I apologize that it's taking so long for me to get back to books for independent readers. With summer a few days away, I'd like to update you on what my own children are currently reading, and provide you with some more suggestions. My children will also be writing some book reviews for you this summer!
My 11 year old son, GreenGuy, is currently reading The Wednesday Wars, by Gary D. Schmidt, and so far he loves it. You can find The New York Times review here. Some clue words for you, though: 7th grade boy, teacher, Shakespeare, Vietnam War....sounds interesting, right?
My 14 year old daughter, StrawberryGirl, recently read her first adult book. I had reservations about letting her read My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult, but it brings up some very important issues which I feel are extremely relevant to teen girls. You can find the The Washington Post review here. This book was made into a movie, which is coming out in a few days, but it's a good idea to read the book first. You can find the movie trailer here.
By the way, there's been a lot of controversy in the blogosphere over the past couple of weeks about whether children should be reading books that are intended for older readers or not. I will address this topic next week, but for now you can read more about it at Jen Robinson's Book Page.
In the meantime, here are some great lists to get your independent readers started with summer reading:
- School Library Journal's "A Potpourri of Paperbacks"
- Jen Robinson's and PBS' 48 Hour Book Challenge Recommendations
- Booklist's Top 10 Science Fiction/Fantasy Books for Youth 2009
- Children's Book Review's 2009 Summer Reading Suggestions: Middle School
I will be on the lookout for more lists of summer reading selections for tweens and teens, and will continue to give you updates. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share!
Enjoy the last few days of school and spring...
