Awards and HonorsALA-CBC Building a Home Library Booklist - 2018 Booklist 2015 Top 10 Books for Youth, Arts Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Books of 2015, Middle-Grade
ALA Notable Books for Children 2016, Older Readers
100 Notable Titles for Reading and Sharing 2015, Children’s Books
2015 Cybils Awards Nomination, Young Adult Fiction Booklist Top 10 Books for Youth 2016, Historical Fiction
ILA Teachers’ Choices, 2016 Reading List
Children’s Book Committee Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of 2016, Coming of Age
William Allen White Children’s Book Awards 2017–2018 Master List, Grades 6–8
1964: After Arthur throws a brick at the “Junk Man,” he expects to go to juvie. Instead, the Junk Man—James Hampton—asks for Arthur’s help collecting foil, mirrors, and more for a mysterious project. Author’s note, with black-and-white photographs of James Hampton, his artwork, and reproductions of his writing.
Topics James Hampton (1909-1964). Artists. Folk art. African Americans. Community service (punishment).
SRC Level 4.600000
SRC Points 14.000000
Lexile 760L
JLG Span Fall
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2015-09-07
JLG Release Date Oct 2015
Minimum grade 6
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
Upper Middle School Fiction Plus (Grades 6-8)
Upper Middle School Fiction Plus
Upper Middle School Fiction Plus (Grades 6-8)
For Grades 6-8
This collection features fiction titles selected for older middle school readers who are ready for longer, more layered stories that explore growing independence and changing perspective. Selections include realistic and speculative fiction with increased emotional and narrative complexity, offering stories that look beyond immediate experience and invite readers to engage with broader questions about identity, belonging, and the world around them.