Each listing includes Lexile level, Accelerated Reading level (AR), and interest level (IL).
Under the Same Sky - While trying to earn money for a motor bike, fourteen-year-old Joe Pederson becomes involved with the illegal Mexicans who work on his family's farm and tries to help them avoid detection. Lexile 750, AR 4.8, Interest Level 5-8
Heat by Mike Lupica - Pitching prodigy Michael Arroyo is trying to avoid social services after being sidelined from playing Little League baseball because rival coaches doubt he is only twelve years old and he has no parents or birth certificate to offer them proof. Lexile 940, AR 5.3, IL 5-8
Saving Francesca - Sixteen-year-old Francesca struggles to fit at an all boy’s school that has just become co-ed, while also dealing with her mother’s sudden and mysterious bout with depression. Lexile 770, AR 4.8, IL 7-12
Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time by Lisa Yee - After flunking sixth-grade English, basketball prodigy Stanford Wong struggles to pass his summer school class, keep his failure a secret from his friends, and satisfy his demanding father. Lexile 650, AR 3.8, IL 3-6
The Wedding Planner's Daughter by Coleen Paratore - Willa, a romantic girl who wants her wedding planner mother to remarry and stay in one place (Cape Cod) for more than two years at a time, plays matchmaker. Lexile 780, AR 4.9, IL 3-6
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick - Thirteen-year-old Steven struggles to hold his life together (including school, friends, and girls) after finding out his younger brother is has leukemia. Lexile 940, AR 5.9, IL 5-8
Rules by Cynthia Lord - Twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal life, but feels hindered by her autistic brother and new friendship with a paraplegic. Lexile 780, AR 3.9, IL 3-6
Eggs by Jerry Spinelli - Mourning the accidental loss of his mother, nine-year-old David, the avid rule follower, forms an unlikely friendship with independent, rebellious, thirteen-year-old Primrose, as the two help each other deal with what is missing in their lives. Lexile 610, AR 3.6, IL 3-6
Chicken Boy by Francis O’Roark Dowell - Since the death of his mother, Tobin's dysfunctional family and school life have been in falling apart, but after he starts raising chickens with his seventh-grade classmate, Henry, he finds comfort in the consistency of a chicken’s companionship. Lexile 860, AR 5.1, IL 5-8
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale - Fourteen-year-old Miri uses her quick wit and unexpected talents to protect herself and her friends from the teachers at a strict academy for potential princesses. Lexile 890, AR 6.0, IL 5-8
Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelen – Set in British East Africa in 1919, orphaned thirteen-year-old Rachel is tricked into assuming a deceased neighbor's identity to travel to England, where her only dream is to return to Africa and rebuild her parents' mission hospital. Lexile 900, AR 5.7, IL 5-8
The President's Daughter by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - Ten-year-old Ethel Roosevelt's early experiences in the White House after her father, Theodore Roosevelt, becomes president in 1901 are chronicled in this part fact, part fiction story. Lexile 590, AR 3.9, IL 3-6
Adam Canfield of the Slash by Michael Winerip - While serving as co-editors of their school newspaper, middle-schoolers Adam and Jennifer uncover fraud and corruption in their school and in the city's government. Lexile 830, AR 5.4, IL 3-6
Zach's Lie by Roland Smith - When Jack Osborne’s dad agrees to testify against a dangerous drug cartel, Jack and his family are put in the witness protection program and moved to Nevada where he is forced to start over without blowing his cover. Lexile 580, AR 4.3, IL 3-6
An American Plague by Jim Murphy - Provides a riveting account of the yellow fever epidemic that swept through Philadelphia in 1793. Lexile 1130, AR 9.0, IL 5-8
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass - Just before his thirteenth birthday, Jeremy Fink receives a locked box and instructions from his deceased father to find the keys before his birthday to discover the meaning of life. Lexile 770, AR 4.5, IL 5-8
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (all of them) by Jeff Kinney - Presents the mundane life of an adolescent boy named Greg who wants to do the right thing, but is hindered by his quest for girls and status, his well-meaning parents, his brothers, and his friends. Lexile 950, AR 5.2, IL 5-8
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Richard Yancey – Fifteen-year-old Alfred unintentionally steals King Arthur's legendary sword, Excalibur, and unleashes forces of evil intent on taking over the world, which propels the unlikely hero to go on a quest to retrieve the sword and save the world. Lexile 810, AR 4.9, IL 3-6 (Parents strongly cautioned: The ending of the story is gruesome and although its IL is 3-6, I would reserve this one for 5th and up.)
Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach – New student and sixth-grader Hero becomes interested in investigating the whereabouts of a valuable diamond supposedly hidden in her new house, while experiencing the unexpected attention of the most popular boy in school. Lexile 620, AR 4.0, IL 4-6
Kimchi and Calamari by Rose Kent – Adopted as a baby, Fourteen-year-old Joseph Calderno feels confused about who he is and who is supposed to be when he is confronted with an assignment about family heritage.
Lexile 750, AR 4.6, IL 3-6
Schooled by Gordon Korman - Capricorn Anderson (Cap), who has lived on a commune his whole life, is forced to go to public school (middle school!) for the first time when his guardian grandmother is hospitalized and Cap is sent to foster care. Lexile 740, AR 4.9, IL 5-8
Runaway by Wendelin Van Draanen - After running away from her fifth foster home, Holly, a twelve-year-old orphan, travels across the country, while chronicling her experiences in a journal meant for her teacher. Lexile 740, AR 4.7, IL 5-8(Parents strongly cautioned: Graphic violence in the beginning of the story, teenager abused by foster parents. This book is recommended for 6th graders, but I wouldn't offer it to mine.)
The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer - Afraid of being returned to foster care, twelve-year-old Gabe hides his uncle's death with the unexpected help of a mysterious person who leaves notes in Gabe's mailbox. Lexile 790, AR 5.0, IL 6-8
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen - A boy gets rich quick by mowing lawns with his grandpa's old riding lawn mower, but business gets out of hand when he attracts attention from some blackmailing criminals. Lexile 780, AR 4.3, IL 4-7
Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg - Thirteen year old Milo is on a hilarious mission to win the affection of Summer Goodman, no matter the cost, while trying to deal with the death of his mother and the changes at home. Lexile NC1180, AR 5.5, IL 6-8
How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Crystal Allen - Thirteen year old Lamar's exceptional bowling abilities get him noticed by bad-boy Billy Jenks and caught up in a hustling scheme which threatens his reputation, his friendships, and his chance to meet his bowling idol Bubba Sanders. Lexile 550, AR 3.5, IL 6-8
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson - Matty and her family struggle to survive a Yellow Fever outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793. Lexile 580, AR 4.4, IL 6-8
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia -Three sisters are sent to stay with the mother they don't know for the summer. Lexile 750, AR 4.6, IL 4-7
P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia - In this sequel to One Crazy Summer, Delphine, Vonnetta, and Fern return home from their summer with their mother and find out their dad has had a busy summer too, falling in love. Lexile 770, AR 4.6, IL 4-7
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage - Miss Lana and the Colonel are suspects in a murder, but now they've been kidnapped and it's up to their adopted daughter Mo and her best friend Dale to find them before it's too late. Lexile 560, AR 3.9, IL 6-8
