Post Your Reading Lists by April 30, 2008
Please post the books that you read for your 6 independent choices. Give the author's name for each title. Write a 2-3 sentence summary/recommendation for each choice.
Example entry:
Barefoot Gen vol.1 by Keiji Nakazawa: This novel tells the story of a young boy's survival after the atomic bomb was dropped on his hometown in Japan. Though it does not shy away from showing the atrocities associated with nuclear weapons, I highly recommend it to teachers and students in grades 7-12.
posted by Bucky C. @ 9:03 AM
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14 Comments:
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
An unconventional girl from Barbados befriends a hermit and must face a heresy trail. I highly reccommend this book for grades six through eight.
Holes by Louis Sachar
Good-natured but different Stanley Yelnats is falsely accused of theft and sent to a camp for boys where he finds friends and the end to his family's curse. I would highly recommend this book for grades seven through nine.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
A young writer tells the story of her mental illness. Though this book contains some bad language and graphically sexual and violent scenes, I would recommend it for grades ten through twelve.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
A priveleged young Mexican girl is forced to flee to the United States work camps and learns many lessons about life, love, and family. I would highly recommend this book for grades six through eight.
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
The screen-play format of the story of Steve Harmon's trial for murder in Harlem. Though this book contains themes of violence and inner-city life, I would recommend it for grades eight through ten.
Buried Alive by Ralph J. Fletcher
This light-hearted collection of love poems is told through the eyes of several teens. Though there are elements of homosexuality and sexual feeling and expression, I would recommend this book for grades nine through twelve.
Amy Dozier
Booklist
1.Autobiography of My Dead Brother by Walter Dean Myers
This is the story of two young guys, who have been friends since they were little, living in an increasingly dangerous neighborhood. One, named Rise, chooses to join a gang and the other, named Jesse, is a gifted artist and is commissioned by Rise to write his life story. This is a really great book with very nicely drawn illustrations sprinkled throughout. I recommend this book.
2.Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
Ellen Foster is the story of an 11 year old girl searching for her place in the world. She has an alcoholic father and her mother commits suicide. She is sent to live with various other family members who treat her poorly. Along the way, she learns lessons about race and the southern town in which she lives. The book compares and contrasts what she has been through and her new life as a “foster” child. This is my favorite book and highly recommended by me.
3.The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Jeannette Walls and her family could be described as crooks. They enter a town, run up their bills, and move away. This is Walls’ memoir and in it she recalls the places she has lived and parents such as hers. Her parents considered all the moving and scrounging for money to be an adventure. Today, Jeannette Walls is a correspondent for MSNBC and her parents still live the life of adventure on the streets. I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down once I started.
4.Luna by Julie Anne Peters
Luna is really Liam. Liam is a transgender young adult; he looks like a boy in the outside but feels like a girl on the inside. Only his sister Reagan knows the secret. They are extremely close. This story is about the conflict Liam feels in his body and how his relationship with his family is affected by this. It is a great story and very interesting to read.
5.The Great American Cheese Sandwich by Burton Cohen
This is a very short play with only five characters, two females and three males. A strange family from a rural area tells various ways in which the great American cheese sandwich has saved their lives. The tales are humorous and extremely imaginative. This play would be fun for young adults and even more fun acted out. It is so short you can read it in 30 minutes. It is worth the read.
6.I Wouldn’t Thank You for a Valentine: Poems for Young Feminists edited by Carol Ann Duffy
This is a collection of poems by women. Some are well known and some are not. The poems are great for young adults and cover a multitude of subjects such as getting along with the family, school, and growing up. I recommend this collection. There are some poems in the book that shouldn’t be missed.
Amanda Kinnison
Booklist
1. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
A young girl is abandoned with younger brother on her tribal island. They must survive and fend for themselves as they encounter many trials along the way. I recommend this novel for seventh grade.
2. Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence
A young teacher is accused of teaching evolution in his classroom and he must fight to win the case with the help of a famous lawyer from the city. I would recommend this novel for grades 9-10.
3. Music of the Dolphins by Karen Hesse
A young girl, raised by a pod of dolphins is captured and taken to a rehabilitation facility on land. She must choose between remaining with the humans or returning to her dolphin family. I would recommend this novel for seventh grade and possibly middle school.
4. Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
A young girl from Barbados becomes friends with a secluded woman living in the town. Because of this strange friendship, she is accused of heresy and must go to trial. I would recommend this book for grades 6-7.
5. Telling Lies by Sophie Marceau
Sophie tells the story of her life growing up as a teenager in Paris. She describes life becoming a woman to her relationships as she matures into a young woman, as well as the complications which can arise with job searching. I would recommend this novel to grades 11-12.
6. Buried Alive: The Elements of Love by Ralph J Fletcher.
This novel was a collection of love poems given from the point of view of several teenagers. It covers many topics concerning love and erotic feelings as well. I would recommend this collection of poetry for grades 8-12.
Touching Spirit Bear
A boy with a violent history commits his worst crime yet and is given a choice, spend a year alone on a deserted Alaskan island, or go to jail and be tried as an adult. On his journey, he learns many things about himself and the world around him, and finds a way to make peace with himself and his victim. I recommend this book for high school students.
The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents
When a false rat plague is staged in a town, Maurice and his boy learn that there is more going on here than meets the eye. Who is the voice in the dark, and why is it controlling everyone's thoughts? I would recommend this book for grades 5-8.
Azu Manga Daioh
A slice of life look at students attending high school in Japan, this book follows no major plot, has no giant robots, or anything like that, but succeeds well in giving a cultural overview of Japan. I would recommend this book for grades 6-12, because it can be easily understood by nearly anyone.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
In this classic Shakespearean play, the lovers Hermia and Lysandre decide to run away, but when there are faeries at play in the woods, nobody is safe! Will love conquer all? I would recommend this book for High School students, grades 9-12.
Through Their Eyes
This is a collection of monologues from the students and employees of Survesyant High School, who were near ground zero on September 11th. Some are funny, sad, witty, angry, but they all show different views of the same tragic event. I would recommend this book for grades 10-12.
This Land Was Made For You And Me - The Life and Songs of Woody Guthrie
This biography follows the story of one of America's most well known and loved folk artists, who carved his way through America, writing songs of the common man during the eras of the depression and the World Wars. I would recommend this for grades 8-12.
House on Mango Street
A very intriguin story about a family that constantly moves around from place to place that is until they manage to find a place called home. The novel is filled with diverse cultures. I would recommend it for grades 8-12.
A Midsummers Night Dream
This is a classic play be Shakespeare where Lysander and Hermia are in love and there love is being tested by different elements. I would recommend this play for grades 9-12.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
This is a classic American novel about a boy who runs away in search of freedom and adventure and that is exactly what he finds on his journey. I would recommend this novel for grades 10-12.
Black Boy
This is Richard Wright's narrative that basically depicts the way in which he grew up in the South and the many struggles that he encountered and how he made it out alive. I would recommend this narrative for grades 9-12.
Lolita
THis is a very controversial book about a young teenage girl that becomes involved with a man in his 40's. There relationship becomes sexual and controversial. I would recommend this book for grades 10-12.
Life Doesn't Frighten Me at All
This is a collection of poems compiled by John Agard. The poems within this book deals with everyday issues that teenagers and young adolescents may be familiar with and therefore is relatable to this group of people. I would recommend this book for grades 8-12.
*Stop Pretending (Sonya Sones): Based on the true events of the author, this novel in verse follows a teenager and her family's struggle to adjust to her sister's recent mental breakdown. Composed of various poetic styles, the collection of poems addresses not only mental instability but also the search for normalcy and acceptance that is common in adolescence. Sones' novel would, without a doubt, gain interest in seventh and eighth grade students.
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*Day of Tears (Julius Lester): This novel in dialogue combines fact with fiction as it follows the fictionalized lives of individuals affected by the largest slave auction in American history. Its unique structure and vivid imagery make this book an excellent read for seventh through twelfth grade students.
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*House on Mango Street (Sandra Cisneros): This book is told by Esperanza, a Mexican-American girl, as she observes her and her family's life in America. The snippets of her thoughts and observations make this a quick and easy read. I suggest it to seventh through tenth grade classrooms.
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*Olive's Ocean (Kevin Henkes): This novel follows the life of Martha who finds herself connected to a recently deceased classmate. While on her summer vacation, she comes to understand and accept death as well as life. I would recommend this text to seventh through twelfth graders.
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*Spinners (Donna Jo Napoli & Richard Tchen): This novel literally puts a spin on the familiar "Rumplestiltskin" tale. The story becomes a tale of love and lost as the authors develop a fitting backstory for Rumplestiltskin. Because it examines an old story from a new perspective, I definitely recommend this novel to tenth through twelfth graders.
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*A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero (Gina Capaldi): This picture book chronicles the life of Dr. Montezuma, a determined individual. The text is reconstructed from an actual letter that Montezuma sent to a professor. Because of its personal look at Native Americans and their trials, I recommend this book for grades seven through ten.
Maus I & II by Art Spiegelman
During a time when your religious beliefs can be more of a dangerous possession than nuclear weapons, what would you do in order to survive? Art documents the story of his Jewish father Vladek’s struggle to remain alive in Nazi Germany during WWII. The intense near death experiences in this book keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Esperanza, a twelve year old girl struggling to find her identity within her Hispanic culture, recounts events occurring during a particularly interesting year in her life. Esperanza invites the reader into her mind, emotions, and major changes in maturity through the use of vivid figurative language. This book is a wonderful example of Young Adult Literature because the main character is a young adult who deals with many of the same issues that other young adults can relate to such as: her struggles with accepting her culture in a society that does not understand or appreciate its heritage, understanding and dealing with the changes in her body and emotions brought about by puberty, and the recognition of her true identity.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
In a small town in the Deep South, a vicious crime has been committed, or has it? To Kill a Mockingbird tells the story of Scout, a curious and headstrong young girl who won’t back down to anyone or anything, except the ghostly neighbor Boo Radley. When her father takes on the controversial court case, where he will defend an African American man who is accused of raping a white girl, Scout begins to learn more about her world than she is prepared for. Follow Scout as she attempts to understand the rules of the racially segregated South, and learns to appreciate the differences of others, including her own.
The Piano Lesson by August Wilson
Boy Willie, a sharecropper from the South, and his sister Berniece argue over whether or not they should sell their family piano. The piano was handed down through the family, and for Boy Willie it represents the bondage that slavery imposed upon his family. For Berniece, it is a symbol of their perseverance and family bond. Watch as tensions rise as the siblings make a decision that will impact their relationship forever.
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Billy Jo struggles to deal with hard financial times on her father’s farm in 1943. Her mother, who comes from a more refined background, has taught her how to play the piano, and Billy Jo finds therapy in the act of playing. After a horrible accident at home, Billy Jo can no longer take the pressure. Will she stay strong and stick it out with her family, or run as far away as she can?
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
It is tough being a teenager, especially when your parents have passed away, and your family is a gang of outcasts. After his parents are killed in a car accident, Ponyboy’s brothers and friends are all he has to rely on. Join Ponyboy and the Greasers gang as they try to make a life for themselves in a world that doesn’t quite understand them.
Eric Foster – YA Booklist
“Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher – Clay Jensen embarks on a desperate search through his small hometown to uncover the reasons behind Hannah Baker’s tragic end, only to find his name mentioned in the cryptic audio-tape suicide note amongst the reasons for her death. Though this novel addresses the suicidal psychology of Hannah Baker in a chillingly realistic way, I highly recommend it to students in grades 11-12.
“The Rag and Bone Shop” by Robert Cormier – When seven year old Alicia Bartlett is murdered in the seemingly picturesque town of Monument, Massachusetts, twelve year old Jason Dorrant, the last person to see her alive, is the prime suspect. Jason, however, has no idea that the police suspect him until he is lured into a dangerous game of cat and mouse against an out-of-town interrogator with an unusual number of confessions under his belt. I recommend this book for students in grades 9-12.
“Master Harold…and the Boys” by Athol Fugard – Racial tensions are ignited amongst three close friends as Hally, an easily agitated white schoolboy, vents angrily to his two black friends about the situation of having to face his disabled and alcoholic father at home. Though this play features some vulgar language and themes of racial inequality, I recommend it for grades 10-12.
“Carl Sandburg: Adventures of a Poet” by Penelope Niven and Marc Nadel – This short biography, written by Penelope Niven and illustrated by Marc Nadel, takes us from Carl Sandburg’s modest childhood in Galesburg, Illinois through his accomplished life as a poet, journalist, historian, vagabond, and much more. Due to this biography’s extremely short length, only about twenty pages, it may be more suited to middle and high school libraries as opposed to classroom use.
“Esperanza Rising” by Pam Munoz Ryan – Esperanza’s privileged life in Aguascalientes, Mexico is violently cut short when her father is killed by bandits, forcing her to flee to the harsh fields of California with her mother. Esperanza must learn to overcome the hard work, social rejection, and responsibility of her new life as a peasant field worker in order to emerge victorious from this fight for survival. I highly recommend this book for students in grades 7-12.
“Heartbeat” by Sharon Creech - Twelve year old Annie runs barefoot through her hometown to escape her anxieties, doubts, and frustrations, and in a year when her world seems to be changing all around her, Annie finds herself running more and more. This story, due to its easy to follow narrative, is ideal for students who are daunted by the thought of reading poetry. I recommend this book for students in grades 7-12.
"Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen
Brian Robeson, a thirteen year old teenager, is on his way to visit his dad in Canada. This is the first time Brian is to stay with his dad after his parents divorce. The plane crashes and now Paul is alone in the wilderness with the only tool for survival is his hatchet his mother has gave him.
"I Am the Cheese" by Robert Cormier
Adam runs away from home, Monument, Massachusetts to deliver a gift to his father in Rutterburg, Vermont. He has not packed and has no food, and his means of transportation is a bike. As he rides down Route 31, he leads us to his hidden past and his motivation for delivering his gift to his father.
"The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros.
Esparanza Cordedo lives on Mango Street. Esperanza tells her story in vignettes, short clips, of her, her family, and her neighbor's lives on Mango Street. The House on Mango Street is a beautiful and poetic novel that captures the wisdom of a coming of age story.
"This Boy's Life" by Tobias Wolff
Toby Wolff is a great coming of age memoir that is about how he and mother are searching for a new home. As he grows older, life begins to mold him, and his mother thinks he can do no wrong. But he can and he will.
"Blue Lipstick" by John Grandits
Jessie's color is not blue, she is a fall, and blue is a winter color. Jessie loves blue and she will try blue against the advice of a saleslady, her mom, her dad. Jessie's life is written in concrete...poetry that is.
"Fences" by August Wilson
It is 1957, pre-civil rights and Troy Maxon is looking out for his son, Cory, or is he? Cory's football coach wants Cory to practice and sign up for a scholarship for college with Cory's talents, and Troy wants Cory to find a trade to support himself. Troy used to play professional baseball and does not want his son to follow in his footsteps.
6 Independent Book Choices
Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Haddix
This novel tells the story of a young girl named Tish Boner. She is forced to become an adult in high school. Her parents have given up on her and her brother and selfishly leave them to fend for themselves. I highly recommend this novel for high school students.
Now and Zen by Linda Gerber
Now and Zen is cultural novel about a group of teenagers traveling abroad in Japan Nori Tanaka fall into a world of trouble when she accepts compliments from a crush for being Japanese. She then agrees to show him around Japan and teach him the language.This novel will be a great read for middle school readers.
The Fashion Disaster That Changed My Life by Lauren Myracle
This novel is a great read for any young adult reader of any middle school or high school student. The negative issues of cliques of jocks, nerds, and popular kids are discussed. Allison, the main character learns a few life lessons when she lands a leading role into a popular clique all because of the fashion disaster on the first day of school.
The Best American Short Plays by Glenn Young
Glenn Young edited twelve short plays and I chose to focus on was The Right to Remain by Melanie
Marnich. This play focuses on a young child who finds out that his father is having an affair on his mother. The play glorifies the disrespectful and unhealthy nature of the existing situation. I
thoroughly detest this novel from any classroom.
She Said Yes by Misty Bernall
The life story of Cassie Bernall is told through friends, family, Cassie’s very own personal
journal. Cassie was killed in the tragic Columbine shooting in 1999. This novel not only tells
about the day that she said “yes,” it delves into her troubled past. I highly recommend this novel for middle and high school.
Buried Alive by Ralph Fletcher
The four elements of the world; earth, water, air, and fire are illuminated through romantic
poetry. This novel is a great way to introduce poetry into a classroom because it’s entertaining and carries a very relatable topic, love. I highly recommend this novel in a high school setting.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
A young girl name Esperanza moves to Mango Street with her family. She goes through puberty and learn a hard lesson about life. I highly recommend this book for grades 6-9
Smartest Kid on Earth: Jimmy Corison
This was a graphic novel that explored the difficult life of a 38 year old man. Which is mother is overbearing. I would not recommnend this graphic novel to students in middle school.
13 Reason Why by Jay Asher
This book was about a girl who commits suicide. She leaves behind a bunch of tapes to tell why she committed suicide. I would recommend this book to 9-12 graders
Life Doesnt Frighten me At All by John Agard
This was a poetry collection which included a lot of poems about teenagers who experience everyday life. I would recommend this poetry selection to all grades/
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
A teenager whom parents has passed away in a car accident. He only has has friends to depend on. He learns a lesson in life. I would recommend this novel to all middle and high school classes.
Growing up in Slavery: Stories of Young Slaves as told by Themselves. Ed Yuval Taylor
Stories of young slaves as told by themselves by Taylor. Ten slaves tell their stories in this collection that covers the range of slave experience.
I would recommend this book because it shows the non fiction of slavery.
Brian's Song by William Blinn
A story of two men who come from different worlds but learn to put their differences aside and become friends. I recommend this book to use during a thematic unit on friendship for sixth through eighth graders.
Quiet Storm by Lydia Omolola Okutoro
A collection of poems which include the voices of young adults of various African heritages. This book is full of wonderful poems that help young adults explore their cultures. I recommend this book for a class of tenth and eleventh graders.
W.E.B.Dubois Biography by Virginia Hamilton
A man who fought for equal rights for African Americans life is laid perfectly out on the pages of his biography. This book is perfect for a class of eighth graders.
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan
A troubled teen who has ran out of options and is forced to attend a school to help him put his life together before he is sent to juvenile hall. A class of seventh graders would find this book delightful.
The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
An African American family embarks on a trip to Birmingham where one of their sons will stay for the summer in order to stay out of trouble. While in Alabama, they witness the bombing of a church in which four little girls are killed and the family's lives are changed forever. I recommend this book to be used in a class of seventh and eighth graders.
Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson
A young girl named Sara is too busy living in her twin sister's shadow to live her own life. Sara has to find out who she is and what things she wants out of life for herself before it is too late. I personally recommend this book for seventh through ninth graders.
Brittney Penton
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Meyers is a book that tells the story of Meyer's brothers life and death experience in the Vietnam war. This book can be used in a hisorical literature theme for classrooms 11th and 12th, as it contains adult language and content.
In The Middle of the Night by Robert Cormier is a YA novel that is suspenseful and real all at the same time. It tells the story of Denny and his family and their struggles through tragedy. This book could be used for 9-12 grade.
From Slave to Abolitionist is the authobiography of William Well Brown, who is a fugitive slave, not only a slave but a biracial slave. The book basically outlines Brown's life. This book is great for 7-12 grade classrooms and could be classified as Southern or Historical Literature.
The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss tells the true story of Reiss' life living in hiding during Nazi Germany and Hitlers reign. This bok deals with death, seperation, and Nazi Germany. This book is great for ethnic minority units for 7-12 grades.
Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey who is a local author, tells the stories of Natash's life growing up in Mississippi as a biracial person. Th book also deals with Natasha's mother and her struggles. This book of poems is great for 7-12 grades and is great Southern Literature.
Twelfth Knight is a play that deals with misconception, love and classes all at once. It is romantic, yet comical and would be a great production for High School Drama. Recommended for 10-12 grades.
Abarat by Clive Barker
Candy Quackenbush, a girl from a small town in Minnesota called Chickentown, gets immersed in a fantastical world known as the Abarat in which she must grow as a person and face her life anew.
a Right to be Hostile by Aaron McGruder
This collection of comic strips details the tribulations of a black family in white suburbia. Riley, Huey, and their grandad, along with many other characters, struggle with adapting to their new environment.
Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala
Agu and his friend Strika are child soldiers in West Africa. They must struggle to survive in this harsh environment as their commander sexually abuses them and forces them to viciously murder innocent people.
My Lobotomy by Howard Dully
My Lobotomy is the detailed autobiography of Howard Dully as he attempts to make sense of his parents actions when he was twelve years old to have an operation called an "ice pick" lobotomy performed on him.
The Spoken Word Revolution Redux edited by Mark Eleveld
This is a collection of the contemporary style of poetry known as spoken word. It includes many authors including numerous U.S. poet laureates as well as a few actors and slam award winners. Some famous poets include Billy Collins, Viggo Mortensen & son, and Ethan Hawk.
The Right to Remain by Melanie Marnich
This short play is about a teenage boy who exposes his father for cheating on his mother. The play takes awkward silences to a whole new level.
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