Books of Interest to Independent Readers

Fifteen-year-old Sam Gribley has decided to run away from his crowded apartment home, but unlike most kids who rarely get beyond their block, Sam goes from New York City all the way to the ruined farm of Great-grandfather Gribley in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.

What a mess! The kids in Ms. Frizzle's class have been studying animals' homes. There's a beehive, a wasp's nest, an ant farm — even a beaver lodge right in the classroom. It's a relief when the Friz announces, "Today we start something new." They are going to study earth science.

Watch the Video Booktalk by Mishon Ratcliff.

When Omri's big brother has no birthday present for him, he gives Omri an old wooden medicine cabinet he's found. The cabinet doesn't seem like much of a present to nine-year-old Omri, until he deposits inside it another present he receives for his birthday: a miniature plastic Indian.

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.

How can the great Gilly Hopkins be expected to tolerate an ignorant foster mother, a freaky foster brother, or the poetry-loving black man next door? At first Gilly despises them all, but finds herself slowly drawn into their circle of love.

What state hosts the International Rotten Sneaker Contest?

Which state is it illegal to enter with a chicken on your head?

Intrepid ghosthunter-in-training Tom has battled Incredibly Revolting Ghosts, Gruesome Invincible Lightning Ghosts, and a Totally Moldy Baroness. But, as it turns out, nothing — nothing — is more frightening than...final exams.

American prose stylist E.B. White presents one of the best-loved stories of all time. And a heartwarming portrait of one of the best-loved pigs of all time.

The little-known history of African Americans in aviation is the focus of Black Eagles, a collection of biographical vignettes spanning the 20th century.

View the Video Read-Aloud with Gordon Korman

New York Times bestseller
USA Today bestseller