Katie’s Comments (group member since Oct 26, 2011)

Katie’s comments from the http://www.EDUG573Fall2011 group.

Maximum Ride, Volume 1 by Narae Lee (Based on James Patterson's novel)

This is the graphic novel version of Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment. I think it is useful for students who want to be able to know/discuss the series but are not yet able to read the novels. However, I really disliked reading it in this form. I felt that the characters were underdeveloped and that it was basically a boring version of a summary but with great illustrations. I also thought some of the language was unnecessary. I don't mind foul language when it is used to develop a realistic character, but this could have been substituted. I got the gist of the plot, which intrigued me enough to want to read the original version soon. I discussed it with several girls in my class who are obsessed with the series, and all four of them agreed that they disliked the graphic novel but loved the original. They said the plot is the same in both though.

The book is about a "flock" of teens/kids who have escaped from the lab in which they were treated as test animals and given magical powers (wings, high lung capacity, light bones, etc.). They are being chased by villains called Erasers. The youngest in the flock, Angel, is stolen and sent to a lab. Max is closest with Angel and is really upset/motivated to find her. Some members stay behind and set traps for the Erasers, while the other 3 fly to find Angel. Max notices a girl in danger and saves her, but gets shot in the wing in the process. The girl's mom is a vet and she takes X-rays of Max and agrees to keep her powers secret. Max learns she has a microchip deep in her arm, which is probably why the Erasers always find her. I won't ruin the ending, but it includes a lot of action during the rescue plan.

Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China
by Ed Young

This book contains beautiful illustrations and are very unique. The pictures almost look a little blurry, but they are so detailed and fascinating. It won the Caldecott Medal in 1990.

This is the Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood, and is quite different than the version most often told in America. In this version, three daughters are left at home while their mother goes to visit their grandma (Po Po). They are instructed to latch the door, but open it up when a wolf convinces them he is their Po Po. The oldest girl figures out the truth and devises a plan to escape with her sisters to the top of a ginko tree. They end up killing the wolf and returning to their home safely.

It would be interesting to compare several different versions of this tale with students. I think it could be used with any grade level either as a read aloud or independent book.

The Tiger and the Wise Man
retold by Andrew Fusek Peters
illustrated by Diana Mayo

This is a traditional Indian tale retold by a storyteller from Britain. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and beautiful, which helps bring the characters to life.

The tale is about an ornery, hungry tiger who is tricked into a cage by the villagers. When a wise man walks by, the tiger pleads to be let out. Reluctantly, the wise man releases him, only to find out that the tiger is planning to go back on his word and eat him for breakfast. The wise man convinces the tiger to get advice from other animals before eating him. He learns that all of the animals dislike humans because of what they have done to their habitats and how they have treated the animals. Eventually, the wise man gives up hope and agrees to let the tiger eat him. However, a jackal enters the story at that moment and ends up tricking the tiger back into his cage, hoping to steal the tiger's dinner. During that time, the wise man escapes.

As mentioned in class, I think this story would be good to use when looking at story elements because the plot is so easy to follow. I think young kids might like the story because it is rather predictable until the very end.

Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster by Debra Frasier

This is a picture book that tells the story of a little girl who is sick on Vocabulary Day, which is the day their teacher assigns new words. She calls a friend to have her read the list over the phone, but writes down "Miss Alaineus" instead of "miscellaneous." She becomes very embarrassed when she writes the incorrect version on the board and gets laughed at by her classmates. In the end, she chooses to make a joke out of her mistake during a class event where all students dress as a vocabulary term. She makes a wonderful cloak that contains "a collection of unrelated objects."

This book is great for context clues, homophones, and all things vocabulary. I really liked the dedication page, which totally set the tone for the rest of the book. It is dedicated to Calla, who is not a flower. What a great little teachable moment to preview the way authors sometimes define something by using a comma and renaming it with what it is or is not! There are also sentences going around the border of each page using unique words for that letter of the alphabet.

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies by Mick Cochrane

Molly is an eighth grade girl dealing with the loss of her father, who she had been extremely close with. He was killed in a single car accident, which leaves her with many wonders. Over the course of her school year, she tries to overcome her loss as well as her mother being distant and proving to her peers that she is more than just a girl whose father died. A very special bond she had with him developed during their backyard games of catch, during which he taught her to throw a perfect knuckleball (also known as a butterfly). Molly seems to use baseball as a way to connect with him and cope, and she ends up going out for, and making, the boys' baseball team. This experience helps her learn a lot about herself, what teamwork means, her friendships, and her mother. This is a very powerful, moving, realistic fiction novel.

I think this would be an excellent read aloud in the intermediate or junior high grades when learning about figurative language. Molly is an extremely intelligent character, and the words the author puts in her head are beautifully written. I'm obsessed with the language in this book. It would make an excellent mentor text for a realistic fiction writing unit in the upper grades, even if only one or two chapters were read to the class.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The first time I conferred with a student about this book, I thought it sounded ridiculous. However, it also left me intrigued. I could not imagine how a realistic story that is so well-known could have a character whose real name is Ponyboy or Sodapop. Now, this is one of my favorite books for middle school or even possibly high school students. There are so many important themes in this book, including social class, dysfunctional families, gang activity, prejudice, violence, consequences, self-defense, pride, values, and many others.

The story follows a gang of "Greasers" who were basically dealt a rough hand in life. After getting jumped by a "Soc" while walking home and then hanging out with one of their girl friends, a fight breaks out between Johnny, Ponyboy and the Socs. In order to save Ponyboy from being drowned in a fountain, Johnny stabs one of the Socs, killing him. They hide out for a few days, not knowing what else to do. During that time, they end up saving some children from a burning building and become heros. However, Johnny breaks his back and is told he will be charged for murdering Bob. Once Ponyboy returns home, the rival gangs get into another rumble to settle their differences, but the Greasers win. However, the positive feeling doesn't last long due to two surprising deaths in their gang, and Ponyboy having a really hard time dealing with them. Eventually he realizes he needs to follow his dead friend's advice and make something of himself. He begins to apply himself more in his schoolwork, and it seems that he writes this exact story as his essay for English because the book ends with the exact same sentence it begins with.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

DiCamillo is one of my all-time favorite authors. She is well-known for Because of Winn-Dixie and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, which are two other books I highly recommend. She has a way of completely drawing her readers into her imagination and making fantasy feel real.

The Tale of Despereaux is about a little mouse who disobeys all expectations of his mouse community by choosing to interact with a human - Princess Pea. As a punishment, he is sent to a dark dungeon and never expected to return alive. Two other stories intertwine with his. One is the story of Roscuro, a rat with an obsession with light, and the other is Miggery Sow, and child who can barely hear due to all of the "clouts" to the ear she has been given throughout her life. These three characters end up interacting due to a common thread - Princess Pea.

My favorite part of this book is the language DiCamillo uses when she speaks directly to the reader. It's like having a little built-in teacher helping set the purpose and keep you focused, but she does so in such a cute way. I think this book could be used in primary grades as a read aloud and in older grades for independent reading or book clubs.

This book is also a movie, but I've heard the stories are quite different.

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

This novel is told from the point of view of a middle school student named Steven who begins as a typical boy. He has an annoying little brother, would like to spend the majority of his time playing the drums, and he has a huge crush on a girl he doesn't think he will ever have a chance with. Suddenly, his world is turned upside down when his 5 year old brother Jeffrey is diagnosed with cancer. Steven's priorities change, people look at him and talk to him differently, and he struggles to find a balance with his family between his own hopes and dreams and their preoccupation with Jeffrey's health. He learns a lot about love and friendship throughout his journey with his little brother.

I think this is a perfect novel to add to your "bibliotherapy" lists because it really seems to "get" the emotions that children and young adults go through when a sibling is ill. I had a girl in my class a few years ago whose little sister had cancer, and this quickly became one of her favorite books. I think it is appropriate to use during whole class, small group, or individual instruction. It covers a wide range of emotions and feelings. One minute you are laughing, the next you are crying. The characters feel like your friends because they are so well-developed.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

I fell in love with this book as a student teacher, and reread it this year to prepare for a literature discussion group with a group of my sixth graders. I chose it for this group because they are working on using their reading log for specific purposes to help increase their understanding, rather than just summarizing what is going on in their books as some of the students had previously been doing. We are now working on looking for clues to solve the mystery.

The story contains 16 main characters who were chosen to compete to be the heir of Mr. Samuel Westing's fortune, but must win his little mysterious "game" in order to claim the $200 thousand dollar prize. However, the characters do not actually know Mr. Westing or why they were chosen. They are put into pairs and given a series of very strange, hard to interpret clues. The true personalities of the characters begins to shine through as they are pitted against one another, with each pair given a different set of clues. As the story unfolds, the reader and characters will notice that the clues relate to the song "America the Beautiful" and that the letters left out of the clues are important. Eventually, one character realizes that there is a different meaning for his "life was taken" than they had all originally thought and this character solves the mystery.

I do not recommend this book as a read aloud because there are so many characters and clues to keep track of. It needs to be read in longer doses in order to make sense of the clues effectively. I recommend using it at 5th grade or above as a book club or a buddy reading option. Most students would benefit from chances to discuss their ideas and predictions, rather than trying to keep it all straight in just their own head.

All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg

I chose to read this poetry book because it was recommended to me by about five of my students at the end of last year. It is both historical fiction and poetry. It is a current nominee for the Rebecca Caudill Award.

The story takes place during the Vietnam War and is told from the perspective of Matt, a young Vietnamese boy who was removed from his home/family in Vietnam and adopted by a very loving family in the United States. He is torn between two different worlds, with love for both families. He is also haunted with guilt about a terrible secret that is revealed at the end of the book - a very traumatizing experience during the War. (I won't ruin it for you - this is a must read!) Matt's love of baseball seems to carry him through some of his troubling memories, but it also brings some drama into his life as he faces teammates who are prejudiced against him because they blame him for the loss of their own family members in the War.

While the structure of this text makes it seem like a book that would be appropriate for younger or struggling readers, there is a lot of deep meaning within the author's free verse, so I feel it is important that students have some guidance while reading this book unless they are strong readers in junior high or above. I've had several students read it this year, but the beginning can be quite confusing as Matt refers to two different mothers and brothers. I had to reread the first section to make sure I understood who he was talking about before I could help my students make sense of it. I'm planning to use this book as a read aloud later this year when we begin studying the major events of the decades in the 1900s. I love that it shows a Vietnamese child's point of view of the Vietnam war, as well as American veterans' points of view. I think it will help students gain a much clearer picture of that time period.

The Lightning Thief (1st book in a series) by Rick Riordan

This series of books became extremely popular in my classroom two years ago. I always think I'm not a huge fan of fantasy, but when I read it I tend to love it. I believe the reason this is a very popular series with both boys and girls is that there are very strong main characters from both genders. The author captures his readers' attention with strange chapter titles, lots of action, suspense, and characters that come across as both real kids with insecurities as well as superheroes saving the world.

This first book introduces Percy, a dyslexic boy who has a very strange experience on a school field trip that results in him ending up at a school for demigods. Along with his friend Grover (half boy/half goat) and Annabeth (daughter of Athena), he gets sent on a mission to retrieve Zeus' lightning bolt and save his own mother. He comes to find out that he is the son of Poseidon, which explains why he has such a strong connection with water. The book meshes Greek mythology with current life in a way that includes humor, real emotions, and lots of adventure!

It has also been turned into a graphic novel series, but I have not read that version yet. I think this book would be appropriate for 3-8 graders as a read aloud, independent reading book, or book club discussion book. It could also be integrated with a social studies unit about Greece due to all of the Greek mythology.

Walt Disney - Saddleback Educational Publishing's Graphic Biography Series

This biography tells quite a bit of information about Walt Disney's life, from childhood through his death, even though it is a quick read. The images help tell the story because Disney's characters are all shown as they are introduced and because the facial expressions on the characters help show emotions and opinions. I liked how the book really stuck to the theme of perseverance throughout the explanation of the events of Disney's life. It covered his struggles, how those struggles motivated him, and how his motivation and hard work paid off.

I've noticed that most students do not choose to read biographies unless they are assigned, so the graphic versions of biographies could be especially helpful in introducing students to important people who impacted our world. After reading this, I have much more schema about Walt Disney and might like to learn more about him in a more traditional way. I definitely see the appeal of graphic novels, but the structure is a bit confusing to me. I did enjoy the fact that this stayed true to the nonfiction genre by including definitions to vocabulary words, which is a text structure nonfiction readers should be familiar with.

On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer

This is a short novel (only 90 pages) that was a Newbery Honor Book. The story follows a very simple plot, but the emotions of the main character are very complicated. Two neighborhood boys are good friends even though they have very different personalities. Tony is impulsive and a bit of a daredevil. Joel is more cautious and a bit of a worrier. Tony wants to climb the bluffs at Starved Rock, and Joel agrees because he is sure his father won't let them ride their bikes there alone. Much to his surprise/disappointment, his father agrees to allow them to ride to the state park as long as they promise they won't go anywhere else. The boys set out, and due to Joel's fear of climbing the bluffs, he is somewhat relieved when Tony decides to swim in the dangerous Vermillion River instead. Without realizing that Tony is not a strong swimmer, Joel dares him to swim to the sandbar. True to Tony's personality, he agrees to the challenge, and that is the last decision he makes before going missing in the river. Joel is left to deal with the weight of his guilt and a terrible truth. (I'm not ruining it - I promise! The back of the book lets you know that Tony vanishes in the river!)

This book promotes great discussion about how choices have consequences, peer pressure, and honesty. I'm currently using it in a guided reading group with kids who tend to be a little on the impulsive side. I think this is a great book for reluctant readers because it is short and begins with action right away. I would recommend it to grades 3-6. I think it could also be used as a read aloud because there are several stopping points that lend themselves well to discussions. The story reminds me a bit of Bridge to Terabithia due to the tragedy involved and the young characters having to cope with loss and guilt.

My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life by Kate Feiffer

This is an adorable book written from the point of view of a littler girl who believes her parents are trying to make her miserable by torturing her with things like kisses in public, talking too loud in front of her friends, and other terrible crimes. Once the police realize that this mom is ruining her daughter's life, they throw her in jail. While mom is gone, dad begins torturing his daughter as well with things like cleaning her room. Naturally, he is sent to jail. At first, the little girl is excited to have free reign over her house, but begins to miss her parents. This is a humorous book that kids and adults would enjoy.

This book can be used as a mentor text in classrooms when working on supporting details in writing. I used during my essay unit in writing this year to show how a thesis (My mom is trying to ruin my life) can be supported with different pieces of evidence (the 5 reasons listed in the book). Even though this book looks like it would be for young kids, my sixth graders loved it! It could also be used in the classroom to show how a character's opinions can change as a result of a significant event.

Crow Call by Lois Lowry

Crow Call is a picture book that is a personal narrative written about a memory from Lowry's childhood. The young girl is spending the day going hunting with her father, who we learn has just returned from the war. The little girl sees her father as a stranger, and Lowry uses wonderful language describing the body language, inner thought, and awkward conversation between the two characters. After getting to know each other a bit at breakfast, the characters go hunting and he teaches her how to use a crow call. She is scared of the idea that her father is a "hunter" and hopes that he will not kill any of the crows because they might have little ones at home waiting for their return. There are several points in the book in which readers might find symbolism, and it led to a great discussion about relationships, fears, and trust in my classroom.

I used this book as a mentor text this year when we were writing personal narratives during writing workshop. Each page offers strong writing craft moves that can be used to reinforce mini-lessons. Depending on the level of depth it is used for, I think this book could be used in classrooms from 2-12.

Behind the Bedroom Wall: A Novel of Nazi Germany by Laura E. Williams

This book won the Milkweed Prize for Children's Literature.

As I mentioned in class, I've always been fascinated by historical fiction books taking place during the Holocaust. This book was so different than the many others that I've read because it is told from the point of view of a 13 year old German girl who is a member of a Nazi youth group. She has been brainwashed to believe that Hitler is helping solve a big problem in her country and is horrified to find out that her parents are actually providing shelter to a Jewish family in her own home. After getting to know the Jewish family's point of view in this situation, she feels torn between two very different loyalties.

I think this is such an important novel because it really shows a different side to the Holocaust. So many stories paint all Germans to be horrible people during that time period, so I found it very intriguing to hear what might have gone on in the lives and thoughts of German children as they witnessed and participated in events they were expected to support. It really shows the importance of seeing another person's side of a story before forming a strong opinion. I'm thinking about using this book as a read aloud this year.

Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery by John Feinstein

This is a realistic fiction mystery novel appropriate for grades 5-8. I don't tend to choose books about sports very often, but I found this when looking for a high-interest book for a boy who really liked basketball. I really liked how some of the characters were real people who are prominent in the basketball world today (Dick Vitale, Coach K, etc.) The plot follows two students who won a journalism contest as they get behind-the-scenes access at the March Madness Final Four. They overhear a conversation between a coach and a star player involving blackmail. The two kids have only 48 hours to figure out who to trust and how to prevent this player from being blackmailed into losing the final game. It's an exciting read!

I would recommend using this book in small groups or independent reading. Because it's a mystery, it lends itself well to lessons and modeling related to making and refining predictions. It also has a strong theme of right vs. wrong. It may also be interesting to compare and contrast some of the characters in the book to their real-life counterparts.

Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell

This is a historical fiction novel set during the Vietnam War and taking place on an Army base in Fort Hood, Texas. It is told from the point of view of a thirteen year old girl named Jamie, whose father is a Colonel and brother, T.J., is off fighting in Vietnam. T.J. send Jamie rolls of film instead of letters, and slowly she begins to learn that fighting for your country is not as glamorous as she had originally thought. In the beginning, she was almost jealous that T.J. got to fight in the war and she couldn't. After conversing with many of the younger soldiers on the base and taking a closer look at her brother's photos, she begins to question whether or not she should have encouraged him to go. She also begins to see her dad more as person with real emotions, not just an Army Colonel who she's admired her entire life.

Even though this is a historical fiction novel, I think it feels more like realistic fiction in the aspect that the emotions of the characters could apply to any decade, including now. It would be a great book to use when studying any wars during social studies. I have had both boys and girls recommend this book to me, so I think it can appeal to most kids. If used as a read aloud or literature discussion group novel, it would lend itself toward lessons about character motivations and how sometimes a major life event can change someone's opinion about something drastically.

Uglies

Uglies (First book of a trilogy) by Scott Westerfield

I decided to read Uglies because it is a science fiction series with teenage/pre-teen girls as its target audience. Science fiction is not usually my favorite genre, but this series is completely captivating. It is a dystopian novel set in the future after the "Rusties," aka our current civilization, ruin the environment. The government very much controls its people, but most of them really don't seem to mind. Only a small group of kids "Smokies" question the fact that people are grouped by ages and made to all think, look, and act the same. You are an "Ugly" until you turn 16, which is when you undergo plastic surgery to be made "Pretty." After the surgery, you move to a new section of the town where everyone is happy, laughing, glamorous, and stays up all night partying. Sounds great right? The part that the Smokies don't agree with is that by becoming "Pretty," you loose all of your uniqueness, including your opinions and personality.

I think this is an amazing series for adolescents to read because it really focuses on themes such as beauty, individualism, government control, and taking care of your environment. The main character, Tally, also goes through some very realistic friendship issues, including peer pressure, on her journey to self-discovery.

My only complaint is that the covers have been redone (the white ones are the new covers) and are a bit provocative. I would not have purchased the new version for my classroom because it does not appear to be an appropriate book for the sixth grade level, however the story is perfect for that age.

Dogku by Andrew Clements

I was immediately drawn to this book not only because Haiku is usually a favorite form of poetry for my students during our poetry unit, but also because Andrew Clements is a well-known author with students in my grade/school. Dogku is a picture book that tells a story, but each page contains just one Haiku that helps tell the story of a stray dog hoping to find a home. It is told through his perspective, which can lead to an interesting discussion about writing within a specific point of view. I love the fact that much of the action happens when the dog is home alone, because I think many students wonder what goes through their pets' minds and what they do all day. The book is beautifully illustrated by Tim Bowers, and the colorful drawings really capture the emotions of the characters.

I think this book could be used from kindergarten through high school, although it is geared towards the younger grades. I will be using it to introduce Haiku as a form of writing, noting that Haikus can be used to tell a story as well as to write about nature, which is usually it's main purpose. I could also use the book as a mini-lesson during writers workshop if students are needing to learn to delete some words in their own writing to make their stories so powerful. Writing Haikus really makes you think about word choice.