AR book level = 4.8 AR points = 5 153 pages
In a dystopian future, the Population Police enforce a rule that families can only have two children. Luke Garner is a third child, commonly referred to as "thirds" in the series. His family hide him well on their farm, and Luke is not allowed to be anywhere someone may see or hear him for fear of turning him and his family into the government officials. However, one day, Luke meets another "third" child who makes him question his life for the last 12 years. This is a dystopian novel, which means it takes place in an imagined society where there is a lot of injustice and suffering. Usually, the government controls everything (totalitarianism); for example, you might think of Nazi Germany. I would recommend this book to students who like suspense in their books as the reader is always wondering, "Will Luke get caught?" This book is the first in the Shadow Children series. AR book level = 4.7 AR points = 7 156 pages
Fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis navigates 1960s life in Oklahoma as part of a group known as the “greasers” (young adults from the East side of the city). After Ponyboy and his friend Johnny are involved in a deadly fight with a group of “socs” (upper/middle class young adults), they run away from the city only to return after another accident while in the small town of Windrixville. As the novel comes to a close, the greasers must come to peace with the death of two of their members and learn to continue on despite the losses, which brings the group as a whole and the Curtis family in particular even closer together. This book has become somewhat of a classic since Hinton got it published in 1967; it is a coming-of-age story for Ponyboy, the main character. I've read this book quite a few times, and each time it gives me something different to think about. I would recommend this book to students who are interested about teenagers' experiences in the 1960s, but remember this book is not a usual kind of experience for everyone who grew up during that time. There is also a movie adaptation, but I have not seen it yet. AR book level = 4.0 AR points = 4 296 pages
Twelve-year-old Timothy is on probation for stealing a credit card to buy medication for his nine-month-old brother Levi who breathes through a trach. He is sentenced to one year of house arrest, and he must keep a journal during this time. Though he does not realize this at the beginning of his sentence, the journal becomes a good way for Timothy to acknowledge his feelings while documenting what goes on in his life. This book is contemporary realistic fiction that asks, "If it's for a good cause, can you do something that is considered "wrong"?" The author writes Timothy's journal in free-verse poetic form, but don't let that scare you away. The poetry reads just like regular prose (most books you've read) and makes the story shorter in the long run. I would recommend this book to students who are interested in the moral choices everyone has to make throughout their lives or anyone who is curious about living with someone who has a severe health condition. |
These are books I've read recently. Please ask me about them!
March 2024
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