Required Reading for Ninth-Grade Students: 

 

Lee, Harper

To Kill a Mockingbird.

  

 

Shakespeare, William.

Romeo and Juliet.

  

 

Homer. 

The Odyssey.

  

 

The books below are often recommended college-bound ninth-grade students:

Ninth-grade students who are preparing themselves for a college-education should choose from this list. 

Ninth-grade students may also choose from the 10th grade book list.  

Ninth-grade students may choose a 8th grade book  and receive 90% of the grade.  

Ninth-grade students may choose a 7th grade book  and receive 80% of the grade.

Ninth-grade students may choose a sixth-grade and receive 70% of the grade.

Ninth-grade students may not choose a fifth-grade book  without a specific IEP.   

Angelou, Maya.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. 

Classic Autobiography

246 pgs, 1070L

 

In English Room.

The autobiography of the famous African-American poet that grew up in poverty.  Readers should be fore-warned that it contains at least one disturbing scene.  

Bradbury, Ray.

Dandelion Wine.  

234 pgs, 880L

 

in English Room 

 

Bradbury, Ray.

The Illustrated Man.

680L

 

In our Library, under Fiction

 
  Burnett, Frances Hodgson

The Secret Garden.  

970L   320pgs 

 

Cisneros, Sandra

House on Mango Street

870L, 178pgs 

Growing up in "The Hood" seems quite different when viewed from the inside.  This is a very easy book with incredibly short chapters - a page and a half in many cases.   Many of the chapters are about different people the main character observes around her.  however, many common expectations in a novel - such as a conflict - lay obscured, leaving the book with the flavor of a volume of poetry.  The House on Mango Street lies somewhere between The Nick Adams Stories and Spoon River Anthology.  

Clark, Walter van Tillberg.

The Ox-Bow Incident. 

216 pgs, 890L 

 

In English Room.

 

Cooper, Susan. 

The Dark is Rising.

Newberry Honor Book & Newberry Medal for one of its three sequels

244 pgs, 920L

 

In English Room.

Unexplainable things are happening to a young man named Will Stanton.  The forest near his farm house in southern England seems filled with supernatural dangers; the ravens aren't acting right; his neighbors behave strangely; even the radio is acting up.  But when he meets a group of ageless beings that call themselves "The Old Ones", they tell him that he is one of them, and that he has a quest to fulfill.   

     If it were possible to give six stars, this book would have it.  Cooper creates a mood and atmosphere in this novel that make it unforgettable.  Read it in November or December.  

 

Cormier, Robert.

The Chocolate War.  

188 pgs, 820L

 

and the sequel

 Beyond the Chocolate War.  

277 pgs 

 

 

Cormier, Robert. 

After the First Death.

233 pgs, 740L

In English Room.

Onaca, 9th grade

After the First Death was a very interesting read. Throughout the entire book there were about three different storylines going on, though all interconnected, and they all had an astoundingly different pace and mood. On the bus with the terrorists it was tense and stuffy, the boy getting swept up into the operation with his father was quick moving and terrifying, and then there was the present time storyline. In that, it was a horribly slow, pained pace that was simply the boy’s thoughts most of the time. All the plotlines pulled together in the end though, each with a startling realization of their own, and made the book really leave an impact.

Thomas R Sophomore  

     After the first death is a thrilling action book about four men who have trained their whole life to be soldiers in a war.  These men were sent to the United States to be terrorist and to do little objectives like blow up buildings and kill random people.  One day these four men were sent out to do a bigger task.  This task was to raid a school bus that was filled with harmless little children and take the bus out onto a bridge and hold them hostage until the demands they wanted were met. The main character Miro a young man who was one of the terrorists was supposed to kill the bus driver as his right of passage. But complications come up when he finds out that the bus driver is a woman.

     Every other chapter in this book switches between a young boy who’s father is a general and is trying to stop the terrorists, and the terrorists.

     This book is a pretty easy read and is definitely one of the best books I’ve ever read if not the best book I’ve Ever read I highly suggest anyone who is capable of reading this book to read it.   

Shelbie, 9th grade

 A boy whose parents don’t really pay that much attention to him goes to a rich and preppy boarding school. He is typing the story on his computer and sometimes that really throws the reader off. The story is about two main characters, Kate, a young bus driver, and Miro, a young but very smart terrorist. Miro and three other terrorists take over a bus full of young kids. They have sent notice to a general saying what their demands were, and what they wanted for all the kids and the woman to come out alive. Miro has never killed someone in his career, and the bus driver is supposed to be his first, but with some unexpected problems, what will happen to all the kids, Kate and the four terrorists?

Dillard, Annie.

An American Childhood.

252 pgs? 1040L

 

In our Library under Biography

 

 
 

Gardner.

Grendl.

 

920L   192 pgs 

 

Gardner, Graham.

Inventing Elliot.

Angus Award

181 pgs,  690L

 

In English Room.

 

 

Morgan, 11th grade 

 Elliot is a fourteen-year-old boy who hasn’t quite figured out who he really is, in turn he doesn’t really fit in. Transferring to Holmister High brings more challenges into his life when he is brought into a secret group. This secret group changes his mind set about himself, he now is trying to become someone different. He ends up altering his physical appearance, and pretending to be far more confident and 'cool' than he actually is. His aim is to 'stand out just enough to fit in'. Changing yourself to fit in doesn’t always work, especially for Elliot. Does he change himself to much and become the bully he once despised?

Fuller C., ninth grade

Elliot is a young boy growing up with his mother and father and their going through rough times so money is tight around his house.  The school he goes to he is being bullied around by the bigger kids.  Then his parents decide to switch schools and he transfers to a nicer side of the neighborhood where he is treated well and all the kids are rich.  He makes many friends but then one day after school he overhears his parents talking and saying they can’t afford to keep him in the school and he must transfer again.  His next school is bigger but not so nice, so he comes up with a plan to stay unnoticed so therefore no one can pick on him or make fun of him.  This novel is a great story for all ages I highly suggest it to everyone.  I give this book a five stars and its fairly difficult on the reading scale. 

Grahame, Kenneth.

Wind in the Willows.

A Classic Youth Novel

920L

 

in the EF section of the Library

 

 

 

Griffin, John.  

Black Like Me. 

9.9L 

 

In our Library under 301.451

 

 

 

Hemingway, Ernest.

The Old Man and the Sea.

Pulitzer Prize

127 pgs, 940L

In English Room.

 

Robert Chm, tenth grade

The Old man went eighty four days without a catch, when the future doesn’t look to good, he keeps his head his and on the eighty fifth day he has the fight of his life. This is a great book about and fisherman living and fishing on a Cuban coast. I really liked the descriptions and the character of the old man; in the end of this book you will realize the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.  

Fuller, tenth grade

 Ernest Hemingway has a unique style of writing; his wording helps you understand the book and make you feel almost like your right there with the main character.  Ernest’s stories also help teach you a lesson and there is a moral to the story.  In this particular book an old Cuban fisherman has gone eighty some days with out a catch so he heads out to sea, in the Gulf Stream, in his boat in search for the fish of his life time.  When he lands it he spends many days trying to pull it in. Read along and discover the many tails of Ernest Hemingway and see if the fisherman finally catches a fish of a life time. I give this book four out of five stars and recommend it to readers who are looking for a short and quick read.           

Michael, ninth grade

       The book was a great with only two real characters. The boy was a friend of the old man but he could not fish with him because he never caught fish.  When the old man went out far one day he hooked the biggest Marlin he ever saw. This fish fought him for four days straight. All the old man brought was a water bottle so he had to eat his bait or smaller fish he caught. I liked how the old man battled and would not give up on the fish. When he did catch the fish he had to paddle way back in. The sharks ate most of the fish but he still was proud and never gave up. When the men at the docks measured the skeleton it still was the biggest they ever saw. 

Houston, Jeanne.

AKA

Wakatsuki, Jeanne.

Farewell to Manzanar. 

145 pgs, 1040L

 

in our library under biography

 

Mr. Greenlee

I enjoyed this memoir of one family in the relocation camps for Japanese living in California during World War II.  It gave the vision of what these people were really like, made them individuals, and wasn't the typical accusatory racist polemic of which we've all had too much.  One thing that surprised me about this memoir is that I expected it to end when they left Manzanar - after all, the title.  Don't stop there - the story's not over yet!  

Hunt, Irene.

Across Five Aprils. 

Newberry Honor Book

208 pgs, 1100L

In English Room.

 

Miranda., junior

It is a story based upon the time of the Civil War.  It spreads through the five years that the war lasted, describing the struggle a small farming family goes through to keep their family together.  I would suggest this novel to anyone interested in history or the Civil War, since it very accurately describes the war and other events around that time it would be very interesting.

 

Kadohata, Cynthia. 

 Kira-Kira. 

Newberry Medal Winner

244 pgs, 740L

in English room

 

Mackenzie, 8th grade 

Kira- Kira is a sad story, but yet it is a happy story too. It is a great book, and I recommend it to everyone. Katie moves to Georgia with her family, and while they are living there nothing is the same as it used to be.

Hailey A., 8th grade 

Kira-Kira is one of my favorite books that I have read in a while. This book really speaks to me because it says that the world is beautiful place and we get what we get. You shouldn’t regret anything you do because everything someone does is a learning experience. When a person falls, they learn how to get back up. When something bad happens to a person, they have to move on. There are many life lessons that are inside of the pages just waiting to be read, and when you read this, you are going to learn all off these examples. The main person in this book even quotes at the end that “The world is a wonderful place.”

Halee 8th grade

The book Kira Kira is an excellent book, it tells about two sisters and the hard times they encounter while moving to a new house.  This story tells about the problems that can happen in everyday family life.  Kira Kira is a book that I would recommend to anyone because it is easy to read and tells a great story.  

Paul W., 8th grade 

Kira-Kira is about a Japanese family who moves to America. It is told by Katie who has a sister named Lynn and a brother named Sam. The book is realistic fiction and similar to a biography too. People who are into a story that takes over a long period of time would like this book.

Hailey A, 8th  grade 

Kira-Kira is one of my favorite books that I have read in a while. This book really speaks to me because it says that the world is beautiful place and we get what we get. You shouldn’t regret anything you do because everything someone does is a learning experience. When a person falls, they learn how to get back up. When something bad happens to a person, they have to move on. There are many life lessons that are inside of the pages just waiting to be read, and when you read this, you are going to learn all off these examples. The main person in this book even quotes at the end that “The world is a wonderful place.”

Morgan Lee, ninth grade 

This is a story of a young Japanese girl who grows up with her family in a small town. Her family had to move from their home town to living in Georgia with her Uncle. She has an older sister and a new born brother. Her older sister is her best friend and she had so many plans with her when they got older. They were going to live together and go see the ocean. When they moved, her sister found another best friend and she changed in some ways that her sister doesn’t understand or like. But when her sister gets very sick, things change. She has to take of her sister and her little brother because the parents are always working to pay her medical bills. Everything changes when she gets sick and it gets worse as the story goes on.   This book was really good. I liked it. It was a simply book about a young girl’s life. It was very straight forward. What I liked most about this book was that it seemed real and easy to believe, the ends was also one of the best parts.

Kidd, Sue Monk. 

The Secret Life of Bees. 

302 pgs, 840L

 

In English Room. 

 

 

 

Kipling, Rudyard.

The Jungle Books.

151 pgs, 1160L

 

In English Room.

 

London, Jack.  

The Call of the Wild. 

Classic Novel

102 pgs, 1120L

 

In English Room.

Andrew, 8th grade 

This is the story of a dog that was stolen from his home and thrust into the Alaskan wilderness as a sled dog. He soon learns the law of club and fang. After ridding himself of several rivals he finds himself on top in one the sled dog teams in Alaska. The only problem with this book is that it is somewhat slow in the beginning. Other wise it isn’t bad.

London, Jack. 

White Fang.

Classic Novel

192 pgs,  970L

 

In English Room.

Shelbie M.

     Do you want an action packed book that makes you never want to stop until you have finished the last page? Then this is the book for you.   A dogsled team of two men and a body that they are supposed to be bringing to a fort and a pack of wolves is following them. When they get to the fort, it stops focusing on them and moves with the pack of wolves. I like this book. However I would not suggest it for kids any younger than I am. It has dog fights and has death. It would not be good for a younger child. 

 

 

Myers, Walter Dean. 

Fallen Angels.

308 pgs, 650L

 

In English Room.

Michael, ninth grade

     Fallen Angels was a good book with lots of action. It was narrated by Richard Perry, a guy from New York who joins the army and is sent to Vietnam. He doesn’t think war is that bad until he sees it and really starts to feel sick. Him and the group of guys really start to become friends as the war goes on. Peewee is his best friend and a crazy friend, them two get into some tough situations during this story. There is some great action in the book. If you’re a fan of war books at all this is the book for you. 

Thomas R., eighth grade 

  This is another astounding book that I have read this year. This book is very descriptive book. There is a load of swearing and killing and it really gets into the action scenes and deaths.

     This is a pretty difficult book to read and I don’t suggest anyone under eighth grade to read, this not only for the difficulty, but for the profanity and most of the other things the squad does. People above eighth grade who does like action books and think they can handle the goodness of this book, read it.         

Robert Chmb., ninth grade 

Perry shares the dream of getting out of the Nam alive, along with Peewee, Brunner, Lobel, Johnson, and Monaco.  The only way this will be possible is if they work together on the battlefield.  This book is about Perry and his struggle to get through the war, his fear of death, and his relationships with the men around him.  In this action packed-story, the characters travel through Vietnam and fight many battles against the VC and that is why I liked it so much.  I recommend this book to anyone who likes action books and war books.

Scott R., junior 

     Intense, riveting, and inspiring, this is the true story of a band of friends during the Vietnam war. I couldn’t put this book down, as I was completely immersed in its gripping action and driving plot. Readers will develop relationships with the in-book characters and it will hit hard when a beloved character is wasted. This book doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to the brutal realities of war. There are extremely detailed depictions of gore and the soldiers have quite a harsh vocabulary. I strongly recommend this book to those who like war stories, as this is one of the best ones I’ve ever read.

Thomas S. , junior 

Many men that that joined the highly political war in Vietnam did not do so for the stereotypical purpose of saving the world from the Red threat. Some of our brave boy's joined because there was no where else to go.  the people they were sent there to protect distrusted them. Fallen angels is a story of friendships forged under fire. The story takes place in Vietnam in the midst's of war.  striped of all the luxuries that even third world take for granted. Sleeping in fox holes trying to elude the commie threat hiding in the steamy jungles, every moment threatening the GI's lives.  I recommend this book to any one who enjoys action an exciting plot  and character growth.  Recommended by Thomas for every one between 12 and 121 years old who is not afraid of a little blood. 

 

O'Brien, Tim.

In the Lake of the Woods.  

 

730L 336 pgs 

 

O'Dell, Scott.

Island of the Blue Dolphins.

Newberry Medal 

184 pgs,  1000L

In English Room.

Kate, tenth grade 

      A teenage Native American girl is alone on an island trying to survive with no other person to help her. It wasn’t always like this though; other Indians used to live there with her, until the Russians came and they left in fear. 

     Now she’s on her own, isolated from humans. She has to fend for herself and become swift and smart in order to find food, make shelter, and stay away from the wild dogs.

      This novel is told through the young girl’s eyes, and I enjoyed her outlook on situations.  It’s an exciting story that will make you adore the unique girl and her adventures.

Paulsen, Gary.

The Winter Room.  

Newberry Honor Book

103 pgs, 1170L

 

In English Room.

 

Rawlings. 

The Yearling.

Pulitzer Prize

428 pgs,  750L

 

In English Room.

 

Tolkien, J.  R.  R. 

The Hobbit.

A Classic Youth Novel

271 pgs, 1000L

In English Room.

Thomas R., eighth grade 

JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit the prelude to the lord of the rings is a very good book it is full of adventure and mystical creatures.  There are wizards, Evil Dragons, and hobbits.  Bilbo Baggins the main character of this book is on an adventure with 13 dwarves and a wizard called Gandalf to kill a dragon called Smaug who lives in the Lonely Mountains on the other side of Middle Earth.  On the way, Bilbo and his companions encounter big ugly trolls, Orc’s, Wargs (they are like wolves), Eagles, Giant spiders, and Wood Elves.  I would have to say this is one of my favorite books.  It is a moderate reading level and if you like action, you will definitely like this book. 

Jason, senior 

The Hobbit is the prequel to the Lord of the Rings.  It's about a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, who is a normal quite hobbit that rarely has anything exiting happen in his life.  Until many dwarves appear at his house to tell him their going on a journey.  On the journey Bilbo makes many friends, fights many enemies, and discovers many things.  The one thing he discovers is a very unique ring which can make him invisible, and saves his lives many times.  This is one of J.R.R. Tolkien's best books, and has sold over 7 million copies.  This book is a great success and is a must read for anyone who likes a book with a great imagination and a lot of adventure.

  Tyler, Anne. 

The Accidental Tourist.  

800L

 
  Tyler, Anne. 

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.  

720L   336 pgs 

 

Walker, Alice.

The Color Purple.  

Classic Novel

670L

 

In school library under fiction

 

Wakatsuki, Jeanne.

AKA

Houston, Jeanne.

Farewell to Manzanar. 

145 pgs, 1040L

 

in our library under biography

Mr. Greenlee

I enjoyed this memoir of one family in the relocation camps for Japanese living in California during World War II.  It gave the vision of what these people were really like, made them individuals, and wasn't the typical accusatory racist polemic of which we've all had too much.  One thing that surprised me about this memoir is that I expected it to end when they left Manzanar - after all, the title.  Don't stop there - the story's not over yet!  

  Wildeman, John Edgar. 

Brothers and Keepers.  

 

850L 256 pgs

 
  Wildeman, John Edgar. 

Philadelphia Fire.  

 

860L 208 pgs

 

 

Other Books Ninth-grade students may choose - anything from this page or from eight-grade or tenth-grade page.  

Asgedom, Mawi.  

The Code. 

J

In English Room.

Auel, Jean.

Clan of the Cave Bear. 

495 pgs, 1000L

$

In English Room 

Bitton-Jackson, 

I Have Lived a Thousand Years. 

And its sequel My Bridges of Hope

 

In English Room 

Brin, David.

The Postman. 

320 pgs, 910L 

$

In English Room.

Brown, Claude.

Manchild in the Promised Land. 

8.9L 

 

In our Library under 301.451

Bruchac, Joseph.

Code Talker.

223 pgs, 910L

J

in English Room

Cormier, Robert.

I am the Cheese. 

216 pgs, 810L

$

In English Room.  

Curtis, Christopher Paul.

Bud, Not Buddy.

236 pgs, 950 L

 

In English Room.

Duder, Tessa.

In Lane Three, Alex Archer.

256 pgs, 910L

 

In our school library in fiction

Fox, Paula.

One-Eyed Cat. 

216 pgs, 1000L

 

In our school library in fiction

 

Lebert, Benjamin. 

Crazy. 

192 pgs

In our school library in fiction

Cox, Clinton. 

Houdini. 

188 pgs, 1090L

In our Library under Biography

Freedman, Russell.

Eleanor Roosevelt: 

A Life of Discovery.  

168 pgs

 

In our Library under Biography

Hickam, Homer.

October Sky. 

AKA Rocket Boys. 

482 pgs, 900L 

J

In English Room.

Higa, Tomiko.  

The Girl with the White Flag.  

J

130 pgs 

In Our Library, at 940.53 HIG

Hunt, Irene.

Up a Road Slowly. 

Newberry Medal

186 pgs, 1130L 

 

In English Room.

Jian, Ji Li.

Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution.

271 pgs, 780L

$

In English Room.

Kaysen, Susanna  

Girl, Interrupted.  

168 pgs, 760L

JJ

in our school library under biography

Keyes, Daniel.

Flowers for Algernon. 

216 pgs, 910L 

 

In English Room.

King, Stephen.

Firestarter.

400pgs, 890L

JJ    $

formerly in English Room.

King, Stephen.

The Shining.

447pgs, 840L

 

In English Room.

L'Amour, Louis.

Mustang Man.

135 pgs

 

In English Room.

Lavender, William.

Just Jane.

324 pgs, 740L

 

In English Room

LeGuin,  Ursula.

Gifts. 

274  pgs, 830L

$

In English Room.

LeGuin,  Ursula.

Voices. 

341  pgs, 890L

 

In English Room.

Lupica, Mike. 

The Big Field. 

243 pgs; 970L  

formerly in English Room.

Meyer, Stephanie.

Twilight.

Nominee ALA Best Young Adults Books

498 pgs, 830L

JJJ $

in English Room.

Moore, Christopher.

The Stupidest Angel. 

 

In our school library in fiction

Moore-Campbell, Bebe.

Sweet Summer. 

 

in our library under biography

Mowat, Farley.

Lost in the Barrens. 

191pgs, 990L

JJ

In English Room.

Osborn, Shane.

Born to Fly: The Heroic Story of Downed U.S. Navy Pilot Shane Osborn

 

In our Library under Biography

Paulsen, Gary.

The Car.  

180 pgs, 900L

J

In English Room.

Paulsen, Gary. 

Dogsong.

Newberry Honor Book

177 pgs,  930L

J

in library

Paulsen, Gary.

Dancing Carl.  

105 pgs, 1090L

JJ

In English Room.

Paulsen, Gary.

The Legend of Bass Reeves.

134 pgs, 950L

 

In English Room.

Petry, Ann

Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad.  

242 pgs, 1000L

 

in our library under biography

Peyton, K.M.

Snowfall.

 

In Our Library under fiction

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. (4)

880 pgs, 940L

J

In School Library under fiction

Rowling, J.K.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. (vol. 5)

JJ

870 pgs, 950L

In English Room.

 

Rowling, J.K.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. (vol. 6)

1030L

in our library under fiction

Salzman, Mark.

Laughing Sutra. 

262 pgs

J

In English Room.

Schmidt, Gary.

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy.

Newberry Honor Book

Printz Award Finalist

217 pgs, 1000L

$

In English Room

Sebold, Alice. 

The Lovely Bones. 

327 pgs, 890L

J

In English Room

Sewell, Anna.

Black Beauty.

Classic Novel.

245 pgs, 1010L

$

In Our Library under fiction

Smith, Kristen 

A Geography of Girlhood.

JJ

In the English Room.

Smith, Betty  

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

488 pgs, 810L

 

In Our Library under fiction

Staples, Suzanne Fisher

Shabanu: 

Daughter of the Wind

Newberry Honor Book

240 pgs, 970L

 

In English Room

Steinbeck, John.

The Red Pony.

119 pgs, 810L

 

In English Room

Swanson, James. L. 

Chasing Lincoln's Killer. 

Newberry Honor Book

194 pgs, 980L

 

In English Room

Taylor, Theodore.

Air Raid - Pearl Harbor!

183 pgs

J

In English Room. 

White, Robb. 

Deathwatch

212 pgs, 990L

 

In school library under fiction

Westerfeld, Scott.

Uglies.

425 pgs, 770L

and its sequel Pretties

JJJ JJ       $

both in English Room.

Wooding, Chris.

The Haunting 

of Alaizabel Cray.

292 pgs, 970L

JJ $

In English Room

Zindel, Paul. 

Pigman.

A Classic Youth Novel

148 pgs, 950L

JJJ             $

In English Room.