2010 First Quarter Reading List

1) Albom, Mitch. The Five People You Meet in Heaven. New York: Hyperion, 2006.


This book is about an 83 year-old man named Eddie who dies in a freak accident and goes to Heaven. There he meets 5 people whom his life affected in a very important way, although some of them he never personally knew. As you find out, every person has a story to tell, and a lesson to share. (198 pages)

2) Anderson, Laurie Halse. Fever 1793. London: Hodder Children's, 2002.


This book is about a girl named Mattie who is living in Philadelphia when a horrible sickness called yellow fever hits. When her mother comes down with it, Mattie and her elderly grandfather must flee to another town to avoid catching it. This book is an excellent example of how we must all stick together and help each other in bad times, as the characters in this book do. (243 pages)

3) Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008.


This book takes place in the future, where 2 tributes from each of the 12 districts are chosen to go on something called the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death, which all citizens are required to watch. When her younger sisters’ name is called, Katniss Everdeen steps in her place to fight. Katniss’ partner, Peeta, is a young man who Katniss has been around her whole life, but doesn’t really know personally. As the book continues, Katniss finds herself having to rely on Peeta and herself more than ever. This book is perfect for anyone who loves action-packed adventures that keep you on the edge of your seat. (384 pages)



4) Flake, Sharon. The Skin I'm in. New York: Jump at the Sun, 2007.


Seventh-grader Maleeka finds herself being taunted every day by the children in her class at school. If it is not about the color of her skin, it is about her homemade clothes. Then a new teacher, Ms. Saunders, comes to school. She has a horrible white scar that covers a whole side of her face. Although she and Maleeka do not get along at first, Miss Saunders ultimately teaches Maleeka how to love the skin she’s in. (176 pages)


5) Noël, Alyson. Radiance: a Novel. New York: Square Fish/St. Martin's Griffin,
2010.


Riley and her parents have a car accident and all of them die. They go to the afterlife, called Here, and continue life just as normal. Same dog, same parents. She meets Bohdi, who is to be her guide who teaches her everything she needs to know. She is assigned the jobs of soul catchers, which helps souls rest peacefully and pass along to Here. This book is good for anyone who is interested in hearing on author’s view of what the afterlife is like. (192 pages)


6) Peck, Richard. The Teacher's Funeral: a Comedy in Three Parts. New York: Dial, 2004.


This book is set in Indiana in 1904. Russell Culver is ecstatic that the teacher of their one-room schoolhouse passes away. Everyone thinks that maybe the school board will decide to tear the building down. However, to Russell’s horror, they hire his older sister, Tansy, to take the place of schoolteacher. You can follow all of the shenanigans that the boys pull in this hilarious story.
(208 pages)