'Children's' books and Young Adult Literature
Forums:
Hi folks,
So, I teach 6th through 8th Grade at a bilingual school here in Chile, which means I've been diving pretty heavily into modern Children's and Young Adult Literature, and I gotta say, I am seriously impressed with what I am reading. So many beautiful works coming out. It seems like there's so much output these days that it's really hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. A couple of really good recommendations for you or your kids:
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce: for 5th or 6th Graders, a funny and entertaining story of a boy who's always getting into 'bad' situations because he looks bigger than his age. The book ultimately ends up being a beautiful reflection on fatherhood and what it means to be a child today. Hysterical, well written, I highly recommend it.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: For 7th Graders or so, a book about a 2 year old whose family is murdered by some mysterious organization and is then adopted by ghosts in a graveyard. The book is like 8 short stories tied around one central narrative, about the boy's experiences growing up in this weird context. A beautiful story, at times mythical, or gothic or weird and delightful. I walked away from this one really feeling thoughtful and impressed by how the author left us with a protagonist ending that doesn't exactly satisfy the readers' desires, but makes the story more interesting as a whole.
These books are sort of for the ages I mentioned, but really, they're fun for any age, except maybe kids that are too young.
Any recommendations in these general categories of Literature? I'm off to England for three weeks on Sunday, but I'll try to stop by frequently and see what's going on.
:)
- Log in to post comments
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: That’s Nancy with the laughin’ face
Check out authors Anthony
Check out authors Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider adventures) and Eric Colfer (Artemis Fowl series)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Imagine
Excellent topic, Jav.
Excellent topic, Jav. Unfortunately I have nothing to share; I haven't read the anything but Dutch children's and young adult books.
Last English books in the genres that I've read were the Potters and the Hunger Games series.
I'll certainly check these out, though. I'm dying to see Gaiman's grammar in this one.
Thanks!
And if you're around Rotterdam, please stop in!
all the best
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sound and Vision
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Fingers on the
If you dig the style and flow
If you dig the style and flow of Elmore Leonard, track down his "A Coyote's In The House".
When it was "big boy" story time for my kids, that's the one they always wanted to hear.
Other pre-high school stuff they liked was Rick Riordan's The Heroes of Olympus series, John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series, James Dashner's Maze Runner series and Catherine Fisher's Relic Master series.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Tim
Fear and Loathing
Fear and Loathing
Kids love Gonzo journalism
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sound and Vision
I had a super cool high
I had a super cool high school English teacher. One semester I took journalism and we covered Gonzo journalism. His name was Mr. Hendee and he was also a deadhead.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sound and Vision
9-12 years juvenile
9-12 years juvenile nonfiction. The Who was series. Who was Albert Einstein? Who was Benjamin Franklin? Who was Abraham Lincoln? etc.
8-12 years historical fiction. I Survived series.
https://www.amazon.com/I-Survived-10-Book-Series/dp/B00VZIEM82
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
Carl Hiaasen has written a
Carl Hiaasen has written a handful of YA books.
Haven't read any, but I might check out one, since he used one of his more colorful characters from his novels in the first (I think) YA book.
While I'm at it, check out his latest, Assume The Worst: The Graduation Speech You'll Never Hear.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Briank
Hiassin’s Books were okay.
Hiassin’s Books were okay.
I like to go with the theme of racism, prejudice and stereotypes.
Start with the classic, The Cay, by Theodore Taylor. Although it’s on the younger side, as a result of Timothy’s pigeon English it has a pretty high Lexile level. It’s also just a great fucking book.
Within that theme, another great one is Alabama Moon, by Watt Key. It’s also a great book. I’ve never had a student dislike it.
After that, move on to The Outsiders, again within the theme.
It’s a really cool progression because the theme is the same, but the story lines and language in that progression of books becomes increasingly more complex.
There are also movies for all 3, and it’s really cool to compare the books to the movies.
I’ve introduced Fear and Loathing to quite a few adult learners, and at least 6 of them will say that it’s the first book that they have ever picked up and finished on their own. It shows that literature can be fun and fucked up.
Back to YA lit:
The Hunger Games
The Giver
Wonder
Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
Stay gold, Ponyboy.
Stay gold, Ponyboy.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
Neverending Story.
Neverending Story.
I never went for this one as a child; by the time it was translated from German I was already onto Tolkien and the like. didnt really look twice at this story, even after the movie came out. Picked up a nice 1st ed a bit ago and loved it. Great story, very psychedelic
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: That’s Nancy with the laughin’ face
>The Giver
>The Giver
and Holes. Our kid had an amazing middle school teacher. Dr D also authored some books about Saladin and gave them an appreciation of international literature/religion/art
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Andean Flight
Wow! This thread is great,
Wow! This thread is great, thanks everyone for the wonderful recommendations. I definitely have lots of good names to look up that I hadn't heard of before. I think I'll hold off on the Gonzo Journalism with my 7th graders
But yeah, I like it.
I'm actually reading The Giver with my 8th Graders right now, and really enjoying it. We had this killer discussion today about what it means to be free, whether they are free or not, if freedom is or isn't an essential human characteristic, what are rights, etc. I'm leaving for three weeks on a school trip with the 7th Grade so it was great to wrap up my part of this unit with them on such a fun note. Their homework for when we see each other again (not till after Spring break, late September) was to think about the question: What is freedom? I've also heard of the Artemis Fowl series, but I've never read any. Going to have to take a look at that as well.
And I'm reading Holes with my 7th Graders next unit, October and November. I've never taught it before but I'm looking forward to it.
I read the first book of The Hunger Games with my 9th Graders several years ago, definitely a fun read in the dystopian literature genre.I know last year they taught Wonder, also, to the 7th or 8th Graders, but I was teaching 5th and 6th. It's not on the syllabus now, for some reason.
4Winds, those series you recommend look great and really fun, too. So many great new authors and titles to look into.
I never even knew that The Neverending Story was an actual book! That's great, I'm definitely going to have to get a hold of that!
"And if you're around Rotterdam, please stop in!"
You know it, Floops, wouldn't miss it! :) All the best to you as well!
Thanks again to everyone for the great recommendations! Keep 'em coming! :)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
Steve Parrish's Book "Home
Steve Parrish's Book "Home Before Daylight" is a great read for kids 10 and under.
The "Official Book of Dead Heads" is mostly pictures so that great for folks from California & kids 10 & under.
There's plenty of 2018 books on how to grow weed properly. Kids now need to get a jump on that.
Any coffee table book, just to roll joints on.
The New Testament +
Maps