Stargirl
Jerry Spinelli
Age 12+
T SPIN,J
Drama, Humor, School
In this story about the perils of popularity, the courage of nonconformity, and the thrill of first love, an eccentric student named Stargirl changes Mica High School forever
Star-crossed
Barbara Dee
Age 12+
J DEE,B
Drama, Romance, School, LGBTQ+
When Mattie is cast as Romeo in an eighth-grade play, she is confused to find herself increasingly attracted to Gemma, a new classmate who is playing Juliet
American Born Chinese
Gene Yang
Age 8+
T GN YANG,G
Immigration, Family, Graphic Novel Alternates three interrelated stories about the problems of young Chinese Americans trying to exist in the popular culture.
Aurora Public Library
Santori Public Library 101 S. River St. Aurora, Illinois 60506 ph : 630-264-4100 Eola Road Branch 555 S. Eola Road Aurora, Illinois 60504 ph : 630-264-3400 West Branch 233 S. Constitution Drive Aurora, Illinois 60506 ph : 630-264-3600
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Recommended Reads for 8th Graders
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 (Series)
Jordan Sonnenblick
Age 12+
T EVAN,R
Action, Magic, Adventure
14-year-old Michael Vey is nothing special, just the kid who has Tourette's But Michael has electric powers. Michael's investigation into his powers brings him to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric teens--and the world.
Scythe
Neal Shusterman
Age 12+
T SHUS,N
Fantasy, Drama, Sci-Fi
In a world where disease has been eliminated, the only way to die is to be killed by professional reapers Two teens must compete with each other to become a scythe--the one who becomes a scythe must kill the one who doesn't.
The Giver
Lois Lowry
Age 8+
T LOWR,L
Sci-Fi, Drama
Given his lifetime assignment at age twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
Age 10+
T LEE,H
A heart-wrenching tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, Scout, as her father, Atticus Finch, risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime
Ship Breaker
Paolo Bacigalupi
Age 13+
T BACI,P
Family, Magic, Drama
In a futuristic world, teenaged Nailer scavenges copper wiring from grounded oil tankers for a living, but when he finds a beached clipper ship with a girl in the wreckage, he has to decide if he should strip the ship for its wealth or rescue the girl.
A Brief History of Video Games
Richard Stanton
Age 12+ 794 8 STAN,R
Nonfiction
This book provides a unique look at the history and culture of video games, starting with the 1960s classics like Pong to modern favorites such as Grand Theft Auto V and Bioshock.
Genesis Begins Again
Alicia Williams
Age 12+
J WILL,A
Drama, Family, Race
Thirteen-yearold Genesis tries again and again to lighten her black skin, thinking it is the root of her family's troubles, before discovering reasons to love herself as is
The Complete Persepolis
Marjane Satrapi
Age 12+
GN 955 0542 SATR,M
Graphic Novel, Memoir Persepolis is the story of Satrapi's childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution.
Zeus: King of the Gods
George O'Connor
Age 8+
T GN OCON,G
Mythology, Graphic Novel
Terrified of being killed by one of his children, Kronos devours each of his offspring Only Zeus, the youngest, is saved Though raised to enjoy a life of leisure, Zeus must fulfill his destiny and lead a new race of gods--and he must begin by destroying his own father.
