Dear Mr. Henshaw (1983)

By Beverly Cleary
ISBN 978-0-688-02405-5

Leigh Botts has been author Boyd Henshaw's number one  fan ever since he was in second grade. Now in sixth grade, Leigh lives with

his mother and is the new kid at school. He's lonely, troubled by the absence of his father, a cross-country trucker, and angry because

a mysterious thief steals from his lunchbag. Then Leigh's teacher assigns a letter-writing project. Naturally Leigh chooses to write to

Mr. Henshaw, whose surprising answer changes Leigh's life.

 

Dear Mr. Henshaw is a touching story, kind of a "coming-of-age" tale for an elementary school child. But instead of seeing this tale through a typical narrative, we see this character's growth through letters that he writes to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw.  Cleary does a wonderful job demonstrating that growth, through decisions he makes and the improvements we see in his writing.  Children will appreciate the supportive relationship portrayed between student and teacher/adult role model. 

The Gollywhopper Games (2010)

By Jody Feldman
ISBN-13: 978-0061214523

To twelve-year-old Gil Goodson’s delight, out of 4,500 kids standing in line when the gate to the Golly Toy and Game Company opens, he miraculously manages to be one of the few selected to get into the Gollywhopper Games Competition. The winner of the Gollywhopper Games will receive cash, a college scholarship, and all sorts of Golly toys and games. The main reason Gil wants to win, however, is to clear his father’s name. His father, a former employee of the Golly Toy Company was wrongly accused of embezzlement. Follow along with him as he desperately tries to solve the increasingly difficult brainteasers and puzzles, traveling through the maze of games to the finish. Have fun figuring out all of the challenging Golly Whopper brainteasers along the way too. Read to find out how this suspenseful game ends.

The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906

By Lawrence Yep
ISBN-13: 978-0060008468

Tuesday, April 17, 1906, it is early evening in San Francisco. Streetlights come on. People hurry home. No one knows about the danger below. Underneath their feet, the earth begins to stir. Wednesday morning on Sacramento Street.  Early the next morning, Henry Travis hears a low rumbling.  It sounds like a train coming….  Windows rattle.  Doors thump. There is a crash above him. Wednesday morning in Chinatown across town, Henry’s friend Chin waits for the trembling to stop.  But it goes on and on…”The tenement is falling!” Chin’s father shouts.  Walls crack and crumble.  Windows shatter.  Broken glass sprays like little daggers.
The Earth Dragon has awakened….with a vengeance.
Travel back in time to the spring of 1906, to experience the Great San Francisco Earthquake through the eyes of two boys from very different backgrounds.  When the quake subsides, Henry and Chin and their families are lucky to be alive.  But now they must escape the fires that have broken out and find their way to safety.

11 Birthdays (2010)

By Wendy Mass
ISBN-13: 978-0545052405

It's Amanda's 11th birthday and she is super excited—-after all, 11 is so different from 10. But from the start, everything goes wrong.  Amanda and Leo were born on the same day and always celebrated their birthdays together until, at their 10th birthday party, Amanda overhears Leo with his friends say some unkind things about her. She gets angry and refuses to talk to him ever again! Their 11th birthday will be Amanda’s and Leo’s first one with separate parties. That means their friends will have to choose – and choose they do. Imagine Amanda’s surprise when she wakes up the day after her birthday and events begin repeating themselves. What’s happening? On the “third” day, she tests her theory and stays home from school. No matter what she does, she is stuck on her 11th birthday. When Amanda discovers the same thing is happening to Leo, they must combine forces to figure out how to break the cycle.

Safe at Home

By Mike Lupica
ISBN-13: 978-0142414606

Nick Crandall feels like he doesn’t belong anywhere. He doesn’t fit in with his new foster parents. They don’t know the first thing about sports—and he’s not exactly the model student they want him to be. And Nick certainly doesn’t belong playing varsity baseball. He’s only twelve years old! His teammates want a catcher their own age. But Nick needs to prove that he belongs—to his parents, to his team, and to himself.

A Single Shard (2002)

By Linda Sue Park

ISBN-13: 978-0395978276

Tree-ear is an orphan.  In medieval Korea, this leaves him little hope for the future.  When his parents died, he was sent to live with the monks.  Instead, he finds a home under the bridge with Crane-man, a crippled beggar who takes Tree-ear in.  Through the years, Crane-man takes care of Tree-ear and teaches him what he can.  Now 12-years-old, Tree-ear is an experienced scavenger.  He knows all the good places to find food.  On his daily journey, he loves to stop by the home of Min the potter.  Min makes such beautiful pottery.  Tree-ear longs to feel the clay and have the knowledge of the potter, that could never be though.

This 2002 Newberry Medal winner is a breathtaking story set in 12th-century Korea. Readers are transported to the village of Ch'ul'po. Tree Ear becomes immersed in the world of pottery, and along the way grows into the type of person he was always meant to be.  A poignant story of self-discovery.

Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook (2005)

By Shel Silverstein 
ISBN-13: 978-0060256531

Meet Runny Babbit.  He has lots of friends like Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Rirty Dat, Dungry Hog, Snerry Jake, and many others who speak a topsy-turvy language all their own.

"Runny got the picken chox
And had to bay in sted,
With sped rots on his belly
And sped rots on his head.
His friends all gave him sicken choup,
Bumgalls and bicorice lends,
And guess what little Runny Babbitt
Fave to all his griends!"