I grew up in the '70s and '80s, and haven't worked in a bookstore (and thus seen the trends) since 1993, so my list is, well, oldish.

Much of Magnifico's list, such as the Little House series and books like Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web, would be good considering the language levels in question.

I hesitate to recommend the Sweet Valley High series, but when I worked in bookstores in the late '80s, this was insanely popular, mainly with pre-teens. I'm trying to keep the language level in mind.

Unfortunately, most of what I read as a teenager were comics, horror stories, and VC Andrews novels. Oh, and books about The Monkees. I don't think any of these would be welcome at your school, except for maybe the Monkees books.

I did read Paula Danziger; has anyone mentioned her? The Pistachio Prescription, Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit. Also Freaky Friday, by Mary Rodgers.

And back in the realm of general books, Judy Blume's Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great. Both very dated but fun.

Michael Ende's The Neverending Story and T.H. White's The Once and Future King are excellent but involved.

Some nonfiction, such as Edith Hamilton's Mythology, might work.

If subject matter is not a major concern, books such as The Chocolate War, Killing Mr. Griffin, and Ordinary People. The Bell Jar is always good, but again, language level and subject matter....

Students into puns might like Robert Asprin's Myth Adventures series.