ASD MS Students Recommend - Summer Reading - Middle School - LibGuides at The American School of Doha

Recommended Fiction

Restart by Gordon Korman
ISBN: 9781338053777
Publication Date: 2017-05-30
Chase does not remember falling off the roof, in fact he does not remember anything about himself, and when he gets back to middle school he begins to learn who he was through the reactions of the other kids--trouble is, he really is not sure he likes the Chase that is being revealed, but can he take the opportunity amnesia has provided and restart his life?

Recommended by J.W., "It was a great thrill and a real happiness came on every page. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a relaxing fun book and likes reading a lot."

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
ISBN: 9780803740815
Publication Date: 2015-01-08
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.

Recommended by S.W., "It tells the story about someone who's different and is also very interesting."

Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen
ISBN: 9781338275476
Publication Date: 2019-10-01
In 1893 twelve-year-old Audra lives on a farm in Lithuania, and tries to avoid the Cossack soldiers who enforce the Russian decrees that ban Lithuanian books, religion, culture, and even the language; but when the soldiers invade the farm Audra is the only one who escapes and, unsure of what has happened to her parents, she embarks on a dangerous journey, carrying the smuggled Lithuanian books that fuel the growing resistance movement, unsure of who to trust, but risking her life and freedom for her country.

Recommended by A.A., "I like that it's based on history..."

Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel; Keith Thompson (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780060850548
Publication Date: 2007-08-21
As the sun sets on the time of the dinosaurs, a new world is left in its wake...Dusk He alone can fly and see in the dark, in a colony where being different means being shunned--or worse. As the leader's son, he is protected, but does his future lie among his kin? Carnassial He has the true instincts of a predator, and he is determined that his kind will not only survive but will dominate the world of beasts.

Recommended by F.H., "... it's interesting."

Ungifted by Gordon Korman
ISBN: 9780061742682
Publication Date: 2012-08-21
Due to an administrative mix-up, troublemaker Donovan Curtis is sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction, a special program for gifted and talented students, after pulling a major prank at middle school.

Recommended by S.S., "Like lots of Gordon Korman's books, it is mixed with lots of story, interesting characters and an extra mix of comedy! The storyline is great, not getting repetitive, and you begin to like the main character, even if he can be kind of annoying."

Recommended Graphic Novels or Comics

Bad Island by Doug TenNapel
ISBN: 0545314798
Publication Date: 2011-08-01
When a family takes a boating trip, the last thing they expect is to be shipwrecked on an island-especially an island with weird, otherworldly plants and animals. Now, what started out as a bad vacation turns into a terrible one as Lyle, Karen, and their two kids, Janie and Reese, must find a way off the island while they dodge its strange and dangerous inhabitants. Is the island alive? Is it from another world? In this rousing, Swiss-Family-Robinson tale with a twist, the answers to these questions could save them... or spell their doom.

Recommended by J.M., "I have been wanting to read this book all year..."

Series Recommendations

The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Trilogy #1) by Suzanne Collins
ISBN: 9780439023481
Publication Date: 2008-10-01
A chilling tale of survival from the New York Times bestselling author. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor tohis or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capitol wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rule. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her impoverished district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Recommended by Y.S., "This book consists of suspense, romance, and action, with a touch of horror, which I love so much about this book.

Eragon (Inheritance #1) by Christopher Paolini
ISBN: 0375826696
Publication Date: 2005-04-26
Fifteen-year-old Eragon believes that he is merely a poor farm boy--until his destiny as a Dragon Rider is revealed. Gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his choices could save--or destroy--the Empire.

Recommended by T. C., "...the writing is fantastic for someone that young (he started writing the first book when he was 16), but trust me he is much better than other authors. His smoothness with the flow of the story, the entire thing is made easy to understand with a map, the settings are breathtaking if you allow yourself to fall into the pages of the book, and there is real emotion. There is depth, pain, humour, and beauty to this book, and I recommend it to anyone who has the patience to go through 2500 pages of brilliance this 4-book series has to offer."

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer
Call Number: F MEY
ISBN: 9780312641894
Publication Date: 2012-01-03
The #1 New York Times Bestselling Series! Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

Recommended by A.W., "I love everything about it! The characters, the plot, the romance, the adventure, EVERYTHING! It's one of my favorite series that I've read."

The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings #1) by J. R. R. Tolkien
ISBN: 0618002227
Publication Date: 1999-09-15
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in THE HOBBIT. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

Recommended by N.R., "It is adventure and fantasy which are my favorite genres for a book. They are about trust, friendship and perseverance."

The Selection (Selection #1) by Kiera Cass
ISBN: 9780062059932
Publication Date: 2012-04-24
Fall in love--from the very beginning. Discover the first book in the captivating, #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series. Prepare to be swept into a world of breathless fairy-tale romance, swoonworthy characters, glittering gowns, and fierce intrigue perfect for readers who loved Divergent, Delirium, or The Wrath & the Dawn. For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape a rigid caste system, 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, and competing for a crown she doesn't want. Then America meets Prince Maxon--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. Don't miss The Betrothed, a glittering royal romance sure to captivate Kiera Cass's legion of loyal readers and lovers of courtly intrigue alike!

Recommended by S.S., "I like this book because the characters are realistic and complex. Also, I feel excited to know choices characters make!"

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. (Harry Potter #1) by J. K. Rowling
ISBN: 0545582881
Publication Date: 2013-08-27
Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley -- a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry -- and anyone who reads about him -- will find unforgettable. For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.

Recommended by G.B., "...this book has many interesting twists and turns."

Never Ever (Never Ever #1) by Sara Saedi
ISBN: 0451475763
Publication Date: 2016-06-21
Wylie Dalton didn't believe in fairy tales or love at first sight. Then she met a real-life Peter Pan. When Wylie encounters Phinn--confident, mature, and devastatingly handsome--at a party the night before her brother goes to juvie, she can't believe how fast she falls for him. And that's before he shows her how to fly. Soon Wylie and her brothers find themselves whisked away to a mysterious tropical island off the coast of New York City where nobody ages beyond seventeen and life is a constant party. Wylie's in heaven: now her brother won't go to jail and she can escape her over-scheduled life with all its woes and responsibilities--permanently. But the deeper Wylie falls for Phinn, the more she begins to discover has been kept from her and her brothers. Somebody on the island has been lying to her, but the truth can't stay hidden forever.
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates (Tom Gates #1) by Liz Pichon
ISBN: 1407120697
Publication Date: 2011
Tom Gates is the master of excuses for late homework: dog attacks, spilt water, lightning ... Tom's exercise book is full of his doodles, cartoons and thoughts, as well as comments from his long-suffering teacher, Mr Fullerton. After gaining five merits for his 'Camping Sucks' holiday story, Tom's work starts to go downhill, which is a pity, as he's desperate to impress Amy Porter, who sits next to him.
Murder Is Bad Manners (Wells and Wong Mystery #1) by Robin Stevens
ISBN: 9781481422123
Publication Date: 2015-04-21
At an English boarding school in the 1930s, crime-solving friends Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells struggle to find an exciting mystery to investigate until Hazel discovers the dead body of Miss Bell, the science teacher.

Summer Reading - Middle School: ASD MS Students Recommend

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Recommended Fiction

Recommended Graphic Novels or Comics

Series Recommendations