I need more ideas for a 7th grade Honors class novel. Here's what I have in the book room already: The Pigman (I love this, but it's too easy for honors) Glory Field (Not sure I can teach the depth of this book well) The Clay Marble (Will they enjoy this?) Local News (Not a fan) and The Watsons Go to Birmingham (C-lvl or honors?) First, all of these books are new to me since I was in school, and second, I'm a new teacher so all of this is new to me anyway. I would like to find something down-to-earth (but not as funny as The Pigman), yet thought-provoking (but not as heavy as Glory Field). Any suggestions? &
With my gifted class, I use Call of the Wild, Night, Huck Finn, Giver, Kindred, Chew on This, Lit Circles of Ann Rinaldi historical fiction: A Break With Charity, An Aquaintance With Darkness, ...Or Give Me Death, and Chasing Liberty. Watsons Go to Birmingham is used in 5th grade in my district.
I found The Day No Pig's Would Die to be a good book. It is difficult to read it without crying but worth the tears. The Cay and The Giver are good also. You might check The Westing Game, it can be confusing but for honors it would be good.
The kids LOVE the Westing Game. I just finished it with my honors kids and it was a HIT! I'm going to do the Lightning Thief at the end of the year. It's a Sunshine State book.
THE GIVER IN FOURTH GRADE? I am appalled. If my daughter read The Giver in fourth grade I would be on the phone so fast the principal's head would spin. That is just simply inappropriate. THEY KILL BABIES in that book, for heaven's sake, not to mention the concepts about individuality and choice are things that even seventh graders have a hard time wrapping their heads around. This is a book that has depth for even an adult. Not yelling at you, ampersand. Just expressing disbelief!
Right now I'm doing Touching Spirit Bear with my seventh graders. They are loving it. I am doing it as a read aloud and they are following along, then we discuss and they do various response activities. I will definitely do it again.
Freak the Mighty would be a great novel that would lead to many discussions about prejudice, individuality, strength, compassion. There is a sequel to it, too.
Freak the Mighty? I'll have to look into that. For now, we're on track with "Nothin But the Truth" by Avi. If anyone has any plans or materials for this book, please share!
