Virtual Book Talks!
Here we will be posting some book talks about our independent reading choices. Follow the format that Donelson and Nilsen share with us on p.287 for each book talk you post. You might also review pgs. 108-109 of the Ericson text.
Please post one book talk per post. So, if I ask you to post book talks for books 7 and 8 (and I will soon!), each one will be its own post.
posted by Bucky C. @ 8:09 AM
26 comments
26 Comments:
Chinese Cinderella
by: Adeline Yen Mah
Published by: Dell Laurel-Leaf an imprint of Random House Children's Books
Publication Date: 1999
This is a novel about a Chinese girl that is treated like Cinderella; her name is Adeline Yen Mah. She goes unnoticed by her parents and her siblings. Her only inspiration is her Aunt BaBa and her grandfather YeYe. Her mother died three weeks after she was born. Her family then treated her like it was her fault that their mother died because she died right after Adeline was born. Adeline felt that she had to be perfect in everything she does so that she could get attention from her father. She would win the top award in her classes and she also won President of her school. This still did not make her father want her anymore. In fact, these actions made her siblings despise her and want to cause more pain to her. One incident that took place was on a day when her father was not home for her to share her award with, so her brothers acted like they would celebrate with her by giving her a cold glass of orange juice on a hot day. Well, as she brought the glass up to drink it, she smelled the urine and automatically knew that they were playing a joke on her just like she suspected. She was a very bright girl, but she trusted her brothers not to do anything to her, even though they did. There were other things that Adeline’s family did to her, such as using her pet duck to help “train” the family dog. Well in turn, her only real friend besides Aunt BaBa, the duck, PLT, dies. She is treated disrespectfully throughout the story up until the end when she won a contest and received a cash prize as an award. When her father saw this in the paper, he had her brought from the boarding school that she was at and told her how proud he was of her. Now keep in mind this is the same father that couldn’t remember her Chinese name or date of birth, but he insisted on sending her school in Europe after reading about this contest. I suppose he then saw the light in his daughter that he ignored for so many years. One of the main reasons he may have been ignoring her is because of his new wife that despised the five other children that he had with his previous wife. Adeline has now been a physician for twenty-six years now.
I think that this a very worthy novel that deserves all the credit that it receives. I would definitely teach this book in a high school classroom and I would encourage other teachers to teach it as well.
American Born Chinese
by: Gene Luen Yang
Published by: Holtzbrinck Publishers
Publication Date: 2006
This graphic novel is actually made up of 3 different stories about the characters, Jin Wang, Monkey King, and Chin-Kee. The Monkey King starts off the book. He spent his time studying Kung-Fu. He mastered a lot of disciplines so that he could make his way to a dinner party. Once he got to the dinner party they would not let him in because he did not have any shoes on. So when they insisted on him leaving, he became outraged and started beating everyone up that was there. The story of Jin Wang starts out with him and his family moving into a new house. He goes to a new school and is questioned by many of his classmates with questions that were not necessary. He is then bullied and teased by the other students while at lunch and recess. He also makes a friend named Peter, but that is only because he wants Jin’s lunch. But after the winter break, Peter never came back, so then two months later Wei-Chen arrived at his school. At first Jin did not want to be friends with him, but he soon became really close to him. They were able to talk about things, including the girl that Jin had a crush on, her name was Amelia. Jin tries to find out if Amelia likes a classmate named Greg because he wants Amelia for himself. Later on Greg tells Jin that he doesn’t need to bother Amelia anymore because he thinks that Jin is not right for her. But Jin does not want to do Greg that favor of leaving her alone. Jin then sees Wei-Chen’s girlfriend outside and he kisses her when he sees her crying. She then hits him and then when Wei-Chen finds out he hits Jin also. This is where we get to see the formation of Jin into Danny, which is in the story of Chen-Kee, they are cousins.
Chen-Kee is Danny’s cousin. Danny is really embarrassed by his cousin. He says that he has to move every year because of his cousin doing something every year when he comes to visit. As soon as Chin-Kee arrives he starts messing with the girl that Danny is trying to ask out but he is unable to do so because she is being bothered by Chin-Kee. He also goes to school with Danny and in every class he seems to know the answers to the questions that the teachers are asking. Everywhere Danny goes, Chin-Kee goes. Danny pretty much loses the girl that he was trying to be with and he thinks that it is his cousin’s fault.Danny and Chin-Kee get into a fight in the library. Chin-Kee fights back because he knows Kung Fu, and this is where we see the formation of Chin-Kee into the Monkey King. We then see them both in there true form. Chin-Kee is actually the Monkey King and Danny was actually Jin Wang. Then they both tell each other there life stories. And it also turns out that Wei-Chen was the Monkey King’s son. The Monkey King admits to Jin Wang that he came to serve as Jin’s conscience- as a signpost to his soul.
I think that this is one of the best graphic novels. I absolutely loved it and I will have it and teach it in a high school classroom.
Anahita's Woven Riddle
by: Meghan Nuttall Sayres
Published by: Amulet Books
Publication Date: 2006
This novel tells the story of Anahita, a nomadic weaver living in Iran in the 19th century. Though women in this culture are viewed as second-rate citizens and do not really have a voice in society, Anahita's charm and drive help her to win over the hearts of many potential suitors, but also the minds of powerful men such as the Mullah, or religious practitioner. Anahita's father is the town's kadkhuda, or leader, and wants to betroth her to the wealthy leader of their tribe, the Khan. Anahita despises the much older man, however, and asks permission to choose her own husband. Because this is disallowed in the culture, Anahita uses her father's shared love for riddles as a ploy: Anahita persuades the Mullah and her father to allow her to weave a riddle into her wedding qali, or carpet, so that whoever solves the riddle first she will marry. The Khan, a prince named Arah, and Anahita’s lifelong friend Dariyoush all attempt to answer Anahita’s “woven riddle,” but only one can, and—fortunately—that man is the one who Anahita truly desires.
I enjoyed reading this novel and think that it could easily be paired with canonical 19th Century novels about women. This novel could also pair with stories about women in different cultures or about Iran. The topics of love, establishing self, choice versus tradition, and choice versus fate are all present in this novel. I would love to use this novel as a read-aloud piece in my future classes, especially since the names and some words are foreign to me. Students could hear me work through unfamiliar words, and that could serve as a model for them in their own reading.
Zap: A Play
by: Paul Fleischman
Published by: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: 2005,
First paperback edition: 2006
After Mr. Fleischman observed that yet another high school was to put on a production of Grease, he penned this hilarious play as an alternative to the “same-old” high school plays. Written as a tribute/satire to traditional forms of drama, the play carefully juxtaposes and interweaves seven different plays, ultimately to create on giant knot. The audience is given “remote controls” that they can use to “zap” the drama on stage to a different play every time they get bored, much like with television. The seven plays presented are an English Mystery, a Comedy, a Russian Play, a Performance Art Monologue, an Avant-Garde Play, a Southern Play, and Shakespeare’s Richard III. The play goes as planned as the “audience” switched from play to play; however, the plays eventually begin to change too quickly and props and sound effects become misplaced, actors show up in the wrong scenes, and the actors’ “real” lives begin to emerge and interfere with the action. In a style that has been compared to that of both the Marx Brothers and Monty Python, Fleischman creates a hilarious parody of theatre and the short attention spans of contemporary viewers.
This play is just that, a play, and I would not present this as strictly a piece of literature to study. I will keep a copy on my shelf, though, in case students need it for ideas or simply want to read it. Parts of it may be used, too, along with other pieces of literature. Also, I seriously doubt my class ever will, but if we miraculously had extra time to put it together, I would absolutely love to present this play, and I think the actors and actresses would have a blast. Such a venture would not necessarily be all fun, however. The students would have to have a pretty good understanding of each dramatic style in order to reap the full benefits of the script. The production of Zap, therefore, would be both educational and enjoyable for all.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963
By: Christopher Paul Curtis
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Copyright: 1995
The Watsons are a close African American family of five who live in Michigan. The story is set in 1963 at the boiling point of the Civil Rights Movement in the south. The beginning of the book paints a close and intimate family with the main character being Kenny who is accompanied by his sister Joetta and his brother Byron. Issues of poverty are addressed when Kenny becomes best friends with a very poor schoolmate. However the main function of the book is to give account to the integration battle in Birmingham, Alabama. The Watons mother is from Birmingham and the family goes south to visit her mother. While in Birmingham the youngest member of the family goes to Sunday School on the same day as the famous church bombing. Luckily Kenny’s prized little sister is not harmed, but he is left with a scare and realization of the hate humans are capable of harboring. The family is able to return to Michigan with the haunting memories of Birmingham 1963.
This book would have great value as a multi-discipline work. It could be used in History and English classes interchangeably. The Watson’s story is especially beneficial for understanding the Civil Rights Movement in the South. I would even use it with a history documentary. It can also be used in conjunction with “Black History Month” lessons in a younger classroom.
Lenore: Noogies
Collection: Issues 1-4
By: Roman Dirges
Publisher: Slave Labor Graphics
Copyright: 1999
This graphic novel puts a “dark side” to comic books. Lenore, the cutest little dead girl, is inspired by poetry from Edgar Allen Poe. Lenore dies of a sickness, but it is only a beginning of deathly experiences. Lenore has many adventures, but one continuing story line is involving her passionate admirer Mr. Gosh. Throughout the first few issues she kills Mr. Gosh multiple times finally allowing him to be eaten. She also baby-sits “Little Edward” who does not enjoy her careless behavior. Twisted fairytales also fall between Lenore’s antics such as “The Crooked Man.” There is little Roman Dirges is leery of sharing with us including his own death. Lenore can also be a grim reaper arc type because of the death she causes from a cage full of hamsters, her leap-frog buddy, and other various expired characters.
Though dark and gory, Lenore has many literary functions in a gothic type genre. You can use the graphic novel for introducing Edgar Allen Poe or the entire genre of the Gothic novel. It also can be used as a retelling of fairy tales in the various forms they can reappear. However, I would also recommend it to much older high school students.
The Giver
By: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Dell Laurel-Leaf an imprint of Random House Children's Books
Copyright: 1993
Jonas, a twelve year-old boy is selected to become the next receiver of memories for his utopian community. In his community, everything is perfect. There is no pain. The community elders carefully select everyone’s perfect job, spouse, children, dwelling, clothes and everything else for them. However, when Jonas meets the giver, and finds out some of the secrets to his community. He realizes that life was better the way it used to be…when there was pain and sadness, but also love and joy.
This book is the ultimate coming of age novel that people of all ages can enjoy. I enjoyed reading this novel and paired it to “A Scarlet Letter” because they have similar themes. The subjects of exposing the truth, saving lives, being brave, growing up, following or breaking rules, and death all come up in this novel. It could and definitely should be used in a classroom. An appropriate age level would be anywhere from sixth to eighth grade. I would use this novel if I was teaching a unit that included any of the afore mentioned topics. “The Giver” although and educational book, would also be a fun read for any class.
Maus II: Here My Troubles Began
By: Art Speigelman
Publisher: Pantheon; 1st Pbk. Ed edition
Copyright: 1992
This graphic novel sequel exposes the horrors of the Holocaust in artistic and emotional detail. Art Speigelman very creatively gives history another perspective as he tells about his relationship with his father, who was a Jewish man that survived the Holocaust. The story flips back and forth from his conversations with his father to his father’s recount of what he went through during World War II. This sequel to the first Maus tells about Vladmir’s experiences in the concentration camps. With the Nazi’s depicted as cats and the Jew’s as mice, readers get a very clear and depressing perspective of what really went on in those concentration camps. Art Speigelman does a wonderful job of capturing the emotions of his father and also getting the reader sucked in. Readers will always be eager to find out what happens next.
I would definitely recommend this book to a high school class (grades 9-12). It would work wonders in a history class that has to learn about World War II because it gives a real-life biography in a comic book form. Students will be entertained as well as learn about the history of the war. I would probably use this novel along with the first one, as a supplement to a unit on World War II. It would provide a wonderful teaching tool, and would help students get into the psychology of the people who went through such traumatic events.
Tears of a Tiger
by: Sharon Draper
Published by:Simon Pulse
Publication Date: February 1, 1996
Sharon Draper’s Tears of a Tiger is one very moving novel in the Hazelwood High Trilogy. It is a tragic story of a young group of high school basketball stars, the Tigers, who are best friends. After a victory one night, four boys decide to celebrate by drinking and riding around “just chilling.” Andy Jackson is driving the car with passengers, B.J Carson, Tyrone Mills, and Robert Washington. All are drinking except for B.J. who does not drink. The car crashes and everyone survives except for Robert. The whole novel is about how students at Hazelwood High, including the students involved in the wreck, are dealing with and trying to cope with the death of Robert. Each page is very gripping and thought provoking as it is told through many different peoples’ words. It begins with the newspaper article of the crash which automatically pulls you in to what you are about to experience. Then the pages are organized through the points of view of students at Hazelwood High involved in the crash. Through diary pages, class-written journals, thoughts expressed, etc, everything is so personal and honest. It is a very true account of the grief that people feel when dealing with the death of a loved one. It is on such a personal level. The only problem with the narrative of this book is that we can see how bad things get for Andy, the one who was driving the car, through his thoughts and feelings, when no one else can.
No one ever thinks they will lose their best friend in High School. This book definitely pin points the dangers and stupidity of drinking and driving. There are many flashbacks in this novel. I think these are very important and needed in order to really make one realize how hard it is to forget and to move forward in life. It is so hard for Andy Jackson that he ends up shooting and killing himself from the guilt of having murdered his friend in the wreck.
This novel deals with some very serious issues. Depression really takes hold of people. It is an emotion that is overwhelming. No one can really deal with it on his or her own. Denial is all part of the process, as it was for Andy. He told everyone he was fine, yet he still was acting out. I think someone should have noticed. It is so hard to deal with death.
This novelis important for reaching out. Maybe someone will read this that may be experiencing this guilt, and will reach out for help.I think the most important theme in this novel is to just keep going. If someone is going through this, this is the book to read to make one realize how much they will be missed, and how suicide affects everyone around them!
Breaking Up
By : Aimee Friedman and Christine Norrie
Published By: GRAPHIX
Publicatrion Date: January 2007
Breaking Up is a graphic novel that is perfect for any young girl. One may think from the title that it is a sad story about an end in a boy-girl relationship, but it is not. It is a very real account of any high school girl’s life. Chloe Sacks and her friends attend a school for the arts that is nicknamed “Fashion High.” Just like all schools, there is the yearning for popularity. Because “Fashion High” is all about fashion and art ability, everyone tries to one up each other. The novel is about four girls who are best friends growing up, but everything changes at the end of their junior year. The girls realize there is more to life than making your friends happy. Each girl wants to grow and experience their own happiness, but it is impossible doing so without upsetting someone or another! There is something for every girl to relate to in this novel. There is the girl, whose parents are too strict, the girl who is the “queen bee” that everyone likes, the girl who is intelligent and the “backbone” of the friends, and the girl who is in a long time relationship.
I would not teach this novel, because I do not see a tie in to curriculum. It could be put on a classsoom bookshelf though, with all the issues that teens face today. Because the novel has many ups and downs, it is just like normal teenage life. One second you are excited about what you are reading, a few panels later one are thinking “oh no she didn’t.” This novel is filled with happy times and sad times of growing up that every girl can realte to. There is a lot of drama and politics that one would see in any high school. I really enjoyed the way the authors did the panels. Every feeling the characters have is evident through the character’s expressions. There is a lot going on in each panel, but it is all interesting, so one never gets lost. It is an easy read and easy to keep up.
The Giver
by: Lois Lowry
Published by: Delacorte Press an imprint of Random House Children's Books a division of Random House, Inc.
Publication Date: 1993
The Giver is a story of 12 year old Jonas who is about to embark on his beginning journey into manhood. In the utopian world in which he lives, there is no pain- whether of physical or emotional nature- no one has more than anyone else, and there is no sensation of color or feelings. This world is denied the simple joy of watching the beautiful colors of a sunset. As each human develops into adulthood, they are given "pills" to suppress any sexual "stirrings" and they are assigned their life-long careers at age 12. This is where Jonas begins his journey. Every year there is a ceremony to assigned each 12 year old their "job." Jonas has been assigned the all important task of "The Giver." The Giver is the one person who experiences all the pleasures and pains that their society is denied in order to administer advice as to how to deal with a particular problem. As Jonas learns all the new sensations that the job of "Giver" entails, he comes to the conclusion that maybe his perfect world is not so perfect after all.
"The Giver" is a timeless classic that has been taught in the classroom since it was originally published in 1993. This coming of age book does seemingly represent a futuristic utopia, but there are ever so slight semblences to modern day society. This book can be used to ask students questions of their ideas on what entails a perfect world. Do they agree that Jonas's world is a perfect society? It can be used to bridge to Orwell's 1984, although "The Giver" is more of a middle school age book and 1984 is more of a high school book. However, it can still be used to introduce the ideas behind each of them. It is a wonderful book that seems hopeful in the beginning, but gets darker as the reader continues. It is definitely one to teach in the classroom. I think there is much to be learned from the students as we read and discuss. To hear their ideas of a perfect world would be enlightening on what our future generations have in store for us.
Inu Yasha
by: Rumiko Takahashi
Published by: VIZ Media, LLC
Originally published by: Shogakukan Inc. in Japan as "Inuyasha"
Publish date: 2003
Original publish date in Japan: 1997
Manga and the graphic novel are becoming and have been vastly popular among the younger generation. The utilization of these forms of media can be highly useful in the classroom. "Inu Yasha" is of the Manga genre and tells the story of a "dog demon," Inu Yasha, and young Kagome as they try to save the world from more evil demons who have obtained pieces of the "Shikon" jewel, or the "Jewel of Four Souls." This jewel holds unyielding power that, in the wrong hands, could cause complete catastrophe for the world. Anyone who posses the jewel holds powers to control the world. Kagome is a modern day girl who fell in an ancient well and mysteriously journeyed to the world of the Sengoku Jidai. This is a real time in Japanese history during the 15th and 16th centuries of great war, the samurai, and ninjas. There was much bloodshed which has led to the many legends and ghost stories that have been handed down through time. Kagome has been mistaken for the identity of another girl who saved this particular village many years before. Because of the resemblence of Kagome and Lady Kikyo, the villagers hold her in high esteem. Kagome comes upon the eternally sleeping Inu Yasha (who was put into this state by Lady Kikyo) and wakes him. He cannot believe that Kikyo is alive again and has a hard time understanding who Kagome is. Since Lady Kikyo was responsible for his deep eternal sleep, he does not like Kagome and tries to kill her any chance he gets. Eventually the two must come together to rescue the shattered pieces of the Shikon Jewel.
This manga novel is the first of a series, which is at 12 now. I was reluctant at first to read it, but once I read the introduction and the short Japanese history and how manga came to be, I was enthralled. It can be used to teach the students what it takes to work together in order to complete a task, however hard that may be. The illustrations are lively and almost tell the stories themselves, which can be very useful for students who cannot read as well as others. I do not think I would teach this book in a classroom, but I would definitely have it on the shelf, along with a few of the sequals. If the students do become interested, I may keep the complete the collection in order to keep them reading. It may be good to use in a small group study or as an individual project.
I"s
by: Masakuza Katsura
Published by SHUEISHA Inc. of Japan
Publication date: 1997
This manga is about a 16 year old girl named Iori Yoshizuki who is tricked into posing in a swimsuit for a magazine photo. She is on the drama team at her high school where a director persuades her into these photos by telling her she will be promoting her school's drama club. When the photos appear, she is not pleased at the provocative pictures. All the boys at school really like them though, and they ask to see more of Iori. Trouble begins when Ichitaka, a 16 year old boy who has a crush on Iori, tries to defend her honor. Will he be able to take care of the boy's harrassment of Iori? Will Iori grow to have feelings for Ichitaka? Read I"s and decide.
I"s is a book that is written from right to left which is the original Japenese form. Readers begin reading I"s from the back to the front. I's is pronounced "ai-zu" and is meant to be the possessive form of the word I.
This manga may do well in a high school library, but I would not use it in a classroom because there are some provocative pictures in the book.
"ttyl"
by Lauren Myracle
Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date: 2006
ttyl is a novel written completely in text message. It is about three teenage girls named Maddie (mad maddie), Angela aka (snowangel), and Zoe (zoegirl). They have just entered tenth grade and they vow that no one will mess up their friendship with each other. They are in for a surprise because their friendships are tried during this year of their life. Angela starts dating a nerd, Zoe has feeling for a male teacher, and Maddie ruins her good reputation. The three girls text each other about the events and happenings in their lives. Then they think that two of them are getting together and talking dirt about the other one. Will they reconcile their friendship or will they find new friends? Read "ttyl" and find the answer!
"ttyl" is a great book for a classroom or library. Teens relate to text messages. They will also relate to the things faced by Maddie, Angela, and Zoe. This is a wonderful book that I enjoyed reading.
Ghost World
by: Daniel Clowes
Published by:Fantagraphics Books
Publication Date:2001
Ghost World is about two high school girls, Enid and Rebecca, who find themselves entering the real world. Enid is more of the rebel who hates the world. She enjoys playing pranks on people and at times is mean. Rebecca just follows along with what Enid does. They are two bored high schooled kids who complain about boys and talk about strange people they see in the diner. As it gets closer to them graduating they realize that they are taking their friendship to a new era.
This book really showed the reality of two teenage girls. I would recommend this book to anyone. It was really easy to read and comprehend. It was not one of my favorite books to read, but I did enjoy it.
Blubber
by: Judy Blume
Published by: Dell Yearling
Publication Date: 1974
Blubber is about a 5th grade class who hates Linda and made up the name for her, Blubber. The ringleader of the hatred is Wendy. She is the meanest one of all because she makes fun of everyone she does not like. Tracy and Jill are best friends who live across the street from each other. They follow Wendy in her hatred against Linda. Wendy makes up a list of how to have fun with Blubber, she tells everyone to hold their nose when Blubber walks by and make her say, “I am Blubber, the smelliest whale of class 206.”
At the end of the story Jill learns that it is not fun to be on the receiving side of the end of such attention. Wendy was having a trial to see if Linda told on Tracy and Jill for trashing their neighbor’s mailbox. They lock Linda in a closet, Jill said that Linda had to have a lawyer if this was going to be like a real trial, but Wendy said that she could not have a lawyer. As Jill tried to stand up for Linda the table turned on her and Wendy began to come good friends with Linda. Jill was the one on the other end of being made fun of.
I think the book is a good for anyone to read, but I think it would especially be good for children who have problems with their friends and they can relate to the story. I feel that this book was a good example of “What goes around comes around.” The only thing I did not like about the book is how come Wendy was not the one who the table turned on. I think she deserves to know what it feels like to be picked on. Overall, the book was great and I recommend it to anyone.
Good work from those who have posted. Hopefully your peers will post by today's deadline.
One thing I'm noting is that you all are not completely following the format from the pink box on p.287 of N&D.
Note how they pick a section that is good for reading aloud? It would be nice if you all would do that in your remaining book talk posts. That will serve your peers all the better if they decide to look into one of your selections. It's simple, just say "Bottom of p.12-14 good for reading aloud," or something of the like.
Book 7 Book Talk
Night by Elie Wiesel was first published in 1960. In 1986, the novel won the Nobel Peace Prize. It is a non-fiction novel that depicts the story of a father and son who have been sent to a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.
It is a difficult experience for them from the beginning when the rest of the family was sent to the furnace upon arrival. As the only members of the family left Elie and his father must do everything possible to stay together for the fear of separation may lead to death for one or both of them. They spend many endless days doing hard labor with barely any clothes and less food under the constant fear of death from the Nazi guards. This novel reminds the world of the horror Jewish people faced during one of the most terrifying moments in history.
I would teach this book to either a high school or a middle school class. I find it to be a wonderful story that depicts the horror of the Nazi reign. I would like to teach this in conjunction with other World War II literature such as The Diary of Anne Frank and Maus I and II. There is a lot of information contained in these books that would make for excellent classroom discussions and wonderful learning experiences.
Book 8 Book Talk
William Shakespeare’s MacBeth tends to be a difficult book for most readers, however, when placed into a graphic novel the play takes on a format that allows the reader to gain a greater understanding. The rich language needs less interpretation due to the pictures provided by the graphic novel. MacBeth is a wonderful story that unfolds after three witched tell MacBeth and Banquo that it is MacBeth’s fate to become thane of Cawdor and eventually king of Scotland.
After MacBeth returns to Scotland he is given the title of thane of Cawdor, which causes him to think about the prophecy the witches told him. When Lady MacBeth hears of the prophecy and how part of it has come true she decides that it would be a within her best interest to speed the process along by creating a chain of murders in Scotland.
I would use this graphic novel in a classroom to illustrate MacBeth. I find it to be a wonderful resource to use in conjunction with the original text. I may even use it solo due to the fact that the dialogue is identical to the original. It is fascinating to me that a graphic novel has been created using Shakespeare’s plays. This is a great tool for reluctant readers and gifted readers.
Book 7 Book Talk
Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson
Published by Scholastic
Publication date: September 1974
Jesse Oliver Aarons Jr. is just your average ten-year-old boy. He lives on a farm with his parents and four sisters. Not only is it hard for him to fit in because he is the only boy, but he has nothing that really causes him to out. He really loves to draw, but he does so in secret because his father is convinced that art is for "sissies." The only friend Jess has to speak of is his seven-year-old sister May Belle, a first-grader, whose worship of him pleases him, but can sometimes be an annoyance. That is why Jess has been training hard all summer to become the fastest runner in the fifth grade, convinced that this will make his father proud because running is "manly." Imagine Jess's shock when he is not only beaten in the race the first day of school, but beaten by a girl! Yes, the girl's name is Leslie Burke, and she has all sorts of wild ideas. For one thing, she is comfortable in pants, and Jess has never seen a girl wear pants in his life. She reads a lot, which is something Jess enjoys but never has time to do because of his duty to the farm. She also doesn't have a TV, nor really sees a need for one, which makes Jess's jaw drop in wonder. Perhaps the most shocking thing about Leslie is that she addresses her parents simply as "Judy" and "Bill", and they are fine with it! Through Jess's friendship with Leslie, he learns that it's okay to be himself, regardless of what others think. Together with her, he creates a magic land which they dub "Terabithia" where they rule as king and queen. When Jess loses Leslie, he learns that sometimes bad things happen in life, but it is not necessarily our fault, and it is okay to move on.
Though I do not recall a specific page number, a good section to read from this book may be the section where Leslie accompanies Jess's family to church, because it shows that one does not have to believe in something just because another person says he or she should.
I read this book when I was in sixth grade for the first time, but I believe it could be used as late as 9th grade, because it addresses the important issues of love, loss, and individuality.
Book 8 Book Talk
Spiderman: Blue
by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
Published by Marvel Comics
Publication date(s) 2002-03
This Spider-Man graphic novel is Peter Parker's retelling of his love affair with Gwen Stacey, the girl he loved prior to the infamous redhead, Mary Jane Watson. Although I have always considered myself a Spidey buff, I will be the first to tell you that I have only started keeping up with the comics since the release of the first Spider-Man movie. That being said, prior to reading this story line, I had no idea that Gwen Stacey came before MJ. This book is a great one to pick up if you are new to the Spider-Man mythos, because it features confrontations with almost all of his classic villians. Just to name a few, there's the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, the Vulture, and the Lizard. Several more are featured.
Rather than pick a specific selection to use for read-aloud, I would assign roles to members of the claas, thereby turning the comic into a play. Since some roles are considerably larger than others, perhaps I would switch up the roles on different days. Since it is a comic, I might have one of my shyer students just do the sound effects. Trust me, there are plenty of those in here.
Every kid has heard of Spider-Man. I would say teachers could begin using this book as young as 5th or 6th grade, carrying it up to 12th. Teenagers will like Spidey's arrogance, and the younger kids will love the fact that they are being allowed to read about a super-hero.
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BOOK 7
My book 7 was Post Secret "My Secret" edited by Frank Warner
REGAN ~An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
this ya book is a compilation of post cards sent to mr. warner by people across the country and around the world. the post cards are secrets that people have kept and send anonymously. some are intimate details of their lives, and things they don't tell others...it is a wonderful book to use for visual bridges and would be great to have on a shelf in the classroom but wouuld be difficult to teach on its own.
a few of the postcards fetured in this edition are:
"I hate when ppl. talk about sex
on the beach as a sexy thing...
i was raped on a beach"
"everyday i pray that you will stand up
at my wedding when the priest asks if anyone has a reason why these two shall not wed.
i am counting on you...
i do not want to be here anymore...
save me no matter what i tell you...
i love you"
(BOOK 7 DATE 2006)
BOOK 8 (MANGA OR GRAPHIC NOVEL)
Teen Titans/Outsiders~The Death and Return of Dona Troy
by Phil Jimenez and others
DC Comics
2006
This graphic novel chronicles the history and importance of the character "Dona Troy." there are three chapters to this story: her death, her memory, and her return. this story was my first foray into the world of adventure comic books and i would definately recomend it for a classroom library, however i cannot see its usefulness as a required reading.
there is a section in the story where dona has returned and doesn't realize that the people she is fighting are her friends. this section visualizes the bonds of friendship and how they can save lives and souls.
The Tenth Circle
Jodi Picoult
Washington Square Press, 2006
A young teenager, Trixie, is a victim of sexual assault. She is battling the judgment of her own peers, as well as the questions and concerns of the law and her parents. Her parents aren’t doing so well either. Trixie’s mother is having a sordid affair with one of her students, while her dad struggles to make ends meet with his comic book dreams. Trixie’s family must find a way to pull themselves out of the Hell that they have surrounded themselves in. Jodi Picoult takes the reader down the dark and twisted levels of humanity, murder, betrayal and redemption. You’ll be left astounded by the ending, and transformed by the message this book delivers.
Pages 164-166 good for reading!
Running With Scissors
Augusten Burroughs
Running With Scissors is an autobiographical account of the life of a young man named Augusten. The book follows this young man through the early years of childhood to the freedom of adulthood. However, this novel never escapes from the strange, twisted, and sometimes shocking path of humanity. We are confronted with incontinent, naked children, a masturbation couch, the preacher’s lesbian wife, and many other scenarios that will make us wonder exactly what kind of life we’ve been living. Augusten stumbles in to scene after scene of a moderately traumatic lifestyle, aided by a few friends, a psyched-out psychologist, and an addict mother. It is merely chance that he makes it out alive. This novel is truly as freaky and berserk as all the critics give it credit for.
Good pages to read: 69-72
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