Student Voices

Eighty More Favorite Books From Ten More of Kellee’s 2016-17 Middle School Students

(Don’t forget to check out the Seventy Favorite Books I shared last week!)

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Favorite Sci Fi and Fantasy Books from Ariana M., 6th Grade

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

This is by far my favorite fantasy book series of all time!

2. Young Elites series by Marie Lu

This is a great book. It is interesting that the main character is not necessarily good.

3. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

This is the most sci-fi book I’ve read. It is a twisted fairy tale.

4. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Her grace is killing–what an adventure!

5. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

In a world where love is a disease… You can see why I love this book!

6. Black Mage series by Racheal E. Carter

My second favorite fantasy series of all time.

7. Storm Siren by Mary Weber

Best independent woman ever!

8. Slave, Warrior, Queen by Morgan Rice

A roman style fantasy where a slave becomes a hero.

9. Gone series by Michael Grant

Intense! There’s no other word to describe it except amazing.

10. Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Had me crying from page 1, but it was really good.

Favorite Sci Fi and Fantasy Books from Samuel B. (1-5) & Sevian M. (6-10), 7th Grade

 

1. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

This book is my favorite graphic novel because of all the craziness!

2. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

This book is amazing with the action and story. This is my favorite book.

3. The Cleopatra in Space series by Mike Maihack

My second favorite series because of the plot and cool action.

4. The Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi

This series was one that’s just great to read because it just sucks you into it and you cannot stop reading them all.

5. The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

This series is one of my top five because I read it over and over. I like it for the Greek mythology.

6. Lost Stars by Claudia Gray

I like it because IT IS STAR WARS!

7. Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland

This is my favorite book series! My favorite book is Escaping Peril. 

8. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

It is an interesting story and has lots of adventure.

9. Divergent by Veronica Roth 

It is so mysterious and suspenseful.

10. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

This book has a lot of action and suspense, and it is one of my favorite books to read.

Favorite Dystopian Books from Emily P., 7th Grade

1. Bot Wars by J.V. Kade

This book is so amazing and interesting! Some sappy parts made me keep reading for hours on end!

2. Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

This book is so hilarious, and if you love sci-fi, you will love this book.

3. Maze Runner by James Dashner

Maze Runner is so amazing. It is written very detailed, and you’ll want to read the whole series to learn about the characters and setting.

4. The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey

I cannot stress this enough: This book is so addicting! This book is one of the best dystopian books out there.

5. Divergent by Veronica Roth

This thrilling book is so fast paced and great! This book is so amazing!

6. The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

This book puts a new perspective on testing anxiety, and it is very action-packed.

7. The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke

This aquatic adventure book is so interesting and caught my attention immediately.

8. The Eighth Day by Dianne K. Salerni

This book is so good! The setting and something unique makes this book impossible to put down.

9. Eye of the Storm by Kate Messner 

Eye of the Storm is an action book with huge tornadoes ripping through a city. And there is a secret!

10. Stung by Bethany Wiggins

Bees with a lethal virus are ravaging through the world. This book is placed in a ruined setting, making this book amazing!

Favorite Fiction-Action Books from Lucas D. & Aiden S., 7th Grade

1. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

I recommend this book because of the plot. I like it because you think you know what is going to happen but then you get surprised.

2. Nightmare Escape (Dream Jumper #1) by Greg Grunberg

I like how this book takes place in someone’s dream, but what happens in the dream is more realistic than a normal dream. I highly recommend this book.

3. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

This book has so much action because of the killing and rivalry throughout the story.

4. Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

Insignia is a story about a boy who plays video games for money. I recommend it because the whole story is about a war that takes place in outer space, and the boy who plays for money is drafted into the military.

5. Giants Beware by Jorge Aguirre

This book was very adventurous, and the main character has the drive to KILL! (Dun, dun, duuuuuuuun!)

6. Firefight by Brandon Sanderson

Firefight is a book about people who gained amazing powers, and a random star showed up in the sky. There is a group called the Reckonners who try to eliminate different superhumans. This is why I recommend this book.

7. Rutabaga by Eric Colossal

Rutabaga is really funny but also includes many adventures. His pot is his best friend, and the pot helps Rutabaga. As he travels around the land, he finds challenges like giants spiders and a mother dragon.

8. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

I recommend the Harry Potter series because it is full of mystery and also lots of fights. Harry potter is trying to take down the most evil wizard of all time, so there is no limit to the action.

9. Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke

Mighty Jack buys beans from a mysterious vendor, but what he doesn’t know is that the plants are killing machines! As he wanders through his garden, he discovers a growing darkness.

10. Nnewts by Doug TenNapel

As a child who could not walk yet, Herk was defenseless against his intruders because his dad was away. This begins the action.

Favorite Mystery Books from Nicholas F., 7th Grade

1. Masterminds by Gordon Korman

I picked this book because I like how kids find out something and keep going until they solve all of it.

2. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

I picked this book because I like how peopel are stuck in a maze and trying to get out, and no one knows why they are there.

3. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

I picked this book because I like how Harry Potter is finding out more and more as the books go.

4. Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

I picked this book because I like how normal people find out they have something special about them after years of not knowing.

5. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

I picked this book because I like when people are saved but still decide to fight their enemy.

6. Frenzy by Robert Lettrick

I picked this book because I like how kids just go into a forest and find out that every animals is crazy and eating humans.

7. Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry

I picked this book because I like when kids find something and know it is dangerous but want to keep going to find everything out.

8. Crossover by Kwame Alexander

I picked this book because I like basketball and how the characters find out things about his parents that he never knew.

9. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate 

I picked this book because I like how you don’t know what is going to happen to Ivan, but it is a happy ending.

10. Holes by Louis Sachar

I picked this book because I like how even though the character was forced into a camp with no water, he keeps trying to escape.

Favorite Books Series from Edwin C., 6th Grade

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

I loved these books because of its humor and how I could relate to it.

2. Geronimo Stilton by Geronimo Stilton

I loved this series as a kid because of all the adventure and comedy.

3. Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell

I loved this series because of all the drama that happens in the books.

4. Magic Tree House by Mary Pop Osborne

May people, including me, love this series because of the history.

5. Dr. Seuss books

How can you not love Dr. Seuss books!

6. Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi

I loved this series because of the mystery.

7. Bone by Jeff Smith

I loved this series because of the action.

8. Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson

I loved this series because of the inclusion of Disney and the mystery and action.

9. Smile and Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

I loved these books because of their comedy.

10. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

I loved this book because it was sad and touching.

Favorite Book Series from Brad D. (1-5) & Chris G. (6-10), 8th Grade

1. The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan

This is an awesome series. Riordan gets the reader’s attention and the books stay climactic throughout which makes the series interesting, and it keeps you reading it nonstop.

2. Loot series by Jude Watson

This series by Watson is really great, and I recommend it to everyone. It has many ups and down moments, and it keeps getting better and better.

3. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Rowling created a magnificent series with Harry Potter. She build this series by adding crazy and fantastic ideas that made the series be well-loved!

4. Unwind series by Neal Shusterman

This series has had a lot of success, and it is breathtaking! It is about a dystopian world that has many massive problems that cause a huge wave.

5. Dark Life series by Kat Falls

This series is fantastic! It has a lot of adventure and deep water moments. The best thing is you cannot predict what is going to happen.

6. Chronicles of Nick series by Sherrilyn Kenyon

This is an amazing series–one of the best I’ve ever read. Join Nick on his adventure to keep himself from becoming something very deadly.

7. The Maze Runner series by James Dashner

This series is great! It has a couple of good movies, too, but we all know that the books are always better. See if you can escape the maze…

8. The Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan

Flanagan made this magnificent series. I like this book because it is very different from most books I have read because it takes place sometime before the dark ages.

9. Magisterium series by Holly Black

This is an interesting series I read about a boy named Callum who has been told his whole life, by his father, that magic is evil. He wasn’t wrong.

10. Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer

This is a book about a boy genius who discoveres things that could change the world because he made a very dangerous deal that could destroy everything he loved.

Thank you Ariana, Sevian, Samuel, Emily, Aiden, Lucas, Nicholas, Edwin, Brad, and Chris!

Seventy Favorite Books From Ten of Kellee’s 2016-17 Middle School Students

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From Lucas B., 7th Grade

1. The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver is one of the best books I have read because of the character Jonas and how he handles his problems. This book definitely tops my list.

2. Legend series by Marie Lu

The Legend series was one of my favorites series because of the action that takes place in the book

3. The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

The Compound is one not to forget! The mystery of what happened to the characters and what they had to experience being locked up for years and not being able to get out.

4. The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart

This book was one of my favorites though it was a sad book. But it was victorious in the end!

5. Fish in a Tree by Linda Mullaly Hunt

It shows that anybody can be anything. The main character has dyslexia, so she thinks she can’t do anything but a teacher influences her to do great things and she does!

6. The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

This is book is an exciting book that I will never forget. This book made me feel emotional because of the things that they were going through.

7. Trapped by Michael Northrop

This book is amazing with the pressure of just a few people turned them all upside down and they have to try to figure a way to get out of the mess they’re in.

8. Nine, Ten by Nora Raskin Baleigh

This book is a favorite because it put my heart in an emotional state, and it really hit home for me.

9. Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittscher

This is one of my favorite books because the genre is mystery, and the book is just action-packed and filled with adventures.

10. Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby

I loved reading this book in class. It was very emotional and made me think a lot.

From Jayden R., 6th grade

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth

There is a weird society that has lots of action in this dystopian world.

2. Scorch Trials by James Dashner

There is a lot of action and a little bit of mystery.

3. The Lightning Thief by Percy Jackson

The first Riordan book I read that made me want to read all of his books.

4. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

A huge mystery is in this book and it has a cool ending.

5. Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby

This is a sad and emotional book.

6. Legend by Marie Lu

There is action, a mystery, and some sad parts.

7. Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

This book is very sad and interesting.

8. Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan

I like this book because it is different from Riordan’s other books because it is in the POV of a god.

9. Lost Heroes by Rick Riordan

Lots of action, and there are some plot twists.

10. The Hunger Game series by Suzanne Collins

So much action!

From Ethan F. (1-5) & Omar B. (6-10), 6th Grade

1. The Living by Matt de la Peña

This book is my all-time favorite with so many twists and turns! It’s great!

2. Framed by James Ponti

This is a great crime book. It leads you one way and takes you the other way.

3. Turn Left at the Cow by Lisa Bullard

I am a big crime fan, and this is another good one.

4. 23 Minutes by Vivian Vande Velde

This book is another crime book, and it messes with you.

5. Masterminds by Gordon Korman

This book is amazing, and it also messes with your mind.

6. The Terrible Two by Jory John & Mac Barnett

I like this book because it was funny, and it showed how anyone can be friends.

7. Kimchi and Calamari by Rose Kent

I like this book because it was really dramatic.

8. Wonder by RJ Palacio

I liked this book because it is about a kid working to to make friends.

9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

I like this book because it is funny how Greg does things.

10. Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier

I like this book because it was funny.

From Varun J. (1-5) & Yassine M. (6-10), 6th Grade

1. Legend by Marie Lu

It is an action-packed adventure.

2. Warcross by Marie Lu

This book reveals something really unexpected.

3. The Young Elites by Marie Lu 

This series messes with your mind.

4. Variant by Robison Wells

Very intense book.

5. Masterminds by Gordon Korman

This series is a shocking piece of mystery writing.

6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

It is a humorous piece of writing.

7. Kimchi and Calamari by Rose Kent

A very intense story.

8. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey

So funny and well-thought out.

9. Poptropica by Jack Chabert

This story is a really funny adventure.

10. Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick 

A really intense book!

From Celina R., 6th Grade

1. Wonder by RJ Palacio

This is my favorite book because it touches on an important lesson about a boy in the world where looks do matter for people, so Augie, the boy, has to overcome the whispers when he enters for the first time into school.

2. Stones on a Grave by Kathy Kacer

This is one of my favorite books because it talks about a girl, Sara, who is an orphan and tries to go to Germany to find information about her father and mother, only to find out something devastating.

3. Fish in a Tree by Linda Mullaly Hunt

This talks about Ally, a girl who has a hard time in school who meets a new teacher that discovers her way of learning may just be different from other kids, and he helps her through the ups and downs of kids in her school.

4. Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby

This book is on my list since it is an encouraging book that teaches people to over come obstacles. Joey, the main character, meets a chimp and her owner, and together they try to be free of Joey’s mom’s strict rules.

5. Serafina’s Promise by Ann E. Burg

This book is one of my favorites since it talks about a girl going through poverty and a family, who along the way, teaches Serafina to have a heart of gold no matter what.

6. Augie and Me by RJ Palacio

This book is a sequel to Wonder, and it talks about the kids and their viewpoints on Augie. This book explains why and how they act the way they do towards Augie.

7. nine, ten by Nora Raleigh Baskin

This book talks about four kids and their story about the day before and right after 9/11. It talks about how the day looked and how their parents were close to a horrible tragedy.

8. Juniper Berry by MP Kozlowsky

This book talks about a girl and how her parents became instantly famous and how she finds a boy who she instantly becomes friends with, and they try to figure out the mystery on why her parents stop paying attention to them.

9. Death of a Kleptomaniac by Kristen Tracy

This book is about a girl who had everything but gave it up after she was caught stealing.

10. Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

This book talks about a girl who’s father won’t let her listen when the teacher talks about 9/11 because of a secret he is hiding from them.

From Bryson P., 8th Grade

1. Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

Lots of action and Greek mythology.

2. Unwind dystology by Neal Shusterman

Full of action and mysterious.

3. Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Overall a well written and good book.

4. Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper 

Very well written and addicting.

5. Wonder by RJ Palacio

A very good book! Similar to Out of My Mind.

6. Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Interesting and is hard to put down.

7. Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi

Great graphic novel series that is well written and illustrated.

8. The Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry

Fun to read and is funny.

9. Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Good overall series; well put together.

10. Endangered by Eliot Schrefer 

Great book about apes, and is hard to put down!

From Cristhel G. & Seif A., 8th Grade

1. The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart

It is a stunning and heartbreaking story.

2. The Sweet Evil series by Wendy Higgins

It is an amazing and eye-opening series.

3. The Breathing series by Rebecca Donovan

It will make you cry from page 1!

4. The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

A wonderful series full of adventure.

5. The Fault in our Stars by John Green

A sad love story that will make you cry.

6. The Hush Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick

A magical, beautiful story.

7. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

A heart-wrenching story that will be guaranteed to make you cry.

8. Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper

An unexpected story about a girl just trying to be normal.

9. April Henry books

Amazing, suspenseful, and mysterious books.

10. All Fall Down series by Ally Carter

Adventurous yet sad and amazing with cliffhangers.

Thank you Lucas, Jayden, Ethan, Omar, Varun, Yassine, Celina, Bryson, Cristhel, and Seif!