The Orca Currents series is a set of hi-lo fiction with an interest level of ages 10 to 14 and a reading level of grades 2 to 5. Reading levels for each title are available on the Orca site.
Teacher Guides for Orca Currents are available as pdfs on the Orca web site.
Agent Angus by
When a stink bomb at school provides Angus with a chance to talk to Ella Eckles, he claims to share her interest in reading facial expressions. He tells her he plans to become a crime-solving mentalist. When Ella's treasured sketchbook is stolen, she asks Angus to find the thief. Angus knows he should confess that he's not a mentalist, but the appeal of becoming Ella's hero is far too strong. Angus decides to teach himself the arts of the mentalist and almost goes mental himself.
Bones by
Will these bones survive their fifteen minutes of fame?Sam and Annabel are visiting Drumheller, Alberta, where the farmland Sam's mother lives on is host to a dinosaur dig. Annabel, an avid learner, is thrilled to have access to paleontologists and spends as much time as she can near the dig, much to Sam's dismay. But when they learn the dig has uncovered scientifically important bones, even Sam's interest is piqued. In fact, the whole town is talking about the dig. When Sam and Annabel learn that Humphrey Battleford, a famous collector of stolen goods, is in the area, they are on high alert to keep the ancient bones safe.
Cheat by
Laurel discovers a passion for investigative journalism. Eager to write articles with impact, she launches an investigation of a cheating scam at her high school. She discovers the cheating is widespread, more than she'd ever imagined. Caught up in the search for the truth, Laurel is willing to commit social suicide to get the story. But her ultimate discovery changes everything.
Chick: Lister by
In this high-interest accessible novel for middle readers, fourteen-year-old Chick struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder and his father’s expectations.
Embrace the Chicken by
Even though she only left Mumbai a few months ago, Shivani isn't feeling like such an outsider anymore. She likes her new school. She finally has a best friend. But when her mother volunteers for the school's annual fundraiser, Shivani is sure she will completely embarrass her. Especially if she cooks one of the "stinky" dishes that Shivani loves but is too ashamed to eat in front of her friends. On the day of the fair, the moment Shivani walks into the gym she knows her worst fears have come true: the unmistakable scent of Indian spices is in the air. But then she sees that dozens of people are lined up at her mom's stall. It's the most popular one!
Available for curbside pickup.
Orca Currents Resource Guide by
Orca Currents are middle-school novels for reluctant readers. Written at a grade 2.0 to grade 4.5 reading level, these compelling contemporary novels have proven incredibly popular with teachers and librarians looking for material that will engage their most reluctant of readers. Orca has always provided professionally written teachers guides to accompany these books. Now we offer a complete resource guide to enable classroom integration of these popular titles. Including sections on reading levels, book discussion groups, literacy circles, assessment and follow-up activities, this resource guide enables a teacher to implement the Orca Currents series as part of a comprehensive independent reading and literacy unit.