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TextESOL Rising Seventh and Eighth Graders
Rising 9th grade students may select from this list or refer to the High School Summer Reading Lists
ESOL Level 3 & 4 students may select from the general summer reading list or choose two books from the list of readings for Level 2 students.
Level 2 students may select from the general reading list or from the Level 2 list.
Fiction
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Vernes. Adapted by
Judith Conaway. (A Random House Stepping Stone Book). JFIC
CON
A nineteenth-century science fiction tale of an electric submarine,
its eccentric captain, and undersea world, which anticipated many of
the scientific achievements of the twentieth century.
The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Adapted by
Monica Kulling. (A Random House Stepping Stone Book). JFIC
KUL
The adventures and pranks of a mischievous boy growing up in a
nineteenth-century Mississippi River town as he plays hookey on an
island, witnesses a crime, hunts for the pirates' treasure, and becomes
lost in a cave.
Among The Hidden by Margaret Haddix. JFIC
HAD
Luke has never been to school or gone to a friend's house. Luke has
never had a friend.
Luke is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the
Population Police. He's lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with
a new housing development replacing the woods next to his family's
farm, he is no longer even allowed to go outside. Finally, he's met a
shadow child like himself. Jen is willing to risk everything to come
out of the shadows — does Luke dare to become involved in her dangerous
plan? Can he afford not to?
Anne Of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Adapted by
Deborah Felder. (A Stepping Stone Book) FIC FEL
Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a
lonely, middle-aged brother and sister on a Prince Edward Island farm
and proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her.
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Adapted by Cathy Dubowski. (A
Stepping Stone Book) JFIC DUB
Anna Sewell's autobiography of a horse, whose gentle beginnings don't
prepare him for the hard life ahead.
Bug Muldoon: The Garden Of Fear by Paul Shipton. JFIC
SHI
Something strange is going on in the garden and Bug Muldoon, beetle
private investigator, tries to figure out how the ants and the wasps
are involved.
Colibri by Ann Cameron. YFIC CAM
Kidnapped when she was very young by a shady man who has forced her to
lie and beg to get money, a twelve-year-old Mayan girl endures an
abusive life, always wishing she could return to the parents she can
hardly remember.
Flip-Flop Girl by Katherine Paterson. JFIC
PAT
A young girl comes to terms with death and shattered dreams after her
father’s illness.
Last Of The Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper. Adapted by
Les Martin. (A Random House Book For Young Readers). JFIC
MAR
Uncas and Chingachook are the last survivors of the once mighty tribe
of Mohicans. Their friend, a white scout named Hawkeye, needs their
help in the British fight against the French. The odds they face are
overwhelming. Magua, an evil Huron, is determined to see them fail.
Little Women by Louisa Mae Alcott. Adapted by Monica
Kulling. (A Random House Stepping Stone Book). JFIC KUL
Chronicles the joys and sorrows of the four March sisters as they grow
into young ladies in nineteenth-century New England.
Loser by Jerry Spinelli JFIC SPI
Even though his classmates from first grade on have considered him
strange and a loser, Daniel Zinkoff's optimism and exuberance and the
support of his loving family do not allow him to feel that way about
himself.
Lowji Discovers America by Candace Fleming. JFIC
FLE
A boy from Bombay moves to a small town in Illinois at the beginning
of summer vacation and is faced with no friends and nothing to do.
Before long, though, he persuades his grouchy landlady to adopt a
succession of animals (first a cat, then a dog, and finally a goat),
rescues a pet pig that belongs to a very sweet tough guy, and wistfully
watches a mysterious girl on a blue bicycle pass by his apartment.
Interspersed throughout are letters to the boy's best friend in India,
which show his gradual transition into his new world.
Mieko And The Fifth Treasure by Eleanor Coerr. JFIC
COE
Staying with her grandparents after the atomic bomb has been dropped
on Nagasaki, ten-year-old Mieko feels that the happiness in her heart
has departed forever and she will no longer be able to produce a
beautiful drawing for the contest at school.
Shiloh by Phyllis Naylor. JFIC NAY
An eleven year old boy tries to save a dog from its cruel owner.
Surviving Brick Johnson by Laurie Myers. JFIC
MYE
Afraid of getting maimed for making fun of Brick, the husky new kid in
his fifth-grade class, Nick decides that even his baseball collection
will not protect him so he signs up for karate class, despite his
little brother's reassurances that Brick is not a bully.
Twenty And Ten by Claire Bishop. JFIC BIS
During the German occupation of France, twenty French children were
brought to a refuge in the mountains. One day a young man came to their
school with a request: Could they take in, and hide, ten Jewish refugee
children? The school has decides how to accomplish what seemed to be an
impossible task.
When Zachary Beaver Came To Town by Kimberly Holt.
JFIC HOL
Toby Wilson is having the toughest summer of his life. It's the summer
his mother leaves for good; the summer his best friend's brother
returns from Vietnam in a coffin. And the summer that Zachary Beaver,
the fattest boy in the world, arrives in their sleepy Texas town. While
it's a summer filled with heartache of every kind, it's also a summer
of new friendships gained and old friendships renewed. And it's Zachary
Beaver who turns the town of Antler upside down and leaves everyone,
especially Toby, changed forever.
Nonfiction
The Land I Lost by Quang Nhuong Huynh J959.7
H
A collection of personal reminiscences of the author's youth in a
hamlet on the central highlands of Vietnam.
On The Court With Yao Ming by Matt Christopher JB
MING
Yao Ming, one of the biggest stars in basketball today, towers over
all but the tallest players. Yao's basketball career began in his
native land of China, where he played for the country's national team
as well as for the Shanghai Sharks. It wasn't until 2002 that the
government of China and the NBA reached an agreement that allowed Yao
to be drafted onto the Houston Rockets. Yao has emerged as an
international superstar. His fame and popularity have re-energized the
game and made him a hero in China. This exciting biography traces the
life of one of basketball's newest stars.
Walking The Road To Freedom by Jeri Ferris JB
TRUTH
Traces the life of the Black woman orator (Sojurner Truth) who spoke
out against slavery throughout New England and the Midwest.
Fiction
Readings for Level 1 Students
Level 1 Students may select from the general reading list or from the
Level 2 list.
The Blind Men And The Elephant by Karen Backstein. JR
BAC
A classic folk tale about six men who don’t agree on what an elephant
is like.
Buffalo Bill And The Pony Express by Eleanor Coerr. JR
COE
This story tells about young Bill Cody’s adventures as he delivers
mail for the Pony Express in the 1860’s.
Clipper Ship by Thomas Lewis. JR LEW
This is the story of how Captain Murdock’s wife and children help
pilot the ship Rainbird on its dangerous journey from New York to
California during the 1850’s Gold Rush.
Dolphins! by Sharon Bokoske. (Step Into Reading). JR
BOK
About dolphins and their talents.
Four On The Shore by Edward Marshall. JR
MAR
Three kids try to scare away Willie by telling him scary stories.
Gorillas, Gentle Giants Of The Forest by Joyce Milton.
(Step Into Reading) JR MIL
Learn amazing facts about gorillas.
Kate Shelley And The Midnight Express by Margaret
Wetterer. (I Can Read) JR WET
This is the true story of a girl in the 1860's who raced through a
storm to warn the station master of a coming train.
A Long Way To Go by Zibby O'neal. JFIC ONE
A young girl deals with the women’s suffrage movement during World War
I.
The One Bad Thing About Father by F. N. Monjo. (I Can
Read) JFIC MON
Archie and Quentin tell about life with their famous father, President
Theodore Roosevelt.
The Outside Dog by Charlotte Pomerantz. (I Can Read)
JR POM
In this story, which includes a few Spanish words, Marisol and her
grandfather come to a good agreement on how to have a dog for a pet.
Questions by Lee Hopkins. (Step Into Reading) JR
QUE
This is a collection of poems by American poets. Each asks a question.
Pioneer Bear: Based On A True Story by Joan Sandin. (Step
Into Reading) JR SAN
A pioneer boy finds a bear cub and keeps him for a pet.
The Smallest Cow In The World by Katherine Paterson. (I
Can Read) JR PAT
Rosie is the meanest cow on the farm, but Marvin still loves her.
The Statue Of Liberty by Lucille Penner. (Step Into
Reading) JR PEN
This is the story of immigration to the United States and the creation
of the Statue of Liberty as a gift from France to the United States.
Three By The Sea by Edward Marshall. JR MAR
Three friends at a picnic tell their best stories to each other.
Nonfiction
Blast Off! Poems About Space by Lee Hopkins. (I Can Read
Book) J808.81 B
Some simple and silly poems tell about the moon, stars, planets and
astronauts.
Dinosaur Hunters by Kate McMullan. (Step Into Reading).
J567.9 M
How scientists learned about dinosaurs.
Escape North! :The Story Of Harriet Tubman by Monica
Kulling. (Step Into Reading) JB TUBMAN
Tells the story of Harriet Tubman's journey and life helping slaves.
Five Brave Explorers by Wade Hudson. (Step Into Reading)
J910.92 H
Tells about the lives and adventures of Jean DuSable, Matthew Henson,
Mae Jemison, James Beckwourth and Esteban.
Five Notable Inventors by Wade Hudson. (Step Into Reading)
J926 H
Tells about the lives of C. J. Walker, Elijah McCoy, Garrett Morgan,
Granville Woods and Jan Matzeliger and their inventions.
George Washington And The General's Dog by Frank Murphy.
JB WASHINGTON (Step Into Reading) J970.5 B
True story of George Washington and one of his pets.
Helen Keller: Courage In The Dark by Johanna Hurwitz.
(Step Into Reading) JB KELLER
Story of how Annie changed Helen Keller's life.
Hungry, Hungry Sharks by Joanna Cole. (Step Into Reading)
J597.31 C
Interesting facts about sharks.
Jackie Robinson And The Story Of All-Black Baseball by Jim
O'Connor. (Step Into Reading) JB ROBINSON
This gives the history of black baseball in the United States and
tells the story of the first African-American baseball player to play
in the major leagues.
Moonwalk: The First Trip To The Moon by Sydelle Kramer.
(Step Into Reading) J629.454 D
Story of the first trip to the moon.
To The Top! :Climbing The World's Highest Mountain by
Sydelle Kramer. (Step Into Reading) J796.52 K
Tells about how Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first
people ever to reach the top of Mt. Everest.
Trail Of Tears by Joseph Bruchac. (Step Into Reading)
J970.5 B
Story of the Cherokee people leaving the land they love.
The Trojan Horse: How The Greeks Won The War by Emily
Little. (Step Into Reading) J939 L
The story of the Greeks battle to win the Trojan War.
True-Life Treasure Hunts by Judy Donnelly. (Step Into
Reading) J910.45 D
A diver risks everything to find treasure and lost cities.
Wild Weather. Hurricanes! by Lorri Hopping. (Hello Reader)
J551.55 H
Tells about this violent kind of storm and its effects on land and
people.
Wild Weather. Tornadoes! by Lorraine Hopping. (Hello
Reader) J551.553 H
Explains about "twisters" and their effects on communities.
Wild, Wild Wolves by Judy Donnelly. (Step Into Reading)
J629.454
Tells about the history of wolves and what kind of animals they really
are.
Witch Hunt: It Happened In Salem Village by Stephen
Krensky. (Step Into Reading) J133.4 K
Story of the witch hunts in Salem.
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