The Country School
Suggested Reading List
Intermediate Grades
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary (1984 Newbery Award Winner)
After his parents separate, Leigh Botts moves to a new town with his mother. Struggling to make friends and deal with his anger toward his absent father, Leigh loses himself in a class assignment in which he must write to his favorite author. When Mr. Henshaw responds, the two form an unexpected friendship that will change Leigh's life forever.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien (1972 Newbery Award Winner)
books by Roald Dahl
Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater (1939 Newbery Honor Award)
A classic of American humor, the adventures of a house painter and his brood of high-stepping penguins have delighted children for generations. "Here is a book to read aloud in groups of all ages. There is not an extra or misplaced word in the whole story."
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school -- and he's always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever...the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle. Soon the school is in an uproar, and Nick has become a local hero. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn't belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there's nothing Nick can do to stop it.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis,
Classic fantasy story for kids. Parents need to know that the plot and writing, although superior, are somewhat dated, and the art is small and simplistic. The language is simple but precise, and the main characters act valiantly to help save Narnia from the White Queen's enchantment (though one is initially caught under her sway). Contains bits of British culture and Christian allegory.
Maniac McGee by Jerry Spinelli
Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee might have lived a normal life if a freak accident hadn't made him an orphan. After living with his unhappy and uptight aunt and uncle for eight years, he decides to run--and not just run away, but run. This is where the myth of Maniac Magee begins, as he changes the lives of a racially divided small town with his amazing and legendary feats.
Crash by Jerry Spinelli
Jerry Spinelli's hilarious, poignant story of cocky seventh-grade superjock Crash Coogan.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963- by Christopher Paul Curtis
A wonderful middle-grade novel narrated by Kenny, 9, about his middle-class black family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Kenny's 13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be too much trouble, they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who can shape him up. And they happen to be in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blown up.
Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis
It’s 1936, in Flint, Michigan, and when 10-year-old Bud decides to hit the road to find his father, nothing can stop him.
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.
The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann (2015 Nutmeg Award Winner)
Alex finds out he is an Unwanted, he expects to die. That is the way of the people of Quill. Each year, all the thirteen-year-olds are labeled as Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Wanteds get more schooling and train to join the Quillitary. Necessaries keep the farms running. Unwanteds are set for elimination.
The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods
Violet is a smart, funny, brown-eyed, brown-haired girl in a family of blondes. Her mom is white, and her dad, who died before she was born, was black. She attends a mostly white school where she sometimes feels like a brown leaf on a pile of snow. Now that Violet’s eleven, she decides it’s time to learn about her African American heritage. Despite getting off to a rocky start trying to reclaim her dad’s side of the family, she feels her confidence grow as the pieces of her life start coming together.
Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
Liesl’s only friends are shadows until the night a ghost named Po emerges from the darkness. That very night, an alchemist’s apprentice, Will, accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something far less remarkable. Will’s mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Ivan is an easygoing gorilla who has lived at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade for 9,000 days. He has grown accustomed to the humans who watch him through the glass walls of his domain. Ivan mostly thinks about TV shows he watches – that is, until a baby elephant named Ruby joins the small mall menagerie (which also includes a stray dog named Bob). Ivan’s protective Silverback instincts empower him to try to make changes for the three of them.
One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson
All Hal ever wanted was a dog. When he realizes that Fleck, the dog his parents give him for his birthday, is only a rental, Hal and his canine companion go on the lam. The pair are joined by other dogs-for-rent who also long for freedom, and by Hal’s new friend, Pippa, on a quest for happiness.
Pie by Sarah Weeks
When Alice’s Aunt Polly, the Pie Queen of Ipswitch, dies, she takes the secret to her world-famous pie-crust recipe with her to the grave. Her will directs that the recipe be given to her extraordinarily fat, remarkably disagreeable cat Lardo…and that Lardo be cared for by her niece Alice. Soon, everyone in town is trying to be the next pie-contest winner. It’s up to Alice and her friend Charlie to discover the secret to Polly’s recipe.
Winterling by Sarah Prineas
Fer has always felt she doesn’t quite belong in this world. One night, she rescues a boy in the woods, only the boy isn’t exactly human. He invites her into the Way where Fer feels strangely at home. However, Fer senses that something is out of balance in this other place. If she is to help prevent eternal winter from gripping both sides of the Way, she must first understand the magic and unravel the mystery she faces.