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James, Henry. The Turn of the Screw. New York: E.P. Dutton and Co. Inc. 1957.

A young woman was hired to care for two beautiful, seemingly perfect, orphaned children. The woman meets the ghosts of the former guardians who are not only showing up once and a while, but possibly also possessing the children. This struggle between good and evil is interesting to follow because of James' use of ambiguity.

I would suggest this book for junior or seniors because of the heavy use of ambiguity and the unfamiliar language. I would teach this book. Classroom discussion would help to explain confusing points in the text and the use of ambiguity in literature.

The young woman had a huge responsibility to care for the children without the support from the children's uncle. How would you have handled the note from Mile's school saying he was expelled?

Children do many things unexplainable to adults. What would you have told Miles as he came inside from his night excursion?

Janeczko, Paul B. Looking for Your Name. New York: Orchard Books, 1993.

Summary: This collection of works reaches for the younger reader while making a statement about life in America. The collect stems from the main theme of conflict, but touches many topics which the youth of America can relate to like sports, jobs, accidents, AIDS, love, and family. The poems flow from one related theme to another and seem to keep you reading until the end. There is definitely something for everyone in this book.

For Whom Appropriate? Junior and Senior high students

Teach or circulate it? The book might carry too many themes for a clear classroom discussion, but it is definitely worth circulating.

Dense Questions: How do you feel some of the poems in the book related to your life and experiences? Explain. If you could pick one poem form the book and relate it to yourself, which one would it be and why?

Thematically related Literature: Sounds and Silences-- Richard Peck, The Music of what Happens-- Paul B. Janeczko, and Mad Sad and Glad-- Stephen Dunning

Jiang, Ji Li. Red Scarf Girl. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997.
Summary: A memoir about a twelve-year old girl living during the Cultural Revolution, this book gives dramatic descriptions of what it was like to live as a wealthy Chinese. Ji-li Jiang?s story shows how intelligence and wealth was wrong during the Cultural Revolution, and how she and her family dealt with the prejudices against them. From dealing with issues at school, at home, and in the community, Jiang and her family show what bravery really is.
Appropriate: 5th- 12th grade. Struggling readers. Book is measured for 6th grade.
Teach it or circulate it: Circulate it. This book is a slow read and would be good for a struggling English class, if incorporated with the history class. Students would need background information to fully understand the Cultural Revolution and Ji-li Jiang?s story.
Shaded/ Dense Questions: How do the relationships with Ji-li and her classmates differ from your relationships? How are they similar? Which experiences of Ji-li?s do you think best relates to the difficulties other?s have had in other experiences (other revolutions, wars, tragedies, etc.)?
Related Literature: Chinese Poetry, Little Green, Forbidden City

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Johnson, Angela. Toning the Sweep. New York: Orchard Books, 1982.

Summary: Emmie goes to the desert of southern California every summer to visit her grandmother Ola. This will probably be her last trip because her grandmother is dying and Emmie and her mother are going to pack up Ola=s house and take her to a hospital in Cleveland. Ola is full of life and courageous but it is still very hard for her to leave her home and the desert she loves. Emmie must come to terms with her grandmother=s dying.

For Whom Appropriate 5th grade and beyond

Teach it. This book is wonderful in it=s feeling, characters and descriptions. It deals with someone very important in Emmie=s life dying, something every student will inevitably have to face.

Dense questions Why do you think it is important for Emmie and her grandmother to talk about what=s happening? Have you ever had to deal with the death of someone close to you and how was your experience similar or different from Emmie=s?

Related Literature Ellen Foster ---Kaye Gibbons; Love Medicine---Louise Erdrich; A Yellow Raft On Blue Water --- Micheal Dorris

Jones, Terry. Douglas Adams's Starship Titanic. New York: Harmony Books, 1997.

Summary: The greatest and most wonderful starship has been built, but it is faced with deadline problems and financial problems from the very beginning. The Accountant and the Contractor are going to scuttle the ship and claim the insurance money when the architect discovers them tearing apart the ships brain and kills them. The ship takes off and crashes on Earth where Dan, Lucy, and Nettie board the ship. The starship takes off and they must find the missing pieces of the brain to deactivate the bomb and get back home.

For Whom Appropriate? 11th and 12th grade.

Teach it or Circulate it? It should be circulated, the text is rather immature but deals with some issues that require mature reading. This is classified as since fiction humor. Kids who don't like science fiction will not like this book.

Dense Questions: Towards the end, Dan and Lucy found out that they were saying that they wanted the hotel because they thought that is what the other one wanted when neither of them wanted it. They figured that it applied to their relationship as well. Rewrite this part, How would you have Dan and Lucy work things out differently?

Nigel treated Nettie like she was no more intelligent than a two-year-old, when in fact she was very smart. How would you have Nettie assert herself and why?

Thematically Related Literature: Life, the Universe, and Everything -Douglas Adams;

Jones, Tim Wayne. The Maestro. New York: Orchard Books, 1995.

Summary: A story of a young man Burl Crow who is on the run from his father. Running in the wilderness Burl notices a Grand Piano hanging from a helicopter; finding it strange Burl follows the helicopter until he reaches a secluded lake. It is here that Burl meets Nathaniel Orlando Gow, the Maestro. conducting on the deck of a remote cabin. Nathaniel changes Burl's life and perception of the world together.

For Whom Appropriate/Teach or circulate: I would circulate this book to grades 7-8. The story line is simple, easy to follow, but is a touching story with a strong message.

Dense Questions:

1. If you were going to run away from home seriously at Burl's age, wouldn't you pack more responsibly?

2. Does the Maestro only teach Burl or has Burl discovered something to give back to the Maestro?

3. Are the problems Burl has with his father really worth running away for? What alternatives could there have been?

Related Literature: I would submit "Music of the Heart" by Samantha Abeel for further reading.

Josephs, Rebecca. Early Disorder. New York: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1980.

Summary: The book provides a first person account of anorexia nervosa. Fifteen-year-old Willa has grown up with a very normal family. Although she is an attractive and smart young girl, she sees herself as fat. This is the story if her struggle with starvation.

For Whom Appropriate? 9th grade

Teach it or circulate it? This book is for individual reading. It is an easy read and doesnt need much explanation.

Dense Questions: Why do you think that Willa, who would generally be described as pretty and of normal stature, feel the need to starve herself? Who do you think is at fault for her illness? Do you think that society places too much pressure on women to look a certain way?

Thematically related Literature: