Kids Book Index
Michael Morpurgo
Twelve-year-old Michael has long felt both drawn to and frightened by his grandfather. He eventually learns that his grandfather was disfigured during the war and discovers how those injuries shaped the isolated life that followed. Set against postwar Britain, the story considers the lasting physical and emotional effects of conflict. Muted ink and screen-printed illustrations accompany Michael’s discovery.
This book appears on 1 reading list across 1 edition.
The Curious World of Calpurnia TateJacqueline KellyCallie Vee manages family life alongside an interest in science and animals. Her brother Travis repeatedly brings home stray animals, leaving her to keep them away from their mother’s scrutiny. Her encounters include a rogue armadillo, a stray dog, a younger brother, and a distant cousin. Callie also reflects on family relationships and the impact of traumatic historical events as she navigates the chaos around her.Nine to TwelveLexile Text Measure 860LATOS Book Level 5.5On the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details
Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery That Baffled All of FranceMara RockliffIn Paris, Dr. Mesmer claims that a mysterious force can cure illness and cause people to swoon, twitch, and tremble. Ben Franklin, already known for work on electricity, investigates Mesmer’s claims through observation, hypotheses, and testing. His inquiry shows that mesmerism depends on suggestion rather than the force Mesmer describes. The book also includes an author’s note about Franklin and Mesmer in Paris.Nine to TwelveOn the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details
Hamster Princess: Harriet the InvincibleUrsula VernonHarriet Hamsterbone is a princess in a graphic-novel retelling of Sleeping Beauty. A wicked fairy curses her at birth: on her twelfth birthday, she will fall into a deathlike sleep after cutting herself on a hamster wheel. Harriet realizes the curse keeps her alive until that day, making her effectively invincible. With her riding quail, Mumfrey, she seeks dragons, ogrecats, jousting matches, and other adventures before the curse forces her to save her parents.Nine to TwelveOn the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details