Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon

Written by: Patty Lovell  Illustrated by:David Catrow 

This story is about a girl who is different on the outside from other students in very obvious ways. For example, she is extremely short, has buckteeth, and has an unusual voice. However, she is confident in herself and has a strong, loving, and fun personality. This helps her gain friendships despite they way people originally viewed her based on appearance. It is a great story about friendship.

Lesson ideas for this are endless! Here is one I thought up:

Read Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon to introduce the topic of friendship despite appearances. Give students the paper titled “I stand tall because...” and have students draw a picture of themselves including things they like about themselves. Hang these on the bulletin board for the unit.

On A Beam of Light

Written by: Jennifer Berne

This book is about the life of Albert Einstein. It is a fascinating story that takes the reader into the mind of a young Einstein who is absolutely fascinated by all the wonders around him. The power behind the story is that it can motivate students to become creative thinkers and utilize their imagination. This is definitely a book I will have in my classroom library (despite the grade I teach).

This website is full of wonderful activities!
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2013/06/on-beam-of-light.html

Bud, Not Buddy

Written by: Christopher Paul Curtis

Bud, Not Buddy is another story that I remember reading in my elementary school. It is a story about an African American boy who is living in Flint, Michigan during the Great Depression. Bud goes on a journey to find his father, but the only key to his final destination are papers he found from his mother.

Writing Style
This language in this text is digressive so we can get into the head of a ten year old. He has many thoughts that are repetitive, but that is typical for a ten year old. The style is also young and simple to help the reader think as a ten-year-old just as before. But, my favorite part about Christopher Paul Curtis' writing style is his use of similes and metaphors to make the text engaging.

Awards:

• John Newbery Medal 
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award
• Golden Kite Award for Fiction 
• Coretta Scott King Award for Authors

Code Name Verity

Written by: Elizabeth E. Wein

It would not take a reader long to discover why this story by Elizabeth Wein is a New York Times Best  Seller. I very much enjoyed reading this book. It is about a secret agent named Verity who is arrested by the Gestapo and ordered to tell them the truth about her mission. Verity unveils her past which is not what they were expecting to hear. On every piece of paper she writes down more of a confession and fights to save her life. It is a great story of courage that student would find thrilling. 

Writing Style

One aspect about this novel that makes it unique is the shift of perspective. At the beginning of the Novel it is from the viewpoint of Julie, but the second half is from the viewpoint of Maddie. This style allows the reader to make meaningful connections with both characters so the reader is interested in both. 

Awards:

• UK Literary Association Award Winner
• Edgar Award Winner
• Printz Honor Book
• Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book
• Shortlisted for the 2013 CLIP Carnegie Award
• Golden Kite Award Honor Book
• Shortlisted for the Scottish Children's Book Award
• Catalyst Book Award Winner

Esperanza Rising

Written by: Pam Muñoz

Esperanza Rising is actually a story that the students in a fifth grade classroom I am observing are reading. Their interest is what initially got me interested in the book! It is about a girl named Esperanza who thought she would always live on a ranch in Mexico until one day she was forced to flee. She and her family left to go to California during the Great Depression and work in a camp for Mexican farm workers. Esperanza loved her big fancy dresses, home, and servants that she had in Mexico. She was far from ready to work hard and deal with the financial struggles she now faces. On top of that she is having difficulty fitting in. This is a great story about how Esperanza was forced to rise above her circumstances and change her perspective in order to change her and her mother's life.

Awards:

• Jane Addams Children's Book for Older Children 
• Pura Belpré Award for Writing

Lesson plan ideas:

The teacher's guide from scholastic offers great materials in order to teach a unit on this novel. 

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/esperanza-rising-teachers-guide

All the Light We Cannot See

Written by: Anthony Doerr

This story is of a French girl and a German boy with very different backgrounds. The two unlikely friends cross paths in France as they are both trying to survive the devastations of WWII. Part of what makes this story so powerful is the intellect behind the writing. Doerr creates beautiful images through her detail of the physical space. She also writes with many beautiful metaphors that help the reader to picture just what she is trying to depict. This book is historical, yet it includes emotion that children today can relate to. 

Awards: 

• Pulitzer Price for Fiction
• Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Historical Fiction 

Below is a link for high school appropriate lesson plans:
http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/all-the-light-we-cannot-see/#gsc.tab=0

Number the Stars

Written by: Lois Lowry

This book by Lois Lowry is about a family in Denmark that is trying to hide a Jewish friend from the German troops. The story is told from Annemarie's ten-year-old perspective. Throughout much of the story she witnesses almost the entire Jewish population escape arrest in Denmark by crossing the sea to Sweden. During such a terrible time in the world's history, it is comforting to see a perspective that offers hope for young people. In this book we see that there were humans that recognized the evil that was happening and tried to show love and compassion. These people that saved so many Jews can be an example of the good that still happened amongst the hatred.

Awards: 

• John Newbery Medal 
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award
• National Jewish Book Award for Children's Literature 

Lesson plan ideas for this topic range among many ages. Here is an example of a lesson that can be used in third to fifth grade classrooms:

http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/activity/35plan/number1.htm

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Written by: Kate DiCamillo

This story is another adventure novel about a china bunny doll named Edward Tulane that gets stuck in different situations. This journey changes him and he eventually has a change of heart and learns what is important in life. This book would be in the class for very advanced readers to read.

Be sure to check out Kate DiCamillo's incredible website: edwardtulane.com!

http://www.edwardtulane.com/

The Outsiders

Written by: S.E. Hinton

I can still remember absolutely loving reading this when I was in grade school! As a student that hated to read, this should be a great sign for teachers who are trying to find a book that their students would enjoy.

Looking for Alaska

Written by: John Green

Miles, also known as 'Pudge', Halter is tired of his monotonous home life. He feels that his entire life has been extremely uneventful. Fascinated by last words, Pudge heads off to a new start at Culver Creek Boarding School. His life quickly becomes the opposite of what it once was. Down the hall is a girl named Alaska Young who changes his life. He falls head over heels for her. Quickly Alaksa pulls pudge into the Great Perhaps and wins him over.

"After. Nothing is ever the same."

This is not a story I would read with my class, but would be something I would recommend to my students if I was teaching at a high school level.



Awards :
Winner, 2006 Michael L. Printz Award
Finalist, 2005 Los Angeles Times Book Prize
2006 Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults
2006 Teens’ Top 10 Award
2006 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
A Booklist Editor’s Choice Pick
Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Selection
Borders Original Voices Selection

Mockingbird

Written by: Katheryn Erskine

This motivational story is one about a girl named Caitlin who has Asperger's. She sees the world in one way and is confused if they are not completely in order. Whenever she ran into confusion she turned to her older brother, Devon, for guidance. However, Devon was tragically killed in a school shooting and Caitlin is left with her distraught father who is no help. Cailtin wants everything to go back to the way it was before, but she does not know how. In her adventure she learns about closure, and realizes this is what she needs to move on. The story of Caitlin's journey is moving and powerful. It can be helpful for students to read in order to learn acceptance with all people's differences. 

Awarded: National Book Award 

Walk Two Moons

Written by: Sharon Creech 

Sharon Creech received the Newbery Medal for this story of human connection, loss, and human emotion. It is about a thirteen year old named Salamanca Tree Hiddle who travels from Ohio to Idaho with her grandparents. She is proud of her country roots and the Indian aspect of her past. As Sal tells her grandparents the stories of her intriguing friend Phoebe, her own story starts to develop. She begins to wish that she could be reunited with her missing mother. 

This book follows the Common Core Standards, which are typically similar among all states.

Scholastic has an incredible lesson plan guide for a sixth grade lesson on Walk Two Moons. The link is provided below!

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/walk-two-moons-lesson-plan

Holes

Written by: Louis Sachar 

At the beginning of this book the main character Stanley Yelnats is given the choice of going to jail or attending Camp Green Lake. He goes with the latter choice with the reasoning, "I have never been to camp before." However, after this camp experience Stanley will quickly realize this is not the kind of camp he thought it would be. Camp Green Lake is a place that once was the largest lake in Texas, but is now deserted. The boys at camp are required to dig holes as deep as their shovels are tall. They are digging these holes because the warden is looking for something. This story is a story of how a boy is falsely convicted and sent to a camp that treats the boys very unfairly. 

The themes that are intwined in this book are what make it so useful in the classroom. 

1. The Power of Fate to Determine Events
2. The Benefits of Friendship
3. The Destructive Nature of Cruelty
4. The Importance of History in Everyday Life

If I were to teach this book I would lead discussions based on each of those four themes. 

Here is the trailer for the movie!

Because of Winn-Dixie

Written by: Kate DiCamillo

The story Because of Winn-Dixie is an adventure about a girl named Opal and an ugly but humorous dog she finds in the local supermarket of her new town in Naomi, Florida. When she hears the owner of the store talk of sending the dog to the pound due to his reckless actions, Opal steps in and claims the dog in order to save him. Little did she know her new dog, named Winn-Dixie after the name of the store, would become the window for new friendships and help her learn forgiveness in her life.

            Although Winn-Dixie is a dog, he has very humanistic characteristics. Opal even believes he has the ability to smile at people. Because of this, Winn-Dixie seems to be making friends much easier than Opal. There are people her age that Opal does not seem to get along with. The girl her age named Amanda comes off as rude and inconsiderate and the twin boys, Stevie and Dunlap, only make fun of her. Opal then begins to seek friendship from people from all walks of life because of her dog.

The first person she befriends is librarian who spends much of her time telling Opal and Winn-Dixie crazy stories of her childhood. Opal then chases Winn-Dixie to the yard of a nearly blind but heartfelt woman named Gloria Dump. At Gloria’s house, Opal learns many life lessons with Winn-Dixie at her side. Opal also becomes friend with six-year-old Sweetie Pie who is truly interested in Opal because of her charismatic dog, but who can blame her. Furthermore, in order to pay for a collar for Winn-Dixie, Opal is working in the pet shop nearby where she becomes friends with an ex convict Otis. In the end of the story Opal and Gloria Dump decide to host a part and invite all of their friends including those that are Opals age. This party changes Opal’s perception and she learns that she must be a friend in order to have a friend.

            Opal’s home life is unlike many children her age. Her mother ran away when she was too young to remember her, and her father is the town preacher to everyone including Opal; Opal even refers to her father as the preacher rather than dad. Opal constantly is asking questions about her mother who she has no memory of in order to discover who she is. By the end of the story Winn-Dixie helps Opal move forward and learn to forgive her mother for leaving.

            An amazing part about this story is how Winn-Dixie is able to teach Opal lessons without ever saying anything. Winn-Dixie’s carefree and loving personality was contagious and taught Opal to live life happily by making friends with everyone and letting go of things she cannot change.

Divergent

Written by: Veronica Roth

Divergent is the first of this action packed trilogy that includes Divergent, Insurgent,  and Allegiant. This story is about a society in post apocalyptic Chicago that is split into five factions. Each child takes what is called an Aptitude Test to determine which faction best suits them. The five are:

1. Abnegation: for the selfless
2. Amity: for the peaceful 
3. Candor: for the honest
4. Dauntless: for the brave
5. Erudite: for the intellectual

The story follows a girl named Beatrice Prior who is born into Abnegation. She does not feel she belongs completely in Abnegation, but does not want to disappoint her family and choose to go to another faction. When she is taking her Aptitude test, the test proctor acted frantic at the results, becuase she fit into three factions: Abnegation, Erudite, and Dauntless. The test proctor told her not to discuss these results with anyone because it meant she was Divergent, which she will later find out is dangerous. 

Beatrice decided on a faction (read to find out which one), and soon realizes she is not safe anywhere. This page turning trilogy is perfect for students ages 13 and up. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games series, you are likely to enjoy these books as well! I would not read this with my students, but I may recommend it to some who I feel would enjoy it! 

Here is the trailer! 

Cinder

Written by: Marissa Meyer

Cinder is a unique retelling of the tale Cinderella that takes place in futuristic China. In this story the reader is introduced to a world that is overcome by technology. In fact, Cinder is a cyborg! (I did not see that one coming, but I also did not  know a thing about the book before I began to read.) Early on in the story Cinder meets Prince Kai and asks her to help repair his android. The Lunars are a dominating species in the book and Prince Kai is forced to marry the evil Queen Levana in order to avoid war with them. There are some aspects of this book that are similar to the original tale such as the ball, the prince, and the evil step-mother. However, Cinder has a unique and unpredictable spin that readers will love. 

 Marissa Meyer write the story in a way that the reader does not just connect to one character, rather the reader feels and understands every character on what feels like a personal level. Do not wait to read Cinder if you have not yet. This story encapsulates everyone that picks it up, and I know it will do the same for you as well!

If I ended up teaching an upper level Creative Writing class I would love to use this story. It can help spark creativity in my students, just as it does for many that pick it up!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Written by: Ronald Dahl

Many have seen or at least heard of the tale of Willie Wonka. This classic story is about Willie Wonka who has finally decided to open his famous chocolate factory, but only for five lucky people. Inside chocolate bars Wonka has hidden five golden tickets for the five lucky winners. These winners include an incredible wide range of people. Their names are Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beureguarde, Mike Teavee, and the book's sweetheart, Charlie Bucket. The rest of the story follows those five winners through the tour of the world's most incredible chocolate factory. 

Roald Dahl uses incredible imagery that could be beneficial for a teacher when teaching a lesson with that concept. Children can create the pictures in their mind of everything he is describing. He also writes with a wide variety of adjectives. This is crucial for students to have modeled for them so they can carry the vocabulary into their own writing. 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been made into a movie twice! Both trailers are below. The first is from 1971, and the second from 2005. 

A Wrinkle in Time

Written by: Madeleine L'Engle

A Wrinkle in Time is about a girl named Meg and her little brother Charles. The people in town call them dull-witted or stupid and say that their father left them to survive with their mother. Meg and Charles decide to venture off to find their father. On this journey they travel behind an evil power that is darkening the cosmos one planet at a time. 

This book can be used in the class to help students who feel left out or that they don't belong. They will especially be able to relate to Meg and Charles. These characters find their strength when they are forced to utilize the talents that they have. It is also important to incorporate rich literature into the classroom. This text is perfect for that. Madeleine L'Engle uses a very mature concept, but writes in a comforting tone that does not intimidate students. 

Awarded: Newbery Medal in 1963