Hidden Like Anne Frank by Marcel Prins, Peter Henk Steenhuis, & Laura Watkinson

This book is collection of true stories of 14 people who hid like Anne Frank did during World War 2.

Content Notes:

The stories are children friendly in talking about hiding during the Holocaust.    

Teacher Notes:

I found this book to be a little hard to read.  If students like The Diary of Anne Frank or if they like to learn more about the Holocaust, they would enjoy this book.  As a teacher, this book would be good to use as a whole class read aloud since each story is a self-contained story.  A similar book that I enjoyed more would be Survivors:  True Stories of Children in the Holocaust by Allan Zullo & Mara Bovsun.

 

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

A dystopian book like none other, Brandon Sanderson takes the reader on an adventure through a world ruled by Epics, regular people who one day begin to exhibit extraordinary super powers.  Watching his father die at the hand of an invincible Epic, Steelheart, David burns with a desire for revenge.  As he meets up with a band of humans who are fighting the Epics, David has an opportunity to change the face of the human race…if he can stay alive long enough to do it.

Content Notes:

The book has many fight scenes & opens with people being vaporized in a bank. 

Teacher Notes:

This book was recommended to me by my son and when I first picked it up, I did not have high hopes that it would live up to how great he said it was.  I honestly LOVED this book!  I loved the action and suspense that the book brings, as well as the twist on a dystopian society.  This is a wonderful boy book that I highly recommend!

Book Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sC9NtpXLH4

Similar Books:

While not exactly like this, I think if you like this book you would also like the Michael Vey series by Richard Paul Evans

The Selection by Kiera Cass

In a dystopian society ordered by castes, the Selection affords an opportunity to move up.  Thirty-five girls compete to become the Princess of the nation, for most a dream come true.  For America Singer, however, the Selection is an opportunity to send money home to her family and nurse the heartbreak of losing her secret love.  Can anything change her mind and change the course of her future?

Content Notes:

The book references a boy taking advantage of a girl and briefly talks about virginity.

Teacher Notes:

While there is nothing graphic in this book, I feel this book would be more appropriate for Jr. High students or mature 6^th graders.  There is not any bad language or violence, just some boy/girl relationship issues.  This book reminds me a lot of the tv show, The Bachelor.

I'm Not Who You Think I Am by Peg Kehret

At her birthday party, Ginger is approached by an unknown woman and is left with a feeling of being watched.  She continues to notice this woman at odd times and becomes increasingly creeped out.  When the woman confides in her a startling secret, Ginger must figure out the truth and find a way to keep herself safe.

Content Notes:

This book deals with “stranger danger”.  If made into a movie, it would be rated G.

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students.  I loved the way the book approached child abduction and ways that students can empower themselves to make smart choices.  Excellent book!

Similar Books:
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney
Three Black Swans by Caroline B. Cooney
Abduction by Peg Kehret

Followers by Anna Davies

Briana has always wanted to fit in at MacHale, a prestigious private school in Maine.  After trying to find her niche for several months Briana decides to audition for a role in the Winterm production of Hamlet.  Disappointment soon follows when Briana does not receive a role, but is instead asked to be the plays “social media director”.  When actors begin to die, Briana must uncover the truth about the play to save the rest of the cast.

Content Notes:

The book does discuss several students dying.  There is no bad language and the deaths are not blood and gore type incidents. 

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students.  I was impressed that the author could write a “horror” book and keep it age-appropriate.

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

Racing against time, Allie, Kanin, and Jackal, set out to defeat the evil vampire Sarren.  Dealing with heartbreak of losing Zeke only makes the journey all the more difficult.  Will Allie come to grips with his death and stop Sarren from destroying the world?  Or will she succumb to her grief and become the monster the humans think she has become?

Content Notes:

The book contains several scenes with bad language.  It also has a lot of violence and gore.

Teacher Notes:

While I really enjoyed this series, like the 2^nd and third books, this book is not appropriate for middle school students.  It would be appropriate for mature Jr. High students or High School students and above.

Inhuman by Kat Falls

Lane McEvoy has always enjoyed the safety and security of living in the sterile environment behind the wall.  In a post viral world, Lane’s curiosity about the Feral Zone is not strong enough to make her leave the safety of home.  Things change however, when her dad is accused of illegally smuggling and Lane is forced to confront her biggest fears in order to save her dad.

Content Notes:

The book briefly mentions kissing in the first chapter. Other content includes violence when the main characters fight some inhuman characters.   

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students.  This book is a dystopian book that has a fantasy element to it.  I haven’t read anything like it and thought it was great! J

Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst

Eve is being chased by a serial killer.  To make matters worse, she has no idea why he’s chasing her and can’t even remember her past.  Her dreams at night are filled with circus images and an old woman who tells stories.  Could this be a clue to her past?  Eve must navigate between the real and the imagined to find her way to safety.

 

Content Notes:

This book would be rated PG if made into a movie.

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students. 
Book Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5b4nQKM-YE

 

Variant By Robison Wells

Looking for a fresh start, Benson Fisher is excited to be starting at the private school, Maxfield Academy.  This changes the moment Benson steps foot inside the school and realizes there are no adults and the students are locked inside school grounds surrounded by razor wire.  What is going on?  As Benson understands the truth about the school, he becomes even more desperate to escape.  But do the other students want him to succeed?

Content Notes:

When students get in trouble they are sent to “Detention” and never return.  There is also some violence between students.  For this reason, the book would be rated PG-13 if made into a movie.

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students. 

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz

Prisoner B-3087 chronicles the true story of Yanek Gruener as he navigates his way through 10 different concentration camps during World War 2.  The story begins right before the Nazi’s invade Poland and follows Yanek, 12, through life in the Jewish Ghetto and then his capture and imprisonment in concentration camps across Europe. 

Content Notes:

This memoir depicts life and death in concentration camps during World War 2.  For this reason, the book would be rated PG-13 if made into a movie.

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students.  
 

Similar Books:

The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World's Most Notorious Nazi by Neal Bascomb
Survivors:  True Stories of Children from the Holocaust by Allen Zullo
Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy

Silver by Chris Wooding

Stuck at boarding school, Paul is trying desperately to make the best of a bad situation.  Things begin to change when a silver beetle is found in the woods.  What the students and teachers think is a new species, looks remarkably like a tiny robot.  Suddenly a strange new infection spreads across the students and teachers….and the fight to survive becomes surreal.

Content Notes:

This book has a zombie type infection spread through the students and staff.  For this reason, the book would be rated PG-13 if made into a movie.

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students. 
Book Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-mQi9MlKVA

Endangered by Eliot Schreffer

As Sophie arrives in the Congo to visit her mother, she is taken in by a bonobo monkey for sale.  Purchasing the monkey without thinking of the consequences, Sophie is now the “mother” of a monkey who may or may not survive the day.  With her mother away, and war breaking out, Sophie must figure out a way to take care of herself and the bonobo monkey and find their way safely across the war-torn Congo.

Content Notes:
This book takes place in the Congo and as war breaks out, many people are killed.  For this reason, the book would be rated PG-13 if made into a movie.

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students. 
Book Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBwHaSB0Ugk