2005 Spring/Summer Junior Novels

HOME

RESOURCES
  Workshops
  Best Books
  Nancy's Books
  Literature Guides
  Handouts

ABOUT NANCY

CONTACT NANCY
Nancy's picks for the best junior novels of Spring/Summer 2005. Compiled by Nancy Polette © 2005.

Last updated: Tuesday, October 07, 2008

 

Aiken, Joan. THE WITCH OF CLATTERING SHAWS. HarperCollins, 2005. Grades 4-6
Another winner from Joan Aiken as with the help of her companions, Dido tackles a royal problem with the help of a witch.
Aldridge, James. THE MARVELLOUS MONGOLIAN. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2005. Grades 4-8
A young boy tries to protect a rare wild horse when news of its existence leaks out.
Bernstein, Nina. MAGIC BY THE BOOK. Farrar, 2005
Can a book cast a spell so strong that it actually transports its readers to another place and time?
Broach, Elise. SHAKESPEARE'S SECRET. Holt, Grades 5-8
Suppose you had a Shakespearean name and suppose there was a million dollar diamond hidden in your new house. Here is a literary mystery full of historical insights and discoveries.
Conly, Jane. IN THE NIGHT ON LANVALE STREET. Holt, 2005. Grades 5-7
A young girl and her brother, a murdered neighbor and a strange man make for a suspenseful mystery.
Cooper, Susan. THE MAGICIAN'S BOY. McElderry Books, 2005. Grades 3-6.
A young boy's search for a missing puppet of St. George is filled with adventures with familiar people.
Cushman, Naren. RODZINA. Randon House, 2005. Grades 5-7
In 1881 12- year- old Rodzina from Poland travels on the orphan train to the west with great reservations.
Feinstein, John. LAST SHOT. Knopf, 2005. Grades 5-8
Steven and Susan have 48 hours to uncover a blackmail plot before the championship game. A Final Four mystery.
Fleischman, Sid. THE GIANT RAT OF SUMATRA OR PIRATES GALORE. Greenwillow, 2005. Grades 4-6.
A cabin boy on a pirate ship, highjinks, bandits, daring and a lost treasure make a great story.
Gutman, Dan. THE MILLION DOLLAR STRIKE. Hyperion, 2004. Grades 4-6
How do you keep a favorite bowling alley from closing. Two boys conince the owmer to try by offering a million dollar strike. Someone wants the bowling alley closed and will do almost amything to bring that about. A fast, hard-to-put-down read.
Greene, Stephanie. OWEN FOOTE, MIGHTY SCIENTIST. Illustrated by Cat Bowman-Smith. Clarion Books, 2004. Grades 2-4
Science fair projects can go very wrong if partners disagree, but friendship can get them back on track.
Johnston, Tony. THE SPOON IN THE BATHROOM WALL. Harcourt, 2005. Grades 4-6
Visit Bloggins School with misbehaving dragons, horrible principals dancing eggs and a giant glowing tongue...a very funny story!
Hussey, Charmian. THE VALLEY OF SECRETS. Simon & Schuster, 2005. Grades 5-7.
An orphan becomes heir to a great estate filled with creepy goings-on. A great read aloud!
King-Smith, Dick. THE GOLDEN GOOSE. Knopf, 2005. Grades 2-4
If your family owned a golden goose, how long could they keep it a secret?
Lindgren, Astrid. THE RED BIRD. Illustrated by Marit Tornqvist. Holiday House, 2005. Grades 2-4
Two children work hard on a farm when a red bird leads them to a land of plenty but to stay there they must make an impossible choice.
Mackel, Kathy. MAD CAT. HarperCollins, 2005. Grades 4-6
A girls' fastpitch softball team discovers that friendship might be more impotant than winning.
Maloney, James. BLACK TAXI. HarperCollins, 2005. Grades 7-9
A fast paced mystery novel about stolen jewels, juggling boys and a burnished black Mercedes.
Morris, Jennifer. COME LLAMAS. Delacorte, 2005. Grades 5-7
JT finds rough going on an Alaskan llama ranch when a bear takes half the herd.
Rinaldi, Ann. NINE DAYS A QUEEN. HaprerCollins, 2005. Grades 6-8
A historical novel based on the short life and reign of Lady Jane Grey with strong writing and fascinating historical detail.
Seabrooke, Brenda. STONEWOLF. Holiday House, 2005. Grades 5-8
The orphanage to Nicholas meant fear and hunger. When he was mysteriously taken away by a stranger he finds his life in a castle is that of a prisoner until the secrets of his mind can be unlocked.
Taylor, Thedore. ICE DRIFT Harcourt, 2004. Grades 5-7
In 1868 two young boys are seal hunting when the ice floe they are on breaks away from the land beginning a six month long journey with bitter cold, starvation and vicious polar bears. A great adventure story fom a master story teller.
Winnick, Karen B. CASSIE'S SWEET BERRY PIE. Boyds Mill, Grades 2-4.
Civil War raiders are heading to Casssie's home. She is alone with her siblings. How can she save the family's food supply? A charming story of a resourceful young girl.
Yen Nah, Adelinee. CHINESE CINDERELLA AND THE SECRET DRAGON SOCIETY. HarperCollins, 2004. Grades 5-8
A sheltered Chinese girl suffers at the hands of her stepmother and seeks refuge at a martial arts school, resulting in a daring mission to rescue U.S. airmen. An exciting tale!
\