Derby Academy Summer Reading – Grade 4 and 5

Summer Reading List 2014 – Suggested Titles For Students Entering Grade Four

Fiction The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp Appelt, Kathi

Raccoon brothers Bingo and J’miah are the newest recruits of the Official Sugar Man Swamp Scouts. The opportunity to serve the Sugar Man—the massive creature who delights in delicious sugar cane and magnanimously rules over the swamp—is an honor, and also a big responsibility, since the rest of the swamp critters rely heavily on the intel of these hardworking Scouts.Twelve-year-old Chap Brayburn is not a member of any such organization. But he loves the swamp something fierce, and he’ll do anything to help protect it

The One & Only Ivan Applegate, Katherine When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he observes the owner’s abuse of Ruby, and decides, with the help of human friends, to find her a better life.

Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes Auxier, Jonathan The utterly beguiling tale of a blind 10-year-old orphan who has been schooled in a life of thievery. One fateful afternoon, he steals a box from a mysterious traveling haberdasher—a box that contains three pairs of magical eyes. When he tries the first pair, he is instantly transported to a hidden island, where he is presented with a special quest: to travel to the dangerous Vanished Kingdom and rescue a people in need. Along with his loyal sidekick—a knight who has been turned into an unfortunate combination of horse and cat—and the magic eyes, he embarks on an unforgettable, swashbuckling adventure to discover his true destiny. Peter and the Starcatcher (Series) Barry, Dave Don't even think of starting this book unless you're sitting in a comfortable chair and have lots of time. A fast-paced, impossible-to-put-down adventure awaits as the young orphan Peter and his mates are dispatched to an island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They set sail aboard the Never Land, a ship carrying a precious and mysterious trunk in its cargo hold, and the journey quickly becomes fraught with excitement and danger.

Because of Mr. Terupt Buyea, Rob It’s the start of fifth grade for seven kids at Snow Hill School. There’s . . . Jessica, the new girl, smart and perceptive, who’s having a hard time fitting in; Alexia, a bully, your friend one second, your enemy the next; Peter, class prankster and troublemaker; Luke, the brain; Danielle, who never stands up for herself; shy Anna, whose home situation makes her an outcast; and Jeffrey, who hates school. Only Mr. Terupt, their new and energetic teacher, seems to know how to deal with them all. He makes the classroom a fun place, even if he doesn’t let them get away with much . . . until the snowy winter day when an accident changes everything—and everyone.

Out of My Mind Draper, Sharon Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom—the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.

Derby Academy Summer Reading – Grade 4 and 5

Falling In Dowell, Frances O’Roark Isabelle Bean is trying to pay attention to her teacher, but she hears a buzz in her ear that she can’t seem to shake. She thinks it sounds like she’s teetering on the edge of the universe—and she’s not that far from the truth. Isabelle’s so distracted by the buzz that she gets sent to the principal’s office, and then while awaiting her punishment, she tumbles into an adventure—into another world that’s a little bit different, a little bit Hansel and Gretel-y, a little bit like a fairy tale. The Adventures of Beanboy Harkrader, Lisa Never underestimate the power of the bean.Tucker MacBean has been drawing comic books almost as long as he’s been reading them. When his favorite comic has a contest for kids, he hopes he has finally found a way to fix his family—all he has to do is create the winning superhero sidekick . . . Introducing “Beanboy”—the first comic book character to truly harness the power of the bean for good. He is strong, he is relentless, he can double in size overnight (if given enough water). With thoughtful characterizations and copious comic book illustrations, this laughout-loud novel will have readers rooting for a superhero with true heart.

Emily Windsnap & The Monster From the Deep Kessler, Liz For as long as she can remember, twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap has lived on a boat. And, oddly enough, for just as long, her mother has seemed anxious to keep Emily away from the water. But when Mom finally agrees to let her take swimming lessons, Emily makes a startling discovery — about her own identity, the mysterious father she’s never met, and the thrilling possibilities and perils shimmering deep below the water’s surface.

Quantum League Book 1: Spell Robbers Kirby, Matthew After Ben Warner is recruited to join a "science camp" led by the eccentric quantum physicist Dr. Madeleine Hughes, he quickly realizes it's no regular science camp. Along with his new friend, Peter, Ben discovers the secret, powerful art of Actuation -- the ability to change reality by simply imagining it differently. When a mysterious group of men invade Dr. Hughes's laboratory, abducting her and stealing her precious equipment, Ben and Peter are suddenly caught up in a turf war between dangerous actuators desperate for Dr. Hughes's innovative technology. And as Ben and Peter are pulled into a perilous, hidden world full of impossibilities now made possible, will their combined

powers be enough to save Dr. Hughes and vanquish their enemies before it's too late?

11 Birthdays Mass, Wendy It's Amanda's 11th birthday and she is super excited---after all, 11 is so different from 10. But from the start, everything goes wrong. The worst part of it all is that she and her best friend, Leo, with whom she's shared every birthday, are on the outs and this will be the first birthday they haven't shared together. When Amanda turns in for the night, glad to have her birthday behind her, she wakes up happy for a new day. Or is it? Her birthday seems to be repeating itself. What is going on?! And how can she fix it? Only time, friendship, and a little luck will tell.

Hole Sachar, Louis This winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award features Stanley Yelnats, a kid who is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the warden makes the boys "build character" by spending all day, every day, digging holes five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake: the warden is looking for something. Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption.

Three Times Lucky Turnage, Sheila Rising sixth grader Miss Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC. She washed ashore in a hurricane eleven years ago, and she's been making waves ever since. When a lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, set out to uncover the truth.

Derby Academy Summer Reading – Grade 4 and 5

Nonfiction Bugged: How Insects Changed History Albee, Sarah This book explores the intersection of science and history. What did mosquitoes have to do with the Louisiana Purchase? Lice with the Irish potato famine? And what mysterious disease plagued the Philistines? As she promises in her introduction, she tells these stories–and more–in glorious and “disgusting” detail. The Skull in the Rock Aronson, Mark In August 208, nine-year-old Matthew Berger summoned his father, paleoanthropologist Lee Berger with the words, “Dad, I’ve found a fossil”. Thus begins the fascinating tale of the discovery of a nearly complete skeleton of an entirely new species of early man.

Nic Bishop Lizards Bishop, Nic With breathtaking full-page images, including a double-gatefold spread, Sibert-Honor photographer Nic Bishop introduces the beauty and diversity of lizards.The simple, engaging text presents both basic information and fun, quirky facts about the appearance, habits, and life cycle of these amazing reptiles.

Citizen Scientist: Be a part of scientific discovery in your own backyard Burns, Loree Griffin Anyone can get involved in gathering data for ongoing, actual scientific studies such as the Audubon Bird Count and FrogWatch USA. Just get out into a field, urban park, or your own backyard. You can put your nose to a monarch pupa or listen for raucous frog calls. You can tally woodpeckers or sweep the grass for ladybugs. This book, full of engaging photos and useful tips, will show you how.

Firefly July Janeczko, Paul For every season there is a poem―words blended to make the whole better than its parts. From verses on spring flowers to stanzas about the wild winter wind, poet Janeczko’s selections perfectly pair with Sweet’s captivating illustrations. You won’t want to wait for the passing of time to pour over each verse.

Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World Jenkins, Steve A scallop with 111 eyeballs? The colossal squid eyeballs are as large as basketballs. A motion-less frog will starve to death―only sees when things move in front of it. The frog’s eyes also help it swallow its prey; they push the food down. A jumping spider has two pairs of eyes with separate jobs, allowing it to be the best-seeing spider. The tarsier’s eyes are each larger than its brain. How far away can a Eurasian buzzard see its prey? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

Oh, Rats! The Story of Rats and People Marrin, Albert Able to claw straight up a brick wall, squeeze through a pipe the width of a quarter, and gnaw through iron and concrete, rats are also revealed in this fascinating book to be incredibly intelligent and capable of great compassion. Weaving science, history, culture, and folklore, awardwinning writer Albert Marrin offers a look at rats that goes from curious to repulsive, horrifying to comic, fearsome to inspiring.

George vs. George: The American Revolution As Seen From Both Sides Schanzer, Rosa The narrative introduces anew the two enemies, both named George: George Washington, the man who freed the American colonies from the British, and George III, the British king who lost them. Two leaders on different sides of the Atlantic, yet with more in common than we sometimes acknowledge.