Author

Title

Summary

Adams, Douglas

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

"Based on a BBC radio series . . . this is the episodic story of Arthur Dent, a contemporary Englishman, who discovers first that his unpretentious house is about to be demolished to make way for a bypass, and second that a good friend is actually an alien galactic hitchhiker who announces that Earth itself will soon be demolished to make way for an intergalactic speedway. A bewildered Dent soon finds himself hitching . . . rides throughout space, aided by a . . . reference book, of `facts,' philosophies and wild advice.

Avi

Romeo and Juliet Together (and Alive!) At Last

The eighth grade's plan to get two reluctant "lovers" together by means of a classroom production of Shakespeare's play has some very unexpected results.

Bauer, Joan

Squashed!

As a sixteen-year-old pursues her two goals--growing the biggest pumpkin in Iowa and losing twenty pounds herself--she strengthens her relationship with her father and meets a young man with interests similar to her own.

Bauer, Joan

Thwonk!

A cupid doll comes to life and offers romantic assistance to A.J., a teenage photographer suffering from unrequited love.

Blume, Judy

Here’s to You, Rachel Robinson

Expelled from boarding school, Charles' presence at home proves disruptive, especially for sister Rachel, a gifted seventh grader juggling friendships and school activities.

Blume, Judy

Superfudge

Peter describes the highs and lows of life with his younger brother Fudge.

Byars, Betsy

Bingo Brown’s Guide to Romance

Bingo Brown's work on his definitive "Guide to Romance" hits a snag when his long-distance girlfriend Melissa returns unexpectedly from Oklahoma.

Byars, Betsy

The Pinballs

Three lonely foster children learn to care about themselves and each other.

Cabot, Meg

All-American Girl

A sophomore girl stops a presidential assassination attempt, is appointed Teen Ambassador to the United Nations, and catches the eye of the very cute First Son.

Cabot, Meg

The Princess Diaries

Fourteen-year-old Mia, who is trying to lead a normal life as a teenage girl in New York City, is shocked to learn that her father is the Prince of Genovia, a small European principality, and that she is a princess and the heir to the throne.

Cleary, Beverly

Dear Mr Henshaw

In his letters to his favorite author, ten-year-old Leigh reveals his problems in coping with his parents' divorce, being the new boy in school, and generally finding his own place in the world.

Cleary, Beverly

Henry Huggins

Follows Henry in his adventures after he acquires his dog Ribsy. A dog of no particular breed.

Colfer, Eoin

Artemis Fowl

When a twelve-year-old evil genius tries to restore his family fortune by capturing a fairy and demanding a ransom in gold, the fairies fight back with magic, technology, and a particularly nasty troll.

Conford, Ellen

I Love You, I Hate You, Get Lost!

A collection of seven humorous stories reflecting the ups and downs of teenage love and life.

Creech, Sharon

Walk Two Moons

After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother's route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also left.

Crutcher, Chris

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes

The daily class discussions about the nature of man, the existence of God, abortion, organized religion, suicide and other contemporary issues serve as a backdrop for a high-school senior's attempt to answer a friend's dramatic cry for help.

Dahl, Roald

James and the Giant Peach

Through magic James finds himself in a huge peach that rolls on a series of madcap adventures.

Dahl, Roald

The Vicar of Nibbleswicke

The vicar's speech impediment leads to holy hysteria in an otherwise quiet country parish.

Danziger, Paula

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit

When the unconventional English teacher who helped her conquer many of her feelings of insecurity is fired, a junior high student uses her newfound courage to campaign for the teacher's reinstatement.

Danziger, Paula

P.S. Longer Letter Later

Twelve-year-old best friends Elizabeth and Tara-Starr continue their friendship through letter-writing after Tara-Starr's family moves to another state.

Ferris, Jean

Love Among the Walnuts

Born and raised in isolation in a wealthy, eccentric family, Sandy is shocked when he, his parents, and their servants become victims of a vicious plot by his greedy uncles to incapacitate them and take their money.

Freeman, Martha

The Year My Parents Ruined My Life

Twelve-year-old Kate has her entire world turned upside-down when she has to move from California to snowy Pennsylvania, where she tries to adjust to a new climate, a new school, and new friends.

Gantos, Jack

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers, Joey has trouble paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription meds wear off and he starts getting worked up and acting wired.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson

Just Ella

In this continuation of the Cinderella story, fifteen-year-old Ella finds that accepting Prince Charming's proposal ensnares her in a suffocating tangle of palace rules and royal etiquette, so she plots to escape.

Howe, Norma

The Adventures of Blue Avenger

On his sixteenth birthday, still trying to cope with the unexpected death of his father, David Schumacher decides--or does he--to change his name to Blue Avenger, hoping to find a way to make a difference in his Oakland neighborhood and in the world.

Johnston, Julie

In Spite of Killer Bees

The Quade girls were raised by their father, a small-time gambler and thief who was disowned by his wealthy father for marrying a good-for-nothing woman. After their mother deserts them and their father dies, the girls are taken in by a woman who owns a deli, but their lives change when they are notified that the grandfather whom they've never met has died and named them in his will.

Jones, Diana Wynne

Witch Week

When a teacher at an English boarding school finds a note on his desk accusing someone in the class of being a witch, magical things begin to happen and an Inquisitor is summoned.

Klise, Kate

Trial by Journal

In this illustrated novel told through journal entries, news clippings, and letters, twelve-year-old Lily finds herself on the jury of a murder trial while conducting her own undercover investigation of the case.

Konigsburg, E. L.

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler

Having run away with her younger brother to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, twelve-year-old Claudia strives to keep things in order in their new home and to become a changed person and a heroine to herself.

Korman, Gordon

No More Dead Dogs

Eighth-grade football hero Wallace Wallace is sentenced to detention attending rehearsals of the school play where, in spite of himself, he becomes wrapped up in the production and begins to suggest changes that improve not only the play but his life as well.

Levine, Gail Carson

Ella Enchanted

In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.

Lowry, Lois

Anastasia Has the Answers

Anastasia continues the perilous process of growing up as her thirteenth year involves her in conquering the art of rope climbing, playing Cupid for a recently widowered uncle, and surviving a crush on her gym teacher.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds

All But Alice

Seventh grader Alice decides that the only way to stave off personal and social disasters is to be part of the crowd, especially the "in" crowd, no matter how boring and, potentially, difficult.

Paulsen, Gary

The Schernoff Discoveries

Harold and his best friend, both hopeless geeks and societal misfits, try to survive unusual science experiments, the attacks of the football team, and other dangers of junior high school.

Peck, Richard

A Year Down Yonder

During the recession of 1937, fifteen-year-old Mary Alice is sent to live with her feisty, larger-than-life grandmother in rural Illinois and comes to a better understanding of this fearsome woman.

Peters, Julie Anne

How Do You Spell Geek?

The relationship between best friends Kimberly and Ann is put to the test when Ann takes a geeky new student under her wing and encourages her to compete against front runner Kimberly in the spelling bee.

Pinkwater, Daniel

Borgel

Melvin recounts his extraordinary adventures in time and space with his 111-year-old sort of great-Uncle Borgel.

Pullman, Philip

I Was a Rat!

A little boy turns life in London upside down when he appears at the house of a lonely old couple and insists he was a rat.

Rennison, Louise

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

Presents the humorous journal of a year in the life of a fourteen-year-old British girl who tries to reduce the size of her nose, stop her mad cat from terrorizing the neighborhood animals, and win the love of handsome hunk Robbie.

Sachar, Louis

Holes

As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself.

Shearer, Alex

The Great Blue Yonder

Harry, a boy who has died, tries to describe what it is like on the "other side," a place known as the Other Lands.

Sheldon, Dyan

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

In her first year at a suburban New Jersey high school, Mary Elizabeth Cep, who now calls herself "Lola," sets her sights on the lead in the annual drama production, and finds herself in conflict with the most popular girl in school.

Snicket, Lemony

The Bad Beginning

After the sudden death of their parents, the three Baudelaire children must depend on each other and their wits when it turns out that the distant relative who is appointed their guardian is determined to use any means necessary to get their fortune.

Soto, Gary

Crazy Weekend

After their photograph of a robbery is published in the newspaper, Hector and Mando find themselves pursued by two goofy thieves.

Soto, Gary

Summer on Wheels

Hector and his best friend Mondo enjoy many exciting adventures when they take a six-day bike trip from their East Los Angeles neighborhood to the Santa Monica beach during summer vacation.

Spinelli, Jerry

Crash

Seventh-grader John "Crash" Coogan has always been comfortable with his tough, aggressive behavior, until his relationship with an unusual Quaker boy and his grandfather's stroke make him consider the meaning of friendship and the importance of family.

Spinelli, Jerry

There’s a Girl In My Hammerlock

Thirteen-year-old Maisie joins her school's formerly all-male wrestling team and tries to last through the season, despite opposition from other students, her best friend, and her own teammates.

Strasser, Todd

How I Spent My Last Night on Earth

When a rumor appears on the Internet that a giant asteroid is about to destroy Earth, Legs Hanover scrambles to meet the boy of her dreams, elusive Andros Bliss.

Twain, Mark

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Recounts the adventures of a young boy and an escaped slave as they travel down the Mississippi River on a raft.

Van Draanen, Wendelin

Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief

Thirteen-year-old Sammy's penchant for speaking her mind gets her in trouble when she involves herself in the investigation of a robbery at the "seedy" hotel across the street from the seniors' building where she is living with her grandmother.