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Summary: The Ice Cream Scoop is about Bess and her friends doing their science project about ice cream with a new boy. While at the ice cream the ice cream starts to melt and the toppings go missing. The group tries to figure out what is happening at the ice cream store.
The Ice Cream Scoop is a fun book to read, but not challenging enough for most middle school students.
The Ice Cream Scoop is probably not a significant enough book to be taught in class, but it would be a good book for personal reading.
Questions: Describe a time when you had to let in a new person and work cooperatively with them. How would you have handled the situation at the Ice Cream Scoop with Bess and her friends?
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Keene, Carolyn. Nancy Drew and the Hidden Inheritance. New York: Pocket Books, 1996. (summary and questions created by Kasey Kiehl)
Summary: Nancy goes to a small estate on Hummingbird Hill as a favor to her father. The house belonged to a singer, and now appears to be haunted by a ghost. Nancy goes through a process of digging up many family secrets in order to uncover the real secrets behind this estate?s mystery.
Appropriate for: Grades 5-6
Teach or Circulate? Because this book is part of a popular series, I think that it would be best to circulate the book and allow members of the class to each read a different book in the series.
Shaded and Dense Questions: Many people don?t believe in ghosts, but sometimes there seems to be no explanation to events that occur. What is something that you have witnessed that seems to be ?unexplainable?? Nancy is forced to dig through the life and secret life of Sassy Lane Brandon in order to discover family secrets? Do you think that the way she tore apart her life after her death was appropriate? When Nancy is alone in the house and hears unexpected footsteps, she is scared out of her mind. Have you ever found yourself alone and scared from an unexpected noise, even if it was harmless? What were some emotions that you went through when this happened?
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Citation: Kerr, M.E., The Books of Fell: Fell. Harper Collins Publishers Inc: New York, 2001. Card done by Kristen Mossing
Summary: John Fell has never been in the good graces of the social elite, namely Helen Keat?s father. All of this changes when he accidentally slams his car into Woodrow Pingree?s Mitsubishi. This one exchange leads John Fell on a path that he was never meant to originally take. He begins to attend the Gardner school instead of Pingree?s own son by adopting a new identity. And then the FBI got involved?
For Whom Appropriate: Grades 9 and 10
Teach it or circulate it? I think that this is a book that because of some very complex issues would work very well in a classroom.
Shaded and Dense questions: What are the differences between Keats and Delia, and why does John have different reactions to each girl? After learning about the Pingree?s, is it right for John Fell to take the money promised to him? Why/why not. Why is trust such an important issue in Fell, and in personal relationships?
Thematically Related Literature: A Separate Peace- John Knowles, The Catcher in the Rye- J.D. Salinger
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Kerr, M.E. Deliver Us from Evie. New York: Harper Collins publishers, 1996.
Summary: Parr is a sixteen year old farm boy whose sister is a lesbian. His family learns how to accept this lifestyle while Parr deals with his own feelings about life.
For whom appropriate? Seventh grade and up.
Teach or circulate? Circulate. The book is very good but there are other books written about the same topic that would work for a better class discussion.
Dense questions: 1. Is it appropriate to live by the saying Parr's mom used about Evie, it is alright to be a lesbian just as long as you do not look like one? Should Evie have dressed more feminine?
2. Was it wrong for Parr to take part in putting the sign on the statue? Should the other guy have taken all the blame? Would you have done it?
3. How would you react if you were a parent of someone who dressed ambiguous and you were unsure of their sexual status? Do you think Evie's mom did the best thing?
Related literature: Living in Secret
Kerr, M.E. Night Kites. New York: 1986.
Summary: A story about an adolescent, Erick, who falls in love with his best friend's girlfriend. It's also about Erick's brother, Pete, and the drama of his struggle with AIDS.
For Whom Appropriate? 9th or 10th grade.
Teach It or Circulate It? This book deals with issues we face in the 1990's. It might be good to teach how these issues are reflected in contemporary literature.
Dense Questions: What would you do if one of your siblings was diagnosed with AIDS? How do you react to people who have it? Have you ever found yourself alone, deserted by your friends as Erick did?
Thematically Related Literature: Very Far Away from Anywhere Else--Ursula K. LeGuin; My Own Worst Enemy--Margot B. McDonnell.
Keyes, Daniel. Flowers for Algernon. New York: Harcourt Brace and World, 1959
Summary: Charlie Gordon is a mentally retarded adult who has been selected to undergo an operation to increase intelligence. His story is told through the progress reports he writes for the doctors regarding his state of mind. Charlie had been chosen for this experiment because of his eagerness to learn as well as his congenial nature. Although he matures intellectually very quickly, his emotional maturity is slow to follow. This is the conflict Charlie has within himself throughout the story. He is smart enough to understand concepts and things around him, but he is emotionally unable to accept those realities.
For Whom Appropriate: 9th or 10th graders
Teach it or Circulate it: This book deals with many complex issues, regarding friendships, family relationships, as well as some sexuality. I think it would be best taught in class, where all the issues at hand can be dealt with in group settings with many questions and brainstorming sessions.
Dense Questions: How have you reacted when you have seen someone who is "less fortunate" being teased? How did it make you feel? Is research ethical in the world that Keyes created, what about in our world?
Thematically Related:
King, Stephen. The Eyes Of The Dragon. New York: Penguin, 1987.
Two sons of King Roland, Peter and Thomas, live a relatively uneventful childhood as princes. Peter, the elder brother, is soon to be king as Roland's health is failing. Roland's advisor Flagg the magician has some control over Thomas and works to find a way to get rid of Peter so he can control the kingdom with Thomas as king.
Appropriate for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students.
This book has a fairly large amount of text but at the same time it can be a quick read for some students. This book does not have a lot of content. It has an excellent story that some students may really get into. For this reason it should be circulated.
Do you think the type of evil Flagg represents is in our lives today? Can you relate Thomas to anyone you can think of who is also in a powerful position?
Related literature to this book: Wheel of Time Series- Robert Jordan;
The Lord of The Rings- J.R.R. Tolkien.
Kjelgaard, Jim. Kalak of the Ice. New York: Holiday House, 1949.
Kalak of the Ice describes the relationship betwixt one hunter and a polar bear that everyone calls the ghost bear. The hunter, the leader of the tribe, is faced with a challenge to his leadership by the medicine man. To retain his leadership he must hunt and kill the ghost bear.
Appropriate for grades 7-9.
I would teach and circulate this book as it is an easy to read version of Jack Londons White Fang. Kjelgaard, like Jack London, describes the viewpoint of the animal being hunted not restricting himself to the human viewpoint. After reading this book has your viewpoint concerning the hunting of animals changed at all?
The leader must unify his tribe by showing himself to be strong warrior and hunting the ghost bear. Do you think this is really a valid way to prove yourself a strong warrior? Why?
Do you think Kjelgaard is describing a cycle of life when he describes Kalak killing the hunters dogs and the hunter attempting revenge on the bear?
Amy Schmidt
Klause, Annette Curtis. Blood and Chocolate. New York: Laurel Leaf Publishing. 1997
Summary: Vivian is just like any other 17 year old girl. She likes boys, loves her family and likes to make new friends. What is different about her is the fact that she is a werewolf and one of the most desirable members of the pack. Her story is one filled with guilt, remorse, revenge, murder, deceit and jealousy, all of the things that make life interesting. To top it all off she is in love with a human but pledged as a mate to the new hunky pack leader. This is her story and boy, is it a story.
For Whom Appropriate: 10th-12th grade students
Teach it or Circulate it? Due to graphic depictions of violence and some sexuality I would circulate this book. I would recommend it to students who like horror fiction, though I may emphasize that females read it because it contains romantic elements that may discourage male readers.
Shaded or Dense Questions: Do you view Vivian (the main character) as self-absorbed and arrogant, or do you feel she is justified in her confidence? Why or why not? Is there any sect today that lives in constant fear of destruction like Vivian’s pack, who are they? Should your family dictate who you date and/or marry, like the pack did for Vivian?
Thematically related Literature: Dracula by Bram Stoker, Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, Companions of the Night by Vivian Velde, The Silver Kiss, Annette Curtis Klause, The Wereling Series by Stephen Cole
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Klein, Norma. Tomboy. New York: Scholastic Magazines, 1978.
Summary: Atonia is a ten year old girl growing up in New York avoiding puberty. She struggles with keeping her best friend Libby and trying to come to terms with her body.
For whom appropriate? Fourth through seventh grade students.
Teach or circulate? Circulate. It was a very simple book with an easy topic.
Dense questions: 1. When Toe gets her period, she is very afraid and does not want anyone to know. Why? Have you ever had something in your life you tried to hide?
2. Why is Toe so adamant in keeping Hortense? Has there been something in your life you were afraid of letting go?
3. Toe is astonished at Libby having breasts. Why? Does the time a person gets puberty affect a young persons self-esteem?
Related literature: Kessa
Klein, Norma. Now That I Know. New York: Bantam Books, 1988.
Summary: Nina is a freshman in high school and has her life just the way she wants it right now. Her parents are divorced but she gets to spend half the week with each of them, which keeps Nina from getting bored with one or the other. Many difficulties begin when Nina's dad informs her that his friend, Greg, will be moving in with them.
For Whom Appropriate: Grades 6-8
Circulate It: This story is very easy reading, but wouldn't be for everyone. There isn't enough material to have a broad discussion.
Dense Questions: What do you think are some reasons that Nina finds her dad easier to get along with than her mom? Is it typical for girls to get along better with their dads more than their moms?
Can you name some societal factors that may have influenced Nina's dad to not tell Nina the truth right away about Greg? How does this effect the relationship between Nina and her father? How does our society portray children that come from divorced families? Is Nina a typical product of divorce?
Knowles, John. A Separate Peace. New York:Bantam, 1959.
Summary: the book tells the story of two friends, Gene and Phineas (Finny) as they attend school at the Devon School for boys during World War II. Its focus is their friendship and rivalry during their last moments of innocence--their youth. In the lazy summer session at school, the two boys seem to have found a separate peace, a world that exists far from the war which has invaded the lives of everyone else, until one of those lazy summer days leads to tragedy--and a terrible secret.
For Whom Appropriate? Upper level eleventh grade to twelfth grade. Has enough "guts" to challenge skilled readers, yet it is easy to follow.
Teach or Circulate? Teach it. Beginning is a bit slow--read students into the text.
Dense Questions: Gene and Finny are coming of age in a world dominated by war, where the school acts as insulation for the summer term. How does their situation differ or resemble that of high school students today? Do you think today's young people can retain their innocence in our modern world by staying in school?
Thematically Related Lit: Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko, The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane.
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Koja, Kathe. The Blue Mirror. Canada: Douglas and McIntyre, 2004.
Summary: Seven-year-old Maggy Klass, who frequently seeks refuge from her alcoholic mother’s apartment by sitting and drawing in a local café, becomes involved in a destructive relationship with a charismatic homeless youth Cole.
For Whom Appropriate? Grades 7-8
Teach or Circulate? I think I would just recommend this novel. I like the book but I really do not see the significance in teaching it. It would be hard to justify the literary value in the classroom. I enjoy the theme of the novel and the plot and therefore would be glad to recommend this book to my student.
Dense Questions: In a classroom setting, how as a teacher are you going to promote a positive outlet for your students to use much like Maggy’s sketches in a local café? Have you ever known anybody who turned out to be someone they weren’t? How did you respond? What were the effects? Did you treat people differently after you were so betrayed?
Krakauer, Jon. Into The Wild. New York: Anchor Books, 1996.
Summary: Non-fictional story of a recent college graduate dropping from society and traveling around the country. Krakauer tells the story of his travels and his death. He ends up going in to the Alaskan wilderness to try to survive off the land. It is an interesting topic of society and
wilderness. Incredible story and it is written really well.
Appropriate: 10th, 11th or 12th graders.
Circulate it (unless in a survival unit): It is interesting for specific types of students. Some students would not be that interested in the story, unless is was taught right. It could lead to some incredible debates. Students who like to rebel or have an interest in outdoor, nature type stories would be interested.
Dense question: Do you think McCandless justly died, and how does someone justly die? What do you think went through his mind the last days of his life and would this be the same for most people? How do you know?
Thematically related literature: Poetry of John Haines (Alaskan poet). Unit on wilderness survival. Stories about nature and survival. Other Jon Krakauer stories.
Krakauer, Jon. Into Thin Air. New York: Villard Books, 1997.
Summary: It is a personal story about the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster.
Krakauer records his experience as one of the few surviving members of the climbing team. He goes deep into the history of those who have tried to climb Mt. Everest throughout time. He writes about the days leading up to the death of the climbers and also the days in which the people died. He deals graphically with the physical effects of the climb. He deals with his personal grief and guilt about lying in a tent while people died because he was too exhausted and sick to help. He also writes about the effects that his initial article in the Outside magazine had on the family members and friends of those who died. It is an intense story.
Appropriate Level: 11th and 12th grades.
Circulate it: Most students would enjoy this book and be affected by it, but those who are into climbing and the outdoors might be more inclined to read it.
Dense Questions: What do you think are the implications that Krakauer introduces by writing about his role as a journalist and the appropriateness of his writing this story? What do you think leads people to try to climb a mountain that has the history of only one out of every
four climbers surviving? What does the adventure described in the book tell us about human nature?
Thematically Related Literature: Other Krakauer books. Other stories about mountain climbing.