Dragonwings

Dragonwings
by Laurence Yep

Published: 2001 Publisher: Harper Collins
Paperback: 248 pages ISBN: 0064400859

Genre: Historical fiction
Recommended for children ages 10+ and grades 5-8.

Plot Summary:
Dragonwings is a historical novel that takes place in San Francisco in the early 1900's. The narrator Moonshadow is eight years old when he sails from China to the US to live with a father he has never met. His father, Windrider, has been living in San Francisco making his living doing laundry in the hopes of saving enough money to bring his family over. Even though they are strangers when they meet, Moon Shadow and Wind Rider form a quick bond and together face poverty, racism, cruelty and even the great earthquake. Inspired by the account of a Chinese immigrant who made a flying machine in 1909, Yep's novel simply and artistically portrays the Chinese community as it attempted to forge a space in a hostile new land.

Evaluation:
This is a simple story that clearly portrays a not-often learned about time period. It has magical elements as well as accurately portraying an important time period in California history. The characters are very likable and their immigrant experience is relate-able to many people living in 2015. Within a classroom, this book could be used to study California history, Chinese-American history, or the immigrant experience. Asian students are not often included in "diverse" book selections by professionals - the focus is often limited to African American or Latino students - and this book puts Asian-American history into the spotlight.

Content Area:
English
Social Science

CA Common Core State Standards
CCSS Grades 6-8 Reading Standards for Literature
Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

CA Social Science Standards
Grades 6-8 History and Social Sciences Analysis Skills
Students construct various time lines of key events, people, and periods of the historical era they are studying.Students explain the central issues and problems from the past, placing people andevents in a matrix of time and place.

Links:

Glencoe PDF Lesson Plans

Scholastic Lesson Plans

Video Interview with Author

 

Esperanza Rising

Esperanza Rising
by Pam Munoz Ryan

Published: 2000 Publisher: Scholastic
Paperback: 262 pages ISBN: 043912042X

Genre: Historical fiction
Recommended for children 10+ and grades 5-8.

Plot Summary:
Esperanza is a wealthy girl in Mexico who always thought she would have everything she ever wanted - horses, fancy dresses, servants, a beautiful home, etc. However, an unexpected tragedy forces her and her mama to flee to California during the Great Depression and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers. Esperanza is not prepared for the work, the camp, or the lack of acceptance she has to face. But, when their new life is threatened, Esperanza learns that she must search inside for a way to rise above her difficult circumstances.

Evaluation:
This is an easy-read that flows in a "lyrical, fairy-tale like style" (Publisher's Weekly). The story is gripping and relatable. The characters are interesting and it is easy to connect to their struggles and the lessons learned. A historical novel that would connect well with units on immigration, Mexican farm workers, or the Great Depression while also focusing on a non-white female protagonist makes this book a great pick for the classroom.

Content Area:
English
Social Studies

Content Area Standards for Social Studies:

CA Common Core State Standards
CCSS Grades 6-8 Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects:
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.

CA Social Science Standards
Grades 6-8 History and Social Sciences Analysis Skills
Students construct various time lines of key events, people, and periods of the historical era they are studying.
Students understand and distinguish cause, effect, sequence, and correlation in historical events, including the long- and short-term causal relations.

Links:

University of Missouri Unit w/Links

Scholastic Lesson Plans

Online Audio Book Available for Purchase

 

Am I Blue?

Am I Blue? Coming Out From the Silence
Edited by Marion Dane Bauer

Published: 1995 Publisher: Harper Teen
Paperback: 288 pages ISBN: 0064405877

Genre: Short stories
Recommended for children ages 12+ and grades 7-12.

Plot Summary:
This book is a collection of short stories written by notable young adult authors. Each story is unique, yet each story deals with growing up gay or with gay parents or friends. The stories are candid, honest, and moving. This book is the first ever YA anthology devoted to lesbian and gay themes. There are 18 stories total that range from dealing with coming out to first love to homophobia.

Evaluation:
This is an important, timely book. Though it may seem slightly outdated at this point, the stories are still engaging and gripping. There is a huge range of stories and voices and that makes this book interesting to all different readers. There is an option to read one story, to pick a few, or to read the whole book cover to cover. Some stories are funny, some are sad, and all are touching. Overall, this is a great book and a great teaching tool as the stories are short and engaging. As well, this book relates to students who may identify as gay but also to students who identify as straight but have gay friends, relatives, etc. It is a unique book in that way as some of the stories are about heterosexual people who are still dealing with homophobia and other such issues in their own life. This book is an excellent teaching tool.

Content Area:
English

Content Area Standards for English:

CA Common Core State Standards
CCSS Grade 7 Standard for Reading Literature:
Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.

CA English Language Arts Standards
CA English Language Arts Standard Grade 7 Literary Response and Analysis
Identify and analyze recurring themes across works (e.g., the value of bravery, loyalty, and friendship; the effects of loneliness).

Links:

CDC Links to GLBTQ Resources

Summaries and Information About Each Story

 

The Book Thief

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

Published: 2007 Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Paperback: 576 pages ISBN: 0375842209

Genre: Historical fiction
Recommended for children ages 12+ and grades 7-12.

Plot Summary:
The Book Thief is a Holocaust story set in Germany. A young foster child named Liesel lives outside of Munich with an older man and woman. Her foster father, Hans Hubermann, helps teach Liesel to read and through her relationship with him she learns the joy of reading and, subsequently, the joy of stealing books. The book is an incredibly realistic portrayal of what Nazi Germany was like for people who were not in concentration camps. Liesel is an endearing protagonist who develops close relationships with three other characters who all touch the reader's heart in various ways. The Book Thief is a sad story that really paints a vivid picture of everyday life in Nazi Germany.

Evaluation:
This is a unique book that educates the reader about Nazi Germany for those not in concentration camps. It provides a different perspective for the time frame and the characters are not easily forgettable. The narrator of the book is not revealed until the end and this creates an element of intrigue that helps the reader stay engaged. In 2013 the book was made into a film which could also be used to help reluctant/low-level readers. The book would fit very well into a Holocaust unit. It is a moving story, although it is quite long and can be a little slow, that many readers will greatly enjoy.

Content Area:
English
Social Science (Holocaust, WWII)

Content Area Standards for Social Science:

CA Common Core State Standards
CCSS Grades 6-8 Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects
Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; provide an accurate summary of the text distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.

CA Social Science Standards
CA Social Science Standard 10.85
Analyze the Nazi policy of pursuing racial purity, especially against the EuropeanJews; its transformation into the Final Solution; and the Holocaust that resulted in themurder of six million Jewish civilians.

Links:

Official Movie Website

Random House Feature on Zusak

Variety of Lesson Plan Links/Info

 

We Were Here

We Were Here
by Matt de la Pena

Published: 2010 Publisher: Ember
Paperback: 368 pages ISBN: 0385736703

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Recommended for children ages 14+ and grades 9-12.

Plot Summary:
This book tells the story of Miguel - a young teen sent to juvi for a crime the reader is not privy of. The judge sentences Miguel to one year in a group home and tells him he must write in a journal while he is there. When he gets to the group home Miguel meets two other boys living there, Mong and Rondell. The three boys decide to run away together and end up on an epic trip trying to reach Mexico. This story follows the journey these three boys go on as Miguel attempts to forgive himself and, in turn, learns more about himself and the other boys he ever imagined possible.

Evaluation:
This is a truly moving book. The three protagonists touch the reader in unexpected and unforgettable ways. While the characters are somewhat of caricatures - one is Black, one is Asian, and one is Latino- this in itself could lead to excellent analysis and discussion. The friendship these boys form is real and deep and when the reader learns about all their backgrounds and the hardships they have faced, it is impossible to not bond and connect with them. All readers (even low engagement) will be instantly hooked. The book is funny, sad, and heartbreaking. It is a story that will stay with the reader for a very long time.

Content Area:
English

Content Area Standards for English:

CA Common Core State Standards
CCSS Grade 9/10 Reading Standard for Literature:
Analyze how complex characters (e.g. those with conflicting or multiple motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

CA English Language Arts Standards
CA English Language Arts Standard Grade 9/10 Reading Comprehension:
2.3 Generate relevant questions about readings on issues that can be researched.

Links:
Author's Website

Book Review on Youtube

Reader's Guide to All De la Pena's Books
 

The Running Dream

 

The Running Dream

by Wendelin Van Draanen

 

Published: 2012 Publisher: Ember

Paperback: 336 pages ISBN: 0375866280

 

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Recommended for children ages 11+ and grades 6-10.

 

Plot Summary:

Jessica thinks her life is over when she loses her leg in a car accident. As a competitive runner, Jessica feels this is the worst thing that could have happened to her. When she learns she will be able to walk with the help of a prosthetic leg, she is not comforted. As she struggles to cope with her new body, Jessica feels like she is in the spotlight and completely invisible at the same time. People who are at a loss as to what to say to her, completely ignore her which makes Jessica aware of how she previously treated a classmate with cerebral palsy who is now her tutor. When Jessica learns she may be able to run again, she is determined to bring her new tutor along on the ride.

 

Evaluation:

This is a touching read about people who are so often rendered "invisible" - those with disabilities. Through the narrator's eyes, the reader experiences first-hand how often those who are different are ignored. The book is an easy read and should grip students of various age levels and abilities. It is an uplifting story as well and it leaves the reader feeling empowered to make a change in his/her own life. This book could be a great start to a unit about making change in your own community or about evaluating how we treat others.

 

Content Area:

English

 

Content Area Standards for English Language Arts:

 

CA Common Core State Standards

CCSS Grade 8 Reading Standard for Literature:

Determine a theme or central idea of a text, and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

 

CA English Language Arts Standards

CA English Language Arts Standard Grade 9/10 Literary response and Analysis:

3.9 Explain how voice, persona, and the choice of a narrator affect characterization and the tone, plot, and credibility of a text.

Links:
Short Video with Author

Info from Scholastic

Book Trailer on Youtube

 



Touching Snow

 

Touching Snow

by M. Sandy Felin

 

Published: 2007 Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Hardcover: 240 pages ISBN: 1416917950

 

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Recommended for children 14+ and grades 8-12.

 

Plot Summary:

This is the intense and touching story of a young immigrant teen from Haiti living in upstate New York. Karina is a smart, brave young girl who faces many hardships both at school and at home. She is often teased at school and she lives with a very abusive step-father. Fairly early on in the story, her step-father is taken away on child abuse charges. Karina begins attending a local community center where she becomes close friends with another girl. Throughout the story, Karina grapples with her sexuality and her immigrant identity. This is a coming-of-age story about the hardships and violence that can run just beneath the surface of suburbia.

 

Evaluation:

This is a unique story that will stick with the reader for a long time after the book is done. Karina is a very likeable character who has a very difficult life. She is relatable and the book touches on many issues that are often ignored. Child abuse, immigration, racism, and sexuality are just a few of the topics Felin takes on head first in this debut novel. The story is interesting from the very beginning and it never loses it's grip on the reader. This book could be used as a great start to a conversation about how complex people are and how everyone has multiple identities. Karina has many different aspects of identity that make her who she is (as all people do) and this is clearly illustrated throughout the novel.

 

Content Area:

English

 

Content Area Standards for English:

 

CA Common Core State Standards

CCSS Grade 8 Reading Standard for Literature:

Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a discussion.

 

CA English Language Arts Standards

CA English Language Arts Standard Grade 9/10 Reading Comprehension:

2.3 Generate relevant questions about readings on issues that can be researched.
CA English Language Arts Standard Grade 9/10 Literary Response and Analysis:
3.3 Analyze interactions between main and subordinate characters in a literary text (e.g., internal and external conflicts, motivations, relationships, influences) and explain the way those interactions affect the plot.
3.4 Determine characters’ traits by what the characters say about themselves in narration, dialogue, dramatic monologue, and soliloquy.

Links:
National Book Award Finalist Info

Online Book

Review from Blog "Black teens Read"

 

 

 



The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by: Sherman Alexie

Published: 2007 Publisher: Little Brown Books
Paperback: 229 pages ISBN: 0316013692

Genre: Realistic fiction
Recommended for children ages 12+ and grades 6-12.

Plot Summary:
Acclaimed author Sherman Alexie write his first young adult novel telling the story of Junior, a teenage boy growing up on an Indian reservation. Determined to make a better future for himself, Junior leaves his reservation high school to attend an all-white school nearby. His story is touching, heartbreaking, and hilarious as he tries to survive high school while dealing with friend and family drama. The story is loosely based on Alexie's own adolescence.

Evaluation:
This book is so well-written. The characters are very relatable and the situations are humorous and serious at the same time. The biggest strength of this text is Alexie's ability to tell a complex, multi-layered story in a gripping and exciting way. The characters are all likeable and all frustrating at times as well. A community that is rarely written about, gets put in the spotlight in this story and Alexie does a great job. In a school library this book would resonate with teens who grow up in complicated family situations, who felt out of place at school, and who had to deal with multiple identities. It would hook avid and struggling readers alike - there are even entertaining cartoon pictures throughout the text. This book could be the base of many great discussions within the classroom.

Content Area:
English

Content Area Standards for English:

CA Common Core State Standards
CCSS Grade 8 Reading Standard for Literature:
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.

CA English Language Arts Standards
CA English Language Arts Standard Grade 8 Literary Response and Analysis
3.3 Compare and contrast motivations and reactions of literary characters from different historical eras confronting similar situations or conflicts.
3.4 Analyze the relevance of the setting (e.g., place, time, customs) to the mood, tone, and meaning of the text.
 Links:
Author's Website

NY Times Sunday Book Review

Scholastic Teaching Guide

How It Went Down

How It Went Down
by Kekla Magoon

Published: 2014 Publisher: Henry Holt and Co
Hardback: 336 pages ISBN: 0805098690

Genre: Realistic fiction
Recommended for children ages 14+ and grades 8-12.

Plot Summary:
This timely book centers on the death of a young teenage African-American boy named Tariq Johnson. Living in a very tough, gang-run neighborhood, Tariq is not shot by a gang-member but rather by a white man named Jack Franklin. In the aftermath of Tariq's death everyone in the community has something to say, but all the stories do not seem to match up. As each chapter is told from a different character's point of view, the reader begins to be able to piece together the truth. Throughout the book, a complex young man is revealed who will leave the reader thinking about him for a long time after the book is over.

Evaluation:
This book is powerful and well-written. It feels very "real" as the reader considers recent events such as the Mike Brown shooting, Eric Garnier choking, and others. The biggest strength of this text is Magoon's ability to portray the complexity of humans. There is no right and wrong in this text and no good or bad person, bur rather complex characters who show their strengths and weaknesses. She deftly portrays a community enveloped by gang violence and what it is like to grow up in that kind of environment. In a school library this book would resonate with teens who grow up in unsafe neighborhoods. It would hook readers who are trying to grapple with justice in 2015 and how racism still pervades our country. This book could be the start to many great discussions within the classroom.

Content Area:
English
Social Science (Prejudice, Racism, Gang history, Justice system)

Content Area Standards for Social Studies:

CA Common Core State Standards
CCSS Grade 9-10 Reading Standards for Literacy in Social Science: Analyze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply proceeded them.

CA Social Science Standards
CA Social Science Standard 11.11
a. Analyze the persistence of poverty and how different analyses of this issue influencewelfare reform, health insurance reform, and other social policies.
b. Explain how the federal, state, and local governments have responded to demographic and social changes such as population shifts to the suburbs, racial concentrations in the cities, Frostbelt-to-Sunbelt migration, international migration, decline offamily farms, increases in out-of-wedlock births, and drug abuse.

Links:
Author's Website

Black Lives Matter

You Can't Take Your Body To a Repair Shop

You Can't Take Your Body To a Repair Shop
by Harriet Ziefert and Fred Ehrlich, M.D.
Drawings by Amanda Haley

Published: 2004 Publisher: Blue Apple Books
Hardback: 36 pages ISBN: 1-59354-057-4

Genre: Children's book
Recommended for children 5+ and grades K - 4.

Plot Summary:
This children's book is written by a doctor with more than thirty years experience working with children and their families. This book is part of a "You Can't" series and focuses on illnesses commonly affecting kids. The authors explain what makes you sick in easy to understand language and explanations. Some of the illnesses explained are tummy aches, vomiting, diarrhea, colds, flus, pimples, warts, and allergies. The book includes humorous short verses to make the explanations even more clear and relatable. The illustrations are also humorous and very relatable. The book helps to explain illnesses while taking the fear out of being sick away.

Quantitative Reading Level:
Lexile Level not available

Qualitative Reading Level:
According to the SCASS Informational Text Complexity and Qualitative Measures Rubric, this text can be categorized as Slightly Complex. As far as text structure and organization, the text is very clear. The illustrations directly support the text and assist to interpret the explanations of the various details while also supplying humor. Its language features are conventional and straight-forward. Most vocabulary is familiar and conversational and simple terms are used to describe various medical conditions. The sentence structure is primarily simple. The purpose is clear and consistent throughout the book. There are not many knowledge demands but a basic understanding of various diseases would help bring meaning to the text. The experiences portrayed are common to all readers and there are no allusions to other texts.

Content Area:
English
Science (Biology, Diseases, Human immune system)

Content Area Standards for Science:

CA Common Core State Standards
CCSS Grade 1 Reading Standard for Informational Text: 1. Ask and answer questions about key details in a text. 2. Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.

CA Science Standards
CA Science Standard Grade 4 Life Sciences:
Living organisms depend on one another and on their environment for survival. As a basis for understanding this concept:
b. Students know that in any particular environment, some kinds of plants and animals survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
d. Students know that most microorganisms do not cause disease and that many are beneficial.


Curriculum Suggestions:
1. Disease study
2. Immune system study
3. The way the body works study

Links:
Science and Technology For Kids Website

CDC Recommended Websites For kids

How Much is a Million?

How Much is a Million?
by David M. Schwartz
Pictures by Steven Kellogg

Published: 1985 Publisher: Harper Collins
Hardback: 40 pages ISBN: 0-688-09933-5

Genre: Children's book
Recommended for children 2+ and grades K-2.

Plot Summary:
In this simple, beautifully illustrated picture book, the author attempts to explain in simple, meaningful ways how much a million, a billion, and a trillion are. Marvelosissimo the Magician knocks down complex numbers in a fun, easy-to-understand way. This book helps children (and adults) conceptualize the difficult math concept of huge numbers.

Quantitative Reading Level:
Lexile: AD760L

Qualitative Reading Level:
According to the SCASS Informational Text Complexity and Qualitative Measures Rubric, this text can be categorized as Slightly Complex. As far as text structure and organization, the text is very clear. The illustrations directly support the text and assist to interpret the meaning of the numbers. Its language features are explicit and easy to understand. All vocabulary is familiar and conversational. The sentence structure is primarily simple. The purpose is clear and consistent throughout the story. There are not many knowledge demands and the text explains complex math numbers in simple ways. The book relies on practical knowledge and simple, concrete ideas. 

Content Area:
English
Math (Counting, Complex numbers) 

Content Area Standards for Math:
Common Core State Standards
CCSS Grade 3 Reading Standard for Key Ideas and Details: Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

CA Math Standards
CA Math Standard Grade 4 Number Sense:
1.1 Read and write whole numbers in the millions.

Curriculum Suggestions:
1. Counting study
2. Conceptualizing numbers study

Links:
Author's Website

Video Version of the Text

PBS Number Games