Books!

[wisteria_]

Now that my school's Title 1 grant has finally arrived, I've been allocated $1,500 to buy novel class sets for the school. WHEE! Being the Reading Department Chair does have a few perks (though I'm still wildly amused that *I* am in charge of *anything*.) I've decided that the best course of action is to go with Perma-Bound. The books are more

Comments

[reanimated]

i'm not up with all the latest books, but i do know my 8th graders LOVE walter dean myers, especially the boys.

[wisteria_]

I have a copy of Monster around here somewhere, but damned if I can find it now. ;)

[boom_queen]

You've got several CSK and Pura Belpre winners there, so good choices! Both Walter Dean Myers and Nikki Grimes are very popular at my library.

I would also recommend just about anything by Sharon Draper, though the reading level might be a bit more high-school. You might also check out YALSA's "quick picks for reluctant readers" lists--I've had lots of success with those, and they often include works by authors of color.

I'll ask around at my library and see if anyone else has some recommendations for you too!

[wisteria_]

Thanks so much! FYI, my school's population is pretty much evenly divided between African-American and Hispanic students, so we heavily promote multiculturalism and literature by authors of color. I'd love for them to read many of the "classics", but they're such reluctant readers that I'm more invested in simply finding things they'd *want* to read! The Grimes and Myers titles are good because they seem more "grown-up" while still being appropriate for the classroom. I really want books with a mass appeal but also with some literary merit. (They do like The Outsiders and Christopher Paul Curtis's work, but beyond that? It's like pulling teeth. ;)

To be honest, I haven't actually read any of those books on the list! I do have a copy of Monster around here somewhere, but damned if I can find it. I'm going to hit the bookstore and library this weekend to catch up on those titles. I read *constantly*... but my reading tends to be magazines (EW, the newsweeklies) and, uh, fanfic. ;) I have way too many novels of my own that

[wisteria_]

Ooh, that would definitely come in handy during our poetry unit right now. Thanks for the tip!

[seawench]

I've been moderating teen book groups across Chicago for a few months, and a few of your titles are on our list as well. The only one on your list I dislike is Afterlife. It's aimless, not terribly well-written, and has a young female character who is only able to find true acceptance and love after commiting suicide. While it fulfills the requirements of dealing with Hispanic youth, I'm fervently opposed to including it on teen reading lists. For the same requirement, Boy Kills Man is quite good, if a little violent (which might actually be a selling point for the kids).

I also really liked Godless by Pete Hautman. It's funny and thought provoking, and although it doesn't deal with racial issues, it tackles religion and personality in a unique way. I don't know how well it would go over where you are, but it's my favorite of the ones I've read.

[missdeviant]

I second "Boy Kills Man" - it's very provocative and enjoyable.

[wisteria_]

See, this is why I wanted opinions. :) Gary Soto's work is quite popular at school, but perhaps I'll skip this one. Thanks!

[mangofandango]

My kids are really loving "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman.

Also, the 6th-8th graders really got into "Make Lemonade" and "True Believer" (the sequel), and they're absolutely ripe for discussion. They're written in verse, and that makes them harder for kids to understand but easier for them to read - so they're good for reading together and discussing.

I've heard great things about "Bronx Masquerade", but I haven't read it yet myself.

[mangofandango]

Oh - "Coraline" is about a little British girl, so may not sell to your students for that reason. But the other two definitely would work - and the interesting thing is, the characters races are never identified - but people tend to make assumptions and draw a mental picture, and if you don't tell kids this until partway through the book, it's a pretty awesome discussion when they realize what they assumed and why.

[wisteria_]

I'll check those out this weekend -- thanks!