Readability: 3 Pretty easy.
Teachability: 3 This is more of a independent reading book. As much as I would like to teach it, it has little academic merit.(Suggested grade level: 8 and up. See Post on Lioness Rampant)
Did I like it: Yes. I liked it for the same reasons I liked Lioness Rampant. It has a strong female character and I really like that.
Summary: Veralidaine can communicate with animals. For the most part, they are the only living things she talks to, until she gets a job moving horses to Tortall with Onua. Soon Daine finds herself immersed in a world of Riders in training (boys and girls) and magic. She also finds herself spending a lot of time with a mage, Numair who is convinced that her "knack with animals" is more than just a talent, but magic.
Suggested for: Girls. Its kind of a "femmy" book.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Lioness Rampant by: Tamora Pierce
Readability: 3 This was a page turner for me.
Teachability: 3 I wouldn't necessarily teach this book to a whole class. I would definitely have it available, though, in the classroom library for anyone who would want to pick it up. (Suggested grade level: 8 and up though it might be a little too easy for more advanced readers it is still a good pleasure-read)
Did I like it?: Yes, very much. I personally love stories with strong female characters.
Summary: Alanna, the first female knight Tortall has seen in centuries, doesn't feel welcome at court so she has decided to be a roving Knight. That way she can do great deeds without having to face the tension she causes at court. She decides to go to the Roof of the World and retrieve the Dominion Jewel. The Dominion Jewel would give the king the power to turn the very soil of Tortall against an enemy. Who could hate her after that?
Recommended for: Girls mostly. Though there is a lot of action, there is also a lot of romance.
Teachability: 3 I wouldn't necessarily teach this book to a whole class. I would definitely have it available, though, in the classroom library for anyone who would want to pick it up. (Suggested grade level: 8 and up though it might be a little too easy for more advanced readers it is still a good pleasure-read)
Did I like it?: Yes, very much. I personally love stories with strong female characters.
Summary: Alanna, the first female knight Tortall has seen in centuries, doesn't feel welcome at court so she has decided to be a roving Knight. That way she can do great deeds without having to face the tension she causes at court. She decides to go to the Roof of the World and retrieve the Dominion Jewel. The Dominion Jewel would give the king the power to turn the very soil of Tortall against an enemy. Who could hate her after that?
Recommended for: Girls mostly. Though there is a lot of action, there is also a lot of romance.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Love That Dog By: Sharon Creech
Readability: 0 Very, very easy. I read it in about half an hour.
Teachability: 8 It would be a good book to open a poetry unit with. It addresses some of the forms that poetry can take and it also addresses the feelings that a student might have toward their own work. Also it is a good example of a novel in verse. I know that the genre is a little underrepresented in classrooms right now. It might be a good idea to fix that.(Suggested grade level: 3-6 for independent readers, 1-12 for read-alouds)
Did I Like It?: Yes. It was sweet.
Summary: This is a book about Jack, a beginner poet. at first he doesn't like or want to write poetry, let alone share it with the whole class; but he soon gets over that with the help of his teacher and his dog.
Recommended For: Anyone, really.
Teachability: 8 It would be a good book to open a poetry unit with. It addresses some of the forms that poetry can take and it also addresses the feelings that a student might have toward their own work. Also it is a good example of a novel in verse. I know that the genre is a little underrepresented in classrooms right now. It might be a good idea to fix that.(Suggested grade level: 3-6 for independent readers, 1-12 for read-alouds)
Did I Like It?: Yes. It was sweet.
Summary: This is a book about Jack, a beginner poet. at first he doesn't like or want to write poetry, let alone share it with the whole class; but he soon gets over that with the help of his teacher and his dog.
Recommended For: Anyone, really.
Friday, December 2, 2011
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by: Alan Bradley
So, here's the thing, I couldn't make myself keep reading this book. Here are the reasons why:
1.) I couldn't relate to the main character... at all. she was a little too far fetched for me.
2.) I couldn't get into the story. For some reason or another the story's pace was just too... meander-y ( I know, that's not a word) for me.
3.) I don't have time for it. It's the week before finals, my friends, and I won't make myself trudge through a book that I'm getting nothing out of.
Maybe I'll try again when I have more time and patience.
1.) I couldn't relate to the main character... at all. she was a little too far fetched for me.
2.) I couldn't get into the story. For some reason or another the story's pace was just too... meander-y ( I know, that's not a word) for me.
3.) I don't have time for it. It's the week before finals, my friends, and I won't make myself trudge through a book that I'm getting nothing out of.
Maybe I'll try again when I have more time and patience.
Maus: A Survivor's Tale By Art Spiegelman
Readability: 4 Format-wise it was easy to read, content-wise it was a little bit difficult in parts.
Teachability:9 Super teachable. Most schools have a Holocaust unit somewhere in the curriculum. This is a good alternative or supplement to other Holocaust literature that's out there. It also is a good book to introduce allegory with, because the characters are represented as animals. If I were to teach it with any book I might teach it with Animal Farm By: George Orwell. It might be easier to get students in tot he mindset of using animals as symbols for people (status, belief system, race, etc.) and how that effects the story. (Suggested grade level: 11-12. I know it might look like a good one for younger grades but the visual content is really geared toward older students)
Did I like It?: Yes. as much as anyone can like reading about the Holocaust.
Summary: Art Speigelman takes us in to his father's experiences in the concentration camps in Hitler's Germany. He also shows us the after effects of those experiences by showing us his experiences with gathering the story from his father.
Recommended For: The strong of heart (also those of age 15 and up). This story got pretty heavy at times.
Teachability:9 Super teachable. Most schools have a Holocaust unit somewhere in the curriculum. This is a good alternative or supplement to other Holocaust literature that's out there. It also is a good book to introduce allegory with, because the characters are represented as animals. If I were to teach it with any book I might teach it with Animal Farm By: George Orwell. It might be easier to get students in tot he mindset of using animals as symbols for people (status, belief system, race, etc.) and how that effects the story. (Suggested grade level: 11-12. I know it might look like a good one for younger grades but the visual content is really geared toward older students)
Did I like It?: Yes. as much as anyone can like reading about the Holocaust.
Summary: Art Speigelman takes us in to his father's experiences in the concentration camps in Hitler's Germany. He also shows us the after effects of those experiences by showing us his experiences with gathering the story from his father.
Recommended For: The strong of heart (also those of age 15 and up). This story got pretty heavy at times.
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Readability: 2 Really quick, easy read. I finished it in a day.
Teachability: 4 Like any decent book it has some characteristics that are teachable (characterization, voice, setting, etc.) but I wouldn't necessarily choose it as a whole class book. If I had to chose something to teach from it I would take it in to the larger community of the school and talk about bullying and acceptance. (Suggested grade level: 5-12)
Did I like It?: Yes, very much. I originally had this book read aloud to me by my fifth grade teacher, so it brings back some really fond memories of her. As for the book itself, I liked the characters mostly. I particularly liked Stargirl, she was so great. Leo, though, I got really mad at him. I can't tell you why I got mad at him without spoiling the story.
Summary: At Mica High School, in Arizona, the students are all more or less the same. they all wear the same brands of clothes, listen to the same kinds of music, you get the picture. Ever day was the same at Mica High, until Stargirl came and set everyone on their ears with her unrelenting kindness and her infectious individuality. Everyone wonders who she is, where she came from, and why, why, why does she act the way she does. By the end of the book Leo has the answers to most of the questions that circulate about Stargirl, but he doesn't really understand her any better than anyone else.
Recommended For: Everyone. It's a great book.
Teachability: 4 Like any decent book it has some characteristics that are teachable (characterization, voice, setting, etc.) but I wouldn't necessarily choose it as a whole class book. If I had to chose something to teach from it I would take it in to the larger community of the school and talk about bullying and acceptance. (Suggested grade level: 5-12)
Did I like It?: Yes, very much. I originally had this book read aloud to me by my fifth grade teacher, so it brings back some really fond memories of her. As for the book itself, I liked the characters mostly. I particularly liked Stargirl, she was so great. Leo, though, I got really mad at him. I can't tell you why I got mad at him without spoiling the story.
Summary: At Mica High School, in Arizona, the students are all more or less the same. they all wear the same brands of clothes, listen to the same kinds of music, you get the picture. Ever day was the same at Mica High, until Stargirl came and set everyone on their ears with her unrelenting kindness and her infectious individuality. Everyone wonders who she is, where she came from, and why, why, why does she act the way she does. By the end of the book Leo has the answers to most of the questions that circulate about Stargirl, but he doesn't really understand her any better than anyone else.
Recommended For: Everyone. It's a great book.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by: Carrie Ryan
Readability: 5 Not terribly difficult.
Teachability: 5 This is more of a independent reading book. It has it's merits for action writing, suspense, a little romance and plot development, but other than that it really lies in the realm of leisure reading. (Suggested grade level: 9-12)
Did I Like It?: Yes. It was a pretty good fit for me. Zombies, evil nuns, a little romance, mystery, and a lot of adventure.
Summary: Mary has always wondered what lay beyond the forest of hands and teeth. The Sisterhood says that there is nothing, that their community is all that's left of the world. Mary wonders if they are hiding something. The forest of hands and teeth is filled with the unrelenting unconsecrated. They have to come from somewhere... Don't they?
Recommended for: Anyone over the age of 13. There is some pretty suggestive stuff in there so I wouldn't want anyone younger than that to be reading it. But as far as gender interest, I think there is plenty of things in this book for both the guys and the gals.
Teachability: 5 This is more of a independent reading book. It has it's merits for action writing, suspense, a little romance and plot development, but other than that it really lies in the realm of leisure reading. (Suggested grade level: 9-12)
Did I Like It?: Yes. It was a pretty good fit for me. Zombies, evil nuns, a little romance, mystery, and a lot of adventure.
Summary: Mary has always wondered what lay beyond the forest of hands and teeth. The Sisterhood says that there is nothing, that their community is all that's left of the world. Mary wonders if they are hiding something. The forest of hands and teeth is filled with the unrelenting unconsecrated. They have to come from somewhere... Don't they?
Recommended for: Anyone over the age of 13. There is some pretty suggestive stuff in there so I wouldn't want anyone younger than that to be reading it. But as far as gender interest, I think there is plenty of things in this book for both the guys and the gals.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Graceling By Kristin Cashore
Readability: 4 This was a pretty easy read. A lot of it is "stream of consciousness" so there are a lot of fragments. But if you can get past that it's really easy to read.
Teachability: 5 This one is more for enjoyment than teaching. As with most books it is good for teaching setting and voice (particularly stream of consciousness) but not much else about the book is "teachable." (Suggested grade level: no lower than 9th grade. There are some pretty sensual scenes in the book. I don't suggest recommending it to younger readers.)
Did I like it?: I sure did! This is my second reading of the book and I liked it just as much this time. I like the perspective and the fact that it is both a physical and emotional journey for the main character.
Summary: Katsa has a talent for killing. King Randa, her uncle, takes full advantage of that and uses her to exact retribution on those who offend him... Until Katsa decides that she doesn't want to be his dog anymore. She sets out on an adventure to right the wrongs caused by a king that the world doesn't suspect, with her new friend Po.
Recommended for: Anyone. Though the protagonist is female the book could still be appealing to boys. Though there is a lot of emotional stuff it is a very adventurous, action packed story.
Teachability: 5 This one is more for enjoyment than teaching. As with most books it is good for teaching setting and voice (particularly stream of consciousness) but not much else about the book is "teachable." (Suggested grade level: no lower than 9th grade. There are some pretty sensual scenes in the book. I don't suggest recommending it to younger readers.)
Did I like it?: I sure did! This is my second reading of the book and I liked it just as much this time. I like the perspective and the fact that it is both a physical and emotional journey for the main character.
Summary: Katsa has a talent for killing. King Randa, her uncle, takes full advantage of that and uses her to exact retribution on those who offend him... Until Katsa decides that she doesn't want to be his dog anymore. She sets out on an adventure to right the wrongs caused by a king that the world doesn't suspect, with her new friend Po.
Recommended for: Anyone. Though the protagonist is female the book could still be appealing to boys. Though there is a lot of emotional stuff it is a very adventurous, action packed story.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
House of the Scorpion by: Nancy Farmer
Readability: 3 It was an easy read because the language was on the level. It might be a little difficult at first because there is some Spanish peppered in there but over all, the book was a page turner.
Teachability: 4 I'm not sure how this book could be taught as a central text to a unit/lesson but it would be good as a supporting text for a utopian/dystopian literature unit/lesson. (9-12)
Did I like it?: Did I like it? Like isn't a strong enough word. I loved this book. There are so many good things about this book I can't even begin to list them here. The characters were great, the themes were really well supported and it was well written. It pulls at the emotions. I was sad, happy, angry, appalled, sentimental, and otherwise in all the right places of the book.
Summary: Matt is a clone. He has a reasonably normal happy childhood until he goes to the mansion. When his creator dies Matt is forced to run away.
Recommended for: Everyone! Boys, girls, women, men. This book has something that anyone could be interested in.
Teachability: 4 I'm not sure how this book could be taught as a central text to a unit/lesson but it would be good as a supporting text for a utopian/dystopian literature unit/lesson. (9-12)
Did I like it?: Did I like it? Like isn't a strong enough word. I loved this book. There are so many good things about this book I can't even begin to list them here. The characters were great, the themes were really well supported and it was well written. It pulls at the emotions. I was sad, happy, angry, appalled, sentimental, and otherwise in all the right places of the book.
Summary: Matt is a clone. He has a reasonably normal happy childhood until he goes to the mansion. When his creator dies Matt is forced to run away.
Recommended for: Everyone! Boys, girls, women, men. This book has something that anyone could be interested in.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Jellicoe Road by: Melina Marchetta
Readability: 5 The language wasn't too hard to follow. There are some words that American readers might need to look up (Australian colloquialisms).
Teachability: 7 This is a really good book for teaching flashbacks, foreshadowing chronological order, and sub-plot. To teach this book I would ask that students identify parts of the book that are flashbacks, foreshadows, and sub-plot elements. I wouldn't include chronological order in that activity. It would get too complicated. I think both activities though could be done in their journals (if they have them). That would be a good place for them to practice citing pages without the stress of a grade for it. (Suggested grade level: 9-12)
Did I like it?: Yes, after a while. It was a little hard to get into but once I did, I liked it a lot. There is a lot going on in the story, and a lot of pieces to put together.
Summary: Taylor Markham was abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was little. She goes to the Jellicoe school, now, where she and her school mates battle for territory with the townies and the cadets. On top of the territory wars Taylor has to deal with her feelings about her mother and haunting memories from her past.
Recommended for: Mostly girls because of the perspective, but boys might like it too. The emotional journey is universal.
Teachability: 7 This is a really good book for teaching flashbacks, foreshadowing chronological order, and sub-plot. To teach this book I would ask that students identify parts of the book that are flashbacks, foreshadows, and sub-plot elements. I wouldn't include chronological order in that activity. It would get too complicated. I think both activities though could be done in their journals (if they have them). That would be a good place for them to practice citing pages without the stress of a grade for it. (Suggested grade level: 9-12)
Did I like it?: Yes, after a while. It was a little hard to get into but once I did, I liked it a lot. There is a lot going on in the story, and a lot of pieces to put together.
Summary: Taylor Markham was abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was little. She goes to the Jellicoe school, now, where she and her school mates battle for territory with the townies and the cadets. On top of the territory wars Taylor has to deal with her feelings about her mother and haunting memories from her past.
Recommended for: Mostly girls because of the perspective, but boys might like it too. The emotional journey is universal.
Artemis Fowl by: Eoin Colfer
Readability: 1 soooo easy.
Teachability: 5 It's an alright book but I wouldn't necessarily use it to teach anything. The only thing I would use it for is for point of view. There are a lot of changes in the narrative. It moves from character to character. It would be a good example of how that can happen in writing, but not necessarily a good example of how to go about doing it. (Suggested grade level: 6-8)
Did I like it?: As an adult reader... no. I didn't like it at all. The language and plot structure weren't complex enough to hold my attention for long. I kept putting the book down and finding other things to do.
Summary: Artemis Fowl is a boy-genius... in a criminal mastermind kind of way. He captures a "fairy" and holds her for ransom. To get the ransom he has to work his way around the tricks that the other fairy-folk set in place to stop him.
Recommended for: Boys. There is a lot of action and I think boys would like to relate to Artemis.
Teachability: 5 It's an alright book but I wouldn't necessarily use it to teach anything. The only thing I would use it for is for point of view. There are a lot of changes in the narrative. It moves from character to character. It would be a good example of how that can happen in writing, but not necessarily a good example of how to go about doing it. (Suggested grade level: 6-8)
Did I like it?: As an adult reader... no. I didn't like it at all. The language and plot structure weren't complex enough to hold my attention for long. I kept putting the book down and finding other things to do.
Summary: Artemis Fowl is a boy-genius... in a criminal mastermind kind of way. He captures a "fairy" and holds her for ransom. To get the ransom he has to work his way around the tricks that the other fairy-folk set in place to stop him.
Recommended for: Boys. There is a lot of action and I think boys would like to relate to Artemis.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Holes by: Louis Sachar
Readability: 3 The language was simple but not too simple.
Teachability: 6 It is a really good story to teach flashbacks with. The book is full of them. Another possibility is voice and perspective (or point of view). Any book, really, is good for point of view, but teaching with this one, voice might be a little bit of a stretch. It has good examples of voice in it, but there are other books that would be better suited for the task. I would stick with teaching flashbacks with this one because the flashbacks are so clearly defined. Sidenote: The movie version of this book is very similar to the text. If you are going to quiz on it, make sure to ask about the details that aren't in the movie. (Suggested grade level 7-8)
Did I Like It?: Absolutely! I hadn't read it before, perhaps because when I was first introduced to it, my younger brother was reading it and we were at the stage where we didn't want to do anything the same. I'm sorry that was the case! I really did like this book a lot. It was full of adventure, a little mystery, and a lot of relate-ability.
Summary: Stanley Yelants is unlucky. His whole family was unlucky, way back to his "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather." So he wasn't all that surprised when he was wrongfully convicted and sent to a correctional boys' camp. He and the other boys at Camp Greenlake are made to dig a hole a day, to umm ... build character.
Recommended for: Anyone. Boys in particular, but girls might like it too. I know I did!
Teachability: 6 It is a really good story to teach flashbacks with. The book is full of them. Another possibility is voice and perspective (or point of view). Any book, really, is good for point of view, but teaching with this one, voice might be a little bit of a stretch. It has good examples of voice in it, but there are other books that would be better suited for the task. I would stick with teaching flashbacks with this one because the flashbacks are so clearly defined. Sidenote: The movie version of this book is very similar to the text. If you are going to quiz on it, make sure to ask about the details that aren't in the movie. (Suggested grade level 7-8)
Did I Like It?: Absolutely! I hadn't read it before, perhaps because when I was first introduced to it, my younger brother was reading it and we were at the stage where we didn't want to do anything the same. I'm sorry that was the case! I really did like this book a lot. It was full of adventure, a little mystery, and a lot of relate-ability.
Summary: Stanley Yelants is unlucky. His whole family was unlucky, way back to his "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather." So he wasn't all that surprised when he was wrongfully convicted and sent to a correctional boys' camp. He and the other boys at Camp Greenlake are made to dig a hole a day, to umm ... build character.
Recommended for: Anyone. Boys in particular, but girls might like it too. I know I did!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Rating Scales
So, to kind of quantify my thoughts about the books I'm going to rate them.
First I'm going to rate them on Readability. "0" being super easy, "10" being super difficult. This pretty much means how understandable the language is, how well it "flows", and how easy it was to get through. I'll be keeping this on the middle/high school level so all you readers out there can use the scale to judge for yourselves.
Then, for the teacher-folk, I'll rate them on how easily they could be used in the classroom. "0" meaning it doesn't belong anywhere near a classroom, "10" meaning it's super teachable. I'll try to comment a little on these. Perhaps, give a few suggestions/ideas and talking points.
Hopefully this is pretty clear. If not, leave a comment. I'll try to talk you through the jumble that comes out of my brain sometimes. :)
First I'm going to rate them on Readability. "0" being super easy, "10" being super difficult. This pretty much means how understandable the language is, how well it "flows", and how easy it was to get through. I'll be keeping this on the middle/high school level so all you readers out there can use the scale to judge for yourselves.
Then, for the teacher-folk, I'll rate them on how easily they could be used in the classroom. "0" meaning it doesn't belong anywhere near a classroom, "10" meaning it's super teachable. I'll try to comment a little on these. Perhaps, give a few suggestions/ideas and talking points.
Hopefully this is pretty clear. If not, leave a comment. I'll try to talk you through the jumble that comes out of my brain sometimes. :)
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The Skinny
This semester I have been put on a mission: Read ten young adult literature books and report on them. Since this age is a modern one, and I am a secondary education major, ten plain, old book reports will not do. I am going digital!
The main goal of the project is for me, as a teacher, to gain a working knowledge* of young adult literature. Not because I’ll be teaching it specifically, (though I probably will) but because I can’t suggest books to my students without first knowing what the books are about.
On a personal level, I have installed a secondary objective. I want this page to be a resource. A resource to teachers and young readers alike.
*To give credit where credit is due: I took the term “working knowledge” from the assignment description given to me by my professor.
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