I think your students would enjoy (and I highly suggest) "The City of Ember" by
Jeanne DuPrau (for those motivated readers, they will want to continue the series
in "The People of Sparks.")
I think this book is interesting enough for both girls and boys; it provides a
unique set of questions---"why are these people in a darkened city?" "where is it
located?" "who sent them there and for what reasons?----and then there are the
larger questions "Is this something that could actually happen today? Who would be
sent to a "City of Ember" today? Why would they be sent? What would have happened
to the "outside world" to force individuals underground? Do you think this book is
based on futuristic ideas or just a fun book? What message do you think the author
is trying to convey in this book?" Then there are character issues that can be
discussed / compared ("The Giver" is one example of a comparison title).
There are certainly ideas to extend the book---and I won't go into to those, but
this is a book that I've been talking up with my middle schoolers. They are loving
it---but they also loved "Among The Hidden"...or maybe it's just my enthusiasm as I
talk it up!
I just love these books!! (By the way, I'm also encouraging my "iPodders" to
download the titles from Audible for a great "read" on those vacations / trips to
grandma's / plane rides, etc. For those of us who can't read in a moving
car...this is a godsend!!!!) <GRIN>
~Shonda
Shonda Brisco, MLIS
US / Technology Librarian
Fort Worth Country Day School
Fort Worth, TX
"Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible and suddenly you are doing
the impossible."
~St. Francis of Assisi
sbrisco@fwcds.org
http://www.fwcds.org/campus/libraries/default.asp
>>> Sandra Lingo <slingo47@FUSE.NET> 01/03/06 7:23 PM >>>
Our school has started the last three years with a One School/One Book project.
Every teacher and student reads the same book at the same time, creating a
community of readers. This year was especially successful, since kids had an
opportunity to read during our new schoolwide SSR time first thing every morning.
We used Spinelli's Crash, and everybody loved it! (We've also used Out of the Dust
and Among the Hidden with less success.) I need to come up with a new title for
next year so I can apply for a grant to buy 600 books.
I am looking for a book that will meet the following criteria:
*Appeals to middle school (grades 6-8) boys and girls
*Is easy enough to be accessible to all but our most struggling readers--at an
independent level
*Has not been around so long that everyone has read it, but is not so new that it's
only available in hardback
*Has not been made into a movie
*Will generate discussion
I will be sure to post a hit. Thanks in advance.
--
Sandra Lingo, Librarian
Delhi Middle School
5280 Foley Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45238
slingo47@fuse.net
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