7th Grade Book Recommendations
Adventure
Shadows of Sherwood
Kekla Magoon When Nott City is taken over by a harsh governor, Ignomus Crown, and Robyn's parents disappear, she flees for her life and joins children trying to take back what is rightfully theirs in this futuristic retelling of Robin Hood. 
The Boundless
Kenneth Oppel Aboard the Boundless, the greatest train ever built, on its maiden voyage across Canada, teenaged Will enlists the aid of a traveling circus to thwart villains on the train. 
The Prisoner of Cell 25
Richard Paul Evans Fourteen-year-old Michael discovers he has special electrical powers and, with the help of his best friends, becomes aware that there are other teens with similar powers, but something or someone is hunting them. 
Itch: The Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter
Simon Mayo When fourteen-year-old Itchingham "Itch" Lofte discovers a new radioactive element, he must use all of his wits and scientific knowledge to stop a top-secret government agency, his greedy teacher, and an evil corporation from getting hold of it. Mysteries
The Gallery
Laura Marx Fitzgerald In 1929 New York City, twelve-year-old housemaid Martha O'Doyle suspects that a wealthy recluse may be trying to communicate with the outside world through the paintings on her gallery walls. 
Eye of the Crow
Shane Peacock In 1867, Sherlock Holmes, an impoverished young outcast with a Jewish father and a highborn mother, visits the scene of a woman's brutal murder, where he meets a wrongly accused young Arab and later becomes a suspect himself. 
The Underdogs
Sara Hammel When a popular teen beauty’s body is discovered by the pool at an elite tennis club, the regulars are shocked―especially twelve-year-old Evie and her best friend, Chelsea. While everyone else is haunted by the teen’s death, Evie and Chelsea jump on the case, dogging the footsteps of the lead detective as he investigates. Nonfiction
Most Dangerous
Steve Sheinkin This exploration of what the New York Times deemed the greatest story of the century tells Daniel Ellsberg's story and his decision to steal and publish secret documents about America's involvement in the Vietnam War. 
No Better Friend
Robert Weintraub British radarman Frank Williams and Judy, a hunting dog, had faced many hardships before they met in a crowded POW camp. Together, they survived brutal guards, near starvation, and other dangers. 
Choosing Courage
Peter Collier Published in collaboration with the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, this book looks at some of the men and women from both military life and civilian life who are recipients of the Medal of Honor. |
Fantasy/Science Fiction
The Apothecary
Maile Meloy A fourteen-year-old American girl's life unexpectedly transforms when her family moves to London in 1952 and she is swept up in a race to save the world from nuclear war. 
Magnus Chase series
Rick Riordan Magnus Chase, a homeless boy living in Boston, finds out he is the son of a Norse god and his birthright is a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. 
The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Kelly Barnhill A witch, a swamp monster, and a perfectly tiny dragon raise a young girl named Luna, who must unlock the powerful magic buried deep inside her to save the people of the Protectorate. 
Wake Up Missing
Kate Messner After a concussion that affects her balance, memory, and other abilities, twelve-year-old Cat goes to I-Can, the "Miracle Clinic in the Swamp," where she joins forces with other patients to expose a plot that endangers them all. 
Tesla's Attic
Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman With a plot combining science and the supernatural, four kids are caught up in a dangerous plan concocted by eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla. 
The Unwanteds
Lisa McMann In a society that purges thirteen-year-olds who are creative, identical twins Aaron and Alex are separated, one to attend University while the other, supposedly Eliminated, finds himself in a wondrous place where youths learn magic. 
Sky Raiders
Brandon Mull Whisked through a portal to The Outskirts, an in-between world, sixth-grader Cole must rescue his friends and find his way back home before his existence is forgotten. 
Circus Mirandus
Cassie Beasley When he realizes that his grandfather's stories of an enchanted circus are true, Micah Tuttle sets out to find the mysterious Circus Mirandus and to use its magic to save his grandfather's life. 
The Iron Trial
Holly Black & Cassandra Clare Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial, but Callum's father warned of the danger of magic, so Callum tries to fail but ends up enrolled at the Magisterium anyway. 
The Blackthorn Key
Kevin Sands In 1665 London, 14-year-old Christopher tries to uncover the truth behind a mysterious cult by following a trail of puzzles, codes, and danger toward an unearthly secret with the power to tear the world apart. |
Sports
Believe
Eric LeGrand Eric LeGrand shares his journey after suffering a severe spinal cord injury by a crushing on-field tackle during a heated college foot game, which left him paralyzed. 
Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery
John Feinstein After winning a basketball reporting contest, eighth graders Stevie and Susan Carol are sent to cover the Final Four tournament, where they discover that a talented player is being blackmailed into throwing the final game. 
Breakaway
Alex Morgan From her beginnings with the American Youth Soccer Organization to her key role in the 2015 Women's World Cup, Alex shares the details that made her who she is today: a fantastic role model and athlete who proudly rocks a pink headband. Historical Fiction
Wolf Hollow
Lauren Wolk Twelve-year-old Annabelle must learn to stand up for what's right in the face of a manipulative and violent new bully who targets people Annabelle cares about, including a homeless World War I veteran. 
Like a River
Kathy Cannon Wiechman Fifteen-year-old Leander yearns for his father's respect. When his older brother, Nate, has an accident that prevents him from joining the Union army, Lee enlists instead. 
A Night Divided
Jennifer A. Nielsen When her family is abruptly divided by the rise of the Berlin Wall, twelve-year-old Gerta harbors forbidden thoughts about freedom and reuniting with her loved ones before a coded message from her father inspires a daring plan. Friends & Family Stories
Summerlost
Ally Condie Following the sudden deaths of her father and autistic younger brother, Cedar Lee spends the summer working at a Shakespearean theater festival, making a new friend and coming to terms with her grief. 
Just Like Me
Nancy J. Cavanaugh Three Chinese-American girls attend a summer camp together and struggle to navigate new friendships and find their place in the world. 
Every Soul a Star
Wendy Mass Ally, Bree, and Jack meet at Moon Shadow, an isolated campground, to watch a total eclipse of the sun. They soon begin to learn a great deal about themselves, each other, and the universe. 
Somewhere Among
Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu In this novel in verse, an American-Japanese girl struggles with the loneliness of being caught between two worlds when the tragedy of 9/11 strikes an ocean away. |