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

MALICE and HAVOC reading Information

The MALICE series by Chris Wooding is a scary series aiming to please Middle-Graders.  A delightfully creepy set of books.

MALICE
(Malice #1)
Scholastic
by Chris Wooding

4.06 avg rating — 1,505 ratings

Be careful what you ask for. 

You can find my review (pam) here, but to give you an idea in brief of what  MALICE is about:  It's about a comic book by the name of Malice which is the gateway in a world of the same name.

One gets to this world by getting a copy of the comic book, and then performing a small ceremoney which includes the words, "Big Jake" and "take me away".  Kids do it thinking that it's all scary-fun, but in truth it works!  And Big Jake doesn't take you away the way Calgone does.  No, he takes you to a horrid world where your life expectancy is quite short.

Part graphic novel, part novel, MALICE lets us follow the adventures of Seth and Kady and their unfortunate friends.  You can count on tension and violence and not all the characters surviving.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 67,634
Page Count:  384
Accelerated Reading level: 4.5 / points: 10.0
AR quiz: 133618
Lexile: 650L
--in Spanish/Espanole
--get sample pages, reviews, and prices

HAVOC
(Malice #2)

4.15 avg rating — 655 ratings

Seth escapes Malice but unfortunately he's alone.  Kady didn't make it, and consequently she sets out to find the kids of Havoc who are organizing to fight Big Jake.

So what will Seth do?  Will he return?  And will Havoc really be able to take the evil Big Jake down?

Word Count: 74,692
Page Count: 396
Accelerated Reader:  4.3 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 140705
 Lexile: HL580L
--in Spanish/Espanole
--get sample pages, reviews, and prices


compiled by Pam

ENDER'S GAME reading levels

ENDER'S GAME is a remarkable book.  Winner of two prestigious Science Fiction Awards, it currently  has 4.28 STARS from 489,714 reviewers at GoodReads.  

Reasons for the books' popularity include the quality of Orson Scott Card's writing and his ability to include emotional elements in his plotting.  One can't help but feel for the children that are torn from their families, nor to hope that they can come up with a solution so that the Buggers don't conquer mankind.

For any age, Ender's Game is definitely guy-friendly.  

ENDER'S GAME

*Nebula Award Winner*
*Hugo Award Winner*

*Locus Award Nominee*

Aliens have attacked in Earth space and the prognoses looks grim.  So in an effort to save humanity children are genetically created to be military geniuses.  

The Wiggins family has 3 three brilliant children: Ender, Peter, and Valentine.  But it is only the two boys who have a talent for things martial and that sets off the emotional dynamic in this series, especially after Ender is chosen for Battle School and sadistic Peter is excluded.

Truly a brilliant, intelligent book.

Word Count: 100,609
Page Count: 352
Accelerated Reading  5.5 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 28441
Lexile: 780L

SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD
*Nebula Award Winner*
*Hugo Award Winner*

*Locus Award Winner*
*Cambell Ward Nominee*

Word Count: 128,569
Accelerated Reading  6.1 / points: 21.0
AR quiz: 28448
Lexile: 850L

XENOCIDE
*Hugo Award Nominee*

*Locus Award Nominee*

Word Count: 179,484
Accelerated Reading  level: 6.3 / points: 29.0
AR quiz: 28452
Lexile: 890L

CHILDREN OF THE MIND
Word Count: 113,042
Accelerated Reading level: 6.2 / points: 18.0
AR quiz: 28455
Lexile: 860L

ENDER'S SHADOW
Word Count: 140,695
Accelerated Reading  level: 5.9 / points: 22.0
AR quiz: 32282
Lexile: 780L


SHADOW OF THE HEGEMON
Word Count: 113,827
Accelerated Reading level: 6.3 / points: 19.0
AR quiz: 46855
Lexile: 860L


SHADOW OF THE GIANT
Word Count: 106,328
Accelerated Reading level: 5.7 / points: 17.0
AR quiz: 86588
Lexile: 830L


The following books are set in Ender's universe but are not part of the numbered series.

ENDER IN EXILE

The war is over and not the children of the Battle School must readapt to life in the outside the military.  But where do they go?  They haven't seen their families for years.

And poor Ender.  He saved humanity, but now he's reviled. No longer allowed to live on Earth he chooses exile with his sister Valentine.  And they choose the stars and beyond!


Word Count: 126,600
Accelerated Reading level: 6.0 / points: 20.0
AR quiz: 126924
Lexile: 840L


  WAR OF GIFTS

At the Battle School religious holidays are outlawed. Dink Meeker consequently sets off a mini rebellion when he tucks a present into another student's shoe.  Some surprising alliances are created for Dink and Ender and ultimately The War over Santa Claus forces everyone to make a choice.

Word Count: 20,922
Accelerated Reading level: 4.9 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 119003
Lexile: 730L

FIRST MEETINGS IN ENDER'S UNIVERSE

This book contains 3 novellas about Ender's family, and it includes the original ENDER'S GAME.

Word Count: 48,319
Accelerated Reading level: 5.6 / points: 8.0
AR quiz: 75120
Lexile: 850L

MICHAEL VEY Reading Levels

Richard Paul Evans new series has finally made it onto the New York Times Best Series list for 2013.  

This captivating series has intrigued both teens and adults.

**all ratings from GoodReads

THE PRISONER OF CELL 25
(Michael Vey book #1)
by Richard Paul Evans

4.09 avg rating — 9,423 ratings

To most of his schoolmates Michael is an ordinary fourteen-year-old. In fact, the only thing sets him apart is that he has Tourette’s syndrome. However Michael is anything but ordinary. Michael has special powers.

At first Michael thinks he's the only one with these types of powers. But then he meets Taylor, a cheerleader. With the help of Ostin, another friend, the three set out to uncover what gave them this power. But this investigation only brings them to the attention of the wrong people.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 84,020
Page Count: 336
Accelerated Reader: 3.5 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 146904
Lexile: HL500L
--sample pages available 

RISE OF THE ELGEN
(Michael Vey book #2)
by Richard Paul Evans

4.20 avg rating — 4,081 ratings

Michael and other "electric" teenagers learn about the Order of Elgen's plan to reorganize the world.

Word Count: 86,897
Page Count:  335
Accelerated Reading level: 4.0 / points: 12.0
AR quiz: 153129
--sample pages available

BATTLE OF THE AMPERE
(Michael Vey book #3)

4.22 avg rating — 369 ratings

With Michael's mother now safe, the gang gets back together in an attempt to stop Ampere.

Page Count: 320
no reading information currently available 


compiled by Pam
updated October 2013

Dav Pilkey Books - The Index

Dav has written and drawn some of the most popular books in 'Boy Land'. These are books that can get even the busiest boy to slow down enough to spend some time with a book.


SERIES

Captain Underpants
--children love this series. I can't even guess how many times my Dave has read them. At the 4th and 5th Grade levels.

Dumb Bunnies
--this series appeals to the goofy in kids. At the 2nd & Grade level, except for one 3.1.

Super Diaper Baby
--when Harold and George of 'Captain Underpants' are forbidden to draw anymore of the heroes stories, they come up with this pint-sized hero. At the 2nd Grade level.

Ricky Ricotta & his Giant Robot
--Seven books in the series. Some in Spanish. At the multiple levels.

The Dragon series
--These 5 books are at the 2nd & 3rd Grade level. But more importantly they're a great selection to share with little ones.


OTHERS

Dav Pilkey's book at the 1st Grade level

Dav Pilkey's books at the 2nd Grade level


compiled by iPam

BRANDON MULL reading levels

Brandon Mull is a fabulous author who writes action books that guys (and girls) like. Here is his portfolio with descriptions and reading information.

Ratings from GoodReads!

THE BEYONDERS

World Without Heroes #1

middle grades on up 

4.04 Stars — 11,335 ratings

Be careful what you wish for. Jason Walker wanted some excitement in his life. What he got was a sudden transport to Lyria, a land that's beautiful and magical. Unfortunately, it's also oppressed. The wizard emperor Maldor has risen to power and he's broken all resistance and left the realm with suspicion and fear of all outsiders.

In his search for a way home, Jason meets another traveler from our world, Rachel. Together they become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor. It's there best hope to find a way home and save this world without heroes.

Word Count: 124,250
Page Count: 496
Accelerated Reading level: 5.1 / points: 19.0
AR quiz: 142617
Lexile: 710L


Seeds Of Rebellion #2

4.24 Stars — 5,593 ratings

Word Count:132,457
Page Count: 512
Accelerated Reading level: 5.4 / points: 20.0
AR quiz: 150081
Lexile: 740L

Chasing The Prophecy #3

4.34 Stars — 1,780 ratings

Fabulous ending to this adventure series.  

Word Count: 140,951
Page Count: 512
Accelerated Reading level: 5.4 / points: 22.0
AR quiz: 156961
Lexile: 720L

FABLEHAVEN

Fablehaven #1
middle grades on up

Fablehaven is a refuge. A place where mystical creatures have been gathered to prevent their extinction. Kendra and Seth's grandfather is the current caretaker. He is responsible for both the care of the creatures and the ancient laws. When Seth breaks the rules, powerful forces of evil are unleashed and Kendra and Seth have to set out to save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world.

Word Count: 75,178
Page Count: 368
Accelerated Reading level: 4.8 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 113529
Lexile: 700L


Rise Of The Evening Star #2
Word Count: 101,355
Page Count: 464
Accelerated Reading level: 5.0 / points: 15.0
AR quiz: 115046
Lexile: 730L


Grip Of The Shadow Plague #3
Word Count: 109,920
Page Count: 496
Accelerated Reading level: 5.6 / points: 17.0
AR quiz: 122328
Lexile: 790L


Secrets Of The Dragon Sanctuary #4
Word Count: 122,845
Page Count: 544
Accelerated Reading level: 5.1 / points: 19.0
AR quiz: 130013
Lexile: 720L


Keys To The Demon Prison #5
Word Count: 137,008
Page Count: 640
Accelerated Reading level: 5.2 / points: 21.0
AR quiz: 136399
Lexile: 730L


Candy Shop War

middle grades on up
 
Too much candy can be a bad thing. That's what Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon find out. They begin doing chores for the seemingly sweet proprietor of The Sweet Tooth Ice Cream & Candy Shoppe, Mrs. White. In exchange they get special candy. Treats that can make you weightless or unbreakable, or allow you to do things like shoot electricity out of your finger tips. 

Unfortunately though the chores begin to take a dark turn and they start to figure that perhaps they shouldn't have trusted Mrs. White.  Danger escalates when a competitor arrives in town and war breaks out over a powerful ancient treasure. Nobody knows where it's hidden. Only that it's capable of great evil. The kids race to find it, and struggle to figure out who to trust.

Word Count: 96,054
Page Count: 416
Accelerated Reading level: 5.0 / points: 14.0
AR quiz: 119123



Pingo

for little kids 

What happens when a child's imaginary friend turns into his imaginary enemy? "Pingo" teaches children that imagination has no limits and no age.

Word Count: 354
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 2.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 135706


compiled by Pam T
updated August 2013