2017 2018 Arkansas Charlie May Simon Books GUIDELINES

2017 -2018 Arkansas Charlie May Simon Books

GUIDELINES • For students in grades four, five and six • Students must have read three books or have heard three books • Students vote for one book 2

GUIDELINES • It is hoped the children will discuss the books that they have read and as a result will become more thoughtful readers • One person at the school will collect the votes and submit the count to the Department of Education in early May 3

CRITERIA • Books on the 2017 -2018 must have been published in 2015. • The author must reside in the United States. • Books published in a previous year or a foreign country will not be considered 4

CRITERIA • Adaptations, retellings and translations will not be considered • The author must be living • Books that children will read anyways are generally not included. 5

New for the 2017 -2018 list • Books that are third in a series or beyond will not be considered • Books that fall in this category may be considered if recommended by a teacher, library media specialist or committee member. 6

THE EDUCATION OF IVY BLAKE by Ellen Airgood Summary: When eleven-year-old Ivy Blake leaves the nice farm family where she has been living in upstate New York and moves back in with her mother she is finally forced to face up to the fact that her alcoholic, dysfunctional parent will never be able to provide her with a stable home-and if she wants to achieve her dreams she is going to have to take charge of her own future. 7

The education of Ivy Blake Genre – Realistic Fiction Accelerated Reader RL 4. 8 Points 7. 0 Reading Counts RL 4. 5 Points 12 Lexile 730 Word count 45, 251 227 pages 8

CRENSHAW by Katherine Applegate Summary: A story about a homeless boy and his imaginary friend that proves in unexpected ways that friends matter, whether real or imaginary. 9

Crenshaw Genre – Fiction, Fantasy – Imaginary friend Accelerated Reader RL 3. 8 Points 3. 0 Reading Counts RL 4. 2 Points 7 Lexile 540 Word count 25, 361 245 pages. E. B White Award 10

TERRIBLE TYPHOID MARY: A TRUE STORY OF THE DEADLIEST COOK IN AMERICA. By Susan Campbell Bartoletti Summary: A riveting biography uncovers the true story of Mary Mallon, a. k. a. Typhoid Mary, one of the most notorious and misunderstood women in American History. 11

Terrible Typhoid Mary Genre – Biography Accelerated Reader RL 7. 2 Points 5. 0 Lexile 980 Word count 27, 676 229 Pages ALA Notable/Best Book Recommended Reading-NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science 12

THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Summary: A young disabled girl and her brother are evacuated from London to the English countryside during World War II, where they find life to be much sweeter away from their abusive mother. 13

The war that saved my life Genre – Historical Fiction Accelerated Reader RL 4. 1 Points 9. 0 Reading Counts RL 3. 3 Points 16. 0 Lexile 580 Newberry Honor 2016 Guided Reading Z+ Josette Frank Children's Book Award ALA Notable/Best Books Word count 62, 451 Publishers Weekly Best Book E. B. White Award 316 pages Schneider Family Award 14

DROWNED CITY: HURRICANE KATRINA & NEW ORLEANS. By Don Brown Summary: Recounts one of the most destructive and devastating natural disasters in our American history in graphic novel format. 15

Drowned city Genre – Nonfiction, graphic novel format Accelerated Reader RL 5. 6 Points 1. 0 Reading Counts RL 7. 4 Points 5. 0 Lexile GN 920 Word count 3, 207 96 pages Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor, 2016 Los Angeles Times Book Prize ALA Notable/Best Books Publishers Weekly Best Book BCCB Blue Ribbon Book 16

STELLA BY STARLIGHT by Sharon M. Draper Summary: When a burning cross set by the Klan causes panic and fear in 1932 Bumblebee, North Carolina, fifth -grader Stella must face prejudice and find the strength to demand town. change in her segregated 17

Stella by starlight Genre – Historical Fiction Accelerated Reader RL 4. 8 Points 8. 0 Reading Counts RL 4. 5 Points 12. 0 Lexile 740 Guided Reading V Word count 51, 847 Skipping Stones Honor Award ALA Notable/Best Books 320 pages 18

UNTIL I FIND JULIAN by Patricia Reilly Giff Summary: Mateo's big brother Julian works in the United States. When the family doesn't hear from Julian for a few weeks, Mateo sneaks out and journeys north to find him, crossing the border with the help of a new friend, Angel. 19

Until I find Julian Genre – Realistic Fiction Accelerated Reader RL 3. 9 Points 4. 0 Lexile 550 Word count 27, 472 151 pages 20

THE DETECTIVE’S ASSISTANT by Kate Hannigan Summary: In 1859, eleven-yearold Nell goes to live with her aunt, Kate Warne, the first female detective for Pinkerton's National Detective Agency. Nell helps her aunt solve cases, including a mystery surrounding Abraham Lincoln, and the mystery of what happened to Nell's own father. 21

The detective’s assistant Genre – Historical Fiction Accelerated Reader RL 6. 2 Points 10. 0 Word count 60, 671 359 pages Golden Kite Award/Honor Book 22

FISH IN A TREE by Lynda Mullaly Hunt Summary: Ally's greatest fear is that everyone will find out she is as dumb as they think she is because she still doesn't know how to read. 23

Fish in a Tree Genre – Realistic Fiction Accelerated Reader RL 3. 7 Points 7. 0 Reading Counts RL 3. 2 Points 13. 0 Lexile 550 ALA Notable/Best Books Word count 48, 814 Schneider Family Award 276 pages 24

UNUSUAL CHICKENS FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL POULTRY FARMER By Kelly Jones Summary: Through a series of letters, Sophie Brown, age twelve, tells of her family's move to her Great Uncle Jim's farm, where she begins taking care of some unusual chickens with help from neighbors and friends. 25

Unusual chickens for the exceptional poultry farmer Genre–Fiction Accelerated Reader RL 5. 2 Points 5. 0 Reading Counts RL 5. 7 Points 9. 0 Lexile 880 Guided Reading N ALA Notable/Best Books E. B. White Award Word count 34, 387 216 pages 26

A HANDFUL OF STARS By Cynthia Lord Summary: When her blind dog slips his collar, twelve-year old Lily meets Salma Santiago, a young Hispanic girl whose migrant family is in Maine for the blueberry-picking season, and, based partly on their mutual love of dogs, the two forge a friendship while painting bee boxes for Lily's grandfather--but as the Blueberry Queen pageant approaches Lily and Selma are confronted with some of the hard truths of prejudice and migrant life. 27

A handful of stars Genre – Realistic Fiction Accelerated Reader RL 4. 4 Points 5. 0 Reading Counts RL 4. 3 Points 9. 0 Lexile 690 Guided Reading S Word count 32, 823 184 pages 28

FIREFLY HOLLOW by Alison Mc. Ghee Summary: Because their dreams of daring adventures go against the cautious teachings of their nations, Firefly and Cricket set out on their own, find a home with kindly Vole, and together help a grieving "miniature giant" named Peter. 29

Firefly Hollow Genre – Fiction, Animal story Accelerated Reader RL 4. 7 Points 6. 0 Reading Counts RL 4. 3 Points 11. 0 Lexile 690 Word count 37, 762 Christopher Award 291 pages 30

THE OCTOPUS SCIENTISTS By Sy Montgomery Summary: Explores the mind of the mollusk to uncover the secrets of its advanced intelligence and learn what these thinking, feeling creatures have to teach us about the oceans, its animals, and ourselves. 31

The octopus scientists Genre - Nonfiction Accelerated Reader RL 6. 8 Points 3. 0 Reading Counts RL 8. 6 Points 6. 0 Lexile 1020 Word count 20, 110 71 pages 32

THE SEVENTH MOST IMPORTANT THING By Shelley Pearsall Summary: In 1963, thirteen-year-old Arthur is sentenced to community service helping the neighborhood Junk Man after he throws a brick at the old man's head in a moment of rage, but the junk he collects might be more important than he suspects. Inspired by the work of American folk artist James Hampton. 33

The seventh most important thing Genre – Historical Fiction Accelerated Reader RL 5. 1 Points 8. 0 Reading Counts RL 4. 6 Points 14. 0 Lexile 760 Guided Reading Y ALA Notable/Best Books Word count 54, 258 278 pages 34

FUZZY MUD by Louis Sachar Summary: Two middle-grade kids take a shortcut home from school and discover what looks like fuzzy mud but is actually a substance with the potential to wreak havoc on the entire world. 35

Fuzzy Mud Genre – Fiction, Eco-thriller Accelerated Reader RL 5. 0 Points 5. 0 Reading Counts RL 4. 3 Points 10. 0 Lexile 700 Guided Reading W VOYA Award/Honor Word count 33, 065 ALA Notable/Best Books 181 pages 36

CURRENTS by Jane Petrlik Smolik Summary: In 1854 eleven-year-old Bones is a slave in Virginia who sends a bottle holding her real name and a trinket from her longlost father down the James River-the currents carry it far away, ultimately uniting the lives of three young girls. 37

Currents Genre – Historical Fiction Accelerated Reader RL 5. 5 Points 9. 0 Lexile 860 Word count 58, 272 326 pages Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2016 NCSS 2016 Notable Social Studies Trade Books list 38

Thumbnails of books from Amazon. com Author photos from the Authors’ websites Margaret. Nanak@pinebluffschools. org 39