Module 13- Diary of a Wimpy Kid

A. It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary. In book one of this debut series, Greg is happy to have Rowley, his sidekick, along for the ride. But when Rowley’s star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend’s newfound popularity to his own advantage, kicking off a chain of events that will test their friendship in hilarious fashion. B. Kinney, J. (2007). Diary of a wimpy kid. New York: Amulet Books. C. The main character, while sometimes funny, lies, manipulates, underachieves, sneaks, disrespects his parents, and isn't even that great a friend. While the books have a creative concept and may be okay for middle school and up, the subject matter and flaws of the main character make them not so great for more impressionable younger readers. It’s not something I would recommend to any child without strong parents or their own intrinsic sense of right and wrong. D. Greg Heffley has actually been on the scene for more than two years. Created by an online game developer, he has starred in a Web book of the same name on www.funbrain.com since May 2004. This print version is just as engaging. Kinney does a masterful job of making the mundane life of boys on the brink of adolescence hilarious. Greg is a conflicted soul: he wants to do the right thing, but the constant quest for status and girls seems to undermine his every effort. His attempts to prove his worthiness in the popularity race (he estimates he's currently ranked 52nd or 53rd) are constantly foiled by well-meaning parents, a younger and older brother, and nerdy friends. While Greg is not the most principled protagonist, it is his very obliviousness to his faults that makes him such an appealing hero. Kinney's background as a cartoonist is apparent in this hybrid book that falls somewhere between traditional prose and graphic novel. It offers some of the same adventures as the Web book, but there are enough new subplots to entertain Funbrain followers. This version is more pared down, and the pace moves quickly. The first of three installments, it is an excellent choice for reluctant readers, but more experienced readers will also find much to enjoy and relate to in one seventh grader's view of the everyday trials and tribulations of middle school.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA E. Older elementary and middle school students love these books and could also be tempted to create their own comics in a similar style to relate their favorite scenes from the book, what they learned, or for other library uses. I see this book starting a create comic-a-thon.

Module 15- The Hunger Games

A. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. B. Collins, S. (2010). The hunger games. New York: Scholastic Press. C. I would be lying if I said this wasn’t one of my new favorite books and that I hadn’t read it more than four times. I LOVE this book! The idea was very unusual to me and it took me awhile to agree to read it, despite urging from those that had. When I started it I was done a few hours later. I absolutely devoured The Hunger Games! It’s hard to explain the addiction I have to the entire series. Is it the author’s style? The storyline? The characters? It’s all of the above and more! Such a great read and so compelling. D. I’ll admit it, I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins because my wife did and I didn't… we can’t have that now. Can we? I can certainly see why the book was such a hit. The novel struck many chords and many themes (teenage anguish, love, work, poverty and more), was an easy and quick read, as well as full of action. Ms. Collins built a fantastical and believable world where the United States is no more and instead the country is now called Panem which is run from “The Capital” and divided into 12 districts. The story progresses quickly and fluently with well-defined characters who have lame names. Don’t tell me that the baker’s son is named Peeta (Pita) by accident. I can certainly understand how the YA crowd fell head over heels for this novel. For me though, and I understand perfectly well I’m not the target audience, the love triangle was cliché, but I loved the violence and speed of this novel. The constant suspense kept me turning page after page as, I assume, most of those who read the book. Once I got over my name prejudice, I even liked the protagonist – a bow and arrow wielding female Wilhelm Tell, how can you not like her? Ms. Collins’ prose is efficient in a no-nonsense style filled with humor which causes the book to become addictive. Like any good story, you are immersed in the universe built around you, yet you know it is not real but you can’t stop reading. That being said, there were some aspects of the book which were too convenient, when Katniss babysits Peeta in the second half of the book, the stuff she needs floats down from the sky. That might be passable for the intended audience, but not for me. Also the ending was a bit disappointing. I especially disliked the mutated werewolves but, since this is part of an extremely successful trilogy and the audience certainly stuck around to find out what happens – who am I to say anything? E. This novel would be the perfect addition to my “Survival” theme book showcase. There are so many youth interested in this series due to the release of the movies right now, that it would be a sure-fire hit with older, more reluctant readers. The Hunger Games competition is fascinating despite its violence and many high school or middle school students might be tempted to participate in some library activities modeled in the same way. (Same style, less violence that is!)

Module 11- Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii

A. On August 24, AD 79, the people of ancient Pompeii awoke to what seemed to be a normal summer day. They had no reason to suspect that most of their lives would soon be over. Small tremors had been shaking the area for several days, though they didn’t worry because the region had been subjected to many earthquakes over the years. It wasn’t until mid-afternoon that the people of Pompeii realized that the earthquakes were caused by Mount Vesuvius. By the next afternoon, the city of Pompeii had been covered by nine feet of pumice and debris. Days later, those that had escaped returned home to an unfamiliar landscape. Pompeii was virtually a forgotten city until 1763 when it was discovered by treasure-hunting excavators. In 1860, a new excavator named Giuseppe Fiorelli implemented many procedures that helped preserve Pompeii. Today, Pompeii is both an archaeological site and a modern town. People come from all over the world to see the ruins of Pompeii, plus the body casts, and artifacts housed in the museum. This book contains over 50 photographs that show dig sites, ruins, artifacts, jewelry, and casts of the dead. The subject matter and the fascinating photographs make this nonfiction book very compelling reading that will attract many middle school students including those who may not be avid readers. B. Deem, J. (2005). Bodies from the ash: Life and death in ancient pompeii. New York: Houghton Mifflin. C. My first impression of this book was one of intense awe and interest. Upon opening the pages and glancing at all the horrific body casts of victims of Mt. Vesuvius, my interest quickly waned! The stories of what likely happened to the victims were quite upsetting to me and yet I couldn’t quit reading it! Like a bad car wreck, Pompeii and its demise caught and held my attention despite strong feelings against the text. In the end, I really wish I hadn’t read it as the stories and many pictures to go along with it really upset me. D. On August 24, 79 C.E., the long-silent Mt. Vesuvius erupted, and volcanic ash rained down on the 20,000 residents of Pompeii. This photo-essay explains what happened when the volcano exploded--and how the results of this disaster were discovered hundreds of years later. A tragedy this dramatic demands an affecting text, but this one begins rather ploddingly with the events of August 24 and 25, and moves through the rediscovery of the city and the surrounding areas, with progressively more being learned. What the text lacks in excitement is made up for by the enormous amount of information Deem offers, some of which was acquired in on-site research. The excavations and body preservation techniques are explained in detail; everyday life in the city and the later tourist activity centered in Pompeii are also highlighted. But the jewels here are the numerous black-and-white (and some color) photographs, especially those featuring the plaster casts and skeletons of people in their death throes. The horizontal format, with pages looking as though they were partially bordered in marble, makes an attractive setting for the art. Excellent for browsers as well as researchers. Ilene Cooper, ALA E. Because of the upsetting nature of this book’s content, I wouldn’t recommend it to elementary students. I would probably only recommend this book to middle school or high school students who were completing research on the topic.

Module 10- Pink and Say

A. In a true story, Pinkus Aylee, a black Union soldier, finds Sheldon Curtis left for dead and carries him home to be tended by his mother, but when the two boys attempt to rejoin the Union troops, they are captured and sent to Andersonville Prison. B. Polacco, P. (1994). Pink and Say. New York: Philomel Publishers. C. I think this book has some fantastic insights and painted a wonderful picture of what life was like for soldiers in the Civil War. That’s about the only positive I experienced from it. I will not be reading it to my students as it was one big sob fest for me! I am so uncomfortable with the idea of war and men fighting against each other in general, and then the shooting and then subsequent dying of one of the main characters was too much for me! It was a good thing for me to read once, but never again! D. This heart-wrenching historical picture book, based on a true story, presents us with two men from the Union army who meet after a battle of the Civil War. Say, the white younger man, has been wounded. Pink, a black man, carries him home to where his mother is surviving in ruins of a deserted plantation. Pink is determined to rejoin his unit in spite of mother's protest. Say, who was deserting when wounded, only agrees because of the danger they present to Pinks mother. Marauders come and kill her while they hide in the cellar. On the way to the front lines they are captured by confederates and taken to Andersonville prison, Pink is hung. Say survives to become author's great-great grandfather. Hurst, C.O. (1996). Hurst, C. O. (1996). Pink and say review. Teaching K-8 Magazine. Retrieved fromhttp://www.carolhurst.com/titles/pinkandsay.html. E. This book is great for students who are interested in the military or in the Civil War as it is fairly accurate and an emotional portrayal of what that event was like. It’s definitely a book to be shared or highlighted for when the older grades study the Civil War.

Module 9- Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds

A. Fifth-grade sleuth Cam Jansen uses her photographic memory to catch a jewel thief. B. Adler, D. A.(1977). Cam Jansen and the mystery of the stolen diamonds. Logan: Perfection Learning Publishers. C. When you're a kid, you read all of these stories about magic powers, mystery, and adventure. But everyone tells you magic can't exist. Cam Jansen manages to solve every case without the use of magic... she's a real girl. That's what makes her special and what makes you want to red more and more. Cam Jansen is a real kid superhero, which is why my students love her. D. "What wrongdoer is any match for Cam Jansen, the girl with the amazing photographic memory?" ( Booklist) "An uncluttered plot, a clever heroine, clear language, and a dash of humor make for a zestful mystery."(School Library Journal) E. I’m not a fan of reading tons of these books as I find them a tad repetitive. They fly off the shelves though especially when new students discover them. I will definitely use them as a showcase series for my middle elementary readers.

Module 8- Twilight

A. Bella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite. B. Meyer, S. (2008). Twilight. New York: Little, Brown Publishers. C. Twilight is my guilty pleasure book. When I want to regress back to teenager-hood once again I always pull it out and get lost in Bella’s insecurities and Edward’s dreaminess. I love the story line and the improbability of it all. It’s a teenage girl, and probably a grown up woman’s ultimate fantasy- complete and total adoration from a perfect man. Who wouldn’t like it? D. Headstrong, sun-loving, 17-year-old Bella declines her mom's invitation to move to Florida, and instead reluctantly opts to move to her dad's cabin in the dreary, rainy town of Forks, WA. She becomes intrigued with Edward Cullen, a distant, stylish, and disarmingly handsome senior, who is also a vampire. When he reveals that his specific clan hunts wildlife instead of humans, Bella deduces that she is safe from his blood-sucking instincts and therefore free to fall hopelessly in love with him. The feeling is mutual, and the resulting volatile romance smolders as they attempt to hide Edward's identity from her family and the rest of the school. Meyer adds an eerie new twist to the mismatched, star-crossed lovers theme: predator falls for prey, human falls for vampire. This tension strips away any pretense readers may have about the everyday teen romance novel, and kissing, touching, and talking take on an entirely new meaning when one small mistake could be life-threatening. Bella and Edward's struggle to make their relationship work becomes a struggle for survival, especially when vampires from an outside clan infiltrate the Cullen territory and head straight for her. As a result, the novel's danger-factor skyrockets as the excitement of secret love and hushed affection morphs into a terrifying race to stay alive. Realistic, subtle, succinct, and easy to follow, Twilight will have readers dying to sink their teeth into it.–Hillias J. Martin, New York Public Library E. I would use this book in my library as a spring board to introduce readers to other similar literature. Twilight is something that almost every young adult girl and even a few guys have already read, but often they get stuck with one book they like and aren’t able to branch out to other similar yet wonderful pieces of similar genre. Students who are enamored with a book need to be guided towards other great pieces that would be a sure-fire hit with their interests.

Module 7- Jane

A. Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance. But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love? An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers. B. Lindner, A. (2010). Jane. New York: Hachette Book Group. C. Jane is a modern retelling of the classic story by Charlotte Bronte of a rather plain and inconspicuous young woman named Jane who is educated but then falls into some bad fortune when her parents die. She doesn’t have the advantage of looks or fortune going for her, so she hires out as a governess for a wealthy man- in this case, Nico Rathburn. Nico turns out to be a famous rock star and semi-dead beat dad to young Madeline, yet the ever sensible Jane manages to fall in love with both him and his daughter, though he routinely ignores and obsesses over her. I enjoy the story but have never bought the romance and love between the two main characters- in either edition I’ve read. I did like this version of Jane much better than the original, but felt the opposite way about Mr. Rathburn. All in all, it was a fantastic version of Jane Eyre and well worth the read for young teenage girls who would fall madly in love with the original were they only comfortable reading the language. This is the perfect book to lure them in to reading more classic love stories and literature. D. "A fascinating, fantastical story line of secrets and star-crossed love....Set against a vivid, well-drawn, contemporary world, this is a compelling adaptation of an ageless romance." Booklist "A fresh and addictive adaptation." Publishers Weekly "I couldn't put Jane down! Whether you love literature, romance, thrillers, or anything in between, you'll get swept up in Jane all the way to its scrumptious, satisfying end."-Sara Shepard, New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series "There's nothing plain about Jane. April Lindner executes the cool trick of being stubbornly loyal to the well-loved original while creating something totally new and captivating."-Cecily von Ziegesar, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Gossip Girl series "A sparkling new novel of impossible love, tragic deceit, and a wicked fine guitar solo."-Anne Osterlund, author of Aurelia "A remarkable, rocking good love story."-Justina Chen, author of North of Beautiful E. In a library setting, this would be my go-to recommend book for any high school or middle school girl seeking romance. I could see recommending it as a read along/comparison to those who might struggle to read the original Jane Eyre, or as an extension read to those who just finished it. I remember being required to read it in high school, so I feel high school girls would be the most appropriate recommendation for this novel.