Summer Before 9th Grade

Anderson, Laurie. Speak. After breaking up an out­of­control summer party by calling the police, Melinda begins her high school career as an outcast; even her friends want nothing to do with her. With the help of a concerned teacher and the transformational power of art, Melinda begins to grapple with what really happened the night of the party. (Realistic Fiction)

Bascomb, Neal. Nazi Hunters. In the years after the atrocities of World War II, a collective of Israeli agents begin a manhunt for one of the most elusive and dangerous war criminals ­ Adolf Eichmann, a Gestapo member who was single­handedly responsible for the eradication of nearly a million Hungarian Jews. But the Israeli contingency must tread lightly; Eichmann has escaped to Argentina, and one false step could crumble diplomatic ties with that country. (Non­fiction)

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Jane, an orphan who suffered a terrible childhood, becomes a governess for the brooding, moody Mr. Rochester. When she falls in love with him, she learns that he harbors secrets far more horrible than she ever expected – just hope Jane doesn’t venture into the attic… (Classic)

Fleming, Candace. The Family Romanov. The Russian empire is failing. Plagued by widespread poverty and the willful ignorance of the reigning czar, Nicholas II, the cracks in the veneer begin to show, and revolutionaries begin to take hold. Unspeakable acts of violence are on the horizon, and the doom in imminent. Seamlessly pulling together three different stories, Fleming weaves a heart­pounding and incredibly true tale of the final days of an empire. (Non­fiction)

Gardner, Sally. Maggot Moon. In an alternate imagining of the 1950s, Maggot Moon follows dyslexic Standish Treadwell, who lives in Motherland, a country oppressed by an Orwellian government. As the sinister government churns out propaganda against opposing countries, Standish uncovers a secret that could very well destroy him ­ or the brutal regime. Dystopian fiction is the de riguer in contemporary teen lit, but nothing quite matches the intensity, immediacy, and creepy possibility of Maggot Moon. (Science Fiction)

Kidder, Tracy. Mountains Beyond Mountains. What does a hero look like? How does a hero lead his life? Tracy Kidder’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel has been adapted for young adult audiences in this stirring biography about Dr. Paul Farmer, a specialist of infectious diseases, who traveled to third­world countries to help the impoverished. By turns inspiring and heart­breaking, Mountains Beyond Mountains rings true to Dr. Farmer’s mantra: “The only real nation is humanity.” (Biography)

Lockhart, E. We Were Liars. Cady can’t remember what happened that summer. But whatever occurred has shattered the family, cast suspicion on her and her cousins (the titular “liars”), and thrown her life into confusing chaos. As the memories slowly return to her, the terrifying truth come to light. For fans of fast­paced thrillers, We Were Liars will satisfy to the final, shocking twist. (Mystery)

Medina, Meg. Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. Let’s talk about that title: it’s provocative. Intentionally so. But with bullying prevention becoming an increasing focus in society, there’s no more important book than this. Piddy Sanchez doesn’t even know who Yaqui is, but apparently she’s done something to invoke her wrath. As her aggressor’s tactics become more personal ­ and violent ­ Piddy must find within herself the power to fight back. (Realistic Fiction)

Mitchell, Don. The Freedom Summer Murders. Rural Mississippi, 1964. Three young men from New York, members of a movement to register black voters in a notoriously racist state, go missing. They’re eventually discovered ­ slain ­ and their murders spark a national outcry. Who will be held responsible for such a brutal act? Shedding light on a dark chapter of American history, The Freedom Summer Murders tells a harrowing tale and the fight to bring justice to the dead. (Non­fiction)

Ness, Patrick. The Knife of Never Letting Go. Todd lives on a planet that is populated with ‘Noise’: all thoughts of men and animals are broadcast for everyone to hear. But when Todd and his dog, Manchee, stumble upon a bubble of absolute silence, they uncover the horrifying truth of the world around them. The first installment of the Chaos Walking Trilogy, followed by The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men. (Science Fiction)

Sedgwick, Marcus. Midwinterblood. When Eric, a reporter, arrives on the mysterious island of Blessed, he immediately feels as if he knows Merle, one of the inhabitants. As Eric begins to uncover the dark secrets of the island, he becomes more convinced that he and Merle have known each other… for lifetimes. Sedgwick’s Printz Medal winning exploration of love and loss will trace the history of Eric and Merle in the most startling way. (Fantasy)

Sepetys, Ruta. Between Shades of Gray. Lina is torn from family when Russia invades her beloved homeland, Lithuania, during World War II. Taken into the depths of the Arctic circle and forced into back­breaking manual labor, Lina keeps the flame of hope alive through both art and the hope that her family is still alive. (Historical Fiction)

Stiefvater, Maggie. The Scorpio Races. Every autumn the capail uisce, a fierce breed of water horses, rise from the sea and take over the beaches on the island of Thisby. These creatures are dangerous and wild, but can be tamed over years of training. Once a year, the island hosts the Scorpio Races, a beachside contest often fatal to the riders and which draws contestants from all over the world. This year, Kate Connolly decides that she will be the first woman ever to enter the race. She needs to win in order to keep her family together, but this race doesn’t have winners. It has survivors. And Kate’s chances are slim; she doesn’t even own a water horse. (Fantasy)

Wein, Elizabeth. Code Name Verity. How far would you go for a friend? Two British teenagers, best friends and confidantes, are sent on a mission to Nazi­controlled France during World War II. Captured and interrogated, one of the teenagers, whose code name is Verity, spills her guts about the mission and her connections to the resistance fighters. But not everything is what it seems, for Verity holds a secret far deadlier than the Nazis realize. (Historical Fiction)

Yang, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese. Three seemingly disparate storylines: one involving a new student, Jin Wang; one tracing the legend of the Monkey King; and one following the stereotype­promoting sitcom character Chin­Kee, collide in this modern day fable. What appears to be a simple, straightforward graphic novel reveals itself to be a complex study of xenophobia, immigration, and tradition. (Fantasy/Realistic Fiction/Graphic Novel)

List and annotations created by Joe Prince (jprince@northallegheny.org)