[LM_NET] HIT= MID: Bluford High and wrestling fiction

["Huffman, Brandy S." <bshuffman@BURKE.K12.NC.US>]

On Sep 10, 2010, at 2:43 PM, Huffman, Brandy S. wrote:

>" I have a couple of questions I am looking for ideas on:
>> 1.  Do any of you middle schools have the Bluford High series?  I
> have been unable to find much in the way of reviews on their
> appropriateness for middle school and was wondering if many of you
> had them.
>> 2.  I have a student (boy) who is interested in fiction books that
> tie into wrestling.  I have Takedown and Wrestling Sturbridge by
> Rich Wallace.  Do any of you have any other great ideas on books
> that will engage this VERY reluctant reader?  I haven't had much
> luck looking for stuff so far.
>> Thanks!"



Sorry it has taken me so long to compile this and get it posted.  Thank you so much 
to everyone who replied!  I think I thanked everyone individually, but if I did 
miss anyone, I apologize.



Bluford High series:

I had about 20 responses to this and an overwhelming majority said that the books 
were appropriate for middle school and wouldn't stay on the shelf.  Several did say 
that the books deal with some real and gritty situations and sometimes things may 
be implied, but that the books didn't get into inappropriate details or language.   
Only one of them mentioned ever having a parent complaint, and that was a 5th grade 
parent in a 5-8 school who did not push the issue once the child turned it back in. 
 Another response said they were like a "soap opera sans the lewd" stuff.  Someone 
else gave me a link to get some of them for free for your school:  
http://www.townsendpress.com/free.aspx .  You can also order them for $1 a piece at 
http://www.townsendpress.com/catalog/tplibraryandblufordseries.aspx .



2. Wrestling books

Here were the suggestions that I received:

  *   boxing books by Robert Lipsyte
  *   There's a Girl in my Hammerlock by Jerry Spinelli
  *   Mondo Lucha a Go-Go (non-fiction)
  *   biographies of wrestlers
  *   Check Orca Soundings for wrestling-related titles
  *   Pinned by Alfred Martino (not sure if this one is suitable for MS)
  *   Headlock by Joyce Sweeney (SLJ - reviewed for grades 9 and up)
  *   Lucha Libre: Man in the Silver Mask
  *   Vision Quest ("definitely HS")
  *   The Contender by Robert Lipsyte


Brandy Huffman
Media Coordinator
Walter Johnson Middle School
701 Lenoir Rd
Morganton, NC 28655
(828)430-7340

"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain."
Louisa May Alcott

I'm currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  What about you?
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