Every Hero Has a Story

For Teen Readers

May 2015

This recommended reading list provides a broad list of books related to this summer’s theme of heroes and superheroes. This list includes audio, braille, and large print titles and is recommended for those reading at a 6^th through 9^th grade reading level up to a senior high and older reading level.

To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through WolfPAC. Identification numbers for braille books begin with BR, large print books begin with LP, and audiobooks begin with DB or DBC. All audiobooks with the prefix DB or DBC and available braille books listed are linked to the Braille and Audio Reading Download site (BARD) for downloading.

Grades 6 to 9

The Abominables by Eva Ibbotson

Download The Abominables, BR 20323

Download The Abominables, DB 77549

Read by Abigail Maupin. Reading time: 4 hours, 25 minutes.

A century ago in the Himalayas, a father yeti captured the young Lady Agatha Farlingham to raise his motherless children. Now tourism threatens the peaceful, civilized yetis. Lady Agatha enlists the help of human siblings Con and Ellen to take the yetis to Agatha's English estate. 2013.

Above World, Mirage, Horizon by Jenn Reese

Download Above World, Mirage, Horizon, DB 78855

Read by Gabriella Cavallero. Reading time: 23 hours, 52 minutes.

In Above World the Coral Kampii, like legendary mermaids, live underwater, isolated from dwellers of the dry land. But when the devices that allow them to breathe start to fail, thirteen-year-old Aluna and her friend Hoku go to the forbidden place to find help. Above World Trilogy, books 1-3. 2014.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Download The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, BR 09247

Download The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, BR 10687

Download The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, DB 43591

Download The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, DB 57349

LP 0156

Read by John Polk. Reading time: 13 hours, 1 minute.

Read by Nick Sullivan. Reading time: 11 hours, 22 minutes.

A comprehensive edition of Twain's 1885 tale about a boy who runs away from home and floats down the Mississippi on a raft with an escaping slave. Includes four episodes originally deleted from the first edition, an introduction by Twain biographer Justin Kaplan, and an addendum of explanatory and interpretive notes. Strong language. 1996.

Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II by Cheryl Mullenbach

Download Double Victory, DB 79302

Read by Kerry Dukin. Reading time: 8 hours, 51 minutes.

An account of the lesser-known contributions of African American women during World War II reveals how they helped lay the foundations for the Civil Rights Movement by challenging racial and gender barriers at home and abroad. 2013.

If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric L. Gansworth

Download If I Ever Get Out of Here, BR 20296

Download If I Ever Get Out of Here, DB 77429

Read by Jordan Leigh. Reading time: 10 hours, 7 minutes.

Upstate New York, 1975. Seventh-grader Lewis tries to downplay his impoverished Native American roots after being bullied. When George, an air force brat, enrolls in school, he and Lewis bond over the Beatles. But Lewis's troubles don't go away. Some strong language. 2013.

Reporter in Disguise: The Intrepid Vic Steinberg by Christine Weldon

Download Reporter in Disguise, BR 20214

Download Reporter in Disguise, DB 77351

Read by Kerry Dukin. Reading time: 2 hours, 28 minutes.

Biography of Vic Steinberg, the pseudonym for an investigative female journalist in Victorian-era Toronto, who kept her identity a mystery, dressed as a man, smoked cigars, and spent time in jails. Includes a glossary and a bibliography. 2013.

Secrets of the Book by Erin Fry

Download Secrets of the Book, DB 79499

Read by Jeff Allin. Reading time: 5 hours, 22 minutes.

Sixth-grader Spencer Lemon is chosen to protect a book that contains famous dead people who can be brought back to life. But there are other people interested in the book, and it's up to Spencer and his friends to protect the artifact and save the world. 2014.

SYLO Chronicles series by D.J. MacHale

SYLO by D.J. MacHale

Download SYLO, BR 20161

Download SYLO, DB 77104

Read by Gregory Gorton. Reading time: 11 hours, 26 minutes.

After a fellow high school football player drops dead on the field, Tucker and his friend Quinn experience a series of strange events. Then SYLO, a secret branch of the U.S. Navy, invades and quarantines their island town--and the deaths continue. SYLO Chronicles series, book 1. Some violence. 2013.

Storm by D.J. MacHale

Download Storm, DB 78436

Read by Guy Williams. Reading time: 13 hours, 18 minutes.

Strike by D.J. MacHale

Download Strike, DB 79932

Read by Kurt Elftmann. Reading time: 12 hours, 4 minutes.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Download Treasure Island, BR 13682

Download Treasure Island, DB 52436

LP 0194

Read by Erik Sandvold. Reading time: 7 hours, 38 minutes.

Two authors playfully mix practical advice and personal anecdotes to demystify the craft of writing a story or novel. Topics covered include finding inspiration, naming characters, developing a narrative voice, crafting dialogue, dealing with writer's block, and establishing good work habits. 2010.

Junior and Senior High

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

Download Go Ask Alice, BR 10978

Download Go Ask Alice, DB 44179

Read by Martha Harmon Pardee. Reading time: 4 hours, 41 minutes.

Based on the diary of a fifteen-year-old girl who turned to drugs because of her feelings of loneliness and rebellion against the world. Though she tries to stop, she dies of an overdose three weeks after her seventeenth birthday. Strong language. 1971.

The Hobbit, or, There and Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien

Download The Hobbit, DB 48978

Download The Hobbit, DB 61051 (Spanish version)

LP 0982

LP 1255

Read by Carole Jordan Stewart. Reading time: 9 hours, 25 minutes.

Read by Maria Pino. Reading time: 10 hours, 48 minutes.

The wandering wizard Gandalf recruits Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, to be the fourteenth member of an expedition. Hobbits prefer comfort to adventures, but Bilbo joins the quest and encounters many perils, including a dragon. 1966.

Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith

Download Lockdown, DB 72183

Read by Mark Delgado. Reading time: 7 hours, 29 minutes.

Thief Alex is framed for murder and sent deep underground to Furnace Penitentiary, where inmates are turned into vicious, unrecognizable creatures. Though no one has ever escaped, Alex and his friends tirelessly search for a way out. Some violence. 2009.

Seize the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write by Victoria Hanley

Download Seize the Story, BR 18564

Download Seize the Story, DB 71098

Read by Kimberly Schraf. Reading time: 5 hours, 29 minutes.

Presents creative-writing tips and exercises, from freewriting to understanding the elements of fiction. Provides examples for character development, motivation, and perspective. Assesses difficult aspects of writing fiction, such as creating the setting and mood, and infusing your style and voice into the story. 2008.

Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal

Download Steve Jobs, DB 76396

Read by Carol Dines. Reading time: 6 hours, 55 minutes.

Recounts the life and career of the late founder of Apple, Steve Jobs (1955-2011). Covers his adoption and childhood, his friendship with Steve Wozniak and his dynamic relationship with Apple--as chairman, head of the Mac department, advisor, and CEO--until his death. 2012.

White Fang by Jack London

Download White Fang, BR 09693

Download White Fang, DB 51689

LP 0665

Read by L. J. Ganser. Reading time: 7 hours, 39 minutes.

A wolf-dog, rescued from danger and tamed by a kind master, redeems his brute nature by defending his master's family against an escaped convict. 1927.

Senior High

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd by Holly Black

Download Geektastic, DB 69853

Read by Mark Delgado. Reading time: 11 hours, 40 minutes.

Short story anthology celebrating geekdom. In Holly Black's and Cecil Castellucci's "Once You're a Jedi, You're a Jedi All the Way," a Klingon and a Jedi fight their taboo attraction at a science fiction convention. Edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci. Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2009.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Download Graceling, DB 67938

Read by Kristin Allison. Reading time: 10 hours, 41 minutes.

In a world where some people are born with an extreme and often-feared skill, Katsa struggles with hers--the "grace" of killing. When she first encounters Prince Po, whose grace is incompatible with hers, she doesn't foresee the bond that will form between them. Seven Kingdoms series, book 1. Some violence. 2008.

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

Download The Probability of Miracles, DBC05450

Read by Mary Beth Broughton. Reading time: 8 hours, 30 minutes.

Having spent several years in and out of hospitals for a life-threatening illness, pragmatic sixteen-year-old Cam is relocated by her miracle-seeking mother to a town in Maine known for its mystical healing qualities. Gateway Award Nominee, 2013-2014. 2011.

So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld

Download So Yesterday, BR 16438

Hunter, a New York City teenager paid by corporations to spot what is "cool," combines his analytical skills with his girlfriend Jen's creative talents to find his missing boss Mandy. They thwart a plot to subvert a consumer system based on trends and profit. 2004.

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Download Splintered, DB 79333

Read by Jill Fox. Reading time: 12 hours, 22 minutes.

A descendant of the inspiration for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, sixteen-year-old Alyssa Gardner fears she is mentally ill like her mother until she finds that Wonderland is real. If she passes a series of tests to fix Alice's mistakes, she may save her family from their curse. Splintered series, book 1. 2013.

The Vampire Diaries series by L. J. Smith

The Awakening and The Struggle by L. J. Smith

Download The Awakening and The Struggle, DB 70456

Read by James Konicek. Reading time: 11 hours, 36 minutes.

First two novels in the Vampire Diaries series and the basis for the 2009 television show. In The Awakening brother vampires Stefan and Damon vie for the attention of Elena Gilbert. In The Struggle Elena's relationship with Stefan intensifies. 1991.

The Fury and Dark Reunion by L. J. Smith

Download The Fury and Dark Reunion, DB 70514

Read by James Konicek. Reading time: 12 hours, 43 minutes.

The third and fourth novels in the Vampire Diaries series. In The Fury Elena is tricked by Damon and confronts her worst fears. In Dark Reunion Elena, Stefan, and Damon join forces to fight an evil enemy. 1991.

Senior High and Older

A Brief History of Time by Stephen W. Hawking

Download A Brief History of Time, DB 26996

Read by Bob Butz. Reading time: 5 hours, 51 minutes.

The famous theoretical physicist, affected by Lou Gehrig's disease since graduate school, is best known for his inquiries into the nature of black holes. This work recaps modern physicists' attempts to understand how and why the universe exists. Hawking claims that these attempts reach ever closer to a single theory that, if complete and convincing, would enable us "to know the mind of God." Bestseller. 1988.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Download Fangirl, DB 77545

LP 2644

Read by Abigail Maupin. Reading time: 11 hours, 55 minutes.

Eighteen-year-old Cath's adoration of fantasy character Simon Snow leads to her penning a fanfiction story that is popular online. Offline, shy Cath is out of her comfort zone at her new college--until romance finds her. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2013.

Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith by Michelle Burford

Download Grace, Gold, and Glory, DB 76347

Read by Jill Fox. Reading time: 5 hours, 26 minutes.

Autobiography of Olympic gold-medal gymnast Gabrielle Douglas. Recounts her early life in Virginia, her professional training in Iowa, and the sacrifices she and her family made to support her dream. Credits her faith and family for her success at the 2012 London games. 2012.

Heroes by Robert Cormier

Download Heroes, BR 11993

Download Heroes, DB 64704

LP 0719

Read by Ray Childs. Reading time: 3 hours, 22 minutes.

Soldier Francis Cassavant returns home from World War II so disfigured that no one recognizes him. His only goal is to kill his personal enemy, Larry LaSalle, for a crime Larry committed while on leave. Everyone mistakenly considers the two men war heroes. 1998.

How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life by Dalai Lama

Download How to Practice, DB 53769

Read by Ray Childs. Reading time: 3 hours, 22 minutes.

Specific Buddhist techniques for overcoming such everyday obstacles as anger, mistrust, jealousy, and insecurity and thus gaining mental peace and compassion. Recommends developing a good heart and mind through a moral attitude and an understanding of reality. Bestseller. 2002.

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

BR 00828

Download I, Robot, DB 15779

Read by Bob Askey. Reading time: 7 hours, 15 minutes.

U. S. Robots and Mechanical Men Inc. headed by the strong-minded Susan Calvin, manufactures and sells intelligent, human-like robots. Nine stories illustrate how the robots are programmed with the three Laws of Robotics to serve man, despite many of the ingrained fears and prejudices humans have against them. 2007.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Download Jane Eyre, BR 10514

Download Jane Eyre, DB 47868

Read by Jennifer Mendenhall. Reading time: 20 hours, 15 minutes.

Nineteenth-century English novel about a plain and intelligent woman who becomes the governess at an estate, is caught up in the mysteries of the manor, and falls in love with the master of the house. 1997.

The Joys of Love by Madeleine L’Engle

Download The Joys of Love, BR 18238

Download The Joys of Love, DB 67472

Read by Gabriella Cavallero. Reading time: 6 hours, 30 minutes.

After graduating from college in 1946, Elizabeth pursues her dream of acting and lands an apprenticeship in a summer theater company. She falls in love with an aspiring director, not realizing how much her friendship with a fellow apprentice means to her. 1950.

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela

Download Long Walk to Freedom, BR 09951

Download Long Walk to Freedom, DB 39555

Read by Ralph Lowenstein. Reading time: 26 hours, 54 minutes.

Memoirs of the South African leader who spent twenty-seven years in prison for opposing apartheid. Son of a tribal chief, Mandela had a traditional country childhood and a college education. As a leader of the African National Congress, he began talks that led to the mitigation of apartheid. Released from prison in 1990, he became president in 1994, with blacks voting for the first time. Bestseller. 1994.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Download Lord of the Flies, BR 09480

Download Lord of the Flies, DB 48388

LP 0033

Read by Christopher Walker. Reading time: 7 hours, 18 minutes.

With horrifying implications, a group of English boys are wrecked on a desert island and have to establish their own system of government. 1997.

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

BR 03374

Download Oliver Twist, DB 22868

LP 1684

Read by Patrick Horgan. Reading time: 17 hours, 15 minutes.

The story of an orphan boy from an English workhouse who falls into the hands of rogues and is trained as a pickpocket. 1984.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

BR 07266

Download The Phantom of the Opera, DB 27821

LP 0663

Read by Ronald B. Meyer. Reading time: 8 hours, 20 minutes.

The story of a demented musician hiding in the labyrinth of the Paris Opera House. Known as the Phantom of the Opera, the creature masterminds a series of mysterious and terrifying events to further the career of a beautiful young singer. 1986.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Download Pride and Prejudice, BR 11521

Download Pride and Prejudice, DB 50549

Download Pride and Prejudice, DB 70966 (Spanish Version)

LP 1487

Read by Jennifer Mendenhall. Reading time: 12 hours, 8 minutes.

Read by Maria Pino. Reading time: 14 hours, 25 minutes.

A classic novel of social customs in late eighteenth-century England. Depicts the personality clash between Elizabeth Bennet, one of five daughters of a country gentleman, and prosperous, aristocratic landowner Fitzwilliam Darcy, which eventually develops into courtship. 1813.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Download The Princess Bride, DB 58817

Read by Bruce Nelson. Reading time: 14 hours, 32 minutes.

The most beautiful woman in the world falls in love with Westley, the perfect man. Their pending romance, however, is interrupted by fate and the wicked prince Humperdinck, ruler of Florin. Thirtieth anniversary edition of the classic fairy tale spoof features a 2003 introduction. 1973.

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Download Throne of Glass, BR 19817

Download Throne of Glass, DB 76152

Read by Theresa Conkin. Reading time: 13 hours, 34 minutes.

After serving a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, assassin Celaena Sardothien receives an offer from Crown Prince Dorian. She will be freed--if she acts as his champion in a new royal assassin competition. Throne of Glass series, book 1. Violence. 2012.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Download Crown of Midnight, BR 20287

Download Crown of Midnight, DB 77500

Read by Madelyn Buzzard. Reading time: 13 hours, 45 minutes.

Assassin Celaena Sardothien hides her true feelings about working for the king of Adarlan. But when tragedy strikes, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Sequel to Throne of Glass (BR 19817, DB 76152). Throne of Glass series, book 2. Violence and some descriptions of sex. 2013.

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Download Heir of Fire, BR 20518

Download Heir of Fire, DB 79580

Read by Erin Jones. Reading time: 18 hours, 1 minute.

Royal assassin Celaena must travel to a new land to confront a truth about her heritage and her power, while brutal and monstrous forces gather on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Sequel to Crown of Midnight (BR 20518, DB 77500). Throne of Glass series, book 3. Violence and some descriptions of sex. 2014.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Download Wuthering Heights, BR 11902

Download Wuthering Heights, DB 25178

LP 0169

Read by Dale Hodges. Reading time: 14 hours, 47 minutes.

This classic nineteenth-century English novel, set in the wild moor country of Yorkshire, is about Heathcliff, a foundling raised in the Earnshaw home, who passionately loves Catherine. He dedicates his life to the realization of that love and revenge on those who oppose him. 1965.