Books for Older Readers

Greetings!

This week I’m going to give you some ideas of titles that are appropriate for older students. I will define ‘older’ as 7th and 8th grades or higher. I’ll also try to remember to indicate which ones that boys might enjoy.

I teach a group of junior high students, boys and girls, and this year we have been studying two books by Terri Fivash. Dahveed and Ruth and Boaz. Both books are written for adults, kids like the stories, and they aren’t babyish. I insist that students read the material at the beginning of the books since the cultural notes really help in the understanding of the historical time period. These books and more by Terri can be found in your ABC bookstore. Be warned! If you purchase the first book of Dahveed, you might as well just get all that are in publication. I promise that you will be bugged for them until you do.

Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby is the story of a chimpanzee who communicates through sign language and a deaf girl who hasn’t been allowed to learn sign language. This novel was inspired by the true story of a chimpanzee who was raised as a human child.

From Baghdad, With Love by Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman with Melinda Roth is the story of a Marine stationed in Iraq and a puppy named Lava. This book was donated by a parent who read it and decided that it would be a great book for our library.

Jennie Hodgers put on boys’ clothes because she had to help earn money for the family in Ireland during the 1860s by becoming a shepherd. Once she discovers the freedom she can have as a boy, she decides to continue the charade when she emigrates to America. She even enlists to serve in the Civil War. My Last Skirt by Lynda Durrant is the real life story of Jennie Hodgers aka Private Albert Cashier lives as a man until she is discovered fifty years later.

Rachel’s Tears by Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott is the story of the Columbine shooting and the people who were part of the drama. Rachel Scott’s story of standing for her Christian beliefs is told through the writings and drawings in her journal. This book was used in our junior high to supplement a presentation, but is really more appropriate for high school.

Kay Kuzma and Brenda Walsh have written stories of survival from Hurricane Katrina called Between Hell and High Water. The stories in here are miraculous and wonderful. The book is published by Pacific Press and is a 3ABN book. There is also an audio book version. (Please consider adding a few audio books to your library. We process them like a book and put them on the shelf beside the print copy of the book.) (Funny note: some younger children have come to me and told me very seriously that there is a book in the library that is not appropriate for Rogers. It has the word “HELL” on it!)

Ann Jaramillo has written a moving novel of fifteen-year-old Miguel who decided to migrate to California across the border. He knew it was very risky, but he also had confidence that he could make it even through there were many who did not. What he didn’t count on was his younger sister, Elena coming along. Boys and girls both will enjoy La Linea. Look for many Spanish words and phrases in the text of the book.

It’s the Civil War. Two families related to each other. One family sympathizes with the South and one to the North. But this book is about two girls instead of boys. Two Girls of Gettysburg by Lisa Klein is a historical novel about the Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg and the people who lived it.

Have a great week. Please let me know if you have any library needs that I might be able to help with.
Audrey