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 THE BOOK THIEF
by Marcus Suzak
This is a high end young adult novel, just as suitable for adults. The style is quirky but powerful. Death is the narrator, which sounds morbid but isn’t. The setting is a suburb of Munich in Nazi Germany. The protagonist is a young girl who gradually discovers the grandeur and terror of words. I do try to avoid overused superlatives like “compelling” and “riveting,” but this book really is. However, it’s too intense and advanced for some middle schoolers.
 THE BODY OF CHRISTOPHER CREED
by Carol Plum-Ucci
This is another high end young adult novel. The school nerd has disappeared, leaving what seems to be a suicide note. The effects on the school, and particularly the sensitive protagonist, are substantial. Among other things, the book examines the ramifications of peer pressure. It’s an intriguing story with a lot of suspense, but it may be too much for some middle schoolers.
 THE ESCAPE FROM HOME
by Avi
I am a great fan of Avi’s, who writes different kinds of novels pitched at different reading levels. This is a Victorian novel. Two destitute Irish children attempt to escape Liverpool and join their father in America. We encounter a wide cast of idiosyncratic, Dickensian characters. Mystery and adventure abound. The story is completed in a second volume called Lord Kirkle’s Money.
 MONTMORENCY: THIEF, LIAR, GENTLEMAN?
by Eleanor Updale
This is a young adult novel with no kids in it. The setting is again Victorian London. The protagonist is an ex-con who lives a double life—a gentleman and a sewer thief. The plot moves well, has a lot of atmosphere and raises some interesting moral questions.
 PEAK
by Roland Smith
I read this book with my twelve year old “little brother.” It challenged him, but he liked it, and so did I. The plot concerns a fourteen year old boy who attempts to climb Mount Everest with the help of his famous, mountain climbing father. Real life character conflicts. Lots of interesting information about mountain climbing. A good dose of geography.
 THE BREADWINNER
by Deborah Ellis
This is something like The Kite Runner for middler schoolers. The setting is Kabul during the Taliban reign. A young girl passes herself off as a boy to keep her family from starving. The book features disturbing images of war torn Kabul, dramatic scenes and vividly drawn characters. The writing, however, is very accessible for middle schoolers.
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