THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

Middle school is full of drama- break ups, make ups, and ensuring that the show goes on!  Passionate about theater (but unable to carry a tune), 7^th grader Callie is the set designer for her school’s drama department. She thinks her biggest worry will be making a prop cannon that will really fire during their spring musical, Moon Over Mississippi. Instead, she finds herself having to deal with 8^th grade divas, growing apart from old friends, and navigating the complex waters of modern middle school romance.

Told in an engaging graphic style format, Drama by Raina Telgemeier is a funny and realistic story of what goes on behind the scenes in the lives of middle schoolers. It’s sure to appeal to fans of her earlier work, Smile, but due to some more “grown-up” subject matter, is better suited to a 7^th grade and older audience.

SECRETS-- KEEP THEM OR SHARE THEM?

Dear Reader,

At this moment, there is a child grinning from ear to ear and skipping across the play yard thinking.."I have a secret! I have a secret!" And as children go about the day and interact with one another, little does he/she know that the person that they're interacting with holds an incredible secret! For Molly, in Tor Freeman's book, Olive and the Big Secret, wants to share her secret with the classmate of her choice.  Does she pick the right friend to keep her secret? A simple and gentle story about keeping secrets and sharing secrets.  

For ages 5 to 8 years.

WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BE POPULAR!!

How to Rock Braces and Glasses by Meg Haston is all about Kacey Simon and how she was the queen bee, until her eyes got infected from her cool new contacts which made her trip and chipped her teeth.  Kacey's amazing weekend resulted with her getting braces AND glasses AND a lisp all in the same weekend. Her fall from queen of mean, giving what she thought was well meaning advice on her weekly school television broadcast, hits her hard and fast, especially when a former best friend tells her like it is.

For readers in 6th-8th grade who enjoy a fast paced rom-com.

A PAULSEN PAIR

Two companion stories by Gary Paulsen, Liar, Liar: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Deception and Flat Broke: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Greed, tell the story of Kevin who tell a pile of lies in order to win the heart of a girl. He lies to everyone: his family, his best friends, his acquaintances. He couldn't lie to a little boy though and that's when the pile of lies came tumbling down. If you like Liar Liar, then you must read Flat Broke.

Two very short novels for readers in 6th-8th grade about the questionable act of lying and making amends in order to win back everyone's trusts and friendships.

HAMLET, YOU ARE SPECIAL

Hamlet's parents are Shakespearean professors. Not only do they teach about Shakespeare, they wear the clothes, speak in the style and eat the food of Shakespeare's time. You get the idea. Shakespeare fanatics. And that's how Hamlet came to be called Hamlet and her sister Desdemona. But, it doesn't end there.


Hamlet thought eighth grade was going to be her year to be at the top of the heap and everything would go smoothly, but no. Her genius seven year old sister, Dezzie, who needs to fulfill her arts requirement before going off to college will be going to be going to school AND attend classes with her. What's worse, in English and Social Studies, they will be studying all things Shakespeare. And just when she thought it couldn't get any worse, it does.


Read all about The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne. A tragic comedy for readers in 6th - 8th grade.

MIDDLE SCHOOL IS TOUGH, BOYS

After Cody and his father are shot at he is sent to live with his aunt and attend a regular middle school for the first time in his life. At thirteen, most kids know the ins and outs of how to dress and behave in an American middle school, but for Cody, nothing is making sense and he keeps getting sent to the assistant principle's office; four times his first day. Danger, however, has followed Cody. He and his new friend, a war vet, are about to find out who is watching them in the dark of night.

The cover does not do this story justice. It's an odd cover choice, making the reader think this is slick spy novel, but it's more than that. Once you get beyond the spy business, it's really about Cody coming of age and trying to figure out his place in the world and deciding what kind of a person he wants to be. Alibi Junior High by Greg Logsted is for mature readers in 6th - 8th due to some descriptions of violence.

WHAT DOES SEVENTH GRADE LOOK LIKE?

Emma-Jean Lazarus is NOT your typical seventh grader. At least in this book, her perception of her friends, family and the world around her is not the same as most seventh graders you'll meet. She is EXTREMELY logical and scientific. She does not bubble and squeal over the upcoming Spring Fling. She doesn't understand why boys are suddenly getting her attention. It's like her life is one big science experiment. EMMA-JEAN LAZARUS FELL IN LOVE by Lauren Tarshis is the sequel to EMMA-JEAN LAZARUS FELL OUT OF A TREE, but you don't need to read the first to enjoy the second. Even though Emma-Jean isn't your usual seventh grade girl, the way she sees life is fascinating and makes the book worth reading. For grades 4-8.

AUTISM FROM THE INSIDE

Many of us see people with autism, and they are different in some ways. They may scream out in school or flap their arms or bang their head against a wall. This might seem strange to some, but what must it be like for the person who has autism? How do they see themselves? What goes on in their heads? ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL by Nora Raleigh Baskin tells the story of a 12-year-old boy with autism from HIS perspective. How he feels when he starts getting wound up, what causes him to do certain things, and what it is almost like to fall for a girl online who doesn't know he's autistic. This story will show you what it is like to be autistic in a way that will keep you turning the pages until you've finished the book. For grades 5 and up.

INTERNET+13+BOY=TROUBLE

Puberty hits Eddie like a sledge hammer but when his mother finds out he's printing and looking at inappropriate pictures behind her back and lying to her on top of it, she ships him off to her uncle's farm. A farm where there's nothing to do. Nothing that is until he sees a gorgeous girl working in the store across the field. Intrigued by her but not sure how to approach her, he watches and begins to notice the things and people around him. And what he notices and finds out aren't always pretty.

Double Click for Trouble by Chris Woodworth is a worthy coming of age novel for mature readers 6th & up.