STEELHEART / THE RECKONERS series reading infornation

BRANDON SANDERSON is best known for his adult series Mistborn, and for his work finishing Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time.  With THE RITHMATIST  Brandon made his first foray into the Young Adult market.  This series earned good marks from readers and the RECKONERS first book, STEELHEART, followed quickly.

**all ratings from GoodReads


**New York Times Bestseller**
STEELHEART
(Reckoners, #1)
by Brandon Sanderson

**Starred Review** ALA BookList
4.14 avg rating — 56,780 ratings

The School Library Journal calls STEELHEART a 'fast-paced, futuristic science-fiction superhero story' and I think that's an accurate description.  

The backstory: One day the sky exploded and darkness came and stayed.  Even worse, some people developed super-human skills.  They are called Epics. And as it turns out they quickly become unpleasant people.

Enter David. When he was a young boy he went to the bank with his father. There they unfortunately crossed paths with Steelheart, the worst of the Epics, and their leader.  David's father is murdered and David swears to destroy Steelheart.  To this he worms his way into a group called the Reckoners.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 107,599
Page Count:  384
Accelerated Reader:  5.0 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 161310
Lexile: 680L
--sample pages and reviews available

 

MITOSIS
(Reckoners, #1.5)

3.90 avg rating — 10,265 ratings

Mitosis takes place after the Reckoners reclaim Newcago --trying to fill the space left by the death of Steelheart.

Looking at the reviews at Amazon I'd say that most people loved the story BUT thought it was too short for the price. 

Look for it on sale.  (It does happen. Sometimes the e-stories will drop to 99cents in price.)

Page Count: 35
no reading information currently available
--sample pages and reviews available

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You might also want to look at:
Review: The Rithmatist 
Review: Screaming Staircase
Review: California Bones
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FIREFIGHT
(Reckoners, #2)

4.36 avg rating — 16,688 ratings

David and the Reckoners continue their fight against the Epics, humans with superhuman powers, except they may have met their match in Regalia, a High Epic who resides in Babylon Restored, the city formerly known as the borough of Manhattan.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 104,499
Page Count: 304
Accelerated Reader: 5.1 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 171445
 Lexile: HL700L
--sample pages and reviews available


compiled by Pam
updated June 2015

Topic: DIRT BIKE books at the 2nd Grade Reading Level

Dirt Biking looks like so much fun that many children are curious about the sport. The following books are at the easiest reading level I could locate--Second Grade reading level.  You should check for them at the library and in the used book section because they are rather pricey when new. 

Dirt Bikes
(Motorcycles: Made for Speed)
by Connor Dayton

Simple text discusses the history of dirt bike racing and the culture of the riders.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 163
Page Count: 24
Accelerated Reading level: 2.0 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 113419

also available in Spanish/English version
Dirt Bikes (Bilingual)

Let's Go By Motorcycle
 by Anders Hanson

This book talks about motorcycles in general, but definitely includes some pages on dirt bikes. 

For reasonable prices check the used books.

Word Count: 117
Page Count: 24
Accelerated Reader: 2.3 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 116676

Dirt Bikes
(Horsepower)
by Matt Doeden

4.2 Stars from 5 GoodReaders

Very basic information.  More suitable for younger children reading above age level.

Word Count: 294
Page Count:  32
Accelerated Reader: 2.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 79465
Lexile: 660L


compiled by Pam
updated June 2014

Tony Abott's UNDERWORLDS reading information

Tony Abbott has the magic.  He can write kid-friendly series that are downright addictive.  UNDERWORLDS is one of his latest.  Get ready for adventure.

#1

THE BATTLE BEGINS

The story begins on what looks to be an average school day.  Owen Brown is hanging around with Sydney waiting for Dana.  Dana shows up all right, but then suddenly a hole opens up in the school floor and she's gone!

Determined to find Dana, the two friends call upon a fourth member, Jon, to join them.  What they find is more than they could imagine, a fire-breathing giant wolf, the lyre of Orpheus, and Valkyries!

Young readers will have the adventure they crave (violence is not graphic or disturbing), good characters, and they'll be exposed to a variety of mythologies --Greek, Norse, Egyptian and Babylonian.  Great fun.

Word Count: 13,576
Page Count:  112
Accelerated Reading level: 3.6 / points: 2.0
AR quiz: 147984
Lexile: 550L

#2
WHEN MONSTERS ESCAPE

Kirkus Reviews says that this series is "... just right for readers on the cusp of Percy Jackson."

Cyclopes are loose in Pinewood Bluffs and must be stopped.  Owen, Sydney and Jon now have Dana by their side to help in the fight, but if they don't hold up their end of the bargain with Hades, she'll be swept back to the Underworld forever.

Word Count: 14,445
Page Count:  112
Accelerated Reading level: 4.4 / points: 2.0
AR quiz: 150824
Lexile: 730L

#3
REVENGE OF THE SCORPION KING

It's a Babylonian nightmare in this story as Loki leads kids to a dark and dangerous Underworld.  They are following Loki hoping to find a way to stop him waging war on Odin by finding the powerful Crystal Rune.  But Loki lives up to his reputation as a guy that has many tricks up his sleeve.

Word Count: 15,026
Page Count:  112
Accelerated Reading level: 4.3 / points: 2.0
AR quiz: 153042
Lexile: 680L 

#4
ICE DRAGON

The end of the story arc.  Loki brings his battle to Asgard and Pinewood Bluffs.  Of all the monsters that accompany Loki, perhaps none is as terrifying as the Ice Dragon!

Word Count: 16,808
Page Count:  112
Accelerated Reading level: 4.4 / points: 2.0
AR quiz: 155680
 Lexile: 690L

compiled by Pam T

Second Grade Pokémon books

Pokémon books are boy-friendly quick reads. Published by  Scholastic, they are at the 2nd Grade level and are the easiest books that we could locate.

*A plus is that currently most are available for amazon's buy 3-get 1 free program.  I also noticed some 'sets' available on ebay.



Save the Shieldon
by Simcha Whitehill

Gary and Ash try to save the day when Hunter J and her goons try to take some Shieldon.

Pikachu pointed out some wild Shieldon.  
"How cute," said Dawn.
"Pika-pika," said Pikachu.  

A big gray tank drove up.
"Oh no!,"  Brock yelled. 
Goons were trying to steal the Shieldon.  They were sent by Pokémon Hunter J.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 543
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 2.0 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 130616
--sample pages available

Triple Trouble
by Simcha Whitehill

A Trainer named Tyler wants to catch his first Pokémon, but Team Rocket keeps stealing the Clear Wing Pokémon from him, therefore, Ash and Pikachu decide to pitch in and help their friend.

Word Count: 599
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 2.3 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 130620
--no sample pages

Battle for the Bolt Badge
by Simcha Whitehill

Ash challenges gym leader Elisa to win the Bolt Badge.

Word Count: 964
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 2.3 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 153938
--sample pages available

Ash's Triple Threat
by Simcha Whitehill

It's triple trouble for Ash and his Pokémon! And Ash can't wait for his first Unova Gym battle. But imagine his suprise when he arrives a the Striation City Gym and he finds not one, but 3 Gym Leaders waiting for him! 

Ash decides to battle them all. Now, Ash's new Pokémon are going head-to-head with three very tough Pokémon: Pansear, Panpour, and Pansage. Ash better look out, because this battle is starting to heat up!

Word Count: 1,028
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 2.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 153750
Lexile: 460L
--sample pages available

Runaway Pokemon
by Simcha Whitehill

Some old friends from the Johto Region are joining Ash and his buddies in Sinnoh for some great battles.

It was a beautiful day in Sinnoh.  
Ash was training one of his Pokémon, Gible.  
"All right, Gible.  Draco Meteor!"  Ash said.
"Gig, gib, Gible," said Gible. A
big fireball shot out of it's mouth. It 
zoomed through the air and landed
far, far away...

Word Count: 960
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 2.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 151279
--sample pages available

Sandile in Trouble
by Simcha Whitehill

Ash is on a mission to become the world's greatest Pokémon Trainer, traveling through a never-before-seen region, Unova, and discovering dozens of all-new Pokémon along the way.

Word Count: 1,076
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 2.7 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 149675
Lexile: 520L


Emolga Makes Mischief
by Simcha Whitehill

Ash, Pikachu, Iris, and Cilan are making their way through Unova, a land of big cities, beautiful countryside, and tons of amazing new Pokémon.

Word Count: 1,154
Page Count:
Accelerated Reading level: 2.8 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 150816
--sample pages available


Night in the Haunted Tower
by Tracey West

Ash has to defeat the gym leader Sabrina to earn a Marsh badge. Only ghost Pokemon are strong enough to beat her powerful psychic Pokemon in battle. Now Ash and Pikachu have to spend a scarey night at Pokemon tower to catch a spooky specter.

Word Count: 5,956
Page Count: 70
Accelerated Reading level: 2.9 / points: 1.0
AR quiz: 34625

go to Poké Index

Fly Guy for 2nd Graders

FLY GUY by Tedd Arnold is a great series for young readers.  It's fun and motivational and now there are two books at the second grade level.  (You can find the First Grade level books here.)

Fly Guy vs. The Fly Swatter! #10

Fly Guy unintentionally joins Buzz at school, and then goes with his class on a field trip to a fly swatter factory.


Word Count: 374
Page Count:
Accelerated Reading level: 2.1 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 145162
Lexile: 420L


Ride, Fly Guy, Ride! #11

Fly guy is riding with Buzz and Buzz's dad when he gets blown out the window. In getting home he ends up traveling in all kinds of vehicles, even a circus train!

Word Count: 262
Page Count:
Accelerated Reading level: 2.0 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 150304
Lexile: 470L