Book.Couch.Tea.

Smith, A. (2015). Grasshopper Jungle. Harper Collins UK.

Summary: Austin and his best friend, Robby, are caught in the middle of an apocalypse after their run in with the town’s bullies transforms their rivals into giant human eating mantises. Will Austin and Robby be able to save their small town after uncovering some of its dark secrets? Will Austin be able to keep his hormones under control as his attraction grows for not only his girlfriend but also Robby? The Grasshopper Jungle is clever, strange, and wild with surprises.

Strengths & Connections To The Text: This book falls into the apocalyptic category of science fiction. As I am just starting to really read science fiction, I found this book hard to follow and it didn’t hold my interest, but I can see how it would be a good book for some. This book is young adult, 13-18 years old, not middle grade, and I would be mindful of the maturity level of the student checking this book out due to the subject of sex.

Connections:

Similar Books

Black, H. (2013). The coldest girl in Coldtown. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Summary: Tana is parties regularly, but she’s stunned one morning after she wakes up and finds herself surrounded by the corpses of all her friends. They’ve all been murdered by vampires except for herself, her ex boyfriend, Aidan, and a strange boy named Gavriel. However Aidan has been infected and Gavriel is already a vampire. Nonetheless, Tana rescues the two boys, but gets infected and must now go to Coldtown to beat the infection. The only problem is, once you enter Coldtown you never leave.

Strengths & Connections To The Text: This is the first vampire book that I’ve read since Twilight and strangely I want more! I love the protagonist, Tana, in this book, the courage that she displays, and her role in the romantic relationship between her and Gavriel. In this novel she smashes the damsel in distress stereotype and rescues the boys. I can already think of a few female students who have very strong, girl power-like feminists attitudes that I would recommend this book.

Connections:

Similar Books

Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Summary: There are no women in Prentisstown, only men and Todd. When the disease infected this town it not only killed all the women, but it caused all of the men to be able hear each other’s thoughts, the Noise. As Todd grows closer to being considered a man, he begins to have his suspicions about the town. In a rush, Todd’s guardians send him away from the town in the midst of a war beginning. While in the woods, he meets a girl, Viola, for the first time. Though Todd is perplexed by her silence, the two fight to get to Haven, to escape the war and his past.

Strengths & Connections To The Text: This book would be in the dsytopia category of science fiction. Prentisstown has plenty of rules that their citizens must follow and subjects such as distrust of authority and isolation are explored while Todd is in Prentisstown and furthermore when he escapes from Prentisstown. In a way, this book reminds me of The Giver.

Connections:

Author’s Website

Angleberger, T., & Rosenstock, J. L. (2015). The strange case of Origami Yoda. New York: Amulet Books.

Summary: Dwight is an unusual junior high boy who has a green paper origami Yoda on his finger. Dwight insists that his wise Yoda gives useful advice and many of the students believe that is true except Tommy. Tommy decides to open a case and interview students who have an experience with Yoda. Tommy’s friend, Harvey, is also skeptical of Dwight’s Yoda and decides to make his own Yoda. Tommy asks both Yodas about advice concerning a girl he likes, Sara. Has Dwight’s Yoda been right all along? Tommy will put the Yoda’s advice to the test when he sees Sara at the dance.

Strengths & Connection To The Text: This book is easy to read, humorous, and sure to be a hit with students who love I Funny, Captain Underpants, or Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. The chapters are organized into case files in accordance with Tommy’s investigation. Pictures and doodling of objects discussed in the book support the case file theme. This book could easily be categorized as science fiction or humor.

Connections:

Author Interview

Website For Origami Yoda Series

Blog Submissions 16-21

Andersen, R. (2014). Walter Dean Myers. New York: Cavendish Square Publishing.

Summary: Steve is sixteen years old and on trial for robbery and murder. Although he was just the lookout guy, the robbery goes horribly wrong and the drugstore owner is killed while struggling to defend his store. During the trial the prosecuting attorney refers to Steve as a monster and he struggles within himself questioning if he really is a monster. Written in journal and screenplay format, Steve describes being incarcerated and courtroom scenes of being on trial awaiting the verdict that could change his life forever.

Strengths & Connections: Although this book would be considered realistic fiction, the format is quite unique as it is a mixture of journaling and screenplay giving the reader an unusual point of view. Many things can be left to speculation in this book and it would be great for lessons on inferring. Also, because Steve is on on trial for murder this provides a window for many students to look into and perhaps relate with relatives, friends, or others who they know who may have been in a similar situation.

Connections:

Reader’s Guide

Video Interview

Alexander, K. (2016). Booked. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Summary: Nick and his best friend, Coby, love soccer but soon become rivals when Coby joins another soccer team across town. It’s not the end of the boys’ friendship, but things turn upside for Nick when he learns that his parents are getting divorced, the school bullies won’t stop bothering him, and a surprisingly medical emergency pops up that may make him miss one of the biggest games of the year. Written in verse, this story is a sweet mixture of dealing with parents divorcing, friendship, bullies, and love. The icing on the cake is Mr. Mac, the school librarian and ex rap artist, who helps Nick through it all.

Strengths & Connections To The Text: I love how the cover of this book may grab the attention of readers that like sports or soccer, but it’ packed with so much more than just sports. This book would be great for students who are hesitant when it comes to poetry and figurative language. Due to Nick’s father being a linguistic professor he knows tons of words and they are written into the story and defined in footnotes in a way that the reader can also learn the words. I would also recommend this book to students who may be struggling with their parents going through a divorce.

Connections:

Vocabulary List

Teaching Ideas

Rowell, R. (2013). Eleanor & Park. New York, NY: St. Martin's Griffin.

Summary: From the very first day of school Park saves Eleanor when the other kids on the bus deny her a seat. There busride routine develops more and more as though go from just sitting next to each other, to sharing comic books and music, and eventually into a relationship. Park is Eleanor’s escape from her abusive stepfather, Richie, and her protector against anyone who tries to bully her. The abuse from her stepfather continues to worsen and threatens to separate her from Park forever.

Strengths & Connections To The Text: The language and points of view used in this book would be great teaching points. Because we get to see both Eleanor and Park’s perspectives teachers can use this book to model the importance of point of view or how a story might differ, the mood/tone, and many other factors based on the character. Teachers could also have students find literary devices used within the story and create lessons surrounding certain devices such as metaphors, motifs, and symbolism.

Connections:

Printz Honor Award 2014

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Barnhill, K. R. (2016). The girl who drank the moon. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Young Readers.

Summary: It’s an annual tradition for the people of Protectorate to leave a baby as a sacrifice in the woods for the witch in order to protect their town. Unknowing of the real reason the babies are being left behind, the kind witch rescues the babies and gives them to a loving family. However, the witch makes the mistake of feeding one baby moonlight instead of starlight which gives her magical powers that will prove dangerous in the future, so she decides to keep the baby and name her Luna. As it is almost time for another sacrifice the next set of parents do not want to give up there baby and devise a plan to kill the witch.

Strengths & Connections To The Text: I would recommend this book to teens who may be skeptical about reading fantasy. Although the setting is in another world, it still holds true to the criteria of fantasy and is an entertaining read that will keep readers interested while exploring universal truths such as memories, lies, and male domination.

Connections:

NYT Bestsellers List

Author’s Personal Website

Block, F. L. (2000). I was a teenage fairy. New York: Joanna Cotler Books.

Summary: Barbie’s mother is constantly forcing her into the spotlight to make up for her own dreams that her mother didn’t accomplish, but Barbie’s mother pushes to hard as she pushes her right into the arms of Hamilton, a photographer who is also a pedophile and molests Barbie. Barbie only has one real friend, Mab, a tiny fairy, until she becomes involved with Todd and his best friend Griffin who also happens to be in the modeling world and has had an encounter with Hamilton. Headed on a path of destruction, Barbie struggles to find herself and her voice.

Strengths & Connections To The Text: This book speaks to challenging relationships with parents. Due to Barbie’s mother obsession with trying to make her a model she puts her daughter in harm’s way to be abused and it’s soley her mother’s fault. In addition to her mother’s drunken rants and undercutting emotional abuse such as the Barbies she gives her daughter each year for her birthday and the diets she puts her own, this models a mother-daughter relationship that seems almost unbearable for a teen to deal with. Other subjects such as homosexuality, drugs, and sex should be considered when recommending this book to students who may not be mentally developed enough to deal with the content.

Connections:

Stead, R. (2013). Liar & spy. New York: Yearling Books.

Summary: When Georges’s family is forced to moved into an apartment due to his dad being laid off, he meets a new friend, Safer, who is holding a meeting for spies. Safer has his suspicions about one of the apartment tenants Mr. X, who Safer believes is sneaking dead bodies in/out of his apartment. As Safer’s demands during his spy routines get a little outrageous, Georges discovers that Safer made the entire thing up. On top of that Georges also has to deal with a school bully named Dallas and his mother’s illness that he hasn’t fully acknowledged. As Georges confronts his issues and devises a plan to stop Dallas, he gains friends and help others around him, like Safer, who are battling their own demons.

Strengths & Connections To The Text: The use of symbolism in reference to Georges’s friend Safer is one that I didn’t immediately recognize, but is surely a teachable moment once students make that realization. Even the title itself, Liar & Spy, holds a deeper meaning that can be discussed with students. Georges calls Safer a liar, but Georges also lies to himself in a way about the reality of his mother working nights at the hospital.

Connections:

Discussion Questions

Reader’s Theatre Script

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Blog Submissions 10-15

Telgemeier, R., & Yue, S. (2015). Smile. NY, NY: Graphix.

Summary: Raina’s sixth grade year starts out tough when an innocent accident leaves her missing her two front teeth, but things only continue to get worse. Her friends tease her, she has to visit different doctors for her teeth all the time, and it really starts to take a toll on her self esteem. Read how Raina deals with the daily challenges of transitioning from a pre-teen to a teen and finally learns to smile.

Strengths & Connections To The Text: The textbook touches on how graphic novels aren’t kiddy books just because they have pictures. This book is a great example of how that statement is absolutely true. The readers can learn so much from this book and how to end bad friendships, deal with changes in their physical appearance, and making the most out of your middle and high school experience. As someone who personally felt very uncomfortable about getting braces, this would be a nice comforter to hand kids who may feel insecure about their braces as well.

Connections:

Pixton- A Site Where Students Can Create Their Own Comics

Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2015). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. London: Andersen Press.

Summary: Junior was born with too much water around his brain, he’s the center of constant bullying on the reservation, and things just get worst when he decides to transfer to Reardan, a mostly white school located outside of the reservation. His best friend, Rowdy, won’t speak to him, his sister runs away from home to get married, and the overwhelming epidemic of alcoholism continues to take the lives of the people on the reservation. Junior’s quirky personality makes journey that much more beautiful and a bittersweet joy to read.

Strengths & Connection To The Text: The author does a phenomenal job of incorporating a variety of themes and subject in this book. One of the subjects that I rarely see written about in young adult literature is alcoholism. Since it is a major issue on the reservation it keeps arising and we get a very uncensored insight to all the destruction it can cause. There are so many teaching points and discussion topics loaded in this book that could connect with a reader on a many different levels, from developing empathy, morals, and learning to get along with peers.

Connections:

Vocabulary

ANDERSON, L. H. (2018). SPEAK. S.l.: FARRAR, STRAUS & GIROUX.

Summary: The start of Melinda’s high school reputation is ruined when she calls the police at a high school party her and her friend Rachel attend over the summer. Everyone treats her like an outcast. Her friends abandon her, the new girl, Heather, stops speaking to her, and Melinda falls into a deep depression. Although Melinda had a good reason to call 911 at the party, she never speaks up and says why she called until her former friend starts dating Andy, Melinda’s rapist.

Strengths & Connections To The Text: Through different characters perspectives, Andy is a protagonist and Melinda is the antagonist in the story since she’s the one that called the police at the party. Though the reader knows that Melinda is the protagonist, we still have to read through her suffering while Andy lives a guilt free life. While Rachel, is a former friend that abandoned Melinda, her dating Andy is what pushes Melinda to finally speak up. Protecting a former friend shows the character of Melinda and reveals a compassionate human nature that adolescent readers should see.

Connections:

Discussion Questions

Satrapi, M. (2005). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. Pantheon Books.

Summary: Marjane Satrapi, the author, shares her personal story of growing up in Iran in graphic novel format. A divergent perspective allows us to see a more personalized view of the effects of the Islamic Revolution on the people, government, and religion through the eyes of a child/preteen.

Strengths & Connection To The Text: Another graphic novel that’s far from kiddy. While reading this book I felt as though I was looking out into a window of a world that I couldn’t imagine. From the bombs, raids, and death the pictures helped me to visually imagine what the author was experiencing without being too graphic in a way that would be hard for me to continue reading the book.

Connections:

Word List/Vocabulary

Film Adaptation

Green, J. (2015). The fault in our stars. London: Penguin.

Summary: Hazel Grace and Augustus meet at a cancer support group and instantly have make a connection with their witty back and forth banter. Hazel Grace is hesitant to start a relationship with Augustus due to her sensitive condition and Augustus being in remission, but Augustus insists. This amusing story is full of surprises, humor, and pure love.

Strengths & Connections To The Text: There’s no deus ex machina in this novel as it ends in an unfavorable way to most. Though it’s not an ideal ending, it stays true to the style of the story. I would consider the repeated use of the word “okay” a motif in this novel as it reinforces the theme and symbolism a sense of peace and acceptance between both characters.

Connections:

Movie Adaptation

Garden, N. (2013). Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Summary: Liza and Annie meet at a local museum in New York and become friends despite their different backgrounds. As their friendship develops, the two girls share their first kiss and begin to question their sexual orientation. After a school administrator catches the girls together, Liza decides to end things but Annie is always on her mind throughout college. Will the girls ever reunite or was this just an experimental high school stage?

Strengths and Connections To The Text: Considering the year that this book was first published, 1982. I can imagine the impact that it had on students who may have been struggling with their sexuality. At that time there were not many books out about being gay and this text more than likely was relatable for many girls and assisted with the shaping of morals as they decided to stray away from what society deems as acceptable.

Connections:

Information About The Memorial

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Blog Submissions 4-9

The Port Chicago 50 Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights. Turtleback, 2017. Print.

Summary: The military advertised opportunity and a chance to serve the country to people of color in the early 1900s, but when African-Americans signed up they soon realized that segregation was still prevalent even in the military. After an explosion at the Port Chicago Naval base killed hundreds of sailors, African-American sailors were blamed and crucified when they refused to return back to work in unsafe working conditions. A story rarely told, this book tells the documented story of how African-Americans fought for equal right amongst the military while also fighting for their country

Strengths & Connections To The Textbook: The way that the African-American sailors in this book were treated automatically made me think of kids developing morals and values. Although this book is nonfiction, I think anyone would be sympathetic to the unfair treatment these sailors received. Additionally, this book meets the criteria by which we judge nonfiction books. It’s apparent that the author did their research, the visuals support the text and it is organized by a table of contents.

Connections:

Teaching Ideas

Handler, D. (2011). Why we broke up? New York: Little Brown.

Summary: From the start everyone said Min and Ed shouldn’t be together, so is it really a surprise that they’re breaking up? A story told from Min’s point view, we’ll witness the highs and lows of a passionate teenage love that crashes and burns in some all too familiar realities.

Strengths & Connection To Text: Staying true to the criteria of realistic fiction, Why We Broke Up is consistent with the real world, has a theme that emerges naturally, and relates to the modern reader through teenage love. Though we know that Ed will eventually be the antagonist because of Min’s references, it’s also interesting to see the looming antagonist, Annett, that our main character misses due to being blinded by love.

Connections:

Printz Honor Award 2012

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Reynolds, J. (2016). The boy in the black suit. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Summary: After Matt’s mother dies from cancer and his father falls into a drunken depression, things can’t get any worse until his dad gets hit by a car leaving him stuck in the hospital to recover and Matt at home alone. When Matt picks up a job at the funeral home he meets Lovey and they share a special connection and find solace in on another, but there’s a little unknown piece of the puzzle that connects them more than they initially know.

Strengths & Connections To The Textbook: Finding literature for students who are dealing with the loss of a parent can sometimes be difficult but very necessary to help them during their time of grief. This book does an incredible job describing Matt’s feelings while dealing with death.

Connections:

Curriculum Guide

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Harris, Robie H., and Michael Emberley. It's Perfectly Normal: A Book about Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health. Boston, MA: National Braille, 2003. Print.

Summary: Harris gives straightforward, accurate, and understandable information to its readers about puberty, sex, families and babies, staying healthy, and decisions while Emberley creates realistic visuals that represent a variety of people and situations. This book is highly recommended for teaching kids who are wondering what’s happening to their body and to assure them that everything is perfectly normal.

Strengths & Connection To Text: When thinking about the development of adolescents, this book should be an essential part of teaching students about health. The pictures are not kiddie and do not beat around the bush, but strictly informational while allowing every child to see his or her body type be represented.

Connections:

Interview With Robie H. Harris

Lu, Marie. Champion: A Legend Novel. Turtleback, 2014. Print.

Summary: June and Day are from two different worlds, but their paths soon cross once Day is named the prime suspect after June’s brother is killed. June, a military brat for the newly founded Republic, seeks out Day to avenge her brother’s death, but Day is on a different mission to help his low class family survive the government’s barbaric ways. Once these two come together, they uncover some truths about their government that could bring the entire system crashing down.

Lu, M. (2013). Prodigy. Melbourne: Razorbill.

Summary: A prequel to Legend, June and Day continue their fight in opposition to the Republic by joining the Patriots. Day’s brother is still being held captive and the Patriots offer to help Day rescue his brother if him and June help assassinate the new Elector. However, through June’s personal experiences with the new Elector, she isn’t sure that his assassination is the best choice.

Strengths & Connection To Text: Legend and Prodigy fall into the dystopia category of science fiction and the inside covers of the book display a map of the new United States that gives the reader a visual to the geographical location of the Republic and Colonies. Characters still behave in a consistent manner and this book definitely gives readers a window to look into a different world.

Connections:

Discussion Guide