Today’s post comes straight from the middle school library. Miss Bowman* gets you off on just the right note for your summer reading!
Will Halpin is a guy who kind of stands on the edge of school “society.” For the most part, his classmates ignore him and he writes humorous things about them in his notebook. Perhaps that’s just the fate being a “new kid.” However, Will being hefty and deaf probably doesn’t help things. A field trip to a coal mine that ends in murder will shake things up a bit. Follow Will as he tries to solve the murder mystery, beats up a “deaf child area” sign, smuggles dogs, and rereads the online profile of the hottest girl in school: According to her profile, “Music is the sound track to my life.” This is not that deep of a thought, because what else is going to be the sound track to your life? Shut up, Will. Do not make fun of lovely Leigha Pennington. She has very particular tastes and expresses a particular disdain for emo, which apparently is a type of rock or something? (I’m not a big music aficionado.) Mainly, I just look at her beautiful profile pic… Should I send her a message? Maybe I could just reach out to her under a fake name. Just so she knows somebody knows. Or maybe – and here’s a wild thought – I could send her a message as…myself? I decide to write it by hand because there is no “save draft” option on this site. I get out my notebook and start composing… “You have probably seen me around. I’m the fat deaf guy in the Phillies shirt who people sometimes throw casseroles at.”
Yes, Will is a smooth guy. You can read about him in The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk. ~~~~~~
Adam Canfield is a very busy guy: Swim team, academic team, school newspaper, stirring up trouble in his community…Have you ever heard of a school paper getting a principal fired? Well, Adam’s paper, The Slash, has! Now it’s time to stir the pot some more!
Adam earns spending money by shoveling driveways, but one day some teenagers emerge from an SUV, beat him up, and steal his shoveling money. Is it mugging? Is it bullying? It’s definitely a crime. But who wants to be the kid that got beat up and thrown in the snow? Not cool. His newspaper staff decides to fight back by determining their middle school’s top ten bullies. But will they go too far?
Find out by reading Adam Canfield: Watch Your Back! by Michael Winerip.
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18 year-old Ben Wolf is a scrawny guy who is pretty good at cross country. He’s sure he will never be able to play football like his brother – he would get annihilated on the field. It’s senior year and he has a plan: Run cross country, get into a good college, and maybe ask out his dream girl, if he can find the courage. A routine athletic physical reveals that Ben’s senior year may be his last. He has leukemia, and there’s no hope. At the age of 18, he legally doesn’t have to tell his family. He doesn’t have to tell anyone. But will he?
What would you do if you had one year to live? What will Ben do? Go out for football? Talk to the girl? Tell his teachers what he really thinks of them? Read Deadlineby Chris Crutcher find out what happens to your plans when they’re cut short.
These books can be found or requested at your public library. Can’t find what you want at the public library? Request it! The Jennings County Public Library has access to books from 90 libraries around the state!
*Miss Bowman is the Library Media Specialist at JCMS. She enjoys hiking, reading, texting, awkward guys, and her local public library.
Thank you, Miss Bowman, for clueing us in on three great books for summer reading. Which of these books will you be picking up this summer?
How many of you plan to spend your summer taking part in some sport? If you are not on the field practicing or playing, pick up one of these books by Carl Dueker. I call his books sports-plus. They are packed with sports action, but the action and emotion carry over into life off the field as well. Emily P, Evan P, Wyatt D, and Tara T found plenty to enjoy, too.
As always, Gary Paulsen is one of the most popular author in my classroom. Boys, especially, love the outdoor adventures in the Brian books, but they soon discover Paulsen does so much more: humor, historical fiction, science fiction, and more. Find out more from Kyle H, Donavon B, Wyatt C, Justin W, Mel M, Michael Col, Adam Dr, and Taylor W.
Marcelo doesn’t see the world the way the rest of us do. He is endlessly fascinated with faith and religion. He hears music that no one else hears and that doctors can’t identify. The closest they can get is something like autism. Marcelo has been happy at Paterson, his special school where he is looking forward to a job training ponies to work in therapy.
However, his father has other plans for Marcelo–a job in the mailroom of his law firm. Marcelo reluctantly agrees to his father’s terms to enter “the real world.” He meets Jasmine, a beautiful coworker who offers a surprising friendship. He also works with Wendell, the son of another partner who has his own agenda.
When Marcelo finds a picture of a girl with a scarred face, he must learn how to negotiate the confusing tangle of interpersonal relationships at home and at work. He must learn what power he has to fight injustice and suffering.
What I enjoyed most about Marcelo in the Real World (Scholastic 2009) is hearing from Marcelo. His voice as narrator of his own story is unique and unforgettable. The questions he asks are ones I haven’t often thought to consider as I rush through my endless to-do lists. Marcelo doesn’t rush through life. He considers the possibilities for each choice he faces. That makes his final decision even more poignant.
Not only is this an important book that can open eyes to people who are different, it is a compelling story sprinkled with mystery, jealousy, and desire. Francisco X. Stork explores just what is “the real world” that we each construct for ourselves.
Sharon Draper has been one of the most popular authors in my room this year. I couldn’t keep enough of her books on my classroom library shelves, and her books flew off the library shelves, too. Enjoy these posters by Charity A, Briana S, Shania Si, Emma W, Preston F, and Mike C.
One of the highlights for me this year was seeing you guys turn into readers. I know, some of you insist you still hate reading, but I don’t believe you. You have read too many books and too many hours and shown too much excitement for certain books and authors.
Another highlight is the field trip we went on last Friday. I hope you enjoy the video!
As we gear up for summer, my mind turns to fun outdoors–hiking, camping, canoeing, swimming. Will Hobbs is a writer who has lived those outdoor adventures and captures them in his books. Learn more from these posters.
Some of the technology we have been using this year (the mobi and projector, for example) was funded through a grant. The organization that provided the funds for the grant would like to hear from you. Please take time to complete this survey. Click on the link and answer the mostly multiple choice questions.
School is almost out. I know some of you are counting the days until you don’t have to crack another book until August, but I invite you to reconsider. There are many reasons to read over the summer.
Reading is rewarding.
Reading builds a bigger vocabulary.
Reading makes you a better writer.
Reading is sometimes hard, and hard is sometimes necessary.
Reading makes you smarter.
Reading prepares you for the world of work.
Reading well is financially rewarding.
Reading opens doors to college and beyond.
Reading arms you against oppression.
Best of all summer is the time for free reading: You can read what you want, when you want, and where you want.
Start thinking about how you can make reading a part of your summer. Remember all you have accomplished this year as a reader, too. Copy the questions below into a blog post and answer them:
What are all the different types of materials people read through the course of a day or week?
What magazines or newspapers match your interests? How can you get access to them?
What reading do you do online–texting, Facebook, MySpace, blogs or websites?
What books, genres, authors do you enjoy or want to explore?
How can you connect with other readers–through the library summer reading program, my blog, Good Reads or Shelfari?
How many hours did you read this year?
How many books did you read this year?
What other materials did you read this year?
(Reasons for reading from Reading Reasons by Kelly Gallagher (Stenhouse Publishers, 2003)
