Reading Recommendations

Let everyone know about the books you've read that were real page-turners! Then you and your classmates can visit this page to get ideas for your next book choice. Download a Reading Recommendation Form and submit it to Mrs. Crisp to have your "must-reads" listed!

Student-Submitted Book Recommendations

The Bad Beginning

• Lemony Snicket
• Mystery
• The Baudelair children just found out that their mom and dad have just died in a fire. Now they are in the clutches of Count Olaf. He tries with all of his might to harm them and get the Baudelair fortune.
• This should be on everyone's must read list, because Lemony Snicket leaves you hanging at every chapter. Also, it's so well-written; even though it's fiction, it seems real, and it is full of suspense.
• ****--4 Stars

The Clique Series

• Lisi Harrison
• Realistic Fiction
• These books are about a 7th grade group of popular girls. When a new girl moves in, everything changes. These girls are a real taste of what it's like to be at their school.
• This book can really relate to all of us 7th grade girls and what it really means to be "in." I believe you'll love these books, and they'll be hard to put down.
• *****--5 Stars

The Haunting

• Joan Lowery Nixson
• Murder Mystery
• There is a girl who belongs to a family of over-achieving women. Her mom has just inherited an old plantation house, and they want to move in. The only problem is that it is haunted. The girl must stop the ghost from ruining their plans.
• Everyone should read this book, because suspense is always running through the sentences. The book can also explain what some of the kids are going or have gone through, and you can really relate to the book.
• *****--5 Stars

How to Be Popular (A Novel)

• Meg Cabot
• Fiction
• This book is about a girl who finds a book in her soon-to-be grandmother's attic. She asks to borrow it, and it gives her tips on how to be popular. But things don't turn out as she plans!
• This is a "must-read" because it teaches you about friendship--and the ending's the best!
• *****--5 Stars

Holes

• Louis Sachar
• Realistic Fiction
• A poor, run-down boy, Stanley Yelnats, thinks that life could not be any worse. Until one day, mysterious shoes literally fall on top of Stanley's head. These shoes are actually donated by a very famous baseball player. Stanley is then sent to a juvenile camp instead of prison, where he undergoes even more bizarre things.
• I think that Holes should be on everyone's must-read list because it is about real-life events that actually could have taken place. Stanley is also the type of character everyone can relate to.
• *****--5 Stars

Hit and Run

• R.L. Stine
• Suspense
• Three kids figure it would be ok to drive out at night without their parents' permission. As they continue their drive, something appears in their headlights, and they hit it. As they all get out of the car, shockingly, they have hit what is not an animal, but a man!
• This book by R.L. Stine is another classic suspense novel that will keep you reading. It can also teach a life lesson on how a simple prank can go too far.
• ***--3 Stars

A Week in the Woods

• Andrew Clements
• Fiction
• In the book, there's a rich kid named Mark Clemsey who moves to New Hampshire. He has to stay there with his aunt and uncle, and he goes to a school called Hardy Elementary. He learns about an activity called the week in the woods, and he runs away; but you'll have to read to find out what else happens!
• It is an awesome book and I encourage everybody to read it. It's an adventurous story--a 5 star read.
• *****--5 Stars

The Face on the Milk Carton

• Caroline B. Cooney
• Mystery
• In this book, a girl named Janie Johnson is having a normal, fun life until she sees her face on a carton of milk. Now she will find who the people are that she's living with. And she will see where she belongs with help from her friends.
• This book is filled with surprising twists from the beginning to the end. It makes you keep reading until you find out what happens.
• ****--4 Stars

Juliet Dove, Queen of Love

• Bruce Coville
• Fantasy
• Juliet is on a normal walk when she sees a shop she's never seen before. It was a magic shop where she got a locket with Cupid on it. During this book, Cupid helps her find courage and the ability to solve Cupid's mystery.
• With each clue, Juliet gets even closer to solving the mystery. And to put the book down would be impossible, for putting the book down means leaving the mystery unsolved!
• *****--5 Stars

The Doll People

• Ann Martin & Laura Godwin
• Fiction
• In this book, these dolls come alive when the humans are not looking. The dolls are out to search for the aunt doll, and they meet a new family, the Funcrafts, who join their search.
• This was a good, suspenseful book--you never knew what they would do next!
• ****--4 Stars

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

• J.K. Rowling
• Fantasy
• Harry Potter is 15 and goint to a magical school calaled Hogwarts. Throughout the book, he will face challenges and grow up even more. While growing up, though, he then learns more about his past, shocking and good.
• This book is full of fun and exciting events. Throughout the book, you will go with Harry on his adventures and experience what it's like to live in a world of magic.
• *****--5 Stars

Bridge to Terabithia

• Katherine Paterson
• Fantasy
• Jes and Leslie meet and become good friends. They create a world/kingdom in a forest; their kingdom is Terabithia. All of the book has wonderful and not so good twists, but it helps add to the story.
• The friendship between these two people is amazing. You can't put the book down until you know what happens to all the people in the book.
• *****--5 Stars

A Little Princess

• Frances Burnett
• Fiction
• This book is about a wealthy girl who lives with her father. When her father decides to go away for a while and put her in an all-girls school, Sara is tested to her limits. The book is really good and easy to understand.
• I recommend this book for girls because it's something you can really relate to. Also, it is funny, exciting, and really shows you that things could be worse.
• *****--5 Stars

Number the Stars

• Lois Lowery
• Historical Fiction
• This book is about a non-Jewish family during the Holocaust. They have to deal with the Nazi officers, hard times, and a Jewish friend they have to hide. It's an exciting, suspenseful novel.
• This is one of my favorite books. It's pretty short, adventurous, and very suspenseful. Also, this book is about girls around our own age, so it is easier to relate to.
• ****--4 Stars

Travel Team

• Mike Lupicia
• Realistic Fiction
• It is about a kid who is short and loves basketball but doesn't make the local basketball team. His dad, who usually isn't around, decides to coach a team for the kids who didn't make the original team.
• This is a good book that has a good plot. It is very well-written and interesting.
• ****--4 Stars

The Face on the Milk Carton

• Caroline B. Cooney
• Realistic Fiction
• A girl named Janieis eating lunch one day, when on the milk carton in front of her, she sees her own face! It said she was a kidnapped child and was taken at a shopping mall. She tries to figure out if the girl on the milk carton is her or not.
• I recommend this book because it has a lot of suspense and surprises. You never know what is going to happen, because it has so many twists.
• *****--5 Stars

What Janie Found

• Caroline B. Cooney
• Realistic Fiction
• This is a sequel to Cooney's previous book, The Face on the Milk Carton. (See above.) Janie finds a file folder with a big surprise in it about her kidnapper. She has to decide what to do with the folder and if she should tell her mom. She has to do all of this while her dad is in the hospital because he had a stroke.
• This is a really good book for anyone who likes surrises and adventure. I also recommend this book because it has many twists and things you wouldn't expect.
• ****--4 Stars

Prep

• Curtis Sinfeld
• Realistic Fiction
• This book is about a girl who goes to boarding school. It shows how she changes and meets boys--all the everyday girl changes that go on.
• It's a good book because all girls can relate to how this girl feels.
• *****--5 Stars

Where the Red Fern Grows

• Wilson Rawls
• Realistic Fiction
• Billy Colman is the main character of the story. There are seven main characters, and there are twelve characters in all. It's about a boy who buys two dogs and trains them to be his hunting dogs.
• This book was very suspenseful in some parts. It also keeps you on your toes. If you like dogs, this is for you!
• *****--5 Stars

Lily's Crossing

• Patricia Reilly Giff
• Historical Fiction
• Lily only has one friend at her summer vacation house in Rockaway near the Atlantic ocean. Her friend, Margaret, has moved temporarily. She meets a boy, and they become friends. Her father went to war, and she is trying to reach him. Albert and Lily go through ups and downs, but what will they come to next...??
• I think this is a very good book! I recommend it more for girls. This book show the relationship two friends can have. It's a lesson and a BIG journey!
• *****--5 Stars

The Art of Keeping Cool

• Janet Taylor Lisle
• Fiction
• World War II was in full swing when Robert, his mom, and sister had to go live with his grandparents. His dad was a pilot flying in Europe. Everyone was suspicious of Germans, especially those living in the U.S.
• Everyone should read this book, because it teaches you about prejudice and because there's great suspense in it.
• ****--4 Stars

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