[LM_NET] HIT: Literature Circles

["Maddie's Mail" <mediamaddie@COMCAST.NET>]

Thank you to all the replies. I waited a couple of days to make sure I had them 
all. Here is my original post, followed by the suggestions.

I am looking for books that are good for literature circles for grades 4 and 5. I 
would like books that are challenging that students can really do some critical and 
creative thinking about. I would like to find some that are already used that may 
have some "guides"  produced for the comprehension side. These are going to be used 
for the gifted program, so most of these students are above grade level in reading. 
 Thank you in advance for any ideas you can give me.

They all sound like great books, but some are recommended for older readers. I 
think I will try and find them all so the kids have a choice. Here are the 
suggestions:

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E.L. Konigsburg 
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko 
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
Atherton: The House of Power, by Patrick Carman
Fever
Among the Hidden
Ice Drift
The Art of Keeping Cool
Pictures of Hollis Woods
Kensuke's Kingdom
Trapped in Death Cave
Frindle
The Gypsy Game
City of Ember
Cryptid Hunters by Roland Smith 
Fish by  L. S. Mathews 

Since they are above their age level in reading, how about the Percy Jackson series 
that starts with The Lightning Thief? I used this with Freshmen in a National Board 
Entry. Lots of YA novels are dealing with Greek Mythology. It's just a thought, and 
the kids loved Percy. 

Visit Rick Riordin's homepage for a guide and more info.

THE FLUNKING OF JOSHUA T.BATES by Susan Shreve. Josh fails grade 3 and is torn 
between old friends and new classmates. He deals with the fact that his life has 
changed more then he could imagine.Josh has many conflicts about his new life,so 
the book is not just a story,but a diary,of a sort,as well. Also a good read a- 
loud. 

Maddie Wood
Teacher Librarian
Schmitt Elementary
Denver, CO
mediamaddie@comcast.net


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