Upper Elementary: UE Summer Reading 2023

(Picture Book) A little librarian with a larger-than-life voice finds her place in this sweet and uproarious picture book about being true to yourself—no shushing required!

(Picture Book) This funny, original, choose-your-path picture book of fractured fairy tales will charm young readers, putting the power of storytelling right in the reader's hands!

(Picture Book) When the letter R suddenly vanishes, a whole town goes upside-down in this side-splitting picture book of alphabet chaos.

(Informational Picture Book) What is infinity? Explore this fascinating and complex math concept and its purpose in our world in this picture book that both demystifies and explains.

(Realistic Fiction) Miles Lewis loves science and sports. But when his teacher announces a class field trip to an ice skating rink to learn about physics, he isn't so excited. He's never ice skated before, and his friend RJ won't let him forget it. Can he keep his cool with all the pressure?

(Animal Fantasy) For Ember, a rescue Chihuahua and the newest pet in the Chin family, the first step in fulfilling his destiny to rule the world is to defeat the evil neighborhood squirrel, Masher. An illustrated laugh-out-loud series starter with nonstop action.

(Fantasy/Mystery) The first book in a mystery series features three sleuthing sisters. One spring evening, three strange visitors arrive in the town of Covenly. Sisters Hildegurp, Yuckmina, and Glubbifer are hoping to start fresh with a new business: a pet store! Their first customer is nine-year-old Jessica Nibley, who has lost her pet goat and hopes the sisters can help track it down. But when the sisters discover a mangled note with missing pieces that suggests they aren’t welcome in town, they suddenly have two mysteries to solve.

(Environmental Fantasy) Hop aboard Wind Rider, a magical sailboat, with Max and Sofia, two kids trying to save the environment one problem at a time. Their first mission? Rescuing baby sea turtles in the beautiful waters of Hawaii.

(Realistic Fiction) Rica’s very best friend is moving away. How can she convince her parents to let her get a pet so she won’t be lonely? Friendship and family shine in this engaging young chapter book.

(Animal Fantasy) When a small mammal with an oversized ego tries to take over the zoo, just leave it to the big-hearted peacock Plum to save the day. A highly illustrated young middle grade novel perfect animal lovers.

(Fantasy) A charming new chapter book series about Catalina Castaneda, a Mexican American girl with a magical sewing kit! But, as Tía Abuela warned, the magic is only as strong as her stitches, and Catalina doesn’t always have the patience for practice.

(Realistic Fiction) There are a few things you should know about Harriet Wermer: She just finished third grade. She has a perfect cat named Matzo Ball. She doesn’t always tell the truth. She is very happy to be spending summer vacation away from home and her mom and dad and all the wonderful things she had been planning all year. Okay, maybe that last one isn’t entirely the truth. Harriet Wermer is unhappy about having to spend her summer with her grandmother on Marble island until she discovers a mystery involving her Dad from when he was a boy there.

(Animal Fantasy) Violet and Jobie, sibling mice accustomed to living comfortably in a human home, find themselves uprooted and must quickly adapt to an unfamiliar world. This novel is packed with action, humor, heart, friendship, and surprises.

(Animal Fantasy; Novel in Verse) Odder, the Queen of Play, spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she’s known. She’s a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself―and about the humans who hope to save her.

(Realistic Fiction) A spirited new graphic novel about finding your own space… especially when you're in a family of nine! Eleven year old Avery hatches a plan to finally get her own room, all while trying to get baby brother to sleep at night, navigating changes in her friendships, and working on an art entry for the fair.

(Animal Historical Fantasy) Wherever there is injustice, nefarious plots, or threats to society, the Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck are there to stop them! A sly villain with a plan to cause havoc across the globe is no match for three extraordinary animals—and their two young human friends. An illustrated adventure full of secrets, hijinks, and reimagined historical events.

(Realistic Fiction) Robyn Kellen has been the new kid six times. She’s practically an expert on the subject and has developed foolproof rules to help her get by: Blend in, don’t go looking for trouble, and move on. Unfortunately, Robyn’s mom has a rule, too: Robyn must do an after-school activity. When Robyn discovers a dog agility class, she thinks she’s found the perfect thing—but then her dogs, Sundae and Fudge, are rejected from the class. Instead, Robyn gets an unexpected lesson in friendship in this funny and moving novel.

(Realistic Fiction) Erik Sheepflattener’s life motto is Avoid Stuff, despite his family’s attempts to bring out his inner Viking. Can a worrier really become a warrior? An adventurous, humorous, and heartfelt romp about finding your place, speaking up for yourself, and pursuing what you love . . . even when it scares you.

(Realistic Fiction; Mystery) Maizy always assumed she knew everything about her grandmother, Jacuzzi. So when a box full of vintage Nancy Drew books gets left at her mom’s thrift store, Maizy is surprised to find an old photo of her grandmother and two other women tucked beneath the collection. Stranger still, when Maizy shows the photo to Jacuzzi, she feigns ignorance, insisting the woman is someone else. Determined to learn the truth, Maizy launches her own investigation with the help of new friends. This intergenerational mystery filled with literary history, friendship, and family secrets delivers a captivating tribute to the world’s most famous girl detective.

(Realistic Fiction) When the coronavirus hits Hong Kong, Knox Wei-Evans’s mom makes the last-minute decision to move him and his siblings back to California, where they think they will be safe. Suddenly, Knox has two days to prepare for an international move—and for leaving his dad, who has to stay for work. However, life in California presents Knox with challenges - being the new kid, remote learning, his Mom getting fired, and not knowing when he will see Dad next. In this poignant novel about courage, hope, and resilience, Knox tries to stand up to hate, while keeping his family connected and finding his place.

(Realistic Fiction & Animal Voice) A passionate story set in Indonesia that spins together three perspectives: Malia, who is prepared to risk anything to help orangutans facing habitat destruction, Ari, who knows the right path but fears what it will cost, and Ginger Juice, the caged orangutan who still remembers the forest and her mother. The choices the young people make will have consequences for themselves, for Ginger Juice, and for others, if they are brave enough—or reckless enough—to choose.

(Paranormal Mystery) A middle-grade mystery series that's spooky, creepy, and filled with gothic twists! Meet the Sinister-Winterbottom twins, who solve mysteries at increasingly bizarre summer vacation destinations in the hopes of being reunited with their parents—or at the very least finally finding a good churro.

(Fantasy) Sadie’s 5th grade year is off to an awful start - her only friend has moved away, her older brother is a jerk (as always), and her beloved Gramps is having more trouble keeping his memories straight. But when she comes across a stray dog, she discovers something wonderful and magical—she and the dog, Dewey, are able to communicate telepathically. But Dewey is quickly captured and sent to a shelter. And Sadie’s mom says Dewey is dangerous, and that Sadie needs to prove she’s responsible before she can adopt any pets. But Sadie is running out of time—Dewey lets Sadie know that her days at the shelter are numbered. Fans of Katherine Applegate and Lynda Mullaly Hunt will love Smith’s heartwarming middle grade debut about family, friendship, and the magical connection between a girl and her dog.

(Realistic Fiction) When Lina Gao steps off the plane in Los Angeles, it’s her first time in America and the first time seeing her parents and her little sister in five years! She’s been waiting for this moment every day while she lived with her grandmother in Beijing, getting teased by kids at school who called her “left behind girl.” Finally, her parents are ready for her to join their fabulous life in America! Except, it’s not exactly like she imagined. School’s harder than she thought, her chatty little sister has no problem with English, and they live in an apartment, not a house like in Mom’s letters. In this novel by the author of Front Desk, Lina learns about family, friendship, and the power of being finally seen.

(Historical Fiction; Novel in Verse) Set in 1947 California, Cuban-born Oriol struggles to belong. But most of the time that's okay, because she enjoys helping her parents care for the many injured animals at their veterinary clinic. Then Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American winner of a Nobel Prize in Literature, moves to town, and aspiring writer Oriol finds herself opening up. As she begins to create a world of words for herself, Oriol learns it will take courage to stay true to herself and do what she thinks is right--attempting to rescue a baby elephant in need.

(Science Fiction) Oliver Zahn, spitball champion and self-declared rule-wrecker of Brightling Middle School, is not a fan of his new homeroom teacher, Mr. Aidact. The guy is sort of stiff, never cracks a smile, and refers to them as “pupils.” The worst part is he catches Oliver before he can pull any of his signature pranks! It’s time for Oliver and his best friend, Nathan, to show the new teacher who’s boss. This is a hilarious new story about a mysterious new teacher who turns out to be an AI robot from a secret experimental program.

(Realistic Fiction) When chance, or fate, throws JB Barnes and Sidney Miller together on board a scientific research ship at the edge of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it’s not all smooth sailing! This is a heartfelt story about friendship and an empowering call to environmental protection for young readers.

(Realistic Fiction) From the bestselling creator of the Vanderbeekers series, who visited the UE in April, comes a triumphant tale of friendship, healing, and the power of believing in ourselves told from the perspective of June and Tyrell, two children living in a NYC homeless shelter. As their friendship grows over a shared love of classical music, June and Tyrell confront a new housing policy that puts homeless families in danger.

(Historical Fiction) In 1920s Michigan, Suzy Bowles is tired of summers filled with chores on her family farm in Burr Oak, and desperate to see the world. When her wayward uncle moves back home to the farm, only to skip his chores every morning for mysterious reasons, Suzy decides to find out what he's up to once and for all. And that's when she meets legendary former circus queen Madame Marantette and her ostriches. Before long, Suzy finds herself caught-up in the fast-paced, hilarious world of ostrich riding, a rollicking adventure that just might be her ticket out of Burr Oak.

(Verse Biography) Told in vibrant poems, this stunning novel celebrates seven remarkable women who used math as their key to explore the mysteries of the universe and grew up to do innovative work that changed the world.

(Fantasy) In this series opener, Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, a magic school in the clouds where Marvellers from around the world practice their cultural arts. Despite her excitement, Ella discovers that being the first isn't easy--some Marvellers mistrust her magic. When a dangerous criminal escapes prison, supposedly with a Conjuror's aid, Ella becomes the target of suspicion. With the help of her new friends and her own growing powers, Ella must find a way to clear her family's name.

(Fantasy) Stone-in-the-Glen, once a lovely town, has fallen on hard times. The people put their faith in the Mayor, a dazzling fellow and self-proclaimed dragon slayer who promises he alone can help. Only the clever children of the Orphan House and the kindly Ogress at the edge of town can see how dire the town’s problems are. Then one day a child goes missing from the Orphan House, and all eyes turn to the Ogress. The Orphans know this can’t be. But how can they tell the story of the Ogress’s goodness to people who refuse to listen? And how can they make their deluded neighbors see the real villain in their midst?

(Historical Fantasy) Maggie's stutter makes school especially hard. She will do almost anything to avoid speaking or calling attention to herself. So when her father threatens to send her away for so-called "treatment," she reluctantly agrees to her mother's intervention plan: a few weeks in the fresh air of Wildoak Forest, visiting a grandfather she hardly knows. It is there, in an extraordinary twist of fate, that she encounters an abandoned snow leopard cub, an exotic gift to a wealthy Londoner that proved too wild to domesticate. But once the cub's presence is discovered by others, danger follows, and Maggie soon realizes that time is running out, not only for the leopard, but for herself and the forest as well. Winner of the 2023 Schneider Family Book Award.

(Science Fiction) The One and Only Ivan meets The Wild Robot in this unique novel about the journey of a fictional Mars rover. Res was built to explore Mars. He was not built to have human emotions. But as he learns new things from the NASA scientists who assemble him, he begins to develop human-like feelings. Res quickly discovers that Mars is a dangerous place filled with dust storms and giant cliffs. As millions of people back on Earth follow his progress, will Res have the determination, courage, and resilience to succeed… and survive?

(Realistic Fiction) What are the essential ingredients that make a family? 11 year-old Mo is making up her own recipe in this unforgettable story from a GCDS alumna. Nan was all the family Mo ever needed. But when her grandmother suddenly passes away, Mo finds herself in foster care. Nan left her a notebook and advised her to get a hobby. But how could a hobby fix anything in her newly topsy-turvy life? Then Mo finds a handmade cookbook and is inspired to ask everyone she meets for their family recipes, secretly hoping that a long-lost relative will find her. Mo’s journey navigating her situation is recorded through heartfelt letters that she writes to Nan in the notebook about the old and new relationships she develops along with the recipes she collects along the way.