Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. Jess Aarons had to be the Fastest runner at Lark Creek Elementary School, the best, but when he was challenged by Leslie Burke, a girl, that was just the beginning of a new season in Jess's life. Some-what to Jess's surprise, he and Leslie became friends, and the worlds of imagination and learning that she opened to him changed him for ever. It was Leslie's idea to create Terabithia, their secret Kingdom in the woods where they reigned supreme. There no enemy - not their teacher Monster Mouth Meyers, their schoolmates Gary Fulcher and Janice Avery, Jess's Four sisters, or even Jess's own fears and Leslie's imaginary foes - could defeat them. The Legacy that Leslie finally brought to Jess enabled him to cope with the unexpected tragedy that touched them all. From terabithia.com

Darby by Jonathon Scott Fuqua. Nine-year-old Darby Carmichael decides her destiny is to be a "newspaper girl" in the 1920's South. She and her best friend even write articles for the town's newspaper. Their article about racial inequality creates an uproar in the community, as crosses are burned and bricks are hurled through windows. Readers will marvel at Darby's courage and remarkable insight throughout this tumultuous time.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.  "Sixteen people were invited to the reading of the very strange will of the very rich Samuel W. Westing.  They could become millionaires, depending on how they played the game.  The not-quite-perfect heirs were paired, and each pair was given $10,000 and a set of clues (no two sets of clues were alike).  All they had to do was find the answer, but the answer to what?" -- Book jacket

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. "Once again, the Earth is under attack. Alien "buggers" are poised for a final assault. The survival of the human species depends on a military genius who can defeat the buggers. But who? Ender Wiggin. Brilliant. Ruthless. Cunning. A tactical and strategic master. And a child. Recruited for military training by the world government, Ender's childhood ends the moment he enters his new home: Battleschool. Among the elite recruits Ender proves himself to be a genius among geniuses. In simulated war games he excels. But is the pressure and loneliness taking its toll on Ender? Simulations are one thing. How will Ender perform in real combat conditions? After all, Battleschool is just a game. Right?" -- from BarnesandNoble.com

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.   This account of 14-year-old Billie Joe Kelby’s Oklahoma Dust Bowl experiences is written in a flowing free verse style. Perhaps swallowing all that grit is what gives Billie Joe the strength, courage and love to face the hardships of the times, to rise above them, and to survive.

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.  A Civil War epic which focuses on the headstrong Southern belle, Scarlett O’Hara.  Scarlett vows to rebuild her beloved family plantation and to win the love of the unattainable Ashley Wilkes.  But how does the dashing blockade runner from Charleston, the infuriating Rhett Butler, change Scarlett’s life?

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.  " Stargirl. She's as magical as the desert sky.  As strange as her pet rat.  As mysterious as her own name.  From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of "Stargirl, Stargirl." She captures Leo Borlock's heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.
Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love." -- Book jacket.

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.  This fantasy features the adventures of Bilbo who, with a band of dwarves led by Gandalf, seeks to recover a stolen treasure.  Dragons, wizards and hobbits abound in this tale full of magic, mythology and mystery

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.  The narrator recalls his Ozark boyhood and his dream of owning two redbone hounds, and his training them to win a championship coon hunt.  Rawls’ love of nature and his dogs provides the combination for a superior child/animal story.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini.  "When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands...." -- from BarnesandNoble.com

A Girl From Yamhill by Beverly Cleary. Generations of children have grown up with Henry Huggins, Ramona Quimby, and all of their friends, families, and assorted pets. For everyone who has enjoyed the pranks and schemes, embarrassing moments, and all of the other poignant and colorful images of childhood brought to life in Beverly Cleary books, here is the fascinating true story of the remarkable woman who created them. From the publisher.

Stowaway, by Karen Hesse.Hesse delivers an extraordinary, sweeping tale of adventure--told through the fictional journals of Nicholas Young, a real-life stowaway on Captain James Cook's Endeavor in 1768. Taking the bare facts of this boy's history as a starting point, Hesse has Nicholas tell his own story--from the moment he is discovered onboard to the moment he discovers land, from his loneliness at sea to his friendship with a young Tahitian boy. It's an adventure you won't want to miss! from barnesandnoble.com

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. On the Midwinter Day that is his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers a special gift — that he is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the world from domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. At once, he is plunged into a quest for the six magical Signs that will one day aid the Old Ones in the final battle between the Dark and the Light. And for the twelve days of Christmas, while the Dark is rising, life for Will is full of wonder, terror, and delight. from barnesandnoble.com

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest Gaines. "This is a novel in the guise of the tape-recorded recollections of a black woman who has lived 110 years, who has been both a slave and a witness to the black militancy of the 1960's. Miss Jane Pittman has 'endured,' has seen almost everything and foretold the rest. Gaines' novel brings to mind other great works The Odyssey for the way his heroine's travels manage to summarize the American history of her race, and Huckleberry Finn for the clarity of her voice, for her rare capacity to sort through the mess of years and things to find the one true story in it all." —Geoffrey Wolff, Newsweek.

The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. The first time Melanie Ross meets April Hall, she's not sure they'll have anything in common. But she soon discovers that they both love anything to do with ancient Egypt. When they stumble upon a deserted storage yard behind the A-Z Antiques and Curio Shop, Melanie and April decide it's the perfect spot for Egypt Game.

Before long there are six Egyptians instead of two. After school and on weekends they all meet to wear costumes, hold ceremonies, and work on their secret code. a game, until strange things begin happening to the players. Has the Egypt Game gone too far? from the publisher.

Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech. Mary Lou Finney grudgingly begins writing a journal as an assignment for school—would anything interesting ever happen to her? What follows is the story of a wildly chaotic and romantic summer. How could she have known about Carl Ray and the little black car? Or what would happen on Booger Hill? Or about the permanently pink Alex Cheevy? Mary Lou's tale is filled with hilarious observations on love, death, and the confusing mechanics of holding hands. from the publisher.

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson. Sara Louise Bradshaw is sick and tired of her beautiful twin Caroline. Ever since they were born, Caroline has been the pretty one, the talented one, the better sister. Even now, Caroline seems to take everything: Louise's friends, their parents' love, her dreams for the future.

For once in her life, Louise wants to be the special one. But in order to do that, she must first figure out who she is . . . and find a way to make a place for herself outside her sister's shadow. from barnesandnoble.com.

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson.August 1793. Fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook is ambitious, adventurous, and sick to death of listening to her mother. Mattie has plans of her own. She wants to turn the Cook Coffeehouse into the finest business in Philadelphia, the capital of the new United States.

But the waterfront is abuzz with reports of disease. "Fever" spreads from the docks and creeps toward Mattie's home, threatening everything she holds dear.

As the cemeteries fill with fever victims, fear turns to panic, and thousands flee the city. Then tragedy strikes the coffeehouse, and Mattie is trapped in a living nightmare. Suddenly, her struggle to build a better life must give way to something even more important — the fight to stay alive. from the publisher.