Jillian+Mattingly

Westerfeld, Scott. (2009). //Leviathan//. New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN: 978-1-4169-8706-2
 * [[image:lme527spring2012/leviathan.jpg width="108" height="161" align="left"]]PA Citation & ISBN:**
 * Title of Book:** Leviathan
 * Award:** 2011 Blue Grass Award for Middle School
 * Genre:** Futuristic Fantasy
 * Summary:**This is the first book in a trilogy about a prince named Aleksandar Ferdinand. The second main character in the book is Deryn, a female disguised a a male, is an airman in the British Air Service. After Prince Aleksandar's parents are killed his mentor's, Count Volger and Otto Klopp, escape with him in a "Stormwalker" to Switzerland were he must hide until the war is over. Meanwhile, Deryn becomes an airman aboard the airbeast "Leviathan". After the //Leviathan// is attacked by the Germans it becomes stranded near Aleksandar's hideout. It's then that the two characters meet and the story really begins.
 * Curriculum Connection with grade level & Common Core Curriculum:** Grades 9-12; Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of the text.
 * Activity:** The black & white illustrations in Leviathan are amazing. According to the illustrator for the book he used a“Victorian manga” style, part steampunk and part old-fashioned biotech. Using the same artistic style create trading cards for the different characters found in the book. On the back of each card i dentify each character and and briefly describe their role in the book.

Scott Westerfeld wrote one of my most favorite YA series: The Uglies/Pretties/Specials. It suprises me that that series never took off like The Hunger Games/Twilight. I'll have to read this one. --Brooke Whitlow

Donoghue, Emma. (2010). //Room//. New York: Hachette Book Group. ISBN: 978-0-316-09832-8
 * [[image:lme527spring2012/room.jpg width="101" height="156" align="left"]]APA Citation & ISBN:**
 * Title of Book:** Room
 * Award:** 2011 Alex Award
 * Genre:** Drama
 * Summary:** This is the story of five-year-old Jack and his "Ma". Seven years before the story begins "Ma" was kidnapped by "Old Nick" and held captive in a sound proof shed, where she gave birth to Jack. The entire story is told through Jack's perspective. He explains his small world, and the games he plays with his mother to pass time. The book is a gripping and heroic story of Jack and his mother's will to not only survive, but to escape and live again in the outside world. During the entire story I thought of what Jacie Durgards life must have been like during and after her years of captivity.
 * Curriculum Connection with grade level & Common Core Curriculum:** Grades 6-8; Integrate quanitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually.
 * Activity:** While reading the book, create an illustrated guide of each of the games Jack and his mother play including directions.

Perkins, Stephanie. (2010). //Anna and the french kiss//. New York: Penguin Group. ISBN: 978-0-14-241940-3
 * [[image:lme527spring2012/annaandthefrenchkiss.jpg width="113" height="176" align="left"]]APA Citation & ISBN:**
 * Title of Book:** Anna and the French Kiss
 * Award:** 2011 Blue Grass Award for High School
 * Genre:** Romance
 * Summary:** Anna Oliphant is an America girl beginning her senior year of high school. Her father decides he wants Anna to experience living abroad and the French culture. Therefore, he enrolls Anna in an international boarding school called SOAP (School of America in Paris). While there Anna makes five new friends that help her navigate the new surroundings. Of course, one friend is a gorgeous guy named Etienne St. Clair. The book revolves around the happiness of their friendship and the anguish of whether they will ever get together.
 * Curriculum Connection with grade level & Common Core Curriculum:**Grades 9-12; Students will apply the information contained in a passage to accomplish a task/procedure or answer questions about a passage
 * Activity:** Use a "Travel" theme for a reading program. Use a country featured from different YA books. For this book host a "French" theme day in which students can participate in French activities that happen in the book. Such as, making chocolat claud, French pasteries for students to sample, use posters or videos with the Eiffel Tower to simulate the experience and explain facts about the landmark, host a French film festival, etc...


 * [[image:lme527spring2012/shipbreaker.jpg width="105" height="161" align="left"]]APA Citation & ISBN:** Bacigalupi, Paolo. (2010). //Ship breaker//. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 978-0-316-05621-2
 * Title of Book:** Ship Breaker
 * Award:** 2011 Michael L Printz
 * Genre:** Historical Fiction
 * Summary:** This is the story of Nailer or "Lucky Boy" as he becomes known in the book. Nailer is a ship breaker that works on the "light crew" which means he works at stripping the small pieces of a ship, such as copper wiring. He lives in a very poor area and working as a ship breaker is the only way to make a decent living. One day after a storm he and a friend discover a ship to scavenge for parts and belongings. On the ship they discover a girl named Nita. She is a rich girl running away from her Uncle that will use her as leverage against her father. The rest of the book Nailer spends trying to protect, recue, and safely return Nita to her father. If they are successful Nita promises to help Nailer leave his home for a better life.
 * Curriculum Connection with grade level & Common Core Curriculum:** 9th & 10th grade; Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or text, using valid reasoning and relevent and sufficient evidence.
 * Activity:** Develop an outline describing the skills that would be most valuable in the world of the story, and also listing those skills that are valuable in our own society that would have little use or application in Nailer’s world. Analyze the factors that make certain skills or occupations extremely valuable today but of minimal use in the world of the story.

Heiligman, Deborah. (2009). //Charles and emma: The darwins’ leap of faith//. New York: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
 * [[image:lme527spring2012/charles.jpg width="91" height="136" align="left"]]APA Citation & ISBN:**
 * T****itle of Book:** Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith
 * Award:** 2010 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
 * Genre:** Historical Romance
 * Summary:**This is a biography about the life of Charles Darwin and Emma Wedgwood. During the story you learn about their personalities, courtship, religious faith, and marriage. Although they both had fears about getting married, they fell desperately in love with each other. Only one issue stood between them and complete happiness. Emma was devout in her faith of God, and Charles struggled with doubts that God had anything to do with creation. The issue did not cause arguments between the pair, instead is causes heartache. Darwin did not want to disappoint and hurt his bride, but still he felt his own convictions and pursued his theory. Throughout the book they describe their letters and conversations on the subject, and describe how Emma's faith and "arguments" helped to shape Darwin's Theory of Evolution.
 * Curriculum Connection with grade level & Common Core Curriculum:**Grade level 6-8; Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
 * Activity:** Even today there is quite a controversy over Darwin's theory of evolution. After reading the book, compare and contrast your knowledge and perceptions of Charles Darwin prior to reading the book with your new knowledge. Cite specific examples to explain.

Pratchett, Terry. (2004). //A hat full of sky: A tiffany aching adventure//. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 978-0-06-058662-1
 * [[image:lme527spring2012/hatfullofsky.jpg width="88" height="142" align="left"]]APA Citation & ISBN:**
 * Title of Book:** A Hat Full of Sky: A Tiffany Aching Adventure
 * Award:** 2011 Margaret A. Edwards Award
 * Genre:** Fantasy
 * Summary:** This is the story of Tiffany who discovers one day while defending the "Wee Free Men" that she is witch. The Wee Free Men are tiny six-inch-high men that love drinking, fighting, and stealing, but are very fond of Tiffany. Tiffany leaves her home to live with and be trained to become a witch by Miss Level. A monster follows Tiffany to her new place and one day takes over her body. While wearing the "Tiffany suit" the monster commits awful acts against people. Miss Level, the Wee Free Men, and Mistress Weatherwax must work to save Tiffany before it's too late and the monster takes over her body forever.
 * Curriculum Connection with grade level & Common Core Curriculum:** 7th & 8th grade; Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
 * Activity:** Divided into groups students will create a video or di gital story that explains and acts out the key scenes of the book. The video will be used to promote A Hat Full of Sky and other Terry Prachett titles to students.

Sepetys, Ruta. (2011). //Between shades of gray//. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN: 978-0-399-25412-3
 * [[image:lme527spring2012/betweenshadesofgray.jpg width="105" height="152" align="left"]]APA Citation & ISBN:**
 * Title of Book:** Between Shades of Gray
 * Award:** William C. Morris Award
 * Genre:** Historical Fiction
 * Summary:** This title describes the heart-breaking life of people in concentration camps during World War II. During the book you follow the story Lina and her family. During the night they are taking from their home, forced on to trains, and shipped to camps. They are separated from her father, treated inhumanly, and forced to live in disgusting and horrid conditions. Lina, who was a promising artist, uses whatever supplies she can find to draw pictures of their location and experiences in the hope that her father will recognize her art and one day find them again. She also wants her art to tell the world about their injust treatment.
 * Curriculum Connection with grade level & Common Core Curriculum:** Grades 6-12; Write informative/explanatory text; including the narriation of historical events, scientific procedures/experiements, or technical process.
 * Activity:** Student will prepare a travel guide for someone who wants to tour Lithuania in the form of a digital story. Where are the most notable places to visit? What is the climate and topography?


 * [[image:lme527spring2012/indian.jpg width="123" height="129" align="left"]]APA Citation & ISBN:** Alexie, Sherman. (2007). //The absolutely true diary of a part-time indian//. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 978-1-436-12490-4
 * Title of Book:** The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
 * Award:** 2009 Odyssey Award
 * Genre:** Fantasy
 * Summary:** This book is about Arnold "Junior" an Indian describing what it's like to grow up in a white man's world. Junior first describes what life is like growing up on an Indian reservation and the lack of for support for Indians to succeed in life. Junior decides that his best chance of escaping the despair of the Indian reservation is to leave the "rez" and enroll in a white man's high school. The book follows Junior's experiences of living on the reservation with his family and the resentment other Indians feel about him leaving the reservation. It also explains his struggles with trying to fit into a white man's world.
 * Curriculum Connection with grade level & Common Core Curriculum:** Grades 9-12; Read and comprehend complex literary and informational text independently and proficiently.
 * Activity:** As you read the book develop a journal about the terrible things that happen to Junior. In each journal entry write about three things. 1. Briefly decribe the event. 2. Write a specific quote from the book or draw an illustration that describes Junior's reaction to the situation 3. Provide an analysis about what purpose Junior's reaction serves. Why react in that way?


 * [[image:lme527spring2012/summer.jpg width="107" height="163" align="left"]]APA Citation & ISBN:** Han, Jenny. (2009). //The summer i turned pretty//. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc. eISBN: 978-1-416-99917-1
 * Title of Book:** The Summer I Turned Pretty
 * Award:** EBook
 * Genre:** Romance
 * Summary:** This is a coming of age story about a girl named Belly. Every summer Isabel "Belly" and her family vacation at Cousin’s Beach with her mother's best friend Susannah, and her two sons. Belly has always had a crush on the oldest son, Conrad but nothing had ever come of it. However, this summer Belly has blossomed into a beautiful young woman and the guys are noticing. During the book you follow her story of growing up and discovering herself. A large part of that discovery revolves around the ups and downs of her relationships with boys.
 * Curriculum Connection with grade level & Common Core Curriculum:** Grades 9-12; Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
 * Activity:** A discussion board for student that are interested in reading the book during the summer. Advertise the title and a blog web address before the school year ends as a school read for the summer. To facilitate discussion on the blog the LMS will post discussion questions about events that happen during each chapter of the book.


 * [[image:lme527spring2012/hearttoheart.jpg width="98" height="161" align="left"]]APA Citation & ISBN:** McDaniel, Lurlene. (2010). //Heart to heart//. New York: Delacorte Press. eISBN: 978-0-375-89652-1
 * T****itle of Book:** Heart to Heart
 * Award:** EBook
 * Genre:** Drama
 * Summary:** This book follows the story of two young girls. The first is a story about a young girl named Arabeth that needs a heart transplant. Arabeth recieves a heart from a girl named Elowyn whose family donates her organs after she dies from a car accident. The second is a story about Kassey. Kassey was Elowyns best friend. During the book we follow Kassey's story of healing from losing her best friend. We also follow Arabeth who is learning to live her life again. During Arabeth's story she contacts Elowyn's parents in order to thank them for her new heart. While trying to cope with the loss of their daughter Elowyn's parents become involved in Arabeth's recovery. It's a book about incredible loss and learning to live life again.
 * Curriculum Connection with grade level & Common Core Curriculum:** 7th & 8th grade; Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
 * Activity:** Students will research an illiness that affects YA to create a PSA podcast explaining the disease and promoting awareness.