HIT: READ-ALOUDS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS; thanks, and a list!

[Jeff Hastings <hastings@HPS.K12.MI.US>]

My friends!

Okay-- I'm a month or so late posting a hit on this topic...sorry.
Actually, let's blame the delinquency on my Principal.  One day a couple
of weeks ago he let me know that our school HAD to have a web site--
after all it's the late nineties and, though websites for schools are
pretty worthless commodities in most cases, we we're a black eye for the
whole district without one...I had about four days to make it!  It's
done now, and I actually had some fun putting it together.  You can
visit it at HTTP://hps.k12.mi.us/~hwms  if you have nothing better to
do.

Now onto IMPORTANT things:  READING.

A bunch of us LM_NETTERS got on the topic of read alouds a while back,
after being stirred into a frenzy by a posting entitled: DO LIBRARIANS
STILL READ TO KIDS?  Several responses smelled vaguely of indignance as
librarians said: "Sure we do!"  I was one of 'em.  Somehow,
subsequently, we got on the topic of good read alounds for middle
schoolers.  I got some good advice from lots of colleagues out there.
I'd like to say thank you whilst I admit that the list that will follow
will doubtless have several omissions.  I apologize for them and thank
all of you for your suggestions and for your affirmations that reading
aloud is a valuable practice.  These are some of the suggestions and
some of the contents of my read-aloud repertoire at present:

A few people suggested the work of PAUL JENNINGS, an Australian author
whose work is compiles in titles like: UNBELIEVABLE!, UNMENTIONABLE!,
UNCANNY!, UNDONE! as well as QUIRKY TAILS, and others.  I wasn't
familiar with this author of off-beat, dahl-esque, slightly gross
stories and agree he's a great find for middle school read-alouds.  I
now own a bunch of his stuff! Thanks to SUNNY TAIT, KATHY HARTZLER and
others... I also thank SUNNY for her mailed copies of HOW TO GO SPLAT!
and A GOOD DEED GOES WRONG by Patrick F. McManus as well as her equally
amusing attached comments.

JANELL BROWN was among those who like PAUL FLEISHMAN'S GRAVEN IMAGES
story collection-- I went out an picked up a copy.

SANDRA GRASFIELD and others are thanked for suggesting DONALD GALLO for
his collections like SIXTEEN and VISIONS.  I still don't have them, but
will continue to look for copies...

GLORIA YOUNG was just one of the librarians who share my enthusiasm for
CHRIS CRUTCHER'S
ATHLETIC SHORTS, a recent collection of sports-related stories.

Also in my Middle School Read Aloud Folder:

CYLOPS: A (slightly edited) chapter from DAVID SEDARIS' NAKED.

THE LADY OR THE TIGER? FRANK STOCKTON

THE DARE. CAROL ELLIS and THE FRAMING GAME, PAUL BISHOP  and THE GREEEN
KILLER, M.E. KERR, from the recommended collection BAD BEHAVIOR.

THE TELL-TALE HEART, HOP-FROG. POE.

A SEANCE IN SUMMER. MARIO MARTIN, JR. from HORROR TALES.

THE MONKEY'S PAW. W.W. JACOBS.

THE HITCHHIKER and just about anything else from ROALD DAHL.

SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS. JIM MURPHY from NIGHT TERRORS.

THE FINGERNAIL. CORNELL WOOLRICH.

AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE. AMBROSE BIERCE.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE DYING DETECTIVE, SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.

I am currently reading the novella "WHAT JAMIE SAW" (Carolyn Coman) to a
group of E.I. Boys in three installments and they are riveted.  I have
also had success reading a story entitled "WALKING OUT." to the same
group.

Other suggestions:

THE FIRST TWO LIVES OF LUKAS-KASHA. LLOYD ALEXANDER.

THE VELDT. RAY BRADBURY.

Various stories by ELLEN CONFORD.

DARK THIRTY, a collection by McKissack.

INSIDE MY FEET. Richard Kennedy.

NOW LISTEN, FRIENDS: I've saved the best for last:  For those who don't
mind stooping to conquer, I have the holy grail of all funny middle
school stories in my possession at this time.  I regret to say that it
is probably best read by a male, since it is a first-person memoir
related by a man.  Don't let that stop you.  Also be forewarned: Though
the story has many funny moments, and even a touching moment or two-- I
would be lying if I didn't admit that the appeal to the preteen set lies
almost entirely in the stories use of the word "FART."  Or, I should
say, it's near-use of the word.  I have a feeling SUNNY TAIT would love
this piece.  What's good about the story?  It never misses.  I've had
student and teacher alike rolling in the aisles with this one.  It's
worth pushing the envelope for.  Here it is:

BASEBALL, BOYS and BAD WORDS by ANDY ANDREWS from "Tales from Sayertown
Springs."
ISBN 0-9629620-4-x  LCCN 94-78252

The Bad News:  I found this book (literally; in the hall..) and don't
know how available it is.  While not great literature, it contains
several folksy short stories that are good read alouds and, overall, has
a Norman Rockwell feel. If you can't get the book, and desperately want
a copy of the short story, send a S.A.S.E. to:

Jeffrey Hastings
School Library Media Specialist
Highlander Way Middle School
Howell, Michigan 48843
(517) 548-6293

I thank everyone I failed to mention for their suggestions; they were
inspiring.  KEEP READING ALOUD!

Jeff.

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