SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y S Lee
Mary Lang found guilty of theft is sentenced to hang. Before
leaving Mary notices a woman mysteriously winking at her as she
is led down from the dock. She is knocked out and finds herself
facing the lady with the wink and in unfamiliar surroundings. The
lady offers her a place at a school which Mary accepts. After five
years, she is given the opportunity of joining The Agency and
becoming an undercover detective.
Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Jason Blake is an autistic 12-year-old living in a neurotypical world.
Most days it’s just a matter of time before something goes wrong.
But Jason finds a glimmer of understanding when he comes across
PhoenixBird, who posts stories to the same online site as he does.
Jason can be himself when he writes, and he thinks that
PhoenixBird – her name is Rebecca – could be his first real friend.
But as desperate as Jason is to meet her, he’s terrified that if they
do meet, Rebecca will only see his autism and not who Jason
really is.
Auslander by Paul Dowswell
When Peter's parents are killed, he is sent to an orphanage in
Warsaw. Then German soldiers take him away to be measured
and assessed. They decide that Peter is racially valuable. He is
Volksdeutscher: of German blood. With his blond hair, blue eyes,
and acceptably proportioned head, he looks just like the boy on the
Hitler-Jugend poster. Someone important will want to adopt Peter.
They do. Professor Kaltenbach is very pleased to welcome such a
fine Aryan specimen to his household. People will be envious. But
Peter is not quite the specimen they think. He is forming his own
ideas about what he is seeing, what he is told. Peter doesn't want
to be a Nazi, and so he is going to take a very dangerous risk. The
most dangerous risk he can take in Berlin in 1942.
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
Bang, Bang You're Dead! by Narinder Dhami
After a bad start to the day, Mia and her twin brother, Jamie head
off for school. After being bullied again by Kat Randall about her
mother who is having major problems, Mia cannot see Jamie at
registration. Then suddenly everything is turned upside down as
school is evacuated. A gunman has entered the school, a different
part of the school, and has maybe shot some children in Class 9D,
Kat Randall's class. Mia fears she knows who it is. Jamie has been
acting very strangely recently since their grandfather died and their
mother started loosing it again. He has been threatening to do
something to make people take notice....
The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams
Dennis was different. Why was he different, you ask? Well, a small
clue might be in the title of this book! Charming, surprising and
hilarious. The Boy in the Dress is everything you would expect from
the co-creator of Little Britain. David Walliams's beautiful first novel
will touch the hearts (and funny bones) of children and adults alike.
Brainjack by Brian Falkner
It would take a very special person to crack the computer systems
of the White House. An expert. A genius. A devil. All of the above,
some would say. Someone like Sam Wilson, brilliant teenage
computer hacker. But Sam's obsession is about to lead him into a
dangerous world. A world of espionage and intrigue; of cybercrime
and imminent war. A world where logging on to your computer
could mean the difference between life and death.
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Liam is unusually tall for a 13-year-old, and he has also developed
a bit of a beard, so he gets mistaken for a grown-up. This offers
unexpected opportunities in a Porsche showroom as well as on his
first day at secondary school, when he is assumed to be the new
member of staff. And it leads to a strange opportunity in a Chinese
desert, where, as a winner of a telephone competition, he becomes
the guest of a shady corporation that is planning to make money
from commercial space travel. While his parents believe he is on a
school trip to the Lake District, Liam is posing as a father,
accompanied by a celebrity-obsessed “daughter” who is one of his
classmates, and undergoing astronaut training for a rocket trip to
the moon.
Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Lucius, whose arms were blown off in an explosion, forms a
relationship with Aurora, a young girl whose mother recently died,
in hopes that she will be able to help free him from the stigma of
being different.
The dark blue 100-ride bus ticket by Margaret Mahy
When Carlo and his mother, Jessica, accept a free bus ticket to the
supermarket at the end of the world they are really only being
polite. But the wonderful supermarket turns out to be real, and so
are the horrible howling Dowlers who are plotting to destroy it.
What begins as fun and laughter becomes violent and dangerous,
and a pair of resourceful children will need all their courage if the
Dowlers are to be defeated.
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
The day of the pelican by Katherine Paterson
It all began the day Meli drew the pelican caricature of her teacher
and she is kept late at school. Her brother Mehmet runs home
without her - and disappears. Mehmet eventually returns after
being beaten by the Serbian police and left for dead, and this
marks the complete disruption of Meli's life.Told through Meli's
eyes, we learn about ethnic cleansing of the Muslim Albanians and
of the eventual emigration of some of them to America.
Greener Grass by Caroline Pignat
The Byrne family is strong, but are being tested everyday as life
becomes more and more desperate in 19th century rural Ireland,
forcing the family to leave their homeland.
Halo by Zizou Corder
Washed ashore as a baby in ancient Greece, Halo is discovered by
a family of centaurs. Although her true identity remains a mystery,
she is loved as one of their own. But when Halo is dragged away
by fishermen, her wild adventure begins . . . Halo soon realizes that
if she is to survive then she must live in disguise - as a boy. A
violent war is threatening to erupt and Halo is at the mercy of the
mighty Spartan warriors. And as she battles to hide her secret,
Halo never forgets her quest to find out who she is - and where she
really came from.
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
In Victorian London, fourteen-year-old Modo, a shape-changing
hunchback, becomes a secret agent for the Permanent
Association, which strives to protect the world from the evil
machinations of the Clockwork Guild.
I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class
President by Josh Lieb
In Omaha, Nebraska, twelve-year-old Oliver Watson has everyone
convinced that he's extremely stupid and lazy, but he's actually a
very wealthy, evil genius, and when he decides to run for seventh-
grade class president, nothing will stand in his way.
Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor
'Fourteen-year-old Toby Magill gets a summer job at the new Killer
Pizza franchise in town (specialties include the “Fangtastic
Hawaiian” and “Vampire Stakes”), where he hopes to hone his own
cooking skills to fulfill his dream of becoming a famous chef. After a
few enjoyable weeks, he and his fellow employees, the intelligent
Annabel and the gruff Strobe, learn that Killer Pizza is a front for a
secret organization that hunts monsters. The teens soon embark
on a training course to become Monster Combat Officers, learning
the ways of the strange creatures known as guttatas that are
terrorizing their small town.
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
Oracles of Delphi Keep by Victoria Laurie
Along the southern coast of England, atop the White Cliffs of
Dover, stands a castle. And at that castle’s old keep is an
orphanage. Delphi Keep has seen many youngsters come and go
through its gates, and Ian Wigby and his sister, Theodosia, are
happy to call it home. Life has always been simple at the Keep,
and the orphanage safe, until one day, Ian and Theo find a silver
treasure box. And within the box, a prophesy. Three thousand
years ago a great Greek oracle wrote of a quest. A quest on which
the fate of the world depends.
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
Galen, a soldier (and knitter) returning home from war, encounters
an old woman who gives him an invisibility cloak and yarn
possessing magical powers. While working as a gardener at the
palace, he encounters the princess, Rose, and her 11 younger
sisters. Because of a secret bargain their mother made with the evil
King Under Stone, the princesses are cursed to dance each night
till their shoes are worn ragged. Galen must solve the puzzle that
has stumped many a prince and earn Rose’s love and hand in
marriage.
The Set Up (The Medusa Project) by Sophie McKenzie
One day during one of his step-father's boring assemblies, Nico
discovers his gift when a friend puts his hand round the girl of his
dreams, Ketty. The rage he experiences gives him such energy
and power that he shocks the whole school. It also puts him on a
collision course with his friend Fergus, Ketty and others. He thinks
though that it can help him win Ketty back - how wrong he is.
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
Stealing Death by Janet Lee Carey
One morning Kipp, 17, leaves his little brother in charge of lighting
the stove so that he can attempt to capture a wild horse whose
sale might save the family farm during this time of drought, when
there is no money to pay the landlord. He fails and returns to find
his home engulfed in flames. Kipp manages to save his sister, but
not his parents or brother. It is at this moment that his Naqui
powers come to him, allowing him to see the Gwali, 'the collector of
souls'.
Time Riders by Alex Scarrow
Liam O'Connor should have died at sea in 1912. Maddy Carter
should have died on a plane in 2010. Sal Vikram should have died
in a fire in 2029. Yet moments before death, someone mysteriously
appeared and said, 'Take my hand ...' But Liam, Maddy and Sal
aren't rescued. They are recruited by an agency that no one knows
exists, with only one purpose - to fix broken history. Because time
travel is here, and there are those who would go back in time and
change the past. That's why the Time Riders exist: to protect us.
To stop time travel from destroying the world... First book in a new
series.
Toby Alone by Timothée de Fombelle
One and a half millimeters tall and on the run, Toby Lolness cannot
trust a soul. The reasons for this manhunt are not immediately
clear, but are slowly revealed through flashback. Toby’s parents
have been imprisoned due to his father’s refusal to divulge the
secret for turning tree sap into fuel. Behind it all is Joe Mitch, a vile
opportunist who has parlayed his success running a tree-
destroying development company into political power. After Toby
eludes his pursuers and finds safe haven with Elisha Lee in the
Low Branches, the pair set out to rescue his parents.
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
Trading Goals by Trevor Kew
'When Vicky and her mom pack up and move across the city to a
new neighbourhood, it means switching schools and leaving
behind her best friend and her soccer team. Now she'll have to try
out with her former rivals, deal with racism and bullying at her new
school, and struggle to maintain loyalty to her old friends while
making new ones. Vicky is an incredible goalkeeper and tries to
keep focused on the game she loves, but it's not easy without the
support of her friends and family.
The Unknowns: A Mystery by Benedict Carey
When people start vanishing from a godforsaken trailer park next to
the Folsom Energy Plant, two eleven-year-olds investigate using
mathematical clues that were hastily planted by their friend Mrs.
Clarke before she disappeared.
Watching Jimmy by Nancy Hartry
A novel of danger, warmth, and dark humor - about a brain-
damaged young boy and the friend who knows a terrible secret.
Watching Jimmy is an impossible-to-put-down novel full of danger,
warmth, and dark humor. With shocking candor, young Carolyn
relates the truth about what really happened to her best friend,
Jimmy, when his Uncle Ted chose the perfect time to teach him a
lesson he'd never forget. The truth is, Jimmy didn't fall from a swing
like Uncle Ted claims - Carolyn knows, because she saw
everything.
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
When you reach me by Rebecca Stead
Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother,
and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time.
When she receives a series of enigmatic notes that claim to want
to save her life, she comes to believe that they are from someone
who knows the future.
Wild Things by Clay Carmichael
After the death of her mentally ill mother, Zoë - tart-tongued and
valiant - is adopted by her paternal uncle, artist Henry Royster, and
with his help moves toward a more conventional life.
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
アブエラの大きな手／中川なをみ
るりは青い石ラリマールにひかれて、カメラマンのおじさんとと
もにドミニカを訪れた。１人の女性アブエラと出会ったことで、
るりは少しずつ変わっていく。「自分が今、ここにあることの大
切さ」を伝える物語。
Abuera no okina te by Naomi Nakagawa
Ruri is a lazy girl, however, after meeting and talking to Abuela in
the Dominican Republic, she starts to change.
赤毛の女医 アン／福田隆浩
美土里野町の診療所に新しくやってきた准看護師のひとみは、そ
こで不思議な赤毛の女医「アン」に出会う。派手な風貌と奔放な
性格のせいで、アン先生は患者さんや周囲の人たちから敬遠され
気味。ひとみも最初は戸惑うのだが…。
Akage no joi An by Takahiro Fukuda
Hitomi is an assistant nurse working at a small clinic. Anna is a
female doctor who started working there also. Because of her red
hair and free-sprit, Anna is shunned by everyone.
ぼくとあいつのラストラン／佐々木ひとみ
大好きなジイちゃんのお葬式の日。ぼくのまえにあらわれたあい
つはニヤニヤわらってこういった。「おい、走ろうぜ」…。大好き
な人を亡くした少年の、心やさしく感動的な成長物語。
Boku to aitsu no rasuto ran by Hitomi Sasaki
Take is an elementary school boy who lost his grandfather. At his
grandfather's funeral, Take meets a mysterious boy who asks him
to run with him.
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
ひあたり山とひつじのヒロシ／高田桂子
りょう太の学校のくすの木が切られることに。すると、カンニン
グを疑われたり、不思議な黒いひつじが現れたり、りょう太の周
りでおかしなことが起き始めて…。りょう太・ヒロシ・冴子のなか
よし３人組の友達再発見の物語。
Hiatariyama to hitsuji no Hiroshi by Keiko Takada
When it is announced that Ryota's school tree is going to be cut.
Ryota is suspected of cheating. Ryota then begins to see black
sheep and even more strange things occur.
碧空の果てに／濱野京子
並はずれた大力の持ち主、１７歳のメイリン姫は、自由を求めて
国を飛び出す。たどり着いた賢者の国シーハンで、足が不自由だ
が鋭い頭脳で国を守る、美貌の青年首長ターリと出会ったメイリ
ンは、彼の従者となるが…。
Hekiku no hate ni by Kyoko Hamano
Princess Meirin is a 17-year-old girl with great physical strength.
She leaves her country and meets a smart, handsome king named
Tari. Having feelings for each other, Meirin and Tari must join
forces to battle against the powerful kingdom of Airinsu.
縄文大使カックウとショウタのふしぎな冒険／川嶋康男
ショウタは小学四年生。博物館大すき少年だ。昼間はおとなしく
している博物館の剝製などの収蔵品が、夜になると息づき、夜会
をはじめている…！？
中空土偶カックウにみちびかれ、ショウタの冒険がはじまる。
Jomon taishi Kakku to Shota no fushigi na boken by Yasuo
Kawashima
Shota is a fourth grade boy who likes going to the museum. At
night the museum's collections come to life and Shota's adventure
with them begins!
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
時間割のむこうがわ／小浜ユリ
時間割のむこうがわには、いろんな不思議がかくれている−。ネコ
としゃべれるようになった女の子、宇宙人と友だちになった男の
子など、子どもたちの日々におこる切実なふしぎを丹念に描いた
短編集。
Jikanwari no mukogawa by Yuri Kohama
Outside of the school schedule, there are many mysteries: a girl
can talk with cats, a boy becomes friends with an alien.
黒魔女さんのクリスマス
黒魔女さんが通る！！スペシャル／石崎洋司
まだ４級黒魔女さんなのに、異端審問官に捕まってしまったチョ
コ。おばあちゃんがのこした禁断の黒魔法ってなに？
ギュービッドさま、桃花ちゃん、どこ！？
Kuromajosan no Kurisumasu Kuromajosan ga toru!!
Supesharu by Hiroshi Ishizaki
Choko is a 4th grade witch learning witchcraft. One day she uses
forbidden magic to save her grandmother and gets in trouble with
the witches.
ここは京まち、不思議まち 花娘・愛香どすぅ／服部千春
京都で花屋を営む祖父の家でくらすことになった小学５年生の愛
香。ネコを「おぼこさん」とよぶ不思議なおばあさんや、守り主
といわれるネコたちにふりまわされる生活が、いきなりスタート
！
Koko wa kyomachi fushigimachi: hanamusume Aika dosu by
Chiharu Hattori
After her mother died, Aika went to live with her father, a university
lecturer in Tokyo. But when her father goes overseas, she moves
to Grandfather's house in Kyoto where she meets an old lady
named Otome who can communicate with cats.
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
クグノタカラバコ／いとうひろし
道に迷わなければみつからない、ふしぎな博物館「クグノタカラ
バコ」。そこに展示されているお宝と、それにまつわる冒険のお
話。ゆかいでしみじみおもしろい、いとうひろしのへんてこわく
わく・ワールド。
Kugu no takarabako by Hiroshi Ito
You can't find the mystery museum in "Kugu no takarabako" if you
don't get lost. This is the adventure story of Kugu's treasure box.
招福堂まねきねこ－またたびトラベル物語－／茂市久美子
８年間の修業のあと、独立してそば屋をはじめた耕作さん。しか
し、なかなかお客は集まりません。ある日、見知らぬ老人から、
お客を招くという「まねきねこ」を借りますが…。
Shofukudo no manekineko : matatabi toraberu monogatari by
Kumiko Moichi
Kosaku opens his own soba restaurant after completing eight years
of training. However, he doesn't have many customers until one
day an old man lends him "Maneki neko" which brings him good
luck.
小説アトム大使／大塚英志
ぼくの友だちは、アトムという名のロボットだ。人間よりも人間
らしい心を持ったアトムと出会い、ぼくはちょっぴり大人になっ
た…。鉄腕アトムの誕生ストーリー！
Shosetsu Atomu taishi by Osamu Tezuka, Eiji Otsuka
My friend Atom is a robot. Atom's mind is more human than ours.
This is the story of the birth of Astroboy.
SAKURA MEDAL 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS
トレジャーハンター山串団五郎／杉山亮
ひかるの家の畳の下から、宝を求めて世界中を旅するトレジャー
ハンター山串団五郎があらわれた。謎解きが得意なひかるは、山
串の勢いに飲まれて宝探しを手伝うことになり…。
Toreja hanta yamagushi dangoro : kyaputen X no takara no
maki by Akira Sugiyama
Treasure hunter Dangoro appeared from under the tatami of
Hikaru's house. Hikaru is a good puzzle-solver, so he helps
Dangoro's treasure hunting.