ORIGINAL TARGET:
Would you be willing to recommend a SINGLE favorite (JUST ONE) page turning
novel for grades 4-7? Ideally, it will be action/adventure in a time of
high peril where the young protagonist has to engage with dangerous people
in dangerous times. Even better if it's historical fiction (but a real
page-turning historical). Best of all if it's two boys on this rollicking
adventure.
HUNGER GAMES and its sequels is one obvious suggestion, so I'll throw that
one in, but if you can top with HISTORICAL or BOY DUO adventure all the
better!
RESPONSES:
My middle school kids loved, “SURVIVING ANTARCTICA: REALITY TV 2083.” by
Andrea White. They had loads to talk about and predict the direction of
reality TV.
I think it is really for 6 or 7th grades though.
*****
For martial arts enthusiasts especially, Chris Bradford's THE WAY OF THE
WARRIOR (1st in Young Samurai series) is brilliant! Young English boy is
only survivor of attack on his father's ship in 1612, rescued by samurai
family and adopted by them. Jack must quickly learn Japanese language &
customs, despite his foster brother's scorn for his lack of sword skills.
His foster father sends them both to samurai school where Jack is "gaijin"
foreigner to many. The ninja who killed Jack's father for the secret
navigation charts knows that Jack has them and will stop at nothing to get
the prized documents. A super page turner! My review at
http://www.abookandahug.com/component/content/article/43-action-adventure/19549-young-samuraiway-of-thewarrior
True historical fiction, but just one boy protagonist is HEART OF A SAMURAI
by Jillian Tamaki. Based on the story of Manjiro, a young Japanese fisherman
rescued by American whaling ship in 1841 and believed to be the first
Japanese person to enter the USA. Includes his own drawings! Review at
http://www.abookandahug.com/whats-new/20040-heartofasamurai
*****
CITY OF EMBER - DuPrau
*****
I'm recommending POWERLESS by Matthew Cody.
*****
How about a "duo" of a boy and girl - AIRBORN by Kenneth Oppel. Not
historical fiction but a fun series.
*****
I've been reading Book 1 of the 39 Clues Series: THE MAZE OF BONES with my
4th and 5th graders and they are really into it!
*****
WORTH by A. LaFaye
*****
FOUND by Margaret Peterson Haddix is a great story. I read it to my 5th
grade classes and they were on the edge of their seats. It is the first in a
series, the third books is going to be released this October, that involved
historical fiction but in a very original way.
*****
FOUND by Haddix has two boys central and was great-- there are two sequels.
*****
SOLDIER BOYS by Dean Hughes
*****
THE CIRCLEMAKER by Maxine Rose Schur. Mendel, a 12-year-old Russian Jewish
boy escapes his homeland in 1852 to avoid conscription into the army, and is
joined in his flight by the town bully. The journey is filled with danger.
Fast pacing keeps the story moving, and there are sufficient pauses in the
action to allow for the development of the relationship between the boys.
*****
If you are still looking for a recommendation for action books for 4-7th
graders I would probably go with on of the Roland Smith books. ELEPHANT RUN
sounds like that kind of book that you are looking for.
*****
CHASING VERMEER by Balliett (and the sequels THE WRIGHT THREE and the CALDER
GAME) all are a nice mix of some history and philosophy. FEVER 1793 by
Laurie Halse Anderson (female protagonist), novels by Anne
Rinaldi-historical fiction.
*****
THE INVASION OF SANDY BAY by Anita Sanchez is a great historical fiction set
around the War of 1812.
*****
I was going to suggest THE RED PYRAMID by Rick Riordan. Not historical in
setting, but deals with Egyptian Gods and has a couple of male protagonists
as well as one female.
I know you said only one, but I do also want to throw in there the GREGOR
THE OVERLANDER series by the author of The Hunger Games. Main protagonist
is a 12 year old boy....but it really has no history in it...
*****
How about UNWIND by Neal Shusterman?
Thanks to all who responded!
--
Toni Buzzeo, MA, MLIS <mailto:tonibuzzeo@tonibuzzeo.com>
Maine Library Media Specialist of the Year Emerita
Buxton, ME 04093
http://www.tonibuzzeo.com
Adventure Annie Goes to Kindergarten (Dial 2010) BRAND NEW!
No T. Rex in the Library (McElderry 2010) BRAND NEW!
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