Ranger is an abused hound dog living in east Texas. He lives under a porch with a family of lonely cats. Gar-Face, Ranger's abusive owner has trouble drinking and shooting. Ranger tries to keep the cats safe but, ultimately is unable to. There are several mythical shape shifting animal creatures as well, including Grandmother Moccasin, a snake.
This fantasy's strengths are characters and setting. The animal main characters tug at your heartstrings. You feel sorry for them, living in their current state. The setting adds to the over feel of depravity. The bayous of east Texas. You see the snakes and spiders, you feel the oppressive humidity and heat, just like the main character's oppressed lives.
Anthropomorphism is a wonderful topic that isn't widely discussed in the classroom. This book provides a rare opportunity to dive into this literary element.
Bod Owens, Nobody, finds the graveyard as a toddler after his family is murdered. His assassin attempts to kill him in the graveyard when the ghosts who inhabit it, grant the boy Freedom of the graveyard, and take him in to raise as their own. Bod learns how to fade and haunt, as well as all about the ghost's lives, and the deeper mysteries of the dead world. His would be assassin ultimately finds Bod again, and Bod must defeat him.
The style and theme of this book stand strong. You are drawn into the gothic tone, and really feel that you are living in the world of the undead. The theme is one that you wouldn't have thought. For a book this dark, the theme of sticking together, standing up for each other, and that everyone, no matter how dead they are, has a good heart. The main character finds friendship and safety in those that most would not.
This book provides a great opportunity to dive into the fantasy genre. Allow students to dissect each chapter and discuss the fantasy elements involved.
This is a retold fairy tale based on the story of Rapunzel. This time around, Rapunzel, saves herself from the clutches of her evil mother, and goes on many adventures. Along the way she meets Jack, who ends up being her best friend/boyfriend. Rapunzel braids her long hair into two braided pig tails, and uses them as lassos to save her friends and defeat bad guys.
The style and characters are of high importance in this story. The style presents a rough and tumble, action and adventure, fast paced story. The main character is fierce and independent, unlike her traditional self has been told so many times. You root for her to break with the conventional idea of Rapunzel.
Teachers can use this version of Rapunzel and compare and contrast it with other versions. A venn diagram could be useful in comparing the books, or even comparing this version of Rapunzel to other fairy tail heroines.
Babymouse is a spunky little mouse with a wild imagination. She often gets herself into trouble. This time she imagines herself as the queen of the world. She is bored with her daily life, so she creates a place where she has fame and fortune. She wants to fit in with the popular kids at school, and desperately tries to be cool. Babymouse ultimately realizes that fitting in with the popular crowd isn't all that it's cracked up to be.
The plot and theme of Babymouse make this book really entertaining to read. Reading as Babymouse goes through her days, and all of the imagination she puts into making it better, makes the reader anticipate the moment when reality breaks through. The theme of being true to yourself and not fitting in with the crowd is great for younger students, especially those in upper elementary and middle school.
This graphic novel opens up talking points with girls, and boys, about the feeling of the need to fit in. Discuss what makes everyone unique and how we shouldn't change who we are to please others.
The lunch lady secretly designs gadgets to help fight crime in the boiler room of the school cafeteria. A strange substitute teachers arrives and Lunch Lady takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of it. Turns out, the substitute is a robot built by the science teacher to sway students' votes for teacher of the year towards himself.
Theme and character are very important in this book. The lunch lady's character is well thought out and interesting. You're drawn to here, to know her story. The theme is an easy one to figure out, that good trumps evil. The lunch lady is good and fights the evil doers in the world.
The theme of good vs. evil, justice, fairness, and equality provide wonderful opportunities for classroom discussions and role playing scenarios.
Gordon authors horror novels, when he suddenly dies. He names everything to his niece, Stephanie. Stephanie meets many of her uncle's strange friends, including Skullduggery Pleasant, a skeleton. They embark together to find the person responsible for murdering her uncle. Stephanie encounters a magical world filled with good and bad magical beings.
The style and characters make this an interesting read. Landy gives you a mystery novel of sorts, all wrapped up in fantasy and horror. The magical creatures that the main character encounters are well developed and the imagery around them and their world draws the reader into their lives.
The following link will take you to a lesson plan developed by the publisher, HarperCollins. There are ideas for word play, poetry, characterization, as well as a power point. http://resources.collins.co.uk/free/TeachingSkulduggeryPleasant.pdf
Hugo Cabret is an orphaned young boy living at a train station, who keeps the clocks running. He repairs an automaton that his father was building and steals parts to get the machine running. He is caught however stealing parts, and the shop owner confiscates his notebook, which is his father's source of notes for working on the automaton. Hugo attempts to get his notebook back when he meets Isabelle, who has the key needed to start the automaton.
The plot and the style of this novel are like nothing I've seen before. Selznick uses his illustrations to tell the unspoken parts of this story. The main character tells only a portion of the story, and the illustrations allow you to visualize what else is happening. The plot twists and turns. It's exciting and keeps your blood pumping. You worry for the main character, hoping that he doesn't get caught or fall prey to something even worse.
This book is unique in that a vast majority of the book is illustrated. The illustrations tell the untold parts of the story. Students would enjoy illustrating the next scene or continuing the story at the end.
Piggy loses his ball to a big guy, who turns out to be a whale. Gerald is Piggy's friend, and also a big guy. Piggy asks Gerald to help him get his ball back. They find out that the whale really just wants someone to play with.
The theme and characters of this story are endearing. The friendship between the two main characters is like many of the reader's real life relationships. They are easy to identify with. The theme of inclusion is a strong theme in many elementary school classrooms. That's why this story would fit in perfectly.
Students can discuss a time when they made friends with someone, or had someone be friendly with them. The theme of inclusion and acceptance provides wonderful classroom talks.
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