[LIT] New Books Please!

[LAURIE STAFFORD]

To add to my students understanding of Alzheimer's (we have done service
learning at a local Alzheimer's home), I have had them read and discuss
The Graduation of Jake Moon. It has a low lexile but gives a truly
realistic presentation of how an adolescent handles his grandfather who
has Alzheimer's. I intend to use The House of the Scorpion this year
with my eighth graders which addresses cloning. I Am the Cheese is a
great discussion builder as students (8th graders) dig for what is truly
happening in the book. It can be frustrating to them in that respect;
however, it makes them dig deeper in their thinking. Stormbreaker is a
wonderful read aloud as is Gary Paulsen's Harris and Me. Touching Spirit
Bear was received well by my students in that it addressed bullying that
they experience/observe in their own world. The Coffin Quilt is
historical fiction dealing with the Hatfields and the McCoys and has
also been well liked by my students both when I taught seventh and
eighth grades. If studying the Holocaust, try The Cage. It is an
excellent true story told by an adolescent girl. Hope this helps.
Laurie Stafford, NBCT EA/ELA
Cario Middle School
3500 Thomas Cario Blvd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466
843-856-4595


>>> tlinsb71 at yahoo.com 07/04/06 12:10 PM >>>
When following the thread about core novels,  I
noticed very few "new books" added to the mix. What is
out there now for middle level kids that will cause
kids to say, "Hey, that was a great book!" So lets put
our heads together. Here are a couple my kids have
really liked and also lets look at some good
literature. 
Here's some well liked from my class:

The Clique books by Lisi Harriman (not literature but
certainly pertains to the everyday life of a middle
school girl)My girls loved theM AND the boys could
care less! 
http://tinyurl.com/qs838

Both the  boys and girls liked  boys loved the Anthony
Horowitz Alex Rider adventures such as "Stormbreaker"
and "Pointblank"
http://tinyurl.com/m3dkf 

I will be sharing "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster
Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt with my class this school
year. 
http://tinyurl.com/py4wb

It is an excellent book with so many possibilities. It
is a good fictional literature but based on some very
real and disturbing events in Maine, 1912. In fact
this is a book I would like to propose as a possible
reading and sharing novel on our list. I would love to
work together and share some ideas for use in the
classroom as well. 

Finally,  a new read that I absolutely loved is titles
"Rules" by Cynthia Lord. you can read my review on
Amazon. 

http://tinyurl.com/rpdtb

Check these out if you like and please, share some new
books today!

TLP

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