At least I know when I am at a total loss of what to write, I always have books to fall back on. This little posting has actually held me accountable to READ...in a world that is busy with so many other things, the time is scarce! Ha! (Please note...January edition is coming LITERALLY on the last day of January! :))
My school recently acquired several book sets from our intermediate school, who was updating and cleaning out their frequently used sets. See this little gem by E.L. Konigsburg? It really is a good one...definitely for your older readers who can comprehend subtleties and social metaphors. The View from Saturday is a wonderful book to teach characterization and character traits that are deeper than a typical intermediate novel. Your characters come from all walks of life (The teacher is disabled, a student is from India - but grew up on a cruise ship! Another student feels in the minority due to his Jewish heritage, and then our last leading lady is a red-head.) Konigsburg did a great job bringing these "Souls" together to represent their school in the state academic competition. Each brings a special spark to the team from their various life experiences. all of the characters face discrimination and social injustice, but always have each other - together, they find a way to continue being victorious. I know this year, I don't have any students that are able to read at this deep of a level, but I look forward to finding some kiddos who enjoy the diversity and social overcoming.
I am very much a Gregory Maguire fan...but his book, Missing Sisters, is not at the top of my list. I enjoyed his books prior to The Wicked Series...then, fell in love with Elphaba and Fiaro and all that Oz had to offer. Maguire's ability to show the "other side" of a situation and change your point of view completely is great. Missing Sisters is about a pair of twins separated at birth and reunited at a summer camp. It seems to be a Parent Trap situation in the making, but neither girl lives with their biological parents. I was very frustrated with the attitude both characters had, and was not impressed with the action taken by the sisters. Although they were probably meant to come across as brave, I felt they were careless and cavalier. Made it difficult to enjoy the book, when I was constantly worried about their stupidity. His typical descriptive style was in full effect and it was difficult to follow the story at times, based on the picture painted of the setting around them. The book states it for ages 8-12, but I wouldn't keep it in my classroom. Some of the situations are inappropriate for my 4th and 5th grade readers.
My most recent interest has been in the Maze Runner series. I'm forever an advocate of reading the book before seeing the movie, hence my delay in getting around to this one. When I realized I wouldn't be able to get to it, prior to the movie staying in theaters, I let it sink farther down my stack for other priorities. Most advertisements stated it was for Divergent and Hunger Games fans...I agree. It didn't disappoint. The typical government control was ever present, but you really don't know who is "in control" until very near the end! The suspense was good and it made me want to continue to figure out the ending. Similar to the cliff hanger endings of the other series, you're left with an incomplete picture and a feeling of "WHAT? WAIT! TELL ME MORE!" at the end. I literally finished the book, found my iPad and looked up the next book in the series, just to get a sneak peek of the first chapter (which did nothing but make me wish I already had it in my possession)! - Side note: Lucky for me, my kiddos had a MASSIVE book order this past month with Scholastic and I was able to order $30 worth of books for free...was able to get the entire rest of the Maze Runner series plus books for my classroom. Score! :) One of the junior high students I tutor actually chose to start a book in James Dashner's other series, The Mortality Doctrine (first book is The Eye of the Mind). It was interesting to listen to the similarities (and vast differences) in the two series, as we started to work on his response journals. Great for mature readers, as well as older (intermediate and junior high) readers...some of the scenes are graphic, but are used sparingly to set scenes. Wouldn't keep in my fourth grade classroom, but would definitely share with my older tutoring kiddos who are reluctant to read.
Still have these guys sitting on my bedside table; I'm waiting for the winter days to not be so dark so fast. Hehehe.
What's on your bedside table?
Happy Reading,