Books written for Grades 5-8 (Ages 10 – 13 years)

Name of Book:   Slow Dance Heart Break Blues Author:  Arnold Adoff Illustrator:  William Cotton Publisher:  Lothrop Lee & Shepard (1995) Audience:  12 – 18 males and females.  This book would be best used in a youth group setting for small group discussion. Summar...

Name of the Book:  I Want to Be Free Author: Joseph Slate Illustrator:  E.B. Lewis Publisher:  Putnam Juvenile Audience:  Grades 3-6 Summary: This is the story of a young man who is a slave and wants to be free more than anything in the world.  The “Big Man” overseer has placed...

Name of Book:  The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Author: Mary Jane Begin Illustrator: Mary Jane Begin Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Audience: Ages 4-10 Summary: The sorcerer’s apprentice can’t help but wonder why she must spend her days cleaning and sweeping instead of practicing...

Name of Book: The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story Author: Gloria Houston Illustrator: Barbara Cooney Publisher: The Penguin Group Audience: Elementary and up.  Story is wonderful for all ages but book is lengthy and might be difficult for preschool age...

Name of Book:   John Calvin Author:   Simonetta Carr Illustrator: Emanuele Taglietti Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books Publisher’s Intended Audience: Ages 9-12 Summary: This Christian biography for young readers is a chapter book about the life of the reformer John Calvin. ...

Name of Book: The Lord of the RingsTrilogy Author:  J.R.R. Tolkien Illustrator: Alan Lee Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Publisher’s Intended Audience: Grades 7 and Up Summary: The Ring of Power has resurfaced and is striving to return to the hand of its master, the Dark Lord,...

Name of Book: Olive’s Ocean Author: Kevin Henkes Illustrator: None Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Publisher’s Intended Audience: Grades 5-8 Summary: As Martha Boyle is getting ready to go to her grandmother’s house on the ocean, she receives a visit from the mother of...