Book List for Session 2019-20

Primary Level (Grades 1-3)

English Language Arts

• "Charlotte's Web"
  by E.B. White

  A classic tale of friendship between a pig and a spider that teaches children about the cycle of life and the power of words.

• "Frog and Toad Are Friends"
  by Arnold Lobel

  Simple stories that explore friendship and problem-solving through relatable characters and gentle humor.

• "The Cat in the Hat"
  by Dr. Seuss

  A rhythmic adventure that builds phonics skills while entertaining young readers with its imaginative scenarios.

• "Where the Wild Things Are"
  by Maurice Sendak

  An award-winning picture book exploring imagination, emotions, and the comfort of home.

Mathematics

• "Math Curse"
  by Jon Scieszka

  A humorous take on how math problems appear in everyday life, helping students see the practical application of mathematics.

• "One Hundred Hungry Ants"
  by Elinor J. Pinczes

  An engaging story that introduces concepts of division, arrays, and problem-solving through the adventures of ants.

Science

• "The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth"
  by Joanna Cole

  An adventure that explores geology through the eccentric Ms. Frizzle and her class, making science concepts accessible and exciting.

• "What Is the World Made Of?"
  by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

  A clear introduction to solids, liquids, and gases with simple experiments that young students can perform.

Elementary Level (Grades 4-6)

English Language Arts

• "Wonder"
  by R.J. Palacio

  A heartwarming story about a boy with facial differences navigating school, teaching empathy, kindness, and acceptance.

• "The Giver"
  by Lois Lowry

  A thought-provoking dystopian novel that explores themes of memory, freedom, and human connection.

• "Holes"
  by Louis Sachar

  An adventure mystery with multiple plot threads that connect in surprising ways, teaching about consequence, justice, and friendship.

• "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing"
  by Judy Blume

  A humorous look at family dynamics through the eyes of a nine-year-old dealing with an annoying younger brother.

Mathematics

• "The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure"
  by Hans Magnus Enzensberger

  Through dreams, a boy encounters the number devil who shows him the fascinating side of mathematics through creative problems.

• "Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland"
  by Cindy Neuschwander

  A medieval adventure that introduces geometry concepts in an engaging narrative format.

Science

• "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind"
  by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

  The inspiring true story of a boy who built a windmill to save his village from famine, teaching about innovation, renewable energy, and perseverance.

• "The Young Scientist's Guide to the Solar System"
  by Emily Kington

  An informative tour of the planets, stars, and other celestial bodies with hands-on activities to demonstrate space science concepts.

Social Studies

• "If You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution"
  by Kay Moore

  A question-and-answer format that explores daily life during a crucial period in American history from multiple perspectives.

• "Children of the Longhouse"
  by Joseph Bruchac

  Two Iroquois brothers navigate community expectations and family ties, offering insight into Native American culture and values.

Middle Level (Grades 7-8)

English Language Arts

• "The Outsiders"
  by S.E. Hinton

  A powerful story about class divisions, loyalty, and identity told through the eyes of a teenage boy caught between rival groups.

• "To Kill a Mockingbird"
  by Harper Lee

  A classic exploration of racial injustice and moral growth in the American South during the 1930s.

• "The Diary of a Young Girl"
  by Anne Frank

  The firsthand account of a Jewish girl hiding from Nazis during World War II, offering insight into resilience and humanity during dark times.

• "The House on Mango Street"
  by Sandra Cisneros

  A series of vignettes about a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago, exploring identity, culture, and coming of age.

Mathematics

• "The Joy of x: A Guided Tour of Math"
  by Steven Strogatz

  An accessible exploration of mathematical concepts from numbers to infinity, showing their relevance to everyday life.

• "A Gebra Named Al"
  by Wendy Isdell

  A fantasy adventure that introduces algebraic concepts through an imaginative journey in the world of mathematics.

Science

• "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"
  by Rebecca Skloot

  The fascinating true story of how one woman's cells revolutionized medical science while raising important questions about ethics and consent.

• "The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine"
  by Deborah Blum

  A gripping account of early forensic science through true crime cases, combining chemistry, history, and detective work.

Social Studies

• "Horrible Histories: The USA"
  by Terry Deary

  A humorous but factual approach to American history, highlighting the strange and often gruesome aspects of the past.

• "The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives"
  by Dashka Slater

  A nuanced examination of a crime that raises complex questions about justice, teenage brain development, and forgiveness.

High School Level (Grades 9-12)

English Language Arts

• "1984"
  by George Orwell

  A dystopian exploration of totalitarianism, surveillance, and truth manipulation that continues to be relevant today.

• "The Great Gatsby"
  by F. Scott Fitzgerald

  A critique of the American Dream set against the backdrop of the Jazz Age, exploring themes of wealth, love, and illusion.

• "Their Eyes Were Watching God"
  by Zora Neale Hurston

  A powerful narrative of a Black woman's journey to self-discovery and independence in the early 20th century.

• "Things Fall Apart"
  by Chinua Achebe

  A Nigerian novel that chronicles the arrival of colonial forces and their impact on traditional Igbo society.

• "The Handmaid's Tale"
  by Margaret Atwood

  A dystopian novel presenting a feminist critique of patriarchal structures and religious extremism.

• "The Color Purple"
  by Alice Walker

  An epistolary novel following the life of an African American woman in the rural South, addressing racism, sexism, and personal growth.

• "Lord of the Flies"
  by William Golding

  A compelling examination of human nature when societal structures break down in this tale of boys stranded on an island.

Mathematics

• "How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking"
  by Jordan Ellenberg

  An exploration of how mathematical logic can help us make better decisions and see the world more clearly.

• "Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe"
  by Steven Strogatz

  A historical and conceptual tour of calculus, showing how this mathematical tool shapes our understanding of the world.

Science

• "A Brief History of Time"
  by Stephen Hawking

  A landmark work making cosmology and theoretical physics accessible to general readers while exploring fundamental questions about the universe.

• "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History"
  by Elizabeth Kolbert

  An investigation into human-caused mass extinction, blending science reporting with historical perspective and urgent environmental concerns.

• "The Gene: An Intimate History"
  by Siddhartha Mukherjee

  A comprehensive exploration of genetics, from Mendel's experiments to modern CRISPR technology, considering both scientific and ethical implications.

Social Studies

• "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind"
  by Yuval Noah Harari

  A sweeping narrative exploring how Homo sapiens came to dominate through cognitive, agricultural, and scientific revolutions.

• "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption"
  by Bryan Stevenson

  A powerful account of a lawyer's work defending the wrongly condemned and examining systemic inequalities in the criminal justice system.

• "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies"
  by Jared Diamond

  An ambitious attempt to explain why civilizations developed at different rates, emphasizing environmental factors rather than biological differences.