Worth by A. LaFaye

After 11 year old Nate breaks his leg and cannot work on the family's farm, his father adopts an orphan named John Worth to take his place. Despite their feelings of jealousy, Nate and John become like brothers. A lively story of two boys set against a backdrop of the range wars and the Orphan Trains of 1870s Nebraska.

Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise

The Dry Creek Middle School drinking fountain has sprung a leak, so principal Walter Russ dashes off a request to Flowing Waters Fountains, Etc. asking
"...We need a new drinking fountain. Please send catalog. "
Florence Waters responds:
"I'd be delighted. . . But please understand that all of my fountains are custom-made."
And so begins the hilarious chronicle, in letters, cards, transcripts, and official town documents, as collected by Mr. Sam N.'s fifth-grade class...
Flo Waters, an artist who looks everywhere for inspiration, solicits suggestions from the fifth graders--...a fountain big enough to splash around in; ...a glass-sided fountain with fish; . . . buttons for dispensing lemonade and root beer; and from Mr. Sam N.-- ...a hot tub and whirlpool for the teachers.
Flo is thrilled. Mr. Russ is beside himself-- . . ."We don't need a fountain like you create for palaces and hotels. Send bid as soon as possible, or sooner. "
But it's too late. The fountain project has taken on a life of its own. Flo is supplying designs from all over the world. The school board president is up in arms. So is her friend, Dee Eel, of the water-supply company. A scandal is brewing, and the fifth-grade class is researching Dry Creek's history. Something very fishy is going on...and the secrets are buried beneath the fountain and within this delightful, thoroughly original novel.

Ida B by Katherine Hannigan

Who is Ida B. Applewood? She is a fourth grader like no other, living a life like no other, with a voice like no other, and her story will resonate long after you have put this book down. How does Ida B cope when outside forces—life, really—attempt to derail her and her family and her future? She enters her Black Period, and it is not pretty. But then, with the help of a patient teacher, a loyal cat and dog, her beloved apple trees, and parents who believe in the same things she does (even if they sometimes act as though they don't), the resilience that is the very essence of Ida B triumph...and Ida B. Applewood takes the hand that is extended and starts to grow up.

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The village children are dying and Jessie's mother is desperate for medicine to save them. But it is 1840 and no such remedy yet exists. Except that it is 1996, and all this time Jessie's world has actually been a living history museum. Now she must escape to the 20th century to get help.

The Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman

Eddie Ball has the chance of a lifetime: to win a million dollars by sinking a foul shot—during halftime at the NBA finals, no less! A million dollars would mean the end to his and his mother’s problems. But someone really wants Eddie to shoot an air ball on the big day, and will do anything to sabotage the million dollar shot…

The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog by John R. Erickson

Hank the Cowdog, Head of Ranch Security, is framed for the murder of a chicken and becomes and outlaw with the coyotes.

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh

In 1707, young Sarah Noble and her father traveled through the wilderness to build a new home for their family. "Keep up your courage, Sarah Noble," her mother had said, but Sarah found that it was not always easy to feel brave inside. The dark woods were full of animals and Indians, too, and Sarah was only eight!
The true story of Sarah's journey is inspiring. And as she cares for her father and befriends her Indian neighbors, she learns that to be afraid and to be brave is the greatest courage of all.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Mr Wonka's inventions are out of this world. He's thought up every kind of sweet imaginable in his amazing chocolate factory, but no one has ever seen inside, or met Mr Wonka! Charlie can't believe his luck when he finds a golden ticket and wins the trip of a lifetime around the famous factory.

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

Abandoned at birth and brought up by a succession of failing foster parents, Dallas and Florida are the 'Trouble Twins'. But when they're adopted by Tiller and Sairy and brought to the beautiful and mysterious Ruby Holler, all four lives take very different turns.

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville

Sixth-grader Jeremy Thatcher discovers a strange magic shop he has never seen before. He enters, and his life is changed forever. Buying what he thinks is a marble, he discovers he has really purchased a dragon’s egg.

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

As a child Great-aunt Alice Rumphius resolved that when she grew up she would go to faraway places, live by the sea in her old age, and do something to make the world more beautiful--and she does all those things, the last being the most difficult of all.

Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole

Rock collecting has never been quite like this! When the class forgets to do its homework, a fieldtrip through the Earth's crust, into the center of the Earth, and out through a volcano will teach them not to forget their assignments again - and then some!

Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary

When Ralph and his pesky cousins accidentally make a mess at the Mountain View Inn, Ralph decides that he'd better take his motorcycle and leave. He persuades his young pal Ryan to take him to school, where Ralph is an instant hit with Ryan's classmates. But Ralph doesn't like being told what to do. Worse than that, his precious motorcycle gets broken. Is Ralph stuck at school forever?

Wanted ... Mud Blossom by Betsy Byars

When Junior brings home the classroom hamster, Scooty, he decides to build the best hamster tunnel ever. But when Scooty goes missing, all evidence points to Mud. Meanwhile, Mad Mary is missing, too—although her bag and walking stick were found near the highway. When Mary later wakes up in the hospital, she realizes that the Blossoms might just have provided her with the strength she needs to pull her life back together. It's anything but an ordinary weekend with the Blossoms!

Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs by Betty G. Birney

Eben McAllister longs to see the world outside of his small farming community. He might get a chance IF he meets Pa's challenge to find Seven Wonders right there in Sassafras Springs. With his faithful dog, Sal, at his side, Eben begins his quest full of doubts. Little does he know that the Wonders he'll discover among his neighbors, friends and family will give him the adventure of a lifetime ... without his ever leaving home. The book's striking black-and-white illustrations are by Matt Phelan.