[LIT] 8th grade lit circle books

[Pam]

Pam writes:  Nope, but an alternative might be Swallowing Stones (not 
sure of author).  I used this with remedial readers in 8th grade (low 
readability and high interest).  The basic plot line is that a young 
man gets a rifle from his Grandpa and is expected to take care of it 
appropriately. Long story short - he doesn't.  He allows himself and a 
friend to fire it into the air during the 4th of July celebration of 
his birthday.  Almost a mile away, a man is shot by a stray falling 
bullet while roofing his house.  (you now have a who done it to boot).  
The man's daughter sees his death.  Coincidentally, both the boys and 
girl go to the same school.

So, there is accidental gun violence w/ all the lies and drama and 
suspense from the police that entails.  There is also an slightly 
inappropriate sexual relationship - more implied - soft struggles 
during make out session (same dang bday party) and a torn bathing suit 
top.  Girl is NOT raped, but mistreated and that continues.  main 
character sees errors of ways who way through  - he understands that to 
grow up he has to swallow his pride, his over extended sense of self, 
etc.  He has to swallow some stones  & he needs to do it successfully 
(unlike a previous character who died trying to swallow stones).

It is a good boy-girl read as the chapters move from boys point of view 
to girls point of view.  Raises some very good and conversational 
points of view the whole way through.  I enjoyed teaching it and once 
they were into it, the kids enjoyed reading it/listening me read it.
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Judy wrote  Has anyone read Give a Boy a Gun ? I'm interested in 
reading this with 9th
graders, low reading level, but I'm concerned about the dangerous 
messages about
gun violence I may be passing along. How has this book been received by
students?

 :o) Pam/6th gr./FL
An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how 
much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do 
know and what you don't.
Anatole France (1844 - 1924)