Code Talker: a Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac (2005)

After being taught in a boarding school run by whites that Navajo is a useless language, Ned Begay and other Navajo men are recruited by the Marines to become Code Talkers, sending messages during World War II in their native tongue.
ATOS Reading Level: 6.4 Point Value: 9 Interest Level: MG Quiz: 85819EN

Websites:

Discussion Guide- Georgia Peach Award- go to pg. 3 (pdf)

Discussion Guide- Scholastic Books (pdf)

Literature Circle Questions- Scholastic (pdf)

Down the Rabbit Hole: an Echo Falls Mystery by Peter Abrahams (2005)

Like her idol Sherlock Holmes, eighth grader Ingrid Levin-Hill uses her intellect to solve a murder case in her home town of Echo Falls.
ATOS Reading Level: 4.3 Point Value: 10 Interest Level: MG Quiz: 86936EN

Websites:

Booktalk- Booktalkign Colorado

Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery by John Feinstein (2005)

After winning a basketball reporting contest, eighth graders Stevie and Susan Carol are sent to cover the Final Four tournament, where they discover that a talented player is being blackmailed into throwing the final game.
ATOS Reading Level: 4.8 Point Value: 9 Interest Level: MG Quiz: 85215EN

Websites:

Booktalk- Random House

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (2005)

Percy, expelled from six schools for being unable to control his temper, learns the truth from his mother that his father is the Greek god Poseidon, and is sent to Camp Half Blood where he is befriended by a satyr and the demigod daughter of Athena who join him in a journey to the Underworld to retrieve Zeus's lightning bolt and prevent a catastrophic war.
ATOS Reading Level: 4.7 Point Value: 13 Interest Level: MG Quiz: 89885EN

Websites:

Book Guide- Hyperion (pdf)

Discussion Module- Rhode Island Teen Book Award

Internet Resources- Suzy Red

The Misadventures of Maude March by Audrey Couloumbis (2005)

After the death of the stern aunt who raised them since they were orphaned, eleven-year-old Sallie and her fifteen-year-old sister escape their self-serving guardians and begin an adventure resembling those in the dime novels Sallie loves to read.
ATOS Reading Level: 5.1 Point Value: 11 Interest Level: MG Quiz: 101209EN

Websites:

Booktalk- Random House

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (2005)

While attending a strict academy for potential princesses with the other girls from her mountain village, fourteen-year-old Miri discovers unexpected talents and connections to her homeland.
ATOS Reading Level: 6 Point Value: 10 Interest Level: MG Quiz: 104732EN

Websites:

Booktalk- Booktalking Colorado

The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (2005)

When fifteen-year-old Will is rejected by battleschool, he becomes the reluctant apprentice to the mysterious Ranger Halt, and winds up protecting the kingdom from danger.
ATOS Reading Level: 7 Point Value: 12 Interest Level: MG Quiz: 89662EN

Websites:

Booktalk- Booktalking Colorado

Sleeping Freshman Never Lie by David Lubar (2005)

While navigating his first year of high school and awaiting the birth of his new baby brother, Scott loses old friends and gains some unlikely new ones as he hones his skills as a writer.
ATOS Reading Level: 3.8 Point Value: 9 Interest Level: MG Quiz: 100082EN

Websites:

Audio book Exerpt

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (2005)

Tally is faced with a difficult choice when her new friend Shay decides to risk life on the outside rather than submit to the forced operation that turns sixteen year old girls into gorgeous beauties, and realizes that there is a whole new side to the pretty world that she doesn't like.
ATOS Reading Level: 5.2 Point Value: 13 Interest Level: MG Quiz: 86097EN

Websites:

Reading Guide- Simon and Schuster

Author's Website with Questions and Answers

Vampire High by Douglas Rees (2003)

When his family moves from California to New Sodom, Massachusetts and Cody enters Vlad Dracul Magnet School, many things seem strange, from the dark-haired, pale-skinned, supernaturally strong students to Charon, the wolf who guides him around campus on the first day.
ATOS Reading Level: 4 Point Value: 7 Interest Level: UG Quiz: 74767EN

Websites:

Booktalk- Random House

Book Guide- Louisiana Reader Award (pdf)