"CLA reading list".

Zusak, Marcus. THE BOOK THIEF. At nine years old, Liesel Meminger is taken from her mother to live with a foster family in Molching, Germany, during Hitler's rise to power. A most unusual narrator, Death, recounts tales about Liesel's life and the lives of the people she comes to love in her neighborhood.

INTO THE WEST

Carbone, Elisa. LAST DANCE ON HOLLADAY STREET. When Eva's adoptive parents die, she is sent to live with the birth mother she has never met--who turns out to be a prostitute in a brothel on frontier Denver's infamous Holladay Street. How can Eva learn to make her own happiness in her new home?

Durrant, Lynda. THE SUN, THE RAIN, AND THE APPLE SEED: A NOVEL OF JOHNNY APPLESEED'S LIFE. Johnny Appleseed makes it his mission in life to plant apple seeds in the frontier lands of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

Larson, Kirby. HATTIE BIG SKY. When Hattie Brooks sets out to claim a homestead in Montana, left to her by an uncle she never knew, she has little idea what is in store for her. Soon she comes to love the land, the people, and the life she will have to fight to preserve.

Nuzum, K.A. A SMALL WHITE SCAR. Will dreams of two things: being a rodeo rider and being free of caring for his brother Danny, who has Down syndrome. When Will sets off to pursue his rodeo dream, Danny follows, forcing them both to confront the ties that bind them.

Wilson, Diane Lee. BLACK STORM COMIN'. To save his family when they are dropped by a wagon train and stranded on the way west, biracial Colton turns to the extremely dangerous but well-paying Pony Express. To become a rider, he must lie about his age and pass for white.

CARTOON NETWORK

Kuper, Peter. STICKS AND STONES. The stone tribe attacks the stick tribe in this timeless story of power, greed, destruction, love, and hope, told in a wordless graphic novel.

Medley, Linda. CASTLE WAITING. After Sleeping Beauty leaves the castle with her prince, ladies-in-waiting Patience, Prudence, and Plenty stay on to provide a home for those in need. Before long, their home includes pregnant Lady Jain, stork-headed Rackham, and Sister Peace, a wisecracking bearded nun.

Vaughan, Brian K. RUNAWAYS: PRIDE AND JOY. Alex and his friends aren't the only kids ever to accuse their parents of being evil, but they might be the only ones to know for certain that it is true. When Alex and his friends accidentally witness their parents kill an innocent woman, they discover their parents' hidden identity as super-villains.

Yang, Gene Luen. AMERICAN BORN CHINESE. Three stories intertwine: Jin tries to fit in at school despite his Taiwanese background, the legendary Monkey King longs to transcend his monkey nature and become a god, and a white sitcom character is humiliated by his absurdly stereotyped visiting Chinese cousin.

JUST THE FACTS

Coleman, Janet Wyman. SECRETS, LIES, GIZMOS, AND SPIES: A HISTORY OF SPIES AND ESPIONAGE. Spies from all over the world and throughout history are described, as well as the tools and techniques they used to ply their trade.

Farrell, Jeanette. INVISIBLE ALLIES: MICROBES THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES. What do cheese, bread, and chocolate have in common? They're all made by microbes--tiny organisms that sometimes make us sick, but also make life as we know it possible ... and delicious!

Fleischman, Sid. ESCAPE! THE STORY OF THE GREAT HOUDINI. As a magician himself, the author brings a deep understanding to the life of the world's greatest conjurer and escape artist.

Gilblin, James Cross. GOOD BROTHER, BAD BROTHER. Edwin Booth's reputation as a classical actor, built over years of study and performances, was destroyed when his brother, John Wilkes Booth, assassinated Abraham Lincoln.

Oppenheim, Joanne. DEAR MISS BREED. Many young Japanese-Americans received letters and care packages from their friend Miss Breed, the children's librarian at the San Diego Public Library, after they were sent to Japanese internment camps during World War II. Years later, their letters and recollections chronicle a courageous woman who refused to forget and lobbied to protect these innocent Americans.

HITCHCOCK PRESENTS

Abrahams, Peter. DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: AN ECHO FALLS MYSTERY. When one of Echo Falls' most eccentric residents is murdered, 13-year-old Ingrid must find the murderer while also trying to balance school, her parents, playing soccer, and rehearsing her part as the lead in the town's production of Alice in Wonderland.

Bajoria, Paul. THE PRINTER'S DEVIL. Mog, an orphaned printer's apprentice in 18th-century London, meets a boy who looks just like him, and together they follow dangerous clues to solve the mystery of their past.

Lisle, Janet Taylor. BLACK DUCK. During the Prohibition era of 1929, young Ruben is plunged into a gripping mystery after discovering a body on the beach. With both the New York City and Boston mobs after him, it is vital that Ruben figure out who killed the rumrunners from the legendary boat Black Duck.

Werlin, Nancy. DOUBLE HELIX. When Eli is hired by famed geneticist Dr Quincy Wyatt the summer after his senior year, Eli's normally easygoing father forbids him to accept the job. When Eli discovers his father's distrust of Wyatt is linked to Eli's mother, who is dying of Huntington's disease, Eli relentlessly pursues the truth about Wyatt and his lab, and ultimately, himself.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Adlington, L.J. THE DIARY OF PELLY D. While working on a demolition crew in City Five, Tony V unearths the diary of Pelly D, a teenage girl whose world revolves around being pretty and popular. In this futuristic world where genetic strains are all-important, Pelly D's journal tells of her quick slide from the top of the social strata to the bottom.

Hautman, Pete. RASH. In ultra-safe 21st-century America, any loss of self-control can land you in jail. When Bo is sentenced to prison labor in a McDonald's pizza factory in the far north, he confronts a new and much more dangerous way of life.

McNaughton, Janet. THE SECRET UNDER MY SKIN. In the year 2368, following a "technocaust," bright, inquisitive Blay Raytees is chosen to assist the new "bio-indicator" so that she can successfully monitor environmental toxin levels.

Westerfeld, Scott. UGLIES. Tally can't wait to turn 16 and get the operation that will make her perfectly beautiful--but when her friend Shay runs away to avoid the operation, Tally is given a choice: find the rebels who helped Shay escape, or never turn Pretty at all.

FANTASY ISLAND

Beddor, Frank. THE LOOKING GLASS WARS. Alice in Wonderland is turned on its head: Alyss Heart must battle her evil Aunt Redd for control of Wonderland and keep the kingdom intact.

Delaney, Joseph. THE LAST APPRENTICE: REVENGE OF THE WITCH. Tom, the 7th son of a 7th son, is sent to apprentice with the Spook, who rids the county of ghosts, ghasts, boggarts, and witches.

Flanagan, John. THE RUINS OF GORLAN. After being rejected by Battleschool, and with no other options, 15-year-old Will is taken in by the mysterious and reclusive Ranger Halt to train as his apprentice. Here he learns that there is more to protecting the kingdom than brawn and swordsmanship.

Knox, Elizabeth. DREAMHUNTER. In a turn-of-the-century society, dreamhunters are highly valued for their ability to enter "the Place," harvest a dream, then sell it to customers. Fifteen-year-old cousins Rose and Laura prepare to be tested to see if they have this gift, while they also try to solve the disappearance of Laura's father, the first dreamhunter.

Paver, Michelle. SPIRIT WALKER. In the second book of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, 12-year-old Torak embarks on a journey to find a cure for the serious illness that threatens the clans of the Forest.

Thompson, Kate. THE NEW POLICEMAN. J.J. Liddy learns that he is the only one who can try to repair a cosmic time leak between his world and a magical one. If successful, he can help his village regain time that is rapidly disappearing and face the dark rumors about his family.

Turner, Meg Whalen. THE KING OF ATTOLIA. After stealing and marrying the Queen of Attolia, Eugenides must convince the kingdom that he is worthy of the title. This follow-up to The Thief and The Queen of Attolia continues the political intrigue and espionage as it explores the complex romantic relationship of the monarchs.

FAMILY MATTERS

Alvarez, Julia. FINDING MIRACLES. Milly tries to be just another American teenager, but when she meets a boy from the turbulent Latin American country where she was adopted, she becomes desperate to know more about her past.

Gregory, Nan. I'LL SING YOU ONE-O. Twelve-year-old Gemma is taken from her loving foster family to live with a twin brother and relatives she never knew she had. Furious and homesick, she attempts to call down an angel to help her.

Leavitt, Martine. HECK SUPERHERO. In order to face the harsh realities of living on the street, a 13-year-old boy bounces back and forth between his fantasy of being a "superhero," like in his comics, and real life.

MacPhail, Catherine. DARK WATERS. When a boy rescues a girl from drowning, his act of heroism opens up new opportunities and choices, resulting in conflict with his family, especially his thuggish older brother.

Marchetta, Melina. SAVING FRANCESCA. As one of a small group of girls to attend a formerly all-boys school in Sydney, Francesca feels like her 16th year is already tough enough, but when the mother she always depended upon becomes depressed and unable to get out of bed, Francesca turns to an unlikely group of friends to help her get through this time and rediscovers herself in the process.

McKay, Hilary. CADDY EVER AFTER. In this continuation of the saga of the dysfunctional, endearing Casson family, which began with Saffy's Angel, different family members' stories intertwine. Having dumped darling Michael, Caddy is swept away by Alex.

Schmidt, Gary. FIRST BOY. Left alone on a dairy farm in New Hampshire after his grandfather dies, 14-year-old Cooper is trying to keep the farm going as well as his school life, when he becomes the center of a presidential election.

Sonnenblick, Jordan. DRUMS, GIRLS AND DANGEROUS PIE. Eighth-grader Steven plays the drums, is tongue-tied around girls, and has a cute but annoying younger brother who has just been diagnosed with leukemia. Amidst confusion, anxiety, and frustration, Steven tries to do the right thing for everybody.

Weeks, Sarah. SO B. IT. Heidi cares for her severely mentally challenged mother with the help of a loving neighbor. Driven by the need to learn the truth about her background, 12-year-old Heidi embarks on a cross-country trip to solve the mystery.

Whittenberg, Allison. SWEET THANG. Fourteen-year-old Charmaine's life is turned upside-down when her parents adopt her 6-year-old cousin, Tracy John. Coping with a brat whose mission is to make her life miserable is only one of the problems Charmaine faces.

HISTORY CHANNEL

Grant, K.M. BLOOD RED HORSE. Hosanna, the blood red horse, is a powerful force in the lives of Will and his older brother Gavin as they depart on a crusade with King Richard I.

Kidd, Ronald. MONKEY TOWN: THE SUMMER OF THE SCOPES TRIAL. As a result of an ill-conceived publicity stunt, 15-year-old Frances watches as her beloved teacher, Johnny Scopes, is arrested and tried for teaching evolution. Set in the summer of 1925, this is a fast-paced, fictionalized account of one of the most important trials in American history.

Lester, Julius. DAY OF TEARS: A NOVEL IN DIALOGUE. Lester portrays the experiences of slaves, slave-owners, and abolitionists, from the time of the largest slave auction in United States history in 1859 until slavery was outlawed in this country.

Lester, Julius. TIME'S MEMORY. When Amma, the creator, sends Ekundayo to America to bring comfort to the nyama (spirits) of the captured slaves who have died, Ekundayo experiences loss and sorrow.

Levine, Ellen. CATCH A TIGER BY THE TOE. In 1950s America, an era of intolerance and suspicion, young Jamie holds terrible and powerful secrets about her family's political affiliations, and when those secrets come to light, some of her worst fears are realized.

Mrazek, Robert J. STONEWALL'S GOLD: A NOVEL OF THE CIVIL WAR. In the last winter of the Civil War, 15-year-old Jamie Lockhart, armed with a crude map marking the site of buried gold, sets off on a fast-paced adventure behind enemy lines.

Paterson, Katherine. BREAD AND ROSES, TOO. Rosa, diligent student and daughter of Italian immigrants, is thrown together with homeless orphan Jake in the tumult of a 1912 mill strike, as workers of many ethnicities unite in the struggle for better wages and conditions.

Rinaldi, Ann. NUMBERING ALL THE BONES. In the last days of the Civil War and the months following, Eulinda, a 13-year-old house slave, learns how to "make herself come true" with some help from Clara Barton at the Andersonville Prison.

MISSION: ADVENTURE

Bateman, Colin. RUNNING WITH THE RESERVOIR PUPS. In an attempt to get in good with the Reservoir Pups, a rough-and-tumble gang of 12-year-olds in his Belfast neighborhood, Eddie stumbles upon a baby-napping scheme that makes the antics of the Pups seem tame by comparison.

Higson, Charlie. SILVERFIN: A JAMES BOND ADVENTURE. Bond. James Bond. As a 14-year-old, the young Bond fights injustice long before he grows to be the romantic international spy.

Key, Watt. ALABAMA MOON. Moon and his father live alone in the forest, where Pap teaches Moon to live off the land and prepare for the war Pap is sure is coming--until Pap dies and Moon is sent to an orphanage. When he and his new friends escape to the woods, Moon starts to question his father's beliefs.

Lewis, Richard. THE KILLING SEA. Sarah, an American tourist, and Ruslan, an Indonesian mechanic's son, are separated from their families during the devastating 2004 tsunami. As they struggle to survive, they grow to care deeply about one another.

Oppel, Kenneth. SKYBREAKER. In the sequel to Airborn, Matt Cruise has graduated from cabin boy to Paris Airship Academy, but his eyes are still set on adventure. When the captain of Matt's training ship, the Hyperion, decides to go after a legendary flying ghost ship, Matt risks everything in the pursuit, including his love, Kate de Vries.

Riordan, Richard. THE SEA OF MONSTERS. In this sequel to The Lightning Thief, Percy and Annabelle, half-human children of Greek gods, run away from Camp Halfblood to rescue their friend Grover.

FRIENDS

Hautman, Pete. INVISIBLE. Dougie is an awkward loner who spends all his free time building model train sets, and his best friend Andy is a popular jock. They talk about everything--except what happened at the Tuttle place a few years ago.

Pearsall, Shelley. ALL OF THE ABOVE. The seemingly impossible task of building the world's largest tetrahedron brings five students and their teacher together and builds connections, community, and pride.

Perkins, Lynne Rae. CRISS CROSS. Tiny sketches, snapshots, and unusual narrative devices weave through this story, which explores interconnectedness and possibility in Debbie's small-town world during a dreamy, wishful high school spring and summer.

Sanchez, Alex. SO HARD TO SAY. Xio loves chocolate, talking, and now Frederick, the new boy in her junior high--but Frederick seems to have eyes for his soccer teammate Victor.

Shusterman, Neal. THE SCHWA WAS HERE. Antsy's friend the Schwa is "functionally invisible"--most people don't even notice he's there. With the Schwa's unique power and Antsy's business sense, the possibilities are endless!

X-FILES

Almond, David. CLAY. In a small English town, a bullied altar boy, Davie, falls under the spell of a strange new kid, Stephen. Stephen's creation of a clay monster scares Davie, especially after he finds out that his tormentor is dead.

Blackwood, Gary. SECOND SIGHT. In this alternate history, Joseph Ehrlich and his father create a mind-reading act and start performing on stage. Joseph meets a girl named Cassandra Quinn, a true clairvoyant, who foresees President Lincoln's assassination. Will they be able to stop it?

Cooper, Susan. VICTORY. After discovering a small piece of a flag tucked in a book, Molly is haunted by Sam, a young sailor who was forced to serve on the HMS Victory in 1803 under Admiral Nelson.

Griffin, Adele. WHERE I WANT TO BE. Sisters who were once close grow apart. When one of them dies suddenly, they reach across the void between death and life to come to terms with anger, jealousy, and love.

Miller, Kirsten. KIKI STRIKE: INSIDE THE SHADOW CITY. Remarkable, mysterious Kiki recruits a gang of renegade Girl Scouts to explore a forgotten city beneath Manhattan. Is she merely out for adventure, or does she have a bigger plan?

Sedgwick, Marcus. THE BOOK OF DEAD DAYS. During the Dead Days--the time between Christmas and New Year's--a desperate, aging magician, Valerian, whose life depends on his ability to find a powerful book, forces his servant, "Boy," and an orphan girl, Willow, to help him in his quest and risks all their lives in the process.

REALITY SHOW

Budhos, Marina. ASK ME NO QUESTIONS. Nadira and her family have overstayed their tourist visa from Bangladesh, and in the wake of September 11th, their status as illegal aliens is more dangerous than ever.

Collard, Sneed B. DOG SENSE: A NOVEL. Guy is new in town, and when he gets into trouble with the local bully, he bets that his beloved dog will win a frisbee-catching contest, inadvertently putting his ownership of the dog at stake.

Dowell, Frances O'Roark. CHICKEN BOY. Isolated at school and neglected at home, Tobin is rescued by friendship with a chicken-obsessed new kid and his little brother, a budding business tycoon.

Hobbs, Valerie. DEFIANCE. Weary of difficult medical treatments, Toby decides not to tell his anxious parents that his cancer has returned. An elderly neighbor becomes an unexpected friend and ally.

La Rochelle, David. ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NOT.... In this touching, sometimes-hilarious story, 16-year-old Steven tries desperately to convince himself that he is not gay. His ultimate coming out elicits a wide range of unexpected reactions.

McCormick, Patricia. SOLD. Sold into prostitution by her stepfather at the age of 13, Lakshmi is beaten, starved, and drugged into submission. Her heartbreaking story is an unflinching look at sexual slavery as it exists today.

Porter, Pamela. THE CRAZY MAN. In this verse novel, Angus, a "crazy man" from the nearby mental institution, helps Emaline and her mother farm their land in the Canadian prairies after an accident drives Emaline's father away.

Rorby, Ginny. HURT GO HAPPY. Joey, a 13-year-old deaf girl, learns about life, love, trust, and American Sign Language from a chimpanzee named Sukari.

SPORTS NATION

Gratz, Alan. SAMURAI SHORTSTOP. Toyo is a 16-year-old student attending an elite boarding school in Japan in 1890, when the country is changing from a feudal society to a more westernized culture. As Toyo applies the traditional samurai values he has learned from his father to baseball, the reader learns how ancient values and modern ways meld.

Murdoc, Catherine Gilbert. DAIRY QUEEN. D.J Schwenk is overworked enough as she tries to keep the family farm running--then she also agrees to secretly train the rival high school's quarterback.

Peet, Mal. KEEPER. World Cup superstar El Gato tells an astonished interviewer the story of how he learned his soccer skills growing up in an isolated logging town in the rain forest.

Ritter, John H. UNDER THE BASEBALL MOON. Andy Ramos is a talented trumpeter and Glory Martinez is a skilled softball player--but when they get together they inspire each other to greatness.

MEMBER SCHOOLS 2006-2007

The Advent School; Bancroft School; Beaver Country Day; Belmont Hill School; Boston Trinity Academy; Brimmer & May School; Brooks School; Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School; Cambridge School of Weston; Cape Cod Academy; Carroll School; Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School; Charles River School; Commonwealth School; Concord Academy; Cushing Academy; Dana Hall School; Dedham Country Day School; Derby Academy; Falmouth Academy; Fay School; The Fenn School; The Fessenden School; Fontbonne Academy; Gann Academy; Governor's Academy; Groton School; Hillside School; Landmark School; Lawrence Academy; Maimonides School; Meadowbrook School; Middlesex School; Milton Academy; Mt. Alvernia High School; Nashoba Brooks School; The Newman School; Newton Country Day School; Noble & Greenough School; Notre Dame Academy; The Park School; Phillips Academy Andover; Pingree School; The Rivers School; The Roxbury Latin School; Sacred Heart High School; Shady Hill School; Shore Country Day School; South Area Solomon Schechter; St. John's High School; St. John's Preparatory School; St. Mark's School; St. Sebastian's School; Tabor Academy; Thayer Academy; Walnut Hill School; The Wheeler School; Whitinsville Christian School; The Winsor School; The Woodward School; Worcester Academy; Xaverian Brothers High School.

This reading list was prepared for the Cooperative Library Association by Dorothea Black, The Park School; Beth Brooks, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School; Lucia Corwin, Meadowbrook School; Diane DeVore, The Rivers School; Marge Farquharson, Dedham Country Day School; Kathy Felson, Deham Country Day School; Lisa Francine, The Fenn School; Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School; Sam Musher, Dana Hall School; Jordana Shaw, Nashoba Brooks School.