 | Book Reviews on Books that work! |
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I am so excited to start this link! The following are some books that I have had the opportunity to use in my teaching as well as some suggestions from other teachers. Feel free to add any other books that you have used and found success with in your classroom. Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Author: Sherman Alexie Grade Suggestion: Grade 8- High School Summary: Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, a Spokane from Wellpinit, WA. The bright 14-year-old is regularly the target of bullies, and loves to draw. He says, "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats." He expects disaster when he transfers from the reservation school to the rich, white school in Reardan, but soon finds himself making friends with both geeky and popular students and starting on the basketball team. Meeting his old classmates on the court, Junior struggles with questions about what constitutes one's community, identity, and tribe. Review: This book is fantastic the students love reading the inner thoughts of Junior and how honest he is about life. Students can also face their own fears of having to leave their community and go out for school. And the cartoons throughout the book help to break up some of the serious topics discussed in the novel Where to find it: www.amazon.ca for $9.94
Title: Tears of a Tiger Author: Sharon M. Draper Grade Suggestion: Grade 9- Grade 12 Summary: A story of a high school brought together and torn apart by a drinking and driving accident. Andy the driver of car cannot bear his guilt or reach out for help, and chapter by chapter his emotions build to what he believes is his only escape his own suicide. Counsellors, coaches, friends, and family help each other to cope with the loss of Andy. The story is told through English class assignments, including poetry; dialogues; police and newspaper reports; and letters. The themes of racism, guilt, friendship, good relationships, poor relationships, depression, grief, forgiveness are all covered in this book. Review: Every moment reading this book my students were excited. There were so many opportunities to discuss issues and to have students write from the perspective of one of the characters. The different writing forms used in each chapter helps to make this book a quick read. Be aware of the hard issues and be willing to discuss them with the class as you read this book. Other Titles in this series: Darkness Before Dawn, Forged By Fire Where to find it: www.amazon.ca for $7.99
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Title: Touching Spirit Bear Author: Ben Mikaelsen Grade Suggestion: Grade 7-10 Summary: Cole Matthews is angry. Angry, defiant, and a bully. His anger has taken him too far this time, though. After beating up a ninth-grade classmate to the point of brain damage, Cole is facing a prison sentence. But then a Tlingit Indian parole officer named Garvey enters his life, offering an alternative called Circle Justice, based on Native American traditions, in which victim, offender, and community all work together to find a healing solution. Privately, Cole sneers at the concept, but he's no fool--if it gets him out of prison, he'll do anything. Ultimately, Cole ends up banished for one year to a remote Alaskan island, where his arrogance sets him directly in the path of a mysterious, legendary white bear. Mauled almost to death, Cole awaits his fate and begins the transition from anger to humility. Review: This book is intense and students learn a lot about their own actions and how parents play an active part in how their children will treat others. This book is great for discussion about how you should treat others as well as forgiveness. Writing activities such having students make other options for Cole's punishment, and journal writing as Peter are really useful to use along side this book. Other titles in this series: Ghost Of Spirit Bear, and the DVD Spirit Bear. Where to find it: www.amazon.ca for $7.50
Title: Hatchet Author: Gary Paulsen Grade suggestion: Grade 6-10 Summary: Brian age 13, is the only passenger on a small plane flying him to visit his father in the Canadian wilderness when the pilot has a heart attack and dies. The plane drifts off course and finally crashes into a small lake. Miraculously Brian is able to swim free of the plane. The novel chronicles in gritty detail Brian's mistakes, setbacks, and small triumphs as, with the help of the hatchet, he manages to survive the 54 days alone in the wilderness. Review: This book is amazing for the reluctant boy readers in your class who enjoy the outdoors. Discussion around survival training is key and is a great pretext to have students prepare for a class camping trip where members of the community can be invited to teach cultural activities. Other titles in the series: Brian's Winter, The River, Brian's Return, Brian's Hunt. Where to find it: www.amazon.ca for $7.99 |
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Title: Island of the Blue Dolphins Author: Scott O'Dell Grade Suggestion: Grade 4-8 Summary: When her tribe is moved from their home island, Karana stays behind with her little brother. After he is killed, Karana faces 18 lonely years alone on the island. Based on a true story, it shows the courage to survive in the face of incredible odds and the strength of the human spirit. Review: I remember reading this book in Grade 5 and using an activity of rebuilding the island based on the description given in the book. Each part of the island had to be labelled and a quote from the book used to support our choice for putting a detail onto our island. Little did I know that my teacher was assessing my comprehension skills (at the time I was happy to be building something cool out of plasticine). Other titles in this series: Zia. Where to find it: www.amazon.ca for $7.50 |
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Are your students looking for a great series to read? A student suggested that I order a set of the book called the Uglies (included is Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras) It was the next big craze in the classroom once we had a set of these books. Title: Uglies Author: Scott Westerfeld Grade Suggestion: Grade 7-12 Summary: Once a child turns 16 in this community they are sent for their pretty operation where surgically they become perfect. Not only do they change their appearance but the surgery makes them become the perfect person. There are rebels who try to oppose the surgery and the book describes how one young girl must sacrifice herself to save the "others". Review: A great tool for discussion about the idea of the perfect person. What makes someone perfect? Do we want to be perfect? If being perfect meant giving up who and what you are is it worth it? Where does the idea of perfection come from? This book is a fantastic read once you've read one of the books you have to continue on with the rest! Your female students will love it and with all the buzz around the classroom the boys are more willing to see what is happening and pick it up too. Where to find it: www.amazon.ca for $26.95 for the box set.
Another great series called The Books of Ember will get your students talking about issues like "What could we do if we ran out of electricity or food?" Title: City of Ember Author: Jeanne DuPrau Grade Suggestion: Grade 4-8 Summary: The city of Ember is located in complete darkness, the only light is generated by electricity. The people of Ember are running out of the basic human needs (power and food) and the government has a plan in place to save the people but this plan has been hidden for many years. Will twelve-year-old Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet be able to save the city before the lights go out for good? Review: This series creates a great model for answering what if questions and putting students in the perspective of characters in the book. Why does it seem that the older characters are not concerned about the power situation? As you move onto the other books in the series People of Sparks- you are able to discuss discrimination, fear, leadership, community, and forgiveness. And the last two books in the series Prophet of Yonwood, and The Diamond of Darkhold go even deeper into these topics. And the best news is there is a website dedicated to the books where you can find activities and there is a teacher’s guide available for download for each book. http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/booksofember/books.html More books in the series: People of Sparks, Prophet of Yonwood, The Diamond of Darkhold Where to find it: www.amazon.com The Books of Ember (for the complete set) $9.75 Or look for each book separately at www.amazon.ca for $7.99 |