[LM_NET] HIT: SEC: Fantasy for ESL

[Michelle Walker <michellekwalker@GMAIL.COM>]

Thanks to each of you for your suggestions.  He's giving the Narnia
series a go for a start, but we've spent some time together looking at
reviews of many of the other titles below and will be adding many to
our collection.  This student has been active in helping me develop
our graphic novel collection over the last couple of years, and he's
really excited to be involved in reviewing and recommending titles in
the fantasy realm now.   Again, many thanks.

ORIGINAL POST:

I have a high school ESL student who has been devouring all my graphic
novels.  He's now interested in moving on to fiction works and is
interested in fantasy/magic.  I've shared many of our most popular
fantasy titles with him, but the length of most of them are pretty
intimidating to him.  Can anyone recommend shorter, easier fantasy
titles and series that would still appeal to a teenager?  Thanks for
any recommendations!  I'll post a HIT.

REPLIES:
-------------------------------------

He might enjoy the Gatekeepers series by Alex Rider series author
Anthony Horowitz. Angie Sage's Septimus Heep books look big, but
they're not and they are really good.

-------------------------------------

Try Sigmund Brouwer's the Guardian Angel Series
Or Gilbert Morris' The seven sleepers series
C S Lewis Chronicles of Narnia Harper Collin's junior series by
different author's based on the movies Michael Flexer wrote 2 in the
series.

-------------------------------------

Two titles that I can think of are The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis - part of the Chronicles of Narnia and A
Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.
Both are slim books that I try to keep on hand for our ESL students
and our lower readers. They are good introductions to fantasy and
science fiction not as intimidating as Tolkein, Jordan and Goodkind.
Hope this helps!

----------------------------------------

Try Emily Rodda's Deltora Quest series. It's more of a lower-middle
school reading level, but I thought the plots were very clever; I
think it would still be interesting for a teenager who liked fantasy.
They're full of riddles that one can solve on one's own or keep
reading for the answer.

---------------------------------------

Have you offered him anything by Ursula LeGuin?  Maybe some McCaffrey?
Would some earlier Terry Brooks be a little long for him yet?

----------------------------------------

Maybe Emily Rodda's Deltora series?

---------------------------------------

Margaret Mahy has some fantasy that isn't too dense. Gareth Nix's
Abhorsen series isn't too thick.

---------------------------------------

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede (Dealing with
Dragons, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, Talking to
Dragons). Short, easy reads.

Tamora Pierce has several fantasy series that have fairly short books,
but her protagonists are mostly girls; don't know if that is a factor.

Honestly, he might enjoy the Spiderwick Chronicles. I know they might
seem a little "young," but I just read them for the first time before
seeing the movie (big disappointment in the movie) and I really
enjoyed them.

Un Lun Dun by China Mieville is a lot of fun if he enjoys silliness.

---------------------------------------

How about Madeleine L'Engle

----------------------------------------

-- 
Michelle Walker
Co-Moderator, LM_NET and El-Announce with LM_NET Select
Librarian, Hamilton Union High School District
620 Canal Street / PO Box 488
Hamilton City, CA 95951
(530) 826-3261
http://www.glenn-co.k12.ca.us/ham-hs/library.html
michellekwalker@gmail.com

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