These are the other books that I read this semester and completed other projects for. I though I would include them because my final project blog only required 10 of the books but I read 27 altogether this semester. I didn't include the ones that I didn't enjoy all that much.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a classic written by Betty Smith. While it is a young adult novel, I think that some of the Great Depression Era references might be lost on today's young adults, unless they are familiar with the history. It is a story of struggle, family and survival. I'm really glad it was on my list to read for class because I already had been planning to read it and this assignment allowed me to do that. A great read for any adult or really mature YA with some background knowledge.
Speak is a book that is a surprise right until the end. I was really shocked by this book, there is some very mature subject matter in it. I don't want to spoil it for any one so I'll leave it at that but it would be good for 8
th graders on up I think. It was written by Laurie Anderson, very good book.
This book, Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse is not one that I read for class but just for pleasure. It is a very short book written in verse that tells the story of the Aleutian people being kicked out of there homes during the war. It is a very sad and touching story that is based in truth about the Japanese attacks in 1941 and 1942. A beautiful tribute to the Aleut people of Alaska.
This book is hilarious! I loved Sherman
Alexie's story and think that any kid would also love and relate to it as well. Junior is a Native American boy growing up on a reservation and there are many sad things that happen to him but he doesn't give up hope that he can make a great life for himself. This is a good book for any student who like to laugh and loves a great character.
Caroline B.
Cooney's Code Orange is a very exciting thriller. Mitty is a high
schooler who is not that interested in school until he has to write a paper on small pox. Where the research takes him will keep you guessing and the
twist toward the end will surprise you. A very intriguing read.
This graphic novel, The Plain
Janes by
Castellucci, is a good story with great black and white illustrations. Jane moves from the city to the suburbs and is trying to find something that will excite her again. She and her friends are all named Jane and they find a way to bring art and excitement to the town.
Gordon
Korman has written a very funny book about a kid who was born into a mob family and wants absolutely nothing to do with it. Vince Luca has enough trouble on his own but he accidentally gets himself into a huge mess with some of his dad's business and the laughs go on and on.
Richard Peck gives us a tale about a girl named Peewee who is living with her brother and grandparents. The story is set during the advent of the car and she works with her brother fixing them up when she isn't at school. Peewee ends up racing in the town's biggest race of the year and her life is never going to be the same afterward.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is a fantasy novel about a girl named Sophie who has two sisters and a step-mother. She has a spell put on her that makes her old and she ends up living in the moving castle with Howl, his
assistant and the talking fire. This book was interesting, I actually listened to it on audio
CD and was able to have all the
characters acted out. I think I enjoyed it more with the audio than I would have just reading it on my own.
The book The
Hoopster by Alan Lawrence
Sitomer is a
racially charged story of a young high school student named Andre. Andre is very smart, he makes good grades, works for a magazine and wants to go to college to become a writer. When he is assigned to write and article, he is forced to look at his life and how he has been affected by racism for the first time. This reflection takes Andre and his friends and family on a journey
through some tough times and there is a good lesson in the story.
Margaret Peterson
Haddix's Shadow Children Series begins with Among the Hidden. It is the story of a boy named Luke who is the third child in his family. The problem is that third children are outlawed and the Population Police are on the look out for children who are illegal. Luke has lived a very sheltered
existence without going to school and not having any friends. He finally meets a friend, a girl named Jen who is his new neighbor who is also a hidden third child and they meet in secret when they can. Jen is trying to start a movement with other third children which overturns the law but is met with strong
opposition and it costs her dearly. This is a very
intriguing series and I am on book three, Among the Enemy now.
Hard Love by Ellen
Wittlinger is the story of two friends. John and Marisol are both in high school and trying to figure themselves out. They both write small self published work called zines that they distribute to anyone who will read them, this is how they become friends. The problem comes when John falls for Marisol but she can't return the feelings because she is a lesbian and they go through a tough time
figuring out what their relationship should be. This is a great story about friendship that is universal.
The City of Ember is a genius piece of work by Jeanne Du
Prau. I love this book, it is about a group of people that have been sent to live below the Earth and have been there so long that they think it is the only place that exists. Two kids figure out that it isn't and embark on a journey to find a way out. This is the first book in a series of four.
Down the Rabbit Hole is the first in a series by Peter
Abrahams. These stories are mysteries and the main character and detective is Ingrid. She is a middle school student and a soccer player, she also
happens to adore Sherlock Homes and has studied all of his books. Ingrid is solving the mysteries of Echo Falls one clue at time and gaining fans along the way.
Behind the Curtain is the second tale of Ingrid and the mysterious Echo Falls. This is a great series and the third book is called Into the Dark and is on my "To Read" list.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a classic written by Betty Smith. While it is a young adult novel, I think that some of the Great Depression Era references might be lost on today's young adults, unless they are familiar with the history. It is a story of struggle, family and survival. I'm really glad it was on my list to read for class because I already had been planning to read it and this assignment allowed me to do that. A great read for any adult or really mature YA with some background knowledge.
Speak is a book that is a surprise right until the end. I was really shocked by this book, there is some very mature subject matter in it. I don't want to spoil it for any one so I'll leave it at that but it would be good for 8th graders on up I think. It was written by Laurie Anderson, very good book.
This book, Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse is not one that I read for class but just for pleasure. It is a very short book written in verse that tells the story of the Aleutian people being kicked out of there homes during the war. It is a very sad and touching story that is based in truth about the Japanese attacks in 1941 and 1942. A beautiful tribute to the Aleut people of Alaska.
This book is hilarious! I loved Sherman Alexie's story and think that any kid would also love and relate to it as well. Junior is a Native American boy growing up on a reservation and there are many sad things that happen to him but he doesn't give up hope that he can make a great life for himself. This is a good book for any student who like to laugh and loves a great character.
Caroline B. Cooney's Code Orange is a very exciting thriller. Mitty is a high schooler who is not that interested in school until he has to write a paper on small pox. Where the research takes him will keep you guessing and the twist toward the end will surprise you. A very intriguing read.
This graphic novel, The Plain Janes by Castellucci, is a good story with great black and white illustrations. Jane moves from the city to the suburbs and is trying to find something that will excite her again. She and her friends are all named Jane and they find a way to bring art and excitement to the town.
Gordon Korman has written a very funny book about a kid who was born into a mob family and wants absolutely nothing to do with it. Vince Luca has enough trouble on his own but he accidentally gets himself into a huge mess with some of his dad's business and the laughs go on and on.
Richard Peck gives us a tale about a girl named Peewee who is living with her brother and grandparents. The story is set during the advent of the car and she works with her brother fixing them up when she isn't at school. Peewee ends up racing in the town's biggest race of the year and her life is never going to be the same afterward.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is a fantasy novel about a girl named Sophie who has two sisters and a step-mother. She has a spell put on her that makes her old and she ends up living in the moving castle with Howl, his assistant and the talking fire. This book was interesting, I actually listened to it on audio CD and was able to have all the characters acted out. I think I enjoyed it more with the audio than I would have just reading it on my own.
The book The Hoopster by Alan Lawrence Sitomer is a racially charged story of a young high school student named Andre. Andre is very smart, he makes good grades, works for a magazine and wants to go to college to become a writer. When he is assigned to write and article, he is forced to look at his life and how he has been affected by racism for the first time. This reflection takes Andre and his friends and family on a journey through some tough times and there is a good lesson in the story.
Margaret Peterson Haddix's Shadow Children Series begins with Among the Hidden. It is the story of a boy named Luke who is the third child in his family. The problem is that third children are outlawed and the Population Police are on the look out for children who are illegal. Luke has lived a very sheltered existence without going to school and not having any friends. He finally meets a friend, a girl named Jen who is his new neighbor who is also a hidden third child and they meet in secret when they can. Jen is trying to start a movement with other third children which overturns the law but is met with strong opposition and it costs her dearly. This is a very intriguing series and I am on book three, Among the Enemy now.
Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger is the story of two friends. John and Marisol are both in high school and trying to figure themselves out. They both write small self published work called zines that they distribute to anyone who will read them, this is how they become friends. The problem comes when John falls for Marisol but she can't return the feelings because she is a lesbian and they go through a tough time figuring out what their relationship should be. This is a great story about friendship that is universal.
The City of Ember is a genius piece of work by Jeanne Du Prau. I love this book, it is about a group of people that have been sent to live below the Earth and have been there so long that they think it is the only place that exists. Two kids figure out that it isn't and embark on a journey to find a way out. This is the first book in a series of four.
Down the Rabbit Hole is the first in a series by Peter Abrahams. These stories are mysteries and the main character and detective is Ingrid. She is a middle school student and a soccer player, she also happens to adore Sherlock Homes and has studied all of his books. Ingrid is solving the mysteries of Echo Falls one clue at time and gaining fans along the way.
Behind the Curtain is the second tale of Ingrid and the mysterious Echo Falls. This is a great series and the third book is called Into the Dark and is on my "To Read" list.
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