Sunshine State Young Readers 2012-2013
The Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award program is a statewide reading motivation program for students in grades 3-8. the program, co-sponsored by the School Media Services Office of the Department of education ad the Florida Association for Media Education (FAME), began in 1983. To learn more about the program contact the Florida Department of Education.
The Purpose of the Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award Program are:
- to encourage students to read for personal satisfaction
- to help students in understanding , relating to, and enjoying life through experiences with literature
- to help students become discriminating readers in their personal selection of books
- to develop an awareness of outstanding literature for children and young people
- to encourage cooperation among administrators, library media specialists, and teachers in broadening reading experiences
- to give recognition to those who write books for children and young people
Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award Homepage
Saint Stephen’s students in grades 4, 5 and 6 are invited to read as many of the Sunshine State recommended novels as they wish. Children who read at least 5 books from this annual list, then pass the accompanying Accelerated Reader test, will be invited to attend our annual voting party, to be held in April 2013 between 1-2.30 pm. Each child with vote on the book they enjoyed the best. Location TBD. For more information, please contact Mrs. Potwin in the Campus Center Library..
Grade 3-5
Amato, Mary Edgar Allan’s Official Crime Investigation Notebook( AR 4.7)
First Slurpy is fishnapped, then other things from Mrs. Blackwell’s room start to disappear. Odder still, whoever is committing these crimes leaves a note written in poetry. Edgar has it all covered in his “crime investigation notebook”–but so does Patrick Chen, who has copied Edgar and is trying to solve the case first. Yet as Edgar keenly observes his surroundings, he notices many interesting things about his classmates. The more closely he watches two “suspects,” the more he begins to think they might make pretty good friends. This warm and humorous story puts writing, friendship, and mystery into a short, accessible chapter book.
Beaty, Andrea Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies(AR 5.7)
When Joules and Kevin Rockman’s parents drop them off at Camp Whatsitooya on their way to an International Spamathon, the twins expect a summer of marshmallows, campfires, and canoe trips. What they do not expect is to defend the earth from an invasion of sugar-addicted, murderous, seven-foot-tall rabbits from another galaxy. Happily, the Rockman twins, veteran watchers of the Late, Late, Late Creepy Show for Insomniacs, are unusually well-prepared for dealing with monstrous beings from outer space. If only their fellow campers were so lucky. Andrea Beaty, author of several very funny picture books and a mysterious novel, here reaches new heights of hilarity and verbal dexterity in a novel sure to become a camp– ba-dum-dum–classic.
Behrens, Andy The Fast and the Furriest(AR 5.0 )
The overweight and unathletic son of a famous former football star discovers that his equally fat and lazy dog is unexpectedly–and obsessively–interested in competing in dog agility contests.
Cronin, Doreen The Trouble with Chickens(AR 3.8)
A hard-bitten former search-and-rescue dog helps solve a complicated missing chicken case.
Epstein, Adam & Jacobson, Andrew The Familiars( AR 5.0 )
When Aldwyn, a young alley cat on the run, ducks into a mysterious pet shop, he doesn’t expect his life to change. But that’s exactly what happens when Jack, a young wizard, picks Aldwyn to be his magical familiar. Finally off the tough streets, Aldwyn thinks he’s got it made. He just has to convince the other familiars-the know-it-all blue jay Skylar and the friendly tree frog Gilbert-that he’s the telekinetic cat he claims to be. But when Jack and two other wizards in training are captured by a terrible evil, it will take all of Aldwyn’s street smarts, a few good friends, and a nose for adventure to save the day!
George, Jessica Day Tuesdays at the Castle(AR 6.4 )
Tuesdays at Castle Glower are Princess Celie’s favorite days. That’s because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one-other than Celie, that is-takes the time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and their fate is unknown, it’s up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of the castle’s never-ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom. This delightful book from a fan- and bookseller-favorite kicks off a brand-new series sure to become a modern classic.
Graff, Lisa Sophie Simon Solves Them All (AR 3.4 )
For a third-grader, Sophie Simon is one smart cookie. She enjoys teaching herself–advanced calculus and has performed successful heart surgery on an earthworm. She’s also very clever when it comes to dealing with her clueless parents. But Sophie is no genius when it comes to calculating the high value of friendship–until, that is, she has to use her incredible IQ to help out some classmates with their own parental troubles.
Holm, Jennifer Turtle in Paradise(AR 4.1 )
Life isn’t like the movies and 11-year-old Turtle is no Shirley Temple. She’s smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a Hollywood ending. After all, it’s 1935 and money and sometimes even dreams are scarce. So when Turtle’s mother gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn’t like kids, Turtle says goodbye and heads off to Florida to live with relatives. Florida’s like nothing Turtle’s ever seen before though. It’s full of rag tag boy cousins, family secrets to unravel . . . and even a little bit of fun. Before she knows what’s happened, Turtle finds herself coming out of her shell and as she does, her world opens up in the most unexpected ways. Inspired by family stories, three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm blends family lore with America’s past, in this charming, gem of a novel rich in history, humor, and the unique flavors of Key West.
Jennings, Patrick Guinea Dog( AR 3.7 )
Rufus has been dreaming of getting a dog. His best friend has one. His worst friend has one. But his dad has a few objections: They whine. They gnaw. They bark. They scratch. They beg. They drool. Rufus pays no attention when his mom offers her think-outside-the-box suggestion, because she can’t be serious. She can’t be. She can be. And she actually comes home with a guinea pig. And if Rufus’s dad thinks dogs are a problem, he won’t know what hit him when he meets the Guinea Pig that Thinks She’s a Dog. She barks. She bites. She’ll eat your homework.
Marino, Nan Neil Armstrong is my Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me(AR 4.3)
Ten-year-old Tamara Ann Simpson thinks she has finally found a chance to prove Muscle Man McGinty is a liar when he brags he can beat anyone in the neighborhood at kickball, but as she awaits McGinty’s downfall, she begins to understand his motives for lying.
O’Connor, Barbara The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester( AR 4.7 )
An amazing secret has tumbled off a freight train into Carter, Georgia, and Owen Jester is the only person who knows about it. If he can simply manage to evade his grandfather’s snappish housekeeper, organize his two best friends, and keep his nosy neighbor, Viola, at bay, he just might be in for the summer of a lifetime. With her trademark wit and easy charm, Barbara O’Connor spins a fantastic fable of friends, enemies, and superbly slimy bullfrogs.
Selfors, Suzanne Fortune’s Magic Farm( AR 6.2 )
Everything changes when Isabelle discovers that she is the heir to Fortune’s Farm, a wondrous place where the final remnants of magic grow. For as long as she can remember, ten-year-old Isabelle has dreamed of escaping her home in Runny Cove, a gray village where it never stops raining, and where she is forced to work at Mr. Supreme’s Umbrella Factory. Journeying across the ocean, Isabelle finds a sunny new home filled with magical delights, including Curative Cherry trees that can heal all kinds of sickness, and Floating Fronds that make her fly. But Isabelle still feels the call to return to Runny Cove and use the secrets of the farm to stop the rain. With the magic of Fortune’s Farm behind her, will Isabell be strong enough to bring back the sun and stop the despicable Mr. Supreme? From the author ofSmells Like Dogcomes a magical journey about loyalty, family, and the magic within.
Smith, Clete Barrett Aliens on Vacation(AR 5.5 )
Scrub arrives at his grandmother’s Washington bed-and-breakfast only to discover she has opened the doors to aliens that arrive through off-Earth portals, and he must decide what to do when the local sheriff, already suspicious of Granny, notices some of the kids Scrub is chaperoning at a campout glow in the dark.
West, Jacqueline The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows( AR 5.1 )
When eleven-year-old Olive and her distracted parents move into an old Victorian mansion, Olive finds herself ensnared in a dark plan involving some mysterious paintings, a trapped and angry nine-year-old boy, and three talking cats.
Winston, Sherri President of the Whole Fifth Grade (AR 5.8)
When Brianna’s hero, the famous celebrity chef Miss Delicious, speaks at her school and credits her success to being president of her own 5thgrade class, Brianna is determined to follow in her footsteps. She just knows that becoming president of her class is the first step towards having her own cupcake-baking empire! But when new student Jasmine Moon announces she is also running for president, Brianna learns that she may have more competition than she expected. Will Brianna be able to stick to her plan of working with her friends to win the election fairly? Or will she jump at the opportunity to steal votes from Jasmine by revealing an embarrassing secret? This hilarious, heartfelt novel will appeal to any reader with big dreams, and the determination to achieve them.
Grade 6- 8
Allen, Crystal How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-sized Trophy( AR 5.4 )
When thirteen-year-old, bowling-obsessed Lamar Washington finds out that his idol is coming to town, he finds himself involved in some unsavory activities as he tries to change his image to impress people.
Carmichael, Clay Wild Things( AR 5.7 )
Stubborn, self-reliant, eleven-year-old Zoe, recently orphaned, moves to the country to live with her prickly half-uncle, a famous doctor and sculptor, and together they learn about trust and the strength of family.
Catanese, P.W. Happenstance Found( AR 5.4 )
Twelve-year-old Happenstance wakes up in a cave with no idea how he got there, or who he is, but merchant and royal advisor Lord Umber helps Hap and his two friends escape from the caverns.
Flores-Galbis, Enrique 90 Miles to Havana ( AR 4.8 )
Julian’s parents, hoping to protect him from the dangers of the turmoil in Cuba, send him to the United States in 1961 as part of Operation Pedro Pan, not realizing that life in a Miami refugee camp holds its own perils.
Gaiman, Neil The Graveyard Book(AR 5.3 )
The orphan Bod, short for Nobody, is taken in by the inhabitants of a graveyard as a child of eighteen months and raised lovingly and carefully to the age of eighteen years by the community of ghosts and otherworldly creatures.
Grant, Katy H
ide and Seek( AR 4.6 )
In the remote mountains of Arizona where he lives with his mother, stepfather, and two sisters, fourteen-year-old Chase discovers two kidnapped boys and gets caught up in a dangerous adventure when he comes up with a plan to get them to safety.
Greenwald, Tommy Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading(AR 5.8 )
Charlie Joe Jackson may be the most reluctant reader ever born. And so far, he’s managed to get through life without ever reading an entire book from cover to cover. But now that he’s in middle school, avoiding reading isn’t as easy as it used to be. And when his friend Timmy McGibney decides that he’s tired of covering for him, Charlie Joe finds himself resorting to desperate measures to keep his perfect record intact.This is the hilarious story of an avid non-reader and the extreme lengths to which he’ll go to get out of reading a book.
Korman, Gordon The Juvie Three (AR 4.9)
Gecko, Arjay, and Terence, all in trouble with the law, must find a way to keep their halfway house open in order to stay out of juvenile detention.
Park, Linda Sue A Long Walk to Water : Based on a True Story(AR 5.0 )
When the Sudanese civil war reaches his village in 1985, eleven-year-old Salva becomes separated from his family and must walk with other Dinka tribe members through southern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya in search of safe haven. Based on the life of Salva Dut, who, after emigrating to America in 199
6, began a project to dig water wells in Sudan.
Patterson, James The Dangerous Days of Daniel X(AR 6.3 )
Fifteen-year-old Daniel has followed in his parents’ footsteps as the Alien Hunter, exterminating beings on The List of Alien Outlaws on Terra Firma, but when he faces his first of the top ten outlaws, the very existence of Earth and another planet are at stake.
Philbrick, Rodman The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg( AR 5.6 )
Homer P. Figg escapes from his wretched foster home in Pine Swamp, Maine, and sets out to find his beloved older brother, Harold, who has been illegally sold into the Union Army.
Rallison, Jan
ette My Fair Godmother(AR 5.2 )
On cover the word fairy is crossed out and replaced with fair. High school sophomore Savannah wants to find the perfect prom date after her boyfriend breaks up with her to date her older sister, but when a godmother who is only fair becomes involved, Savannah finds herself in trouble in the Middle Ages, along with a boy who would like to be her charming prince.
Rorby, Ginny Lost in the River of Grass( AR 4.2 )
When two Florida teenagers become stranded on a tiny island in the Everglades, they attempt to walk ten miles through swampland to reach civilization.
Vigilante, Danette The Trouble with Half a Moon( AR 4.4)
Thirteen-year-old Dellie is overcome with guilt and grief when her brother dies, but when she finds herself at odds with her best friend, Dellie reaches ou
t to a neglected boy who lives in her building in the projects and learns how to have faith in herself from a new neighbor.
Woods, Brenda Saint Louis Armstrong Beach(AR 4.1)
The gripping story of a boy, a dog and a hurricane Saint is a boy with confidence as big as his name is long. A budding musician, he earns money playing clarinet for the New Orleans tourists. His best friend is a stray dog named Shadow, and it’s because of Shadow that Saint’s still in town when Hurricane Katrina hits. Saint’s not worried about the hurricane at first–he plans to live to be a hundred just to defy his palm-reader friend Jupi, who told him he had a short life line. But now the city has been ordered to evacuate and Saint won’t leave without Shadow. His search brings him to his elderly neighbor’s home and the three of them flee to her attic when the waters rise. But when Miz Moran’s medication runs out, it’s up to Saint to save her life–and his beloved Shadow’s.
