Bibliography:
Curtis, C.P. (1995). The watsons go to birmingham-1963. New York: Yearling.
Awards:
Newberry Award Winner
Coretta Scott King Award Winner
An ALA Top Ten Best Book
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An ALA Notable Children's Book
A Publishers Weekly Best Book
A New York Times Book Review Best Book
In the novel The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, Christopher Paul Curtis tells the story of an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, who take an unforgettable trip to Birmingham in the summer of 1963. The book is narrated by the main character, Kenny Watson, and everything that happens in the book is told through the eyes of a ten-year-old. His hilarious stories of life with his brother, Byron, who is the sixth grade's resident bully, and his adventures in fourth grade are as memorable as the horrifying event that he describes in the end. When his family makes the trip to Birmingham one summer to leave Byron with his grandmother for a while, they experience something that is both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
Everything that happens in this novel is told through the eyes of a fourth grader, so the language is very easy to read and understand. Although there are some issues with racism and prejudice, these issues shouldn't be enough to keep anyone from teaching this book in his or her classroom. I think that this book would make a great whole-class read, because it has something for everyone. The humor that exists in the story lightens up the sometimes somber tone, so there should be nothing in the book that is too intense for any reader. I would suggest this book for anyone from sixth grade up, because there is no bad language, references to drugs or alcohol, or any sexual content. Again, everything in the story is narrated by a ten-year-old, so the content is pretty clean.
If I had this book in my classroom, I would probably use it in many different ways. I think it would be useful for a whole class read, especially if it sparks a discussion of the negative implications of racism. It would also be good for group work or even individual reading. It would definitely have this book on my bookshelf, and I would encourage readers to pick it up and see for themselves what was like to be African American in the 1963 American south.
As a reader, I absolutely loved this book. From the very first page, I felt a connection to Kenny, and I sympathized with everything that he goes through in the novel. I laughed when he told stories of his life at the school, and I cried when the bomb went off at the church in Birmingham. I loved being able to see everything through Kenny's perpective, because it gave me a point of view that I don't often get from literature. I think this was a great book, and I will definitely be reading more literature by Christopher Paul Curtis.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Friday Night Lights- One of the Only Books in History to be Outdone by its Movie
Bibliography:
Bissinger, H. G. (1990). Friday night lights. Cambridge: Da Capo, 337 pp.
Awards:
#1 New York Times Bestseller
In his fictional depiction of the 1988 Permian High School Panther football team in Odessa, Texas, H. G. Bissinger highlights the team's highs and lows as they battle for a state championship. He gives a great deal of background information on many of players, including descriptions of their family lives and the racism that is all too present in the small town. The biggest part of the plot of the story is about football, but the author gives plenty of history of the town, as well as information about the issues that the town faces in terms of racism and the division between Permian High and Odessa High. It's a good book to read if you want to learn about the history aspect of the team, but it probably doesn't give as many details about the football games as young boys probably want.
I would probably have this book in my classroom on a bookshelf, and I wouldn't be opposed to letting small groups read it together. I also think that it would be good to suggest to a student who might want to learn more about the race problem in West Texas. However, I wouldn't assign this to the whole class, and I probably wouldn't use it as a read aloud. I think that most students would lose interest fast, and I don't think it could keep their attention very well. I probably wouldn't suggest it for anyone other than 10th graders, because of its reading level and the racial division described in the book.
I personally didn't like the book, but I understand where many people would. I didn't like it, because I was somewhat bored by the amount of historical information in the book. However, there are many students who might like it, and I would certainly encourage it. There is a little bit of bad language, but I think that more mature students could handle it.
Bissinger, H. G. (1990). Friday night lights. Cambridge: Da Capo, 337 pp.
Awards:
#1 New York Times Bestseller
In his fictional depiction of the 1988 Permian High School Panther football team in Odessa, Texas, H. G. Bissinger highlights the team's highs and lows as they battle for a state championship. He gives a great deal of background information on many of players, including descriptions of their family lives and the racism that is all too present in the small town. The biggest part of the plot of the story is about football, but the author gives plenty of history of the town, as well as information about the issues that the town faces in terms of racism and the division between Permian High and Odessa High. It's a good book to read if you want to learn about the history aspect of the team, but it probably doesn't give as many details about the football games as young boys probably want.
I would probably have this book in my classroom on a bookshelf, and I wouldn't be opposed to letting small groups read it together. I also think that it would be good to suggest to a student who might want to learn more about the race problem in West Texas. However, I wouldn't assign this to the whole class, and I probably wouldn't use it as a read aloud. I think that most students would lose interest fast, and I don't think it could keep their attention very well. I probably wouldn't suggest it for anyone other than 10th graders, because of its reading level and the racial division described in the book.
I personally didn't like the book, but I understand where many people would. I didn't like it, because I was somewhat bored by the amount of historical information in the book. However, there are many students who might like it, and I would certainly encourage it. There is a little bit of bad language, but I think that more mature students could handle it.
New Moon- A Great Sequel to a Great Book
Bibliography: Meyer, S. (2006). New moon. Little, Brown & Company, 563 pp.
In Stephanie Meyer's second of four books in the Twilight series, she once again follows Bella Swan and her love affair with a vampire. In this book, she discovers a new friendship with Jacob Black, a long time friend of her family, and makes new discoveries about him and his motives behind wanting so badly to protect her from Edward. Young female readers will love this action-packed sequel, as they become closer to Bella and fall even deeper in love with Edward Cullen. Or maybe even Jacob Black...
In this novel, Meyer introduces the idea of werewolves into her series, which seems to make the plot fly by even more quickly than before. The reader learns more about Jacob, Bella's best friend, as she spends more time with him while Edward is gone. I think that this would be a great addition to any teacher's book shelf, and I would especially recommend this work to anyone who loved the first one. It addresses the issue of prejudice in a way that the first book never did, so it might be a good idea to really talk to younger readers who have chosen this novel. I would probably recommend it to anyone who wants an action-packed romance, and I think it would be appropriate for ages eighth grade and up.
I absolutely loved this book. Once I had read Twilight, I knew I was hooked on the series, and now I'm glad that I am. I like to see the characters and try to predict what they will do next, even though many times in this series I'm completely wrong. I think this is a good book, and I will definitely be suggesting it to friends.
In Stephanie Meyer's second of four books in the Twilight series, she once again follows Bella Swan and her love affair with a vampire. In this book, she discovers a new friendship with Jacob Black, a long time friend of her family, and makes new discoveries about him and his motives behind wanting so badly to protect her from Edward. Young female readers will love this action-packed sequel, as they become closer to Bella and fall even deeper in love with Edward Cullen. Or maybe even Jacob Black...
In this novel, Meyer introduces the idea of werewolves into her series, which seems to make the plot fly by even more quickly than before. The reader learns more about Jacob, Bella's best friend, as she spends more time with him while Edward is gone. I think that this would be a great addition to any teacher's book shelf, and I would especially recommend this work to anyone who loved the first one. It addresses the issue of prejudice in a way that the first book never did, so it might be a good idea to really talk to younger readers who have chosen this novel. I would probably recommend it to anyone who wants an action-packed romance, and I think it would be appropriate for ages eighth grade and up.
I absolutely loved this book. Once I had read Twilight, I knew I was hooked on the series, and now I'm glad that I am. I like to see the characters and try to predict what they will do next, even though many times in this series I'm completely wrong. I think this is a good book, and I will definitely be suggesting it to friends.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The Avengers: The Replacements- A Comic for Kids Who Hate Reading
Bibliography:
Parker, J. (2007). The avengers: The replacements. Edina: Marvel.
The Replacements is a graphic novel that might be used as a last resort for a teacher who absolutely cannot get a student to read. The plot of the story involves a group of superheroes who have been replaced by seemingly newer, better machines. However, when the machines stop working correctly, the superheroes must go and save the day. As in all comics, the good guys win, and the world is safe once again.
Although it does have a clear plot line, the amount of reading required in this book is minimal. It would probably be interesting to students who struggle with reading or don't like to read for one reason or another, because it has many illustrations to go along with the plot line. The reading level and content level are both very low, as the book is basically a cartoon with words. It doesn't address many cultural or emotional issues for students, and it should probably be used primarily as a tool to get a stubborn student to read.
This book would probably be a good one to put on the shelf for students to read when they have time. I wouldn't suggest assigning it for a class for any age level, but even young elementary students would be able to understand its plot and the issues invovled.
I didn't like this book as much as others I've read, but I can see where some students might. It was basically a comic strip, and I felt like I was watching Saturday morning cartoons. I probably won't be finishing the series.
Parker, J. (2007). The avengers: The replacements. Edina: Marvel.
The Replacements is a graphic novel that might be used as a last resort for a teacher who absolutely cannot get a student to read. The plot of the story involves a group of superheroes who have been replaced by seemingly newer, better machines. However, when the machines stop working correctly, the superheroes must go and save the day. As in all comics, the good guys win, and the world is safe once again.
Although it does have a clear plot line, the amount of reading required in this book is minimal. It would probably be interesting to students who struggle with reading or don't like to read for one reason or another, because it has many illustrations to go along with the plot line. The reading level and content level are both very low, as the book is basically a cartoon with words. It doesn't address many cultural or emotional issues for students, and it should probably be used primarily as a tool to get a stubborn student to read.
This book would probably be a good one to put on the shelf for students to read when they have time. I wouldn't suggest assigning it for a class for any age level, but even young elementary students would be able to understand its plot and the issues invovled.
I didn't like this book as much as others I've read, but I can see where some students might. It was basically a comic strip, and I felt like I was watching Saturday morning cartoons. I probably won't be finishing the series.
Number the Stars- The Sad Truth About the Holocaust
Bibliography:
Lowry, L. (1989). Number the stars. New York: Yearling.
Awards:
Newberry Medal Winner
An ALA Notable Book
An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
In her novel, Number the Stars, Lois Lowry tells the story or a young woman, Annemarie Johansen, who is living in Copenhagen during the initial stages of the Holocaust. It's the true story of Annelise Platt, who is a Holocaust survivor. In the book, Annemarie is forced to deal with the fact that her best friend, Ellen Rose, is Jewish and must flee the country with her parents in order to save their own lives. Annemarie has never dealt with anything like this before, and she doesn't completely understand everything that is happening to her friend. However, her uncle Henrik gives her some invaluable advice: "it is much easier to be brave if you do not know everything." In the end, Annemarie is eventually able to help her friend's family find refuge in nearby Sweden , but not without finding the inner strength that she never knew she had.
Although this book's reading level is fairly low, the issues that are addressed throughout the plot might be difficult for some younger readers. Annemarie must deal with the possible death of her best friend, and the hatred that Hitler and the Nazis have toward the Jews. These are very heavy issues, and they can be hard for students to deal with, considering the fact that everything in this book is true. I think that it should be taught, however, so that kids today know what these Jewish people went through as a result of one very evil man's desires.
I think that this book would be a great companion book for The Diary of Anne Frank. It's a great bridge to a classic. Teachers could break students into groups and have them discuss how this book, and Annemarie's situation, compare with Anne Frank's everyday life in Nazi Germany. It aso ties in with the historical elements of the Holocaust, which makes this book a great cross-curricular read. It could be assigned as a whole class read, or it could be considered for small group reading. Either way, it is helpful in teaching students more about this period in history. I would suggest this book for students seventh grade and up.
I thought the book was good, altough I would have lied for it to go into more detail about what happened to Ellen after the war. I could really feel for the characters in this story, and I wish I knew more about how they survived everything once they got to Sweden.
Lowry, L. (1989). Number the stars. New York: Yearling.
Awards:
Newberry Medal Winner
An ALA Notable Book
An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
In her novel, Number the Stars, Lois Lowry tells the story or a young woman, Annemarie Johansen, who is living in Copenhagen during the initial stages of the Holocaust. It's the true story of Annelise Platt, who is a Holocaust survivor. In the book, Annemarie is forced to deal with the fact that her best friend, Ellen Rose, is Jewish and must flee the country with her parents in order to save their own lives. Annemarie has never dealt with anything like this before, and she doesn't completely understand everything that is happening to her friend. However, her uncle Henrik gives her some invaluable advice: "it is much easier to be brave if you do not know everything." In the end, Annemarie is eventually able to help her friend's family find refuge in nearby Sweden , but not without finding the inner strength that she never knew she had.
Although this book's reading level is fairly low, the issues that are addressed throughout the plot might be difficult for some younger readers. Annemarie must deal with the possible death of her best friend, and the hatred that Hitler and the Nazis have toward the Jews. These are very heavy issues, and they can be hard for students to deal with, considering the fact that everything in this book is true. I think that it should be taught, however, so that kids today know what these Jewish people went through as a result of one very evil man's desires.
I think that this book would be a great companion book for The Diary of Anne Frank. It's a great bridge to a classic. Teachers could break students into groups and have them discuss how this book, and Annemarie's situation, compare with Anne Frank's everyday life in Nazi Germany. It aso ties in with the historical elements of the Holocaust, which makes this book a great cross-curricular read. It could be assigned as a whole class read, or it could be considered for small group reading. Either way, it is helpful in teaching students more about this period in history. I would suggest this book for students seventh grade and up.
I thought the book was good, altough I would have lied for it to go into more detail about what happened to Ellen after the war. I could really feel for the characters in this story, and I wish I knew more about how they survived everything once they got to Sweden.
Bud, Not Buddy- A Cool Kid With an Even Cooler Story
Bibliography:
Curtis, C. P. (1999). Bud, not Buddy. New York: Yearling.
Awards:
Newberry Medal Winner
Coretta Scott King Award Winner
An ALA Notable Children's Book
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year
Author Christopher Paul Curtis tells the story of a young motherless boy, Bud Campbell, in his fictional story, Bud, Not Buddy. Bud begins the story living in an orphanage and minding his own business, when one day, he is informed, much to his chagrin, that he has been chosen by a set of parents who want him to come live in their home. Bud goes, but soon finds out that these people don't have his best interests in mind. After a fist fight with their biological son, a few hornet stings, and a night spent in the family's garden shed, Bud finally breaks free. His mother has died, and he sets out to meet the father that he has never known. Along the way, he meets a few people who teach him about living in poverty, and he finally ends up taking refuge with a band led by a man named Herman E. Calloway. What he discovers while living with these people changes his life forever.
The language in this book is very easy to read, and could probably be suggested for readers on a reading level as low as fourth or fifth grade. It is told in first person, and the reader learns along with Bud on his journey to find his father. It is appropriate for even young readers, and the plot is very easy to follow. It addressess the issue of race at a few points in the novel, as well as the fact that some children grow up without father figure present in their lives. It's a great book for any child who has lost a relative or has any experience with foster homes, and everything turns out well for Bud in the end.
This book could probably be taught as a read aloud in any classroom, although the reading level and content level might be a little young for middle school readers. It would be a great book to start class with everyday, as everyone in the class would easily be able to follow Bud's journey to find his father. It could also be used for individual reading, especially for a struggling reader.
Altogether, I thought that the book was interesting. I enjoyed hearing everything from Bud's perpective, because sometimes hearing even the most serious things come from the viewpoint of a child can make you laugh. I think it's a good book, and I would love to read more form this author.
Curtis, C. P. (1999). Bud, not Buddy. New York: Yearling.
Awards:
Newberry Medal Winner
Coretta Scott King Award Winner
An ALA Notable Children's Book
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year
Author Christopher Paul Curtis tells the story of a young motherless boy, Bud Campbell, in his fictional story, Bud, Not Buddy. Bud begins the story living in an orphanage and minding his own business, when one day, he is informed, much to his chagrin, that he has been chosen by a set of parents who want him to come live in their home. Bud goes, but soon finds out that these people don't have his best interests in mind. After a fist fight with their biological son, a few hornet stings, and a night spent in the family's garden shed, Bud finally breaks free. His mother has died, and he sets out to meet the father that he has never known. Along the way, he meets a few people who teach him about living in poverty, and he finally ends up taking refuge with a band led by a man named Herman E. Calloway. What he discovers while living with these people changes his life forever.
The language in this book is very easy to read, and could probably be suggested for readers on a reading level as low as fourth or fifth grade. It is told in first person, and the reader learns along with Bud on his journey to find his father. It is appropriate for even young readers, and the plot is very easy to follow. It addressess the issue of race at a few points in the novel, as well as the fact that some children grow up without father figure present in their lives. It's a great book for any child who has lost a relative or has any experience with foster homes, and everything turns out well for Bud in the end.
This book could probably be taught as a read aloud in any classroom, although the reading level and content level might be a little young for middle school readers. It would be a great book to start class with everyday, as everyone in the class would easily be able to follow Bud's journey to find his father. It could also be used for individual reading, especially for a struggling reader.
Altogether, I thought that the book was interesting. I enjoyed hearing everything from Bud's perpective, because sometimes hearing even the most serious things come from the viewpoint of a child can make you laugh. I think it's a good book, and I would love to read more form this author.
Twilight- A Great Book for Girls
Bibliography:
Meyer, S. (2005). Twilight. New York: Little Brown and Company.
Although it hasn't yet won any awards, it's definitely on its way!
Twilight tells the story of a girl, Bella Swan, who moves to a small town in Washington after living in Phoenix her whole life. Although she spends the first part of her stay absolutely hating the town and everything about it, she eventually learns to love it. She is living with her father, the town's police chief, and taking care of his most basic needs for food and clean laundry. She seems to be very popular among the boys in her school, but she ignores all of them; the one that she has her eye on barely knows she exists, or so she thinks. She eventually makes contact with her crush, Edward Cullen, and is swept off her feet by his suave nature and mysterious charm. What she doesn't find out until it's too late is that Edward is a vampire who thirsts for her blood...
This book is a very well-written, engaging text, and I think it would be the perfect work of literature for the bookshelf of a teacher who has struggling female readers. The character development is great, and it's easy for the reader to connect with Bella's character. Although there are a few scenes that might be somewhat intense for young readers, it's a great work of fiction that should be on teachers' shelves across the country. Bella, the main character, moves away from her home town, has to try to make new friends, and even has near-death experiences, so it would be a great book to suggest to someone who is new to his or her environment. It also adresses the issue of new love, which is on the forefront of middle schoolers' minds everywhere. Although I wouldn't suggest if for a reader with a learning disability (due to its length), it does address some issues that many adolescents face on a daily basis.
If I had this book in my classroom, I would probably have it on the bookshelf ready for anyone to read. I wouldn't suggest it for a whole-class reading, because many students would be turned off by its size. However, if there were a young female students who wanted to know about a good book, I would definitely suggest this one above all others. This book would probably be appropriate for students in the ninth grade and up.
I absolutely loved the book! I was completely immersed in reading it almost from the minute that I opened it, and I stayed hooked up throughout. The plot was amazing, and I was able to easily be absorbed by Bella's situation in Forks. As a whole, the book was outstanding.
Meyer, S. (2005). Twilight. New York: Little Brown and Company.
Although it hasn't yet won any awards, it's definitely on its way!
Twilight tells the story of a girl, Bella Swan, who moves to a small town in Washington after living in Phoenix her whole life. Although she spends the first part of her stay absolutely hating the town and everything about it, she eventually learns to love it. She is living with her father, the town's police chief, and taking care of his most basic needs for food and clean laundry. She seems to be very popular among the boys in her school, but she ignores all of them; the one that she has her eye on barely knows she exists, or so she thinks. She eventually makes contact with her crush, Edward Cullen, and is swept off her feet by his suave nature and mysterious charm. What she doesn't find out until it's too late is that Edward is a vampire who thirsts for her blood...
This book is a very well-written, engaging text, and I think it would be the perfect work of literature for the bookshelf of a teacher who has struggling female readers. The character development is great, and it's easy for the reader to connect with Bella's character. Although there are a few scenes that might be somewhat intense for young readers, it's a great work of fiction that should be on teachers' shelves across the country. Bella, the main character, moves away from her home town, has to try to make new friends, and even has near-death experiences, so it would be a great book to suggest to someone who is new to his or her environment. It also adresses the issue of new love, which is on the forefront of middle schoolers' minds everywhere. Although I wouldn't suggest if for a reader with a learning disability (due to its length), it does address some issues that many adolescents face on a daily basis.
If I had this book in my classroom, I would probably have it on the bookshelf ready for anyone to read. I wouldn't suggest it for a whole-class reading, because many students would be turned off by its size. However, if there were a young female students who wanted to know about a good book, I would definitely suggest this one above all others. This book would probably be appropriate for students in the ninth grade and up.
I absolutely loved the book! I was completely immersed in reading it almost from the minute that I opened it, and I stayed hooked up throughout. The plot was amazing, and I was able to easily be absorbed by Bella's situation in Forks. As a whole, the book was outstanding.
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