[LM_NET] HIT: Middle Grade Books (4-7 grade) with CHASES/ACTION

[Toni Buzzeo <tonibuzzeo@TONIBUZZEO.COM>]

Thanks to all who responded on a holiday weekend!

ORIGINAL REQUEST:

I'm wanting to create a short list of middle 
grade books (especially for boys) with a lot of 
ACTION, especially if the main character is being 
CHASED by someone who wants to do him harm .  If 
they are historical, all the better, but contemporary is fine too.  Ideas?

RESPONSES:
The Alfred Kropp series by Rick Yancey.  Lots of 
action and chase scenes.  They read almost like a movie.

***
You know, so many of Avi's books involve chases, 
from his Crispin books to that old one with a modern setting--Windcatcher.

Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson's popular Peter Pan 
prequels have adventure and villains chasing kids.

One of my favorite chase/action books is 
Deathwalk by Walt Morey.  I tell kids it's  like 
Hatchet with a killer chasing Brian while he's trying to survive.

Margaret Peterson Haddix' Shadow Children books 
always have adventure and kids being chased.

This year's Caldecott winner Inventions of Hugo Cabret would fit too.

Will Hobbs and Ben Mikaelsen's books often have 
chases in them--Downriver and Sparrow Hawk Red come to mind, respectively.

***
How about Blue Balliett's Chasing Vermeer or The Wright 3?
***
My guys like Anthony Horowitz, James Patterson, 
Clive Cussler, and Susan Cooper.
***
What about the Alex Rider books by Horowitz?  They are filled with action!

Also, the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series 
by Rick Riordan are action-packed as well.
***
My most popular ones are the Alex Rider series 
(Stormbreaker, etc.) and the Percy Jackson series 
(Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters, etc.) Â They 
definitely have chasing and danger.
***
Two titles come to mind:

Lionboy
The Thief Lord
***
I'm not sure about the chasing part, but Neal Shusterman has a number
of books that are good for the action part, including Full Tilt, The
Downsiders, The Schwa Was Here, and others.

***
Gordon Korman has some great adventure series 
that many of my middle school boys read, 
including On the Run, Kidnapped, Island, etc.
***
I immediately think of Gordon Korman's series On the Run that starts with
Chasing the Falconers. Brother and sister are chased by police, FBI, and bad
guys after their parents are framed for espionage.

Percy Jackson in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is constantly
being chased by various monsters. I love this series, and so do many middle
graders, especially boys!

Bearwalker by Joseph Bruchac - lots of action. There is an extended chase by
someone who wants to harm young Baron.

Timothy Zahn's Dragonback series has a surprisingly large following among
older middle schoolers, although I tend to think of it as a high school and
above book. Both Jack Morgan and the dragon warrior Draycos he carries in a
symbiotic relationship are being chased throughout the series.
***
Raven's Gate by Horowitz


Toni Buzzeo, MA, MLIS <mailto:tonibuzzeo@tonibuzzeo.com>
Maine Library Media Specialist of the Year Emerita
Buxton, ME 04093
http://www.tonibuzzeo.com
R is for Research, illustrated by Nicole Wong (Upstart 2008) BRAND NEW!

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