Holiday Book Recommendations

From my classroom to your home, have a wonderful holiday season and warm wishes in 2018!

	When Santa Fell to Earth by Cornelia Funke (Ages 8-12, GL 3-7) Scared by a storm, Twinklestar, the least reliable reindeer, bolts - causing Santa and his sleigh to crash-land. Although Santa has dropped into a friendly neighborhood, he's not safe: Jeremiah Goblynch, the ruthless new leader of the Council of Yuleland, is determined to put an end to children's wishes and turn the holiday season into his own personal moneymaking scheme.
	The Girl Who Saved Christmas by Matt Haig (Ages 8-12, GL 3-7) Amelia Wishart was the first child ever to receive a Christmas present. It was her Christmas spirit that gave Santa the extra boost of magic he needed to make his first trip around the world. But now Amelia is in trouble. When her mother falls ill, she is sent to the workhouse to toil under cruel Mr. Creeper. For a whole year, Amelia scrubs the floors and eats watery gruel, without a whiff of kindness to keep her going. It’s not long before her hope begins to drain away. Meanwhile, up at the North Pole, magic levels dip dangerously low as Christmas approaches, and Santa knows that something is gravely wrong. With the help of his trusty reindeer, a curious cat, and Charles Dickens, he sets out to find Amelia, the only girl who might be able to save Christmas. But first Amelia must learn to believe again. . . .
	A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig (Ages 8-12, GL 3-7) Eleven-year-old Nikolas—nicknamed “Christmas”—has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a turnip. But he’s happy with his turnip doll, because it came from his parents, who love him. Then one day his father goes missing, and Nikolas must travel to the North Pole to save him. Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. But the elves of Elfhelm have troubles of their own: Christmas spirit and goodwill are at an all-time low, and Nikolas may be the only person who can fix things—if only he can reach his father before it’s too late. . . .
	Kringle by Tony Abbott (Ages 8-12, GL 3-7) Unlike the traditional Santa Claus myth, KRINGLE is a coming-of-age story about an orphan who becomes a force for good in a dark and violent time. It is a tale of fantasy, of goblins, elves, and flying reindeer -- and of a boy from the humblest beginnings who fulfills his destiny. Our tale begins in 500 A.D., when goblins kidnapped human children and set them to work in underground mines. Kringle is one such child.... until he discovers his mission - to free children from enslavement. His legend lives on today, as he travels the earth every Christmas Eve to quell the goblins once more.
	Jingle (Swindle #8) by Gordon Korman (Ages 8-12, GL 3-7) Griffin Bing and his friends are NOT happy. Instead of going away for winter break, they've been signed up to volunteer at a local Christmas extravaganza...as elves. It's not easy being an elf. But it's nothing compared to being blamed when a prized Christmas possession is stolen from right under your nose. It's time for these elves to get off the shelf and track down a Christmas thief!
	Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman (Ages 8-12, GL 3-6) Odd, a young Viking boy, is left fatherless following a raid, and in his icy, ancient world there is no mercy for an unlucky soul with a crushed foot and no one to protect him. Fleeing to the woods, Odd stumbles upon and releases a trapped bear…and then Odd's destiny begins to change. The eagle, bear, and fox Odd encounters are Norse gods, trapped in animal form by the evil frost giant who has conquered Asgard, the city of the gods. Now our hero must reclaim Thor's hammer, outwit the frost giants and release the gods…

Unit 3: The Power of Arguments

We recently began our new unit, The Power of Arguments. Our overarching concept is What is Worth Fighting For? Please check out the What Are We Studying Tab for specifics on what standards we are assessing in this unit.

Last week, students began exploring the essential questions and text structure. We began working on standard RI6.5. This standard focuses on how pieces of a text fit together to make the whole meaning, much like a puzzle fits together to create an image you cannot see until its complete.

The concept of text structure was introduced using this interactive lesson. Students were able to explore five different ways authors structure text to make a whole meaning. This week, we are continuing to practice text structure, and are beginning to introduce RI6.6 which helps students become familiar with determining an author's purpose for a text.

12/11-12/12 - Students close read and annotated Malala the Powerful, looking for important details and analyzing and answering questions for text structure. This work was completed on Google Classroom.

12/13 - Students reviewed Author's Purpose and created P.I.E. plates to help them remember the reasons that an author writes a text.
  


12/14-12/15 - Students will re-read Malala the Powerful, answering questions about author's purpose and perspective. We will also review for the assessment on Author's Purpose and Text Structure that is on Monday, 12/18.

**All of this is important practice for our upcoming assessment (the last assessment of the semester) on Monday, 12/18. The rubric for this assessment is here.

STATION #6

1. Watch the videos and answer the question on the printed paper in your spiral notebook.  

Family is Worth Fighting For

Valley’s Children

Feedback Form for Presentations

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ISh3HmrTcl6EE34vQqMTYII7htqA4CFxxbHEKAXMpEE

Infographic Presentation

On Tuesday, November 28, students will present their infographics to peers in a "gallery" style. Half
of the class will be presenting while the other half walks around and choses presentations they would like to listen to.

Requirements for Presenters:

• 1-2 minute presentations
• Highlight key points about your good/service
• Answer questions about your good/service
• Explaining any graphs, charts, or other visuals on your infographic
• NO READING YOUR INFOGRAPHIC!

Requirements for Listeners:

• Polite, engaged listening
• Ask questions, give constructive feedback
• Complete a "Presentation Feedback Form" for each presenter
• MINIMUM of TWO (2) feedback forms submitted! 

Presentation resources

SL6.3 Rubric
What Makes a Good Presentation (discussed in class)
Examples of a Good/Bad Presentation (watched in class)
Presentation Tips for Students with Anxiety (good advice!)

Infographic Research Project

This research project involves the exploration of goods and services we use in our daily lives and how they are beneficial and harmful to society. Students have chosen a common good or service and created a hypothesis to answer each of the following questions:

How does my good/service help society?

How does my good/service harm society?

These hypotheses along with their crafted inquiry questions will guide their research, with which they will create an infographic. Please see below for more information about this project we will be working on through next Friday, November 17.

What is an infographic?

An infographic is is information delivered through graphics, rather than a written report. We chose to assign infographics to support the development of 21st century skills by aligning informative writing ability with visual literacy. Creating an infographic deepens critical thinking skills and encourages students to make connections and create structures that may not manifest in a written report. 

IMPORTANT DATES!

Monday, Nov. 6-Friday, Nov. 17 (see calendar for daily targets)

Final date to submit infographic complete: Nov. 27

Infographic presentations: Nov. 28

HELPFUL LINKS! 

Project Calendar: HERE

Rubric: HERE

Note catcher: HERE

Project Requirements: HERE

Student-Created Infographic Examples: 

Swiffer Products

Essential Oils

Dangers of Fracking

Women's Illiteracy and Its Affect on Society

Piktochart Home Page

Constructed Response for Main Idea

Students will need to write a constructed response that explains the main idea and three supporting details of an article about consumerism. Our materials that we used to review are below.

Example Main Idea Constructed Response

Does Not Meet the Standard (1)

Approaches the Standard (2)

Meets the Standard (3)

*Exceeds the standard (4)

Rubric

*An Exceeds the Standard grade is given when something BEYOND what was taught in class is demonstrated on the assessment. This is only one example of what a (4) might look like. Any time a student displays thinking, connections, and analysis beyond what is asked in the prompt, a (4) is considered. 

Note: This constructed response will be TYPED and students are being graded on spelling, punctuation, and capitalization as well. 

Consumerism Symbaloo Link

Click here to go to the Consumerism Symbaloo.

Click ADD THIS WEBMIX, then click "X" if it asks you to sign in!

https://www.symbaloo.com/home/mix/consumerism1

Living on One Dollar -- Netflix Documentary

Today, we started watching the Netflix documentary Living on One Dollar. This documentary is about four Americans who travel to Pena Blanca, Guatemala to try to simulate the conditions the people there live in every day. They live on approximately one American dollar per day.

Students will read accompanying articles about this documentary and prepare for a Socratic seminar in which they will discuss the information given in the documentary and articles.

Following are some resources for students and parents who want to learn more about the documentary, and of course if you have Netflix we highly recommend watching it!

Living on One Dollar Website

Articles (will be used in class):
The Reality of a Dollar a Day Existence
What If You Had to Survive on a Dollar a Day?
What's It Really Like Living on One Dollar a Day? 

Close Reading

Close Reading is an important skill in working with nonfiction text. In our new unit, students are expected to interact with nonfiction text in a way that encourages analysis and inferences.

Close Reading means reading a text multiple times in order to deeply understand it. We have begun practicing this with news articles at a 5th grade reading level. This is the anchor chart they are using to remember the task for each reading.

Reading #1 = Read for understanding.
After this reading, students should be able to give a one sentence main idea of the article.

Reading #2 = Read for details.
After this reaming, students should be able to give details that support the main idea.

Reading #3 = Read or purpose.
After this reading, students should be able to easily answer a prompt about the article, using details and their own ideas to show analysis of the content. 

 This is an example of an annotated article (by a student) after two readings! 

 

Narrative Improvements due Oct. 31

Figurative Language Resources to Practice

You have a figurative language assessment on Monday, October 16. Here are some practice materials, some we already used in class and others that are new.

Assessment Rubric 

Used in class:
Figurative Language Games
Video #1 & Quiz #1
Video #2 & Quiz #2


Other materials:
Figurative Language Study Guide
Figurative Language with Mr. Sato

Practice Worksheets with Answer Keys:
Idioms 
Similes
Metaphors
Hyperbole
Onomatopoeia
Personification
Alliteration

Figurative Language Practice -- ASSESSMENT ON MONDAY!

Today you will practice for your assessment on Monday by identifying figurative language in different types of songs and videos.

You are expected to:

1. Read and try all directions step by step!
2. Play and stop the video as you need to in order to review the type of figurative language and discuss with your partner what you think the answer is and why.
3. Select your answer on your own Google Quiz. You will receive immediate feedback to see how you did.
4. Be an active learner! If you get the answer wrong, it is YOUR JOB to discuss with your partner why, and figure out why the correct answer was the correct one!

HINT! Split your screeen so you can see both the video and quiz at the same time! Don't know how? Find someone who has had Intro to Computers to teach it to you!

Video #1 & Quiz 1

Video #2 &  Quiz 2

Commonly asked questions:

• Do we have to complete both? Yes.
• I don't know what to do. Read the directions step by step. Take it one step at a time. This is a skill you need to learn (following multi-step directions). Figure it out with your partner.
• I don't know how to split my screen. Find someone in class that has had Intro to Computers. They can teach you.
• I don't know why I got this answer wrong. Use your notes and discuss it with your partner.

Classroom Scavenger Hunt

When you click this link, it will ask you to make a copy of the document. Click "Make a Copy" and you can type your answers right onto the page!

Classroom Scavenger Hunt

Figurative Language Games Practice

Click this link to go to our Figurative Language games.

https://www.symbaloo.com/mix/figurativelanguagegames

Click START USING THIS WEBMIX

"X" out of the box that asks you to log in.

Creative Book Report Options

Now that you are finished reading your group novel, it is time to create a personal representation of the book that you read. Here are some examples to help get your creative juices flowing:

Book Poster:

Flip Book:

Chapter Summaries with Main Character:

"Movie Poster" of the Book (pretend they are making the book into a movie):

Choose Your Favorite Quote/Scene and Illustrate It:

Brochure:

Read Box Poster:

Narrative Mini Lessons

Monday 9/18 NARRATIVE BEGINNINGS
Students were given 35-45 minutes to begin their narrative after we explored and discussed different examples of narrative beginnings and what hooks a reader.
Need more examples? More Narrative Beginning Examples

Tuesday 9/19
Students were given time after their plot mountain assessment to continue typing their exposition and begin their rising action.

Thursday 9/21 - NARRATIVE CHARACTERIZATION 
Students were given time to discuss and expand on character traits. These discussions will lead to adding character traits into their narrative
Need more explanation on developing characters? Character Development

Friday 9/22 -  NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION: SHOW, DON'T TELL
Students were given 30 minutes to deepen their characters and add descriptive language to their narrative. More ideas?  ---> Descriptive words: what do I say instead of...?

Monday 9/25 - PURPOSEFUL DIALOGUE
Students were given 20 minutes to make sure their dialogue had purpose in their story and continue writing.

Tuesday 9/26 - DIALOGUE FORMATTING
Students were asked to make sure they had 2 elements of dialogue formatting:

1. each time a new person speaks, start a new paragraph
2. quotation marks around anything that's spoken aloud

Students were given 40-50 minutes to continue writing their story.

Wednesday 9/27 - STRONG NARRATIVE CONCLUSIONS & HOW TO CONCLUDE A NARRATIVE

Done? Look here to make the best use of your time!

Narrative Writing

Students will begin writing a short narrative in class. Last week we planned our stories using a plot mountain.

The requirements for this narrative are:

• Engaging exposition (must hook your reader, develop your characters, and have a clear setting)
• Dialogue and descriptive language
• Flows in an order that makes sense (story moves along)
• Clear climax and turning point
• Must have a theme
• The end (resolution) must wrap up the events

Here is the rubric we will be using to grade the narrative. Each day we will include a mini lesson before students begin writing. the mini lessons we will include are (but not limited to): hooking your reader, how to add dialogue, writing in a descriptive way, making your characters interesting, organization, and how to end the story so everything is wrapped up.

Future posts on this website will include links to the mini lessons as we go through them.

Plot Mountain

Here is an extra way to study and practice for your plot mountain assessment tomorrow!

Watch this video and create the plot mountain in your spiral notebook that lists the parts of the plot. Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution must ALL be represented in the mountain. Please check your answers with the answer key when finished.

Theme

For the past couple of days, students have been learning how to find theme. Please see the links below for the learning we did in class and note there will be an assessment on Friday on this skill.

Themes are NOT topics.

TOPIC EXAMPLES	THEME EXAMPLES
love	"Love can get someone through any trial."
family	"Family is the most important thing in life."
never give up	"Perseverance will help you reach your dreams."

These steps are used to find theme. Each student took notes on these steps and were given examples to write down. They can use their notes on the assessment!

1. Read the entire story. We cannot find theme without reading the story from beginning to end. Themes are repeated throughout the text, not found in one particular section.
   
   
2. Find the topic. "This story is mostly about..." or "The author is writing about..."
   Example: The author is writing about hard work.
    
3. Add "The author believes that..." before the topic.
   Example: The author believes that hard work.
    
4. This doesn't make sense! We need to expand the idea of the topic so that our sentence makes sense. Ask yourself: "What does the author want me to know or learn about the topic?"
   Example: What does the author want me to know or learn about hard work?
    
5. Complete the sentence, "The author believes that..." so that it makes sense.
   Example: The author believes that hard work helps us achieve our dreams.
   
   
6. Cross out "the author believes that" and you have your theme! 
   Example: The author believes that hard work helps us achieve our dreams.
   Theme: Hard work helps us achieve our dreams.

We used these short stories to find theme in small groups, and used these popular songs to practice finding evidence to support our ideas.

Students who want extra practice prior to the assessment can click here:

Theme Lesson & Practice

The rubric for this assessment is here.

Plot Mountain Practice

Today you will be practicing identifying parts of the plot from Pixar shorts.

Follow these directions exactly. 

1. Click on this link to find the Pixar shorts. You must click "Start Using this Webmix" or "Add this Webmix" in order to view the videos.

http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/pixarnarrative

2. Choose one video to watch.

3. In your spiral, practice plotting the events on the plot mountain after you watch the video. Make sure you have all elements represented:

4. Check your answers AFTER watching your video with the answer key. 

• Find the video you watched using the thumbnails on the side.
• Click on that thumbnail and click "PRESENT" to view the completed Plot Mountain.
• Check your answers and make a note in your spiral of anything you got wrong.
• https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZMw1T8DhNETb9BaaklngG7jeFoqyXEW2qtm1XwyGy6s/edit?usp=sharing

5.   You may watch another video when you complete one... until your time on the computer is up!

Want extra practice? Email yourself the links to the symbaloo and the answer key and access it at home! This is a GREAT STUDY GUIDE!

Narrative Book Groups

As we begin Unit 1: Authors as Mentors (CLICK THAT LINK TO READ ABOUT OUR UNIT!), students will be placed in book groups in order to collectively read and discuss a narrative fiction novel. Students will be allowed to vote on their first and second choice of novel, based on their Lexile Reading level from their completed MAPS test.

Here is a sneak peek at the books we will be reading! We believe that current novels with interesting plot lines keep students' attention and make them excited to read each day.

Title and Author	What’s it about?
	Diary of a Wimpy Kid watch out -- Danny Shine and the other kids of Thorn Underwood Middle School aren't bestsellers yet, but they're on their way! When Danny gets caught trying to cross his name off the "Geek" list in the girls' bathroom, he's sent to detention. Bullies torment him mercilessly -- until they discover that Danny can draw. He enjoys his new "bad boy" status, supplying tattoos and graffiti, until he's unknowingly drawn into a theft. Turns out the bullies took a comic book from Danny's favorite store. Can he steal it back before they get caught -- and break off with the bullies before he gets in too deep? Click here to look inside!
	When Zebby and Amr create the website thetruthabouttruman.com, they want it to be honest. They want it to be about the real Truman Middle School, to say things that the school newspaper would never say, and to give everyone a chance to say what they want to say, too. But given the chance, some people will say anything—anything to hurt someone else. And when rumors about one popular student escalate to cruel new levels, it's clear the truth about Truman School is more harrowing than anyone ever imagined. Click here to look inside!
	“Give me a dollar or I’ll spit on you.” That’s Bradley Chalkers for you. He’s the oldest kid in the fifth grade. He tells enormous lies. He picks fights with girls, and the teachers say he has serious behavior problems. No one likes him—except Carla, the new school counselor. She thinks Bradley is sensitive and generous, and she even enjoys his far-fetched stories. Carla knows that Bradley could change, if only he weren’t afraid to try. But when you feel like the most hated kid in the whole school, believing in yourself can be the hardest thing in the world. . . . Click here to see inside!
	He's a boy called Jew. Gypsy. Stopthief. Filthy son of Abraham. He's a boy who lives in the streets of Warsaw. He's a boy who steals food for himself, and the other orphans. He's a boy who believes in bread, and mothers, and angels. He's a boy who wants to be a Nazi, with tall, shiny jackboots of his own-until the day that suddenly makes him change his mind. And when the trains come to empty the Jews from the ghetto of the damned, he's a boy who realizes it's safest of all to be nobody. Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli takes us to one of the most devastating settings imaginable-Nazi-occupied Warsaw during World War II-and tells a tale of heartbreak, hope, and survival through the bright eyes of a young Holocaust orphan. Click here to see inside!
	Maisie Potter isn't quite sure why she signed up for the boys' wrestling team. She's never been all that interested in boys, so it can't have anything to do with Eric Delong, in spite of the disturbing effect his smile has on her. And she's certainly not prepared for the effect her presence on the team has on the people around her. Her brother's totally disgusted with her, her best friend drops her, her classmates ridicule her, and opposing teams forfeit rather than wrestle her. But Maisie's not a quitter, and she discovers that she really likes wrestling -- and that while Eric might not be worth the flak she puts up with, feeling good about herself is. Click here to see inside!
	Two boys – a slow learner stuck in the body of a teenage giant and a tiny Einstein in leg braces – forge a unique friendship when they pair up to create one formidable human force. (Made into the film, The Mighty.) Click here to see inside!
	Cocky seventh-grade super-jock Crash Coogan got his nickname the day he used his first football helmet to knock his cousin Bridget flat on her backside. And he has been running over people ever since, especially Penn Webb, the dweeby, vegetarian Quaker kid who lives down the block. Through the eyes of Crash, readers get a rare glimpse into the life of a bully in this unforgettable and beloved story about stereotypes and the surprises life can bring. Click here to see inside!
	Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’ s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first. Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. Click here to see inside!
	Nobody understands Wallace Wallace. This reluctant school football hero has been suspended from the team for writing an unfavorable book report on Old Shep, My Pal. But Wallace won't tell a lie-he hated every minute of the book! Why does the dog in every classic novel have to croak at the end? After Wallace refuses to do a rewrite, his English teacher, who happens to be directing the school play of Old Shep, My Pal, forces him to go to the rehearsals as punishment. Although Wallace doesn't change his mind, he does end up changing the play . . . into a rock-and-roll rendition, complete with Rollerblades and a moped! Click here to see inside!
	One summer’s day, ten-year-old India Opal Buloni goes down to the local supermarket for some groceries – and comes home with a dog. But Winn-Dixie is no ordinary dog. It’s because of Winn-Dixie that Opal begins to make friends. And it’s because of Winn-Dixie that she finally dares to ask her father about her mother, who left when Opal was three. In fact, as Opal admits, just about everything that happens that summer is because of Winn-Dixie. Click here to see inside!
	Newton Starkers has a problem: Lightning is attracted to him. For over two hundred years, nearly every member of the Starker family has died after being hit by lightning. Fourteen-year-old Newton Starker is the last of his line--except for his great-grandmother, Enid, a woman as friendly as a pickled wolverine--and he's determined to survive. Newton enrols in the Jerry Potts Academy of Higher Learning and Survival where students must navigate the outdoors, the very place Newton's mother warned him to avoid. Things do not go well… Before Newton knows it, he is weathering storms he can't control, including battling Violet Quon, his arch-enemy, and preparing for First Year Expedition--his chance to prove he's the ultimate survivor. Outside. In the wild. He's watching the sky. And the sky is watching him, biding its time… Click here to see inside!
	Paul Fisher sees the world from behind glasses so thick he looks like a bug-eyed alien. But he’s not so blind that he can’t see there are some very unusual things about his family’s new home in Tangerine County, Florida. Where else does a sinkhole swallow the local school, fire burn underground for years, and lightning strike at the same time every day? The chaos is compounded by constant harassment from his football–star brother, and adjusting to life in Tangerine isn’t easy for Paul—until he joins the soccer team at his middle school. With the help of his new teammates, Paul begins to discover what lies beneath the surface of his strange new hometown. And he also gains the courage to face up to some secrets his family has been keeping from him for far too long. In Tangerine, it seems, anything is possible. Click here to see inside!
	When suburban Claudia Kincaid decides to run away, she knows she doesn't just want to run from somewhere she wants to run tosomewhere—to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and preferably elegant. She chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Knowing that her younger brother, Jamie, has money and thus can help her with the serious cash flow problem she invites him along. Once settled into the museum, Claudia and Jamie, find themselves caught up in the mystery of an angel statue that the museum purchased at an auction for a bargain price of $250. The statue is possibly an early work of the Renaissance master Michelangelo, and therefore worth millions. Is it? Or isn't it? Claudia is determined to find out. This quest leads Claudia to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the remarkable old woman who sold the statue and to some equally remarkable discoveries about herself. Click here to see inside!
	When Marcus moves to a new town in the dead of summer, he doesn't know a soul. While practicing football for impending tryouts, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with an older man. Charlie is a charismatic prankster—and the best football player Marcus has ever seen. He can't believe his good luck when he finds out that Charlie is actually Charlie Popovich, or "the King of Pop," as he had been nicknamed during his career as an NFL linebacker. But that's not all. There is a secret about Charlie that his own family is desperate to hide. When Marcus begins school, he meets the starting quarterback on the team: Troy Popovich. Right from the beginning, Marcus and Troy disagree—about football, about Troy's ex-girlfriend, Alyssa, but most of all, about what's good for Charlie. Marcus is betting that he knows what's best for the King of Pop. And he is willing to risk everything to help his friend. Click here to see inside!
	Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw has had a lot to contend with in her young life, her name for one. Then there are her clothes (sewn in polyester by Gram), her difficulty speaking up, and her status at school as "nobody special." But according to Gram, most problems can be overcome with positive thinking. And with Gram and her little brother, Owen, Naomi's life at Avocado Acres Trailer Rancho in California is happy and peaceful...until their mother reappears after seven years of being gone, stirring up all sorts of questions and challenging Naomi to discover and proclaim who she really is. Click here to see inside!
	Charlie Joe Jackson may be the most reluctant reader ever born. And so far, he's managed to get through life without ever reading an entire book from cover to cover. But now that he's in middle school, avoiding reading isn't as easy as it used to be. And when his friend Timmy McGibney decides that he's tired of covering for him, Charlie Joe finds himself resorting to desperate measures to keep his perfect record intact. Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald is the hilarious story of an avid non-reader and the extreme lengths to which he'll go to get out of reading a book. Click here to see inside!
	Summer's finally here, and Derek Fallon is looking forward to pelting the UPS truck with water balloons, climbing onto the garage roof, and conducting silly investigations. But when his parents decide to send him to Learning Camp, Derek's dreams of fun come to an end. Ever since he's been labeled a "reluctant reader," his mom has pushed him to read "real" books-something other than his beloved Calvin & Hobbes. As Derek forges unexpected friendships and uncovers a family secret involving himself (in diapers! no less), he realizes that adventures and surprises are around the corner, complete with curve balls. Click here to see inside!
	Gecko, Terence, and Ajay are serving time in juvenile detention centers until they get a second chance. Douglas Healy, a former juvenile delinquent himself, takes them into his halfway house, hoping to make a difference in their lives. One night there is a scuffle, and Healy is accidentally knocked unconscious. When he awakes in the hospital, he has no memory of them or of the halfway house. Afraid of being sent back to Juvie, the guys hatch a crazy scheme to continue on as if the group leader never left. But if the boys are found out, their second chance will be their last. Click here to see inside!