations. These books were chosen by a panel of librarians, educators and book industry professionals, and represent a diverse cross-section of interests so there is something appealing here for every reader.

We hope that during this challenging time, these recommendations will not only build on your child’s education and reading abilities, but will also provide pleasure, relaxation and fun.

Happy Reading!

** Volunteer State Book Award Nominee 2020-21

Soddy-DaisyCommunity Library

2020 Summer Reading Recommendations

6 - 8

Classics

A Little Princessby Frances Hodgson BurnettA girl goes from rich to poor, but but remains a true princess.S / 930L

The Outsidersby S. E. HintonA battle between outcasts and rich snobs escalates to violence, tearing a young man apart.Z / 750L

Call of the Wildby Jack LondonBuck is abducted from a comfortable life as a pet and tossed into the brutal realities of frontier life.Y / 1120L

Hatchetby Gary PaulsenA boy is stranded in the wilderness with only a hatchet and a will to survive.R / 1020L

A Tree Grows in Brooklynby Betty SmithA girl growing up in the slums of New York deals with family and life.Z / 810L

Fantasy / SciFi

Charlie Hernandez & The League of Shadows**by Ryan CalejoHispanic myths come to life and Charlie must battle for the world.Q / 780L

Aru Shah and the End of Timeby Roshani ChokshiAru accidentally unleashes an Indian demon and must fight to save the world.W / 630L

The Maze Runnerby James DashnerSurvival in the Maze is only accomplished by speed and friendship.X / 770L

Door to the Lost**by Jaleigh JohnsonIn a world where magic has died, children with magic have to save their new home.T / 800L

The Giverby Lois LowryWhen Jonas becomes the only person who can see color in a colorless world, he sees the darkness in his community.Y / 760L

The Unwantedsby Lisa McMannHarry Potter meets Hunger Games in a magical battle between two warring factions. Z / 880L

Steelheartby Brandon SandersonWhen a stray comet gives some people superpowers, it drives them mad, and it’s up to the normal people to fight back.Z / 680L

City of Ghosts**by Victoria SchwabCass can see the dead, but there's more to them than she ever knew.X / 720L

Scytheby Neal ShustermanWhen illness and death are wiped out on Earth, it is up to Scythes to choose who lives and who dies. Z+ / 830L

Ugliesby Scott WesterfeldWhen you turn 16, you move from being an Ugly to a Pretty, but is it worth the cost? Z+ / 770L

Historical Fiction

Stella by Starlightby Sharon M DraperStella learns to fight back in the segregated south.W / 740L

The Breadwinnerby Deborah EllisAn Islamic girl pretends to be a boy to raise money for her family's survival.Z / 710L

The Inquisitor’s Taleby Adam GidwitzAn unexpected medieval quest featuring a missionary, a Jewish boy, a peasant girl, and a magic dog.Z / 620L

Projekt 1065by Alan GratzA tween boy and his parents spy on a secret Nazi war mission.Z / 780L

The Night Diary**by Veera HiranandaniA girl searches for home and identity in a newly divided India.Y / 700L

Love is the Higher Lawby David LevithanThree teens deal with the world after 9/11.Z / 920L

Esperanza Risingby Pam Munoz RyanOnce-rich immigrant Esperanza must face hardship and financial struggles brought on by the Great Depression.V / 750L

Making Bombs for Hitlerby Marsha SkrypuchCan a girl in a concentration camp get away with sabotage?Y / 760L

The Story Collectorby Kristin TubbMystery abounds in the New York Public Library in the 1920s!V / 740L

Front Desk**by Kelly YangA young girl and her parents run a hotel hiding immigrants in the 1980s.R / 640L

Flying Soloby Ralph FletcherSixth graders tackle a very unusual day - teacher-free!S / 590L

Refugeeby Alan Gratz3 kids separated by time and space, but each face connected challenges.Y / 800L

Hello Universeby Erin Entrada KellyFour kids find bravery and friendship, and discover their inner hero.Y / 690L

Song for a Whaleby Lynne KellyA deaf girl helps a whale find his song.T / 800L

Miscalculations of Lightning Girl**by Stacy McAnultyA super smart 12 yo girl faces going to middle school instead of going to college.

Realistic Fiction

Where the Watermelons Grow**by Cindy BaldwinDella seeks to heal her mother's broken mind with magic honey.Z / 1020L

The Benefits of Being an Octopusby Ann BradenA poor girl joins debate club and tries to understand her world.X / 770L

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle**by Leslie ConnorWill anyone believe Mason when two different friends go missing?N / 310L

Mockingbirdby Kathryn ErskineA girl with Aspergers learns the world isn't always black and white.W / 630L

Popularity Codeby Stephanie FarisFaith deals with cyber bullying, and she may be the bully.N / 680L

Biography

I’ll Always Write Backby Caitlin AlifrenkaPenpal assignment creates two best friends worlds apart.Y / 780L

Boyby Roald DahlAutobiography of author Roald Dahl.T / 1020L

Enchanted Airby Margarita EngleCuban American girl deals with the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the clash of her two worlds.X / 1120L

The Faithful Spy**by John HendrixGraphic Novel bio of Dietrich Bonhoefer and the plot to kill Hitler.Z+ / 980L

I Got Thisby Lauri HernandezStory of Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez.S / 1020L

Red Scarf Girlby Ji-Li Jiang12 yo Jiang deals with the Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution in China. Z / 780L

Gutsby Gary PaulsenAutobiography of Hatchet author Gary Paulsen.W / 1230L

Nightby Elie WieselAutobiography of a survivor of a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. Y / 760L

W / 530L

Ghost Boys**by Jewell Parker RhodesThe ghost of an African American boy who is killed by a police officer meets the ghost of Emmett Till.Z / HL360L

This is Just a Testby Madelyn RosenbergFriends dig a bomb shelter, but who gets to come along?W / 690L

Echoby Pam Munoz RyanA puzzling quest involving a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica.Y / 680L

Three Times Luckyby Sheila TurnageWonderfully funny southern novel with murder, mystery and a lot of luck!W / 560L

Save Me A Seatby Sarah Weeks, Gita VaradarajanTwo boys gain strength from each other from afar as they struggle to navigate middle school, family, and friendships.S / 780L

The Perfect Horse (Young Reader Edition)by Elizabeth LettsU.S. mission to rescue a

priceless horse stolen by the

Nazis.

Z+ / 1080L

This Side of Wildby Gary PaulsenAuthor of Hatchet shares true stories of his animal encounters.W / 1150L

Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World’s Most Dangerous Weaponby Steve SheinkinThe story of the plotting, risk-taking, deceit, and genius that created the world's most formidable weapon.Z / 920L

Chasing King’s Killer**by James L. SwansonThe hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr's assassin.Z / 1010L

The Finest Hours (Young Readers Edition)by Michael TougiasThe U.S. Coast Guard's most daring rescue.T / 800L

Non-Fiction

No Surrender (Young Readers Edition)by Chris EdmondsThe story of a WWII POW who embodies the power of compassion, goodness, and ultimately, hope.Y / 1020L

Torpedoedby Deborah HeiligmanStory of the WWII attack and sinking of the SS City of Benares, the "Children's Ship".V / 840L

Get ready for the SDCL Magical Summer of Reading! When you read this summer, you can earn this greatT-Shirt - FREE!Details coming in May!

Soddy-Daisy Community Library9619 Dayton Pike * Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379

423.800.2367KELCURT Foundation.org

Foundation@KELCURTFoundation.org

@TheSDCL

Graphic Novels

El Deafoby Cece BellA deaf girl with hearing aids becomes a super hero.

Anya’s Ghostby Vera BrosgolAnya new best friend is a ghost!

New Kidby Jerry CraftA boy starts over at a new school where diversity is low and he struggles to fit in.

Graveyard Bookby Neil GaimanBod grows up in a graveyard with an undead protector.

Roller Girlby Victoria JamiesonA tale about surviving middle school through roller derby.

The Okay Witchby Emma SteinkellnerA half-witch discovers the truth about herself and her family while trying to survive middle school.

The Prince and the Dressmakerby Jen WangA prince with a secret life and his best friend find identity, art and love.

Stargazingby Jen WangUnlikely friends face the

unknown.

American Born Chineseby Gene Luen YangBand of characters, including a kung-fu monkey, improve their lives together.