Calamity Jack by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

Grade Level: 6 – 8

Fountas and Pinnell Level: N

Theme:  Adventure

Genre: Fantasy

I loved how the characters were from old Fairy Tales!  I felt like I already knew a little about them when I started reading this book.  My students needed a bit of a nudge to get into this one…and the fairy tale reference helped them too.  After understanding the characters, and the fact that it is set in a historical but fantastical town, the students found this book action packed, and easy to read.

Based on Jack and the Beanstalk, this time Jack teams up with Rapunzel and her lasso of hair to beat the giant, Blunderboar, in the sky.  Jack, having had to run away after stealing Blunderboar’s goose, returns to his hometown only to find it taken over by giants and ant-people.  Jack and Rapunzel have a coup on their hands!

ISBN: 978-1599900766

Skeleton Key: The Graphic Novel by Antony Johnston and Anthony Horowitz

Grade Level: 6 – 8

Fountas and Pinnell Level: O

Theme:  Adventure, Good and Evil

Genre: Science Fiction, Action

Alex Rider is hired by the CIA to divert attention from his “mom and dad” spies.  He, however, sees himself as more of an accomplice until the real spies are killed, and he willingly takes over.  This action-packed graphic novel comes filled with everything from atomic bombs to James Bond gadgets such as expanding chewing gum. 

This was actually the first graphic novel I’d ever read.  I found it a very quick and enjoyable read, although it took me a little while to get used to “reading” the pictures as well as the text.  My students enjoyed the action of this book, and very few of them abandoned this great story.

ISBN-13: 978-0399254185

The Mob by Clem Martini

Grade Level: 7, 8

Fountas and Pinnell Level: X

Theme:  Family, Friendship, Traditions

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

The first impression my students had of “The Mob” was a book about animals…too immature for grade 7s!  But upon further exploration, the themes of family and friendship are strong.  Traditions, strength of character, responsibilities, and loyalty are all great discussion topics. 

The Mob of crows which makes up a very extended family, meets together at an annual Gathering.  This coming-of-age story is about Kyp, a male adolescent crow who is temporarily exiled for causing the accidental death of another crow, but prematurely returns to warn his family of imminent danger.  Kyp’s proposal offers no guarantee of survival against the challenge the family faces.  Only teamwork, strength and wisdom will give the crows a fighting chance.

ISBN-13: 978-1553376644

Elephant Run by Roland Smith

 Grade Level: 7 – 8

Genre: Historical Fiction

Theme: Relationships, War, Survival

I’ve always been a fan of stories from other countries and other times.  This book is no exception.  I was drawn to the overtly stereotypical Burmese and Japanese characters, to the descriptive settings, and to the various personalities of the the elephants.  This made the read worthwhile, especially when I discovered the disappointing and predictable ending. 

Thankfully for my students, knowledge about 1940s history was not a requirement, and in fact, it was not a leading theme.  It is helpful, though, to recognize when students are open to reading about other ways of living, and when there is just not enough context to make the story interesting to them.  I was not surprised to see some students abandon the book.

For teachers, this book is full of rich symbolism, and provides much to talk about within a classroom setting.  The elephants, the bell, and the complex relationships are all great starting points.

ISBN 13: 978-1-4231-0402-5, 318 pp

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Fountas and Pinnell Level: V

Grade Level: 6 – 8

Genre: Adventure

Theme: Survival

I read The Hunger Games aloud to my grade 7 class last year and they would not let me put it down.  This intense story of survival takes place in the future and involves 12 Districts.  Every year, each district must send one adolescent girl and one adolescent boy to the capitol for the to-the-death competition called The Hunger Games.  The Hunger Games is held in a different environment created by the Capitol.  The participants use various strategies from brains to brawn to overcome threats from “natural” disasters and each other to out-live their opponents.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as did nearly everyone in my grade 7 class, boys and girls alike.  Many of them went on to search out and read both sequels, Catching Fire and Mockingjay.

http://www.scholastic.ca/thehungergames/

http://www.thehungergames.co.uk/