Orca Currents are short, high-interest novels with relatable themes written specifically for middle-school students reading below grade level. Reading levels from grade 2.0 to 5.0.

Need help choosing your next Orca Currents hi-lo read? Check out our Orca Currents Poster.

Medusa's Scream

In this high-interest novel for middle readers, Chase gets a job at an abandoned gold mine that has been converted into an amusement ride.

Gold

In this high-interest novel for middle readers, Sam and Annabel are on vacation in Italy and discover a hidden stash of gold.

Payback

In this high-interest novel for middle readers, Dylan witnesses a crime but is worried about speaking up.

Bullies Rule

In this high-interest novel for middle readers, Daniel is forced to examine his own behavior after the teasing of a classmate gets out of hand.

Quiz Queens

In this high-interest novel for middle readers, boy-crazy Kiara convinces studious Jane to create a questionnaire to help find her soulmate.

Food Freak

In this high-interest novel for middle readers, Dani is mortified by her father’s public rants about the dangers of processed foods.

Shatterproof

In this high-interest novel for middle readers, thirteen-year-old Nate gets caught up in a money-making scam based on his resemblance to a celebrity.

Taz's Recipe

In this high-interest novel for middle readers, fourteen-year-old Taz is dealing with her parents’ divorce and trying to win a cooking competition.

Camp Disaster

In this high-interest novel for young readers, Charlotte has to find a way to stand up to bullies at summer camp without becoming a target herself.

Siege

Fourteen-year-old Jason and his friends witness a crime at a War of 1812 reenactment camp.

Caching In

Eric and his best friend, Chris, find themselves on a high-stakes geocaching treasure hunt.

Vanish

Fourteen-year-old Simone becomes a key witness in a parental-abduction investigation.

Oracle

Owen sets up an anonymous blog to influence a girl at school.

Pyro

Franklin has to learn to cope with life's challenges without setting illegal fires.

High Wire

High-wire walker Zack has to solve a mysterious theft at the youth circus.

Farmed Out

Fourteen-year-old Maddie, an artist with big-city dreams, is forced to volunteer on an organic farm.

Stuff We All Get

Fifteen-year-old Zack, a sound-color synesthete, is on a mission to find a musician he can relate to.

Benched

Cody and his friends get caught up in gang activity when they steal a park bench.

Storm Tide

Simon and his sister Ellen have to solve the mystery of the hidden treasure if they want to save the island lighthouse they call home.

Slick

Thirteen-year-old Liza gets involved in activism and takes on the oil industry.