Messenger

I've started two books in as many days and neither of them grabbed my attention. Messenger is one of the companion books to The Giver, but you don't have to read The Giver to love Messenger. I finished it fairly quickly, and I loved every minute of it. I love Lois Lowry's style of writing and the worlds she creates are so creative and entrancing.

A small boy is a messenger in his community, who accept outcasts from other towns. When the town decides to close its borders to outsiders, he starts a journey to retrieve his caretaker's daughter.

This is an incredibly easy read, and it a great short book. These are a couple gross parts as far as illness and injury are concerned but I think it would be great for anyone, especially your 8-11 year olds.