What Jamie Saw - Chapter Book # 15

AUTHOR:  Carolyn Coman

GENRE: Juvenile Fiction

AWARD:  Newbery Honor Book

THEME:  Domestic violence, abuse and conflict

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CHARACTERS:  Jamie and his mom Patty

DATE OF PUBLICATION AND PUBLISHER:  1997, Puffin

SUMMARY: This is rather a sad book.  Jamie is a 9 year old boy who witnesses his step father throwing his little sister across the room.  Luckily his mom Patty caught her before she hit the wall.  The three of them run away and hide in a trailer which belongs to a friend.  They are living in poverty, which Jamie sleeping in the only bed, his mom sleeping in the chair and baby Nin sleeping in a dresser drawer.   The story takes a turn when the step father Van finds them, what happens next will have you on the edge of your seat.

HOW I WOULD USE THIS BOOK AS A TEACHER:  This book would definitely bring up discussion points of abuse and conflict so I would recommend older children only reading it.  There is also mild profanity in it.  The book is full of similes and metaphors so students could be asked to identify and explain them.  What Jamie Saw would definitely promote empathy and awareness.

The Boy with the Lampshade on his Head - Chapter Book # 14

AUTHOR:  Bruce Wetter

 

GENRE:  Juvenile Fiction

THEME:  Friendship, abuse

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CHARACTERS:  Stanley Krakow and Theresa his friend

DATE OF PUBLICATION:  2004,  Athenium Books for Young Readers

SUMMARY:  Stanley is a genius, yet he is painfully shy.  He has parents who basically don’t notice him and a brother who is always up to no good.  Stanley imagines himself as a super hero who does not have any problems socializing with people.  Stanley meets Theresa and they become fast friends and she confides a terrible secret to Stanley.  Read the book to find out what that secret is….

HOW I WOULD USE THIS BOOK AS A TEACHER:  I would have this book in my classroom library for social reading.

Beating Heart: A Ghost Story - Chapter Book # 13

 AUTHOR: A. M. Jenkins

 GENRE:  Juvenile Fiction

SUB GENRE: Historical Fiction

THEME:  Divorce, moving, ghosts

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CHARACTERS:  Evan, Cora the ghost, Evan’s Mom and his five year old sister.

DATE OF PUBLICATION:  2006, Harper Tempest

SUMMARY:   This was an interesting book, definitely for the high school reader.  Evan and his family move into an old Victorian house where he starts having dreams about a beautiful girl.  This girl is Cora and she lived in the house as a teenager over 100 years ago.    The book is a combination of prose and poetry which makes it an interesting mix.  Evan finds his thoughts are consumed by this girl and she even has him wondering whether he loves his girlfriend Carrie or not.  Even though there is a ghost in this book, it is not eerie and scary and it is suggestive so readers beware.

HOW I WOULD USE THIS BOOK AS A TEACHER:  If I taught in a high school, I would possibly have this book in my class library for social reading.

Alice in Blunderland - Chapter Book # 12

AUTHOR:  Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

GENRE: Juvenile Fiction

THEME: Single parent families, friendship, embarrassment

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CHARACTERS: Alice, Lester and their Dad

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 2003 by Simon and Schuester

SUMMARY:  Alice and Lester lived in a small town with their Dad.  Their mother died when they were young.  When Alice’s dad starts dating again, Alice goes through a rough patch thinking that he is forgetting about her mom and no longer has time for them both.  Alice also believes everything her brother tells her and this leads to some funny situations.

HOW I WOULD USE THIS BOOK AS A TEACHER:  I think this book is great for social reading as well as showing students that people do go through not so pleasant family situations and come out just fine.

Al Capone does my shirt - Chapter Book # 11

AUTHOR: Gennifer Choldenko

GENRE:  Historical Fiction

THEME:  Challenges, new experiences, autism, responsibility

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CHARACTERS:  Moose Flanagan and Piper the Warden’s daughter.

AWARD(S):  Newbery Honor Book 2005

DATE OF PUBLICATION:   2004, Putnam Juvenile

SUMMARY:  What an interesting book. It is set in 1935.  Moose and his family move to Alcatraz after his Dad gets a job as a prison guard/electrician there.  Moose has a younger sister called Natalie who has autism and he has to go home after school every day to watch her.  The Flanagan’s are encouraged to put Natalie in an institution because back then little was known about autism.  They refuse and choose to keep her with them.  Moose has a special connection with his sister.   When they get to the island Moose meets new friends and finds out that the Warden’s daughter Piper is nothing but trouble, even if she is cute!   Al Capone joins the story and helps the family….read the book to find out how….

HOW I WOULD USE THIS BOOK AS A TEACHER:  I would use this book to teach responsibility and introduce students to autism.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! - Chapter Book # 10

AUTHOR:  Laura Amy Schlitz

ILLUSTRATOR:  Robert Byrd

GENRE:  Historical Fiction

SUB GENRE: Monologue, drama

THEME:  Life in medieval time

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CHARACTERS:  Hugo the lord’s nephew, Nelly and many others.

AWARD(S):  Newbery Medal Winner 2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 2007, Candlewick Press

SUMMARY:  This book was written by the Librarian of Park School in Baltimore for her students.  The book is set in an English village in 1255 and each piece introduces the reader to a variety of characters whom are all unforgettable.  What I loved about this book is that the characters are all young which make them relatable to the student reader.

HOW I WOULD USE THIS BOOK AS A TEACHER:  This book would be perfect exposure to life in medieval times for students.  It is historically accurate and the illustrations are lovely.

Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry - Chapter Book # 9

AUTHOR:  Mildred D. Taylor

 

GENRE: Historical Fiction

THEME:  Family, racism, self-respect.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CHARACTERS:  Cassie Logan and her family; the Wallace family.

AWARD(S):  Newbery Medal 1977

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 1991, Puffin

SUMMARY:  Once I started reading this book I could not put it down.  It is narrated by Cassie Logan who is 9 years old.  Cassie’s family is black and owns land in Mississippi during the Depression.  This book depicts their daily struggles not only because of the Depression but also because of the racial times that they were living in.  

HOW I WOULD USE THIS BOOK AS A TEACHER:  This book will definitely open up the eyes of younger readers to racism and bigotry.  The story of the Logan’s will have you on the edge of your seat.