I'm Back!

Ok, I'm embarrassed. I was engrossed with Shakespeare for the last three months and I've finally come up for a breather. Over Spring Break I did finally finish "Green Glass Sea". I ended up really liking it. We've decided to use it as our summer reading and one book one team. It caters to multiple interdisciplinary units. Some of the graduating 8th graders have read the next two sequels. According to them they get better as you go. Although I'm not a science person by nature, I really felt like both protagonist characters were relatable to all middle school students. Both of those girls dealt with very serious issues like fitting in, death of a parent, and acceptance of who they were. I'm excited to do some activities with it in the fall. Ok, so what are we onto next? Has anyone read "The Help"? It was my latest adult fiction novel that I just loved. Strand and I were discussing whether it would work for 8th grade towards the end of the year. Maybe doing an interdisciplinary unit with civil rights in S.S.

Inside the 1940's

I'm only on pg 41 and I'm already empathizing with Dewey. When her father drives to the entrance of Los Alamos I'm shaking right along with her. The scary sights of armed officers would be terrifying at that age. I was shocked at the next chapter when Suze's mom is smoking. It's so unusual to see any kind of smoking in adolescent literature. I was transported immediately to another time in this country. I can already sense the fever pitch of ending World War II. I'm enjoying it thus far. I think I'm really enjoying reading a novel from a female perspective. I was once again reflecting today on how often we teach male centered adolescent literature. On another note - I began Teddy Kennedy's memoir today. The prologue was beautifully written and emotionally charged. I'd recommend it. I'm really trying to push myself out of my typical comfort zone and political memoirs are definitely in a different zone for me.

"The Green Glass Sea"

Ok - so I find myself multi-tasking quite a bit these days. I think I’m currently reading 5 different pieces simultaneously therefore I found myself at the gym the other day with “The Green Glass Sea” in front of me. The elliptical is a great place to enjoy both adult and adolescent literature. Of course - it wasn’t open and I wasn’t reading. I was watching the wedding channel instead. My point it that the up and down motion of the elliptical drew my attention to the interesting cover of the novel. If looked at - at the right angle it shows very cool embedded scientific symbols. So now I’m hooked. Bottom-line - if the covers cool then count me in. I’ve begun.......

New Book Suggestions

Any ideas? I'm looking for something relatively short - I know - I sound like one of the kids. "The Green Glass Sea" was recommended by our librarian. It has a female protagonist and is historical fiction. It is focused on science which I thought might be a since shift. Real sceince not twirling and spinning centipede like creatures:) Let me know your thoughts.

Done with Maze Runner

I finished Maze Runner over break and I'm behind in my posting. I really liked it but like Elina I still feel conflicted on whether it's worthy of teaching. I'm torn. I thought the development of characters was strong. I like that they threw a female into the mix but that doesn't ensure girls will like it. I thought the rolling creatures were cheesy - I was glad to discover they were mechanical - (they were right?) The language and pejoratives drove me crazy - I must admit it did keep my attention. I couldn't put it down. The concept of a maze was interesting. It could be good material for discussing extended metaphors. I will and have recommended the novel but it's not original enough for teaching. I would teach Hunger Games of this book. Plus I hate the cliffhanger ending - I get it - it just makes me insensed - there is a part of me that feels like authors use this technique to just sell books - especially to young adults.

The Maze Runner

I’m about 3/4 through “The Maze Runner” I’ve really enjoyed it. It reminds me of many other novels I’ve read especially the classic “Lord of the Flies”. The characters are likable and easy to relate to. It is a very male centered novel even though a female is introduced about half way through. There are profound thematic issues to discuss like “survival of the fittest” “big brother voyeurism” and “genius children”. The novel is quite long and could easily be taught at the end of 6th grade or 8th grade. It could be fun to do an elaborate maze metaphor activity along with the reading. My only concern is the characters “dialect” of sorts. They have created their own language using words like “shuck” which feels like a pejorative for the “f” word. I hate pejoratives. I thought maybe the author was English and therefore the loose use of the pejorative. After some investigation I discovered he grew up in Georgia. Hmmmm. Plus it’s the first in a trilogy. Ohhhh gosh trilogies are hard to teach. I’ll need to see how the ending works.

I Finished "If I Stay"

I finished this novel. I didn't intend to move so quickly it just happened. Honestly - easy, light, girl-centered read. Nothing to analyze or discuss - not layered at all. I couldn't teach it. Lots of cursing and I think the main character is just too old (17). Now, some of my 8th grade girls could relate to her but it just wouldn't be effective for an entire class.

I liked the idea that the protagonist is stuck in limbo and the reader learns about her family through flashback. That was kind of interesting. She has the coolest parents ever - but her character is not multidimensional - again a worthy read for an 8th grade girl, especially a musician. Music is a large part of the plot structure. Should we move on to Maze Runner?