The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming

 Fleming, C. (2014). The family Romanov: Murder, rebellion, and the fall of imperial Russia. New York: Schwartz & Wade.
The Family Romanov is a YALSA nonfiction award finalist.
Here is the tumultuous, heartrending, true story of the Romanovs—at once an intimate portrait of Russia's last royal family and a gripping account of its undoing. Using captivating photos and compelling first person accounts, award-winning author Candace Fleming (Amelia Lost; The Lincolns) deftly maneuvers between the imperial family’s extravagant lives and the plight of Russia's poor masses, making this an utterly mesmerizing read.
Lesson plans:
Where Does Power Reside in Any Government? Explore the ways in which the Romanov dynasty failed to meet the needs of the Russian people, using the events depicted in the book and digital resources below. Use this experience as a pivot to explore other moments in time when leaders have toppled. Consider the Arab Spring, the Ukraine, Iraq, and the recent failed attempt at an independence vote in Scotland. You might want to bring in the American Revolution. Does power reside in the people? Laws? Government structures? The military? Have students working in small groups to conduct their research and then have them come together to have a staged debate about power and government, or a “panel talk” about the power in the particular situations they researched. 

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

 Santat, D. (2014). The adventures of Beekle: The unimaginary friend. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
The Adventures of Beekle is a Caldecott award winner.
This magical story begins on an island far away where an imaginary friend is born. He patiently waits his turn to be chosen by a real child, but when he is overlooked time and again, he sets off on an incredible journey to the bustling city, where he finally meets his perfect match and-at long last-is given his special name: Beekle.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iLWe7kS-5I

 

 

The Story of Owen(Dragon Slayer 0f Trondheim #1) by E. K. Johnson

 Johnson, E.K. (2014). The story of Owen( dragon slayer of Trondheim #1). Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books.
The Story of Owen is a Morris award winner.
Listen! For I sing of Owen Thorskard: valiant of heart, hopeless at algebra, last in a long line of legendary dragon slayers. Though he had few years and was not built for football, he stood between the town of Trondheim and creatures that threatened its survival. There have always been dragons. As far back as history is told, men and women have fought them, loyally defending their villages. Dragon slaying was a proud tradition. But dragons and humans have one thing in common: an insatiable appetite for fossil fuels. From the moment Henry Ford hired his first dragon slayer, no small town was safe. Dragon slayers flocked to cities, leaving more remote areas unprotected. Such was Trondheim's fate until Owen Thorskard arrived. At sixteen, with dragons advancing and his grades plummeting, Owen faced impossible odds armed only with a sword, his legacy, and the classmate who agreed to be his bard. Listen! I am Siobhan McQuaid. I alone know the story of Owen, the story that changes everything. Listen!  
If you liked this book, you will like this book with the same topic, dragons. A Creature of Moonlight  by Rebecca Haun is about a girl who is half dragon, half human.  As the only heir to the throne, Marni should have been surrounded by wealth and privilege, not living in exile-but now the time has come when she must choose between claiming her birthright as princess of a realm whose king wants her dead, and life with the father she has never known: a wild dragon who is sending his magical woods to capture her.

I'll Give you the Sun by Jandy Nelson

 Nelson, J. (2014). I'll give you the sun. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
I'll Give You the Sun is a Printz award winner.
Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jtukHj-cz8

Popular: A Memoir: A Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen

 Van Wagenen, M. (2014). Popular a memoir: Vintage wisdom for a modern geek. New York: Dutton Books.
This is a YALSA nonfiction award winner.
Stuck at the bottom of the social ladder at pretty much the lowest level of people at school who aren’t paid to be here,” Maya Van Wagenen decided to begin a unique social experiment: spend the school year following a 1950s popularity guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell. Can curlers, girdles, Vaseline, and a strand of pearls help Maya on her quest to be popular? The real-life results are painful, funny, and include a wonderful and unexpected surprise—meeting and befriending Betty Cornell herself. Told with humor and grace, Maya’s journey offers readers of all ages a thoroughly contemporary example of kindness and self-confidence.
Lesson plans:

UNIT: Memoir

TOPIC: Making the Connections to Texts that Good Readers Make

LESSON 1 OBJECTIVE: Students will make text-to-text and text-to-self connections.

 CORE CONTENT: Literary Reading

Connect information from a passage to students’ lives and/or real world issues.

VOCABULARY: text-to-text, text-to-self, connecting, questioning, visualizing, inferring, synthesizing

RESOURCES AND MATERIALS:

Chart paper

Writer’s Notebook or Reading Journal
Literature example of memoir that focuses on the relationship of the writer and another person and/or short fiction that focuses on the relationship between characters.
 TEACHING STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES:
Preview the chosen text in order to identify personal text-to-text and text-to-self connections you will share with the class.
Before reading,
discuss with students what good readers do: making connections, questioning, visualizing, inferring, and synthesizing. Tell students that good readers make connections to the books they read either by connecting it to another book

they have read (text-to-text) or to something in their own life (text-to-self).  

Explain to the students that the first time you read aloud you simply want them to listen to the story. After reading the story, ask the students if the story reminded them of anything from their life or another story or book they have read. Point out that some  

students made text-to-text or text-to-self connections. Explain that these connections are  

what engage good readers. Have students make an entry in their reading journals that  

includes the title of the story you just read and their personal connections to the story. Next, tell the students you are going to re-read the story, only this time you are going to include your own text-to-text and text-to-self connections. Remind them that  

you are doing out loud what good readers do in their heads. During the reading,

model  

using the phrases “This reminds me of______________”, “That’s like ______________________”, “She/he is just like my _______________”, so that students  

will use them as they write down their own connections. After reading and thinking aloud, review your connections on the overhead or on chart paper. Ask students to make a note of any new connections they made as you shared yours.

 · EXTENSIONS/ACCOMODATIONS FOR ECE/OTHER DIVERSE LEARNERS:
To reinforce connections to text for the learner who requires practice of new ideas, select several of the stories to read and respond to. For the students needing visual cues, supply them with a cloze procedure paper so the students can fill in the blanks with their reflections. When presenting the lesson, try to

minimize the use of complex sentence structure and sophisticated vocabulary that could interfere with the student’s comprehension.

· ENRICHMENT:
 Have students designate a page for Text-to-text and one for Text-to-Self in their Reader’s Journal. Students could preview several books/stories you plan to share in class and make notes about connections on the appropriate pages.
· TECHNOLOGY CONNECTIONS:
If a computer is accessible to your classroom, set up a database that includes several book/story titles you are asking the students to preview. After students have read each book, ask them to add to the database text-to-text or text-to-self

connections. In addition, some students may want to add new books/stories to the database.

 

ASSESSING THE LEARNING:

During individual conferences, review and discuss the notes students made in their Reader’s Journal. Inaccuracies, incoherence, etc. can be addressed at this time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waiting is not Easy! by Mo Willems

 Willems, M. (2014). Waiting is not easy! New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
Waiting is Not Easy! is an honor winner of the Geisel award.
The Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers.  This annual award,  is named for the world-renowned children's author Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss.
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
In Waiting Is Not Easy!, Piggie has a surprise for Gerald, but he is going to have to wait for it. And Wait. And wait some more...
Another Geisel honor book is Penny and her Marble by Kevin Henkes. In the third easy-to-read book about Penny the mouse, written by Caldecott Medalist and bestselling author Kevin Henkes, Penny finds a beautiful marble on her neighbor's lawn and must decide whether or not to keep it. With age-appropriate vocabulary, compelling characters, and a memorable storyline, Penny and her Marble is just right for beginning readers.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

 Alexander, K. (2014). The crossover. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
The Crossover is a Newbery award winner.
With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I'm delivering," announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood. Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=modPFEyuBYg

A Boy and a Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz

 Rabinowitz, A. (2014). A boy and a jaguar. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
A Boy and a Jaguar is a Schneider award winner.
Alan loves animals, but the great cat house at the Bronx Zoo makes him sad. Why are they all alone in empty cages? Are they being punished? More than anything, he wants to be their champion—their voice—but he stutters uncontrollably.
Except when he talks to animals…
Then he is fluent.
Follow the life of the man Time Magazine calls, "the Indiana Jones of wildlife conservation"as he searches for his voice and fulfills a promise to speak for animals, and people, who cannot speak for themselves. This real-life story with tender illustrations by Catia Chien explores truths not defined by the spoken word.
Another book that is on the same topic as A Boy and a Jaguar is Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California's Farallon Islands by Katherine Roy.
A few miles from San Francisco lives a population of the ocean's largest and most famous predators. Each fall, while the city's inhabitants dine on steaks, salads, and sandwiches, the great white sharks return to California's Farallon Islands to hunt their favorite meal: the seals that live on the island's rocky coasts. Massive, fast, and perfectly adapted to hunting after 11 million years of evolution, the great whites are among the planet's most fearsome, fascinating, and least understood animals.

The Dumbest Idea Ever! by Jimmy Gownley

 Gownley, J. (2014). The dumbest idea ever! New York: Graphix.
Great Graphic Novels for Teens is a list of recommended graphic novels and illustrated nonfiction for those ages 12-18, prepared yearly by YALSA.

Jimmy Gownley's graphic novel memoir about the "dumb" idea that changed his life forever!
What if the dumbest idea ever turned your life upside down? At thirteen, Jimmy was popular, at the top of his class, and the leading scorer on his basketball team. But all that changed when chicken pox forced him to miss the championship game. Things went from bad to worse when he got pneumonia and missed even more school. Before Jimmy knew it, his grades were sinking and nothing seemed to be going right. How did Jimmy turn things around, get back on top at school, and land a date with the cutest girl in class?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7luMG8zTdMM

Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin

 Sheinkin, S. (2014). The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, mutiny, and the fight for civil rights.  New York: Roaring Book Press.
This book is a YALSA nonfiction award winner.  YALSA's Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 publishing year.
An astonishing civil rights story from Newbery Honor winner and National Book Award finalist Steve Sheinkin.
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated Navy base at Port Chicago, California, killing more than 300 sailors who were at the docks, critically injuring off-duty men in their bunks, and shattering windows up to a mile away. On August 9th, 244 men refused to go back to work until unsafe and unfair conditions at the docks were addressed. When the dust settled, fifty were charged with mutiny, facing decades in jail and even execution. This is a fascinating story of the prejudice that faced black men and women in America's armed forces during World War II, and a nuanced look at those who gave their lives in service of a country where they lacked the most basic rights.
Lesson plans:

 

Hold a Civil Rights forum in your class with students acting as the panel of “guest speakers”

(see below). Through independent and group research, as well as class discussion, students will

prepare to answer questions as their assigned historical figures and discuss their roles in and

views of the Port Chicago explosion and subsequent trial.

Suggested historical figures to assign as “guest speakers” are:

Joe Small, Thurgood Marshall, Spencer Sikes, Dorie Miller, Secretary Frank Knox, President

Roosevelt, Lieutenant Ernest Delucchi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Robert Edwards, Corporal Rupert

Trimmingham, Commander Joseph Tobin, Admiral Carleton Wright, James Forrestal, Lieutenant

Commander James Coakley, Rear Admiral Hugh Osterhaus, Lieutenant Gerald Veltmann,

President Truman

Step 1: To build sufficient background knowledge needed to prepare for the panel,

have the class view and discuss the Labor Movement as detailed at this site,

http://www.history.com/topics/labor and do a close reading of pages 29–37 in the book. Students

should learn what the sailors on the docks experienced, and how those experiences compare

to the struggles workers experienced during the Labor Movement. As a class discuss how this

movement might have influenced the Port Chicago 50’s decisions after the explosion.

Step 2: Instruct students to do independent research on their assigned historical figure by using

Sheinkin’s book and at least three other sources. They are to gather evidence that helps them

understand the motivations of their historical figure.

Step 3: Each student is to write a page of notes detailing their historical figure’s behavior before

and after the explosion and what they believe to be the reasons behind it. They should bring

these notes to class on the day of the forum.

Step 4: On the day of the forum, ask student audience members to write down at least two

questions they would like to ask the guest speakers. Students take on the role of guest speakers

and sit in front of the audience. Each introduces him/herself and the class begins by asking

questions to the guest speakers. Guest speakers answer and defend their positions as best they

can and express their motivations for their words and actions before and after the explosion.

Step 5: As a conclusion to the panel, students choose one “guest speaker” and write a reflection

from the point of view of that historical figure explaining whether or not he/she has any regrets.

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

 Tamaki, M. (2014). This one summer. New York:  First Second.
This One Summer is a winner of the Printz award. The Michael L. Printz Award annually honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit, each year.
Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq1CENzgW6Q

El Deafo by Cece Bell

 Bell, C. (2014). El deafo. New York: Amulet Books.
 El Deafo is the winner of the Newbery award. The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
Starting at a new school is scary, even more so with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece's class was deaf. Here she is different. She is sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends. Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom, but anywhere her teacher is in school--in the hallway...in the teacher's lounge...in the bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming El Deafo, Listener for All. But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it's just another way of feeling different... and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend? This funny perceptive graphic novel memoir about growing up hearing impaired is also an unforgettable book about growing up, and all the super and super embarrassing moments along the way.
https://youtu.be/uEmrTJOscvo

The Right Word Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant

 Bryant, J. (2014). The right word: Roget and his thesaurus. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
The Right Word is the winner of the Sibert award. The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award, established by the Association for Library Service to Children in 2001 with support from Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc., is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year. The award is named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois. ALSC administers the award.
For shy young Peter Mark Roget, books were the best companions -- and it wasn’t long before Peter began writing his own book. But he didn’t write stories; he wrote lists. Peter took his love for words and turned it to organizing ideas and finding exactly the right word to express just what he thought. His lists grew and grew, eventually turning into one of the most important reference books of all time. Readers of all ages will marvel at Roget’s life, depicted through lyrical text and brilliantly detailed illustrations. This elegant book celebrates the joy of learning and the power of words.
https://youtu.be/6Z8VGJ0s3RY  

Mikis and the Donkey by Bibi Dumon Tak

 Tak, B. (2014).  Mikis and the donkey. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdsmans Books for Young Readers.
Mikis and the Donkey is the winner of the Batchelder Award.  The Batchelder award  honors Mildred L. Batchelder, a former executive director of the Association for Library Service to Children, a believer in the importance of good books for children in translation from all parts of the world. This award, established in her honor in 1966, is a citation awarded to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States. ALSC gives the award to encourage American publishers to seek out superior children's books abroad and to promote communication among the peoples of the world.
One day, Mikis's grandfather has a surprise for him: a new donkey waiting! Mikis falls in love with the creature, but his grandparents tell him that the donkey is a working animal, not a pet. However, they still let Mikis choose her name -- Tsaki -- and allow the two of them to spend their Sundays together. Mikis and Tsaki soon become fast friends, and together the two have some grand adventures. Eventually, both Mikis and his grandfather learn a bit more about what exactly it means to care for another creature. Brought to life by drawings from Philip Hopman, Bibi Dumon Tak's gentle, humorous story is perfect for any readers who may have their own soft spot for animals."
Another book written by Bibi Dumon Tak and also winner of the Batchelder award is Soldier Bear. Based on a real series of events that happened during World War II, Soldier Bear tells the story of an orphaned bear cub adopted by a group of Polish soldiers in Iran. The soldiers raise the bear and eventually enlist him as a soldier to ensure that he stays with the company. He travels with them from Iran to Italy, and then on to Scotland. Voytek's mischief gets him into trouble along with way, but he also provides some unexpected encouragement for the soldiers amidst the reality of war: Voytek learns to carry bombs for the company, saves the camp from a spy, and keeps them constantly entertained with his antics. Always powerful and surprising, Bibi Dumon Tak's story offers readers a glimpse at this fascinating piece of history.

brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

 Woodson, J. (2014). brown girl dreaming. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books.
brown girl dreaming is the winner of the Coretta Scott King award.
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.  The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.
The Awards are given in author and illustrator categories; honor recipients may also be named. Both the Author and Illustrator Winner recipients receive a plaque and $1,000.
Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become.
Lesson plans:

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Objectives

Students will understand the following: 1. Beyond the famous leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, ordinary men and women struggled for their beliefs. 2. All the participants—famous and not so famous—deserve to have their stories told. 3. Older people have a responsibility to pass on these stories to younger people.

Materials

For this lesson, you will need: • Multiple reference sources that treat the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s

Procedures

1. Explain to students that forty and fifty years after the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, some participants are very well remembered and some less so. Some participants have been written about frequently; others, even others who lost their lives in the struggle, have received scant recognition. Tell students that for a class project they are going to do research and create a single volume to be titledA Children’s Encyclopedia of the Civil Rights Movement.The book, which will be for first-graders, will include alphabetical articles about some of the leaders and the ordinary people who made a difference in the movement. 2. Ask students to describe the characteristics of an encyclopedia that they use in the classroom, in the library, or at home. 3. Ask students how they will have to modify the characteristics of an encyclopedia so that first-graders can understand and enjoy one. For example, bring out the point that the writers of theChildren’s Encyclopediawon’t be able to use a term such aspoll taxwithout explaining it. 4. Ask students to suggest names of people they think belong in their encyclopedia. Start a list, which eventually may include some or all of the following names. The asterisks indicate people about whom much material exists; it will be harder but not impossible to find some information about the players without asterisks. (You may want to set maximum word counts for entries on the more well-known and well-documented subjects.) Ralph Abernathy Oliver Brown James Chaney* Eldridge Cleaver* Medgar Evers* Andrew Goodman* Fannie Lou Hamer Martin Luther King Jr.* Viola Greg Liuzzo Malcolm X* Thurgood Marshall* James Meredith Huey P. Newton A. Philip Randolph* Rosa Parks* Michael Schwerner* Bobby Seale Fred Shuttlesworth Emmett Till 5. Assign subjects to students. If you want students to work together in small groups, you can consider giving several subjects to each group. 6. Discuss with your students where they can find biographical information about their subjects: textbooks, nonfiction books of various kinds, already published encyclopedias, videos, Web sites. Indicate that wherever possible students should check more than one source for each person they are researching. 7. Go over the fundamentals of taking notes from other sources. Stress that the sentences and paragraphs in the students’ encyclopedia will have to be original—not quotations from other sources. 8. Another factor to consider before writing begins is format for the encyclopedia articles. In doing research, students will have found more biographical details about some subjects than others; they will have to decide whether to use blanks or question marks to indicate missing information. When birth and death dates and places are reported, consider the option of setting them off instead of running that information into the prose of the article. You may use the following format, for example: Martin Luther King Born [place] [date] Died [place] [date] [Main text of encyclopedia entry begins here.] Looking at encyclopedias you have available, discuss with students the option of starting an entry with a phrase rather than a complete sentence—for example: American cleric committed to nonviolent tactics during the Civil Rights Movement. 9. Set up a revising-editing-proofreading system so that both students and you have a chance to improve articles for the encyclopedia. Then consider having all the articles typed or word processed in the same type style and size, with the same line length, and paginated so that when bound, the end product will look professional. Ask your students for suggestions for the cover of the encyclopedia. If possible, make a copy of the finished encyclopedia for each student in your class. Work with first-grade teachers to create an opportunity for your students and the younger ones to meet and share the encyclopedia.

Nana In the City by Lauren Castillo

 Castillo, L. (2014). Nana in the city. New York: Clarion Books.
Nana in the City is the honor winner of the Caldecott award.  The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
In this magical picture book, a young boy spends an overnight visit with his nana and is frightened to find that the city where she lives is filled with noise and crowds and scary things. But then Nana makes him a special cape to help him be brave, and soon the everyday sights, sounds, and smells of the city are not scary—but wonderful. The succinct text is paired with watercolor illustrations that capture all the vitality, energy, and beauty of the city.
Another book with the same topic is Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena. Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them. This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Pena’s vibrant text and Christian Robinson’s radiant illustrations.
 

Tunnel Vision by Susan Adrian

Adrian, S. (2014). Tunnel vision. New York: St. Martin's Press.
Tunnel Vision is the winner of the Quick Picks award.  The Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list identifies titles aimed at encouraging reading among teens who dislike to read for whatever reason. The list selects both fiction and nonfiction.
Jake Lukin just turned 18. He's decent at tennis and Halo, and waiting to hear on his app to Stanford. But he's also being followed by a creep with a gun, and there's a DARPA agent waiting in his bedroom. His secret is blown. When Jake holds a personal object, like a pet rock or a ring, he has the ability to "tunnel" into the owner. He can sense where they are, like a human GPS, and can see, hear, and feel what they do. It's an ability the government would do anything to possess: a perfect surveillance unit who could locate fugitives, spies, or terrorists with a single touch.Jake promised his dad he’d never tell anyone about his ability. But his dad died two years ago, and Jake slipped. If he doesn't agree to help the government, his mother and sister may be in danger. Suddenly he's juggling high school, tennis tryouts, flirting with Rachel Watkins, and work as a government asset, complete with 24-hour bodyguards. Forced to lie to his friends and family, and then to choose whether to give up everything for their safety, Jake hopes the good he's doing—finding kidnap victims and hostages, and tracking down terrorists—is worth it. But he starts to suspect the good guys may not be so good after all. With Rachel's help, Jake has to try to escape both good guys and bad guys and find a way to live his own life instead of tunneling through others.
If you like this book, then you will like The Edge of Forever by Melissa E. Hurst.

In 2013: Sixteen-year-old Alora is having blackouts. Each time she wakes up in a different place with no idea of how she got there. The one thing she is certain of? Someone is following her. In 2146: Seventeen-year-old Bridger is one of a small number of people born with the ability to travel to the past. While on a routine school time trip, he sees the last person he expected—his dead father. The strangest part is that, according to the Department of Temporal Affairs, his father was never assigned to be in that time. Bridger’s even more stunned when he learns that his by-the-book father was there to break the most important rule of time travel—to prevent someone’s murder. And that someone is named Alora. Determined to discover why his father wanted to help a “ghost,” Bridger illegally shifts to 2013 and, along with Alora, races to solve the mystery surrounding her past and her connection to his father before the DTA finds him. If he can stop Alora’s death without altering the timeline, maybe he can save his father too.

Girls Like Us by Gail Giles

Giles, G. (2014). Girls like us. Somerville, Mass:  Candlewick Press.
This book is the winner of the Schneider award.  The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
Quincy and Biddy are both graduates of their high school’s special ed program, but they couldn’t be more different: suspicious Quincy faces the world with her fists up, while gentle Biddy is frightened to step outside her front door. When they’re thrown together as roommates in their first "real world" apartment, it initially seems to be an uneasy fit. But as Biddy’s past resurfaces and Quincy faces a harrowing experience that no one should have to go through alone, the two of them realize that they might have more in common than they thought — and more important, that they might be able to help each other move forward.
Another book with the similar theme of the mentally challenged is My Louisiana Sky by Kimberly Willis Holt.Tiger Ann Parker is smart in school and good at baseball, but she's forever teased about her family by the girls in class. Tiger Ann knows her folks are different from others in their small town of Saitter, Louisiana. They are mentally slow, and Tiger Ann keeps her pain and embarrassment hidden as long as her strong and smart Granny runs the household. Then Granny dies suddenly and Aunt Dorie Kay arrives, offering Tiger Ann a way out. Now Tiger Ann must make the most important decision of her life.

I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Margorie Agosin

Agosin, M. (2014). I lived on Butterfly Hill. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. This book is the winner of the Pura Belpre award. The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. In I Lived on Butterfly Hill,   an eleven-year-old's world is upended by political turmoil in this searing novel from an award-winning poet, based on true events in Chile. Celeste Marconi is a dreamer. She lives peacefully among friends and neighbors and family in the idyllic town of Valparaiso, Chile--until the time comes when even Celeste, with her head in the clouds, can't deny the political unrest that is sweeping through the country. Warships are spotted in the harbor and schoolmates disappear from class without a word. Celeste doesn't quite know what is happening, but one thing is clear: no one is safe, not anymore. The country has been taken over by a government that declares artists, protestors, and anyone who helps the needy to be considered "subversive" and dangerous to Chile's future. So Celeste's parents--her educated, generous, kind parents--must go into hiding before they, too, "disappear." To protect their daughter, they send her to America. As Celeste adapts to her new life in Maine, she never stops dreaming of Chile. But even after democracy is restored to her home country, questions remain: Will her parents reemerge from hiding? Will she ever be truly safe again? Accented with interior artwork, steeped in the history of Pinochet's catastrophic takeover of Chile, and based on many true events.
Lesson plans:
  In this lesson, students will watch and discuss video clips that show how two men in Chile coped with being prisoners in concentration camps during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Each student will then create a non-fiction picture book that tells the story of one of these men and provides historical context.
By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Discuss how two men in Chile coped with being prisoners in concentration camps under Pinochet's regime.
• Research the historical context of these men's imprisonment.
• Create non-fiction picture books that tell the stories of these men.

Gabi A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi a girl in pieces. El Paso: Cinco Puntos Press.
Gabi, A Girl in Pieces is the winner of the Morris Award.  This award is the William C. Morris YA Debut Award.  It honors a debut book published by first time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in YA literature.  Gabi Hernandez chronicles her last year in high school in her diary: college applications, Cindy's pregnancy, Sebastian's coming out, the cute boys, her father's meth habit, and the food she craves. And best of all, the poetry that helps forge her identity.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCRpzSA6htk