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-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Fwd: 8th grade recommendation] Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:07:22 -0600 From: Nancy Stiner <nstiner@mchsi.com> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU Thank-you so much to everyone who responded to my question about a good book to discuss with an accelerated group of 8th grade readers. This is a separate AR reading group as these students also take high school math classes. Not only did I receive ideas for this group but also ideas for additional fiction titles to order for the middle school Again thank-you so much, Nancy Stiner -------- Following are the results: Have them do Wednesday Wars (Newbery Honor). This is a new book that is great! It deals with a junior high boy who is trying to survive school, family, and everything in between in the 1960's. There is heartbreak, humor, and action. It reminds me of The Christmas Story. There is a lot to discuss: the threat of nuclear war, the hippies versus adults, being yourself, Shakespeare plays, romance, ect. Off the top I would recommend The Book Thief, The Wednesday Wars or Red Kayak Our 9th grade boys read Monster and the girls read Speak. A few more good ones for discussion are Uglies, The Outsiders, A Child Called It and Stargirl. One of my favorite books of late is Staying Fat for Sarah Burns by Crutcher. I also liked The Window by Ingold. How about Redwall? Nancy, There is great literature now for young readers as you know. I have listed a few fiction titles here. The trap by Smelcer Stuck in neutral by Trueman Harris and me by Paulsen Speak by Anderson Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes by Crutcher The house of scorpion by Farmer Secret Life of Bees by Monk - awesome and fantastic! Big ideas and themes. I don't know if you can get enough copies but I really loved The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt. It was a Newbery Honor this year. I think it will appeal to boys and girls. It is historical fiction and the character is in 7th grade. Seeker by William Nicholson Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings Our book club discussed Touching Spirit Bear (the boys loved it). I think other good books for discussion would be Surviving the Applewhites, The Misfits, and The City of Ember. Uglies by Westerfeld would be a good choice. The lexile isn't high, but the themes provide for great discussion and higher level thinking. Shackleton's Stowaway would also provide some great discussion as does My Sister's Keeper by Picoult. 8th graders here are eating up the Percy Jackson books by Riordan, and that would have some great discussion revolving around ancient mythology which is often part of the 9th grade curriculum. Touching Spirt Bear by Mikaelsen -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------