Discover Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes, a heart-wrenching novel perfect for middle school classrooms. This 5-star read explores themes of racism, injustice, and empathy, making it an ideal read-aloud for grade 6 and beyond.
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Explore an in-depth review of Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, a poignant novel set in World War II Germany. Discover its themes, narrative style, and suitability for high school students studying this historical period.
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Discover Nancy Farmer’s The House of the Scorpion, a thought-provoking dystopian novel for middle school readers. Explore themes of identity, ethics, and power in a futuristic world of clones and “eejits.” Perfect for classroom discussions on complex topics like morality, technology, and societal structures.
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Exploring Monster by Walter Dean Myers: A Screenplay-Style Novel for Middle School Classrooms When I picked up Monster by Walter Dean Myers, I was drawn to its unconventional format and powerful themes. This award-winning novel, written in the unique style of a screenplay, provides a fresh narrative perspective that engages readers while exploring critical societal
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Returning to a childhood favorite, I recently revisited a novel I adored in grades 6/7. After discovering it at a sale, I was thrilled to find multiple copies at my school, paving the way for a reading group! The story unravels around Tally, a 15-year-old living in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic setting. Here, a milestone awaits
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I recently grabbed a book at a sale, intrigued by its potential relevance for some of the more challenging school environments where I work. The book centers on six teenagers living together, each with varying degrees of emancipation—some by choice, others forced out by their families. It promises an engaging mix of suspense, romance, and
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Hello Everyone! I have an amazing book to share with you today – Restart by Gordon Korman. I was struggling to find a read aloud for my class this year – it is my first time teaching grade 78 and pretty much everything I wanted to read either didn’t feel appropriate for this particular mix
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Mare’s War by Tanita Davis 5 stars An amazing book by an amazing author! Mare’s War was nominated for the 2010 NAACP Image Award in Outstanding Literary Work (In the Youth/Teen category). It even won the Coretta Scott King Honour Award the same year, and I can see why! The story of Mare is such
First off: What an amazing book! So many great lessons in here and written for a way that students in grades 3-5 can really understand. While the main character is in 5th grade, I think the lessons in here are better suited to at or slightly under audiences. I did use this with a 5/6
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Dear Martin by Nic Stone is a fantastic book; and one of the few that has been able to make me cry openly while reading it. As such, before you think to use it in a classroom setting make sure you and your class are in for an emotional rollercoaster that deals with privilege, perspective,
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