2014 BEST YA BOOKS

Here's the best selling Young Adult lit for 2014 (as reported by the New York Times). This list will grow as the weeks pass.

Updated September 2014

******All ratings from GoodReads (not updated monthly)
***** a new feature shows Weeks on NYTimes Best Seller List in blue
**** Note that in alphabetizing, we ignore 'the' in titles
*** Bold = Are books on the Best Seller list this week
** Bold/RED = new books on the Best Seller list this week
*You can find the original NYT list here

AN ALPHABETIZED SUMMARY LIST:

1. 13 REASONS WHY weeks - 51
2. ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN  weeks - 10
3. ALLIANCE   week - 1
4. AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES weeks - 46
5. ASYLUM  week - 2
6. BEING A TEEN  week - 2
7. BOOK THIEF  weeks - 93
8. CONFESSIONS OF A MURDER SUSPECT (Confessions #1) 10 weeks
9. DANGEROUS CREATURES   week - 1
10. ELEANOR AND PARK weeks - 41
11. FAULT IN OUR STARS weeks - 94
12. HOLLOW CITY weeks - 17
13. IF I STAY  weeks - 24
14. ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER  week - 1
15. THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY 1 week
16. INDEPENDENT STUDY 1 week
17. LOOKING FOR ALASKA weeks - 94
18. MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN weeks - 69
19. PANIC week - 1
20. PAPER TOWNS weeks - 80
21. PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER weeks - 71
22. SEA OF SHADOWS  week - 1
23. STEELHEART 13 weeks
24. THE RULE OF THOUGHTS  week - 1
25. THE SELECTION  2 weeks
26. THE TREATMENT  week - 1
27. THIS STAR WON'T GO OUT  3 weeks
28. UNCAGED   week - 1
29. WE WERE LIARS  week -13
30. WHERE SHE WENT   weeks - 14
31. WHITE HOT KISS  week - 1

13 REASONS WHY
by Jay Asher

4.07 avg rating — 240,960 GoodReaders 

Before she commits suicide, a girl sends recordings to 13 people. A compelling read.

(see Jay Asher's reading information page)

Reading Information:
Word Count: 62,496
Page Count: 336
Accelerated Reading level: 3.9 / points: 9.0
AR quiz: 119218
Lexile: 550L


ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN
by Sherman Alexie

**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** HornBook
**Starred Review** VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates )

4.11 avg rating — 95,563 ratings

A boy with a flare for art leaves his reservation to live in an all-white community. (Ages 12 and up)

Word Count: 44,275
Page Count: 228
Accelerated Reading level: 4.0 / points: 6.0
AR quiz: 117771
Lexile: 600L

AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES
by John Green

Michael L. Printz Award
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** HornBook

3.82 avg rating — 119,172 ratings

Having been recently dumped for the nineteenth time by a girl named Katherine, recent high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend to try to find a new direction in life.

(see reading info for other John Green books)

Word Count: 61,412
Page Count: 272
Accelerated Reading level: 5.6 / points: 10.0
AR quiz: 108588
Lexile: 890L

• sample pages
• audio also available

ALLIANCE
(The Paladin Prophecy, #2)
by Mark Frost

4.05 avg rating — 676 ratings

Middle Grade.  Book #1 was at the AR 5.1 level.

In book #1, Will West loses his parents but discovers that he has amazing abilities that might be needed in the upcoming battles between titanic forces.  In this book Will seeks to develop his skills and find out more about the Knights of Charlemagne.

Word Count: 89,254
Page Count:  352
Accelerated Reader: 6.0 / points: 14.0
AR quiz: 163573
Lexile: 850L

ASYLUM
by Madeleine Roux

3.18 avg rating — 235 ratings 

A 'photo-novel', ASYLUM has Dan and his friends, Abby and Jordan, spending their summer at a place that used to be an asylum.  As the description goes, "they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried."

Word Count: 60,307
Page Count:  320
Accelerated Reader: 5.1 / points: 9.0
AR quiz: 162491
--sample pages and available
--other reviews available 
--currently 1.99 for Kindle

BEING A TEEN
You, Your Body, Your Life: Everything You Need to Know About Being a Teen: Relationships, Sex, Love, Identity, Empowering Yourself & More
by Jane Fonda

3.90 avg rating — 10 ratings 

This one is bound to be controversial. As a mom I suggest you check this out of the library first to see if sounds reasonable to you and your family.

Page Count:  288
no reading information available yet


THE BOOK THIEF
by Markus Zusak

**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** School Library Journal
**Starred Review** HornBook

4.37 avg rating — 519,144 ratings

In this tale Death tells the story of Liesel, a young German girl who begins stealing books as she struggles to survive Nazi Germany/WWII.

Word Count: 118,933
Page Count: 576
Accelerated Reading level: 5.1 / points: 18.0
AR quiz: 106101
Lexile: 730L


CONFESSIONS OF A MURDER SUSPECT
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

3.88 avg rating — 9,954 ratings

On the night Malcolm and Maud Angel are murdered, Tandy Angel knows just three things: 1) She was the last person to see her parents alive. 2) The police have no suspects besides Tandy and her three siblings. 3) She can't trust anyone--maybe not even herself. Having grown up under Malcolm and Maud's intense perfectionist demands, no child comes away undamaged. Tandy decides that she will have to clear the family name, but digging deeper into her powerful parents' affairs is a dangerous-and revealing-game. Who knows what the Angels are truly capable of?

Word Count: 58,257
Page Count: 384
Accelerated Reading level: 5.4 / points: 9.0
AR quiz: 154425

DANGEROUS CREATURES
(Dangerous Creature #1)
by Kami Garcia and  Margaret Stohl

 3.98 avg rating — 501 ratings

A return to the world of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES.  This story begins with Link heading to New York City to start a rock group. Ridley tags along and the pair find that things are complicated. Especially since Link has a price on his head and his band mates are full of secrets.

Word Count: 75,056
Page Count:  368
Accelerated Reader: 4.1 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 166857


ELEANOR AND PARK
by Rainbow Rowell

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

**Starred Review** Kirkus

**Starred Review** ALA Booklist

4.22 avg rating — 88,423 ratings

Cute cover but this is a YA book suitable for adults. 

The setting is 1986 and this story covers two star-crossed teens, bullying, and families.

Word Count: 78,179
Page Count:  336
Accelerated Reading level: 3.8 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 157569

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

by John Green

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

**Starred Review** Kirkus

**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal

4.49 avg rating — 660,161 ratings

Sixteen year old Hazel has cancer. At a support group she meets Augustus. The teens fall in love. They wonder what their legacy will be after they are gone. Profanity and sexual references.

(see reading info for other John Green books)
Word Count: 65752
Page Count: 386
Accelerated Reading level: 5.5/ points: 10.0
AR quiz: 148461
Lexile: 850L

HOLLOW CITY
(Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, # 2)
by Ransom Riggs

4.09 avg rating — 10,962 ratings

At the end of book #1, the children's island home was destroyed, and Miss Peregrine was left in her bird state.  In this book, Jacob and the others flee to London (remember this is during the war) and they seek help for Ms. Peregrine.

Word Count: 95,667
Page Count: 400
Accelerated Reader: 5.7 / points: 15.0
AR quiz: 163783
Lexile: 850L


IF I STAY
(If I Stay series)
by Gayle Forman

**Starred Review** Booklist
**Starred Review** School Library Journal
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

While in a coma following an accident that killed her parents and younger brother, seventeen-year-old Mia, a gifted cellist, weighs whether to live with her grief or join her family in death.

Word Count: 49,653
Page Count: 272
Accelerated Reading level: 5.3 / points: 8.0
AR quiz: 129747
Lexile: 830L

THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY
by Laurie Halse Anderson

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

**Starred Review** ALA BookList

**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal
**Starred Review** Kirkus

3.98 avg rating — 4,550 ratings

Another striking book from Ms. Anderson.  In this one she examines the lasting effects of war, as a father and daughter struggle with his Post Traumatic Syndrome.

Word Count:  83517
Page Count: 321
Accelerated Reading level: 4.7 / points: 12.0
AR quiz: 163323

INDEPENDENT STUDY
(The Testing, #2)
by Joelle Charbonneau

4.03 avg rating — 2,711 ratings

Middle Grade.  The TESTING was at AR 5.6

The world has been destroyed by war, and now it must be rebuilt.  In book #1, Cia Vale was chosen as a Testing candidate.  To her surprise her father tells her to trust no one.   Enter Tomas.

In book #2, enter Will, plus a series of revelations that expose the dark side of the government.

Word Count: 89,814
Page Count: 320
Accelerated Reader: 5.8 / points: 14.0
AR quiz: 164208

ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER
(Anna and the French Kiss #3) 
by Stephanie Perkins

Book #3 in this cute Contemporary Romance featuring Isla (eye-la) and the boy she's had a crush on forever, Josh.

Word Count: 78,536
Page Count: 339
Accelerated Reader: 4.1 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 167612


LOOKING FOR ALASKA
by John Green

• An ALA Best Book for Young Adults Top 10
• An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers
• A 2005 Booklist Editors’ Choice
• A Kirkus Best Book of 2005
• A 2005 SLJ Best Book of the Year

4.23 avg rating — 298,652 ratings

Another brilliant book by John Green. This one takes place in a school academy in Alabama.

Word Count: 69,023
Page Count: 256
Accelerated Reading level: 5.8 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 86391
Lexile: 930L

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN

(Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, # 1)
by Ransom Riggs

3.76 avg rating — 194,607 ratings

An island, an abandoned orphanage and a collection of curious photographs.  This book is being revisited since book #2 is out and on the NYTimes Best Seller list.

Word Count: 84,898
Page Count: 352
Accelerated Reading level: 5.7 / points: 13.0
AR quiz: 145802
Lexile: 890L

PANIC
by Lauren Oliver

3.65 avg rating — 6,159 ratings

In a dismal small town teens contribute money to a prize that will allow one winner to escape and have a chance at a better life. The contest consists of a set of challenges which have become increasing dangerous over the years.

Oliver delves into the minds of the teens desperate to escape. 

Word Count: 77,339
Page Count:  408
Accelerated Reader:  5.2 / points: 12.0
AR quiz: 164557

PAPER TOWNS  
by John Green

**Starred Review** ALA BookList 
 **Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal

4.10 avg rating — 168,742 ratings

Quentin Jacobsen has had a thing for Margo Roth Spiegelman for ages.   So when she appears at this window one night he follows her on a romp, only to find out after she disappears that she was extremely unhappy.  Typical John Green Genius.

(see reading info for other John Green books)
Word Count: 81,739
Page Count:  320
Accelerated Reading level: 5.4 / points: 13.0
AR quiz: 125323
Lexile: 850L


PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
by Stephen Chbosky

4.19 avg rating — 465,520 ratings

This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. MTV books.

Word Count: 62,376
Page Count: 213
Accelerated Reading level: 4.8 / points: 9.0
AR quiz: 32374
Lexile: 720L

SEA OF SHADOWS
(Age of Legends, #1)
by Kelly Armstrong

3.63 avg rating — 412 ratings

Sort of a horror/fantasy.  Twin sisters Ashyn and Moira are the Seeker and Keeper in the world of of the dead. They talk to spirits and their jobs are to keep the spirits of the dead happy and contained. Only now. Suddenly. The dead won't be calmed.

Word Count: 91,859
Page Count: 416
Accelerated Reader: 4.8 / points: 14.0
AR quiz: 166171
--sample pages available


THE SELECTION
(Selection - Trilogy #1)
by Kiera Cass

4.13 avg rating — 108,320 ratings

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Word Count: 80,248
Page Count: 336
Accelerated Reading level: 4.7 / points: 12.0
AR quiz: 151515

STEELHEART
(Reckoners, #1)
by Brandon Sanderson

4.12 avg rating — 25,438 ratings

When "Calamity" struck, certain humans became "Epic".  Which is to say that they miraculously acquired super abilities.  Unfortunately, ethics were on the lists, and the Epics want to dominate normals.

Opposing the Epics are the Reckoners.  And David wants to be one of them, because an Epic named Steelheart murdered his father, and he wants revenge.

Word Count: 107,599
Page Count:  384
Accelerated Reader:  5.0 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 161310
Lexile: 680L
--sample pages and reviews available

THE RULE OF THOUGHTS
(#2 Mortality Doctrine)
by James Dashner

YALSA Teen Top Ten Pick
4.17 avg rating — 204 ratings

Book #1 was  The Eye of Minds.  In this book the danger escalates as Sarah's parents are kidnapped by Kaine and Michael, Sarah and Bryson) are accused of murder.

Page count: 336
Lexile: 750L

THE TREATMENT
(The Program #2)
by Suzanne Young

 4.06 avg rating — 8,357 ratings

The follow up book to The Program, The TREATMENT picks up with Sloane and James in possession of one of “the treatment” pills.  They are on the run and soon meet up with some of Michael Realm's rebels.

Page Count: 352
no reading information available yet

THE PROGRAM  was at Accelerated Reading level: 4.3 / points: 14.0
AR quiz: 160847 
Lexile: HL660L

THIS STAR WON'T GO OUT:
The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl
by Esther Earl with Lori and Wayne Earl

4.55 avg rating — 1,929 ratings

Esther Grace Earl was only 16 when she passed away in 2010.  This book is filled with her insight, wisdom and humor.  She was inspiration for John Green's THE FAULT IN OUR STARS.  John wrote the introduction.

Word Count: 68,323
Page Count: 432
Accelerated Reader: 6.4 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 165474

UNCAGED
(The Singular Menace #1)
by John Sandford and Michele Cook

**Starred Review** ALA BookList
3.83 avg rating — 211 ratings 

NOT for the Squeamish. Animal torture and human torture.

Kids versus corrupt companies.  Shay and Odin are orphans living with foster parents.  Oden is older and when he turns 18 he joins a radical animal rights group.  The group breaks into a lab and finds some horrific stuff.

Odin, who is a high autistic, makes a frantic call to Shay and tells her he's scared and needs to hide. Shay takes off to find him, knowing that nothing will stop her from saving her brother.

Word Count: 106,743
Page Count: 416
Accelerated Reader: 6.1 / points: 17.0
AR quiz: 167315
 Lexile: 870L
--other reviews available
--audio version available
--sample e-chapters available

WE WERE LIARS
by E. Lockhart

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal
**Starred Review** HornBook
**Starred Review** ALA Booklist

4.03 avg rating — 3,916 ratings

We Were Liars is a suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Cadence is recovering.  She washed up on the shore with no memory of how she got there, nor if it's connected to her Grandfather's house burning down. But hopefully coming to her rich family's private island and hanging with 'the Liars' will help.  Or will it only make matters worse?

This appears to be one of those love/hate books that divide readers.

Word Count: 50,189
Page Count: 240
Accelerated Reader: 4.4 / points: 7.0
AR quiz: 166195
Lexile: HL600L

WHERE SHE WEN
(If I Stay #2) 
by Gayle Forman

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

 4.17 avg rating — 64,621 ratings  

Do they have a second chance at love?  After 3 years, cellist Mia runs into Adam the rocker in NYC.  

I've come to realize there's a world of difference between knowing something happened, even knowing why it happened, and believing it. Because when she cut off contact, yeah, I knew what had happened. But it took me a long, long time to believe it.  Some days, I still don't quite believe it.

Word Count: 55,415
Page Count: 288
Accelerated Reading: 5.1 / points: 8.0
AR quiz: 143768
Lexile: 800L

WHITE HOT KISS
(The Dark Elements #1)  
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

4.23 avg rating — 4,983 ratings

New Adult Romance: Seventeen-year-old Layla is half demon and half gargoyle which makes life difficult enough. But her kiss kills. At least it kills anyone with a soul. 

She tries to live normally until she meets a red hot demon named Roth.  Things heat up with him, and the demon uprising...

Word Count: 107,765
Page Count: 400
Accelerated Reader: 4.7 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 1645
--sample pages available


You Might Also Be Interested In...
------------------------------------------------------------------
► 2013 BEST YA BOOKS

► 2014 BEST YA SERIES
► 2013 BEST YA SERIES
► 2012 BEST YA SERIES

ALL NY TIMES BEST BOOKS...
------------------------------------------------------------------

compiled by Pam
updated September 2014

2014 BEST MIDDLE-GRADE BOOKS

Here's the 2014 list of the best selling books for Middle-Graders (as reported by the New York Times). This list will grow as the weeks pass.

Updated September 2014

******All ratings from GoodReads (not updated monthly)
***** a new feature shows Weeks on NYTimes Best Seller List in blue
**** Note that in alphabetizing, we ignore 'the' in titles.
*** Bold = Are books on the Best Seller list this week
** Bold/RED = new books on the Best Seller list this week
*You can find the original NYT list here.


AN ALPHABETIZED SUMMARY LIST:

1. A LONG WALK TO WATER Weeks - 32
2. A WORLD WITHOUT PRINCES Week - 1
3. The BOY ON THE WOODEN BOX  Weeks - 2
4. CARE AND KEEPING OF YOU 1, The Weeks - 65
5. CARE AND KEEPING OF YOU 2  Weeks -30
6.  COUNTING BY 7's  Weeks - 5
7. ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY Weeks - 14
8. EVER AFTER HIGH, THE UNFAIREST OF THEM ALL Weeks - 6
9. FLORA AND ULYSSES  Weeks - 43
10. FORTUNATELY, THE MILK Weeks - 17
11. FRANK EINSTEIN AND THE ANTIMATTER MOTOR  Weeks - 3
12. FROZEN Weeks - 39
13. HUNTED Weeks - 6
14. I EVEN FUNNIER Weeks - 8
15. I FUNNY (a Patterson Middle-School book #3) Weeks -24
16. JEDI ACADEMY (Jedi Academy #1) Weeks - 14
17. JEDI ACADEMY, RETURN OF THE PADAWAN (Jedi Academy #2) Week -6
18. JUST JAKE Week - 1
19. LAST DAYS OF JESUS  Week - 6
20. LEGO IDEAS BOOK Weeks -19
21. LEGO, THE LEGO MOVIE Weeks - 11
22. LEGO PLAY BOOK Weeks - 5
23. The ONE AND ONLY IVAN Weeks - 82
24. OUT OF MY MIND  Weeks - 47
25. PERCY JACKSON'S GREEK GODS  Weeks - 3 
26. RUSH REVERE AND THE BRAVE PILGRIMS Weeks - 33
27. RUSH REVERE AND THE FIRST PATRIOTS Weeks - 21
28. THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL  Weeks - 4  
29. SKY RAIDERS  Weeks - 3  
30. STAFF OF SERAPIS  Weeks - 9
31. THE FINISHER Weeks - 11
32. THE JULIAN CHAPTER Weeks - 4
33. THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH  Week - 1  
34. THREE TIMES LUCKY  Weeks - 6
35. TIMMY FAILURE  Weeks - 15
36. TIMMY FAILURE, NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE  Weeks - 3
37. TREASURE HUNTERS Weeks -11
38. WONDER Weeks - 93
39. The YEAR OF BILLY MILLER Week - 1

A LONG WALK TO WATER
by Linda Sue Parker

 Flicker Tale Children's Book Award Nominee for Juvenile (2012)
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal
**Starred Review** ALA BookList

4.19 avg rating — 6,188 ratings

Two narratives flow in and out.  The first is a girl in Sudan (2008) and a boy in Sudan (1985). 

Nya fetches water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way

Word Count: 21,221
Page Count: 128
Accelerated Reading level: 5.0 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 140710
Lexile: 720L

A WORLD WITHOUT PRINCES
(The School for Good and Evil #2)
by Soman Chainani
Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno

4.20 avg rating — 1,285 ratings

Sophie and Agatha are back in the real world... for a while.  But not everything is resolved and they continue to think about the nature of good and bad, and about their relationship.  

Word Count: 96,331
Page Count: 400
Accelerated Reader: 5.7 / points: 15.0
AR quiz: 167295
Lexile: 890L 
--sample pages and reviews available

BOY ON THE WOODEN BOX 
How The Impossible Became Possible...On Schindler's List
by Leon Leyson

4.44 avg rating — 846 ratings

This is the only memoir that has been written by someone saved by  Schindler.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 39,195
Page Count: 240
Accelerated Reader: 7.0 / points: 7.0
AR quiz: 160814
Lexile: 1000L


CARE AND KEEPING OF YOU 1  (revised)
The Body Book for Younger Girls
(American Girl Library)
by Valorie Schaefer
Josée Masse (Illustrations)

4.00 Stars from 1,315 GoodReaders

Page Count:  104
Lexile: 880L
no Accelerated Reading or Lexile info currently available


THE CARE AND KEEPING OF YOU 2:  The Body Book for Older Girls
by Cara Natterson
Josée Masse (Illustrations) 

4.39 Stars from 205 GoodReaders

I personally purchased the first book for my daughter when she became a tween.  We read it together and I know she's read sections of it since as she's made her way to being a teenager.  Book one discussed bras, pimples and the introductory info on how girls bodies change.  I'm assuming this book will follow on this tract, covering the same information and more, but at an level more suitable for teens.

Page Count:  96
no reading info available

COUNTING BY 7s
by Holly Goldberg Sloan

**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal
**Starred Review** ALA BookList
4.24 avg rating — 2,745 ratings

A brilliant girl must connect with more than numbers after her parents die in a car accident.  Interesting side characters. (My opinion, not for every middle grader.)

Word Count: 62,677
Page Count:  384
Accelerated Reader:  5.6 / points: 10.0
AR quiz: 160220
Lexile: 770L

ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY
by Chris Grabenstein

**Starred Review** ALA BookList 
**Starred Review** Kirkus

4.04 avg rating — 4,662 ratings

Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of the first 12 kids in the library for an overnight of fun, food, and lots and lots of games. But when morning comes, the doors remain locked. Kyle and the other winners must solve every clue and every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route. And the stakes are very high.

Word Count: 47,493
Page Count:  304
Accelerated Reading level: 4.5 / points: 7.0
AR quiz: 159405
Lexile: 720L
--sample pages available

THE UNFAIREST OF THEM ALL
(Ever After High #2)
by Shannon Hale

4.34 avg rating — 112 ratings

Chaos still peculates through Storyland because Raven refused to sign the book. The rebels stand behind Raven and support her, while the royals back Apple White.  

Who will prevail?

Word Count: 54,356
Page Count:  336
Accelerated Reader: 5.1 / points: 8.0
AR quiz:165141
--free Preview Chapters

FLORA AND ULYSSES
by  Kate DiCamillo

K.G. Campbell (Illustrator)

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** ALA BookList
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review**SchoolLibraryJournal

3.93 avg rating — 2,177 ratings

Magical realism from award winning Kate.  This books involves, a squirrel, a vacuum cleaner, and a girl.

Word Count: 32,790
Page Count:  240
Accelerated Reader: 4.3 / points: 5.0
AR quiz: 160221
Lexile: 520L 

FORTUNATELY, THE MILK
by Neil Gaiman
illustrated by Skottie Young

4.09 avg rating — 6,606 ratings

It's all about the milk when 2 children wake up one morning to find there's no milk in the house.  Mom's away.  Dad goes out to get some, but returns with one whopper of a tale involving time travel and all sorts of crazy adventures.  

Word Count: 7,620
Page Count:  128
Accelerated Reader:  4.3 / points: 1.0
AR quiz: 160992
Lexile: 680L

THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH
by Jennifer L. Holm

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** ALA BookList

3.90 avg rating — 1,206 ratings

Ellie is 11 and her life is pretty normal until her mom brings how a teenage boy. What makes this REALLY odd is that it's her grandfather!  who has figured out how to reverse aging. 

Her grandfather's intense focus on science stirs a similar interest in Ellie and she learns about the work of Jonas Salk, Robert Oppenheimer, and Marie Curie.

No Accelerated Reader info currently available
Lexile: 550L

FRANK EINSTEIN AND THE ANTIMATTER MOTOR 
(Frank Einstein #1)
by Jon Scieszka
Brian Biggs (Illustrations)

3.83 avg rating — 113 ratings

The beginning of another boy-friendly series.  In this one geared for Middle-schoolers, a flash of electricity and Frank's genius bring Klink and Klank to life.  T. Edison steals the robots and Frank struggles to get them back.

Real science is worked into the story.

Word Count: 19,902
Page Count:  192
Accelerated Reader: 4.7 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 168147




FROZEN
(Frozen Junior Novelization)
by RH Disney

4.31 avg rating — 61 ratings

Book based on the Disney movie, which is loosely based on the story of the Snow Queen.

Page Count:  128
no reading info available

HUNTED
(Animal Spirits #2)
by Maggie Stiefvater

4.05 avg rating — 60 ratings 

The first book in this series, WILD BORN, was by Brandon Mull.  The next book in the series will be by Garth Nix.

It's all about 4 young heroes and their spirit guides.

Word Count: 44,479
Page Count: 192
Accelerated Reader: 5.0 / points: 7.0
AR quiz: 163634
Lexile: 670L
--sample pages and reviews available

I EVEN FUNNIER
(a Patterson Middle-School book)
by James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein
Laura Park (Illustrator)

4.10 avg rating — 79 ratings 

Jamies won the Planet's Funniest Kid Comic Contest!  Now he's off to compete in the national semi-finals.  Or would be....

Turns out that somethings are more important than his ambition.  Jamie finds that out when one of his friends gets into trouble, and a family member has a health scare.

Word Count: 36,842
Page Count: 368
Accelerated Reader: 4.4 / points: 5.0
AR quiz: 163049
Lexile: 710L
--read the first 13 chapters


I FUNNY
(a Patterson Middle-School book #3)
by James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein
Laura Park (Illustrator)

4.02 avg rating — 1,924 GoodReaders 

Though wheelchair-bound and bullied, Jamie doesn't let his life deter him from pursuing his goal: to become the world's greatest standup comedian.

(see the James Patterson reading info index)

Reading Information:
Word Count: 27,357
Page Count: 320
Accelerated Reading level: 3.9 / points: 4.0
AR quiz: 155432
Lexile: 610L

JEDI ACADEMY 
(Jedi Academy #1)
(Scholastic) 
by Jeffrey Brown

4.02 avg rating — 640 ratings

Roan's dad and brother are pilots.  And he longs to be one too, and so he applied to the Pilot Academy, only to mysteriously be denied entrance.

Instead he receives an equally mysterious invitation to something called 'the Jedi Academy'.  With no where else to go, he attends and becomes a student of Master Yoda. 

Word Count: 12,972
Page Count:  160
Accelerated Reader:  3.8 / points: 2.0
AR quiz: 161023
Lexile: GN650L 

JEDI ACADEMY, RETURN OF THE PADAWAN
(Jedi Academy #2)
(Scholastic)
by Jeffrey Brown

4.02 avg rating — 226 ratings

This Hi-Lo series is certainly guy-friendly.  And in this book Roan Novachez' adventures in 'middle school' continue with flight classes, bad food, and bullies.

Artwork is black and white.

Word Count: 14,153
Page Count:176
Accelerated Reader: 4.2 / points: 2.0
AR quiz: 168339
Lexile: GN670L
--sample pages available

THE LAST DAYS OF JESUS
by Bill O'Reilly
Illustrated by William Low

A version of "Killing Jesus" that is meant for younger readers.  As to be expected there is some controversy based on which translation of the Bible is used.  At least one reviewer was put off by the author's claim that Jesus died when he was 36.  Other controversy about Mary Magdalene.

Word Count: 42,183
Page Count: 360
Accelerated Reader: 7.7 / points: 7.0
AR quiz: 165846
Lexile: 1050L
--sample pages available

JUST JAKE
(Just Jake #1)
by Jake Marcionette
illustrated by Victor Rivas Villa

Written by a real kid!  Jake Marcionette is 12 years old so keep that in mind while you're reading.  (Kids might really enjoy this aspect)

The story is about moving from Florida to Maryland and starting over in a new school. 

Word Count: 19,374
Page Count: 160
Accelerated Reader: 4.9 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 164817
Lexile: 820L



THE LEGO IDEAS BOOK
by Daniel Lipkowitz

4.40 avg rating — 282 ratings

Tips and tricks for taking your construction up a notch.

200 pages
Lexile: IG990L 

LEGO PLAY BOOK
by Daniel Lipkowitz, Gregory Farshtey

4.27 avg rating — 22 ratings

Ideas to Bring Your Bricks to Life!

200 pages
Lexile: 1040L 

LEGO, THE LEGO MOVIE
 by Kate Howard

 4.83 avg rating — 6 ratings

A fun movie tie-in.

Reading Level Info: unknown
144 pages



ONE AND ONLY IVAN
by Katherine A. Applegate
Patricia Castelao (Illustrations)

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** ALA BookList
**Starred Review** Kirkus
Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2013-14 Master List

4.24 avg rating — 22,514 ratings

Based on a true story, book tells of Ivan, a captive gorilla who uses art to bridge the gap between his cage and the outside world.

Word Count: 26,263
Page Count:  301
Accelerated Reading level: 3.6 / points: 4.0
AR quiz: 150437
Lexile: 570L 


OUT OF MY MIND
by Sharon M. Draper

**Starred Review** School Library Journal 
**Starred Review** ALA BookList
**Starred Review** Kirkus

4.35 avg rating — 23,391 ratings

A brilliant girl with cerebral palsy longs for a way to speak.

Word Count: 56,872
Page Count: 320
Accelerated Reading level: 4.3 / points: 8.0
AR quiz: 136421
Lexile: 700L

PERCY JACKSON'S GREEK GODS
by Rick Riordan
John Rocco (Illustrator)

4.65 avg rating — 1,700 ratings

Greek Myths retold by Percy Jackson in his own witty and sarcastic style. 

No Accelerated Reader info currently available
 Lexile: 790L

RUSH REVERE AND THE BRAVE PILGRIMS
(book #1)
by Rush Limbaugh

3.94 avg rating — 664 ratings

Rush rides his magical horse back in time to watch the pilgrims.

Word Count: 43,169
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reader: 5.4 / points: 7.0
AR quiz: 163160
Lexile: 740L

RUSH REVERE AND THE FIRST PATRIOTS
(book #2)
by Rush Limbaugh

4.28 avg rating — 54 ratings 

Rushes magic horse takes him back to Boston and the famous tea party.

Page Count: 256
no reading information available 

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL   
(The School for Good and Evil #1)
by Soman Chainani

3.93 avg rating — 8,502 ratings

Sophie and Agatha find out where all the lost children go: the fabled School for Good & Evil.  A school were regular kids are are trained to be heroes... or villains.

Word Count: 105,365
Page Count:  488
Accelerated Reader: 5.2 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 161269
Lexile: 830L
--sample pages available

SKY RAIDERS
(Five Kingdoms book #1)
by Brandon Mull 

 4.18 avg rating — 237 ratings

On Halloween, a sixth grader and his friends are transported to a strange land called the Outskirts.

Word Count: 99,619
Page Count: 432
Accelerated Reader: 4.4 / points: 14.0
AR quiz: 165276
Lexile: 610L

THE STAFF OF SERAPIS
(Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles Crossover #2)

by Rick Riordan

4.44 avg rating — 1,091 ratings

Book 1 in this series was THE SON OF SOBEK.  This piece, however, is a short story which has Annabeth Chase meeting up with Sadie Kane!

Page Count: 59
no reading information available 

THE FINISHER
(Scholastic)
by David Baldacci

**Starred Review** ALA Booklist
3.67 avg rating — 212 ratings

The Finisher is a fantasy-paranormal hybrid. In the story 14-year-old Vega Jane lives and works in Wormwood. She and the other villagers have grown up being told that the surrounding forest is dangerous and full of monsters.  The tales about the Quag (forest) are all called into question when Vega's mentor disappears, leaving behind a cryptic message.

Word Count: 129,312
Page Count: 512
Accelerated Reader: 5.2 / points: 20.0
AR quiz: 164930
Lexile: 710L

THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH

 Lexile: 550L

 THE JULIAN CHAPTER - a Wonder Story
(Wonder 1.4)
by R.J. Palacio

4.34 avg rating — 902 ratings

In WONDER, Julian was Auggie's bully.  In this story Palacio explores why Julian was so terrible to Auggie and if there is a chance for his redemption.

Page Count: 84
no reading information available 


THREE TIMES LUCKY
by Sheila Turnage

**Newbery Honor Book**
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal
**Starred Review** ALA Booklist

4.01 avg rating — 4,965 ratings

Miss Moses LoBeau (Mo) lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC.  When she was a baby she was found on the shore after a hurricane, and she's been stormy ever since. 

She's found a home with the Colonel and Miss Lana.  And while she hopes one day to find her 'upstream mom', she's more than loyal to them.   So when a police detective comes to town investigating a murder, she can't help but get involved.

Word Count: 62,217
Page Count:  256
Accelerated Reading level: 3.9 / points: 9.0
AR quiz: 151057
Lexile: 560L


TIMMY FAILURE: Mistakes Were Made
(Timmy Failure #1)
by Stephan Pastis

3.63 avg rating — 1,023 GoodReaders

Timmy Failure is 11 years old.  And he's the founder of the "best" detective agency in town, named Total Failure, Inc.

Word Count: 22,433
Page Count:  294
Accelerated Reading level: 3.8 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 156819

TIMMY FAILURE, NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE
(Timmy Failure #2)
by Stephan Pastis

4.00 avg rating — 26 ratings

Excitement abounds when it's announced that there's a contest to retrieve the school's missing globe, and that the prize is $500!

Timothy sets off to when it, only to be stifled by wrong doing --which, of course, he must correct.

Word Count: 20,828
Page Count: 288
Accelerated Reader: 3.8 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 164047
Lexile: 470L

TREASURE HUNTERS
(Treasure Hunters #1)
by Others and James Patterson

 3.75 avg rating — 269 ratings

This boy-friendly book is all about treasure hunting.  The twins following their hunting parents around the world.  But when they disappear, the kids have to take up the search.

Word Count: 43,435
Page Count:  480
Accelerated Reader:  4.6 / points: 6.0
AR quiz: 160886
Lexile: 750L


WONDER
by R.J. Palacio

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal
**Starred Review** ALA Booklist

4.40 avg rating — 70,788 ratings

Auggie Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now, when he will enter the 5th grade.

Word Count: 73053
Page Count: 320
Accelerated Reading level: 4.8 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 149900
Lexile: 790L 

The YEAR OF BILLY MILLER
 by Kevin Henkes 

**2014 Newbery Honor book**
3.84 avg rating — 1,120 ratings  

Sort of a diary of a Wimpy Kid for younger readers.

Word Count: 21,882
Page Count: 240
Accelerated Reader:  4.2 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 161077
Lexile: 620L

See our other Must Read book lists!

compiled by Pam

updated September 2014