Winger

Winger

Smith, A. (2013). Winger. New York: Simon & Schuster.

This story, about a 14-year-old junior boy named Ryan Dean West who attends a private school called Pine Mountain, is humorous while, at the same time, highlighting common, very serious, and very real struggles of the adolescent male today.  Ryan Dean is academically gifted which explains his current standing in high school and is also fairly athletically gifted since he is fast enough to play on the school varsity rugby team with boys much bigger (and more intimidating) than him.  BUT, he is, after all, just 14 and therefore, still not as emotionally developed as the other boys that he is around.  He’s considered the “cute” kid to Annie and Megan and that’s certainly not how he wants to be seen by the girls, especially Annie who he considers himself to be in love with.  Winger, as he is known by his teammates, is often the easy target of the older boys, but he is also sometimes seen as sort of the little brother.  One twist that I was very shocked about was Ryan Dean’s friend Joey, was not only gay, but ended up murdered.  This novel is spot on in the way Smith portrays the relationships among all of the characters and even though it deals with very graphic content, would be suitable for readers in their teens and up because, in spite of language and content, it DOES address subjects inherent to young adults and in a way most of them can identify with.

I know this is going way over the word limit, but the art teacher in me would be remiss if I didn't speak to the wonderfully entertaining illustrations included in the novel that can only add a healthy dose of enjoyment for the reader. :)

Bad Island

Bad Island

TenNapel, D. (2011). Bad Island. New York: Scholastic.

Bad Island just seemed to grab my attention quickly with its parallel stories of young adult “boys”, both human and alien, struggling to find their own independent footing in the world as Reese and his family embark on a boat trip that is intended to bring them closer together.  When Reese’s family becomes shipwrecked on what appears to be an island, they quickly realize they are targets of strange inhabitants on the island.  They soon find themselves literally fighting for their lives and making discoveries about themselves and each other along the way.  One of Reese’s struggles, and one so common to young adults, is to be trusted enough to be treated like the adult he is becoming, and likewise, his father is struggling with trusting him.  As the family works together to overcome the aliens, the reader discovers that the island is not an island after all, but some sort of alien-machine disabled years ago and together, they provide the piece that restores it to life.  There is a happy ending for all (except the bad guys, of course) and readers leave off with closure.  Bad Island would be a great read for upper elementary readers all the way through reluctant 12^th graders as the reading is easy and the content has emotional depth that younger readers can understand and older readers can relate to.  I enjoyed Bad Island so much (surprisingly!) that I’m tempted to read Ghostopolis.

The First Part Last

The First Part Last

Johnson, A. (2003). The first part last. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Growing up in the city, sixteen year old Bobby is a typical teenage boy with great friends, a girlfriend he is really into, and a family who loves and cares for him while teaching him the responsibilities of life until he finds out that his girlfriend, Nia, is pregnant.  Life comes crashing down almost immediately—his mom is angry, his friends seem alienated, Nia’s parents are judgmental and controlling, and Bobby is confused.  As the novel flashes back and forth between the time prior to “Feather” being born and the time after, we get a bird’s eye view of the complexity of Bobby’s thoughts and emotions as a young father-to-be/father.  Because of Feather’s traumatic birth which renders Nia incapacitated, Bobby is forced (literally by his and Nia’s family) to deal with his situation as an adult and then, eventually, leads him to move with Feather to a slower paced life with his brother and family.  The content of The First Part Last would not be emotionally appropriate for readers younger than 14 but would be a great source to use in a child development or health class as I think boys and girls alike could benefit from the angst and emotional twists and turns caused by the physical and emotional involvement of the characters in the book.   

Feed

Feed

Anderson, M. T. (2002). Feed. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

Feed is a futuristic novel where space travel is a common thing and manners are not. People’s brains are implanted, most of the time at birth, with a direct feed which can be compared to the way Google tracks our interests and then displays ads suited to them. Titus and Violet are teenagers from very different backgrounds—Titus is the typical privileged kid whose life IS the feed and Violet is not.  Violet is the girl from “the wrong side of the tracks” and was raised by a father who is the futuristic version of the anti-establishment type and didn’t allow Violet to have her feed installed at birth, both because they couldn’t afford it and because he didn’t believe in them.  When their feeds are hacked by a lunatic, Titus and Violet find themselves on a path that both drives a wedge between them and pulls them closer together with Violet constantly questioning the feed and its effects and ultimately causing Titus to question everything he’s ever been comfortable with.  For multiple reasons, Violet’s feed is killing her and Titus is incapable of dealing with her situation until the very end.  While I did not care for Feed, it does deliver a strong message about the need to question and think for ourselves and points out the reality of our culture today.  Readers would need to be able to delve into the unknown and think abstractly in order to appreciate Feed.

The Chocolate War

The Chocolate War

Cormier, R. (1974). The chocolate war. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Jerry Renault is a freshman in high school who, after his mother’s death, lives with his emotionally detached father and is struggling with loss, emotional bonds, and self-identity.  When the “cool kids” known as The Vigils issue a challenge to Jerry in order to prove himself worthy of being one of them, he initially accepts it and refuses to sell chocolates, a choice that paints a large target on his back for Leon, the corrupt private school interim headmaster in charge of the fundraiser.  After his initial refusal, Jerry decides to take a stand on his own in an effort to forge his own path and even takes a stand against Archie when he tells Jerry to back down, making that target even bigger and creating an open-season order for The Vigils.  As Jerry continues to defy those around him, we see him becoming the victim of the ruthless struggle for power that exists at school, as well as the struggle of others against their own cruel human behavior and eventually, Jerry suffers physically when he’s brutally beaten by Emile.  The Chocolate War is appropriate for high school students and, even though it was written 40 years ago, the themes of belonging, moral code, courage, connections with others and even psychological defeat are still common in the lives of teens today and reinforce three of Havighurst’s Theory of Developmental Tasks as outlined in Dr. Lesesne’s textbook, Making the Match.

Code Name Verity

Code Name Verity

Wein, E. (2012). Code name verity. New York: Hyperion Books.

Code Name Verity is a historical fiction novel about two young women from opposite worlds whose destiny brings them to a heartfelt and everlasting friendship.  Maddie Brodatt, the Jewish pilot/mechanic finds herself flying planes in World War II and eventually, ferrying spies over enemy territory.  Queenie is the beautiful Scottish aristocrat whose talent at being a spy often puts her in harm’s way.  On one of the missions, Queenie/Verity/Julie Stuart is forced to parachute from the plane being flown by Maddie/Kittyhawk and is captured by the German forces and tortured into giving up their secret codes, all made up, of course.  As a diversion, Queenie, who writes her biography in third person, also includes stories of her friendship with Maddie and other details that serve as clues.  Maddie, in the meantime is taken in by members of the Resistance whose mission is to rescue prisoners, Queenie among them, and destroy the Gestapo’s headquarters.  In twist of plot that literally caused me to gasp, Maddie is forced to make a horrendous choice that changes her forever.  This is an emotional rollercoaster that makes the reader both laugh and cry while also encouraging them to think and make connections.  Because of the emotional content and the sometimes subtle, sometimes startling violence, Code Name Verity would be appropriate for students in grades 9-12 and I believe is a great “strong girl” novel.   

Leviathan

Leviathan

Westerfield, S. (2009). Leviathan. New York: Simon Pulse.

Leviathan, a steampunk novel set during the World War I era, is about a boy named Alek, whose birthright is loosely based on the children of the real-life Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, who were both, in the novel and in reality, assassinated.  When word of their death reaches Alek’s home, he is whisked away to what his caretakers, Klopp and Volger, assume is relative safety but actually turns out to be one perilous encounter after another.  Alongside Alek’s story is Deryn’s. Deryn is a girl who disguises herself as a boy named Dylan in order to serve in the British Air Service and proceeds to encounter danger of her own at every turn.  In a plot that pits Darwinism against the machine, Alek and Deryn befriend one another and meet many fantastic characters, both human and not, including Nora Darwin Barlow.  Because the author includes an interesting “Afterword” that explains some of the thoughts behind the story, Leviathan, can be used at many levels for many purposes.  The reader who indulges in fantasy would certainly be pleased as would those interested in Darwin, war machines, World War I, the Ottoman Empire, and even the artist, as the pencil illustrations are simply amazing.  Advanced readers from upper elementary grades (5-6) on up to high school could easily enjoy the action-packed Leviathan since its emotional involvement is sparse.  The Leviathan series includes Behemoth and Goliath.

Persepolis

Persepolis

Satrapi, M. (2003). Persepolis. New York: Pantheon Books.

Persepolis is an autobiography of a young Iranian girl, Marjane Sartrapi, growing up in Iran during the Islamic revolution.  Set as a graphic novel, this book vividly portrays the daily life of Sartrapi as she grows from a little girl into a young woman in the home of forward thinking parents during a time and in a place where thinking such as this could get you killed.  As the reader discovers over the course of the novel, many of the people Marjane knows and loves are imprisoned and even killed for their opposition to the government suppression of the Iranian people.  As Marjane grows up, she experiences her own personal battle between doing what she knows to be in keeping with her parents’ values and what she as an individual wants.  Eventually, after a close call when a bomb detonates near her home and several other close calls for Marjane herself, her parents decide to send her away to Austria in order to be safe and removed from the strife of her homeland.  Persepolis would be an excellent novel to use to learn about the Iranian culture in a World History class with high school students and could even lend itself to some middle school students because of its graphic format.  Satrapi has written a follow-up novel titled Persepolis 2.  

The Fault In Our Stars

The Fault In Our Stars
Green, J. (2012). The fault in our stars. New York: Dutton Books.

Hazel Lancaster, a 16 year old girl living and dying with cancer, and her eventual boyfriend, Augustus Waters give us an in depth view into the world of teenagers with terminal illnesses, as well as a glimpse into the emotions and actions of the adults around them.  Hazel and Augustus embark on a journey that not only includes their romance but Hazel's desire (and eventual opportunity, thanks to Augustus) to interview the author of her favorite book.  Readers are able to witness Hazel's maturity in dealing with the less than positive aspects of life-- cancer, her parents' coping and grieving process, the book author's detructive attitude, and eventually, Augustus' death.  Because of the depth of emotion and content in the novel, it is necessary that readers be emotionally mature in order to deal with and understand the mental and physical aspects of the novel.  Hazel and Augustus are not only going through terminal illness together, but the need to be independent (not to mention sexually budding) young adults and a reader who has not reached the appropriate maturity level cannot process this information accordingly.  Most high school students will be able to appreciate the emotional aspects of The Fault In Our Stars-  not all of them, but most.  A good book to follow up with is This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl, a biography about the actual "Hazel" that Green's novel was based on.
I think in reading this novel, especially if it is followed up with the biography, young adult readers are able to see that life is not always a fairy tale, that it is often cruel and painful, but that we have a choice as to how we respond to the cards that we are dealt and sometimes, if choose to be, we are richer for what we experience.

The Surrender Tree

The Surrender Tree

Engle, M. (2008). The Surrender Tree. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

The Surrender Tree is a heart-wrenching chronology of the struggles of Cuba for independence.  Written in verse, Engle follows several characters throughout their personal struggles and their public involvement in the rebels' quest for freedom from the tyranny of Spain.  In a style that allows the reader to almost physically and emotionally experience what Rosa, Jose, Sylvia, and even their nemesis, Lieutenant Death think and feel, the author details the lives of many non-fictional characters with the exception of two.  Readers can understand Rosa’s (the main character) experiences in life through the vivid descriptions both she and Jose give of their day to day struggles to care for those fighting tyranny. Also included in this creatively educational book are a timeline of Cuba's struggles over the years as well as some historical notes that would provide an excellent springboard for a world history lesson.  As the story concludes, we see Cuba under the control of yet another country’s authority, yet absent the tyranny.  I, like many others who have reviewed the novel, felt a lack of resolution for the characters and very little growth, especially in Lieutenant Death.  I just knew he would see the error of his ways!  Readers at the conventional and post-conventional levels could easily benefit from the novel while both the concrete and abstract thinkers can understand and apply the information discovered in The Surrender Tree.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Riggs, R. (2013). Miss peregrine's home for peculiar children. New York: Quirk Books.

In this intriguing novel about a group of children and their caretaker, Jacob Portman discovers a family secret that only he and his grandfather, Abe Portman, are privy to.  Jacob and his grandfather share a bond that until his grandfather’s death, Jacob was unaware of and that bond is that they are “peculiar”.  After Jacob finds his grandfather brutally murdered in the forest behind his house, he begins to question everything he’s always known.  When he convinces his father to take him on a trip to Wales as part of his therapy, Jacob finds himself thrown into a world he knows nothing about but that he is an integral part of.  As Jacob is embraced by the peculiars and their headmistress, Miss Peregrine, he is also inundated with knowledge of his grandfather’s abilities as a hollowgast hunter and begins to piece together the connection between Abe and Emma, a peculiar that he increasingly finds himself drawn to.  In addition to the fascinating storyline is an amazing collection and index of antique photographs that were the basis for many of the ideas in the novel .    Miss Peregrine’s is an excellent novel for both middle and high school readers because the depth of emotion and development covers a range of stages that lends itself to a wide audience.  The ability to think in the abstract is essential for the reader must suspend realistic thinking in order to enjoy the book.  A great follow-up is Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Sendak, M.(1963). Where the wild things are. New York: Harper Collins Children’s Books.

Where the Wild Things Are is a story about Max, a little boy who behaves badly and whose consequences are to be banished to his bedroom before dinner.  In an effort to escape, makes goes to a land where he is the ruler of the wild things.  Sendak wrote this tale in a way that children can easily identify with and illustrated in a way that encourages a second look.

Evaluation criteria: Line

Lesson at HotChalk

The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. New York: Clarion.

David Wiesner's version of The Three Pigs is another alternative take on a classic story as Wiesner takes the children's story of "The Three Little Pigs" and, through marvelous illustrations and conversational bubbles, allows the pigs to transcend their story and interact with various characters from other tales.  The intricate illustrations add a dimension to the tale that only serves to enhance and entertain the reader.

Evaluation criteria: Line

This is a lesson that I would love to do!

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

Cleary, B. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. New York: William Morrow Co.

Dear Mr. Henshaw is a story that involves a young boy (Leigh Botts) living with his single mother who is struggling to make ends meet because Leigh's father is an absentee father/ex-husband who doesn't always pay child support and Leigh is often left alone at night so his mother can go to school in an effort to better their situation. As the story concludes, Leigh's father comes around hoping to reconcile with his mother and the effort is unsuccessful. The relationship seems to proceed amicably and the story leaves the reader with the hope that Leigh will at least have a positive relationship with his dad.Much of the story is written as a series of letters/journal entries, making it unique to Cleary's writing style.

Evaluation criteria:  plot and style

Teaching ideas at Scholastic.com

The Watsons Go to Birmingham-- 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

Curtis, C.P. (1995). The Watsons go to Birmingham–1963. New York: Delacorte Press.

The Watsons Go To Birmingham, like many other historical fiction novels, is a Coretta Scott King award and Newberry Honor book and fits the genre so thoroughly through its characters, plot, theme, setting, and style. As the Watsons take their family to Alabama in an effort to curb their oldest child's errant ways, the characters are revealed and in doing so, so are multiple themes.  Bullying, family conflict, and racism lead the way in the plot and make this novel applicable in many ways to today's times.

Evaluation criteria:  Historical fiction

Random House lesson ideas

We Are the Ship The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson

Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship: the story of Negro league baseball. New York: Hyperion.

We Are The Ship is beautifully illustrated and designed book about the hardships experienced by the first African-American professional baseball players and managers in America.  While the words are powerful on their own, the illustrations and page layouts richly enhance the readers understanding and experience of what is very factual and historical information.

Evaluation criteria: Design

Timmy Failure Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis

Pastis, S. (2013). Timmy Failure: mistakes were made. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Timmy is a young boy growing up with a struggling single mother, no mention of a father, a teacher who doesn't understand him, terrible grades, and very few friends. As a coping mechanism that he uses to deal with his every day life, Timmy uses his very vivid imagination to invent a detective agency with "cases" and a partner that's a polar bear. As we see his mother begin to give up, Timmy gets a new teacher who sees the potential he has and uses Timmy's imagination to drive his education. Things begin to turn around for Timmy in this children's book written from Timmy's perspective with Timmy's "case" notes and drawings sprinkled liberally throughout the story.

Evaluation criteria: Plot and Style

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Boston, MA: Candlewick.

This Is Not My Hat is cute story about a small, sneaky fish who steals a hat from a large fish and arrogantly swims away with it positive that he won't get caught.  Along the way, the small fish has a witness in a crab who rats him out to the big fish.  In a short, simple tale where an innocent take on good vs. evil is applied in effective, yet simple words and illustrations, children can grasp the meaning and experience out-of-the-ordinary pictures as well.

Evaluation criteria: Shape

Spiders by Nic Bishop

Bishop, Nic. (2007).  Spiders. NY: Scholastic.
 
Spiders, written and illustrated by Nic Bishop, is a reliable, informative book containing a plethora of facts about spiders along with excellent photographs of the various spiders included in the book.  While there is no formal bibliographic information in the book, Bishop is a well-respected author and photographer, and holds a Ph.D. in biology and devotes his time to researching and studying small animals and insects and the facts presented in Spiders is easily verified through multiple sources.

Evaluation criteria: Accuracy

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Lord, C. (2006). Rules. New York: Scholastic.

Rules, a children's novel of self-searching and discovery, involves the main character, Catherine's, struggles to figure out who she is independent of her brother David, who has autism and who she is often asked to care for as her parents work, all while she is coming of age socially as we see her meeting new people and navigating the waters of friendship. All of this progresses easily out of both her inner-conflicts and guilt as well as her actual conflicts with her parents and friends. As is often the case in both children's and adult's contemporary fiction, the main character is a female who is experiencing these conflicts with multiple male supporting characters who are also cast in atypical roles due to emotion and disabilities, like her new friend Jason. 

Evaluation criteria: Theme and Gender/culture

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. New York: Henry Holt and Co.

 Combined with the details of Rosa's life, the turmoil of race relations at that point in our country's history, and Nikki Giovanni's original presentation of the story of Rosa Parks, the design of the book successfully makes this portrayal of those historical events understandable and believable for young children and make it interesting for older children and even adults.

Evaluation criteria: Design

Primates by Jim Ottaviani

Ottaviani, J. (2013). Primates. New York: FirstSecond.

Primates is a book that presents the lives of three different women who spent their lives researching primates.  The reader can learn about Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galikas through the now-popular graphic novel design of the book.  Text is appropriately used throughout to indicate both human speech and animal sounds and together with the illustrations, provide the reader with a thorough representation of each woman and her work.

Evaluation criteria: Design

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

Munsch, R. (2012). The paperbag princess. New York: Annick Press.

The Paper Bag Princess is based on the classic idea of a girl in search of her prince, but this story takes on a humorous twist in its telling.  Elizabeth battles- and defeats- a fire-breathing dragon for her prince only to discover that her prince is an obnoxious oaf.  This "stand on your own two feet" take on a classic theme is refreshing and should be in the hands of every little girl...and woman.

Evaluation criteria: Shape

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. New York: Atheneum.

Out of My Mind takes place in the home and school of the main character, Melody, a pre-teen girl living with cerebral palsy and unable to communicate verbally. Through the "voice" of Melody, we are able to gain a first-person perspective of her surroundings in a realistic, effective way. The reader is also able to identify a universal theme of self-discovery since Melody is a strong main character who is trying to establish a place in her world, however small it is, while also battling her inability to express herself and be understood by others. The angst she sometimes feels is almost palpable to the reader, making her an extremely believable character and adding to the theme.

Evaluation criteria: Setting and theme

Olivia by Ian Falconer

Falconer, I. (2000). Olivia. New York: Atheneum.

Olivia is the well-known book about a typical little girl in the shape of a pig.  She is precocious and often bothered by her little brother but is also sweet and endearing at the end of the day.  Olivia is a simply written and illustrated book, making it really ALL ABOUT OLIVIA!

Evaluation criteria: Color

My Teacher Is a Monster! by Peter Brown

Brown, P. (2014). My teacher is a monster! (No, I am not!). New York: Little Brown and Co.

My Teacher Is a Monster! is a great book about a little boy and his teacher at odds with one another until a chance meeting in the park reveals to the boy that his teacher really is likeable and is in fact, not a MONSTER.

Evaluation criteria: Texture

Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer

Singer, M. (2010). Mirror, mirror. New York: Dutton.

Mirror Mirror is a fascinatingly written book of poems based on classic fairy tales.  But these poems aren't just your typical poems-- they are written one way, and then using the same words and the same order, but different punctuation, they are written in reverse to produce a different take on, yet again, the same story. 

Evaluation criteria: Color

Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

McDonnell, P. (2011). Me…Jane. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Me...Jane is great book to use with very young readers as a way to introduce Jane Goodall's lifelong study of chimpanzees through her much-loved toy chimpanzee.  McDonnell presents the life and work of Goodall in a very sweet, childlike way that speaks to children.

Evaluation criteria: Style

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach A Cuban Foktale retold by Carmen Agra Deedy

Deedy, C.A. (2007). Martina the beautiful cockroach. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach is a beautifully entertaining folktale that endears the main character, Martina to the reader through her grandmother's advice about testing her suitors for marriage material.  Through gorgeous illustrations, the tale comes to life and pokes fun at the various "men" who have come to woo Martina.  True to Cuban heritage and traditions, this proves worthy of cultural studies and is a heartwarming version of an old tale.

Evaluation criteria: Texture

The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie DePaola

DePaola, T. (1983). The legend of the bluebonnet. New York: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers.

In this tale about a young Comanche girl who sacrifices her most-loved possession out of sacrifice for her people, DePaola formulates an explanation for the state flower of Texas, the bluebonnet.  DePaola is intentionally true to the Comanche people in a story that is timeless and appropriate for a wide range of readers.

Evaluation criteria: Composition

It's So Amazing! by Robie Harris

Harris, R. (1999). It’s so amazing. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.

It's So Amazing! is a great book to use as a sounding board when explaining the sexual functions of the human body.  With it's age-appropriate illustrations, its up-to-date use of language, and the child-friendly presentation, this book makes itself an excellent tool to use for what can be a sometimes challenging, uncomfortable subject with children.

Evaluation criteria: Organization

It's a Book by Lane Smith

Smith, L. (2010). It’s a book. New York: Roaring Brook Press

It's a Book is a clever little book that uses very few words, a donkey, and a gorilla to effectively explain in an ever-expanding technological age what a book is.  The illustrations are even simple, but very effective and are done in such a way as to draw the reader's attention to the written word.  The simplicity and humor of the book is, in my opinion, what makes It's a Book's impact so strong.

Evaluation criteria: Compostition

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz

Schlitz, Laura. (2007). Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Cambridge: Candlewick Press.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!, a Newberry Award winning book is written mostly in verse with descriptive, informative paragraphs throughout each of the 21 tales in which the author depicts 23 different characters, in a very Canterbury Tales style.  Schlitz originally wrote the book in a way that students could present a play where everyone had the opportunity to have a key role.

Evaluation criteria: Historical fiction

How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg

Bragg, G. (2011). How they croaked: the awful ends of the awfully famous. New York: Walker and Co.

How They Croaked is presented in a style that is interest-grabbing and thought provoking.  Georgia Bragg (I was surprised to realize that it was a woman who wrote in this voice/style, however sexist that may sound) delivers information in a way that oozes sarcasm and humor, while providing factual information about the unusual ends of historical figures.  Bragg also presents information in a way that suggests she is having a conversation with a peer or friend even, which draws the reader in even more.  Her no-holds-barred delivery give this informational text a flavor all its own and leave just enough to the imagination to make the reader dig a little deeper on many of the subjects.

Evaluation criteria: Style  

Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Bartoletti, S. (2005). Hitler youth: growing up in Hitler’s shadow.  New York: Scholastic.

Hitler Youth is a terrifically enlightening book about the young lives, both the followers of Hitler and Jewish youth, which were impacted by the times in which Hitler reigned in Europe.  The words of the children are so moving that this book would be a great source for educators to use in their study of the Holocaust and the writing and photographs make it appropriate for readers of any age. 

Evaluation criteria:  Organization

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet

Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons over Broadway: the true story of the puppeteer of Macy’s Parade. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

Balloons Over Broadway, The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade is a masterfully written and illustrated book about Tony Sarg, the artist behind the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.  This beautiful book uses collage to enhance the written word about a time-honored tradition that was the ever-evolving brain-child of Mr. Sarg.

Evaluation criteria: Design

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Paterson, K. (1972). Bridge to Terabithia. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co.

Jess Aarons is not the typical leading male character in Bridge to Terabithia in that he does not care to conform to the stereotypical role of a small town boy but because of his dirt-poor upbringing and lack of encouragement, sees no other option and so he runs to escape. Then Leslie moves to this very believable small town with its small town ideas and limitations, and gives Jess a vision of hope and encouragement to pursue his artistic talents. As the two transcend the daily life that holds Jess back by creating an imaginary world, Jess begins to grow in strength so that even in the face of loss, Jess has become strong enough to have hope of one day overcoming his upbringing. 

Evaluation criteria: Character and setting

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

Urban, L.(2007).  A crooked kind of perfect. New York: Scholastic.

Because Zoe Elias' father stays home due to social anxiety and her mother is seen as the sole source of financial support, added to the fact the main character, Zoe, is a female, leads to the reader down a path of gender and culture that is emerging as one that is more and more common in contemporary fiction and easier and easier for readers today to identify with. Zoe's struggle with feeling inadequate as a pianist is resolved when she realizes that life doesn't have to be picture-perfect to be wonderful. As Zoe grows as a character, so does her father in overcoming some of his anxiety issues.

Evaluation criteria:  Gender/culture and character

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Selznick, B. (2011).  Wonderstruck. New York: Scholastic.

Wonderstruck is a wonderfully written/illustrated book about a boy named Ben whose mother died in a tragic accident leaving him to wonder about the father he never knew with no one to understand him, while at the same time,  Rose, a young girl who lived 50 years before, is on a similar quest.  While Ben's story is written, Rose's is beautifully illustrated in a way that reader's practice comprehension without words and understanding is way that leaves them with a very unique reading experience.

Comics Squad Recess!

Holm, J. (2014) Comics squad: Recess! New York: Random House.

Comics Squad Recess! is a collection of comic strips centered around recess that use humor and slight sarcasm to entertain readers of all ages.  Through simple, three-color illustrations and dialogue between the characters, the authors provide stories of conflict and challenge common to adolescents in school, yet with humor and light-heartedness, the comics become a fun ode to the coming-of-age we all experience.

Evaluation criteria: Theme and style

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Creech, S. (2001). Love that dog. New York: Harper Collins.

Love That Dog is a book set in poetry and prose from the point of view of a young boy, Jack, whose assignments are apparently poetry in nature based on various poems read in class by the teacher. Jack is a somewhat reluctant, insecure writer, but as the story progresses through the words of the boy, the reader is informed of details from the poems read in class.   Also, as the story unfolds, Walter Dean Myers becomes a key figure through his inspiration to Jack and eventually visits the school. Love That Dog is written in a unique way that rather quickly and with a relatively few words, reveals multiple themes and details of the story.

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Collins, S. (2003). Gregor the Overlander. New York: Scholastic.

Gregor the Overlander is a fantasy novel about an 11 year old boy living with his mother, his grandmother and his two sisters in an apartment in the city after the mysterious disappearance of his father.  Gregor and his 2 year old sister "fall" into a vent in the laundry room basement into another world inhabited by life-sized roaches, spiders, rats, and bats, in addition to the Underlanders.  After learning that his father may well be held captive by the rats and that he, Gregor, is the person fated to free the Underlanders from the oppression of the rats, Gregor sets out on his predestined quest to do just that.  Met with resistance from both sides and unlikely allies, Gregor finds that there is more to him than he ever imagined.

Evaluation criteria: Plot and setting

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

Hale, S. (2008). Rapunzel’s Revenge. New York: Bloomsbury.

Rapunzel's Revenge is a tale based on the traditional fairy tale of Rapunzel, but that's where the similarities end.  In this epic twist on a timeless tale, written in graphic novel style, the reader follows Rapunzel (who is certainly no damsel in distress awaiting her prince-rescuer) throughout her wild West adventure with Jack-- of the beanstalk-- as they set out to triumph over evil and Rapunzel's evil captor, Mother Goethel.

Book trailers from Shannon Hale's book trailer contest
 

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

 

Landry, D. (2007). Skulduggery Pleasant. NY: HarperCollins.

When Uncle Gordon dies, Stephanie, the 12-year-old protagonist, inherits his fortune but along with that fortune also comes the world that Gordon had kept secret and what had made him such an enigma to his family.  In that world, Stephanie and her new-found, sharp-tongued, skeleton protector team up to battle against the evil Faceless Ones.  Stephanie, who has always been a bit awkward comes into her own in Skulduggery Pleasant making this a great coming of age novel for young readers.

Evaluation criteria:  Character and theme

Official audio clip:  https://soundcloud.com/harperaudio/skulduggery-pleasant-by-derek-landy

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, N. (2008). The Graveyard Book. NY: HarperCollins.

The Graveyard Book is an intriguing tale about a boy who, as a toddler, inadvertently, as a result of his family's murders, ends up as a permanent resident of a graveyard where the paranormal residents take him in as one of their own.  Over the course of the novel, "Bod" is raised in a sort of limbo as one of the dead and learns his life-lessons in the night.  While growing up, Bod has many encounters, night and day with both the living and the dead, the good and the evil, and as a result, he learns about things that frighten even him and challenge him in ways he's never been challenged before. 

Evaluation criteria: Setting and character

Book trailer:  The Graveyard Book