Middle Readers

When a group of sixth graders visits the Chaldean Museum, they discover more than just ancient artifacts. As they wander through the vibrant Ancient Mesopotamia Gallery, mosaic lions roar to life, cuneiform tablets whisper secrets, and the towering Code of Hammurabi seems to hold a mysterious power. With each step, history awakens, and the stories of powerful rulers and incredible inventions spark their imaginations like never before.

Twelve-year-old Zach Clark has some pretty common troubles: single mom, bully at school. But he's also got one problem all his own when he wakes up one morning on the ceiling. Gravity seems to have no effect, and one false step will send Zach toppling up into the sky, gone for good. Zach and his friend Sophie try to hide his condition and then cure it, but soon enough, their luck runs out and forces close in on them from all sides. A thrilling fantasy for fans of fast-moving and inspirational storytelling! A legendary "lost novel" finally made available to the public!

“The Most Dangerous Game” (1924) is the Richard Connell short story that continues to fascinate readers with its suspense and action. This is the original story—only word order and difficult vocabulary have been updated. Biographical information, end notes, and analysis of the major themes follow the text. AR Quiz No. 8634 EN Fiction Upper Grades - BL: 5.3 - AR Pts: 1.0. For other short stories in easy to understand modern English search the web for “George Lakon.”

“The Tell-Tale Heart” is the Edgar Allan Poe gothic short story that continues to fascinate readers with its murder, beating heart, and insanity. -The language of over 170 years ago has been updated making Poe’s difficult language easily understood by today’s readers. -Every effort has been made to keep the story as close to the original as possible--only word order and difficult vocabulary have been changed. -End notes, interpretation, and discussion of major themes follow the text. -Biographical information on Edgar Allan Poe is included.-Accelerated Reader AR Quiz No. 7946 EN ...

Adventure Seekers, Young and Old, Join Toby, Small, but Bold ... He was born underground, at the edge of the world’s destruction. Twelve years old, Toby has never seen the sun. Created by six scientists who accidentally gave him cat ears (and a tail), Toby decides to leave the safety of his cavern world to seek answers. Did anyone survive the Great Destruction? Why has he been hearing a mysterious Voice? And, most important of all, does he have a soul? Grade level 3rd-7th Ages 9 and up. “It has a strong message about God and how no matter how you look God loves you anyway.” S. ...

As Violet Sidhu and her friends prepare to sell hats at the Halloway Hills Middle School Christmas fair, they discover their hats have gone missing! In book two of the Halloway Hills Middle School Mysteries, after a box of crocheted hats goes missing, Violet and her friends must come up with an alternative plan to raise money at the annual Christmas fair. When Violet discovers what’s happened to her hats, thanks to the new guy at school, getting them back turns out to be harder than she thought. Will Violet get her hats back in time for the school’s Christmas fair?

The Reddy Boys, Fred and Ned, were looking forward to the traveling fair coming to their town. After dealing with vampires and ghosts, they just wanted to have some fun. No such luck. Mysterious murders start to happen in their town. The victim’s bodies are shriveled up and partially frozen. The Chiller Killer was on the loose! With their friend, Nora Dale, they can’t resist trying to solve the bizarre deaths. The more they look into it, the stranger the case becomes, and the more danger they find themselves in.

In Because My Destiny Awaits, readers will step into the compelling world of Jojo, a young girl admired for her radiant kindness. Next door resides Ruby, an insightful elder who navigates life from a wheelchair. As their story weaves together, Ruby unveils to Jojo that kindness is more than simply a virtue--it's a transformative force linked to the energy that pervades us in nature, air, and within animals. With its heartfelt characters, the book serves as a reminder that even the smallest gestures of kindness can shape our destiny, guiding us toward a future enriched by mutual respect and ...

In many ways, Frank Fratello is a typical teen. He plays baseball, hangs out with his friends at the mall and gets in trouble at home. But there’s something very different about this sixth-grader—he can read minds. And reading minds can cause problems. Like when Frank says what someone is thinking before they say it. Or answers a question before they ask it. Despite being telepathic, Frank must deal with everyday middle school life, which includes battling a bully who hates him. Nasty Nate and his flunkies live to get others in trouble—especially Frank. But Frank and his friends ...

Moishe “Mushy” Luftmensch, age 10 and a half, has a big problem: He’s a very good kid...in a very bad world (and we mean very, very bad! We’re talking “tangerine peanut butter and garlic milkshakes” bad!). When Mushy proves to be too good for his, well...own good...he’s summarily shipped off to a special camp for “good eggs” like him. It’s no surprise we end up at a particularly unique camp where kids like Mushy are turned from really good to really bad...just like they’re supposed to be.

Indulge in this cozy fantasy mystery, where magic and wonder await. When storms sweep the town, the strange little chocolate shop transforms into a portal to other worlds, and a baby monster slips through. It forms an unlikely bond with a young customer. Can they find a way to return the monster to its world, or is it doomed to stay in this human world forever?

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is Washington Irving’s famous short story of the Headless Horseman that is now part of American culture. - Accelerated Reader AR Quiz No. 7115 BL 11.0 AR Pts: 3.0 -The language of almost two hundred years ago has been extensively modernized -End notes, interpretation, and discussion of major themes follow the text -Biographical information on Irving included -Every effort has been made to keep the story as close to the original as possible -Modern readers will better understand and appreciate one of the first truly American short stories. For more short ...

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up. Allie has had her share of adventures, and today she just wants to celebrate her birthday. A nice, quiet day with her grandparents on Whidbey Island. Unfortunately, when balls of fire rain down from the sky, she's reminded of her duties. Setting out to connect with her friends and join the fight, Allie makes a couple friends and learns of a new power in play. Will she be able to get her friends to safety? This is a short story in the BRINGER OF LIGHT universe. For Middle Grade fantasy readers, age 9-12.

Growing up as the child of former sharecroppers in a segregated Baltimore, Elijah Cummings saw firsthand how injustice could run rampant, even in a democracy that promises fairness and equality. But with a strong support system and fiery self-discipline, Elijah utilized the momentum of the civil rights movement to overcome the obstacles of poverty and racism to effect change at a time when our country so badly needed it.

Meet Kevin King, the middle school version of Donald Trump. He promises a wall to block transfer students, better food at lunch, and record test scores. From his first 100 hours to his reaction to the pandemic, Kevin’s leadership is controversial. Read about Kevin’s hilarious journey through middle school politics as you simultaneously learn about one of the most unique

Twelve-year-old Danny Warner is supposed to spend Christmas with his dad in Sand Coulee, Montana, but all that changes when his mother moves Danny and his sister, Becky, to Red Rock, Arizona instead. Danny, who hasn’t seen his dad since his parents’ divorce six months earlier, is now more determined than ever to get to Montana. He devises a plan, a daring and dangerous one, to be carried out in the cloak of night under the winter Arizona skies. But his plan doesn’t go as intended, and Danny finds himself on the journey of a lifetime—too far to go back, and uncertain on how to move ...

Griffith, Graham, and Ruby's father passed away in the war. And now they must join their mother and their father's wartime traveling baseball team, The Travelin' Nine, on a a tour of America to raise money. No one will tell the kids why the team needs money so badly. Their only clue is a baseball with a hole the size of an acorn in it that their Uncle Owen gave to them the night of their father's funeral. When all three kids hold the ball, strange things begin to happen.

“The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether” is an Edgar Allan Poe short story that expertly blends his dark perspective with the comic. -This is the original story—only word order and difficult vocabulary have been updated. -End notes, interpretation, and discussion of major themes follow the text. -Biographical information on Edgar Allan Poe is included. -For other classic short stories in easy to understand updated English search for “Simplified for Modern Readers Series.”

Libby and her big sister, Bella, used to be close, but lately Bella's become sarcastic and mean and obsessed with her boyfriend. Then there's six-year-old Grace, the baby of the family. Whenever Mum and Dad aren't at work, it's all about Grace. So where does Libby fit in? Things change suddenly when the girls move to the tiny village where their dad grew up - and go to a posh new school. Libby doesn't mind, but Bella can't bear to leave her boyfriend behind. Soon there are secrets everywhere.

It is the month before Christmas, and Roman's class is preparing for the Christmas fete and the school pantomime. The new teacher at the helm - the awful Mr Le Salle, a flamboyant, theatrical and downright nasty piece of work - is the least of Roman's worries. He also has to contend with the most rubbish role in the panto (being a box) as well as organising the Santa's grotto stall at the Christmas fete with loose cannon Darren Gamble. As the panto nears, it seems that everything that could possibly go wrong is about to. It is left to Roman to save the panto and the day....