October+2008+-+Hi-Lo+Books

October 2008 Feature: Hi/Lo Books

These are books meant for reluctant readers and/or those reading below grade level. The challenge is to find books with subject treatment and cover art that is not too babyish for upper elementary, junior high, and high school readers. These students desperately want to fit in and will not carry around a book that does not seem age-appropriate.

Check publishers' sites and librarians' selection tools (e.g. Follett Titlewave) for reading and ineterst levels.

The following series/publishers are highly recommended:

Publisher: Townsend Press Series: Bluford High //especially appealing to African-American youth//

Publisher: Stone Arch Series: Complicated Life Of Claudia Cristina Cortez //realistic fiction, great for middle-school girls// Series: The Library of Doom //the mysterious Librarian--keeper of the world's most dangerous books, sworn enemy of monsters made of paper and ink, crusader of young people threatened by ancient curses--How cool is that????// Series: Impact Books //realistic fiction// Series: Shade Books //mysteries, suspense// Series: Vortex Books //adventure, fantasy, mystery//

Publisher: Orca Series: Currents and Soundings //some books have content more suitable for high school students//

Publisher: Perfection Learning Series: Cover-to-Cover Series: Passages //some books by this publisher have less-appealing covers//

Publisher: Rosen Series: Graphic Nonfiction //biograohies, historical events//