Graphic Novels You Might Like
Sooo many books have been turned into graphic novels. Just search to see if your favorites have been revamped!
Showing posts with label language arts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label language arts. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Lunar Chronicles & Graphic Novels
I wanted to share this since I have quite a few students who have recently gotten into The Lunar Chronicles series (you can read my thoughts about it here). The author, Marissa Meyer is making a graphic Novel series following a character, Iko, after the books take place. Graphic Novels are taking the literary world by storm, with many graphic novel versions of popular books coming out. Below, I list a few graphic novels my students might be interested in. However, I wanted to share a preview of the graphic novel for The Lunar Chronicles -- Wires and Nerves. Enjoy this sneak peek, and hold tight until it's released in January! (WARNING: SPOILERS TO LUNAR CHRONICLES IN THE LINK!)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Language Arts
Next year there will be some changes in the junior high department. I will be teaching three sections of math next year, which means I will not have a language arts class. While I truly enjoy math and am super excited to take on this role, it's also strange to think that I will no longer have "language arts teacher" as part of my title. My after school book club will still be happening, and one trimester I will be teaching a reading based elective. I sincerely hope that any of my students reading this know that just because I no longer teach books, I still will love to talk to you about what you're reading and what good books you're interested in. Stop by my room and chat with me about what you're reading!! :)
And since all my math students know I love lame math jokes and puns, here's a math AND language arts themed one:
And since all my math students know I love lame math jokes and puns, here's a math AND language arts themed one:
Monday, May 23, 2016
Books Turned to Movies
Some of you know that I run the summer reading blog as well. I update it in the spring and summer with recommendations. One of my favorite blog posts to write is the list of books that have been turned into movies or will be turned into movies. Check it out!!
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Salt to the Sea
I'm in the midst of reading about 3 different books right now. But I do want to get a book review in March and this is the only one I've finished so far during break, so here we go:
Ruta Sepetys is making her way into the role of the dominant writer in YA Historical Fiction. She has a way of finding forgotten stories and making you question why no one knows about them. I was first introduced to her writing through the book Between Shades of Gray (an 8th grade summer reading choice). It was an excellent book and I was surprised to learn that I hadn't heard more about that book. Afterwards, I also read her story Out of the Easy, which focused more on a time period than a specific event. Now, her third story Salt to the Sea was released about a month ago
Salt to the Sea takes place during World War II and focuses on the journey four young people take to find their way to freedom from persecution, evacuation, etc. However, they find their way into the the greatest maritime disaster in history -- but an event most people, myself included, probably didn't know about. Sepetys has a poetic way of writing and a way to evoke so many emotions while reading. In my opinion, this book doesn't have the same emotional punch of Between Shades of Gray, but fans of that book will probably enjoy this one as well. One striking difference between the two is that Salt to the Sea is told through alternating points of view of the four characters. While this first bothered me because it made it different to learn about the characters, it does become cohesive and let you see different angles and sides to the stories. However, one of the characters I found grating, and while I understanding why she included this person, I still believe the story would work better without that fourth side.
It does deal with some mature topics and the development of the historical background, and for that, I would side with the Amazon recommendation of Grades 8 and up for the book.
Saturday, February 13, 2016
The Lunar Chronicles
I was hoping to keep this blog a bit more updated with junior high recommendations, but I've been doing some more personal reading instead. However, this past month, a great series released a collection of prequel stories and an epilogue, so I thought I'd talk a bit about this series.
I first heard about this series two years ago from a student. She loved it and did a book report on it. I thought, "No, it's not my type of book." Then last year, another student read this series and couldn't stop raving about it. I still thought it wasn't my type but I warmed up to it. The final push to read this series happened when I went to a workshop devoted to the Best Books for Grades 6-12 published that year. The presenter said this was a great series and her favorite part about it was that it includes strong female characters. Finally, I said, "Okay, I'll give it a shot."
I'll admit, it took me a little bit to get into it. The premise is that these are science fiction takes on classic fairy tale stories. The first is a cyborg Cinderella (now you can see why I felt it wasn't my "type of book"). I tried to get into it, and finally, I did. I finished the first and ran out to the library to get the next two. And then I preordered the final book because I had to get it the day it came out. Again, the premise is science fiction versions of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White. The thing I love about this series is the characters -- they are not perfect. They are flawed characters who show development over the course of the series. The females are not damsels in distress. They are strong women who can save the man too. They each have a unique voice and authentic conversations. They are ethnic -- the series features characters of multiple races and skin colors.
If you choose to read this series: it is a time commitment. Each book gets longer. The last book is 800 pages. (Surprsingly, I did not feel a single page there was unnecessary). It's not a series for everyone, but if you think it might be for you, come check it out of my classroom library! Also, I just learned recently, there will be a follow up to the series in graphic novel form!
(I also feel the need to warn: Fairest is a prequel story to the main villian. It is the most mature and dark book in the series. The series in general is clean, but does feature violence. This one has more mature tones. But guess what, it's not necessary to read Fairest to understand the series, as it just provides some insight into the villian. So if you or your parents want to stay away from those mature elements, no need to read Fairest)
The Lunar Chronicles
I first heard about this series two years ago from a student. She loved it and did a book report on it. I thought, "No, it's not my type of book." Then last year, another student read this series and couldn't stop raving about it. I still thought it wasn't my type but I warmed up to it. The final push to read this series happened when I went to a workshop devoted to the Best Books for Grades 6-12 published that year. The presenter said this was a great series and her favorite part about it was that it includes strong female characters. Finally, I said, "Okay, I'll give it a shot."
I'll admit, it took me a little bit to get into it. The premise is that these are science fiction takes on classic fairy tale stories. The first is a cyborg Cinderella (now you can see why I felt it wasn't my "type of book"). I tried to get into it, and finally, I did. I finished the first and ran out to the library to get the next two. And then I preordered the final book because I had to get it the day it came out. Again, the premise is science fiction versions of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White. The thing I love about this series is the characters -- they are not perfect. They are flawed characters who show development over the course of the series. The females are not damsels in distress. They are strong women who can save the man too. They each have a unique voice and authentic conversations. They are ethnic -- the series features characters of multiple races and skin colors.
If you choose to read this series: it is a time commitment. Each book gets longer. The last book is 800 pages. (Surprsingly, I did not feel a single page there was unnecessary). It's not a series for everyone, but if you think it might be for you, come check it out of my classroom library! Also, I just learned recently, there will be a follow up to the series in graphic novel form!
(I also feel the need to warn: Fairest is a prequel story to the main villian. It is the most mature and dark book in the series. The series in general is clean, but does feature violence. This one has more mature tones. But guess what, it's not necessary to read Fairest to understand the series, as it just provides some insight into the villian. So if you or your parents want to stay away from those mature elements, no need to read Fairest)
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Book Recommendations
Let me let you in on a fun secret: I run the summer reading blog!! I love doing it because right around summer, I get to add lots of book lists and review for students to check out. Here are the links if you haven't seen the page:
The blog: http://merchantvilleschoolreading.blogspot.com/
Books that will be movies soon: http://merchantvilleschoolreading.blogspot.com/2015/06/read-book-before-movie-2015.html
The hashtag recommendations from junior high students last year: http://merchantvilleschoolreading.blogspot.com/2015/06/what-can-you-recommend-junior-high.html
Junior High Book Lists: http://merchantvilleschoolreading.blogspot.com/2015/05/junior-high-book-suggestion-lists.html
The blog: http://merchantvilleschoolreading.blogspot.com/
Books that will be movies soon: http://merchantvilleschoolreading.blogspot.com/2015/06/read-book-before-movie-2015.html
The hashtag recommendations from junior high students last year: http://merchantvilleschoolreading.blogspot.com/2015/06/what-can-you-recommend-junior-high.html
Junior High Book Lists: http://merchantvilleschoolreading.blogspot.com/2015/05/junior-high-book-suggestion-lists.html
Common Sense Media
Attention Parents!!
Have you ever wondered if a book was appropriate for your child? Even as a teacher sometimes I wonder about the content of a new book that I don't have time to read. Here's a secret: Sometimes I check a website called Common Sense Media
Have you ever wondered if a book was appropriate for your child? Even as a teacher sometimes I wonder about the content of a new book that I don't have time to read. Here's a secret: Sometimes I check a website called Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is a website devoted to educating parents and teachers about media content. Movies and books are reviewed for and rated on the amount of: Positive messages, Positive role models, Violence, Sex, Language, Consumerism, Drinking, drugs, & smoking. The website will tell you specifically what the book contains within those categories so you can make an educated decision. It gives recommended ages for the books or movies. It even has reviews from parents and kids who admit that the book might have been too mature or even that it was boring. Check out this website and see what it says about any YA books you might be interested in!
Here's a preview of what the Maniac Magee page looks like:
Here's a preview of what the Maniac Magee page looks like:
Book Review: Isle of the Lost
Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel
by Melissa de la Cruz
This book was the inspiration for the Descendants movie on the Disney Channel. BE AWARE! This book is NOT the movie -- it is a prequel (takes place before the events of the movie). It follows four famous Disney villain's children: the children of Maleficent, Jafar, Cruella De Vil, and The Evil Queen. Each chapter focuses on a different character as they deal with regular school issues, as well as parent issues. The book has great word choice and action. I enjoyed it and think lots of you will too. It's themes and content was a bit darker than the movie and definitely made the characters more empathetic than the movie, but I find that a perk. Check it out!
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