The Pearl by John Steinbeck

In the poor town of La Paz, a young man named Kino lived with his wife and his infant son Coyotito.  One day, while fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, he found the pearl of the world.  Assuming that the pearl would bring great joy to the town, Kimo showed everyone the beauty and largeness of the pearl.  News spread like wildfire.  But, one thing Kino did not notice were the secret enemies waiting to attack and steal the pearl.  Kino's vicious greed for money leads him astray from his bright future.
Jean L., grade 8

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel is a Tamil boy from Pondicherry and son of a zoo keeper.  At the age of 16, Pi, his family, and their animals to North America on a Japanese cargo ship.  Their ship sink and Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra, and a 450-pound Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker.  Not being prepared for the shipwreck, Pi and his animals have no food but the salty Pacific Ocean water surrounding them on all sides.  Will Pi survive with the wild animals?
Jean L., grade 8

The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

Narrated from the second son's point of view, Kenny Watson and his family lived in Flint, Michigan.  Due to his older brother Bryon's constant horrible behavior, the family decided to visit Grandma Sands in Birmingham, Alabama, who is notoriously strict.  To everyone's surprise, Byron started behaving the minute they entered her house.  Everything wend well until their youngest daughter Joetta went to church that was soon to be bombed due to the intense prejudice in the south.
Jean L., grade 8

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

16-year-old Steve Harmon is on trial for participation in a drugstore robbery as "lookout" on the 22nd of December, just before Christmas.  In the robbery, the innocent drugstore owner was shot and killed by James King, the other man on trial with Steve.  Steve and his defense attorney are doubtful that they will win.  For Steve  it is a matter of life behind bars or freedom with his family.  Who will win this case.  This book is strongly recommended for ages 12 and older.
Jean L., grade 8

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

In our society, firemen put out fires and we are encouraged to read books.  However, in the book's society, firemen start fires, burning the forbidden books.  One fireman named Montag gets his mind turned around by a teenage girl explaining how little he knew of the world and how the illegal books he burned could help everyone, even him.  His curiosity grows far too strong to control and steal the books one by one.  This is recommended for ages 10 and older.
by Jean L., grade 8

The Boy in the Striped Pajama by John Boyne

9-year-old Bruno came back home to find out that his father got a promotion to move far away to a boring house in a boring place with nothing to do.  He finds no friends but simply a large fence running across the side of his house.  Bruno is strictly ordered not to go exploring there since he liked exploring.  Unable to resist another day of boredom, Bruno decided to secretly go exploring to find a boy his age, in striped pajamas, living in a whole different world.
Jean L., grade 8

Jungle of Bones by Ben Mikaelsen

The main idea of this book is about a boy named Dylan Barston who spends his summer in Papua New Guinea with his Uncle Todd to shape himself up after all his bad habits. I liked the book because there was much action and adventure. if you like historical fiction or a small read about WWII. This would be a good book for you. For ages 8-13.
Ian W., grade 7