Book recommendations

When preparing for the ISEE and other standardized tests, one of the biggest challenges kids face is building their vocabulary. However, while many educators argue that flash cards are the ideal learning tool towards improving vocab skills, we at abacus Educational Enrichment offer an alternative viewpoint.
With literally thousands of potential test words to learn, endlessly drilling your child with flash card after flash card is not only a tedious process, but an inefficient one as well. Given the sheer volume of material, it is virtually impossible for a student to account for every single possible word; furthermore, rote memorization largely fails to instill children with the necessary context of these words. When a student chooses to memorize a word for the sake of a test, he or she is unlikely to fully understand the deeper meaning of this word, and how it might relate to other concepts. As a result, students who practice rote memorization often forget the words they have learned as soon as they are no longer immediately required.
abacus Educational Enrichment encourages students to expand their vocabulary through reading at least an hour a day. This approach exposes them to a vast array of new words, while ensuring they gain a far better understanding of said words' overall significance. What is more, reading allows students a far more enjoyable and stress-free activity, as opposed to pouring over a mountain of flash cards! As your children read, encourage them to learn unfamiliar words by examining it in the context of the sentence, or cross-referencing the word with a dictionary.

Below are lists of books, organized by grade level, that have been recommended by past test-takers.

***I’ve added some of my most beloved books as top picks. I will also feature student recommended books. If your student would like to write a two to three sentence book recommendation, have them email it to me and we’ll put it up on this website. It’s a fun way to get everyone more involved!

The Prince and the Dressmaker
This book shows people that they can be whatever they want to be. In this story, a young prince named Sebastian wants to wear dresses, but he is ashamed to tell his family. A dressmaker named Francis finds out that the prince loves dresses and makes him elegant dresses. This book taught me to not judge people. It also taught me to embrace who I am. I give this book five stars. This book is phenomenal. I suggest you read The Prince and the Dressmaker.

I think you should read Calvin and Hobbes because if you like funny things, it’s awesome. It also is about a kid and adults, so anyone can read it. Remember to read Calvin and Hobbes!

Chris Colfer was listed on Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in 2011 and is an Emmy-award winning actor for his role in Glee, the show that will drown you in tears of jubilation. It is no surprise that his book series, The Land of Stories, is as interesting to read as it is inventive. Colfer has really outdone himself this time. As an author, he proves his artistic range. From the wise old Fairy Godmother to the funny Mother Goose, there is always a character you can relate to. Colfer has magically woven every story you’ve ever heard as a kid into one gigantic book series that is impossible to put down.

Auggie and Me
If you loved Wonder like I did, this is like a little dessert. There are three short novelas from other kids’ perspectives that are fun and easy to read.

Spy School
Just plain fun.  Humorous an action-packed, it’s the first of the series by a talented author who has written plenty of other series for your reluctant reader to sink their teeth into!

One Crazy Summer, PS: Be Eleven, Gone Crazy in Alabama
Follow three sisters through the 60s in three different states. The trifecta of books: relatable, well written, and socially and historically important.

The One and Only Ivan by K.A. Applegate
The Islands at the End of the World by Austin Aslan
Almost Home by Joan Bauer
Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
The School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani
The Tripods series by John Christopher
Lunch Money by Andrew Clemens
The Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer
Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
The Chicken Squad by Doreen Cronin
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen
Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Spy Camp series by Stuart Gibbs
A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff
Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff
Warriors series by Erin Hunter
Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret
Ungifted by Gordon Korman
A Dog Called Homeless by Sarah Lean
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Rules by Cynthia Lord
No Safety in Numbers by Danya Lorentz
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Treasure Hunters series by James Patterson
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
No Summit Out of Sight by Jordan Romero
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Lenny Cyrus School Virus by Joe Schreiber
Maniac McGee by Jerry Spinelli
The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart
Two Little Savages by Ernest Thompson
Lulu and Lala Land by Elizabeth Will
Smile series by Reina Telgemeier
Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Counting by Sevens by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Savvy by Ingrid Law
Clementine Series by Sara Pennypacker
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library series by Chris Grabenstein
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobs
Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes by Louis Sachar
There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom by Louis Sachar
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn
Pegasus series by Kate O’Hearn
George by Alex Gino
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
A Tale Dark & Grimm series by Adam Gidwitz
A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Dash (Dogs of World War II) by Kirby Larson
Holes by Louis Sachar
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm 
Riding Freedom by Pam Muñoz Ryan
El Deafo by Cece Bell

www.ala.org
www.greatschools.org
www.imaginationsoup.net

The Mysterious Benedict Society series
“If you like mysteries and a book that will make you fall off your seat from anticipation, you will love this book. I read this captivating book in the fifth grade, but I know I would’ve liked it just the same and sixth or seventh grade.”

Among the Hidden is set in a dystopian future. In this society, food shortages have led to the government declaring that couples can only have no more than two children. The protagonist, Luke, is a third born child living in secrecy. This book is suspenseful and keeps you from putting it down. Among the Hidden the first of seven books in the “Shadow Children” series. I look forward to reading the other six books in this series.

The Outsiders
Everyone knows the movie, but the book is a true work of art. I am blown away every time I read this, which is about once every other year. One of the few books that can be enjoyed by all readers from about 14 years old and up.

Anne of Green Gables
My heart of hearts. Amazing writing, enduring themes, and long, gorgeous sentences. The antidote to modern life: set over 100 years ago in rural Canada, this series of books grapples with the angst of youth, friendship, family, and love.

Half Broke Horses
This book follows the real life adventure of the author’s grandmother, who grew up on the frontier in Texas. Historically accurate, it imparts wisdom as well as informing the reader of life during early 1900s. This is a grittier, more honest version of Little House on the Prairie.

City of Orphans by Avi
The Escape by David Baldacci
The Nazi Hunters by Neal Bascomb
Murder on the House by Juliet Blackwell
The Name of this Book is Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
The Selection series by Kiera Cass
Ruby Radford by Lauren Child
The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
Prey by Michael Crichton
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon
A Long Way Home by Saroo Fairleigh
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Gone by Michael Grant
Anything written by John Greene
Theodore Boone series by John Grisham
Landry Park by Bethany Hagen
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz
Vitro by Jessica Khoury
Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy by Elizabeth Kiem
Legend series by Marie Lu
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Cherub series by Robert Muchamore
Henderson's Boys by Robert Muchamore
Eregon by Christopher Paolini
Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett
I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs
Divergent series by Veronica Roth
Pretty Little Liars series by Sarah Shepard
Deal to Die For by Les Standiford
Bartimaeus series by Jonathan Stroud
The Rule of Three by Eric Walters
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
The Young World by Chris Weitz
Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld
The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The 39 Clues series (Collaborative Work)
Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi
The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart
Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart
Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Just My Luck by Connie McGovern
The Bicycle Spy by Yona Zeldis McDonough
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley
Extraordinary by Miriam Spitzer Franklin
Story Thieves series by James Riley
President of the Whole Sixth Grade by Sherri Winston
Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes
Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Sticks & Stones by Abby Cooper
Shoe Dog: Young Readers Edition by Phil Knight
Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang
The Young Elites series by Marie Lu
Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
March series by Andrew Aydin and John Lewis
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Rad American Women A-Z by Kate Schatz
Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja
Flying Lessons & Other Stories edited by Ellen Oh
Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure by Caroline Paul

www.goodreads.com
www.scholastic.com
www.carnegielibrary.org

I Don’t Know
Leah Hager Cohen’s book, I Don’t Know, is about admitting to ignorance. It is about how we, as humans, are afraid to say the words, “I don’t know.” We fear that these words will threaten our status and opportunities for advancement. Despite this, Hager Cohen explains how saying these words and admitting ignorance can be empowering.

Ramona Blue
A coming of age story set in a blue-collar neighborhood in Mississippi. This is a contemporary book that deals with family, love, and sexual identification. Well-written and relevant , this book provides a window to a completely different world than ours, but remains relatable.

Of Mice and Men
A shining example of strong, economical writing set in depression era California. A powerful reminder of friendship and compassion. This book sometimes gets assigned in middle school, but hits home to a more mature audience.

The Power of One
Set in South Africa during World War II, this novel grapples with systemic racism in an even handed, powerful way. The themes of the book include physical and mental toughness; friendship, loss, and perseverance. There is well-made  movie adaptation as well.

Tahoe Trap by Todd Borg
Gingersnaps by Cathy Cassidy
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
About a Boy by Nick Hornby
12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
Discworld series by Terry Pratchett
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Endgame series by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton
Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon
One Shot at Forever by Chris Ballard
Afterworlds by Scott Westerfields
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
TED Talk: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “The Danger of a Single Story”
TED Talk: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “We Should All Be Feminists”
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Night by Elie Wiesel
Nine Stories by J. D. Salinger
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
And Then There Were None and others by Agatha Christie
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Young Readers Edition by Michael Pollan

NPR’s Best-Ever Teen Novels
www.goodreads.com
www.barnesandnoble.com