Imagine Tween Readers
This recommended reading list provides a broad list of books related to this summer’s theme of fairy tales, fantasy and mythology. This list includes audio, braille, and large print titles and is recommended for those reading at a fourth through seventh grade reading level up to a sixth through ninth grade reading level.
To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through WolfPAC. Identification numbers for braille books begin with BR, large print books begin with LP, and audiobooks begin with DB or DBC. All audiobooks and available braille books listed are linked to the Braille and Audio Reading Download site (BARD) for downloading.
Grades 4 to 7
Black Panther: The Young Prince by Ronald L. Smith
DB89979
Read by Dion Graham. Reading time: 5 hours, 46 minutes.
BR22266; 2 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2.*UEB
Twelve-year-old T'Challa, the young prince and future Black Panther of Wakanda, is sent with his best friend M'Baku to school in America. When strange things begin happening around school, T'Challa sets out to uncover the source. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2018.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
DB52451
Read by Erik Sandvold. Reading time: 2 hours, 7 minutes.
BR13499; 1 volume of braille.
Special edition of an approved textbook used by Harry Potter at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An A-to-Z listing of magical beasts, it briefly describes such creatures as the centaur, hippogriff, troll, unicorn, and ten breeds of dragon. For grades 4-7. Bestseller. 2001.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Regan Barnhill
DB85739
Read by Mare Trevathan. Reading time: 8 hours, 31 minutes.
LP003286; 447 pages.
BR21836; 4 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2. Volume 3. Volume 4.*UEB
Every year a community leaves a baby as an offering to a powerful yet misunderstood witch named Xan. One infant--now a young girl--is being raised by the witch and must unlock the powerful magic buried deep inside her. For grades 4-7. 2016.
Gnome-a-geddon by K. A. Holt
DB88220
Read by Steven Carpenter. Reading time: 5 hours, 44 minutes.
BR21984; 3 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2. Volume 3.*UEB
Super fans of the Triumphant Gnome Syndicate series, Buck and his best friend, Lizzie, witness the author's explosive disappearance during the release party for the third book. But when something odd happens to his sister, Willy, Buck starts to believe that gnomes and trolls are real. For grades 4-7. 2017.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
DB47260
Read by Erik Sandvold. Reading time: 8 hours, 55 minutes.
DB50988 *Spanish Edition
Read by María Pino. Reading time: 9 hours, 20 minutes.
DB92229
Read by Jim Dale. Reading time: 8 hours, 35 minutes.
LP000610; 422 pages.
BR17774; 2 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2.
BR14710; 3 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2. Volume 3. *Spanish Edition
On Harry Potter's eleventh birthday, he learns that he is more than an unwanted orphan. The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry recruits him because he has inherent magical abilities. As he purchases his school supplies--robes, wand, and messenger owl--Harry looks forward to attending his new boarding school. For grades 4-7. Bestseller. 1997.
The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
DB75510
Read by Gary Tipton. Reading time: 9 hours.
BR19625; 4 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2. Volume 3. Volume 4.
The lazy bards have it all wrong--there are actually four princes charming: Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Gustav. They do not necessarily need to rescue resourceful princesses. Instead they team up to battle dangerous creatures to stop an evil plot that endangers their kingdoms. Hero's Guide saga, book 1. For grades 4-7. 2012.
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
DB72412
Read by Jill Fox. Reading time: 14 hours, 54 minutes.
LP002118; 707 pages.
BR20223; 6 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2. Volume 3. Volume 4. Volume 5. Volume 6.
Jason, Piper, and Leo, three friends from a school for juvenile delinquents, find themselves at Camp Half-Blood, where they learn that they are demigods. The trio begins a quest to free Hera, who has been imprisoned by Mother Earth. Heroes of Olympus series, book 1. Truman Award nominee, 2012-2013. For grades 4-7. 2010.
The Storm Runner by Jennifer Cervantes
DB92548
Read by Ozzie Rodriguez. Reading time: 11 hours, 54 minutes.
LP003490; 571 pages.
To prevent the Mayan gods from battling each other and destroying the world, thirteen-year-old Zane must unravel an ancient prophecy and stop an evil deity. For grades 4-7. 2018.
The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
DB80031
Read by Chris Colfer. Reading time: 9 hours, 1 minute.
LP003282; 658 pages.
Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, twins Alex and Conner leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic, where they come face-to-face with the fairy-tale characters they grew up reading about. Land of Stories series, book 1. For grades 4-7. 2012.
Grades 5 to 8
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
DB52289
Read by Rick Rohan. Reading time: 6 hours, 15 minutes.
LP001392; 312 pages.
BR13430; 2 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2.
Twelve-year-old mastermind Artemis plans to restore his family fortune by obtaining some of the fairies' gold. The first step involves blackmailing an alcoholic fairy to photograph her "Book," containing her race's secrets but written in an ancient tongue. Artemis Fowl series, book 1. Some violence. For grades 5-8. Bestseller. 2001.
Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac
DB76093
Read by Mark Ashby. Reading time: 7 hours, 7 minutes.
When the foolish king and queen vanish, young prince Rashko must save them--and the kingdom. Aided by wise old Georgi, Rashko channels the power of his ancestor Pavol the Great, harnesses a magical dragon, and prepares to face the evil Baron Temny. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2011.
Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
DB81078
Read by MacLeod Andrews. Reading time: 10 hours, 33 minutes.
DB88970 *Spanish Edition
Read by Martin Untrojb. Reading time: 14 hours, 15 minutes.
Lost in the Black Forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters and finds himself entwined with a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica. Decades later, three children find themselves caught up in the same thread of destiny and tied together by the same harmonica. Mark Twain Award Nominee, 2017-2018. For grades 5-8. 2015.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
DB46186
Read by Margaret Strom. Reading time: 6 hours, 23 minutes.
LP000247; 295 pages.
LP050086; 232 pages.
BR15992; 2 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2.
BR050727; 2 volumes of braille.
Ella was cursed at birth by a fairy--who thought she was bestowing a gift--to always be obedient. After her mother dies, Ella is at the mercy of two bossy girls and their mother. The enchantment even puts her love for Prince Charmont at risk, and Ella is determined to get rid of it. Newbery Honor Book, 1998. For grades 5-8. 1997.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
DB63443
Read by Erik Sandvold. Reading time: 10 hours, 53 minutes.
LP001539; 483 pages.
BR20213; 4 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2. Volume 3. Volume 4.
Upstate New York, 2005. Sixth-grader Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon and a mortal mother, attends a summer camp for demigods. After Percy angers Zeus, his friends Grover, a satyr, and Annabeth, daughter of Athena, join him to resolve the problem. Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, book 1. Mark Twain Award nominee, 2007-2008. For grades 5-8. 2005.
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
DB71322
Read by Kevin R Free. Reading time: 14 hours, 39 minutes.
LP002037; 671 pages.
BR20227; 6 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2. Volume 3. Volume 4. Volume 5. Volume 6.
After his mother's death, Carter Kane follows his Egyptologist father, Julius, across the globe. When they visit the British Museum to reunite with Carter's sister, a mysterious figure banishes Julius, sending the siblings on a dangerous adventure to save their dad. Kane Chronicles series, book 1. Some violence. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2010.
The School for Good and Evil Trilogy by Soman Chainani
DB82483
Read by Jill Fox. Reading time: 43 hours, 39 minutes.
Trilogy written between 2013 and 2015, featuring friends Sophie and Agatha as they attend a school where they must learn to be a fairy tale heroine or villain. Includes The School for Good and Evil, A World Without Princes, and The Last Ever After. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2015.
Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters by Donna Jo Napoli
DB84126
Read by Nancy Lynne Walters. Reading time: 3 hours, 35 minutes.
Collection of Greek myths, introducing the most prominent beings in the ancient Greek pantheon. Includes tales of the king of gods, Zeus; the god of the underworld, Hades; and the goddess of wisdom, Athena. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2011.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
DB69837
Read by Julie-Ann Elliott. Reading time: 4 hours, 32 minutes.
BR18568; 1 volume of braille.
New York City, 1979. Twelve-year-old Miranda helps her mother prepare to be on a television game show. Meanwhile Miranda tries to understand why her best friend Sal doesn't want to hang out anymore--and why someone is sending Miranda tiny notes from the future. For grades 5-8. 2009.
Grades 6 to 9
Bound by Donna Jo Napoli
DB60565
Read by Victoria Gordon. Reading time: 3 hours, 53 minutes.
LP001558; 207 pages.
Since her father's death, Xing Xing is treated like a servant by her stepmother and pitiable half sister, who undergoes painful foot binding to be more marriageable. Xing Xing's trip to help her sister changes her own fate. Based on Chinese Cinderella stories. For grades 6-9. 2004.
Crazy Jack by Donna Jo Napoli
DB50017
Read by Phil Regensdorf. Reading time: 3 hours, 31 minutes.
LP000735; 160 pages.
The traditional tale is transformed into a coming-of-age story about risk taking. Here, an older Jack climbs a beanstalk, steals from a giant, and finds that his treasures have a different value back home. Throughout his struggles, Jack's loyalty to his mother and his true love, Flora, remains steadfast. For grades 6-9. 1999.
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
DB08054
Read by Phyllis Dorflinger. Reading time: 8 hours, 32 minutes.
BR13420; 2 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2.
Early on the morning of his eleventh birthday, Will Dawson, seventh son of a seventh son, wakes to discover that he is one of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to controlling the evil forces of the Dark. For grades 6-9. 1973.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Richard Yancey
DB62068
Read by Dan Bloom. Reading time: 7 hours, 11 minutes.
BR17988; 2 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2.
LP001741; 373 pages.
Fifteen-year-old Alfred Kropp, living in Tennessee, is an overweight, underachieving orphan whose goal is obtaining a driver's permit. Through a series of unexpected and dangerous misadventures, Alfred becomes the protector of King Arthur's legendary sword Excalibur on a modern-day quest. Alfred Kropp series, book 1. Some violence. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2005.
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
DB63518
Read by Celeste Lawson Reading time: 7 hours, 22 minutes.
BR052042; 2 volumes of braille.
LP001905; 349 pages.
In Ayortha, where singing and beauty are prized above all else, Aza's voice soars, but her looks are homely. While discovering her true self, Aza encounters a mysterious magical mirror, a romantic prince, a queen's treachery, and ogres. For grades 6-9. 2006.
Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales by Virginia Hamilton
DB43189
Read by Melissa Maxwell. Reading time: 2 hours, 34 minutes.
A collection of folktales, fairy tales, and true stories of legendary women, all taken from traditional African American folklore. These stories are variously humorous, touching, scary, magical, and inspiring. For grades 5-8 and older readers. Laura Ingalls Wilder Award and Coretta Scott King Award. 1995.
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
DB25926
Read by Laura Giannarelli. Reading time: 8 hours, 53 minutes.
BR15580; 2 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2.
With the guidance of a wizard and the help of the blue sword, Aerin fights for the birthright due her as the daughter of both a king and a witchwoman of the mysterious, demon-haunted north. For grades 6-9 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1985.
Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix
DB50346
Read by Kristin Allison. Reading time: 4 hours, 22 minutes.
LP000717; 231 pages.
This continuation of the Cinderella story opens in the palace, where Ella is learning to be a princess before her wedding. When she realizes how stifling court etiquette can be, Ella tells the boring prince she will not marry him. However, she must struggle to gain her freedom. For grades 6-9. 1999.
Nine from the Nine worlds: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan
DB92615
Read by Bahni Turpin. Reading time: 3 hours, 7 minutes.
BR22537; 2 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2.*UEB
Nine short stories, each set in a different one of the Nine Worlds from Norse mythology. Companion to the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series. For grades 6-9. 2018.
The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
DB82749
Read by Christopher Guetig. Reading time: 15 hours, 22 minutes.
LP002967; 697 pages.
BR21237; 5 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2. Volume 3. Volume 4. Volume 5.
Sixteen-year-old Magnus Chase, a troubled teen living on the streets of Boston, is reunited with Uncle Randolph. As dangerous creatures hunt them, he learns an incredible secret: he is the son of a Norse god and must prevent Ragnarok. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series, book 1. Some violence and some strong language. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2015.
The Witch’s Boy by Michael Gruber
DBC07082
Read by David Ritt. Reading time: 8 hours, 6 minutes.
LP000717; 391pages.
A grotesque foundling turns against the witch who sacrificed almost everything to raise him when he becomes consumed by the desire for money and revenge against those who have hurt him, but he eventually finds his true heart’s desire. For grades 6-9. 2006.