- The Lord of Opium Nancy Farmer This book takes up where its sequel, The House of the Scorpion, left, and the action doesn't stop!! Matt is now the Lord of Opium (it's not just the name of the book!) and he needs to establish his power--now. It's probably at least a fourth grade reading/content level.
- No Passengers Beyond This Point Gennifer Choldenko India, Finn, and Mouse aren't thrilled when they learn they must leave their house, but the plot takes a wild twist when the plane to Uncle Red's lands them in a strange world. There they must work together to escape. The only problem is that they are three very diverse siblings. Anyone old enough to read could read this (including first graders--one of the protagonists is six!)
- The People of Sparks Jeanne DuPrau The citizens of Ember find themselves with strange new people in a strange new world. When they don't have any other choice, they stay in a village, but the people aren't too happy. It doesn't take long before the mutterings of "intruders" spark into something bigger.... Can Doon and Lina save their city again? Third grade up reading level.
- The Prophet of Yonwood Jeanne DuPrau The third book in the Ember quartet, The Prophet of Yonwood steps away from Ember into the time during the Crisis. Nickie is a girl with a mission in the secluded town of Yonwood: keep Greenhaven, her late great-grandfather's house. With the war looming over the people's heads, she struggles to decipher many things about the town, from the lady everyone listens to called the Prophet to her father's strange postcards, while completing this.
- The Diamond of Darkhold Jeanne DuPrau Doon and Lina are back with Ember where they try to uncover their city's secrets. The journey back leads them to some clues which they try to decipher, for the good of the villagers as well as their own curiosity.
- Every Soul a Star Wendy Mass I. Love. This. Book!!! Ally has loved living at Moon Shadow Camp almost her whole life, preparing for this eclipse. Bree is being dragged out to Moon Shadow Camp for it. And Jack comes as a way to escape the world and summer school. All three stories become intertwined with the eclipse forewarning the end/beginning of many adventures the whole time. I. Just. Love. It!!! (It's not a hard book to read, as with all Wendy Mass books, but I suggest third grade on up.)
- Doll Bones Holly Black When the Queen of their games comes to life in Poppy's dreams, she and her best friends Zach and Alice embark on a quest to put the old china doll to rest. Or will the doll's mysterious past get in the way? Slightly spooky, but not too much, it would be a good book for fourth or fifth or sixth graders.
- Ghost Hawk Susan Cooper Another greeeeeeeat book!!!!! Little Hawk must survive the winter on his own to prove he is a man, but that is just the start of his troubles! The white men are taking his peoples' land and giving them lethal diseases. But what can he do? Then he meets John, a young English boy who changes his life. Little Hawk and John are an unlikely pair, but their unique friendship and story give an amazing story! (Hint/Suggestion/Not Really A Spoiler: There's a point in the story where you will want to stop reading, but you. Must. Not!)
- The Chicago World's Fair JoAnne Grote This is a short book featuring the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and Esther and Ted, two cousins distraught about their city's poverty. While the Fair is the center of the book, when they return to Minneapolis they come up with a plan to help others. Can two twelve-year-olds really make a difference?
- Fair Weather Richard Peck Rosie has never been much farther off her family's farm than the town, until a letter from her city-dwelling aunt comes inviting the family to the Chicago World's Fair. The plot is well-written and the Fair described well, but my favorite aspect is her eccentric Granddad! Most likely a fourth grade reading level and up, but my mom enjoyed it, too.
- Stealing Magic Marianne Malone Sequel to The Sixty-Eight Rooms, Ruthie and Jack are back. While they are exploring the rooms, they realize that some of the pieces are missing! Who could it be.... Same reading level as The Sixty-Eight Rooms.
Shorter chapter books:
- Judy Moody Goes to College Megan McDonald Second-third grade level (explains why my sister was reading it too, I guess.)
- Drangonbreath Ursula Vernon Apart from being a "mythical" dragon that can't breathe fire, Danny Dragonbreath also has terrible grades and no fear. The latter comes in handy when he visits his uncle for an essay about the ocean! This is a total read-aloud book--it's very funny!
- My Weird School Daze: Mrs. Dole is Out of Control! Dan Gutman Another great read aloud with crazy characters!
- My Weird School: Mr. Carbles is Losing his Marbles! Dan Gutman The superintendent and the principal are in a "war"! What can A.J. do?
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