Mrs. Malecha Reads!

by Shaquille O'Neal Lexile:  590 Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Sports Shaquille O'Neal and his cousin Barry loved to play together as little kids both on and off the basketball court.  But sometimes Shaq could be too overpowering and wouldn't let Barry have a fair chance or a turn to play.  Barry wanted Shaq to give him a chance rather than do everything for him.  When an argument leads to a broken video game, the two cousins will have to work together to earn money to replace it.  Perhaps this will show them the true power of working together as a team.

by Alice Kuipers Lexile:  330 Genre:  Fantasy Polly loves words and loves to use words to create stories.  One day a magic book appears on her doorstep and when she starts writing in the book, the things she writes about actually happen to her!  But what Polly doesn't realize is that sometimes the things you write, are not really the things you mean.  So maybe, magic isn't the answer to making all of her dreams come true.

by Betty Birney Lexile:  660 Genre:  Fantasy Og is the new class pet in room 26 and he is not sure what to think.  The furry thing next to him makes squeaking noises all of the time and doesn't seem to be overly friendly.  The students are noisy and stare at Og through the window.  He can understand what they are saying, but when he speaks back, all they hear is "BOING!"  Og remembers his life before Room 26...when he lived in the swamp with his friends and family.  Some of the students think he should be returned to the swamp which confuses Og.  Don't they like having him as a class pet? 

by Angela Dominguez Lexile:  650 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Stella has been happy hanging out with her mom and brother at home and her best friend Jenny at school because they all understand her when she speaks.  But now Jenny is in another classroom and is making new friends, while Stella is struggling with girls who make fun of her.  Stella has a lot to say and a lot to share, if only she can work of the courage to speak.

by Katerine Paterson Lexile:  830 Genre:  Historical Fiction Fidel Castro has decided to bring literacy to all of a Cuba in just 12 short month.  This goal means that he will need to hire a brigade of brigadistas to spread out into the countryside to teach farmers and their families how to read and write.  Lora is only 13 years old, but when she hears Fidel Castro's plan, she knows instantly that she wants to be involved.  Her parents are hesitant, but agree to let her go, but she must first promise that if things get to hard, she will return home.  Armed with her determination to succeed, Lora sets out on her one year journey as a literacy teacher.

by Aisha Saeed Genre:  Realistic Fiction Lexile:  660 Amal dreams of becoming a teacher, but those dreams look like they are coming to an end when she accidentally insults the landlord of her town and is forced to move to his home and work as a servant.  Amal's father promises that he will figure out a way to get the money to cover his debts so that she can come home, but as time goes on, Amal fears that she will have to serve the Khan family forever.  Will Amal ever get back to life with her family in their quiet Pakistani village?

by Cynthia Kadohata Lexile:  760 Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Sports Eleven year old Conor eats, sleeps, and breathes hockey.  It is safe to say that hockey is the most important thing in his life, except for his dad and his dog Sinbad.  Playing at the elite AAA level of hockey is expensive so when Sinbad gets cancer, Conor has a tough choice to make.  Is he willing to give up some of the money his dad puts towards his hockey training to help Sinbad?  He knows he must make the right choice as his choice will have consequences for both of them.