So Not the Drama- Paula Chase

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So Not the Drama is a light easy read that still talks about some serious issues.  Mina is entering high school along with 3 best friends (1 girl, 2 boys) and is very concerned with becoming one of the “popular” crowd.  Throughout the novel Mina deals with keeping up her friendships, forming new ones, [...]

Tears of A Tiger- Sharon Draper

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Written in 1994 Tears of A Tiger will still resonate with students now, 15 years later.  This story deals with the aftermath of a drunk driving accident that kills a high school student.  The relationships between friends, children and parents, teachers, and counselors are all discussed through transcripts of discussions, newspaper articles, diary entries, [...]

Poll #6- What is your favorite genre?

Room in the Heart- Sonia Levitin

Sonia Levitin creates a very realistic account of German occupied Denmark during World War II perhaps drawing on the fact that as a child she escaped Nazi Germany.  The story follows several characters, some Jewish, some not, and some Nazi sympathizers or soldiers themselves.  While a piece of historical fiction this book is also multi-genre- [...]

Monster- Walter Dean Meyers

This is a multi-genre piece written in the format of journals and a screenplay.  It deals with an under-privileged black boy on trial for murder. I think it could capture the attention of reluctant readers. Especially black males or students who have been incarcerated.  I would use this in an 8th or 9th grade classroom [...]

I am the Cheese- Robert Cormier

This novel is sometimes credited as the first YA novel.   It is a mystery type story written in a multi-genre format.  The narrative part of this story engaged me quickly, however the “transcripts” that were interspersed lost me.  I think that students could get into this book because it makes you want to figure [...]

Seek- Paul Fleischman

This is a radio play.  It is about a young boy looking for his father via the radio.  I found it hard to follow and did not get into it at all.  It might be interesting to look at in the fact that it is a different genre.  Boys might get into this book if [...]

Romiette and Julio-Sharon Draper

I have liked every single one of Drapers books that I have read.  This book is great because it plays off of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet by having two teens of different races dating.  It has gangs, some violence, and deals with race issues in a very real way.  Draper catches readers’ (esp teens) attention [...]

Out of the Dust- Karen Hess

This historical fiction piece is written in verse form. The language is easy to understand however. It takes place during the 1930’s in the middle of the “dust bowl.” This book I believe is appropriate for students ages 10-13 depending on their reading level. If a class were studying this time period it [...]