Book+Choices

Breakdown of Book Genre Considerations: Sports fiction - 2 Fantasy - 1 Romance/Classic - 1 Sci Fi/Classic - 1 Sci Fi - 1 Biography/Autobiography - 2 (one male, one female) Multicultural - 1 Historical Fiction - 1 Graphic novel - 1 Nonfiction - 1 Humor - 1 Realistic fiction - 3 Chick lit - 1 Mystery - 1

|||||||||||||||||||| ** 2011 Summer Reading List Potentials ** ||
 * Title || Author || Genre || M/F/B || Aprox. Reading Level || Description || Reader A || Reader B || PB/HC/K || Final List? ||
 * Earth Abides || Stewart, George R. || Dystopian/Sci Fi/Classic || M || Lexile 960 || This book would fall in the dystopian, sci fi, classic category. It was written in the 50s, I think, but most of it is timeless. There's lots of science in it. I found it to be a wholly compelling read. || Shay || || PB - K || ||
 * Into Thin Air || Krakauer, Jon || Nonfiction, Adventure || M || adult || Entertaining and exciting account of climbing Mt. Everest || Shay || || PB - K || ||
 * SideScrollers || Loux, Matthew || Graphic novel || M || YA || Brian, Brad and Matt are best described as lovable perpetual losers. They're good guys who just lack direction and are all too happy to be enjoying that lazy time after high school. Their favorite thing to do in life is to play video games, eat junk food and kick around the suburban town they live in. All of this tranquil laziness is interrupted when Brian, Brad and Matt discover that the new girl Amber (of whom Matt is sweet on) is going to that night's big local rock show with Richard, the bully football jock. Determined to steer her away from Richard, the boys are launched off of their lazy rears and forced into a grand adventure. Chased by an irate football team, a vengeful troop of Girl Scouts and a stalking evil cat that may actually be possessed by Satan, our heroes are thrust into a giant rock 'n' roll videogame adventure. Sidescrollers is on the of American Library Association's YALSA top ten list of greatest graphic novels for teens for 2008! Matt Loux and Sidescrollers has been nominated for the 2007 Harvey Awards for Best New Talent!  || || || PB || ||
 * Going Bovine || Bray, Libby || Humor, Contemporary || M || YA || This book is quite the roller coaster ride. It's had some absolutely hysterical moments, yet it isn't really a funny topic. The main character begins seeing things and discovers that he has a life threatening illness, which as he says, sucks. I wasn't sure where the author was going with this plot and half the time I didn't know if what I was reading was real or in the character's head, but I was entertained and I think it would make for interesting discussion. || Shay || Janowiec || PB - K || ||
 * A Prayer for Owen Meany || Irving, John || Coming of age || M || lexile 1050 || I found this story to be both funny and poignant. It involves two young boys who grow up together. One of them, at the beginning of the story causes the death of the other's mother, but they become inseperable. || Shay || || PB - K || ||
 * Last Days of Summer || Kluger, Steve || Historical fiction || M || Lexile 900 || Very funny, and even poignant, historical fiction. This is an epistolary novel. told through letters, post cards, news clippings, matchbook covers, etc. A young boy writes his favorite baseball player from the Giants pre-WWII. The two develop a relationship, in which there is much humorous banter. The story turns more serious when the ball player enlists in WWII. || Shay || || PB || ||
 * Hunger Games || Collins, Suzanne || Sci Fi, Action || B || Lexile 810 || Great action. Has been very popular with teens. Think American Idol meets the Roman Gladiators. || Shay || || PB-K || ||
 * My Sister's Keeper || Piccoult, Jodi || Realistic || F || Lexile 840 || Very popular with teens and adults. A teen girl sues her parents for emancipation because she is tired of being the doner for her very sick sister. Smart dialogue. Would make for interesting discussion. || Shay || || PB-K || ||
 * How to Ruin a Summer Vacation || Elkeles, Simone || Chick Lit || F || Lexile 710 || YALSA 2007 Teens’ Top Ten "A breezy read." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books “Fresh, fun and fabulous! Guaranteed NOT to ruin your summer vacation!”  || || || PB-K || ||
 * Box Out || Coy, John || Sports || M || R.L. 3.5 Lexile 540 || A kid questions his coach's praying before each game and insisting that his players pray also. Could make for interesting discussion. Could be too controversial. || || || PB-K || ||
 * The Blue Girl || de Lint, Charles || Fantasy, Contemporary || F || Lexile 800 || This might appeal to a number of my readers who will have read many of the other books on the list. Here's the review from School Library Journal: Grade 9 Up–This lively novel thoughtfully examines friendships that cross magical boundaries and explores how love can strengthen and save us. || || || PB || ||
 * Ironman || Crutcher, Chris || Sports || M || Lexile 980 || Sports novel about a young man who has some anger issues. I like this author a lot. || Shay || || PB-K || ||
 * Marcelo in the Real World || Stork, Francisco || Realistic Fiction || M || Lexile 700 || A high functioning autistic young man goes to work in a law firm office in the mail room. Has gotten excellent reviews. || || || PB-K || ||
 * Skeleton Creek || Carman, Patrick || Mystery/Horror/Vook || M || RL 5.2 || Mystery to be read in conjuction with watching video clip from the associated site on the web. || || || PB || ||
 * The Red Necklace || Gardner, Sally || Historical fiction/Romance/Mystery || B || Lexile 800 || Set during French Revolution, primary character a 14-year-old orphan boy and the teen daughter of a marquis. Compared to the movies The Illusionist and the Prestige. || || || PB-K || ||
 * AThousand Splendid Suns || Hosseini, Khaled || Mutlticultural || F || Lexile 830 || Set in contemporary Afghanistan. Follows the lives of two young women from childhood to maturity. Powerful story. || Shay || || PB-K || ||
 * My Life in Dog Years || Paulson, Gary || Autobiography || M || RL 5.2 || Unique autobiography by best selling author. Talks about his life by telling about the dogs he owned at different points in his life. || Shay || || PB || ||
 * Up Close: Rachael Carson || Ellen Levine || Biography || F || RL 6.0 || Starred review. Bio of Rachel Carson, who wrote Silent Spring, which was a forerunner of the environmentalist movement. || || || PB-K || ||
 * Emma || Jane Austin || Romance || F || ? || Need a romance. This is a classic - will take other suggestions || || || PB-K || ||

Please visit our Shelfari page to see a list of books we are considering. It is a great site for several reasons! You can read plot summaries, reviews, etc. There is also a space where we can have discussions about the books we are considering. I sent everyone an invitation to join the Summer Reading group. If you click on this group from the home page you should see a list of discussions. We can also discuss books on this wiki page.

[]