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Reluctant Readers High Interest / Low Reading Level Books for Struggling Readers |
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El Deafo by Cece BellThe author chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful--and very awkward--hearing aid. The Phonic Ear gives Cece the ability to hear--sometimes things she shouldn't--but also isolates her from her classmates. She really just wants to fit in and find a true friend, someone who appreciates her as she is. After some trouble, she is finally able to harness the power of the Phonic Ear and become "El Deafo, Listener for All." And more importantly, declare a place for herself in the world and find the friend she's longed for. (Interest Level 5th - 8th grade / Reading Level 2nd - 3rd grade)
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The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker BradleyAs the frightening impact of World War II creeps closer and closer to her door, eleven-year-old Ada learns to manage life on the home front. (Interest Level 4th - 6th grade / Reading Level 3rd grade)
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The Legend of Skeleton Man by Joseph BruchacMolly relies on her dreams about an old Mohawk story to stay safe when she is placed in the care of a strange "great uncle" and, a year later, at a conference at Mohonk Mountain House, Molly begins to fear that she is being watched by the very man who threatened her family. (Interest Level 5th - 8th / Reading Level 4th grade)
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Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer CholdenkoA twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards' families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister. (Interest Level 6th - 8th grade / Reading Level 3rd - 4th grade)
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Love That Dog by Sharon CreechA young student, who comes to love poetry through a personal understanding of what different famous poems mean to him, surprises himself by writing his own inspired poem. (Interest Level 5th - 8th grade / Reading Level 4th grade)
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Stones by Vicki C HayesThe story of Jan, a young girl grieving the loss of her father, who is sent to an underground world filled with creatures called Cherts (stone people) who need her help. (Interest Level 4th - 6th grade / Reading Level 1st - 2nd grade)
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Beyond the Black Hole by B. A. HoenaWhile looking at a black hole in their rocket-powered washing machine, Eek and Ack fall in and find themselves in a new universe where everything, including its planet Earth, is a pinkish color. Of course, that won't stop this terrible twosome from trying to conquer it, but maybe a couple of cuddly creatures can. (Interest Level 4th - 7th grade / Reading Level 2nd grade) |
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Mutant Mantis Lunch Ladies! : A Monstertown Mystery by Bruce HaleSummoned to investigate strange occurrences in the cafeteria, best friends Carlos and Benny tackle questions about why the lunch staff has turned grumpy, why boys and girls are being served different meals and what is scuttling around the kitchen in an apron. (Interest Level 4th - 6th grade / Reading Level 3rd grade)
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Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon HaleUsing her long, braided hair as a lasso, Rapunzel teams up with a wild outlaw named Jack and heads west to start a brand new life filled with grand adventures and crazy characters in this colorful graphic novel. (Interest Level 5th - 8th grade / Reading Level 3rd - 4th grade)
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Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf : A Year Told Through Stuff by Jennifer L. HolmTold entirely through notes, grocery receipts, and a vast array of other items, this story follows Ginny as she accidentally dyes her hair pink, throws live frogs in class, and loses the lead role in ballet to her ex-best friend. (Interest Level 4th - 7th grade / Reading Level 4th grade)
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Shipwreck! : A Survive! Story by Jake MaddoxWhen their whale-watching trip goes horribly wrong, Skylar, Gabby, and Miles are lost at sea on a raft with in the middle of the ocean, swarming sharks. With no food, a small amount of water, and only a small first aid kitto help them, they must spend three treacherous days on the waves. (Interest Level 5th - 9th grade / Reading Level 2nd - 3rd grade) |
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The Sisters Club by Megan McDonaldIn Acton, Oregon, sisters Alex, Stevie, and Joey take turns telling about their lives, including their long line of actor ancestors, creative family dinners, toe marshmallows, swearing in Shakespeare, and the Sisters Club. (Interest Level 5th - 8th grade / Reading Level 3rd - 4th grade)
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Sixth Grade Secrets by Louis SacharEager to keep the existence of her new club a secret, Laura asks each member to tell her something embarrassing about themselves, a tactic that could backfire. (Interest Level 5th - 6th grade / Reading Level 2nd - 3rd grade)
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Milo : Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze by Alan SilberbergIn love with the girl he sneezed on the first day of school and best pals with Marshall, the "One Eyed Jack" of friends, seventh-grader Milo Cruikshank misses his mother whose death has changed everything at home. (Interest Level 6th - 8th grade / Reading Level 4th - 5th grade)
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Jellaby : The Lost Monster by Kean SooPortia is bright beyond her years, which makes it difficult to make friends in her new school, and her single mother is preoccupied, so when Portia sneaks into the woods after midnight and discovers a shy and sweet purple monster, she is delighted by her new friend--but Jellaby has secrets of his own. (Interest Level 6th - 8th grade / Reading Level 2nd - 3rd grade)
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Crash by Jerry SpinelliChronicles the zany antics and adventures of Crash Coogan, a vain, arrogant, and shallow seventh-grade super-athlete; his best friend Mike Deluca; Penn Webb, a dweeby, vegetarian Quaker kid; his environmentalist little sister; and cheerleader-turned-activist Jane Forbes. (Interest Level 4th - 7th grade / Reading Level 4th grade)
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Smile by Raina TelgemeierAn autobiography in graphic novel format describes how the author lost two of her front teeth in an accident when she was twelve. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with family, friends, boys and dental drama. (Interest Level 4th - 6th grade / Reading Level 2nd - 3rd grade)
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The Golden Age of Pirates : An Interactive History Adventure by Bob TempleYOU are making your living at sea at a time when pirates ruled the oceans. Will you stick to an honest life or risk everything for the riches and adventure of piracy? The reader's choices reveal the historical details from the perspective of a pirate, a navy sailor, and a merchant ship crewmember, during the Golden Age of Piracy. (Interest Level 5th - 7th grade / Reading Level 3rd - 4th grade)
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Cardboard by Doug TenNapelAfter Cam's down-and-out father gives him a cardboard box for his birthday, they fashion it into a man that magically comes to life, but things spin wildly out of control when the neighborhood bully steals a scrap of the cardboard to create creatures that promptly disobey his orders and multiply into an unruly army. (Interest Level 6th - 8th grade / Reading Level 2nd - 3rd grade)
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The Shadows by Jacqueline WestWhen eleven-year-old Olive and her distracted parents move into an old Victorian mansion, Olive finds herself ensnared in a dark plan involving some mysterious paintings, a trapped and angry nine-year-old boy, and three talking cats. (Interest Level 5th - 8th grade / Reading Level 3rd grade)
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Stuck in the Middle (of Middle School) : a Novel in Doodles by Karen Romano YoungForced to move to another school after her ADHD gets the best of her, Doreen resolves to do better despite her younger sister's growing popularity and mounting financial stresses at home, challenges she faithfully records in her doodle journal. (Interest Level 5th - 8th grade / Reading Level 3rd - 4th grade)
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Simone Biles by Kenny AbdoThis title focuses on gymnast Simone Biles and gives information related to her early life, her time in the pros, and the legacy she leaves behind. (Interest Level 3rd - 7th grade / Reading Level 3rd grade)
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Snakes by Nic BishopYIKES!!! Join naturalist Nic Bishop for a closer look at scaly, scary snakes! Snakes are scaly, scary, silent predators. They use powerful venom or crushing strength to overwhelm their victims. Then they swallow them whole! Sibert Medal-winning photographer Nic Bishop introduces the terrifying and beautiful world of snakes. The simple, engaging text presents both basic information and captivating details about the appearance, habits, and remarkable abilities of these amazing reptiles. (Interest Level 5th - 8th grade / Reading Level 4th - 5th grade)
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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William KamkwambaWhen fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba's Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone's crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library . . . and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps, and thus became the local hero who harnessed the wind. This story will inspire many as it shows how - even in the worst of times - a great idea and a lot of hard work can still rock the world. (Interest Level 4th - 8th grade / Reading Level 3rd - 4th grade)
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"The Man" Becky Lynch has taken over the WWE women's division, and she's not giving it back. Becky Lynch is a multiple titleholder, an outspoken media character, and one of the best women's wrestlers in the world. She began training as a wrestler as a teenager and traveled away from her native Ireland to pursue her dream in the ring. (Interest Level 4th - 6th grade / Reading Level 2nd grade)
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Kofi Kingston by Benjamin ProudfitBorn in Ghana, Kofi Kingston's success as a professional wrestler wasn't guaranteed. But after joining the WWE in 2006, he has won multiple titles and even become the first African-born world champion as well as a member of the well-known tag team the New Day! Persistence and hard work have paid off for Kofi as readers find out in this behind-the-scenes look at his career, from training to title matches. (Interest Level 3rd - 6th grade / Reading Level 2nd - 3rd grade)
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Wet Cement : A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob RaczkaA collection of shape poems crafted to convey their meanings introduces the whimsical Concrete poetic form and includes numerous engaging examples. By the author of Lemonade: And Other Poems Squeezed From a Single Word. (Interest Level 6th - 8th grade / Reading Level 3rd grade) |
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The Currys by Kristin J. RussoMeet the Currys, a family of superstar athletes. The Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry and his brother, Seth Curry of the Portland Trail Blazers, faced off on the court in the first-ever sibling match-up in an NBA Final. Their parents flipped a coin to decide which jersey to wear and which son to support. Readers will learn how the "First Family of Basketball" found fame and fortune, how they give back to their fans, and what they plan to do next. (Interest Level 5th - 8th grade / Reading Level 4th grade)
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Betty Before X by Ilyasah ShabazzRaised by her aunt until she is six, Betty, who will later marry Malcolm X, joins her mother and stepfamily in 1940s Detroit, where she learns about the civil rights movement. (Interest Level 5th - 8th grade / Reading Level 3rd - 4th grade)
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Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline WoodsonRaised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Woodson's eloquent poetry reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become. (Interest Level 6th - 8th grade / Reading Level 4th - 5th grade)
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I Am Malala : How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala YousafzaiDocuments the educational pursuits of the Nobel Peace Prize winner who became a symbol of hope and inspiration when she challenged the traditions of her Pakistan community, offering insight into the influential role of her courageous father. (Interest Level 5th - 8th grade / Reading Level 5th grade) |
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This series offers easy-to-read adaptations of well known classics, featuring large print and illustrations on every other page. (Interest Level 4th - 10th grade / Reading Level 4th grade)
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Mission Unstoppable by Dan GutmanOn a cross-country vacation with their parents, twins Coke and Pepsi McDonald fend off strange assassins as they try to come to terms with their being part of a top-secret government organization known as The Genius Files. With the real-kid humor that has earned Dan Gutman millions of fans around the world, and featuring weird-but-true American tourist destinations, The Genius Files is a one-of-a-kind mix of geography and fun. (Interest Level 5th - 8th grade / Reading Level 3rd grade)
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Alex Rider Adventures by Anthony HorowitzWhen his guardian and uncle, Ian, is mysteriously killed, Alex discovers that his uncle was not the bank vice-president he purported to be, but rather a spy for the British government. Now the government wants Alex to take over his uncle's mission: investigating Sayle Enterprises, the makers of a revolutionary computer called Stormbreaker. (Interest Level 5th - 9th grade / Reading Level 3rd grade)
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Emily Windsnap by Liz KesslerAfter finally convincing her mother that she should take swimming lessons, twelve-year-old Emily discovers a terrible and wonderful secret about herself that opens up a whole new world - she finds out that she is half-mermaid. Full of mystery, magic, and wonder, these books will take you on an underwater adventure unlike any other. (Interest Level 4th - 7th grade / Reading Level 3rd grade)
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff KinneyThe Diary of a Wimpy Kid series follows Greg Heffley as he records the daily trials and triumphs of friendship, family life and middle school where undersized weaklings have to share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner and already shaving! On top of all that, Greg must be careful to avoid the dreaded CHEESE TOUCH! (Interest Level 4th - 7th grade / Reading Level 4th grade)
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How I Survived Middle School by Nancy E. KrulikMiddle school poses new challenges for best friends Jennie and Addie, as they contend with cliques, presidential elections, and a mysterious gossip columnist. (Interest Level 3rd - 7th grade / Reading Level 3rd grade)
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Jake Maddox Sports Stories by Jake MaddoxExciting action/sports stories for both boys and girls. While pursuing their athletic goals, the main characters face bullies, get in trouble at school, and have difficulty fitting in with peers. (Interest Level 3rd - 7th grade / Reading Level 2nd grade)
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We Are Heroes! by Jon MikkelsenThis chapter book series, with its strong messages about community service and volunteering, is dedicated to inspiring young people to help others. (Interest level 4th - 10th grade / Reading level 2nd grade)
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The Secret Games of Maximus Todd by L. M. NicodemoThis humorous series features Maximus Todd, the kid with the big fidgety, wiggly problems. while it is never named, Max suffers from a condition that causes him to invent "fidgets"to calm himself. He might be a bit different, but he still deals with issues all kids face: social skills, teasing, stereotyping, special needs, ADD & ADHD, bullying, decision making emotions and feelings. (Interest Level 2nd - 5th grade / Reading Level 2nd grade)
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Timmy Failureby Stephan PastisMeet Timmy Failure, the founder, president, and CEO of the best detective agency in town, probably the nation. And his lazy sidekick, Total, a 1,500-pound polar bear. (Interest Level 5th - 8th grade / Reading Level 3rd grade)
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Who Would Win?by Jerry PallottaThis nonfiction series is full of facts, photos, and realistic illustrations, and it includes a range of mammals, sea creatures, insects, and dinosaurs to satisfy all kinds of animal fans. Compare and contrast the battling pair before finally discovering the winner, while learning about each animal's anatomy, behavior, and more. (Interest Level 6th - 8th grade / Reading Level 3rd - 4th grade)
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Big Nate by Lincoln PeirceHere comes BIG NATE, accidental mischief maker and definitely NOT the teacher's pet. Nate knows he meant for big things. REALLY big things. But things don't always go your way just because you're awesome. Trouble always seems to find him, but Nate keeps his cool. A fortune cookie told him so. (Interest Level 3rd - 7th grade / Reading Level 3rd grade)
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Time Warp Trio Series by Jon ScieszkaThree friends (Sam, Joe, and Fred) travel through time having action-packed, outlandish adventures. The snappy dialogue and classic "boy" humor in this series of chapter books will engage the most reluctant readers. (Interest Level 2nd - 5th grade / Reading Level 2nd grade)
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I Survived Seriesby Lauren TarshisThis series follows fictional characters as they experience real disasters and historical events. (Interest Level 3rd - 6th grade / Reading Level 3rd grade)
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