Black Beauty by Anne Sewell

Do you love animals? Horses? If so, this is the book for you. Black Beauty is a wonderful classic story about a horse named Black Beauty who is sold over and over again from the moment he is born. Along the way, Black Beauty experiences kindness as well as many cruelties and hardships. He will also meet other horses who he will learn from and love. Read about Black Beauty's life, you will be happy that you did.

Read a-likes: War Horse by Michael Murpurgo and Chancey of the Maury River by Gigi Amateau

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez

Tyler and his family are about to lose their dairy farm in Vermont, their beloved home, because they can no longer keep up with all the work it requires.  Tyler's father has been disabled in a farming accident, his older brother has gone off to college and 11 year-old Tyler is unable to handle the farming work on his own and go to school.  To save the farm, Tyler's parents decide to hire three immigrant men.  They soon learn that one of the three men is raising his three daughters while his wife is away.

The three girls, all named Maria, will be attending Tyler's school next year. Tyler is happy that his family may now save their dairy farm, that is, until his mother tells him not to tell anyone that they have hired a family to work the farm.  It turns out that the three immigrant men are undocumented and Tyler's family could get into trouble for knowingly hiring the three men.  Tyler struggles with the morality of the situation. How could his family break the law?  Why would they ask him to keep such a secret? Is the secret worth keeping if it saves his family farm, his home? What will Tyler do?

Lexile: 890

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Auggie is a very special boy who is born with a facial deformity that prevents him from attending a mainstream school.  However, this year, his mother decides that it is time for Auggie to join other kids his age as he enters the fifth grade. 

Being the new kid on the block is tough but being the new kid with a facial deformity is even tougher. How will Auggie deal with the stares, silent whispers, bullying and teasing he knows are sure come? Will he ever be able to make any friends?

Read-a-likes: Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper.

Lexile 790

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What Students Are Saying:

"Great book. Amazingly funny and shows friends working together. 5 thumbs up."   Comment by Jack ~ 6th Grade