Merlin's Dragon, by T. A. Barron, 2008. Basil, a small, flying lizard who is searching
for others like himself, discovers that there is more to him than he
knows, as he becomes engaged in Avalon's great war between the evil
Rhita Gawr and the forces of good. Book 1 in Merlin's Dragon trilogy.
Dragon's Keep, by Janet Lee Carey, 2007. In 1145 A.D., as foretold by Merlin,
14-year-old Rosalind, who will be the 21st Pendragon Queen
of Wilde Island, has much to accomplish to fulfill her destiny, while
hiding from her people the dragon's claw she was born with that reflects
only one of her mother's dark secrets.
Dragonswood, by Janet Lee Carey, 2008. In 1192 A.D. on Wilde Island, Tess, the daughter of a cruel blacksmith,
is accused of witchcraft and must flee. She meets the enigmatic warden of Dragonswood, who offers her
shelter, and does not realize that he too harbors a secret that may
finally bring about peace among the races of dragon, human, and fairy.
The Fire Within, by Chris D'Lacey, 2005. When college student David Rain rents a room in an unusual boardinghouse
full of clay dragons, he has no idea that they, along with some lively
squirrels, will help jump start his writing career. Book 1 in Last Dragon Chronicles
The Last Dragonslayer, by Jasper Fforde, 2012.
As magic fades from the world, Jennifer Strange is having trouble
keeping her magician employment agency business afloat, until she begins
having visions that foretell the death of the last dragon and the
coming of Big Magic.
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn, by Alison Goodman, 2008. Eon has disguised herself as a boy in order to
study Dragon Magic and become a Dragoneye, one of a select group that
forms a conduit to the power of energy dragons, but if the secret of her sex comes out, she will be killed. Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman, 2012. In a world where dragons and humans coexist in an uneasy truce and dragons
can assume human form, Seraphina, whose mother died giving birth to
her, grapples with her own identity amid magical secrets and royal
scandals, while she struggles to accept and develop her extraordinary
musical talents.
Dark Lord of Derkholm, by Diana Wynne Jones, 1998. Derk, an unconventional wizard, and his
magical family become involved in a plan to put a stop to the
devastating tours of their world arranged by the tyrannical Mr. Chesney.
Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey, 1968. At a time when the number of Dragonriders has fallen too low for safety and only one Weyr trains the creatures and their riders, the Red Star approaches Pern, threatening it with disaster. Book 1 in Dragonriders of Pern
The Dragons of Darkness, by Antonia Michaelis, 2010. Two boys from very different backgrounds are thrown together by magic, mayhem, and a common foe as they battle deadly dragons in the wilderness of Nepal. (Translated from the German.) The Hero and the Crown, by Robin McKinley, 1984. Aerin, with the guidance of the wizard Luthe
and the help of the blue sword, wins the birthright due her as the
daughter of the Damarian king and a witchwoman of the mysterious,
demon-haunted North.
Fireborne, by Rosaria Munda, 2019. When a brutal revolution opens dragonrider classes to everyone, two orphans from very different backgrounds become rising stars in a new regime that is challenged by violent survivors of the former government. First book in the Aurelian Cycle series.
Burn, by Patrick Ness, 2020. A story of revenge, redemption and dragons from the
twice Carnegie Medal-winner Patrick Ness. "On a cold Sunday evening in
early 1957, Sarah Dewhurst waited with her father in the parking lot of
the Chevron Gas Station for the dragon he'd hired to help on the farm."
This dragon, Kazimir, has more to him than meets the eye.
A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin, 1991. During a spell recalling the dead, the boy Sparrowhawk, a sorcerer's apprentice, unwittingly unleashes evil on the land. He grows to manhood while attempting to subdue the evil he unleashed on the world. Book 1 in Earthsea series.
Eragon, by Christopher Paolini, 2003. In Alagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of
unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his
life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled
with dragons, elves, and monsters. Book 1 in Inheritance Cycle.
Dragonspell, by Donita K. Paul, 2004. When Kale, a slave girl, finds a dragon egg, she is freed and sent to the city of Vendala, but her journey there is interrupted when she becomes involved in an attempt to recover a meech dragon egg stolen by the evil wizard Risto.
Wild Magic, by Tamora Pierce, 1992. The mage Numair, the knight Alanna, and Queen
Thayet enlist thirteen-year-old Daine's help to battle the dreadful
immortal creatures that have recently begun to attack the kingdom of
Tortall. Book 1 in Immortals series.
Dealing with Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede, 1990. Bored with traditional palace life, a princess goes off to live with a group of dragons and soon becomes involved with fighting against some disreputable wizards who want to steal away the dragons' kingdom. Kazul's story!Book 1 in Enchanted Forest Chronicles.
Dragon's Blood, by Jane Yolen, 2004. Jakkin, a bond boy who works as a Keeper in a
dragon nursery on the planet Austar IV, secretly trains a fighting pit
dragon of his own in hopes of winning his freedom. Book 1 in Pit DragonChronicles.
The Lexile level for many of the books listed below is in parentheses (L- ) after the book's description. Lexile Text Measure measures how easy/difficult a book is to comprehend. A 6th
grade level book has an 850 to 1050 lexile range; a 7th grade level book
has a 950 to 1075 lexile range; an 8th grade level book has a 1000 to
1100 lexile range; a 9th grade level book has a 1050 to 1150 lexile
range, etc.
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, by Barry Lyga, 2006. A 15-year-old "geek" who keeps a list of the high school jocks and
others who torment him, and pours his energy into creating a graphic novel, encounters Kyra, Goth Girl, who helps change his outlook
on almost everything, including himself. (L-710)
Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver, 2010. After she dies in a car crash, teenage Samantha relives the day of her
death over and over again until, on the seventh day, she finally
discovers a way to save herself. (L-860)
Blubber, by Judy Blume, 1974. Jill goes along with the rest of the fifth-grade class in tormenting a
classmate and then finds out what it is like when she, too, becomes a
target. (L-660)
The Body of Christopher Creed, by Carol Plum-Ucci, 2000. Torey Adams, a high school junior with a seemingly perfect life,
struggles with doubts and questions surrounding the mysterious
disappearance of the class outcast. Mystery. (L-720)
Buddha Boy, by Kathe Koja, 2003. Justin spends time with Jinsen, the unusual and artistic new student
whom the school bullies torment and call Buddha Boy, and ends up making
choices that impact Jinsen, himself, and the entire school. (L-1090)
Bystander, by James Preller, 2009. Thirteen-year-old Eric discovers there are consequences to not standing
by and watching as the bully at his new school hurts people, but
although school officials are aware of the problem, Eric may be the one
with a solution. (L-600)
Cornered: 14 Stories of Bullying and Defiance, edited by Rhoda Belleza, 2012. An anthology of fourteen stories illuminates the experiences of being
bullied in today's world, in a volume that includes contributions from established writers such as Kirsten Miller, Jennifer Brown, and James
Lecesne. Forward by Chris Crutcher. (L-n/a)
Crash, by Jerry Spinelli,1996. Seventh-grader John "Crash" Coogan has always been
comfortable with his tough, aggressive behavior, until his relationship
with an unusual Quaker boy and his grandfather's stroke make him
consider the meaning of friendship and the importance of family. (L-560)
Everybody Sees the Ants, by A. S. King, 2011. Overburdened by his parents' bickering and a bully's attacks, 15-year-old Lucky Linderman begins dreaming of being with his
grandfather, who went missing during the Vietnam War,
but during a visit to Arizona, his aunt and uncle and their beautiful
neighbor, Ginny, help him find a new perspective. (L-710)
The Hate List, by Jennifer Brown, 2009. Sixteen-year-old Valerie, whose boyfriend Nick committed a school
shooting at the end of their junior year, struggles to cope with
integrating herself back into high school life, unsure herself whether
she was a hero or a villain. (L-760)
Hot Hand, by Mike Lupica, 2007. In the wake of his parents' separation, ten-year-old Billy seems to have
continual conflicts with his father, who is also his basketball coach,
but his quiet, younger brother Ben, a piano prodigy, is having even more
trouble adjusting, and only Billy seems to notice. (L-930)
The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes, 2004. None of her classmates pay much attention to Wanda Petronski, a
Polish-American girl, until she announces she has 100 dresses in her
closet. Everyone laughs and teases her so much that she stops coming to
school. Then, her classmates discover she really does have 100 dresses. (L-870)
Indigo's Star, by Hilary McKay, 2004. Spurred on by his youngest sister, Rose, twelve-year-old Indigo sticks
up for himself and an American boy who has replaced him as the primary
target of the school bullies. (L-740)
The Misfits, by James Howe, 2001. Four students who do not fit in at their small-town middle school decide
to create a third party for the student council elections to represent
all students who have ever been called names. (L-960)
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, by Annabel Pitcher, 2012. With his family still grieving over his sister's death
in a terrorist bombing seven years earlier, twelve-year-old Jamie is far
more interested in his cat, Roger, his birthday Spiderman T-shirt, and
keeping his new Muslim friend Sunya a secret from his father. (L-880)
Orchards, Holly Thompson, 2011. Sent to Japan for the summer after an eighth-grade classmate's suicide,
half-Japanese, half-Jewish Kana Goldberg tries to fit in with relatives
she barely knows and reflects on the guilt she feels over the tragedy
back home. Novel written in verse.(L-n/a)
Schooled, by Gordon Korman, 2007. Homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Capricorn (Cap) has
never watched television, tasted a pizza, or heard of a wedgie. Circumstances force Cap to attend the local middle school, and though Cap
knows a lot about tie-dyeing & Zen Buddhism, no education could
prepare him for the politics of public school. (L-740)
Some Girls Are, by Courtney Summers, 2010. Regina, a high school senior in the popular--and feared--crowd, suddenly
falls out of favor and becomes the object of the same sort of vicious
bullying that she used to inflict on others, until she finds solace with
one of her former victims. (L-600)
Speechless, by Hannah Harrington, 2012. After her behavior causes her to lose her popular friends and results in one person being hospitalized, Chelsea takes a vow of silence. (L-n/a)
Tangerine, by Edward Bloor, 1997. Twelve-year-old Paul, who lives in the shadow of his football hero
brother Erik, fights for the right to play soccer despite his near
blindness and slowly begins to remember the incident that damaged his
eyesight. (L-680)
Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher, 2007. When high school student Clay Jenkins receives a box in the mail containing 13
cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah, who committed suicide,
he spends a night crisscrossing their
town, listening to Hannah's voice recounting the events leading up to
her death. (L-550)
This Is What I Did, by Ann Dee Ellis, 2007. Bullied because of an incident in his past, eighth-grader Logan is
unhappy at his new school and has difficulty relating to others until
he meets a quirky girl and a counselor who believe in him. (L-550)
Warp Speed, by Lisa Yee, 2011. Marley Sandelski has always felt invisible at school when he is not
facing bullies, but a series of unexpected events gives him a taste of
popularity and insights into some classmates, well-liked or
greatly-feared. (L-620)
Contents: Introduction - Bullying is a health issue - The definition of bullying - Prevalence - Diagnosis - Health consequences - Causes of bullying - Treatment and prevention - Controversial issues - Resources - Glossary.
Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories,
edited by Carrie Jones and Megan Kelley Hall, 2011.
Presents top authors for teens as they share their stories about
bullying--as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as
victims, and as perpetrators.
Please Stop Laughing at Me, by Jodee Blanco, 2003. The author shares the cruelty that was heaped on her by her classmates
when she was labled a freak in high school, describing what it meant to
be an outcast among one's peers, the realities and consequences of
bullying, and her struggle to overcome the torment.
Vicious: True Stories By Teens About Bullying,
edited by Hope Vanderberg, 2012. Twenty teens share true experiences
from different perspectives of bullying at school, on the street, and
online.
We Want You to Know: Kids Talk About Bullying, by Deborah Ellis, 2010. Presents interviews with students who have been bullied, as they
describe their experiences with peers, parents, teachers, and school
administrators, along with advice on the best methods that can be used to stop bullying behavior.
Merlin's Dragon, by T. A. Barron, 2008. Basil, a small, flying lizard who is searching
for others like himself, discovers that there is more to him than he
knows, as he becomes engaged in Avalon's great war between the evil
Rhita Gawr and the forces of good. Book 1 in Merlin's Dragon trilogy.
Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman, 2012. In a world where dragons and humans coexist in an uneasy truce and dragons
can assume human form, Seraphina, whose mother died giving birth to
her, grapples with her own identity amid magical secrets and royal
scandals, while she struggles to accept and develop her extraordinary
musical talents.
The Dragons of Darkness, by Antonia Michaelis, 2010. Two boys from very different backgrounds are thrown together by magic, mayhem, and a common foe as they battle deadly dragons in the wilderness of Nepal. (Translated from the German.)
A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin, 1991. During a spell recalling the dead, the boy Sparrowhawk, a sorcerer's apprentice, unwittingly unleashes evil on the land. He grows to manhood while attempting to subdue the evil he unleashed on the world. Book 1 in Earthsea series.
