Description

Levi and Vik are best friends, gamers, and reckless thrill-seekers who are always in search of their next adrenaline rush—their next virtual adrenaline rush, that is. But when Levi slacks off with family chores, his soon-to-be stepdad, Bryce, pulls the plug on his electronics. Levi resents the punishment, almost as much as he resents Bryce’s annoying attempts to act like a father.

Bored and restless, Levi and Vik opt for a real-life adventure—a hike up nearby Split Fang Bluff. They climbed the steep mountain twice last spring, but the recent storm that just dumped two feet of snow would make this climb epic! Levi hopes the climb will shake off his lousy mood about Bryce and his new family setup. But instead, his troubles cycle through his brain in loops of rewind and fast forward. Meanwhile, Vik, a hardcore Mount Everest geek, can’t stop reciting facts about the dangers on that mountain—avalanches, icefalls, the “Death Zone,” and others. But what about Split Fang?

When a severe storm blasts the area, the boys’ hyped-up adventure turns into a harrowing battle to stay alive. The boys must use all they’ve got—gaming skills, mountaineering know-how, their solid friendship, and a reboot on Levi’s notion of family—to survive.

Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.

Description

Thirteen-year-old Jacob Waters is dreading his first day at his new school. Not only has he transferred in the middle of the school year, but he’s also just moved from balmy Florida to icy upstate New York, thanks to his parents’ new jobs. Now, instead of getting to hang outside year-round and shoot hoops with his friends, Jake has to figure out how to survive the cold and why everyone’s so pumped about hockey.

Fortunately, he has a three-point plan to fit in: Impress the basketball coach during gym class. Get permission to join the team, even though the season has already started. Befriend all his new teammates. But when things go horribly, embarrassingly wrong, Jake makes a fateful wish:

I wish I could do this day all over again—and not feel embarrassed.

To his shock, it works, and he wakes up to start his first day at school fresh. Now all he needs to do is get through the day without feeling embarrassed. But is not feeling embarrassed even possible in middle school?

Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.

Description

Twelve-year-old Alex has always wanted a real home, and he thinks he’s finally found one at the stately Thorn House in the tiny town of Independence, Texas. The fact that the house is supposedly haunted only makes it better. Most townspeople think the Thorn House hauntings are just legends, but Alex is sure they’re real, especially after seeing an apparition in the hall mirror late at night.

Unfortunately, no one else has seen anything the least bit scary, and his mother’s new ghost tour company isn’t doing well. If it fails, Alex and his mom will move again, and Alex will have to say goodbye to the only place that has ever felt like home.

Using science experiments, Alex and his skeptical friend Liz try to prove the ghosts are real and that Thorn House is haunted. But things don’t quite work out as planned, and the hauntings go from thrilling to terrifying. They must get rid of the ghosts—if something evil in the house doesn’t get rid of them first.

Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.

Description

Zane has a goal and a problem as he ends the eighth grade. He’s been picked for a youth conservation program that will let him enjoy the outdoors for the summer and start saving for a car. But his inability to control his anger has everyone on edge, especially after he has a big outburst as school lets out. Zane’s parents want him to pause his summer plan, but he promises to double down on his therapy strategies using the zones of emotional regulation.

Soon, Zane is trying to fit in and keep his cool as part of a crew with four other teens, a twenty-year-old crew leader, and a gruff ex-military program director. But getting along is the least of Zane’s worries when he learns that the school district wants him to transfer to a behavior support program in the fall. Furthermore, the national forest where he’s working faces a severe drought and increased wildfire risk. Under these conditions, staying calm won’t just affect Zane’s future school placement—it might also save his life.

Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.