Post by 4/16: Booktalks for Books 9-12
Here we will post virtual booktalks about our independent reading choices. You have already posted talks on books 7 and 8. By 4/16, post book talks on books 9-12.
REMEMBER: Follow the format that Donelson and Nilsen share with us on p.287 for each book talk you post! I'm talking about the pink box, folks. That means you'll suggest a section for reading at the end of each of your booktalks, and you will follow the format EXACTLY how you see it on p.287.
Each one will be its own post, so I'm looking for 4 entries from each of you. Upon completion of this task, we should all have an impressive store of resources from which to pull ideas and texts once we begin teaching! Yay!
posted by Bucky C. @ 8:00 AM
45 comments
45 Comments:
Book talk 9
Zack by William Bell, Aladdin Paperbacks, 1998
199 pp. Teen Fiction.
Raised in urban Canada, Zack’s family decided, after years of living in the big city, to move to a small, more rural area of Canada. Zack comes from a bi-racial family. His mother is an African-American blues singer from Mississippi and his father is a college professor from Canada. The move is a difficult one for Zack as he has a hard time making friends in his new town due to his diverse family. As his grades begin to decline, he has one teacher, a history teacher named Ms. Song, who takes an interest to help Zack with his school work and assigns him a project on local history. As Zack begins to discover the lives and living of those before him, he begins to uncover secrets of his own family. Due to some unexplained circumstances, Zack had never met his maternal family. The only reason he could get out of his mother was that she and her father had a disagreement long ago and they simply did not talk with one another anymore. The more Zack uncovered about his local history, the more curious he became about his own. One weekend his parents flew out of town leaving him home alone for a few days. It was then he took it upon himself to meet his maternal family face-to-face and get some answers. Only, the answers he found were not the ones he had hoped for.
From second paragraph on p. 153 to bottom of p. 155, good for leading discussion on what the class may predict the ending to be.
Book Talk 10
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Bantam Books, reissue 1993.
289 pp. grades 9-12.
This autobiography of Maya Angelou is the first in a series of five. She writes about her years growing up in Arkansas during the Great Depression, segregation in the nation, her relationship with her religion, her lesbian tendencies, and her rape and the young age of 8-9 by her mother’s boyfriend. Because her mother and father were divorced when she and her brother were very young, they were sent to live with the grandmother. Maya and her brother led a relatively normal life while there, unlike before when they were shifted between their mother and father. When Maya and her brother were older, their father came to get them and took them back to California there. Due to circumstanced their father could not control, he sent them to live with their mother a while. This was when Maya was raped as a child. Her mother’s boyfriend took her into his confidences by giving her the attention she so readily craved and took advantage of her. This sent Maya into a deep depression for a long time and she was unable to come out of it until her mother sent her back to live with her grandmother. The next few years were difficult for Maya as she had already been tainted by lust and greed. She underwent a portion of her earlier teen years with the impression that she could be a lesbian. This was especially difficult for women in this era to believe of themselves. After discovering her curiosity as normalcy she began to believe that she will survive and make out of the hell-hole that was her life. However, fate had other plans. She began a downhill journey to self-destruction that ended in a pregnancy as a teenager.
Good reading. Pp. 183-184. Gives a sense of what her culture meant to her and her brother.
Book Talk 9
Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004.
200 pp. Ages 13 and up.
In this autobiography, Jack Gantos is a young writer who is looking for money for college tuition and a way to a better life. This novel starts off by him telling us about his life before the “incident.” He was a very smart and hard working man. Yet, he also had some conflicts in his life. He became friends with people who were bad influences on his life. They encouraged him to start smoking weed which was not good for a person who is looking to do something with his life. He was pretty much independent starting during the middle of his junior year in high school. He lived with families he did not know and worked to make his own money, but his habit of smoking continued to weaken him. He then meets a man named Rik. Rik asks him to be a part of his crew on a boat that was smuggling weed and was going to New York. He offered to pay him ten thousand dollars to do this job. Of course, this money looked beautiful to Jack so he took him up on his offer. Well, the downfall to all of this was that Rik basically turned the boat in to the federal agents before Jack and the other sailor Hamilton took off to sea. But the Coast Guard let them continue to New York and did not try to arrest them until they were in New York. Hamilton was caught in the hotel but Jack got away and went back to Florida to stay where he once was before. He called his father and his father let him know that the FBI was looking for him and that he should turn himself in. So Jack listened to his father and he was put in jail with a juvenile charge which meant he would get up to six years in prison. He was lucky because he was put in a federal prison and he got his own cell and was given the opportunity of being an x-ray technician, which he took this job. He was finally able to get a social worker willing to help him and was able to get an early release because he got accepted to a junior college. The novel ends with him out of jail and working to make money and to stay in school. He also realizes at this point that the hole in his life was writing. That is what he needed to be doing the whole time that he was doing wrong.
Pages 72-75 are good for reading aloud.
Book Talk 10
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares, Dell Laurel-Leaf, 2001.
326 pp. Ages 10 and up.
This novel is about four best friends that have not been separated much up until the summer that they found a pair of magical jeans. These jeans were so magical that they fit all of these girls that were not the same size at all. So the girls made a pact that they would share the jeans and mail them to one another as they went there separate ways that summer. They made up a list of ten rules for the jeans. The girls would also write a letter to one another as they mailed the jeans to tell each other what had happened so far during their summer apart. Carmen went to South Carolina to visit her father. She finds out that he has a whole new family and is going to be getting married. She feels left out but she must learn how to get along with a new family and not think that everything revolves around her. Lena goes to Greece for the summer to visit her grandparents. She falls in love with Kostos, but her grandmother does not want her to see him. She goes behind her back and sees Kostos anyway and in the end it may really be true love. Bridget loves soccer. She goes to Baja for soccer camp and falls in love with one of the coaches named Eric. Of course she is vulnerable and thinks that he is in love with her too but she must find out the hard way that love is not always at first sight. And last but not least, Tibby, she stays at home for the summer and works at a local store named Wallmans. She makes a new friend that is a bit younger than her, but they continue to hang out over the summer. She finds out that her friend, Bailey, is very sick and so she becomes more of a friend to her as well. Tibby learns a lot about friendship and life from spending that summer with Bailey. All of the girls learned many new things that they had not discovered about themselves yet.
Pages 25-27 are good for reading aloud.
Book Talk 11
Promise You Won't Get Mad and other read-aloud plays for young people by Amy Rider, Cottonwood Press, Inc, 2000.
72 pp. Ages 10 and up.
The main character Alicia Johnson, from the play Promise You Won't Get Mad, discovers more than just a new sweater that she wants at the mall. She finds out that some of her friends have been using metal slugs to play video games, for free, at the arcade in the mall. She does not tell on them but she does later find out that the arcade’s owner does know that he is getting ripped off and is offering an award for any information. She does not tell on her friends, but she does go to her friends and discusses what has been going on. The problem does get settled and she does not lose a friend in the process of doing what is morally right. This play addresses the topics of honesty, stereotypes, and materialism.
There are also three other plays in this book of plays. I will give brief synopses of each. In the play It’s Not a Party. It’s a Get-Together. Luke’s parents leave town for an overnight trip and they expect him to stay at his friend Brian’s house. But Luke and Brian have a different plan. They plan on having a small get-together with a group of their friends at Luke’s house instead. They scheme a way to stay at Luke’s house by lying to both of their parents. Instead of there being a small get-together, about thirty people show up. Things go wrong, people scream. The neighbors then come over and end up ruining the party. Luke is left to explain everything to his parents. This play deals with issues on responsibility, peer pressure, and integrity. In the play Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore Art Thy Costumes? there are costumes missing for the play Romeo and Juliet. Rumors start to spread about what could have happened to the costumes. The school newspaper editor, Haley, is tempted to print the rumor that Crystal Thompson has taken them. The costumes do turn up but not by whom the students expected to have them. This play shows the problems of rumor and gossip. The last play is Election Day Blues. This play is about a race for student council. Jade Matthews doesn’t have much confidence in herself while up against Martin Foster, who has poured a lot of his money into his campaign and appears to be winning votes. Jade becomes discouraged and wants to drop out of the race. But she doesn’t and it may have been a good choice. This play deals with taking risks and having values for oneself.
There are introductions to each play on the table of contents page that are perfect for reading aloud.
Book Talk 12
What Have You Lost? by Naomi Shihab Nye, First Harper Tempest, 2001.
170 pp. Ages 13 and up.
This book has about 160 poems that are all based off of the theme of loss. Every author in this book has his or her own story to tell. This book would be great for oral bridges and for poetry prompts.
Here are a list of page numbers with poems that I think would be good for reading aloud (even though they are all good enough for reading aloud): 3, 12, 14-15, 19, 32, 49-51, 54-55, 56, 75, 91, 113, 122-123, 132, 133, 140, 148, 162, and 170.
Book Talk 9
Like Sisters on the Homefront by Rita Williams-Garcia, Penguin Group, 1995.
165 pp. Teen Multicultural
Gayle is a fourteen year old mother of Jose and is pregnant for the second time. Forced by her mother to have an abortion, she does so unknowing. She is so oblivious to real-life factors. Living in Jamaica, NY, she keeps up with her "girls" and lives a slightly uneducated life. Her mother is trying to do best, so she sends her to Georgia to live with her uncle, aunt, and cousin Cookie. Living with her preacher uncle, she has a long haul ahead to find "Jesus" and gain some morals.
Bottom of P 62 would be good to read to show how ignorant Gayle is to pregnancy at 14.
Book talk 10
Sex Explained: Honest Answers to Your Questions About Guys and Girls, Your Changing Body, and What Really Happens During Sex by: Magali Clausener –Petit and Melissa Daly, Amulet Books, 2004
112 pp. Teen Non-fiction, informational
The authors do a great job of hitting all the important concepts of teen sexuality. It goes beyond just informing kids of what sex is, but also addresses so many other important issues such as: puberty, pregnancy, sexuality, intercourse, protection, sexually transmitted diseases, adoption, and numerous other issues. The book is appealing, because it is very informative without ever making one feel uncomfortable while reading. The illustrator does a good job also, because anyone can understand the simple pictures or relate to what the characters are experiencing, such as pimples during puberty, sexual attraction, and questions about their bodies. There is no need for the authors to beat-around-the bush about issues, because if someone is reading this book, they obviously have questions and want to find some truth. I think this is the perfect book for sex-ed. This book addresses the important issues, but in a better way that we can all relate to. Plus, if we read it alone, rather than watching a movie as a class, maybe that horrible embarrassment can be avoided.
The WHOLE INTRODUCTION p1 can be read aloud. It sets up what is to come and is very informative.
Book Talk 11
Inherit The Wind by:Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, Random House Publishing, 1955.
129 pp. Teens
Inherit the Wind, is a play based on the Scopes Monkey Trial, but it is not supposed to be an exactly historically accurate account. It is fictionalized with the changing of character names and also the addition of others who were never involved in the original court case. The play sticks pretty must to the same story line though. Bertram T. Cates, a school teacher in a small town called Hillsboro, is on trial for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution in a bible-belt town. The town believes that he is going against God by displaying an alternate theory of creationism. It is a story of evolutionism vs. creationism. Inherit the Wind is trying to show a lesson, that being fearful and ignorant makes people become conservative and thoughtless, living not for themselves, but for others. Although it is not completely accurate, it touches on many important themes in society.
pp 70-71 would be good for reading aloud. It is a good part of the trial.
Book Talk 12
Witness by:Karen Hesse,Scholastic Inc,2001
161 pp, Poetry
Witness is a lyrical novel that is based on 1924 Vermont in the madness of the Ku Klux Klan coming into town. It is told through the view points of all the townspeople. The two youngest, an African American 12 yr old girl and a 6 yr old Jewish girl are the main voices throughout the poems. It is very engaging and sad. The community is on the edge of disaster, and no one knows what to do about it. You want to hurry and read to the end to find out what happens to the town.
P 126 is great for reading aloud. It tells of what the town is coming to because of the KKK.
Book talk 9
PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives by Frank Warren. ReganBooks an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2005.
276 pp. Graphic Art/Nonfiction. Age-appropriateness varies.
The author, Frank Warren, compiled this group of postcard confessions that people have sent in to the PostSecret blog or organization. The project is a type of anonymous psychotherapy, offering participants a chance to reveal painful or embarrassing secrets without attaching a name. The secrets represented in this book range from funny, to heartbreaking, shameful, provocative, to just plain weird or disturbing. Regardless, all secrets are true, and the graphics that accompany them are thought provoking. Many of the representations in this book would make great writing prompts, visual bridges, or even introductions to hard-to-discuss topics. This book does not really have a story line but does cover a variety of topics.
Pages 36-37 are good for reading aloud. (All four graphics deal with telling the truth.)
Book 10
Mindscapes: Poems for the Real World edited by Richard Peck. Delacorte Press, 1971.
153 pp. Poetry. Young Adult.
This book compiles the poems of several Modernist poets, including William Carlos Williams, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, May Swenson, and other canonized poets such as Yeats. The poems are all fairly accessible, as the introduction states as the purpose. The poems cover a range of topics, and the book is separated into eleven themed chapters. Some of the poems are those that students may encounter in their anthologized textbooks, but others are less well known.
Page xiii (The first three paragraphs of the Introduction) are good for reading aloud.
Book talk 11
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, 2005.
552 pp. Historic Fiction. Young Adult.
Liesel—a young German girl during World War II—loses her brother on a train ride with her mother as they are going to meet their foster parents. At the young boy’s funeral Liesel acquires her first stolen book: The Gravedigger’s Handbook. Liesel uses this book and others that she also steals or is given to learn to read. Her adventure in learning to read allows her to befriend the Jew that her foster parents are harboring in their basement and to make sense of the terrible war. Liesel eventually shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids. The Book Thief is narrated by Death, who often interjects his own commentary and interesting side notes, sometimes adding humor to the grim setting of the novel.
Page 119 is good for reading aloud.
Book talk 12
Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham. Vertigo a division of DC Comics, 2006.
140 pp. Graphic Novel. Age-appropriateness varies.
Based on the fables and fairy tales of long ago but with modern twists, Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall beautifully depicts Snow White as an ambassador to Arabian fables who, like Scheherazade of The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, tells stories to the Sultan every night to avoid being beheaded the next morning. Through the use of the frame, readers are told why Snow White’s marriage to Prince Charming did not work out, what became of the Frog Prince, how the Big Bad Wolf became so “bad,” how the witch from “Hansel and Gretel” became embittered, and how the many characters escape from the “Adversary.” As with most fables, each story has a moral, and Snow White’s stories for the Sultan ultimately make him decide to no longer continue his wife-beheading custom. Though each individual story can stand alone, the fables work together to create sense in the larger tale.
Page 136 could be read aloud as an introduction to the novel.
A Girl Like Moi: The Fashion-Forward Adventure of Imogene by Lisa Barham, Simon
Pulse, 2006
The main character is a posing to be rich fashion diva named Imogene. She writes for her preppy Greenwich school newspaper as a fashion columnist. After her plans go awry for a summer in Paris she lands her dream internships. She spends her summer gallivanting around New York City with her dream job, with a well-known fashion agency. This book is similar to The Devil Wears Prada when Imogene has to outwit the senior intern who controls and steals all of her hard work. The books ends happy with Imogene saving the fashion agency. The text also incorporates illustrations, text message conversations, and is in an overarching blog style. The main concern I have with teaching the text is the trend factor of the book. Within a few years all the language styles and references could be obsolete like spring fashions. A good section to read out loud to a class: page 47 explaining Imogene’s refuge in her closet.
The Teahouse of the August Moon by John Patrick, Dramatists Play Service, 1953.
The play is set in post World War II American occupied Japan. The Sergeant Gregovich sends Captain Fisby to the small Japanese town of Tobiki in order to create a school and set up a democracy. With the help of the sly interpreter, Sakini, Captain Fisby becomes completely acclimated to Japanese culture instead of enforcing American culture. Through several failed attempts, Captain Fisby finds that the true source of the town’s wealth lies in the production of alcohol from sweet potatoes. Sergeant Gregovich is not happy the progress of “plan B” and attempts to destroy the town. However, the people of Japan are used to invasion and secretly preserved their brewery and new teahouse. The historical value of this text is particularly interesting. In a humorous and lighthearted portrayal, the issue of cultural clash is addressed. It can also be used in conjunction with a history class studying the ramifications of World War II. It is also a quick and lighthearted read for reluctant students. To have the students laughing read pages 16-19.
The Day the Women Got the Vote: A Photo History of the Women’s Rights Movement, by George Sullivan, Scholastic Inc., 1994.
This book takes students through the Women’s Rights Movement before and after they gained the right to vote November 2, 1920. It moves through various social categories such as education, women’s reform, working women, and even contains a timeline of important events. Women’s role in war also moved from the Civil War through World War II. The text and picture combinations entice student’s senses for learning the material. The bold, larger text also helps the non-fiction material and historical accounts not seem as daunting. This text could be substituted for a chapter in a textbook dealing with the same subject. A great passage for reading to a class is page 10 beginning with “female rebels,” and do not forget to show the class the great pictures through out the text!
Skin Deep and Other Teenage Reflections, poems by Angela Shelf Medearis and illustrated by Michael Bryant, McMillan Books for Young Readers, 1995.
Skin deeps a pubescent teenagers gospel. There are poems that deal with many issues attached to adolescents. Poems about dating such as “I’d Rather,” “Modern Dating,” and “Forever.” Self-identity is also a common theme in poems “In the Bathroom Mirror,” “Jigsaw,” “As Soon As I Find Out Who I Am You’ll Be the First to Know,” and others. Touchier themes such as anorexia/bulimia, teenage pregnancy, drugs, and depression also find their place in the pages. The illustrations are sketches (like that of pencils) and do not portray very much emotion from the subjects. I would suggest the use of different subjects for a visualization of these poems. Possibly have students draw their own interpretations. This is a great collection of poetry dealing with the issues facing a classroom of teenagers. Great poems to read out loud, “I’d Rather” page 7, “Skin Deep” page 9, or any other poems that fit the subject being addressed in the classroom.
Book Talk 12
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, Scholastic, 1999
Out of the Dust is a novel written in poetry. The narrator is a little girl named Billie Jo who lives in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. The novel portrays her life on the famliy farm through extreme drought and hardship. Her family stays on their family farm when most of their neighbors are leaving to travel westto California in order to find opportunities to prosper. Each poem describes Billie Jo's thoughts and feelings about the struggles of her family. Most of her thoughts include the the lack of communication between her and her father as well as her lonliness.
pp. 111-114 Are good to read because it decribes the lonliness and lack of communication between Billie Jo and her father.
Book talk 9
Perfect by Natasha Friend, Milkweed Editions, 2004.
Isabelle is a thirteen year old girl who struggles with bulimia. After her sister walks in on her throwing up, Isabelle's mother sends her to group therapy. While in group Isabelle befriends another group member, Ashley, the most popular girl in school. They become close friends by binging and purging together. As the story progresses Isabelle begins to work out her underlying problems, which helps her with the bulimia.
Several of the characters have emotional struggles, most of which are linked to Isabelle's problem. For instance, Isabelle's mother struggles with the death of her husband by refusing to accept his death. As a result, she cries herself to sleep, starts working only part time, and takes down all the pictures of Isabelle's father which causes Isabelle to continue her bulimia.
When Isabelle discovers the underlying cause of her bulimia she begins to heal and helps those around her to heal. Throughout the novel the theme of grief is presented. Isabelle's struggle shows one way that teenagers handle grief.
To help students understand bulimia read pp. 101-107
Book Talk 11
A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, Vintage Books, 1958.
A Raisin in the Sun is a play that dipicts the struggles fo an African American family living in Chicago in the 1950s. The plot is centered around the Younger family using life insurance money to buy a house in a white neighborhood.
Throughout the play the value and purpose of dreams is conveyed through the Younger family. Each member of the famuily has a different dream they want to pursue such as the beliefs of the Women's Rights Movement and the Civil Rights Movement.
Perhaps the most important theme of the play is the importance of family. Throughout all of the hardship and disagreements the Youngers remain close. They do all that is necessary to keep the family together. For instance, when the insurance money arrives Mrs. Younger wants to imporve the family's situation by buying a house that they can all live in together. Family is extremely important to the Youngers which is coneyed throughout the entireity of the play.
Read pp. 110-113 to show family interaction.
Book talk 9
Equus by Peter Shaffer. Signet Classics. reissued 2001
Equus is a play centering around seventeen-year-old Alan Strang, a deeply troubled boy who has been sent to the local psychiatric hospital. He has brutually blinded six horses, a fact that the other doctors find so appalling that they refuse to see him. Alan's last hope lies with Dr. Martin Dysart, who slowly and carefully gets the truth behind the horror out of the boy. pages 50-52 offer a good read-aloud section
Book Talk Book 10
Multicultural selection
Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli, Knopf, 2003
Milkweed tells the story of a young Gypsy boy who is growing up in WWII Poland. At the beginning of the book, he remembers nothing of his family, not even his name, whenever he introduces himself, he says his name is "Stopthief." But he falls in with a gang of boys, and their leader names him "Misha." Many other things happen, but read the book for more!
pages 35-38 would be great read aloud.
Book 11 Book Talk
Nonfiction/Biography selection
Without You, by Anthony Rapp, 2005.
Without You is Anthony Rapp's memoir about his time starring in the hit Broadway musical RENT, by Jonathan Larson. Anthony was the only gay member of the cast, despite playing one of only three straight characters in the show. I chose the book because one, RENT is my favorite musical, and two, I identified very much with his struggle over his sexuality. He came out to his parents while working on the show, then his mother fell ill. It is a beautiful story I wept several times while reading. Pages 70-73 is good for read aloud
Heartsongs by Mattie J.T. Stepanek. Poetry selection, Scholastic, 2003.
Now sixteen, Mattie Stepanek published this book at age thirteen. It consists of twenty-five poems of his own composition. Mattie has Muscular Dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair. He even self-illustrated the book with fingerpaint. I would read the entire book aloud to a class, one poem a day, sort of like you did with Love That Dog, Bucky.
Oh man, I get so excited when I see the variety of reading we've done. I know many of us have yet to post our remaining booktalks, but even among these, there's such a richness and diversity!
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, Bantam Books, 1993
283 pp. Teen Autobiography.
A thirteen year old Jewish girl writes in her diary about her life during World War II. Her family had to go into hiding because of their race. During that time, Nazis were going around her town of Amsterdam, Holland and dragging out Jewish families to send to horrible concentration camps. Living in a small cramped up room at the top of an old office building with her father, sister, mother, another family, and a crotchety old dentist is not exactly fun. But, Anne makes the best of things, as always. This is the ultimate coming of age novel. Anne comes to terms with the fact that life is not fair. She learns about the world, about first loves, and about all the things that normal teenagers go through. All of her emotions and stories are recorded in her diary. It is a wonderful book that every teenager needs to read.
Page 151, Entry Sunday, February 13, 1944 good for previewing the book to the class…shows that Anne is just average teenage girl.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, Puffin Books 1997
276 pp. Teen Multicultural Fiction
Cassie Logan, a twelve year old girl is learning a lot this year. This is the year of house burnings, night riders, and racism is rampant. The mean, rich, white men in her town will do anything to keep the black people from voting, owning land, and learning. All of which her family is trying to do. Whatever happens, the Logans will continue their education. Even if they have to use the old rejected textbooks that the white schools have thrown away. Even if the white kids at school push them around. Cassie learns a lot about keeping her family together, and the love and dignity that runs through them all. Whatever happens, they will still have each other. “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” is a wonderful book about some difficult subjects. It is a must-read for young teens anywhere.
Pages 9-14 good to lead a class discussion on the history of the Civil Rights Movement
Antigone by Sophokles, from Sophokles, The Complete Plays, A Smith and Krass Book, 2000
48 pp. Greek play
In ancient Greece, out of the well-known tragic family of Oepipus, only two daughters are alive, Ismene and Antigone. Their two brothers killed each other fighting on opposite sides of a war. The brother on the side of Thebes was given a hero’s burial. The other was left out in the sun to be eaten by birds and rot. Back in ancient times, it was believed that unless a person was properly buried, their souls could never be at rest. One of the sisters, Antigone, braves the king’s death sentence to bury her brother anyway. Even though she is dating the king’s son, the king still orders the death sentence to be carried out. Teen readers will be intrigued to follow a tragic Greek play, that tells of a famous story.
Page 105 (The first page of Antigone) good to lead a class discussion on the history of Oedipus Rex and Greek mythology that is necessary to understanding the play better
The Best American Poetry 2006, David Lehman, series editor, guest edited by Billy Collins, Scribner, 2006
224 pp. Poetry
A collection of poetry from famous poets all over the world. A poetry book in a series that gets published every year from an American Poetry group. David Lehman, the series editor did it again. “The Best American Poetry 2006” has a variety of wonderful poems that any reader can enjoy.
Pages 1-25 are good for getting an accurate cross-section of the types of poems that are in the book
Book Talk 10
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, Grove Press, 1962
84 pp. Grades 11-12
Vladimir and Estragon are two vagabond types who spend their days waiting for a man called Godot to greet them on a desolate road. They do not know why they wait or for how long they will be waiting, but everyday brings them back to the same tree on the side of the road in hopes of meeting with Godot. Each day they question each other as to why they are there, why they are alive, and why the continue to wait for that slim chance meeting. Within the play, they never get the chance to meet with Godot, but they do continue to wait.
For reading aloud: pp. Vladimer's monolog on the bottom of page 78-79.
This comment has been removed by the author.
This comment has been removed by the author.
book talk 9
Wildlife Warrior: Steve Irwin 1962-2006; A Man Who Changed the World
By Richard Shears, New Holland, 2006
116 pp. Non-Fiction;
all reading levels above 7th grade.
This is the life story of Steve Irwin. Shears focuses on his contributions to wildlife conservation and his home life. Irwin died last year from a sting ray barb and this biography would be a wonderful addition to any classroom library as it portrays a well known television figure, that many, if not all, students will recognize from his tv shows on animal planet and his less popular movie. Shears does a good job preserving Irwin's life in this biography. Shears also focuses on the aftermath of his death and the public's reaction to it. I would greatly recomend it.
passage: pg. 139, 4th paragraph til end of first paragraph on page 140
Book talk 10
The Monkey's Paw: by W. W. Jacobs and Louis N. Parker 1902
there have been different variations of it by different playwrites. it can be found in many textbooks, and online.
10-15 pp. (depending on Playwrite) Play selection:
grades 7th and up.
This play is very short the longest version only three acts long. It is a classic tale of be careful what you wish for. I highly recomend it for the classroom.
because it is so short, i would highly recomend that the entire play be read in class. if you are planning on using this in a class i would highly recommend this page for a lesson plan i found it when researching the play. http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/Specialist/franceslively/lessons/grade8/monkeyspaw8.htm
book talk 11
Sounder William H. Armstrong, HarperCollins, 2002
116 pp. Multicultural Teen Fiction.
Sounder is a wonderful accounting of a young boy's experiences in Restoration America. he is African American and this story takes place over a period of weeks around the holiday season. the boy has to deal with many situations within these weeks and many traumatic experiences. his father is arrested, his dog is shot, and then disappears, and is presumed dead. this would be a wonderful addition to any classroom library and could be used for out-loud reading in class or for SSR.
passage: starting the first full paragraph pg 58 til the 4th line of pg 60.
book talk 12
Runny Babbit; A Billy Sook by Shel Silverstein, HarperCollins, 2005
87 pp. and a CD; Children's Poetry.
Children up to 7th grade.
This book of Poetry was the last completed before Shel's Death in 1999; and was published by his family after his death. the CD contains the poems from the book read by Dennis Locorriere. It would be a wonderful addition to any Classroom library. As it tells a story it would be a great choice for out-loud reading. children will get a kick figuring out the mixed up words and letter and it would garner great in class discussions.
Passage: pg 22 "Runny Huts His Own Cair"
Book talk 12
Wherever Home Begins: 100 Contemporary Poems, Orchard Books, 1995.
101 pp. Grades 9-12
Paul B. Janeczko has compiled a book of poetry by several authors who have written what home means to them. There are comical ones, sentimental ones, and even some full of contempt. Whatever the preference of the reader, there is a poem included that will touch the heartstrings that pull on thoughts of home. It may even compel the reader to reshape their views of what home means to them.
For reading aloud: p. 7, p. 39, p. 54, p. 59, p. 66, p. 93.
Book talk 9-Minority choice
"Miracle's Boys" by Jacqueline Woodson
Miracle's Boys is a story about three boys who lost their mother when they were young. Their father does not want them so the oldest boy takes on responsibility of raising the younger two. The middle boy has to serve time for gang related violence. All the oldest, charlie, wants to do is keep the youngest boy from winding up like his brother. This story takes place in New York in Harlem. It is a wonderful story about growing up in the big city.
Recommended pages for reading aloud: Pg. 40 and pg. 110
Book Talk 10: ARUBA,The Tragic Untold Story of Natalee Holloway and Corruption in Paradise
Author: Dave Holloway with R. Stephanie Good and Larry Garrison
Publisher: Nelson Current books, 2006
Biography
Aruba is the palce where Natalee Holloway and her Alabama Senior classmates went after graduation. Natalee goes missing and her father, Dave Holloway, and other family members go to Aruba to search for her. This book is told by Natalee's father and it is about all the problems he encounters with Aruban government. It also tells about how young pretty girls often go missing and are sold in the sex trade. Natalee has never been found when the book is completed. This book would be great in a high school class library because any teen that is going on vacation needs to know the perils that could happen to them.
Recommended reading pages; pg 1, first paragraph
Pg. 13, paragraphs 2 and 3
Book Talk 11: play
The Last Laugh by Graham DuBois
Published in the book "Teen-Age Plays for Classroom Reading
Published in 1971 by Plays Inc.
The Last Laugh is a play about a teenage boy named Joey who plays a trick on a girl named Lela. He writes an anoynomous note to her that is written in poetry. It says: Dear friend of mine, this is to say,
I want you here Saint Patrick's Day.
We dine at six and then we will go
To see the town's best movie show.
If you consent, just come to school
And slip a note to _____________.
Lela and some of the girls find out who wrote the note so they get back at Joey. All the teens are going to a costume party, so Joey's girlfriend and Lela trade costumes. This causes all sorts of problems for Joey. This play is a great play for teaching students how others feel when they are teased or mistreated by someone. It also teaches to treat others as you wolud like to be treated.
Reading aloud pages: pg 300, last five lines
pg. 302 first seven lines
Book Talk 12: Poetry
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Published by Scholastic Press, 1997
1998 Newbery Award winner
Out of the Dust is a novel written in poetry form. It is about a 14 year old girl named Billie Jo. She lives in the Oklahoma Dust bowl during the great Depression. Her mother and her newborn brother die due to complications of burns. She gets hurt also. her hands are burned and disfigured. Her father is very down hearted, but Billie Jo tries to keep him and herself going. They suffer dust on what little food they have. Everything gets ruined by the dust and drought. This is a story about overcoming hardships.
Recommended pages to read aloud:
pg 16, pg. 88
Maus II
Art Speigleman
Maus II is a continuation of the Maus I. Here we are introduced to new subject matter concerning the original two main characters, father and son. We see more of the struggles and atrocities of the Holocaust, and begin to see more of the war forming in the background as we are introduced to new character representations, such as the American dogs that eventually rescue the mice from their feline captives. We also see a stronger bond forming between the father and the son as the father’s story begins to solidify history through his son’s artistic ability. This is really an amazing work of art and literature that appeals to both the realm of History and English. This book would make a great supplement to the study of our past, a great novel to explore the dynamics of family relationships, and a refreshing compilation of both graphics and literature.
Any page will display intriguing graphic to entice the readers. I would suggest getting the compilation addition the houses both Maus I and II for the classroom.
Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison
This book follows a nameless, naïve, and basically invisible character through his life as a minority in a world of hate and racism. While the narrator’s naivety can be frustrating, it is also an example of the exhausted hope and frustration of the minority calling for equality. Our narrator is betrayed not only by white people, but by people in his shared race. He is faced with the “battle royal” where black men are reduced to fighting animals, to groups that are almost hypocritical of the racial situation they must learn to overcome. This dark and cynical tale is mind-blowing and all too close to home at the same time.
pages to read aloud, 142-144
The Apple that Astonished Paris
Billy Collins
Billy Collins gives us a laid back tour of the Poet’s mind. His topics range from animal fur, to funerals, to barking dogs and poetry lessons. I really enjoyed just sitting back and enjoying the poetry. He gives us simple lines and phrasing that allows us to relax in our reading instead of trying to keep up with convoluted rhyme schemes and hidden meanings. By using his sense of humor, Collins gently leads us into a more serious common understanding of more serious topics. His work is truly artful in that it can be enjoyed while being read quietly to oneself as easily as read aloud to a group.
Poem to read aloud: "Another Reason Why I Don't Keep a Gun in the House"
Post a Comment
<< Home