Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels K-1, Clifford (2.0 Clifford the Big Red Dog) Frog & Toad Series (2.4 Frog and Toad Are Friends)

Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels K-1, *Clifford (*2.0 Clifford the Big Red Dog) *Frog & Toad series (*2.4 Frog and Toad Are Friends)

Grade 2 *Amelia Bedelia books (*2.0Amelia Bedelia Runs for Mayor) *Horrible Harry books (*4.2 Horrible Harry in Room 2B) *Magic Tree House books (*4.0 In the Time of Dinosaurs.)

Grade 3-4 (reading levels indicated) 3-4 Amber Brown (series)—Paula Danziger Amber Brown Is Feeling Blue Amber Brown Goes Fourth Forever, Amber Brown 3.9 Because of Winn-Dixie—Kate DiCamillo 3.2-7.1 Beverly Cleary books: 4.9 Ramona the Brave Ramona Forever 4.8 Ramona and Her Mother 5.2 Ramona and Her Father 5.3 Runaway Ralph 4.5 Maggie Magee 5.2 Socks 2.1-4.3 Box Car books (series) 2.9 Caleb’s Story—Patricia McLaulin *5.9 Charlie & the Chocolate Factory—Roald Dahl *4.4-5.1 Charolette’s Web—E.B. White 3.4 Civil War on Sunday --Ann Cameron James and the Giant Peach—Roald Dahl *3.2 Little House in the Big Woods—Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House books: 3.7 Dance at Grandpa’s—Laura Ingalls Wilder 3.8 C in Big Woods—Laura Ingalls Wilder 3.7 Going to Town—Laura Ingalls Wilder 3-4 *Magic Tree House books—Mary Pope Osborne *2.8-3.0 Molly’s Pilgrim—Barbara Cohen 4.1 Sadako & the Thousand Paper Cranes—Eleanor Coerr *3.4-4.2 Sarah Plain & Tall—Patricia McLaulin 3.2 Skylark—Patricia McLaulin *4.0-4.7 Stone Fox—John Reynolds Gardner *5.4-6.0 Stuart Little—E.B. White

Grade 5 Series by Margaret Peterson Haddix Among the Betrayed Among the Imposters ------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 1 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels *4.7 Among the Hidden Bridge to Terabithia—Katherine Patterson Holes—Louis Sachar Julie of the Wolves *5.4 Maniac Magee—Jerry Spinelli Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM—Louis Sachar Rosa Parks: My Story—Rosa Parks with Jim Haskins Standing in the Light—Mary Pope Osborne The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe—C.S. Lewis The Westing Game—Ellen Raskin *The World at Her Fingertips: The Story of Helen Keller—Joan Dash Wait for Me, Watch for Me, Eula Bee—Patricia Beatty Where the Red Fern Grows—Wilson Rawls

Grade 6-8 A Coal Miner's Bride, The Diary of Anetka Kaminska (Pennsylvania, 1896) *Across Five Aprils Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie, The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell (1847) *4.2 A Long way to Chicago--Richard Peck Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl *Anne of Green Gables A Picture of Freedom, The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl (Belmont Plantation, Virginia, 1859) *A Share of Freedom A Time for Courage, The Suffragette Diary of Kathleen Bowen (Washington, D.C., 1917) A Wrinkle in Time--Madeleine L'Engle A Year Down Yonder--Richard Peck Bud, Not Buddy--Chrisotpher Paul Curtis *5.9 Call of the Wild—Jack London Dear America series— A Journey to the New World, The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple (Mayflower, 1620) Other titles include: Dreams in the Golden Country, The Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl (New York City, 1903) Early Sunday Morning, The Pearl Harbor Diary of Amber Billows (Hawaii, 1941) *Hatchet *Island of the Blue Dolphins I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly, The Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl (Mars Bluff, South Carolina, 1865) My Face to the Wind, The Diary of Sarah Jane Price, A Prairie Teacher (Broken Bow, Nebraska, 1881) My Side of the Mountain--Jean Craighead George *Old Yeller ------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 2 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels *Roll of Thunder, Hear My CrySo Far From Home, The Diary of Mary Driscoll, an Irish Mill Girl (Lowell, Massachusetts, 1847) Something Upstairs--Avi Standing in the Light, The Captive Diary of Catharine Carey Logan (Deleware Valley, Pennsylvania, 1763) *Steal Away Home *Stepping on the Cracks Tale of a Fourth Grade Nothing--Judy Blume The Adventures of Tom Sawyer--Mark Twain *The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman *7.2 The Cay--Theodore Taylor *6.6 The Egypt Game--Zilpha Keatley Snyder The Great Railroad Race, The Diary of Libby West (Utah Territory, 1868) The Journal of Ben Uchida, Citizen 13559, Mirror Lake Internment Camp (California, 1942) The Journal of Edmond Pease, A Civil War Union Soldier (Virginia, 1863) *7.9 The Journal of Jesse Smoke, A Cherokee Boy (Trail of Tears, 1838) *7.5 The Red Badge of Courage--Stephen Crane *The Shadow Children The Sign of the Beaver--Elizabeth George Speare *7.0 The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle *5.0 The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963--Christopher Paul Curtis The Winter of Red Snow, The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777) *The Yearling *5.9 Tuck Everlasting--Natalie Babbitt Voyage on the Great Titanic, The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady (R M L Titanic, 1912) West to a Land of Plenty, The Diary of Teresa Angelino Viscardi (New York to Idaho Territory, 1883) When Will this Cruel War Be Over? The Civil War Diary of Emma Simpson (Gordonswille, Virginia, 1864) *White Lilacs

Freshmen – *Animal Farm *Black Like Me – John Howard Griffin *Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream– H.G. Bissinger Friday *Great Expecations *Lord of the Flies—William Golding *Romeo and Juliet *The Outsiders *The Pigman *The Thread That Runs So True

Sophomores – Invisible Men: Life in Baseball’s Negro Leagues – Donn Rogosin ------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 3 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels *Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan *Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury *The Hiding Place *Watership Down *The Great Gatsby *To Kill a Mockingbird *Julius Caesar

Juniors – *8.6 A Farewell to Arms – Ernest Hemingway *A Midsummer’s Night Dream *Arsenic and Old Lace *Death of a Salesman *Growing Up – Russell Baker *Huck Finn *Merchant of Venice *Never Cry Wolf *Profiles in Courage – John F. Kennedy *The Grapes of Wrath *The Scarlett Letter

Seniors – *1984 *Brave New World – Aldous Huxley *Frankenstein—Mary Shelly *Hamlet *Macbeth *Pygmalion *Pride and Prejudice *Shoeless Joe *Tale of Two Cities *The Picture of Dorian Gray—Oscar Wilde

Alternatives: Cue for Treason - Geoffry Trease I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou Night—Elie Wiesel

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Reviews of recommended books

Reading Level: Grade K and 1 Title: Clifford (series) Author: Norman Bridwell Theme: Clifford books are about the big red dog and his owner, Emily Elizabeth. Although Clifford books are based on rather ordinary events, such as camping, going to the seashore and holidays, Clifford always tried to do the right thing, but he does make mistakes. These books help children learn that it is OK to make mistakes and that you can learn from your mistakes. Summary: These books take place in different places and settings. For example— holidays and community helpers. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: These books are great to teach about American holidays and customs. They also introduce the different types of community workers.

Reading Level: Grade 1 Title: Frog and Toad (series) Author: Arnold Lobel Theme: Adventures of two best friends who are somewhat like the “odd couple.” They have distinctly different personalities. Frog is usually cheerful, while Toad tends to view things from a pessimistic side. Summary: The stories take place in different settings, such as Frog or Toad’s house, or in the meadow. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Compare and contrast characters, character traits, cause and effect. Science—observe differences between frogs and toads.

Reading Level: 2nd – 3rd grade Title: Amelia Bedelia Series Author: Peggy Parish Theme: An unforgettable housekeeper who has no idea what idioms or homonyms are. She does exactly what people tell her to do and takes everything they say literally. Plot summary: The Amelia Bedelia series are great stories about a hilarious housekeeper who misunderstands everyone and usually turns every task into one more mistake. Like when asked to trim the chicken for dinner she does just that, by trimming it with lace. Her employers are usually very frustrated by her misunderstandings, but always seem to forgive her. Concerns: none Suggested classroom use: These are great stories to use when discussing idioms and homonyms. They also lead into some very funny and exciting writing.

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Reading Level: Grades 2 – 4 Title: Horrible Harry Series Author: Suzy Kline Theme: The stories are set up in a Second Grade classroom with students learning about everyday problems in the life of an 8 year old. Plot Summary: Doug the narrator of the stories has a best friend named Harry. Harry is the devilish second grader who plays pranks and gets into mischief, but can still be a good friend. They are funny, easy to read stories about friends and school adventures. Concerns: none Suggested classroom use: These are great books to use that every child can relate to and enjoy. They are great for literature circles and will also lead into some great writing experiences.

Reading level: Grade 2 Title: Magic Tree House Series 1 – 26 (list included) Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Each different book has its own theme, ranging from dinosaurs, mummies, the Amazon, moon, Vikings, and many more. Plot summary: Jack and his little sister Annie are just two regular kids from Frog Creek, Pennsylvania. That is, until they discover a mysterious tree house packed with all sorts of books. This magical tree house and the books have the power to transport them to any place in history or the future. Concerns: none Suggested classroom use: Each story is packed with facts that can be used when studying that theme. It is also a great chance to do an author study and write an author.

Reading/Grade Level: 4.0 Title: Stone Fox Author: John Reynolds Gardiner Theme: weather, dogs, dog-sled races, potato farming, economics, values Plot summary: Willie is a young boy living with his grandfather, who is a potato farmer. Grandfather becomes ill, and during this time, a tax collector comes to the farm to collect the $500 owed on back taxes. He tells Grandfather and Willie that if the money isn’t paid that they’ll lose the farm. Willie takes on the responsibility of trying to raise the money to save the farm. After a couple of his ideas fail, he sees a sign advertising a big dog-sled race. He decides that he and his dog, Searchlight, will enter the race and win the $500 prize. The problem...he’s competing against Stone Fox, who has never lost the race. With just a few feet remaining in a close race, Searchlight collapses in the snow. Snow Fox comes up to Willie and tells him to pick up his dog and carry him across the finish line. Stone Fox remains there to keep others from beating Willie to the finish line. Concerns/Cautions: The tax collector does come to the property with a gun. Suggested classroom use(s): cross-curricular activities such as learning about the history of potatoes, how to grow them, cook them, etc; problem solving...such as what are some

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 6 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels ideas Willie might have considered to raise money to save the farm, also, the book ends leaving many unanswered questions, such as: Does Grandfather get better? Do the taxes get paid? Does Willie decide to be a potato farmer or does he go to college? Does Willie get a new dog? Students ponder these questions and write their own “conclusion“ to one of these questions; research dogs learning basic info about canines; how many different breeds make good sled dogs; study Wyoming as a part of our Soc. Studies curriculum involving state studies; economics unit.

Reading level: 3.0 Title: Molly’s Pilgrim Author: Barbara Cohen Theme: Being thankful, Immigration, Prejudices Summary: Molly’s mother left Russia and came to America for religious freedom. At Thanksgiving, Molly is to make a doll like a Pilgrim for her class at school. Molly’s mother dressed the doll like she dressed when leaving Russia, not like the Pilgrims that came to America, and this is embarrassing to Molly. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Use this book during the month of November to discuss Pilgrims and immigration in our country. You could also discuss the importance of the Statue of Liberty in regard to the immigrants arriving in our country.

Reading/Grade Level: 4.4 Title: Charlotte’s Web Author: E. B. White Theme: friendship, loyalty, farm life Plot summary: This is a story about a young girl, Fern, a “runt” pig named Wilbur, a creative spider named Charlotte, and a rat named Templeton. Fern convinces her dad not to kill the runt pig. Instead, her uncle buys him. Fern visits the pig every day. As time goes on, the other farm animals tell Wilbur that it won’t be long before he’ll be “bacon.” Wilbur had befriended a gray spider named Charlotte. She begins to spin amazing webs with words in them to describe Wilbur. These words end up saving his life. The friendship ends with the death of Charlotte, but is continued through her children Concerns/Cautions: talking farm animal Suggested classroom use(s): Cross-curricular activities could include writing a story about the adventures of one of Charlotte’s children; make a “fair billboard;” study spiders and make a spider book of facts; study about the different farm animals talked about in the book and write a paper about how a farm operates; students could make up prices for different things they could buy at a fair, then they’d make up word problems using the prices and have students find answers to the questions, have students write down the character traits of the main characters in the story and make a venn diagram comparing/contrasting these traits; have students come up with their own adjective to describe Wilbur and make their own “web” designs.

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AR Level: 6.0 Title: Stuart Little Author: E.B. White Theme: Action, Adventure, Mice and Rats Summary: Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans, he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George, and Snowbell the cat. Though he’s shy and thoughtful, he’s also a true lover of adventure. Stuart’s greatest adventure comes when his best friend, a beautiful little bird named Margalo, disappears from her nest. Determined to track her down, Stuart ventures away from home for the very first time in his life. He finds adventure aplenty. But will he find his friend? Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Study of family relationships and how to accept differences

======Reading / Grade Level: 4/ 3 Title: Ramona Forever Author: Beverly Cleary Theme: Ramona is a third grader and is between babyhood and puberty—growing up is hard. Plot summary: Ramona’s family is going through lots of changes with Dad in college; mom working and now is pregnant (decisions to be made). Howie’s uncle Hobart returns from Saudi Arabia and starts dating Aunt Bea—marriage looms. Family decisions and changes need to be made Concerns/ Cautions: none Suggested classroom use(s): Science--weather in Oregon, Saudi Arabia. Social Studies--Why was Uncle Hobart in Saudi Arabia? How would you have handled the problems in the family?

Reading level 3.0 Title: Ramona and Her Mother Author: Beverly Cleary Theme: Ramona does not feel like she is Mother’s girl; however, she likes it when mother calls her, “Her little rabbit.” Summary: Ramona constantly wants mother’s approval and for Dad to be happy with his job. Several funny episodes happen when Ramona tries so hard to do what she rationalizes to be smart, only to later realizing how stupid it might appear to others, (adults). Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Activity: Giving the students a small tube of toothpaste to squeeze out. Prediction of amount, how much paper will it cover, how full will the cup be, etc. hypothesis or Math Problem Solving.

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Beverly Cleary books are of appropriate content. Reading / Grade Level: 5.3/ 4 up Title: Runaway Ralph Author: Beverly Cleary Theme: Making a decision and living with the consequences Plot summary: Ralph S. Mouse runs away from his home at the Mountain View Inn; is captured; is put in a cage at the Happy Acres Camp. Will he or won’t he get home again? Concerns/ Cautions: none Suggested classroom use(s): Social Studies--mountains of California-locate on map; climate of this area as opposed to beach climate. Science--force of gravity; friction/wear on tires; can animals communicate with humans? Each other(cats to mice, mice to mice, dogs to mice)?

Reading / Grade Level: 5.2/4 Title: Socks Author: Beverly Cleary Theme: Looking at life through a cat’s eyes, sharing parents’ time when new baby arrives Plot summary: Socks’ place in the family is gone when the new baby arrives. Concerns/ Cautions: none Suggested classroom use(s): Social Studies--sharing, friendship. Science—mammals

Reading level: 5.3 Title: Little House in the Big Woods Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder Theme: Pioneer life, the importance of family and friends, Survival Summary: This is the story of a year in the life of Mary and Laura, growing up on the Wisconsin frontier. They help their mother with chores such as butter churning, helping their father at butchering time, and helping Pa clean his traps. They enjoyed songs sang and stories told by Pa on long winter evenings. The girls watched as Pa harvested his crops with a threshing machine. They share many special times with family and friends throughout the year. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: This could be used during a study early American history and what life was like during that time period, students could compare and contrast a student’s life to the life of Mary and Laura, and threshing machines to combines of today. Students could make butter from cream.

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Reading/Grade Level: 4.8 Title: Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Author: Roald Dahl Theme: Charlie finds out that following directions and being an upright, honest, & moral person pays off- in more than one way Plot summary: Charlie and his family are very poor. His dad has lost his job and the family barely has enough money to buy food. The only happiness Charlie has is the candy bar he receives each year for his birthday. This year it is even more important, because it could be the bar with the golden ticket. Willy Wonka, owner of the largest chocolate factory in the world, is allowing 5 lucky children inside his factory for a day. At the end of the day Willy Wonka will offer 1 lucky child his factory. Charlie is the only one left because he was well-behaved throughout the entire visit. Concerns/Cautions: There are a couple of places where inappropriate language is used. Also Charlie spent his last cent on the candy bar, hoping to find a golden ticket. Some might consider this to be gambling Suggested classroom use: This ties into Social Studies with a study of cocoa beans, finding out where they are grown, the climate, the process used to turn the beans into chocolate. The class could conduct taste tests and graph their results. Graphic organizers may be used to compare and contrast the movie and the book. Have students write chocolate poems and use the book as a springboard to write fantasy stories of their own.

The following is a series of Amber Brown books by Paula Danziger. Reading level: 3 Title: Amber Brown is Feeling Blue Author: Paula Danziger Theme: Making choices/decisions, Friendship, Dealing with divorced parents Summary: As Thanksgiving approaches, Amber has to make the difficult decision of spending the holiday with her mom in Washington or her dad in New York. Amber also feels bad after teasing a new girl in her class and has to find the best way to apologize and become friends with her. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Read in November while doing a unit study of the Pilgrims and with our Friendship unit in Reading.

Reading level: 3 Title: Amber Brown Goes Fourth Author: Paula Danziger Theme: Friendship Summary: Amber has all of her school supplied for 4th grade, but her best friend moved over the summer. As she begins 4th grade, she has to begin the process of finding a new best friend. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Read the book while doing a friendship unit in Reading.

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 10 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Reading level: 3 Title: Forever, Amber Brown Author: Paula Danziger Theme: Best friend moving away, divorce, Changes are sometimes good and a part of life, Acceptance of others Summary: Amber get her school picture taken and she has to decide who will get one of her pictures, and whether she should give Max, her mother’s new friend, a picture. She also gets to visit Justin, her best friend who moved away. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Read the book while doing the Friendship unit in Reading. Reading / Grade Level: 3.9/ 4 Title: Because of Winn Dixie Author: Kate DiCamillo Theme: loneliness/ new girl in town Plot summary: India Opal Buloni moves to a new town. She has no friends. She makes friends in an unusual way with an extraordinary dog. Concerns/ Cautions: Opal’s mother drank too much and ran off leaving Opal with her father who is a preacher. Suggested classroom use(s): Reading --There are questions in the back of the book for literature circle (Bloom’s taxonomy). Social Studies--Locate Florida (northern part). Climate--discuss the difference between coastal region and northern Florida’s climate.

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 11 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Reading/Grade Level: 3.4 Title: Sarah, Plain and Tall Author: Patricia MacLachlan Theme: loss, love, prairies, geographical features, 19th century travel, 19th century farming, birds, wildflowers Plot summary: Jacob Witting, a widower living on the plains, and his two children, Anna and Caleb, set out to try and fill the emptiness in their lives since their wife/mother died. Jacob puts an ad in the paper to find a wife. Sarah Elizabeth Wheaton, from Maine, responds, describing herself as plain and tall. After several correspondences, she decides to visit the Wittings for a month. Sarah begins to “win over” the children and decides to stay to be a wife and mother. The family is afraid she will leave because she misses the sea. When she leaves one day, Caleb is afraid she’s not coming back. She does return and brings them colored pencils and paper so she can show them the beauty of Maine. She reassures them by telling them that though she misses Maine, she’d miss them more Concerns/Cautions: death of a parent, feelings of abandonment Suggested classroom use(s): geography...comparing/contrasting Maine to Kansas; journal writing (having students assume the role of one of the children and have them write in their journals what they’d say to Sarah), research farming during the 19th century, compare and contrast farming then and now; research how they traveled during the 19th century and have students select a path they’d have traveled then to Kansas (they must support their choice); research and model geographical features such as prairies and dunes; research various wildflowers found in Maine and Kansas; compare and contrast lifestyles in two different regions.

Reading level: 4.0 Title: Caleb’s Story Author: Patricia MacLachlan Theme: Forgiveness and understanding Summary: Anna leaves for town to work for the doctor during influenza epidemic. She leaves her little brother, Caleb, her journal so he can write about what happens while she is gone. A stranger shows up on the family farm. It turns out to be Papa’s father, who had abandoned him as a child. Hard feelings put the family in turmoil. Through a series of events, Papa learns to forgive his father and Grandpa stays to live with the family. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Use this book when teaching characterization. It is also good for discussion groups because there are questions in the back.

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 12 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Grade level: 4 Reading level: 4.0 Title: Skylark Author: Patricia MacLachlan Theme: perseverance Summary: Caleb and Sarah are now happily married. Drought comes to the prairie and forces many farmers to leave their land. When Caleb and Sarah’s barn burns down, Sarah must take the children to Maine. Finally, rain comes to the prairie. Caleb comes to Maine to bring his family home. Caleb and Anna find out they will soon be having a baby. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Use this book when studying life on the prairie. This ties in with learning about the history of the mid-west. There are discussion questions in the back of the book.

Reading level: 3.5 Title: The Box Car Children Author: Gertrude Chandler Warner Theme: Being creative, Cooperation, Children can’t survive forever on their own-they need adult help Summary: Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are orphans. They plan to survive on their own and find a red boxcar that provides them with a safe place to live. They get along well on their own until one of the children get sick. Through the doctor that comes to their assistance, they also meet their grandfather, whom they live with at the end of the story. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Students could do a creative writing assignment about how they depend upon their parents and why they are thankful for their parents. Sending a care package to someone living alone or in the service could also do a service project.

Grade 3 Mary Pope Osborne has written many Magic Tree House books. In each book, Jack and Annie are transported to a different time period in their magic tree house, and while in that time period they learn about events that have happened in history. Map skills can be studied with each of these books by locating where they traveled and what continent they are on, which leads to the study of the continents in the Social Studies curriculum and many science topics are also covered. I feel that all of the Magic Tree House books should be approved for use in the elementary classrooms.

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 13 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Reading level: 3.4 Title: Civil War on Sunday Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Bravery, Slavery Summary: Jack and Annie are whisked back to the time of the Civil War. While there, they learn about slavery, and being brave while helping Clara Barton tend to wounded soldiers. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: This story could be used in Social Studies when studying a unit on the Civil War and slavery.

Reading level: 3.2 Title: Dingoes at Dinnertime Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Bravery, Cooperation Summary: Jack and Annie are whisked away to the continent of Australia. While there, they come in contact with many of Australia’s animals. They save a baby kangaroo, a joey, and a koala from a raging wildfire. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: This story can be used when studying the continents in Social Studies. Students will learn about the animals of Australia and the Aborigines, the first people of Australia.

Reading Level: 3.1 Title: Dolphins At Daybreak Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Bravery, Being calm in difficult situation. Summary: Jack and Annie are whisked away to the ocean and land on a coral reef. They explore the ocean in a mini sub and learn about coral reefs and many sea creatures. The mini sub begins to break apart and they have to make it back to the coral reef, before being hurt by a shark and an octopus. Concerns: none Suggested classroom use: This story could be used when covering ocean habitats in Science and when learning about coral reefs during a unit on Australia.

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Reading level: 3.2 Title: Polar Bears Past Bedtime Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Courage Summary: Jack and Annie go to the Arctic, meet a seal hunter who takes them to an igloo. While there, they find polar cubs that lead them onto thin ice, which begins to crack. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: This story could be used in Science when learning about mammals and the Northern Lights. When physical features of the earth are studied, this books talks about the tundra.

Reading level: 3.3 Title: Buffalo Before Breakfast Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Bravery Summary: Jack and Annie learn about the Lakota Indians of the Great Plains and almost get caught in a buffalo stampede. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: This book could be used during a mammal unit in Science and an Indian unit in Social Studies.

Reading level: 3.3 Title: Revolutionary War on Wednesday Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Bravery, Helpfulness Summary: Jack and Annie help George Washington when he crosses the Delaware River with his troops. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Use this book when studying early events in our history: the Revolutionary War and a unit on George Washington.

Reading level: 3.2 Title: Twister On Tuesday Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Bravery, Working Together, Hardships of Pioneer Life Summary: Jack and Annie help save some students when a tornado hits a frontier schoolhouse on the Kansas prairie. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: This book could be read when studying a weather unit in Science or as a Kansas unit for Social Studies.

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Reading level: 3.3 Title: Earthquake in the Early Morning Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Bravery Summary: Jack and Annie are in San Francisco in 1906 during the biggest earthquake in American history. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Use this book in Science while doing a weather unit.

Reading level: 3.3 Title: Vacation Under the Volcano Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Bravery, Cooperation Summary: During Roman times, Jack and Annie go to Pompeii on the day Mount Vesuvius erupts. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: This story could be used during a Roman unit in Social Studies and a weather unit in Science.

Reading level: 3.3 Title: Viking Ships at Sunrise Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Bravery Summary: Jack and Annie are at a monastery in Ireland when the Vikings attack. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Use this book during a Social Studies unit on the Vikings.

Reading level: 3.0 Title: Lions at Lunchtime Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Bravery Summary: In Africa, Jack and Annie help wild animals cross a rushing river and meet a Masai warrior. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Use this book when studying the continent of Africa or during a mammal unit in Science.

Reading level: 2.6 Title: Afternoon on the Amazon Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Bravery Summary: Jack and Annie learn about the many animals found in the Amazon Rain Forest. Concerns: none

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Reading level: 2.8 Title: Midnight On the Moon Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Bravery, Being adventuresome Summary: Jack and Annie are off to the moon and the future. They learn about the need for oxygen on the moon and experience weightlessness. They explore the moon using a moon buggy. Concerns: none Suggested classroom use: The study of the moon leads into a unit of study on the Solar System.

Reading/Grade Level: 4.1 Title: Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Author: Eleanor Coerr Theme: Courage, friendship, & death are part of the theme. Sadako is based on the life of a real girl who lived in Japan and was in Hiroshima when the US dropped the atom bomb during WWII. Ten years later she died as a result of the radiation. Her courage made her a heroine to children in Japan Plot summary: Sadako is diagnosed with leukemia and ends up in the hospital. Her friend, Chizuko, visits her & gives her a golden paper crane. The friend tells her the gods will grant her wish to be well if she folds 1000 paper cranes. She dies before she makes 1000 of them. There is a memorial in Hiroshima Peace Park for her. Today children who visit the memorial leave paper cranes in her honor. Concerns/Cautions: Death of the main character Suggested classroom use: Reading: Discuss setting, plot, character traits, etc… Social Studies: Study WWII and then research the atom bomb. Art: Make paper cranes

Reading/Grade Level: 4.8 Title: James and the Giant Peach Author: Roald Dahl Theme: Team Work and Fantasy Suggested classroom use: Science: Study of insects and their habitats. Reading: Discuss the author’s style of writing, what is similar and different in some of the books we have read by this author. Art: Painting. Spelling: Discuss vocabulary used in the book Concern/Cautions: Fantasy Suggested classroom use: Science: Study of insects and their habitats. Reading: Discuss the author’s style of writing, what is similar and different in some of the other books by this author. Art: Painting. Spelling: Discuss vocabulary used in the book.

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Grade Level: 4-8 Title: Among The Hidden Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix Theme: It takes courage to stand up for your beliefs. Summary: This is the story of a boy, Luke, who is a shadow child. In the future the world has experienced a great famine and the government has made a law limiting families to two children. Families that have a third child hide them. Luke discovers another shadow child and learns there are many more just like him. He struggles with the idea of trying to change the law about shadow children or continuing to hide. He learns in the end how to help other children like himself. Concerns: The story has several scenes where characters question the rules the government makes and what plan of action should be taken in those areas. It has a scene where some people protested against the third child law and they were killed. However, it doesn't describe the incident. It just says during the riot that those people were killed. Suggested Classroom uses: It could be used in the social studies unit on civil rights. Discussions could center on how to go about changing rules that one doesn't agree with. This would be a good book accompany the W.W.II section of the social studies curriculum. It would lend itself to a discussion in math on the connection between the economy food production.

Reading Level: 7.0 Title: Bridge to Terabithia Author: Katherine Patterson Theme: Death, friendship, fantasy Summary: Jesse’s colorless rural world expands when he becomes fast friends with Leslie, the new girl in school. But when Leslie drowns trying to reach their special hideaway, Terabithia, Jesse struggles to accept the loss of his friend. Awards: Newberry Award A School Library Journal Best Book ALA Notable Children’s Book Problems/Concerns: Death and loss Classroom Use: Literature components: plot, setting, character, character traits, etc., art

Grade Level: 4-8 Title: The World at her Fingertips: The Story of Helen Keller Author: Joan Dash Theme: If you work hard enough nothing can stop you from reaching your goals. Summary: This is the story of Helen Keller and how she achieved greatness. It goes from her childhood into her adulthood. It tells of not only her achievements as a child but what she accomplished as an adult. Concerns: There are no concerns for this story.

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 18 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Suggested Classroom uses: It could be used in connection with the Open Court story that deals with a deaf girl who learns to read. This same doctor later on works with Helen Keller. In social studies it could be used with people who learned to overcome physical and other kinds of obstacles in their life. Reading Level: 4.6 Title: Holes Author: Louis Sachar Theme: family, friendship, crime and punishment, redemption and character improvement Summary: The novel Holes centers on a young boy who has been sent to a juvenile detention camp. The group of boys there is forced to dig holes by the warden to uncover a Wild West outlaw’s hidden treasure. The young boy ends up discovering his future and past as he unravels a generations-old curse. Awards: 1999 Parents’ Choice Recommendation Newberry Medal Problem/Concerns: None Classroom Use: Problem solving, graphic organizers, geography and social studies, English-all the components of literature: characters, character traits, plot, setting, etc.

Title: Julie of the Wolves Author: Jean Craighead George AR Level: 5.8 Theme: Alaska, Eskimos, Wilderness Survival, and Wolves Summary: Miyax is an Eskimo girl living in Alaska. While Miyax is still young, her mother dies, and she lives alone with her father at a seal camp. Miyax learns of the old ways. She is happy living in the traditional Eskimo manner, learning of her people’s traditions and customs. However, the law expects her to attend school. Her life changes dramatically when she is forced to leave the seal camp to live with her aunt and return to civilizations. She leaves and attends the school where she experiences prejudice for the first time. She begins to feel ashamed of her people’s backward ways. Suddenly her life changes when at age 13 she is flown to Barrow, Alaska, for an arranged marriage. Her new life just keeps getting worse and worse. Miyax sets out for San Francisco. She soon finds herself alone, lost in the vast tundra without a compass or the North Star to guide her. The rest of the story is of her courage, determination and self-discovery. Concerns: At 13 years of age she flies to Barrow, Alaska, for a marriage arranged by her father. Her life here is just as bad. Her father-in-law is a drunk and constantly beats his wife. Then, the unexpected happens—her husband, Daniel, assaults her. This is the catalyst that forces her to act. Suggested Classroom use: Environmental, Cultural Awareness, Study of Alaska Note: Newbery Medal

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Reading Level: 6.1 Title: Maniac Magee Author: Jerry Spinelli Theme: family, friendship, racial diversity, self-esteem, homelessness and determination Summary: This is a folk story about a young excitable boy that can outrun dogs; hits homeruns off the best pitcher in town and can untie knots that nobody else can! It is also a story about how this young boy confronts racism in a small town and tries to find a home where there is none and attempts to soothe tensions between rival factions on the tough side of town. Awards: 1991 Newberry Medal Problems/Concerns: Racism, homelessness Classroom Use: Geography, social studies, math, literature and all its components, home economics

Title: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH Author: Louis Sachar Reading Level: 5.9 Theme: family, friendship, problem solving, character strength, determination Summary: Mrs. Frisby, a widowed field mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer home immediately, or face almost certain death. The problem is that her youngest son, Timothy, is ill and cannot be removed from their home. Fortunately, she meets the group of highly intelligent rats of NIMH that come up with a solution to her dilemma. Awards: William Allen White Children’s Book Award Problems/Concerns: None Classroom Use: I use this book in conjunction with my rat experiment on nutrition from the Midwest Dairy Council. All areas of the curriculum are addressed with emphasis on literature, English, and science.

Grade Level: 4-6 Title: Rosa Parks: My Story Author: Rosa Parks with Jim Haskins Theme: Learning how to stand up for your rights. Summary: It's the story of Rosa Parks and how she was an influence in the civil rights movement. It describes her childhood, the bus incident and her life as an elderly person. Concerns: It describes some of the things that blacks went through fighting for their rights. Suggested Classroom uses: It would help with the Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest. It would go along with the civil rights unit in the social studies book

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Grade Level: 4-8 Title: Standing In The Light Author: Mary Pope Osborne Theme: Get to know people before you judge them. Summary: This a story about a Quaker girl and her brother who are captured by the Indians. Catherine learns that her captures are not the savages that her people believe the them to be. She learns that the Indians are similar to her people. After Catherine "stands in the light" as her father taught her, she looks past the skin color and differences of the Indian culture to see them as people. Concerns: For this particular story, I don't have any concerns or cautions. Suggested Classroom Uses: This would be a good story to use with the Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest that is offered in the fall by the Ottawa Black Awareness Committee. There is an Indian unit in the social studies book.

Reading Level: 6.8 Title: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe Author: S. Lewis Theme: fantasy, good over evil, historical value, mythology Summary: Book 2 of The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantasy about a land beyond the wardrobe, the secret country known only to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy - a place where adventure begins. The story takes place during WWII. Lucy is the first to discover the secret of the wardrobe, but the others soon learn the secret too, and their lives are changed forever. Problems/Concerns: Fantasy and mythology Classroom Use: Geography, social studies, math, literature and all its components, Greek Mythology

Reading Level: 5.3 Title: The Westing Game Author: Ellen Raskin Theme: mystery, murder and intrigue, play-along game (interactive), do-it-yourself puzzle. This is a book where the reader takes part in the story and tries to figure out using the clues that the read killer is. Summary: Sixteen people gather for the reading of Samuel W. Westing’s will. Little do they know but the reading of the will turns out to be a contest, challenging the heirs to find out who among them is Westing’s murderer! Award: Newberry Award Boxton Glove/Horn Book Award ALA Notable Book Problems/Concerns: None

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 21 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Classroom Use: Using a clue book, the students use problem solving, fact finding, and elimination of information along with spelling, literature components and science.

Grade Level: 4-8 Title: Wait For Me, Watch For Me, Eula Bee Author: Patricia Beatty Theme: Never give up in keeping your family together. Summary: This is story is about a 14 yr. old boy who along with his sister, Eula Bee and the two neighbor children are captured by the Indians in Texas during the Civil War. The boy finds his uncle, mother and another brother killed by the Indians. The Indians split the children. The girls go to one tribe and the boys to another tribe. He tells his sister to wait for him and watch for him because he will find her and take her home. He never gives up trying to find Eula Bee. After about a year of being in captivity, he escapes and frees Eula Bee. Concerns: The scene of the Indian raid is a little intense but not graphic. However, the description of the death of the family is tastefully done. Suggested Classroom use: It would go along well with the Indian unit in the social studies book. This would be a good story to use with the Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest that is offered in the fall by the Ottawa Black Awareness Committee.

Title: Where the Red Fern Grows Author: Wilson Rawls Reading Level: 5.0 Theme: responsibility, perseverance, compassion, friendship Summary: Where the Red Fern Grows is a semi-biography written about a young boy living in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma. He achieves his heart’s desire when he becomes the owner of two redbone hounds and teaches them to be champion hunters. Concerns/Cautions: None Uses in classroom: I cover all areas of the curriculum when using this book in my classroom. Math, social studies, English, and science are the subjects I integrate mostly with this novel. We keep a reading folder and cover spelling, 6-trait writing and reading in the classroom while using this book.

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 22 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Grade/Reading Level: 7th or 8th grade Title: The Call of the Wild Author: Jack London Theme: Learning to live and make the most of the cards you’re dealt in life. Perseverance and respect for the unknown Plot Summary: Buck, a St. Bernard, was a prized dog who lived a life of style and luxury in the warm California climate on Judge Miller’s ranch. He was doted upon and because of that, Buck watched over the ranch including all who lived there. Because it was the days of the Gold Rush, “big” dogs were in demand to guide sleds through the Arctic wilderness. Buck, unfortunately, was one of those dogs. He was stolen by Judge Miller’s gardener and sold to men traveling to the Northern territory. Buck’s life of luxury was quickly stifled upon the illegal sale. He was boxed up and tortured on his train ride to a brutally harsh land. Buck was sold again and again to anyone who wanted a sled dog, which Buck was not. He learned to fight both human and dog as he struggled to survive. Finally he was saved by John Thornton, a prospector, who loved and respected animals. Buck still struggled in the wilderness, but the struggle changed from fighting for survival to fighting his desire to follow “The Call of the Wild.” Concerns/Cautions: None Suggested Classroom Use: This book is very descriptive. Use it to teach imagery, how to write descriptions, and the geography and climate of the North. The vocabulary is extensive and could be used for a variety of study.

AR Level: 6.4 Title: The Egypt Game Author: Zilpha Keatly Snyder Theme: Ancient Egypt, Egyptian way of life, Adventure, Mystery, Creative Thinking Summary: The first time Melanie Ross meets April Hall, she’s not sure they’ll have anything in common. But she soon discovers that they both love anything to do with ancient Egypt. When they stumble upon a deserted storage yard behind the A-Z Antiques and Curio Shop, Melanie and April decide it’s the perfect spot for the Egypt Game. Before long there are six Egyptians instead of two. After school and on weekends they all meet to wear costumes, hold ceremonies, and work on their secret code. Everyone thinks it’s just a game, until strange things begin happening to the players. Has the Egypt Game gone too far? Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Study of Ancient Egypt Note: Newbery Honor Winner

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 23 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels AR Level: 5.2 Title: My Side of the Mountain Author: Jean Craighead George Theme: Mountain life, Self-confidence, Self-reliance, Wilderness survival Summary: Sam Gribley is tired of living in a crowded New York City apartment, so he runs away to the Catskill Mountain wilderness to forge a life of his own. With only a penknife, a ball of cord, an ax, $40, and some flint and steel, he must rely on his ingenuity and on the resources of the land to survive. And survive he does. This is Sam’s fascinating account of his life in the wild and what he learns about the wilderness —and himself—in the process. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Teaching Self-reliance, integrated with science and nature studies Note: Newberry Honor Winner

AR Level: 3.3 Title: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Author: Judy Blume Theme: Family life, brothers, trials with growing up Summary: Living with is little brother, Fudge, makes Peter Hatcher feel like a fourth grade nothing. Whether Fudge is throwing a temper tantrum in a shoe store, smearing mashed potatoes on the walls at Hamburger Heaven, or scribbling all over Peter’s homework, he’s never far from trouble. He’s a two-year-old terror who gets away with everything— and Peter’s had enough. When Fudge walks off with Dribble, Peter’s pet turtle, it’s the last straw. Peter has put up with Fudge too long. How can he get his parents to pay attention to him for a change? Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Teaching of social interaction

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------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 24 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels AR Level: 3.1 Title: Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl Theme: Holocaust, Jewish traditions, personal narrative, Anne Frank, World War II Summary: Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank’s remarkable diary has since become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the “Secret Annexe” of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever- present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Teaching of tolerance in the classroom as well as in society Note: Gainsville One City, One Story Award

======AR Level: 4.9 Title: The Sign of the Beaver Author: Elizabeth George Speare Theme: Early Homesteading, Wilderness survival, friendship between cultures Summary: Now that twelve-year-old Matt and his father have finished building a comfortable cabin for their family in the Maine wilderness, Matt’s father must leave to bring the rest of the family to the new settlement. Until the day his father returns, Matt must try to survive on his own. Matt is brave, but he’s not prepared for an attack by swarming bees, and he’s astonished when he’s rescued by and Indian chief and his grandson, Attean. As the boys come to know each other, Attean learns to speak English, while Matt becomes a skilled hunter. Many months pass with now sign of Matt’s family. Then Attean asks Matt to join the Beaver tribe and move north. Should Matt abandon his hopes of ever seeing his family again and go on to a new life? Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: American West, relationships between cultures

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------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 25 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels AR Level: 5.0 Title: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 Author: Christopher Paul Curtis Theme: African-Americans, civil rights, families, racism, prejudice Summary: Enter the hilarious world of ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. There’s Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron, who’s thirteen and an “official juvenile delinquent.” When Momma and Dad decide it’s time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with the amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons set out on a trip like no other. They’re heading South. They’re going to Birmingham, Alabama, toward one of the darkest moments in America’s history. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: Teaching of tolerance and multiculturalism Note: 2001 Washington Book Club Award, Coretta Scott King Honor Book, Newbery Award, One Book, One Community Award

======AR Level: 5.3 Title: The Cay Author: Theodore Taylor Theme: visually impaired people, friendship, shipwrecks, survival Summary: This award-winning novel remains a powerful classic of prejudice, love, and survival. In 1942, 11-year-old Phillip Enright lives with his parents on the Dutch island of Curaçao, but when the war moves too close for comfort, his mother decides to travel with him back to the safety of Virginia. When their boat is torpedoed, however, Phillip is blinded and finds himself adrift on a life raft with an old black man and a cat. They eventually land on a deserted island. Phillip is suspicious of "the large Negro," but soon grows to trust--and ultimately love--the patient and generous Timothy. Dedicated to "Dr. King's Dream," The Cay has a clear message that friendship is colorblind; it is also a terrific adventure story of a young, newly blinded man learning to survive on an uninhabited island. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: tolerance of handicap individuals, cultural interests

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------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 26 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels AR Level: 5.0 Title: Bud, Not Buddy Author: Christopher Paul Curtis Theme: African-American boys, African-Americans, Jazz-Music, 20th Century History, runaway children Summary: "It's funny how ideas are, in a lot of ways they're just like seeds. Both of them start real, real small and then... woop, zoop, sloop... before you can say Jack Robinson, they've gone and grown a lot bigger than you ever thought they could." So figures scrappy 10-year-old philosopher Bud--"not Buddy"--Caldwell, an orphan on the run from abusive foster homes and Hoovervilles in 1930s Michigan. And the idea that's planted itself in his head is that Herman E. Calloway, standup-bass player for the Dusky Devastators of the Depression, is his father. Guided only by a flier for one of Calloway's shows--a small, blue poster that had mysteriously upset his mother shortly before she died--Bud sets off to track down his supposed dad, a man he's never laid eyes on. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: tolerance and multiculturalism, social studies, and music studies Note: Oprah’s Kids’ Book List, Newbery Award, Coretta Scott King Award

======AR Level: 6.2 Title: Tom Sawyer Author: Mark Twain Theme: 19th Century, Post Civil War, Adventure, Slavery, Friendship Summary: By the third line of the novel, the main character of Mark Twain’s book is already in trouble, and that is the way he remains for nearly the entire book. Tom Sawyer, an impish but charming boy, enjoys everything about growing up on the banks of the Mississippi except going to school and sitting still. With so many difficulties, Tom decides to leave town with friends, running away to a remote island. While the boys pretend to be pirates, the townspeople conclude that the boys have drowned. When the boys return home, they show up at their own funerals and become heroes. Concerns: None Suggested Classroom use: Study of Post civil War, Vocabulary

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------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 27 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels AR Level: 4.7 Title: A Wrinkle in Time Author: Madeleine L’Engle Theme: Time Travel, Good vs. Evil, Future Thinking Summary: If someone asked you to tesser, could you do it? It might help you to know that to tesser means to travel through a tesseract—a wrinkle in time. The characters in this story tesser frequently. They move into different times and different worlds in an instant! After reading this story, you will know and most likely remember what a tesseract is and what time and space travel might be like. With what you have learned and experienced, would you be willing to go through a wrinkle in time? Concerns: None Suggested Classroom use: Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, And Self Discovery Note: Newberry Award

======AR Level: 5.0 Title: Tuck Everlasting Author: Natalie Babbitt Theme: Life Cycle, Time vs. Eternity, Making Choices, and Friendship Summary: The Tuck family, Angus, Mae, Miles, and Jesse, have a strange and most unusual secret. The have looked the same for the past 87 years! One day a young girl named Winnie Foster accidentally discovers seventeen-year-old Jesse and the source of their secret, a little bubbling spring. In order to keep Winnie from drinking the special water, the Tucks kidnap her and take her to their home. After hearing their fantastic story, Winnie understands their concerns about her and what the consequences of drinking from the spring would be. Unfortunately, another stranger, a man in a yellow suit, has overheard the whole story and plots to gain control of the spring in order to make his fortune by selling the water. When the stranger’s plan becomes clear to the Tucks, Mae accidentally kills him in her effort to stop him. Mae is put in jail by the constable, who had arrived just in time to witness the incident. Winnie’s compassion and belief in the Tucks lead her to decide to help Mae escape. It is Winnie’s way of making a difference in the world. Concerns: 5th grade reading level, but 7-8th grade content Suggested Classroom use: Vocabulary, Time Period, Teaching Choices, and Pros vs. Cons, Decision Making

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------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 28 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels AR Level: 4.5 Title: A Year Down Yonder Author: Richard Peck Theme: Country Life, Family Life, Grandmother’s, Illinois, And Great Depression Summary: Mary Alice learns that she is to live with her Grandma Dowdel in a small town outside of Chicago. The story begins with Mary Alice on the train heading for Grandma’s. Things wouldn’t be so bad except that Grandma Dowdel isn’t your typical Grandma. She’s crazy—or so it seems at first. Mary Alice soon learns to get used to Grandma’s crazy antics and learns to recognize the humor and love that Grandma has. Though Mary Alice moved with remorse and regret, she walked away a better person. She could have easily have seen Grandma as strange and crazy, but instead she saw a fun, outgoing woman with an imagination to come out on top in every situation. Just what you need to make it though your teenage years at the end of the Great Depression! Concerns: None Suggested Classroom use: Heritage, Genealogy, and Time Period Note: Newberry Medal

======Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: The Red Badge of Courage Author: Stephan Crane Theme: Historical fiction Summary: One of the greatest war novels of all time, this is the story of the Civil War through the eyes of Henry Fleming, an ordinary farm boy turned soldier. Marks a departure from the traditional treatment of war in fiction as it captures the sights and sounds of war while creating the intricate inner world of Henry. Probes the personal reactions of unknown foot soldiers fighting unknown enemies. Henry Fleming is motivated not by courage or patriotism but by cowardice, fear, and finally egoism, and events are filtered through his consciousness. Concerns: Some parts are somewhat gruesome where it describes the wounds of soldiers injured in the war. Suggested Classroom use:

Title: A Long Way from Chicago Author: Richard Peck Theme: Two children learn to love and accept, but most of all, respect their very non- traditional grandmother Plot Summary: A brother and sister come to spend the summer with their grandmother in a rural setting in Illinois. They soon learn Grandmother is not at all what one might expect from a grandmother. This story takes the reader through a series of wonderfully funny adventures, and also reveals the endearing love that blossoms between the three. Concerns/Cautions: A reference to whiskey drinking and grown men in their underwear at the Rod and Gun Club. However, the episode is so funny and endearing its hard to find any evil in the chapter. Suggested Uses: Intergenerational relationships; rural America in the 1930’s and 1940’s. ------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 29 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels

Reading Level: 5.9 Title: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle Author: Avi Theme: A rich, elite socialite girl comes to understand the true measure of people is not in their social standing/position and the things they possess. Plot Summary: A 13 year old girl travels across the Atlantic on a ship fraught with mystery and intrigue. Her relationship with the captain eventually deteriorates to the point Charlotte decides to join the crew. After a crew mate’s murder, Charlotte becomes a prime suspect. Through a series of exciting plot twists, Charlotte is finally reunited with her family but finds she no longer “fits” in her old way of life. Concerns/Cautions: Charlotte runs away from her home after she returns from the ocean voyage to return to the sea. Suggested classroom use: students can keep a journal of Charlotte’s adventures; studying Victorian morals and ways of thinking; students can gain a great amount of nautical knowledge from this book.

Grade level: 6-8 Title: Something Upstairs Author: AVI Theme: Injustice of slavery and crossing racial barriers Summary: A ghost story of redeeming social value: when 12-year-old Kenny Huldorf moves with his family to Providence, Rhode Island, he finds himself embroiled in the century-old murder of a teenage slave named Caleb. Not only is Kenny haunted by the injustice of the murder, but also by the ghost of Caleb himself, who summons Kenny back in time to the early 19th Century, where the boy must solve Caleb's murder to return to his own century. How Kenny does this is the stuff of a somber and ambiguous conclusion It can provoke discussion of the issues articulated above as well as how, finally, violence visits the lives of both Caleb and Kenny and how Kenny, through choice and circumstance, may have become a slave himself. Concerns: Ghosts travel through time and time travel of present day character. Apart from going from past to present, the ghosts have no extra-ordinary powers. Suggested Classroom use: DEAR AMERICA SERIES Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: (There are several titles in this series.) Remember Patience Whipple Author: There are several authors in this series. One of the prominent authors that have written several of these books is Kathryn Lasky. Theme: Historical fiction Summary: These books are written from a child’s perspective of various periods in time. It is evident when reading them that great effort has gone into making them historically correct. One such book is Remember Patience Whipple. It is the story of a young girl who came to America on the Mayflower. It covers her experiences on the ship and the settlement in America. Concerns: None.

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Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: A Share of Freedom Author: June Rae Wood Theme: Summary: This book discusses many issues that face some students today. Family problems, alcoholism, and unmarried mothers are some of these issues. A thirteen year old girl named Freedom is raised by an embittered alcoholic mother. She longs to know who her father is and why his identity has always been a secret. She has many responsibilities for a young girl, such as helping to raise her brothers and sisters. Freedom proves that she can make something of herself despite her situation. This book gives insight into situations that some of us never have to experience. Concerns: None Suggested Classroom use:

Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: Across Five Aprils Author: Irene Hunt Theme: Summary: This is a very interesting book about the life of a family in Southern Illinois during the Civil War. This poor farming family had lost three young sons to a disease, and when the Civil War began, their two older sons went off to war; one on the Union side and one on the Confederate side. The youngest son was left at home at age 9 to farm and support his sick, elderly parents. Concerns/Cautions: None Suggested Classroom use:

Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: Anne of Green Gables Author: Lucy Maud Montgomery Theme: Summary: This book contained no profanity. The only part that may raise any concerns was when the major character of the story imaged that the forest was haunted and believed horrible creatures were lurking there. The story is of a young orphan girl’s experiences growing up after being adopted by a sister and brother. I found it very appropriate for middle school students. Concerns/Cautions: None Suggested Classroom use:

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 31 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: Island of the Blue Dolphins Author: Scott O’Dell Theme: Summary: This book contains no inappropriate passages. It is a story about a girl who is in a native tribe on an island. Ships come and take all of the natives to a “better place and she is left behind. The book tells of her trials and tribulations to survive until another ship returns to take her away. It is based on a true story of a woman who was found alone on a deserted island. Concerns/Cautions: None Suggested Classroom use:

Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Author: Mildred D. Taylor Theme: Historical Fiction Summary: This book contained no profanity. It does contain historical events of turbulent slavery times in the South. The book is a young girl’s point of view of what it was like to be black and growing up in a word that was cruel and the survival techniques required to simply exist. I found it very appropriate for middle school students. Concerns/Cautions: None Suggested Classroom use:

Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: Steal Away Home Author: Lois Ruby Theme: Summary: This book was interesting due to the setting which was in Lawrence, Kansas. The author resides in Wichita. At first the book was somewhat confusing as each chapter jumped back and forth between modern times and the 1850s, but after a few chapters, I became accustomed to the pattern.

Concerns/Cautions: The only offensive word was “nigger” which was used in dialogue during the slavery times of the 1850s. I consider it very appropriate for middle school readers. Suggested Classroom use:

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 32 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: Stepping on the Cracks Author: Mary Downing Hahn Theme: Summary: Stepping on the Cracks is a story of two 6th grade girls during World War II. It is a story of their friendship, the life and times of families with loved ones in the war, and their keeping of an important secret. The girls discover that their arch enemy, Gordy, is hiding his (absent without leave from the war) brother in the woods.

The story deals with the themes of war, friendship, loss of family members to war, and child/spouse abuse.

The book ends on a happy note for Gordy, when he moves to another state with his mom and siblings away from the abusive father. The secret of the brother is resolved.

This book has won an ALA Notable Book for Children, a School Library Journal List Book of the Year, a Booklist Editors Choice Award, and was the winner of the Scott O’Dell Award.

Concerns/Cautions: The book has no inappropriate langue, and deals with the themes presented so that Jr. High students can understand. Suggested Classroom use:

Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman Author: Earnest J. Gaines Theme: Summary: This is the life story of a young black woman who was born into slavery and at the age of 12 witnessed the end of the civil war and was freed. It tells of her struggles as well as that of all the black people that she encountered. It includes both the hard times and the good times as she grows old and witnesses the start of the civil rights movements of the 1950s. The book concludes when she leaves to take part in a riot in the town next to where she lives.

Concerns/Cautions: Objectionable words were nigger, used continually throughout the book, titty, and butt. Suggested Classroom use:

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 33 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: The Shadow Children Author: Steven Schnur Theme: Summary: The Shadow Children is a tale about a French boy who visits his grand peُre in Mont Brulant, France. This particular summer he learns of the many Jewish children of WWII who sought refuge from the Natzis in this town. During his visit, he “sees the lost children in the woods and learns of their terrible fate. The town was unable to protect them when the Natzis came. The book portrays the feelings of guilt the grandfather and the town feels for not being able to protect the children.

It is a touching story with absolutely no inappropriateness. The language is fully appropriate although it is written in southern dialogue. The book is good literature, good history, and good lessons about life, love of family, responsibility, patriotism, and education. Concerns/Cautions: None Suggested Classroom use:

Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: The Yearling Author: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Theme: Summary: This novel is about the joys and struggles of a young boy who over the course of a year turns into a young man. The setting takes place in the northern part of Florida in the late 1800s after the civil war. The young boy struggles with many issues that have a bearing on his family and friends. He does not always understand his feelings, but in the end, has a better understand of how he fits into his surroundings. Concerns/Cautions: The three objectionable words in this book are: nigger (6 times), damn (1 time), and bitch (1 time). Suggested Classroom use: Grade/Reading level: 6-8 Title: White Lilacs Author: Carolyn Meyer Theme: Summary: The story takes place in Dillon, Texas, in 1921. The story is based on actual events that occurred in Quakertown, Texas in the 1920s.

The residents of an entire African-American community known as Freedomtown are forced to relocate so that a park can be built in place of the town. The story portrays a black family and their relationship as servants to a local wealthy family named Bell.

Concerns/Cautions: African-American characters are somewhat stereotypical, and racist attitudes are not adequately addressed. Words, phrases, and issues that are controversial are nigger, Negroes, filthy black children, Ku Klux Klan, and stereotyping blacks. Suggested Classroom use: ------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 34 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels

High School Novels:

Grade/Reading level: 9 Title: Animal Farm Author: George Orwell Theme: Summary: By writing Animal Farm, an allegory, George Orwell was speaking out against Communism and idea of a totalitarian society. The premise of the book is simple; animals on a farm overthrow their cruel master in order to run the farm on their own. At first everyone is equal, but then the pigs begin to dominate the other animals through language and intimidation. By the end of the book, the animals are no better off than they were before the revolt.

Concerns/Cautions: There is no offensive language in the book and no sexual references. Animal Farm is short, easy to read, and an excellent springboard for discussion on many facets of society and government. Suggested Classroom use:

Reading/Grade level: 9 Tite: Lord of the Flies Author: William Golding Themes: Fear – the Beast, leadership—Jack and Ralph, human nature—civilization of Ralph vs lawlessness of Jack, loss of innocence—behavior of the boys Summary: A group of British schoolboys find themselves deserted on an uninhabited island, where they are alone without adult supervision. The novel begins with the aftermath of the crash, once the boys have reached the island. Ralph is among the oldest of the boys, handsome and confident. Piggy is a pudgy asthmatic boy with glasses who nevertheless possesses a keen intelligence. Ralph is chosen as the leader of the boys, and a rival, Jack Merridew, is named chief of the hunters. Under the leadership of Ralph, the boys set up a beacon fire on a mountain and attempt to develop the basics of civilization, but as the story progresses, these ideals fall apart. A ship passes by the island but does not stop because the fire has burned out. Piggy blames Jack for letting the fire die, for he and his hunters have become obsessed with the culture of the hunt. Ralph attempts to regain control, but the hunters are becoming more difficult to control. The littlest children begin dreaming of a “Beast” that lurks on the island, and this triggers many of the fears of all the boys. A sub culture of fear sweeps through the boys and the hunters split with the main group of boys. In time, most of the boys join the hunters and civilization totally falls apart. The story ends with Jack and the hunters killing Piggy and attempting to pursue Ralph. Just as they near him, an adult naval officer arrives and ends the conflict. Concerns/Cautions: No sexual content or questionable language. There are two deaths, neither particularly graphic but they do occur.

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 35 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Suggested Classroom Use(s): Major theme developments – comparisons to real life situations when adults are not around. Could be related to gang behavior and mob rule if the teacher desired. Solid plot content with many characters, but each unique for great character study.

Reading Level: 8.0 Grade Level: 9 Title: Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream Author: H.G. Bissinger (Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist); Rob Clark – Photographer Theme: Various cultural, societal, and personal struggles of high school athletes in a small town Plot Summary: This is a story of one year in the life of the Permian Panthers football team (high school) in Odessa, TX. It provides a perfect setting to explore a complex set of issues including race, exploitation, community pride, etc., but most of all to examine the centrality of high school sports in the life of a town. The book focuses on: (1) ambition and the unrealistic dreams of the athletes; (2) the innocence of the athletes as opposed to the manipulation of them by coaches, parents, and boosters, college recruiters, etc.; and (3) the dependence of the athletic programs upon black athletes, which does not acknowledge their value as human beings. Concerns/Cautions: some realistic language Suggested Classroom Use(s): Students can relate to the content of this true story. Analogies can be drawn between the book and the students’ perceptions of what they think about athletes, community involvement (or lack of) and the impact college and professional sports have on young athletes.

Reading/Grade Level: 9th Grade Ti tle: Black Like Me A uthor: John Howard Griffin Th eme: Takes a hard look at racism and prejudice views of Americans during the 1950’s. Plot Summary: He trudged southern streets searching for a place where he could eat or rest, looking vainly for a job other than menial labor, feeling the “hate stare.” He was John Griffin, a white man who darkened the color of his skin and crossed the line into a country of hate, fear, and hopelessness—the country of the American Black man. Concerns: Racial language and mild violence. Suggested Classroom use: Discussion of experiencing life from someone else’s point of view.

Reading/Grade Level: 10th Grade Title: Invisible Men: Life in Baseball’s Negro Leagues Author: Donn Rogosin ------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 36 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Theme: Dealing with segregation in American through the eyes of sports Plot Summary: Although their games were ignored by white owned TV and radio stations, black ballplayers became folk heroes in such cities as Chicago, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The teams drew huge crowds and became contributors to the local economy. This book is filled with stories and memories of several Negro League players and pulls the veil off these “invisible men.” What emerges is a glorious chapter in American history and an often overlooked part of our American past. Cautions or concerns: Some stories are written with regional dialect of the times Suggested Classroom Use: The book would make usage of lessons dealing with segregation and the how society views different people when involved with a part of Americana (baseball). The Negro League Hall of Fame in Kansas City is a definite field trip experience. Athletes would have an immediate connection to the players, and everyone is affected by segregation. Making comparisons to how the times have changed or how society has remained the same

Reading/Grade Level: 10th Grade Title: Joy Luck Club Author: Amy Tan Theme: Dealing with generational gaps in society present and past Plot Summary: In “Joy Luck Club”, vignettes alternate back and forth between the lives of four Chinese women in pre-1949 China and the lives of their American-born daughters in California. In this book the daughters know one side of their mothers, but they don’t know about their earlier never-spoken of lives in China. The mothers want love and obedience from their daughters, but they don’t know the gifts that the daughters keep to themselves. Concerns/Cautions: Minor violence in one scene Suggested classroom use(s): Discussion of American vs. Chinese cultures, The different dynamics of family values

Reading/Grade Level: 10th grade Title: Fahrenheit 451 Author: Ray Bradbury Theme: How willing is society to let the government control all aspects of life? Plot Summary: This is Bradbury's best-known novel. The science fiction tale concerns censorship and anti-intellectualism, carried on in an alternate society that conducts huge book burnings as part of the social agenda. It is a spooky and yet uplifting book In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's classic, frightening vision of the future, firemen don't put out fires--they start them in order to burn books. Bradbury's vividly painted society holds up the appearance of happiness as the highest goal--a place where trivial information is good, and knowledge and ideas are bad. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom Use: Relate to society today both here and in other countries. What are we willing to fight for? What are we willing to let ------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 37 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels the government take over? Discuss changes in government security today. How far will/can the government go in the name of protecting our rights and protecting the country from terrorists?

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Reading/Grade Level: 11th Grade Title: Profiles in Courage Author: John F. Kennedy Theme: Exploring the greatness of humanity Plot Summary: To Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, Sam Houston, Thomas Hart Benton, John Quincy Adams and many other remarkable politicians - it is a history book in itself. President Kennedy has explained how at various times during the nation’s history leaders stepped up to the plate and "did the right thing". Most of these men did not like the enemy or cause they were protecting. This book is about the American ideal. During times of crisis, somebody always comes through. All of the men paid a dear price politically. Most of them disappeared into the annuals of history and were not recognized until much later how important their contribution actually was to the United States. Kennedy also points out these were normal ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances. President Kennedy's book is remarkable for the fact that it shows how amazing the United States actually is. Where other countries have fallen apart because they could find their way through difficulties, the United States survived and flourished. It may be pure luck on our part, but I think it is who we are. We may not like each other much of the time, but during times of crisis we pull together as a nation. The beauty of this book is that some of the stories have been told of the great men who showed such courage when it would have been easier to go with the crowd. This book plainly lays out a short history of American politicians that went against the mainstream for the betterment of the country. "Profiles in Courage" is an enjoyable book that introduces important characters in American politics and provides a sense of American history that is ignored in most history books. Concerns: none Suggested Classroom use: This book can used to team teach with the junior American History class. It includes a lot of biographical information of eight powerful Americans. There is an essay and speech contest that goes along with it.

Reading Grade Level: 11th Grade Title: Farewell to Arms Author: Ernest Hemingway Theme: WWI and the conflicts of an individual soldier, his squad and the woman he loves Plot Summary: The best novel to emerge from the World War I era, this novel is about a young ambulance driver on the Italian front and his passion for a beautiful English Nurse. The portrayal of the romance glows with an intensity of emotions unmatched in modern literature, a story of love and pain, loyalty desertion. Cautions and concerns: None to speak of, Hemingway’s depiction of the battle front, while descriptive, is in no way gruesome or offensive ------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 38 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Suggested Classroom Use: The novel could easily be worked into a team teaching lesson with history to present a more vivid picture of WWI. It touches on a segment of American history that most teachers only scratch the surface of. The tale of battle and romance appeals to all students and is written with sharp prose. The characters are easy to identify with. A truly great book!

Reading Grade level: 9 Grade level: 11 Title: Growing Up Author: Russel Baker Theme: Overcoming childhood hardships Plot Summary: A combination of humor and sadness is used in this autobiography about a young boy growing up during the depression. After losing his father, the author’s mother takes a strong stoic role in raising her family and providing for her family. The author recounts his first person tale of overcoming these childhood hardships to become the strong-willed adult he is. Concerns/Cautions: None Suggested Classroom Use: A personal reflection of character to understand what has shaped the students into the values they have. Interview an adult and do a historical research report of societal influences and history of the person’s culture and climate to determine and understand how that person’s upbringing shaped them.

Grade level: 11 Title: Death of a Salesman Author: Arthur Miller Theme: Plot Summary: “Death of a Salesman” is a play written in 1949. This work won numerous awards including the Pulitzer Price, Critics Circle Award, Antoinette Perry Award, Theater Club Award, and the Front Page Award. This play revolves around Willy Loman and his family. It is a story of the complicated relationships between a father and his sons. The story captures the disillusionment of the characters when they do not meet the expectation set for one another. The play causes the reader to think and feel the emotions of the characters Concerns/Cautions: Profanity is peppered throughout the play. Profane words include hell, god dammit, bastard, and son of a bitch. Suggested Classroom Use:

Reading/Grade Level: 12 Title: Brave New World Author: Aldous Huxley Theme: Utopia, satire of society, questions society’s ideals and persona. Plot Summary: A futuristic novel that satirizes society by creating two extreme worlds of supposed perfection. New London is life at its peak where humans are genetically altered to fit their predestined station in life, thus, placing them in a state of ignorant bliss. The other civilization is society at its basest, where too much carnal knowledge and free will have eliminated any type of civilized living. John, “the savage,” serves as ------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 39 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels the mediator between the two worlds to reveal the satire of Huxley and serve as the symbol of our humanity. Cautions/concerns: Promiscuity, death, religion. The emotion is removed from all of these aspects in New London to show the importance of free will and knowledge because we must know pain to know pleasure or evil to know good. These adult themes can be overcome through mature discussion and contextual reference of the topics as used. Due to satire, the novel seems to promote the negative of the above, but in essence promotes nothing but good virtue in all three. Suggested classroom use: A classroom role play scenario in which the classroom structure would be put in New London format and experienced or an evaluation of today’s world as compared to the book to show how much of Huxley’s fictional creation has come true since he wrote it.

Reading Level: 6.7/ Grade Level: 12 Title: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Author: Maya Angelou Theme: Coming of age Plot Summary: Angelou’s autobiography of her transition from a child to a young woman talks about the challenges she faced, such as, emotional, verbal, and physical abuse growing up in a time of segregation, and being abandoned by her parents at a young age. She overcomes her challenges and pushes herself to succeed in a time when women were “supposed’ to be housewives and when African Americans were “supposed” to be ashamed of who they were. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an American classic, which has lost none of its power in the 30 years since it first appeared. Concerns/Cautions: language must be shown to be in historical context Suggested Classroom Uses(s): Issues to address: Family Issues, segregation, abuse. Author is contemporary and well-known.

Grade/Reading Level: 11th or 12th grade, 4.8 reading level Title: Night Author: Elie Wiesel Theme: This book chronicles the true and terrifying story of the author and his life as a Jew under the Nazis Plot Summary: Night is a first-person account of surviving the Nazi Holocaust. The narrative spans the years 1941-45 and recounts the atrocities committed against the European Jews by Hitler's regime. Wiesel vividly depicts the dehumanization of concentration camp inmates. He effectively recounts the details of life in the shadow of Hitler; the Holocaust experience is depicted as a nightmarish mix of absurdity and horror. Some key questions raised by the narrative are theological; for example, how can anyone continue to have faith in a deity in light of these horrors? Wiesel's story is stark and grim--very effective for his subject matter. The well-written text leads up to a truly haunting final image. Readers will learn about human cruelty and the human will to survive.

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 40 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Concerns/Cautions: Depictions of concentration camp conditions; death and harsh treatment. Suggested classroom use: Use in conjunction with American History when studying WW II; Discuss humanity, power, greed, responsibility, human will.

Title: Cue For Treason Author: Geoffry Trease Theme: Plot Summary: The novel is about the adventures of Peter Brownrigg, a young man in Shakespearean England. A powerful but evil landowner erected a wall that stretched onto Peter’s land, so he rallies his neighbors to tear down the wall. They are caught, and though Peter escapes he is now a wanted man. Running from the law, Peter hides out in a traveling acting troupe. There he meets Kit, a rather rude young man that makes his life miserable. The troupe travels to London and tries to find work at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. On the journey, Peter discovers that Kit is really Katherine, a young lady also hiding from a secret past. Keeping her secret, they become fast friends. In London, a stranger asks Peter to lend him Shakespeare's new play, Hamlet. Without thinking, Peter turns the play over. Kit tells Peter what a foolish thing he had done and warns that the man is going to rush the play into production and claim it as his own. The pair decides to go to the stranger’s house and take it back - before it's too late. Peter climbs to the man's window where he hears two men talking to each other. He waits until they are done, and sneaks inside. He finds the play and a strange sonnet. They return home and and notice some strange markings were made in the play copy. The sonnet also confused them. They did not understand what the sonnet meant, but they knew that something was terribly wrong. They then decide to show it to Sir Robert Cecil in London. He works for the queen as a one of her spies. Gaining the aid of Cecil and his friends, Peter and Kit investigate a plot to kill the Queen. Ultimately, the plot is foiled and the evil-doers arrested. The queen summons Peter and Kit to congratulate them on a job well done. She rewards them with grants of title for Kit and a permanent land grant for Peter. In the end the two main characters marry. Concerns: There is a death in the story (a minor character is found dead) but no graphic description of the act. Suggested classroom use: The book is remarkable in the way that it creates a living character out of Shakespeare, which is a handy ally to have. Though Shakespeare is not a major character, he is in the story and interacts with Kit and Peter throughout. The coverage of the time period and the Globe theater are very helpful for later studies of the real Shakespeare.

Reading Level: 12 Title: Frankenstein Author: Mary Shelley Theme: The book deals with several themes of hubris and cloning long before they were issues in mainstream America. Other more pertinent themes are family and the sense belonging. ------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 41 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004 Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels Plot Summary: A European doctor attempts to reanimate a being from nothing. The monster he creates struggles to identify with mankind. After a few years have passed where the monster has been on his own, he learns a to read and partially write. The monster sets out to ruin the life of his father by killing family members. The monster fluctuates between rage and appreciation for his, "father", creator. Once hearing that the monster is around his "father" seeks him out to try and speak with him to tell the truth behind his existence. It fails and both creator and monster vow to seek out and destroy the other for what they have done. The novel is a classic Concerns: None to speak of. The novel is not graphic, is not sacrilegious, and is not in any way presented in an ambiguous way. The novel is easily read and the language keeps students interested and informed throughout the novel. Suggested classroom use: The novel can be tied into several other themes to teach. Cloning, creation, family ties, relationships, fitting in, and being alone in the world. The novel could be taught along with a science class on biology. Though it was written in 1816, the novel withstands all criticism and is truly a masterpiece of literature.

Reading Level: Grades 9-12 Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray Author: Oscar Wilde Theme: The effects of negative human behavior, predominantly evil and ill-natured behavior. Explores the consequences of actions of youth’s invincibility way of thinking. Plot Summary: A youth Dorian Gray makes a pact in which he captures eternal youth because his destructive behaviors do not show on his physical features, but rather are captured in a portrait of him. This grants the youth the ability to continue his reckless abandon without consequence…at least he thinks. Concerns: Perhaps supernatural aspect of the picture aging and not him, but this serves not as a glorification of the supernatural but as a literary tool to express a truth about human nature. Suggested Classroom Use: Creative writing based on a moral tale. A comparison/contrast of the sinning and guilt themes of The Scarlet Letter and this text.

------*Class sets and teacher resources available from the Book Depository Page 42 Numbers preceding titles indicate reading levels February 2004

Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels K-1, *Clifford (*2.0 Clifford the Big Red Dog) *Frog & Toad Series (*2.4 Frog and Toad Are Friends)

Board of Education USD #287 West Franklin Approved Novels K-1, Clifford (2.0 Clifford the Big Red Dog) Frog & Toad Series (2.4 Frog and Toad Are Friends)