TAR: Have your read these books?

[Carol Wirwa <wirwa@CROCKETTNET.COM>]

Next week, I will begin our state book awards program through the library.
I have multiple copies of the books and am ready to begin, but I must pick
one more for my middle schoolers in order to have the required 12. I am
trying to only pick those appropriate for our age group (6th-8th grade). Has
anyone read any of these titles, and which would be appropriate, considering
maturity levels, for this age group? The remaining titles I have to choose
from are Speak (by Anderson), Jack's Black Book (Gantos), The Falcon
(Koller), Monster (Myers), Crazy Jack (Napoli), In My Hands (Opdyke), The
Boxes (Sleator), Shiva's Fire (Staples), and If You Come Softly (Woodson).
These are on the list for grades 7-12, so I don't want those that are more
appropriate for high school. I also must remember that these will eventually
be on the shelves, available to 6th graders. I have read the reviews but
need your professional opinions for that one last choice. I have read most
of our state award books for this year, but I see that I won't finish by
next week.

Thanks!

Carol Wirwa
Crockett County Middle School
Alamo, TN 38001
wirwa@crockettnet.com

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