GCDS Libraries: Upper Elementary: UE Summer Reading 2021

2021 One School, One Book

**All UE students & faculty will read Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt this summer**

2016 Schneider Family Book Award Winner

Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.

Borrow a digital copy - eBook or audiobook - from Greenwich Library here. GCDS families can obtain a card using this form.

Borrow an eBook from GCDS here. GCDS students & faculty can set up an account with your GCDS Google log-in.

Borrow an audiobook from GCDS here. GCDS students & faculty can set up an account with your GCDS Google log-in.

2021 UE Summer Reading Book List

Below are book titles for rising UE students to choose from for their summer reading.

The Barnabus Project by The Fan Brothers
Publication Date: 2020
(Picture Book) In a world built for Perfect Pets, Barnabus is a Failed Project, half mouse, half elephant, kept out of sight until his dreams of freedom lead him and his misfit friends on a perilous adventure.
The Couch Potato by Jory John; Pete Oswald (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2020
(Picture Book) The Couch Potato has everything he needs within reach of his sunken couch cushion. But when the electricity goes out, Couch Potato is forced to peel himself away from the comforts of his living room and venture outside. He realizes fresh air and sunshine could be just the things he needs.
If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall
Publication Date: 2020
In this picture book, a boy writes a letter to an imagined alien, explaining all the things he will need to know about Earth and the people who live here.
Your Place in the Universe by Jason Chin
Publication Date: 2020
2021 Bank Street Cook Prize Winner & GCDS 4th Grade Winner.
(Informational Picture Book) Jason Chin, the award-winning author and illustrator of "Grand Canyon", has once again found a way to make a complex subject--size, scale and almost unimaginable distance--accessible and understandable to readers of all ages. Meticulously researched and featuring the highly detailed artwork for which he is renowned, this is sure to be a hit with kids looking for an engaging way to delve into perspective, astronomy, and astrophysics.
The Fabled Stables (books #1 & 2) by Jonathan Auxier
Publication Date: 2020
(Fantasy) New Series! Welcome to the Fabled Stables, a magical building filled with one-of-a-kind creatures, including the Gargantula, the Yawning Abyss, the Hippopotamouse . . . and Auggie. Auggie is the only human boy at the Stables, and he takes care of all the other animals. The Fabled Stables have a mind of their own, and every so often, the building SHAKES and SHUDDERS, TWITCHES and SPUTTERS—it’s making room for a new arrival! It’s Auggie’s job to venture out and rescue a new creature from danger.
Too Small Tola by Atinuke; Onyinye Iwu (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2021
(Realistic Fiction) In a trio of stories, award-winning author and storyteller Atinuke debuts an endearing character with plenty to prove. Tola lives in an apartment in the busy city of Lagos, Nigeria, with her sister who is very clever; her brother who is very fast, and Grandmommy who is very bossy. Tola may be small, but she’s strong enough to carry a basket brimming with groceries home from the market, and she’s clever enough to count out Grandmommy’s change. Too Small Tola evokes the urban bustle and rich blending of cultures in Lagos through the eyes of a little girl with an outsize will—and an even bigger heart.
J. D. and the Great Barber Battle by J. Dillard; Akeem S. Roberts (illustrator)
Publication Date: 2021
(Realistic Fiction) New Series! J.D. has a big problem--it's the night before the first day of school and his mom has just given him his first and worst home haircut. When the steady stream of insults from the entire student body of Douglass Elementary becomes too much for J.D., he takes matters into his own hands and discovers that, unlike his mom, he's a genius with the clippers.
The Animal Rescue Agency #1: Case File: Little Claws by Eliot Schrefer
Publication Date: 2021
(Animal Fantasy/Mystery) New series! When an animal is in trouble, there's only one place to turn: the Animal Rescue Agency!
Dashing Esquire Fox used to organize the world's most elaborate chicken raids until the day she encountered Mr. Pepper. Meeting the blustery old rooster changed her heart, convincing her to turn from a life of crime and instead form the Animal Rescue Agency, which masterminds rescue operations across the globe.
The Zombert Chronicles (books #1 & 2) by Kara LaReau; Ryan Andrews (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2020
(Animal Fantasy/Mystery) New Series! While helping her best friend, Danny, film his latest horror flick, Mellie discovers a scraggly cat behind a dumpster outside the YummCo Foods factory. Mellie names the stray Bert and hides him in her room, knowing her parents won’t let her keep him. But soon Bert has decapitated all her stuffed animals, and before long he is leaving the headless corpses of birds and mice as gifts for her. Danny is convinced the cat is a zombie. But is that what is really going on? Fans of creepy stories and animal lovers alike will devour this fast-moving first episode in one gulp.
Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake
Publication Date: 2020
(Animal Fantasy) No one wants a skunk. Skunk should never, ever be allowed to move in. But Skunk is Badger’s new roommate, and there is nothing Badger can do about it. When Skunk plows into Badger’s life, everything Badger knows is upended. Tails are flipped. The wrong animal is sprayed. And why-oh-why are there so many chickens? Newbery Honor author Amy Timberlake has created an instant classic with illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen.
Dragged from Under series (books #1 & 2) by Joseph Monninger
Publication Date: 2020
(Action/Adventure) Barn Whimbril is a shark-obsessed 6th grader living in Florida. When a deadly shark attack happens in a canal near his home, he heads off to the scene. As he tries to figure out what has caused these bull sharks to become more aggressive, Barn will face several hazards both in and out of the water. An action-packed story perfect for fans of shark attack novels and adventures, with a touch of STEM, that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Julieta and the Diamond Enigma by Luisana Duarte Armendariz
Publication Date: 2020
(Mystery) "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" meets "Merci Suarez" in this smart young middle-grade mystery about a diamond gone missing from the Louvre and the sweet and spunky girl who cracks the case.
The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman
Publication Date: 2020
(Fantasy) Kate's humdrum life is transformed when her mysterious and highly irresponsible Uncle Herbert, whom she's never even met before, surprises her with the most unexpected, exhilarating, inappropriate birthday present of all time: a colossal steam locomotive called the Silver Arrow. Soon Kate and her younger brother are off to distant lands along magical rail lines in the company of an assortment of exotic animals who, it turns out, can talk.
Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Publication Date: 2021
(Graphic Novel, Realistic Fiction) At home, Maggie is the odd one out. Her parents are preoccupied with the new baby they're expecting, and her twin younger brothers are always in their own world. Maggie thinks a new puppy is the answer, but when she goes to select one on her birthday, she breaks out in hives and rashes. She's severely allergic to anything with fur! A coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel featuring a girl with severe allergies who just wants to find the perfect pet!
Simon B. Rhymin' by Dwayne Reed
Publication Date: 2021
(Realistic Fiction) 11-year-old Simon Barnes dreams of becoming a world-famous rapper, but for now, he's just a Chicago fifth grader who's small for his age and afraid to use his voice. Simon prefers to lay low at school and at home, even though he's constantly spitting rhymes in his head. But when his new teacher assigns the class an oral presentation on something that affects their community, Simon must face his fears. With some help from an unexpected ally and his neighborhood crew, will Simon gain the confidence to rap his way to an A and prove that one kid can make a difference?
The Magical Reality of Nadia by Bassem Youssef & Catherine R. Daly
Publication Date: 2021
(Fantasy) A hilarious and heartfelt story about prejudice, friendship, empathy, and courage. Nadia loves fun facts. Here are a few about her: - She collects bobbleheads. She moved from Egypt to America when she was six years old. The hippo amulet she wears is ancient...as in it's literally from ancient Egypt. Then a new kid shows up and teases Nadia about her Egyptian heritage. It's totally unexpected, and throws her off her game. And something else happens that Nadia can't explain: Her amulet starts glowing! She soon discovers that the hippo is holding a helpful -- and hilarious -- secret.
Unplugged by Gordon Korman
Publication Date: 2021
(Realistic Fiction) As the son of the world’s most famous tech billionaire, spoiled Jett Baranov has always gotten what he wanted. So when his father’s private jet drops him in the middle of the Arkansas wilderness, at a wellness center called the Oasis, Jett can’t believe it. He’s forced to hand over his cell phone, eat grainy veggie patties, and participate in wholesome activities with the other kids, who he has absolutely no interest in hanging out with. But he can’t help noticing that the adults at the Oasis are acting really strange. Jett is determined to get to the bottom of things, but can he convince everybody that he is no longer just a spoiled brat who is making trouble?
The Comeback by E. L. Shen
Publication Date: 2021
(Realistic Fiction) A heartfelt, middle-grade debut about a young girl trying to be a champ--in figure skating and in life. Set in Lake Placid, New York, this is a spunky yet stirring middle-grade story that examines racism, female rivalry and friendship, and the enduring and universal necessity of love and support
From Here to There by Vivian Kirkfield; Gilbert Ford
Publication Date: 2021
(Informational) Celebrating the invention of vehicles, this collective biography tells the inspiring stories of the visionaries who changed the way we move across air, water, and land.
The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm
Publication Date: 2021
(Science Fiction) From Newbery Honor-winning Jennifer L. Holm, Bell has spent his whole life - all eleven years of it - on Mars. But he's still just a regular kid - he loves cats, any kind of cake, and is curious about the secrets the adults in the US colony are keeping. Like, why don't they have contact with anyone from the other Mars colonies? Why are they so isolated? When a virus breaks out and the grown-ups all fall ill, Bell and the other children are the only ones who can help. It's up to Bell - a regular kid in a very different world - to uncover the truth and save his family.
Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
Publication Date: 2020
2021 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature Honor
(Historical Fiction) Prairie Lotus is a powerful, touching, multilayered book about a girl determined to fit in and realize her dreams of getting an education, becoming a dressmaker in her father's shop, and making at least one friend. Acclaimed, award-winning author Linda Sue Park has placed a young half-Asian girl, Hanna, in a small town in America's heartland, in 1880. Hanna's adjustment to her new surroundings, which primarily means negotiating the townspeople's prejudice against Asians, is at the heart of the story.
Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson & Kwame Alexander
Publication Date: 2020
(Biographical Novel) Before he was a household name, Cassius Clay was a kid with struggles like any other. Kwame Alexander and James Patterson join forces to vividly depict his life up to age seventeen in both prose and verse, including his childhood friends, struggles in school, the racism he faced, and his discovery of boxing.
I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day
Publication Date: 2019
2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor
(Realistic Fiction) In her debut middle grade novel--inspired by her family's history--Christine Day tells the story of a girl who uncovers her family's secrets--and finds her own Native American identity. All her life, Edie has known that her mom was adopted by a white couple. So, no matter how curious she might be about her Native American heritage, Edie is sure her family doesn’t have any answers. Until the day when she and her friends discover a box hidden in the attic.
Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard
Publication Date: 2020
(Realistic Fiction) Cyrus Olson’s dad is a hero—Northfield’s former football star and now one of their finest firefighters. Everyone expects Cyrus to follow in his dad’s record-breaking footsteps, and he wishes they were right—except he’s never been brave like that. But this year, with the help of a stray dog, a few new friends, a little bit of rhythm, and a lot of nerve, he may just discover that actually…he is.
Alone in the Woods by Rebecca Behrens
Publication Date: 2020
(Action/Adventure) A thrilling survival story about two former best friends who must work together to stay alive after getting lost in a remote national forest.
The Million Dollar Race by Matthew Ross Smith
Publication Date: 2021
(Realistic Fiction) This quick-paced, heartfelt, and zany novel follows a speedy kid from an unconventional family who will do whatever it takes to win an international track contest. Grant Falloon isn't just good at track; he's close to breaking the world record 100-meter time for his age group. So when the mega-rich Babblemoney sneaker company announces an international competition to find the fastest kid in the world, he's desperate to sign up. But not so fast. Nothing's ever that easy with the eccentric Falloon family.
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
Publication Date: 2020
2021 Newbery Medal Winner & 2021 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature Winner
(Fantasy) When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now they want it back. And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal--return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni's health--Lily is tempted to agree. But deals with tigers are never what they seem!
My Life As a Potato by Arianne Costner
Publication Date: 2020
(Realistic Fiction) Ben Hardy believes he's cursed by potatoes. And now he's moved to Idaho, where the school's mascot is Steve the Spud! Yeah, this cannot be good. After accidentally causing the mascot to sprain an ankle, Ben is sentenced to Spud duty for the final basketball games of the year. But if the other kids know he's the Spud, his plans for popularity are likely to be a big dud! Ben doesn't want to let the team down, so he lies to his friends to keep it a secret. No ne will know it's him under the potato suit . . . right?
The World Between Blinks by Ryan Graudin; Amie Kaufman
Publication Date: 2021
(Fantasy) Whenever Jake and Marisol get together, adventure follows. They have their late Nana to thank for that. Her epic trips and treasure hunts were legendary. With the whole family reuniting for one last summer vacation at Nana's home, the cousins are prepared for an extraordinary trip of their own. Following a map Nana left behind, Jake and Marisol sneak out to a nearby lighthouse--then accidentally slip into another world!. Everywhere they turn, the cousins find real mysteries from history and a few they thought were just myths, from pilot Amelia Earhart to the fabled city of Atlantis.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston
Publication Date: 2021
(Fantasy) The first in a trilogy, and perfect for fans of "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky", the "Percy Jackson" series, and "Nevermoor". Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she's certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton--if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real. Now she must compete for a spot against kids who've known about magic their whole lives.

All descriptions taken from publisher marketing material.

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Ellen Gittes

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