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Final Thoughts

This course in Young Adult literature has really helped me see what is available to work on with my students. They love to read literature written for them and to be able to read them in class helps a lot. There are a lot of books that I look forward to reading now over the summer. 

Using diverse literature genres with students is incredibly important as well. They need to see what is out there to be able to form an opinion on reading and be able to grow in skills. I know I will use the different genres often and I expect to be looking back on this blog for good ideas for classes. 

I also can’t wait to try some of the activities in my own classroom. Working on so many different texts allowed me to make a diverse selection of activities that students will be interested in.

Overall this class was great. Thank you, Dr. Moeller.

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Graphic Novels/Comics

Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams.

This graphic novel tells the story of Cece Bell, who at the age of 4 lost her hearing from meningitis. She wears a large hearing aid device strapped to her chest which makes fitting in at school very difficult. The themes addressed in this book are effects of the past, family, fear, friendship, perseverance, prejudice, and the overlooked. The Lexile level is not assessed but Amazon rates it grade 3-7.

Chmakova, S. (2015). Awkward. New York, NY: Yen Press. 

Penelope - Peppi - Torres begins 6th grade in this graphic novel about the hardships and awkwardness of middle school. The themes addressed in this novel are coming of age, family, friendship, and peer pressure. The Lexile level is 280 which makes it accessible for all students. 

Prince, L. (2014). Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir. New York, NY: Zest Books.

This graphic novel is the memoir of Liz Prince. They have been a tomboy their entire life and in this book, they address the complicating world of gender identity and expression. The themes in this novel are coming of age, family, fear, friendship, honesty, peer pressure, perseverance, and the overlooked. It does not have a lexile level.

Telgemeier, R. (2016). Ghosts. New York, NY: GRAPHIX.

Catrina and her family are moving north from southern California because her little sister Maya is sick and has Cystic Fibrosis. They explore their new home and find out there are ghosts in their town that, with her sister, she must reunite with their loved ones.The Themes in this graphic novel are family, fear, courage, love, and loyalty. The Lexile Level is 300 making it accessible to all students. 

Vivat, B. (2016). Frazzled: Everyday Disasters and Impending Doom. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Abbie Wu feels as if she does not fit in with the rest of her family. She is the middle child and according to her, the middle of anything is always the worst, so starting Middle School is the worst possible thing to happen. The themes addressed in this book are family, coming of age, parent-child relationships, friendship, and the overlooked. The Lexile level on this book is not yet rated, however it was rated grade 3-6 by Amazon. 

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Multicultural/Diversity/Identity

Alexie, S. (2007). The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York, NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

This book is the “diary” of a Native American teen who must leave the reservation to go to school. He must face issues of identity as he deals with racism at school and the poverty his family lives with at home. The lexile level is 600L making this great for any student 6th grade and up. The themes addressed in this story are: Prejudice, Family, and Coming of Age

Coelho, P. (1988). The Alchemist. New York: Harper Torch.

This story is about finding your identity. It was a Guinness world record holder for being translated into more languages than any other book. It focuses on the character Santiago who is an Andalusian shepherd boy who wishes to find the world’s treasure after having what he believes to be a prophetic dream. The book follows him on his quest to find the treasure and meeting different people. The Lexile level of this book is 910L which is good for students 8th grade and above. The themes addressed in this story are courage, faith, fate, fear of failure, friendship, perseverance, and quest for knowledge.

Lahiri, J. (2008). The Namesake. New York, NY: Paw Prints.

This story is about an Indian-American boy who learns from his family and the people around him what the significance of his name is. The Lexile level of this book is 1210L which makes this book good for high school students. The themes addressed in this book are family, heritage, and quest for knowledge.

Renolds, J. & Kieley, B. (2015). All American Boys. New York, NY: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books.

This book focuses on two main characters: Rashad and Quinn Collins. Rashad becomes the victim of police brutality brought on him by Quinn’s father. They both must deal with the repercussions and what it means to be black in America. It’s Lexile level is HL770L, good for any grade in secondary schools. The themes addressed are Courage, Identity, Fear, Prejudice, Family.

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown Girl Dreaming. New York, NY: Nancy Paulsen Books.

In this collection of poetry, Woodson shows what it was like to grow up African American in the south during the civil rights era. The Lexile level is 990. This is good for older students in 8th grade and above. The themes are Prejudice, Coming of Age, Identity.

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This week we looked at magazines for teens

I found that there is a very limited amount of magazines still being written for teens. From those I chose a few good articles for schools to read in class. Bellamkee. (2017, April). The importance of failure. TeenInk, April 2017 Issue. Retrieved from http://www.teenink.com/college_guide/college_articles/article/936840/The-Importance-of-Failure/ In this article, the author writes about why it is important to make mistakes and not compare oneself to others. The universal themes in this article are ear of failure and peer pressure. Drouillard, C. (2017, March). What to do when someone you love is going into the military. Girls’ Life Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.girlslife.com/life/tough-stuff/30940/what-to-do-when-someone-you-love-is-going-into-the-military This article gives advice for those who know someone who is going into the military. This is a good resource for students and a good talking point when discussing books about the military and military families. The universal themes in this article are family, fear, heroes, and parent-child relationships. Koman, T. (2017, March). An undocumented college student is getting death threats on facebook after sharing her tax bill. Seventeen Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.seventeen.com/life/real-girl-stories/news/a46035/belen-sisa-undocumented-immigrant-taxes-facebook-post/ In this article, Tessa Koman writes about Belén Sisa, an undocumented immigrant who, after sharing her tax bill (which shows she paid $300 in taxes even though she cannot benefit from them) is receiving death threats and threats to have her deported. The universal themes in this article are corruption, fear, freedom, hate, innocence, prejudice, security/safety, and survival. Linehan, M. (2017, March). University of North Dakota cuts women’s hockey program: Find out why the University of North Dakota cut their women’s hockey team and how players and fans are reacting. Teen Vogue. Accessed by http://www.teenvogue.com/story/north-dakota-cuts-womens-hockey This article talks about the University of North Dakota Women’s Hockey Program which was cut from the school this past March. Their team was not struggling, though it was not the best team in the country it was far from the worst. The article gives further information on why it was disbanded and what the implications are for the former team members and staff and the school itself. The universal themes in this article are fall from grace, quest for knowledge, secrecy, winners and losers, and the overlooked.  Melby, L. (2017, March). What it’s like to leave home at 15 to pursue your career – 10,000 miles away. Seventeen Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.seventeen.com/author/1580/leah-melby/ This article is a person study of Zoe Cavedon, a 15 year old ballet dancer who left her home and school behind to pursue her dream of dancing. The universal themes in this article are courage, coming of age, fear of failure, parent-child relationships, perseverance, and seizing the moment.  Pesta, A. (2016, July). Texas passes campus-carry laws, along with 8 other states: Here's what students really think about it. Teen Vogue. Accessed by http://www.teenvogue.com/story/nine-states-pass-campus-carry-laws-texas This article talks about the U.S. universities that have passed campus-carry laws and what students actually have to say about this. Opinions were given on both sides by different students, one student they spoke to was actually a survivor of the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech. The universal themes in this article are effects of the past, fear, freedom, justice, security/safety, and survival.  Tarlton, A. (2017, March). Why this high school doesn't have *any* mirrors. Girls’ Life Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.girlslife.com/fitness/wellness/30939/why-this-high-school-doesnt-have-any-mirrors This article talks about why one school in California chose to remove the mirrors in their bathrooms. The focus in this article is on self image and the negative thoughts that are often present within teen and pre-teen minds. The universal themes in this article are beauty, peer pressure, coming of age, innocence, and need for change. 

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This week’s topic is Biographies. If you are interested in the above titles you can check out my annotated bibliography below.

Biles, S. 2016. Courage to soar: A body in motion, a life in balance. New York, NY: Zondervan.

               This book tells about the life of US Olympic gymnast, Simone Biles. Biles won 19 medals (fourteen of them gold) though there is much more to her than these medals. This book tells about her and the struggles she has overcome. This is a great book to show the diversity of successful girls/women in the United States. It deals with the universal themes of beating the odds, family, friendship, and pride. At a Lexile level of 990L, this book is great for students who are in the 8th-9th grade range.

Bitton-Jackson, L. 1999. I have lived a thousand years: Growing up in the holocaust. New York, NY: Simon Pulse.

               This book was written by a woman who was thirteen when the Nazi’s invaded her home country, Hungary. She describes in this book how her life was changed by this invasion and the horrors of Auschwitz where she was sent. This book has the universal themes of courage, abuse of power, fear, and survival. At a Lexile level of 720L it is suitable for students in middle school and above.

Howell, D. & Lester, P. 2015. The amazing book is not on fire: The world of Dan and Phil. New York, NY: Random House Books for Young Readers.

               From the creators of the YouTube channels danisnotonfire and AmazingPhil, comes the autobiography of their lives as internet stars. This book will appeal to many students who are interested in YouTube stars. The themes in the book include friendship, family, honesty, quest for knowledge, and seizing the moment. At a Lexile level of 950L it is best suited for students between 8th and 10th grade.

Jiang, J. 2004. Red scarf girl: A memoir of the Cultural Revolution. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

               This autobiography is a true story of how Ji-Li Jiang tried everything she could to keep her family together through the Cultural Revolution in Communist China. Themes in this book include family, fear, heritage, love, loyalty, and survival. At a Lexile Level of 780L it is suitable for students in 6th grade and above.

Sheff, N. 2009. Tweak: Growing up on methamphetamines. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

               This is the autobiography of Nic Sheff who became addicted to alcohol and drugs early in his life. He writes in a raw and honest way to tell young adults about how his life spun out of control and to help them see the path that they do not want to go down. Ultimately the book is hopeful rather than depressing and is a great book to read with at-risk teens. The themes in this book are corruption, effects of the past, fall from grace, need for change, survival and peer pressure. At a Lexile level of 770L it is suitable for students in 6th-8th grade, however, due to the topics, it is best for older grades.

St. George, J. 2016. The duel: The parallel lives of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. New York, NY: Speak.

               This book outlines the lives of both Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr and sets them in a parallel analysis. This book is becoming more popular with the popularity of the Hamilton musical. Its themes are action vs. apathy, effects of the past, freedom, manipulation, and revenge. At a Lexile level of 1040L it is best suited for students in high school.

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This week looked at poetry, short stories and drama for young adults. Here are a few I found as good examples to use in a classroom. 

Dahl, R. (1984). Roald Dahl’s book of ghost stories. New York: NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

As a book of ghost stories, the theme is clearly fear. Students will love reading these creepy and scary stories especially if read around Halloween. It is recommended for ages 7 and up though it has not been assigned a Lexile Level.

Herrera, J. F. (Ed.). Cinnamon girl: Letters found inside a cereal box. New York, NY: Harperteen.

Set in New York City’s Lower East Side in the wake of 9/11, Yolanda (the cinnamon girl) believes that if she can collect dust from the Twin Towers and return it to ground zero she will be able to put the spirits of the dead to rest. She deals with troubles from her uncle who cannot function after 9/11 as well as issues from past traumas in her life. This book of poetry introduces the themes of courage, effect of the past, family, hate, peace, and security/safety. It has not been given a lexile level.

Nashai, A. (2008). School girl: Poetry of a pre and post adolescent. New York, NY: Anarda Nashai.

Through a multitude of poetic styles, Nashai illustrates the heart and mind of a school girl dealing with common problems of adolescence (puberty, dating, family conflicts). There are many themes covered in this book of poetry including coming of age, peer presure, family, friendship and beauty. It has not been assigned a lexile level, however, it is not suitable for children under the age of 13 due to the nature of some of the poems.

Paschen, E & Raccah, D. (2010). Poetry speaks who I am: Poems of discovery, inspiration, independence, and everything else (A poetry speaks experience). Chicago, IL: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.

Through a collection of 100 poems, this book provides young adults poetry that they can see themselves reflected in as they read them. They have many themes including but not limited to courage, faith, fear, pride, peace, obligation, love, hate, and greed. It has not been given a lexile level but has been given an age range of 12-16 years old.

Perkins-Hasuka, C & Hazuka, T. (2011). Sudden flash youth: 65 short-short stories. New York, NY: Persea.

For those reluctant readers in any classroom, these “short-short stories” are perfect for getting them interested and involved. The themes explored include coming of age, fear, family, and courage. It has not been assigned a lexile level.

Sones, S. (Ed.). (2016). Stop pretending: What happened when my big sister went crazy. New York, NY: Harperteen.

This book of poetry from author Sonya Sones explores the themes of family, fear and mental illness through poems about her adolescence when her sister was diagnosed with Manic Depression and the family was torn apart. This is a good book to read in schools as it deals with issues that many people face in their lives and allows time for the class to talk about mental illness. This book has not been given a Lexile level.

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This week’s topic is Historical Fiction. As a child, I hated diary style books and true history books like biographies, however, I loved historical fiction books. My favorite historical fiction author was Ann Rinaldi though I did not include her in this following list. I would recommend any of her books though I haven’t read any of the newer ones. If you would like to see what the featured books are all about you can check out the annotated bibliography attached here. 

Boyne, & John. (2017). The Boy at the Top of the Mountain. New York, NY: Turtleback Books. 

From the author of The Boy In the Striped Pajamas, The Boy at the Top of the Mountain is the story of an orphan boy who is sent to live with his aunt in World War II Germany. Through a series of events, he ends up living in the home of Adolf Hitler, to whom his aunt is a maid. This book deals with courage, survival, effects of the past, justice, war, and abundance/scarcity. At a reading level of 970 it is certainly easier to read than The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Most secondary students could read this book easily.

Curry, J. L. (2005). The black canary. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Children's Pub.

When James, a twelve-year-old biracial boy, finds himself transported to the past he must use his gift for music which he had always repressed to keep himself safe from harm. This book focuses on the themes of family, parent-child relationships, and effects of the past. The Lexile level is 1020 which makes it perfect for most secondary education students.

Engle, M., & Recorded Books, Inc. (2015). Hurricane dancers: The first caribbean pirate shipwreck. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company (BYR.

This book chronicles the story of a boy who is half indigenous and half Spanish who was stolen away and forced to work on pirate ships. When he is shipwrecked and the only survivor, he finds his way back to society and ends up being the one person to decide the fate of the people who captured him. This book is great for middle school and higher students as it has a Lexile level of 1170. The themes covered in this book are corruption, courage, fear, freedom, greed, hate, justice, survival, and security/safety.

Levine, K. (2014). The best bad luck i ever had. New York, NY: Puffin Books. 

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had is the story of two children who meet and though they are of different races and it is the 1910s. Emma is black and Harry is white but when they become friends they find themselves looking at the inequalities around them and when a black barber is put on trial they decide to try and save him. The themes in this book are courage, heroes, prejudice, and the overlooked. The Lexile level of 680 makes it a good book for low level readers and in secondary levels it would be good for sixth grade students.

Smith, S. L. (2010). Flygirl. New York, NY: Speak. 

Flygirl is the story of Ida Mae Jones, a black girl in 1940's Louisiana. She dreams of flying airplanes like her father though she is not allowed to. She passes for a white woman and joins WASP during World War II, allowing her to live out her dreams but the drama does not stop there. As she flies for WASP she confronts her views on family and truth and must make her final decision on whether she can hide her heritage or not. The main themes in this book are discrimination, family, honesty, secrecy, and perseverance. The book would appeal to a wide range of children and based on its Lexile level of HL680, this book would be good for both younger readers or older readers who struggle a little bit.

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This week for class we created our own Storyboards. For mine I chose the Book Thief to rework as a storyboard. As it is a free trial I had to complete it within 6 blocks but I think it worked pretty well. I hope you like it.

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This week the topic is Adventure/Mystery/Humor. These books are bound to keep your attention while reading. If you are interested in what these books featured above are about you can take a look at my annotated bibliography below.

Carroll, M. O. (2011). Super human. New York: Speak.

This book is about a group of young heroes coming into their powers who must save the world from an ancient super human/immortal being who wishes to enslave the world. This book fits the themes of coming of age, perseverance, and survival as well as others. At a lexile level of 690L this book is good for most secondary grade students and the topic is likely to appeal to many students as well.

Cabot, M. (2000). The princess diaries. (The Princess diaries, v.1.). New York: HarperCollins.

This book is a favorite of many teens and has been adapted into a movie series as well by Disney. The story focuses on a girl who while dealing with the awkwardness of coming of age, finds out that she is heir apparent to the throne of Genovia, a small country in Europe. This book deals with the universal themes of parent-child relationships, coming of age, and fear of failure among many others. At a lexile level of 920L this book is good for students around grades 9 and 10 which also corresponds with the age of the protagonist of the story.

Fisher, C. (2007). Incarceron. London: Hodder Children's.

In this book, two characters find each other in an unusual way: through communication via magic key. One is in the outside world, the daughter of the overseer of the Incarceron, while the other is a descendant of the original prisoners. The characters in this book face questions of courage and authority. This book could easily be used to talk about the universal themes of power of the mind vs authority and manipulation. At a lexile level of HL600L it is well suited for students in the middle school grades.

Grahame-Smith, S., & Austen, J. (2009). Pride and prejudice and zombies. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books.

Many students today are not interested in classic literature like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, however thanks to Seth Grahame-Smith students can now experience the story with an added twist: Zombies! This will definitely catch the interest of some more reluctant readers and will still show the universal themes that Pride and Prejudice had of coming of age, beauty, and fate. At a lexile level of 1070 it is around the same level as the original text and will therefore still pose the same complexity.

Kaling, M. (2013). Is everyone hanging out without me?: (and other concerns). Ebury Press.

In this book, comedic actor/writer Mindy Kaling talks about her views on family, friendship, love, and life through humor. This book can be in many different categories of universal themes because as a memoir, it focuses on many events in her life. Most talked about in her book would be parent-child relationships, friendship, and winners and losers. This is a great book for reluctant readers as they will be able to see themselves in her humor in ways they may not in other books. At a lexile level of 1010L however it is a tough read for most students below an 11th grade reading level.

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This week I am looking at non-fiction texts for young adult readers. This is an important genre in today’s classroom as the CCSS moves towards mostly non-fiction texts by 12th grade. If you are interested in checking out any of these books you can take a look at the annotated bibliography below to read more about them.

Angelou, M., & Winfrey, O. (2015). I know why the caged bird sings. New York: Random House.

This book is the autobiography of Maya Angelou. She is a great writer to study in class and her fiction writing is no better than her non-fiction writing. She uses metaphors and other great figurative language throughout her writing which makes this book very worthwhile to read as a class. The lexile level on this book is 1070 which corresponds with the 8-12 grade levels. This book may be difficult to read with younger students because of the serious nature of the book, however if a class is mature enough to handle such topics it would be great to use in the lower (7/8) grades.

Cronn-Mills, K. (2015). Transgender lives: complex stories, complex voices. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books.

This book is a compilation of autobiographical stories from transgender individuals about what it means to be transgender in America and what challenges they have faced. This book may be hard to approach with younger students and may not be allowed in some schools because of the controversial nature (at least not allowed in middle schools most likely). The lexile level on this book is 1160 so it definitely is too difficult for many younger students but should be just right for students who are in their last 2 or 3 years of high school.

Pelzer, D. J. (1995). A child called "it": an abused child's journey from victim to victor. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications.

This book is an autobiography of Dave Pelzer and is an account of one of the worst child abuse cases California has ever seen. This book is great for discussions on resilience and abuse. The lexile level of this book is 850 so with help it could be read in middle school though the topic would likely be too heavy for most students that age.

Wiesel, E., Mauriac, F., & Rodway, S. (1969). Night. New York: Avon Books.

Night is the story of a Jewish youth from Germany sent to the concentration camp Auschwitz during the Holocaust. This story can be very difficult for younger readers, however is a great for teaching them about the past and about the use of language. The lexile level is 570 because the words used in it are not difficult however the choice language and the topics he writes about are hard to understand.

Yousafzai, M., & Lamb, C. (2015). I am Malala: the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban. Back Bay Books.

This book tells about the childhood and early adolescence of Malala Yousafzai, an activist fighting for equal education in Pakistan and around the world. Using this book, students can discuss world politics, activism, and the right to education. The lexile level of this book is 1000 so the grade levels are approximately 9-12 though the great thing with this book is that it has a young reader's edition that has a lower lexile level.

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Contemporary/Classic Young Adult Fiction

This week, my focus is on the broad topic of contemporary and classic YA fiction. This category covers most YA fiction and provides a wealth of options to choose between. Each of the books shown above are in the Contemporary/Classic genre and could be/have been used in schools around the country. If you are interested in checking out any of these great books you can check out my annotated bibliography below. 

Barry, D., Pearson, R., & Call, G. (2004). Peter and the Starcatchers. New         York: Disney Editions/Hyperion Books for Children.

This book is an adaptation of the classic story of Peter Pan. It takes the reader on a journey to save the world and Peter and his boys who were placed on a ship to be servants to an evil king. 

This book is great for classes in secondary grades because it both sparks debate on the effect of adaptations and is an interesting read for students who are disengaged with the classic literature they read regularly in school. The Lexile Level on this book is 770L which corresponds with a mid-year 6th grade level, the beginning of secondary school grades meaning most students but middle and high school will be able to read this book easily. 

Mikaelsen, B. (2001). Touching Spirit Bear. New York: HarperCollins .

This novel focuses on the themes of self discovery, reconciliation and the wilderness. The main character finds himself banished to an island for a year to survive on his own where he meets "Spirit Bear" and learns to overcome his anger. 

This book is great for discussing emotions and crime and punishment as well as discussions of metaphors and figurative language. The reading level of this book is 670L meaning it is relatively easy to access for students reading at or above grade level as long as it is read in or after 5th grade.

Smith, B. (1943). A tree grows in Brooklyn: a novel. New York: Harper & Bros.

This novel portrays the life of Francie, an 11-year old girl living in Brooklyn with her Irish-Immigrant family. The issues addressed in this book include immigration, education, gender, and adolescence. 

It is a great book for teens, however the language can be difficult to understand and the book itself is long which leaves many students unable to access the book easily. The Lexile Level is 810 which means that if read in class it is best kept until high school when most students should be around that level.

Steinbeck, J. (1947). The pearl. New York: Viking Press.

In this classic novel, a parable as noted by Steinbeck, we see a family of Mexican native whose son is stung by a scorpion. In order to save his son, the main character dives for pearls and finds a huge pearl. It only brings them bad luck tough as people begin to attack their house to try and steal it and eventually attack the family themselves, ultimately killing Coyotito. 

This book allows discussion about the parable genre, the topic of race and discrimination as well as poverty and luck. It is short and though the language can be challenging, it ranks at 1000L, the story is simple allowing all students to understand it as long as they are assisted with the language by their teachers. 

Zusak, M. (2006). The book thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

This novel, narrated by death, follows the adolescent years of Liesel Meminger, a German orphan during World War II whose adopted family harbors a Jewish man in their basement. T

his book is great for sparking conversation and talking about history. Many real events are mentioned in this novel and most students find the novel interesting and enjoyable. With a lexile level of 730L it is perfect for students 6th grade and up who are reading on or above grade level. 

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Literacy Memories

My mom was definitely one of the biggest influences in my love of reading. In elementary school she would always buy me books she thought I would like and over the summer she would tell me I had to read at least 2 books from my summer reading list (even though the readings were optional). I don’t remember what kinds of books we read in upper elementary school but I know as I hit middle school I began to hate school curriculum books. 

In seventh grade I remember reading The Giver, Ryan White: My Own Story, and Waiting for the Rain. I loved reading The Giver but I remember hating everything else we read that year including Ryan White: My Own Story. I was never a big fan of non-fiction despite the fact that I did love science and history - I’m not really sure what it was that turned me off of non-fiction writing but my disdain for it stay with me for most of my secondary school years. 

 In eighth grade I found out that we were going to read The Outsiders and I decided that I was going to buy my own copy of the book and read it before the class to see if I would like it. I loved it and it became one of my favorite books, yet when we read it in class I remember feeling bored and not interested in the discussions we had which revolved mostly around the plot of the book and the movie adaptation. 

Throughout these years, even though I was not interested in what we read in school, I was a voracious reader. I always had a book with me no matter where I was and I would read late into the night. I remember my mother always coming into my room at night to tell me that it was too late to be reading and I needed to turn off the light - something she found funny since neither she nor my sisters ever would’ve stayed up late simply to read a good book. I always loved the science-fiction/fantasy genre though there are a lot of books I haven’t read that are classics. I became hooked on Harry Potter in middle school and my love of that became a driving force behind my activities and friendships and allowed me to be a part of another great social group of caring people. 

In high school I realized that reading and writing were my favorite things to do in school. It was then I decided that I wanted to teach and show other kids what was so great about reading and writing. I believe it was my sophomore English teacher that really convinced me that English was a great class and necessary to learn about. I loved the books we read in high school (except for a couple of books) and I learned to love books that I wouldn’t have picked up on my own which was one of the best things I learned. 

I hope to inspire students to love reading and writing and to appreciate those texts that they would never in a million years have picked up to read on their own. I hope to learn what it is that interests them and use that to recommend books they would like to them and show them my favorite books. 

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First, An Introduction

Hello, my name is Emily Lorenti. I am a student at the University of Bridgeport and an intern in the public schools in Stamford. I am looking to teach Language Arts on the middle school level and so my focus is on books that would be accessible and appeal to that age group. 

Over the course of the semester I will be posting about the books I have read for this course and I hope those of you who read my commentary enjoy it.