Novels Grades 5-8
Archer, Chris.  Amindwarp Series: 1: Alien Terror 2. Alien Blood 3. Alien Scream 4. Second Sight 5. ShapeShifter 6 Aftersock 7 Flashforward 8 Face the Fear 9 Out of Time.  Very lightweight science fiction series (like The Animorphs serie) and quite formulaic. The children of aliens and humans at 13 discover special skills and dangers. Emphasis on horror.

Brower, Sigmund.  Mars Diaries. Series Mission 1: Oxygen Level Zero 2001.  Mission 2: Alien Pursuit 2001.  Mission 1: Time Bomb 2001.  Mission 4: Hammerhead 2001. Mission 5: Sole Survivor 2001. Mission 6: Moon Races 2002. Mission 7: Countdown 2002.  Mission 8: Robot War 2002.  Mission 9: Manchurian Sector 2002. Mission 10: Last Stand 2002.  This is a fairly well written series with good science and technical dimensions and a very prominent Christian theme (similar to the Left Behind series.) 14 year old Tyce (the first human born on Mars) is physically impaired but a virtual reality expert living in an experimental colony on Mrs in 2039 facing challenges and dangers from a hostile landscape and an isolated and necessarily interdependent groups of about 200 humans. There is a website at www.marsdiaries.com .

Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Game, 1977. Ender Wiggin "is a genius among geniuses; he wins all the games.... But is he smart enough to save the planet?." (Dustjacket copy) Ender's Shadow. 1999. " "Parallel" book to Ender's Game telling the story of Bean "Ender's right hand, his strategist, and his friend." (dustjacket copy). Website: http://www.hatrack.com/misc/latest-releases/index.shtml

Christopher, John. The White Mountains (tripods series). Older texts but still quite readable. Mind control, dystopian government, coming of age, etc. The White Mountains (1967); The City of Gold and Lead (1967); The Pool of Fire (1968); When the Tripods Come (1988).  PBS did a 26 part version of these texts called The Tripods. Website: http://library.trinity.wa.edu.au/subjects/english/fiction/christopher.htm

Clement, Andrew.  Things Not Seen. 2002.  Bobby Phillips -- a teen who becomes invisible as a result of a freak electrical phenomenon -- befriends a blind girl who helps him find himself again. Well written and engaging. Website: http://www.edupaperback.org/showauth.cfm?authid=48

Cooney, Caroline R. Both Sides of Time (1995). Out of Time (1996). Prisoner of Time (1998).  For All Time (1999).  The Time Travel Quartet. A time travel fantasy/romance series. A young girl from the late twentieth century travels to the late nineteenth century. More fantasy than sf. Website: http://www.edupaperback.org/showauth.cfm?authid=6

Cowley, Joy.  Starbright and the Dream Eater.  1998.  Spindle-sickness (causing bad dreams, and ultimate a fatal coma) has been appearing around the world in South America, Antartica, and South Africa.  When it strikes in Clairmont, Missouri, Starbright Connor in the next town learns that she is somehow mysteriously supposed to save the world from the "Dream Eater" an alien entity which is feeding on the energy of earth's lifeforms in their dreams.  Closer to fantasy than to science fiction despite the disease and the alien themes, but an engaging read with some distractions from Starbright's exaggerated language patterns. http://www.joycowley.com/

Cowley, Joy.  Ticket to the Sky Dance.  1998.  Shog and his twin sister, Jancie, are orphans who live on the streets. They know every free food place in the city and how to make the best of looking helpless and cute. Their favourite possessions are hologram players and zeus boots - they are freedom children of the twenty-first century, using their good looks and cunning to survive. Risk-taking and danger start to unnerve Shog and Jancie and make tem jittery. When Class Act, a famous, international modelling agency, welcomes them to its private world of extravagance and luxury, they can't believe their luck. But as the newness of luxury wears off, it is replaced by terrible fears: why were they chosen and what is really happening on the upper floors if the famous, horseshoe-shaped building? (taken from Joy Cowley's website) Winner New Zealand Post Junior Fiction Award 1998 http://www.joycowley.com/

Curley, Marianne. The Named. 2002. 1^st of a trilogy. "Ethan is one of the Named, a Guardian of Time bound by duty to fight the Order of Chaos -- evildoers who alter the course of history. Ethan is a also a regular boy in school..." (dustjacket copy). Website: http://www.mariannecurley.com

Dexter, Catherine. Alien Game. 1995. A new girl's behavior at the annual Elimination Game makes Zoe suspect that sheís an alien. Mixed reviews.  An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.

Duane, Diane. Deep Wizardry 1985. This is a lovely blend of fantasy and oceanography and an excellent read! (So you want to be a wizard series).  The earlier volume: So You Want to Be a Wizard? and later volumes High Wizardry and A Wizard Abroad are also well written but clearly fantasy rather than sf and (especially the earliest ones) a bit outdated in terms of the technological level reflected in the text.  The Wizard's Dilemma. came out in 2001 and updated the story focusing this time on whether the young wizard can use her magic to fight her mother's cancer. A Wizard Alone continues the story further as the two wizard sisters struggle with the loss of their mother and the challenges of their magical assignments. Website: http://www.owlsprings.com/bookman.html

Farmer, Nancy. The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm 1995 MS Award winning story of three children in Africa who find more of an adventure than they sought and are pursued by three detectives with unusual talents. Newberry Honor Winner.  A Girl Named Disaster, 1996.  Nhamo, 11, flees an unwanted marriage to a mystical African landscape. The House of the Scorpions, 2002 a young clone of El Patron of the country Opium (between U. S. and the former Mexico) deals with slavery, computer chip controlled workers, etc. futuristic. strong reviews.

Gilden, Mel.  Cybercops and Flame Wars.  1999.  A well-written story of a young computer whiz who becomes the target of a skilled hacker who for a time turns the life of herself and her family upside down until she and her hacker friend track down his attempt to sabotage a military computer.

George, Jean Craighead.  Tree Castle Island.  2002. 14-year old Jack Hawkins in the Okefenokee Swamp. Website: http://www.jeancraigheadgeorge.com/

George, Jean Craighead.  Shark Beneath the Reef.  1985.   A young Mexican boy is torn between his fishing village and family expectations and his dreams of becoming a marine biologist. Again more science in fiction than science fiction but very well written. Website: http://www.jeancraigheadgeorge.com/

Goldman, E. M.  The Night Room.  1995.  7 high school students are to participate in an experimental project at the nearby college where they will visit a virtual reality tenth year reunion of their class and see their future and the future of their classmates as projected by the computer based on questionnaires, interviews, and exams the students have undergone.  Complications arise from a computer hacker and the obsessions of Argus' inventor.  A fusion of science fiction, mystery, and horror story that raises some interesting questions about how projections of the future could influence (positively and/or dangerously) those who glimpse them.

Griffin, Peni R. Otto from Otherwhere, 1990. A fog at Midwinter festival allows a crossover between two worlds. Alien contact. Music. Award winner. Website: http://www.nhptv.org/kn/vs/engla6griffin.htm

Griffin, Peni. Switching Well. 1994. Amber in 1991; Ada in 1891 switch places. A School Library Journal Best Book. Website: http://www.nhptv.org/kn/vs/engla6griffin.htm

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Among the Hidden. 1998. In a near-future world where the law forbids more than two children, third children must hide.  Among the Impostors.  2001.  Sequel to Among the Hidden. The hidden child we met in the first book is now enrolled in school under a false identity and living at great risk. Among the Betrayed. 2002. Sequel to Among the Impostors. Among the Barons 2003 Sequel where Luke and his "brother" go home to live with the Barons and find it a deadly situation. Website: http://scifan.com/writers/hh/HaddixPMargaret.asp

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Running Out of Time. 1995. A young girl living in early nineteenth century America (she thinks) must go outside into a twentieth century world to get help for a town struck by diptheria.  Very well written and engaging.  Good use of historical information. Website: http://scifan.com/writers/hh/HaddixPMargaret.asp

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Escape from Memory. 2003. Website: http://scifan.com/writers/hh/HaddixPMargaret.asp

Hall, Elizabeth and Scott O'Dell.  Venus Among the Fishes.  1964.  A dolphin adventure. Readable at 4th and 5th grade levels but still enjoyable at older ages.

Hamilton, Virginia. The Justice Trilogy: Justice and Her Brothers (1978); Dustland (1980); The Gathering (1981). Justice and her twin brothers travel to a future world where they learn as much about themselves and their world as they do about the new. Well written and still works although science slightly dated. African American writer and characters. Websites: http://www.library.kent.edu/speccoll/children/vh2.htm

http://www.virginiahamilton.com/pages/justice.htm

http://www.virginiahamilton.com/

http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/hamilton.htm

Henderson, Alison Kilgore.  The Monkey Thief.  1996.  Steve Hanson, 12, goes to live with his uncle in Costa Rica and is drawn to the monkeys of the rain forest. Strong on ecology, science, good characters and themes, good suspense, well written. Like Skurzinski's National Park series more scientific fiction than science fiction.Strong on ecology, science, good characters and themes, well written. Like Skurzinski's National Park series more scientific fiction than science fiction. Website: www.milkweed.org

Henderson, Alison Kilgore.  The Summer of the Bonepile Monster.  1995.  Hollie Orr at 11 visits Grancy (grandma) in Alabama while her parents are working out their marital differences. He becomes fascinated with the mysterious forbidden bonepile next door. Strong on ecology, science, good characters and themes, good suspense, well written. Like Skurzinski's National Park series more scientific fiction than science fiction. Website: www.milkweed.org

Henderson, Alison Kilgore.  Treasure of Panther Peak.  1998.  Page Williams at 12 is uprooted by her mom to live behind a one-room schoolhouse in Big Bend National Park, Texas where she will try to sort out her feelings about her violent father whom they have left behind, and about this new landscape. Strong on ecology, science, good characters and themes, well written. Like Skurzinski's National Park series more scientific fiction than science fiction. Website: www.milkweed.org

Hepworth, Peter.  Ocean Girl.  1995.  An Australian fantasy/sf.  Jason and his family live in the underwater city, ORCA.  Neri, an island girl, communicates with humpbacks.  Made into a film for Disney Channel.  Concern for endangered species.  One of the choices for this year's JASON programs.

Hoover, H. M.  Rains of Eridan.  1977. Website: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/H_M_Hoover.htm or http://scifan.com/writers/hh/HooverMHelen.asp

Hoover, H. M.  The Delikon: A Novel of the Future. 1977 Website: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/H_M_Hoover.htm or http://scifan.com/writers/hh/HooverMHelen.asp

Hoover, H. M.  Return to Earth.  19 Website: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/H_M_Hoover.htm or http://scifan.com/writers/hh/HooverMHelen.asp

Hoover, H. M.  The Shepherd Moon: A Novel of the Future. 1984. Website: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/H_M_Hoover.htm or http://scifan.com/writers/hh/HooverMHelen.asp

Howarth, Lesley. Maphead .  1994.  A boy from the Subtle World must reunite with his human mother at 12. Maphead The Return. 1997. Sequel to Maphead, a coming of age novel about a boy from a parallel dimension. Website: http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/howarth.htm

Howarth, Lesley.  The Pits.  1999.  An archaeologist discovers a stone age body and awakes a ghost.  More fantasy than sf. Website: http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/howarth.htm

Howarth, Lesley. Weather Eye. 1995. A young girl is nearly killed during one of the freakishly fierce storms that have begun to be all too regular in this environmentally compromised world set in 1999. She becomes the Weather Eye and launches a worldwide environmental movement. Fascinating reading. Website: http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/howarth.htm

Hughes, Monica. Invitation to the Game. 1996 Ms-Hs. In a 22nd century world where overpopulation has left most without jobs or hope, there is one way out -- the game. or : http://www.ecn.ab.ca/mhughes/ or http://www.scifan.com/writers/hh/HughesMonica.asp

Hughes, Monica.  Crisis on Conshelf Ten.  1975.  Moon-born 15 year old Kepler Masterman comes to live in an underwater environment on 21st century earth. Earthdark 1977. Sequel. Website: http://www.ecn.ab.ca/mhughes/ or http://www.scifan.com/writers/hh/HughesMonica.asp

Hughes, Monica.  The Crystal Drop.  1992.  In a near future Cananda where water has become more precious than gold, orphaned Megan and Ian travel through the drought-stricken country seeking a waterfall she has seen in an old calendar. Website: http://www.ecn.ab.ca/mhughes/ or http://www.scifan.com/writers/hh/HughesMonica.asp

Hughes, Monica.  The Dream Catcher.  1987.  From the book jacket:  "Ruth is a mifit, fated to disrupt the Web, the perfect pattern formed by the psychic joining of the minds of everyone in Ark Three.  What will happen to her on New Year's Day when every other fifteen-year-old is given a position in the community according to their vocation?  Ruth, it seems, has no talent." Website: http://www.ecn.ab.ca/mhughes/ or http://www.scifan.com/writers/hh/HughesMonica.asp

Hughes, Monica. The Golden Aquarians. 1995. In 2092, a terraforming project is destroying the environment and the natives of Aqua. A young boy befriends and defends the amphibious Aquarians. Website: http://www.ecn.ab.ca/mhughes/ or http://www.scifan.com/writers/hh/HughesMonica.asp

~Hughes, Monica.  The Other Place.  1999.  On an alien planet, a subversive group is exiled to the other place. But the children are being called elsewhere ... another well written and provocative story. Website: http://www.ecn.ab.ca/mhughes/ or http://www.scifan.com/writers/hh/HughesMonica.asp

Hughes, Monica.  The Story Box.  1999.  A young storyteller is washed ashore in an isolated and repressive country where imagination, stories, and even dreaming are forbidden.  An excellent read! Website: http://www.ecn.ab.ca/mhughes/ or http://www.scifan.com/writers/hh/HughesMonica.asp

Hughes, Monica.  The Keeper of the Isis Light.  1980.  A richly thoughtful book about a future where humans are colonizing outer planets and scouts travel before them and establish and maintain lights (message systems) reporting back to earth conditions and mapping of the planet.  A 10 yr. old in Isis years (16 in earth years) is the Keeper of the Isis Light helped by the Guardian.  When the colonists arrive she must cope with seeing her planet "invaded" and the colonists must deal with the Keeper's mysteries.  While several additional books were added to this series this book stands alone quite well.  The Guardian of Isis. 1981.  This is the sequel to The Keeper of the Isis Light.  It can stand alone but is much more effective if you have read the first book.  The settlement has been in place for many years now and the boy who originally had been attracted to the "Keeper" has become the governor of the colony.  The Keeper and the Guardian have long since vanished into the hills and a mythology has arisen keeping the colony trapped by fear in a very restricted part of the planet.  A young child sent on a quest that is meant to cause his death -- must open the eyes and minds of the colony again.   The Isis Pedler. 1982.  The 3rd book of the Isis series finds another generation has almost forgotten the Keeper. A con artist visits the planet and his daughter has to come to intervene and get him out of there. Website: http://www.ecn.ab.ca/mhughes/ or http://www.scifan.com/writers/hh/HughesMonica.asp

Hughes, Monica.  Ring-Rise, Ring-Set.  1982.  A huge cosmic ring of meteor particles orbiting the Earth is bringing a new ice age to earth while scientists search for a way to "avert world-wide disaster."  Young Liza acts on her own. Website: http://www.ecn.ab.ca/mhughes/ or http://www.scifan.com/writers/hh/HughesMonica.asp

Hughes, Monica. Sandwriter. 1985. Website: http://www.ecn.ab.ca/mhughes/ or http://www.scifan.com/writers/hh/HughesMonica.asp The Promise. 1985.

Hughes, Monica. Beyond the Dark River. 1981. Post-apocalyptic survivors. Website: http://www.ecn.ab.ca/mhughes/ or http://www.scifan.com/writers/hh/HughesMonica.asp

Johnson, Annabel. The Danger Quotient. 1984. "A super-genius in a small underground colony of survivors of a nuclear war, eighteen-year-old Casey risks journeying back to the twentieth century to discover why the survivors are dying and how he can save them all." (LC copy)

Jones, Robin. The Beginning of Unbelief. 1993. A boy uses his journaling to help him let go of an imaginary space travelling friend.

Klause, Annette Curtis. Alien Secrets. 1993. First contact between young girl and an alien. Good mystery and fine characterization. Enjoyable read. Booklist Childrenís Editors Choice; ALA Notable; School Library Journal Best Book. Website:

http://www.childrensbookguild.org/Klause.html

http://spokpl.lib.wa.us/MARION/AAT-7264

L'Engle, Madeline. A Wrinkle in Time. 1973. MS. Classic Newberry winner. Tesseracts, fifth dimension, mysticism, good stuff. Still works as do its sequels, A Wind in the Door 1974, A Swiftly Tilting Planet 1981, and Many Waters 1991. Website: http://www.edupaperback.org/showauth.cfm?authid=59

L'Engle, Madeline.  A Ring of Endless Light.  1980. The Arm of the Starfish.  1965. Website: http://www.edupaperback.org/showauth.cfm?authid=59

Lowry, Lois.The Giver, 1993. Newberry winner - a seemingly utopian world where a young man is giving the grave responsibility of serving as The Giver. Website: http://www.edupaperback.org/showauth.cfm?authid=62

Lowry, Lois.  Gathering Blue.  2000.  "Ophaned and physically flawed in a civiliation that shuns and discards the weak..."  Another great utopia/dystopia from Lowry! Website: http://www.edupaperback.org/showauth.cfm?authid=62

Mackel, Cathy.  Can of Worms.  1999.  3-7.  A 7th Grade gets more help from outer space than he really planned on!

Myers, Walter Dean.  Shadow of the Red Moon.  1995.   This African American author who has won a number of awards including the Newberry and, last year, the new Virginia Hamilton award.  This science fiction novel is set in a world damaged by a catastrophic astronomical event (the arrival of "the red moon") where dust, mutations, etc. make life very difficult.  Jon has grown up in the Crystal City, a climate-controlled environment.  Outside the Crystal City plague has killed off most adults and the Fen children who live in the Wilderness ultimately attack the Crystal City in desperation.  Jon and other Okalian children escape and begin a journey back to the "Ancient Land."  Good writing, good science, and good analysis of cultural conflict, the biracial child, etc. Website: http://www.kent.edu/virginiahamiltonconf/Myersbio.htm

http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/special/kay/myers.html

~Oppel, Kenneth. Kids Can Press, 1992 ages 12-16 water pollution

Oppel, Kenneth. Dead Water Zone. Water pollution and mystery. Okay but thin.

Park, Ruth. My Sister Sif, 1986. Erika and sister Sif on the island Rongo with volcano, dolphins, whales, etc. facing an encroaching world.

Pratchett, Terry. The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, 2001. Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Children's literature. Fantasy set on Discworld. The Wee Free Men: A Story of Discworld. 2003. sequel

Roberts, Willo Davis. The Girl with The Silver Eyes. 1980.  This is a well written story of a very credible young girl who has silver eyes and paranormal abilities as a result of her mothers handling a dangerous drug at the chemical plant where she worked when she was pregnant.  Katie's abilities cause some people to react to her with unease -- and in some cases outright hostility.

Scott, Michael. Gemini Game, 1994.  Pbk. 1997.  Virtual reality player fell into a coma.  Teen game creators try to fix it.

Skursynski, Gloria. Cyberstorm. 1995. Virtual reality bring an old womanís memories to life again but a violent storm in cyberspace causes interesting twists for her, the girl who has befriended her and the dog that brought them together. Website: http://gloriabooks.com/

Skursynski, Gloria and Alane Ferguson. Wolf Stalker. 1997.  A National Parks Mystery (#1) about Yellowstone park wolves. Rage of Fire. 1998.  A National Parks Mystery (#2) about Hawaiian volcanoes set in Hawaii Volcano National Park. Deadly Waters. 1999.  A National Parks Mystery (#3) about poisoned manatees in Everglades National Park. Cliff Hanger. 1999.  A National Parks Mystery (#4) about cougars at Mesa Verde National Park. The Hunted. 2000.  A National Parks Mystery (#5) about grizzly bears at Montana's Glacier National Park. Ghost Horses. 2000.  A National Parks Mystery (#6) about white mustangs in Zion National Park. Over the Edge. 2001.  A National Parks Mystery (#7) about condors in Grand Canyon National Park. Valley of Death. 2001.  A National Parks Mystery (#8) about desert bighorn sheep in Death Valley National Park. Escape from Fear. 2002.  A National Parks Mystery (#9) about coral reefs at St. John's National Park in the Virgin Islands. Out of the Deep. 2002.  A National Parks Mystery (#10) about marine mammals at Acadia National Park in Maine. Running Scared. 2002.  A National Parks Mystery (#11) about bats at Carlsbad Cavern National Park in New Mexico. Buried Alive. 2002.  A National Parks Mystery (#12) about wolverines at Alaska's Dendir National Park. Website: http://gloriabooks.com/

Skurzinski, Gloria. Virtual War.1997. Specially raised and trained as warriors in a virtual war, 3 children begin to rewrite the rules. ALA Best Book. Clones: The Virtual War Chronologs. 2002 Website: http://gloriabooks.com/

Sleator, William. Interstellar Pig. 1995. A weird and somewhat sinister alien game. ALA Best Book. Parasite Pig. 2002. A sequel to Interstellar Pig.

Sleator, William. House of Stairs. 1974. A group of children trapped by a machine in a house they can't escape.

Sleator, William. The Duplicate. 1988. Replicating oneself causes problems.

Sleator, William. Singularity. 1985. ALA Best book. Twins and time travel.

~Spencer, Bev. Guardian of the Dark 1993 ages 11-14 post world-holocaust.

Sullivan, Mary.  Earthquake 2099.  1982.  A very well written, accessible, and short book.  Philip a child of the technologically controlled Towers and Vita from the famine-wracked Open Country survive together after the big quake devastates the area and knocks out Central Power.

~Ward, David. Perimeter One Adventures Series: The Misenberg Accelerator (bk. 1) 1994. "When a symposium takes Dr. Graham to the Perimeter One space station at the edge of the solar system, sabotage places his entire family in terrible danger." (LC copy) Other books in the series include: The SHONN Project, Out of Time, and The Mines of Venus.

Yolen, Jane.  The Devil's Arithmetic.  1990.  Hannah, 12, frustrated that Jewish holidays are always about "remembering" is transformed when she opens the door for Elijah and finds herself in 1942 Poland and experiencing the camps.  Highly praised book handling the subject with delicacy for young ages. Website: http://www.edupaperback.org/showauth.cfm?authid=79

~Zindel, Paul.  Raptor. 1998.  Dinosaurs live!