Top 100 Middle School Must-Reads
The top 100 books that EHS students should read before they leave middle school. Voted on by Goodreads Book Club Members.
| 1 |
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Harry Potter Boxset (Harry Potter, #1-7) by J.K. Rowling   4.71 avg rating — 50,560 ratings
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| 2 |
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The Giver (The Giver, #1) by Lois Lowry  4.11 avg rating — 265,399 ratings
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| 3 |
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Holes by Louis Sachar  3.91 avg rating — 116,869 ratings
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| 4 |
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The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins 4.54 avg rating — 433,247 ratings
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| 5 |
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The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1) by Rick Riordan 4.13 avg rating — 156,160 ratings
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| 6 |
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The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton 3.95 avg rating — 124,560 ratings
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| 7 |
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Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson 3.88 avg rating — 82,582 ratings
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| 8 |
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Stargirl (Stargirl, #1) by Jerry Spinelli 3.75 avg rating — 53,082 ratings
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| 9 |
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Number the Stars by Lois Lowry 4.05 avg rating — 79,019 ratings
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| 10 |
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The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.10 avg rating — 544,783 ratings
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| 11 |
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The Twilight Collection (Twilight, #1-3) by Stephenie Meyer 3.94 avg rating — 13,104 ratings
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| 12 |
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Hatchet (Hatchet, #1) by Gary Paulsen 3.57 avg rating — 54,488 ratings
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| 13 |
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The Uglies Trilogy (Uglies, #1-3) by Scott Westerfeld 4.07 avg rating — 5,857 ratings
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| 14 |
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Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell 3.74 avg rating — 72,510 ratings
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| 15 |
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Charlie & Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl 4.02 avg rating — 111,600 ratings
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| 16 |
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The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #2) by C.S. Lewis 4.11 avg rating — 247,817 ratings
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| 17 |
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Matilda by Roald Dahl 4.20 avg rating — 97,825 ratings
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| 18 |
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Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein 4.15 avg rating — 486,538 ratings
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| 19 |
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The Magic of Finkleton (Finkleton, #1) by K.C. Hilton (Goodreads Author) 4.00 avg rating — 101 ratings
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| 20 |
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Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 69,474 ratings
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| 21 |
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Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls 3.98 avg rating — 84,055 ratings
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| 22 |
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #1) by Jeff Kinney 3.93 avg rating — 37,031 ratings
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| 23 |
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The Princess Bride by William Goldman 4.19 avg rating — 205,266 ratings
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| 24 |
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Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli 3.85 avg rating — 25,478 ratings
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| 25 |
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Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech 3.95 avg rating — 31,764 ratings
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| 26 |
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Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1) by L.M. Montgomery 4.21 avg rating — 118,106 ratings
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| 27 |
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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 149,054 ratings
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| 28 |
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Twilight (Twilight, #1) by Stephenie Meyer 3.66 avg rating — 843,835 ratings
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| 29 |
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Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan 3.84 avg rating — 12,233 ratings
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| 30 |
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The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank 4.02 avg rating — 523,537 ratings
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| 31 |
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The Lorax by Dr. Seuss 4.35 avg rating — 53,357 ratings
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| 32 |
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The Time Trilogy: A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Time, #1 -3) by Madeleine L'Engle 4.45 avg rating — 2,362 ratings
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| 33 |
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Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien 4.07 avg rating — 32,696 ratings
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| 34 |
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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling 4.29 avg rating — 939,892 ratings
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| 35 |
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Eragon, Eldest & Brisingr (Inheritance, #1-3) by Christopher Paolini 4.11 avg rating — 5,463 ratings
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| 36 |
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2) by J.K. Rowling 4.19 avg rating — 534,880 ratings
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| 37 |
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Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card 4.19 avg rating — 218,440 ratings
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| 38 |
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4) by J.K. Rowling 4.40 avg rating — 539,345 ratings
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| 39 |
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Gathering Blue (The Giver, #2) by Lois Lowry 3.77 avg rating — 23,601 ratings
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| 40 |
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Watership Down by Richard Adams 4.00 avg rating — 73,993 ratings
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| 41 |
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The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #4) by Rick Riordan 4.32 avg rating — 81,288 ratings
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| 42 |
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The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #3) by Rick Riordan 4.23 avg rating — 75,556 ratings
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| 43 |
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The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.55 avg rating — 16,813 ratings
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| 44 |
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5) by J.K. Rowling 4.33 avg rating — 518,256 ratings
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| 45 |
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The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #2) by Rick Riordan 4.13 avg rating — 84,708 ratings
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| 46 |
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7) by J.K. Rowling 4.51 avg rating — 535,103 ratings
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| 47 |
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The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #5) by Rick Riordan 4.43 avg rating — 72,062 ratings
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| 48 |
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3) by J.K. Rowling 4.40 avg rating — 548,300 ratings
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| 49 |
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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6) by J.K. Rowling 4.42 avg rating — 518,317 ratings
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| 50 |
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Julie of the Wolves (Julie of the Wolves, #1) by Jean Craighead George 3.68 avg rating — 13,423 ratings
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| 51 |
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Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins 4.38 avg rating — 296,177 ratings
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| 52 |
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TANGERINE PA by Edward Bloor 3.66 avg rating — 6,647 ratings
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| 53 |
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Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants / Second Summer of the Sisterhood / Girls in Pants (3 Book Set) by Ann Brashares 3.93 avg rating — 707 ratings
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| 54 |
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Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson 3.59 avg rating — 11,007 ratings
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| 55 |
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Extras (Uglies, #4) by Scott Westerfeld 3.59 avg rating — 27,346 ratings
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| 56 |
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What My Mother Doesn't Know (What My Mother Doesn't Know, #1) by Sonya Sones 3.79 avg rating — 5,257 ratings
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| 56 |
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The BFG by Roald Dahl 4.14 avg rating — 56,083 ratings
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| 58 |
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His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman 4.21 avg rating — 38,197 ratings
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| 59 |
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Messenger (The Giver, #3) by Lois Lowry 3.81 avg rating — 13,820 ratings
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| 60 |
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The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall 4.08 avg rating — 8,250 ratings
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| 61 |
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Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse 3.73 avg rating — 14,481 ratings
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| 62 |
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Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars, #1) by Sara Shepard (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 23,212 ratings
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| 63 |
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The Cay by Theodore Taylor 3.63 avg rating — 8,589 ratings
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| 64 |
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Shadow Children (Boxed Set): Among the Hidden; Among the Impostors; Among the Betrayed; Among the Barons by Margaret Peterson Haddix 4.42 avg rating — 599 ratings
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| 65 |
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My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier 3.33 avg rating — 5,103 ratings
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| 66 |
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The Mysterious Benedict Society (Mysterious Benedict Society, #1) by Trenton Lee Stewart (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 18,617 ratings
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| 67 |
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The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.31 avg rating — 136,521 ratings
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| 68 |
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The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen 4.05 avg rating — 8,837 ratings
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| 68 |
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Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads Author) 3.89 avg rating — 66,447 ratings
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| 70 |
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #3) by Jeff Kinney 4.12 avg rating — 17,248 ratings
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| 71 |
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A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle 4.07 avg rating — 8,013 ratings
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| 72 |
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Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt 3.78 avg rating — 49,472 ratings
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| 73 |
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The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 38,702 ratings
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| 74 |
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Life as We Knew It (Last Survivors, #1) by Susan Beth Pfeffer 3.94 avg rating — 20,971 ratings
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| 75 |
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Dicey's Song (Tillerman Cycle, #2) by Cynthia Voigt 3.84 avg rating — 5,287 ratings
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| 76 |
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Nothing But the Truth by Avi 3.21 avg rating — 3,118 ratings
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| 77 |
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Crash by Jerry Spinelli 3.70 avg rating — 3,195 ratings
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| 78 |
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Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 27,099 ratings
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| 79 |
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The Penderwicks on Gardam Street (The Penderwicks, #2) by Jeanne Birdsall 4.17 avg rating — 3,454 ratings
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| 80 |
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Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 16,574 ratings
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| 81 |
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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie 4.19 avg rating — 28,991 ratings
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| 82 |
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Betrayal (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #1) by Robert Stanek 4.54 avg rating — 56 ratings
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| 83 |
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The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson 3.77 avg rating — 4,440 ratings
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| 84 |
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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor 3.72 avg rating — 26,657 ratings
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| 85 |
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Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 3.74 avg rating — 69,005 ratings
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| 86 |
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Marked / Betrayed / Chosen / Untamed (House of Night, #1-4) by P.C. Cast 3.84 avg rating — 84,625 ratings
score: 828,
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9 people voted
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| 87 |
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Vashua's Messenger by Julie Rollins 4.33 avg rating — 21 ratings
score: 791,
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8 people voted
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| 88 |
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Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 27,361 ratings
score: 764,
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9 people voted
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| 89 |
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The Wave by Todd Strasser 3.48 avg rating — 2,101 ratings
score: 744,
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8 people voted
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| 90 |
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Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick 3.97 avg rating — 6,150 ratings
score: 738,
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8 people voted
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| 91 |
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Sold by Patricia McCormick 4.10 avg rating — 8,321 ratings
score: 735,
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8 people voted
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| 92 |
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Arana's Visitor by Julie Rollins 4.16 avg rating — 37 ratings
score: 700,
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7 people voted
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| 92 |
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Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula (Cassidy Jones Adventures, #1) by Elise Stokes (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 112 ratings
score: 700,
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7 people voted
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| 94 |
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Blackwell's Wrath by Julie Rollins 4.37 avg rating — 19 ratings
score: 686,
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7 people voted
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| 95 |
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When Dreams Die by Julie Rollins 4.39 avg rating — 18 ratings
score: 679,
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7 people voted
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| 96 |
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The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt 4.14 avg rating — 7,329 ratings
score: 675,
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8 people voted
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| 97 |
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The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi 3.81 avg rating — 22,381 ratings
score: 667,
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8 people voted
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| 98 |
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Rules by Cynthia Lord 3.98 avg rating — 9,234 ratings
score: 658,
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8 people voted
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| 99 |
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The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 59,081 ratings
score: 638,
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7 people voted
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| 100 |
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Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 3.74 avg rating — 13,094 ratings
score: 607,
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7 people voted
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455 books ·
689 voters ·
list created March 5th, 2009
by Carrie Goodall (votes).
Tags:
11, 12, 13, age, eleven, middle-school, teen, thirteen, twelve, ya, and young-adult
Lists are re-scored approximately every 500 seconds.
Comments (showing 1-28 of 28) (28 new)
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I see wat u mean about that but twilight is very interesting and everyone should be encouraged to read!
I see wat u are saying Laura, but twilight can be enjoyed by all audiances. i was in 5th grade when i read it!
Laura wrote: "Twilight as a must read for MIDDLE SCHOOLERS?? That's 11 to 14 year olds....are we sure about that?"
Twilight... YES. Breaking Dawn is where it gets fuzzier ('specially since she doesn't get out of bed for 20-odd pages....)
Sarah wrote: "Laura wrote: "Twilight as a must read for MIDDLE SCHOOLERS?? That's 11 to 14 year olds....are we sure about that?"
Twilight... YES. Breaking Dawn is where it gets fuzzier ('specially since she d..."
Okay now that makes sense. middle schoolers can read twilight-eclipse(even though i didnt)
Twilight... YES. Breaking Dawn is where it gets fuzzier ('specially since she d..."
Okay now that makes sense. middle schoolers can read twilight-eclipse(even though i didnt)
Laura wrote: "Twilight as a must read for MIDDLE SCHOOLERS?? That's 11 to 14 year olds....are we sure about that?"I've read the whole seriese and im im 8th grade, the only book i regret reading was Breaking dawn, because it has non graphic sexual content, not something i need to read
I think this is a good book list because i will be in middle school next year. And i should probably read some of these then.
yeah read Enders game and the Hobbit there REALLy good!oh and also read Where the read furn grows and Harry potter 9if u haven't read them already
i have read the first book of harry potter but i didnt read the rest because i didnt like the first one.
a reluctant rising 8th grader picked it up and now READS voraciously--as a librarian I say read what you like
and as an 8th grader who LOVES to read, I say, try new books or pick one off the shelf at random. hehe
glad you love to read--
I always told my students (as a Media Specialist) if something is offensive to you --turn the book back in and try something else. It's called Intellectual Freedom. And I was and still am full of suggestions--and I warn of things that might be "too old" for reader. But it;s their choice.
yeah, I've run into that a lot especially when i pull a book off the shelf at random, I read the back and find out about the author before i check it out, (don't encourage V.C. Andrew's books, there not in the middle school "range"
i thought twilight was aimed for 6-10 year olds. but if you are 10, it wil just waste your time, go outside and play.
So far I've read 3/4 of the list! starting with Twilight Saga, to Harry Potter, To stargirl, to What My Mother Doesn't Know which is beyond great! I have read most of the books and loved them <3 and I'm still planning on read the 1/4 I haven't read :]
well yeah, uh there was some "adult" content tho in most of the books. I haven't met a 6 year old yet that's that mature to deal w/ all the kissing and mushy lovey-dovey crap. But the book WAS written very badly. so...
Laura wrote: "Twilight as a must read for MIDDLE SCHOOLERS?? That's 11 to 14 year olds....are we sure about that?"I think Twilight is perfectly fine for middle schoolers, and even New Moon. Now, I would wait a little longer than middle school to read Eclipse or especially Breaking Dawn, but TWILIGHT? Twilight has a few kisses, nothing else.
Chrissy wrote: "i thought twilight was aimed for 6-10 year olds. but if you are 10, it wil just waste your time, go outside and play."Umm... 6-10 year olds? 6 year olds are still just learning to write in cursive... I don't think that any six year old is ready for that. Even ten year olds, that's just too much. aren't you ten in FOURTH grade? that's not even out of elementary school, thats when they are still guided around by parents and teachers all day. sorry Chrissy, but where did you get the idea that Twilight is for 6-10 year olds when mothers all over th country are not letting their teens read it because of it's "mature content"?
I agree - Twilight is a joke. Encourage kids to read, yes. Twilight on a list of must reads? I'm sorry but when I was in middle school our reading list was full of classics, not movie adaptations.
About Twilight? Uhmm... no. I would like to read something other than a girl in love with a vampire. The first book is good enough, but the rest of the series goes on and on about how awesome is to be with a vampire. Read them all, so I talk as a former Twilighter. Edward Cullen doesn't really exist and thank God for that!
I'm all for intellectual freedom for readers but as far as the Twilight series goes I'm not sure I would let my middle-schooler read those. There's not enough in the context advocating a woman's independence when in a tough situation. Not to mention some of the graphic content.
Twilight is a book that kids in middle school that don't like to read should read. It's that shallow.
I would never recommend twilight to my younger sister...I would like her to read Holes, though. And also HP, PJO series, Bridge to Terabithia and many more. I want her to learn and discover a whole new world of fantasies and excitement, just like me....I want her to be a reader...(*smile*)
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