Beloved

Bibliographic Info: Morrison, T. (2004, Reprint). Beloved. New York City, New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

Annotation: An extremely gripping and emotional story of an African-American slave, Margaret, who escaped slavery only to be hunted down again. Margaret chooses to do the unimaginable to try to save her children from the life of slavery. The story continues as her daughter, Beloved, returns to haunt the place where unspeakable things happened to her.

Genre: Postmodern Literature

Grade Level: 11-12th grade (depending on maturity)

Readers who will like this book: Those who understand the horrors of slavery and have the maturity level and understanding to fully comprehend this book.

Personal response: Beloved is a remarkably written piece of literature that stirs the heart and soul in intense ways. I wouldn't say it is an "easy" read, but it is easy to get wrapped up and carried away in the characters. It is a true representation of the lives some women must have faced and that alone gives this book so much power. I would rate the writing as a 4.

A question you would ask before reading/assigning: Are you aware of the suffering slaves were faced with?

Reading Strategies Connection:
a.) Literature Map
b.) Literature maps provide a means for responding to the text while reading. They are usually made of four sections, each section labeled with a different category. Some examples would be; vocabulary, questions, imagery, reactions... Although these categories are generally designated by the teacher, students may be able to create their own if it is relevant to the book. After the readers maps are completed (by either reading a few select chapters per map or the book as a whole) they are shared with the class. This strategy allows students to become more actively involved with the reading and creates creative thinking and questioning.
c.) Since Beloved is a very intense book, the literature map can help children reflect on what they are reading and bring ideas, questions and thoughts together as a whole class or group. Students are challenged to critically think about the book at a deep level and are able to share reactions as well. This may help readers get through such an emotionally difficult book if they are able to express how they feel and ask for clarifications.

The Catcher in the Rye

Bibliographic Information: Salinger, J.D. (1991). The Catcher in the Rye. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Brief Annotation: In this coming of age story, Holden Caulfield leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and heads to New York City, in search of life, love and sex. A poet by nature, he hangs onto his pain, keeping it to himself.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: 9-12

Readers who will like this book: Teenagers and young adults who like a somewhat spunky narrator, and are searching for their true selves.

Rating/Response: 2 out of 4. I had read this book many years ago, and was hoping to appreciate it more as an adult, however, I found it dry and boring. (Maybe I waited too long to reread it?)

One question I would ask before a read aloud: How do we discover who we truly are? (And after: What could Holden have done differently to improve his situation?)

The Stupids Die

Bibliographic Information: Allard, H. (1981). The Stupids Die. Illus. James Marshall. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Brief Annotation: The Stupids experience a power outage while watching TV and thought they had all died and gone to heaven. It wasn't until Grandfather Stupid came for a visit that the stupids realize they are still in their very own living room.

Genre: Picture Book

Grade Level: K-3
Readers who will like this: Anyone who needs a good laugh.

Response/Rating (1-4): 3, Although this was a funny book that pokes fun at societal norms, I don't think it would be appropriate for all ages. I felt like the humor would be better understood by adults or mature audiences.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: How many of you have heard about the Stupids?

And Tango Makes Three

1. And Tango Makes Three

2. Richardson, J., Parnell, P. (2005) And Tango Makes Three Illus. Henry Cole. New York, New York Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

3. This is the true story of two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo that raise Tango, who could not be cared for by his biological parents.

4. Non-fiction Picturebook

5. Suggested K-2 (banned because not appropriate for this range)

6. Readers who will like this book would be children who come from non traditional family situations. Also, any child that loves animals.

7. I really enjoyed this story and the fact that it is a true story. I like that the book shows that not all things in nature relate in the ways that have been traditionally expected. The society, and what is acceptable, is changing and this book can help open eyes to new ways of thinking. I give this book a 4!

8. Have you been to the zoo? Have you seen baby animals?

I know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Angelou, M. (1993). I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. New York, New York: Random House, Inc.

Brief Annotation: This is a novel about Maya and her life of being moved from home to home when her parents divorced when she was a child. She lived with her grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas where she discusses her experience with the segregation of blacks and whites and then she shortly lives with her mother in St. Louis, Missouri where she is sexually abused and raped by her mother's boyfriend. This book is fascinating and captivating.
Genre: Novel; Memoir
Grade Level: 9th-12th
Readers who would like this: Mature adults that are looking for insight through someone's struggles and life story.
Response/Rating: I give this book a 3. I felt that there was a sound story to be told and it was very insightful. I do, however, feel that from a teacher's standpoint it would be very hard to fit this into course curriculum as this book is meant for a mature audience that has experienced more in life.
Question: Has anyone ever felt empowered to stand-up and go against the odds?

Flashcards of My Life: A Novel

Bibliographic Information: Harper, C. M. (2006). Flashcards of my life. New York, New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Annotation: The author uses a journal style text to tell the story of Emily, a young girl in high school. Emily is given a set of flashcards that ask about certain events in her life that are shared with the reader as well as her personal journal entries accompanied with illustrations she has drawn herself.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: Middle School or higher

Readers Who Will Like This Book: Young girls ages 10-16

Personal Response and Rating: I rate this book a 3. Remembering how I felt and what I experienced at that age were accurately depicted in the book without being sensationalized or over dramatized. The language is easy to follow and the characters are realistically flawed.

Prereading Question: What would you choose to write in your personal journal?

Reading Strategies Connection:

A. Reading Strategy - Character web

B. Description of Strategy - Students create a web for characters in the book by identifying traits and supporting their choices with examples from the text.

C. Rationale - There are quite a few characters in the book that seem to play a significant role in the protagonist's life. By creating a story web, students will be able to make connections between the protagonist and supporting characters as well as gain a deeper understanding of the interactions between these characters and how the protagonist's life is effected by them.