Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (3–6)
by Judy Blume
In this beloved book, Peter finds his demanding 2-year-old brother an ever increasing problem.

Misty of Chincoteague (3–6)
by Marguerite Henry
Beloved by generations of children, this classic horse story about following dreams and learning to let go was named a Newbery Honor Book.

Because of Winn-Dixie (4–6)
by Kate DiCamillo
When 10-year-old India Opal Buloni befriends a lively stray dog in this Newbery Honor book, the canine helps her meet some unusual characters who teach her about love, life, and forgiveness.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (4–6)
by Jon Scieszka
Imagine a comic retelling of some of our best-loved fairy tales. In this Caldecott Honor book, readers encounter "Cinderumpelstiltskin," "Little Red Running Shorts," and "The Princess and the Bowling Ball," to name a few.

Bridge to Terabithia (4–6)
by Katherine Paterson
In this Newbery winner, Jess and Leslie create their own kingdom in the woods until tragedy strikes and one of them must face life alone.

Bud, Not Buddy (4–6)
by Christopher Paul Curtis
In this Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award winner, 10-year-old Bud is boy on the run — and on a mission. His momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clue, and nothing is going to stop Bud.

A Series of Unfortunate Events (4–7)
by Lemony Snicket
This inventive series brings a whole new perspective to bad luck. Follow the adventures of the Baudelaire orphans as they fight for their survival — and unravel a mystery.

Dicey’s Song (4–7)
by Cynthia Voigt
In this Newbery winner, keeping her family together is what 13-year-old Dicey does best. But now that all four Tillerman children have found a new home with their grandmother, Dicey has to learn the hard lesson of letting go.

Esperanza Rising (4–8)*
by Pam Munoz Ryan
Thirteen-year-old Esperanza's world changes completely when she and her mother are forced to leave their comfortable life in Mexico and work in a labor camp in California.

Island of the Blue Dolphins (4–8)
by Scott O’Dell
Based on a true story, this classic tells the story of a young Indian girl who lives alone on a Pacific island for 18 years. This fictionalized account brings to life the adventures that follow her as she perseveres to survive.

Dogsong (4–8)
by Gary Paulsen
Russell, a 14-year-old Eskimo boy, longs for the old ways and traditions of his forefathers, and begins a journey of self-discovery across the tundra.

The Outsiders (5–7)
by S.E. Hinton
Ponyboy and his gang are tough. What will happen when things go wrong? When it was first published in 1967, The Outsiders defied convention. Thirty years later, it speaks to teenagers as powerfully as ever.

The Moves Make the Man (5–9)
by Bruce Brooks
In this Newbery Honor book, two boys form an unlikely, and sometimes precarious, friendship centered on the basketball court.

Sounder (6–8)
by William H. Armstrong
Winner of the Newbery Medal and an acknowledged landmark in children's literature, Sounder traces the keen sorrow and abiding faith of a poor African-American boy in the 19th-century South.

The Dark Is Rising series (6–8)
by Susan Cooper
In this acclaimed series about good versus evil, a group of childen must find and guard the six great Signs of Light in order to overcome the forces of the Dark.

Fallen Angels (6–9)*
by Walter Dean Myers
This critically acclaimed novel tells the story of one young man's tour of duty in Vietnam.

My Brother Sam Is Dead (8–9)
by Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier
During the troubled times of the Revolutionary War, Tim Meeker is thrust into a conflict that raises the issue of loyalty within himself, his family, and his country.