The Literary Maven

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<b>The basic plot from Amazon: </b>In this stunning debut novel, Pushcart-nominated author Ibi Zoboi draws on her own experience as a young Haitian immigrant, infusing this lyrical exploration of America with magical realism and <i>vodou</i> culture.<br />
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On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find <i>une belle vie</i>—a good life.<br />
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But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.<br />
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Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b>Why I liked it: </b>In </span><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2yVCsYl" target="_blank">American Street</a>. </i></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">the narrator Fabiola is coming from Haiti with her mother, but her mother is detained. She joins her three cousins and aunt in Detroit alone. </div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Fabiola's eldest cousin Chantal is in college and the most level-headed of the three girls. Donna is the “pretty girl” and dating Dray. Pri is Donna’s twin sister. She is a lesbian and fiercely loyal to her sisters. Fabiola starts school where her cousins have a reputation as the three B’s. </div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">It's not long before Fabiola is approached by a detective outside of school who suspects Donna’s boyfriend Dray is connected to a bad batch of drugs. Her efforts to help her mother spiral out of control when she finds out her cousins, not Dray were responsible for dealing the bad batch of drugs. Her Aunt Jo, who acts as a money lender in their neighborhood has recently had a stroke. The girls get into dealing drugs to get themselves out of finical trouble with Q. In the meantime, the narrator falls for Kasim, Dray’s best friend, and is devastated when he is killed by police at a party that she tipped the police off about. </div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">The narrative is interspersed with characters’ backstories. For example, it is revealed that the three B’s father was actually killed by Dray as a young boy when he was training under Q. His volatile relationship with Donna is largely due to his self-hatred over it. I liked the different voices of these backstories as well as the infusion of Haitian voodoo and magical realism.</div>
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<b>Classroom application: </b><i>American Street</i> is appropriate for high school and up. The novel focuses on the American Dream and how elusive its attainment can be. It would make a great contrast to classic novels like <i>The Great Gatsby, The Jungle</i>, <i>Maggie: A Girl of the Streets</i> and more contemporary books like <i>The Last Shot</i> by Darcy Frey.<br />
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If you are interested in purchasing a copy of <i>American Street</i> for yourself, you can find it on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/3gFkZUw" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<i>Note:</i> The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.<br />
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<b>The basic plot from Amazon: </b>Being the middle child has its ups and downs.<br />
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But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including—<br />
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Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs.<br />
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And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can’t hurt anyone but him.<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b>Why I liked it: </b>In </span><a href="https://amzn.to/2ZY2vrw" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Far From The Tree</a><i> </i>the narration alternates between three siblings separated from birth. The oldest Joaquin is biracial and has spent his life in the foster care system. He is currently close to being adopted despite his age, but is afraid of getting too close to others. Grace, the middle child, has recently given up her own daughter for adoption. That experience sparked her interest in finding her birth siblings and possibly also her birth mother. The youngest, Maya, feels like an outsider in her own family because she was adopted and her sister was a natural birth. Her parents are in the midst of separating and her mother’s drinking problem escalates to a stay in rehab. </div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Maya and Grace meet first and then seek out Joaquin together. The three begin bonding and quickly begin to rely on their relationships with each other. They decide to look for their mother together and learning her story helps each of them to better accept themselves and appreciate their adopted families.<br />
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<b>Classroom application: </b>The novel has mature themes including teen pregnancy and alcohol and drug use, and would be appropriate for high school and up. <br />
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If you are interested in purchasing a copy of <i>Far From The Tree</i> for yourself, you can find it on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2ZY2vrw" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<i>Note:</i> The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.<br />
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<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVuIpt77k54/X3jHPIF57xI/AAAAAAAATV0/P7JA1dWArScho-97EI_R2ZRqFVWeBVDEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s792/Slide1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="With so many great books out there, following Instagram accounts that highlight middle grade new titles to read and recommend to students." border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="792" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVuIpt77k54/X3jHPIF57xI/AAAAAAAATV0/P7JA1dWArScho-97EI_R2ZRqFVWeBVDEgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/Slide1.png" title="With so many great books out there, following Instagram accounts that highlight middle grade new titles to read and recommend to students." width="400" /></a></div>With so many great books out there and so many other things on teachers' plates these days, following Instagram accounts that highlight middle grade novels and young adult literature is a great way to find new titles to read and recommend to students. Here's 8 accounts to follow if you are looking for titles to share with your students and add to your classroom library.<p></p><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/bayeringwithfreshmen/" target="_blank"><b>1. @BayeringWithFreshmen</b></a><br />Allie Bayer, a career long freshmen English teacher, with just enough humor and honesty to “sell” younger generations on the magic and importance of reading. Allie reads primarily young adult literature, with her favorite genres being YA thriller & mystery and YA romance.<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>What is the best book you've read so far this year? </b><i>Circe</i> by Madeline Miller</li><li><b>What are three of your favorite books to recommend to students who claim they don't like to read?</b> <i>Illuminae, All American Boys, Dear Martin</i></li><li><b>How do you select the books you read? </b>Sometimes price, sometimes by the cover art alone. Sometimes I take others’ recommendations. Sometimes I chose based on the color of the spine (Read the Rainbow). Sometimes I pick an unknown by an author I like. Sometimes I let students choose for me. Sometimes I get talked into a buddy read, and sometimes I choose by genre and the mood I’m in! </li><li><b>How do you make time for reading? </b>I don’t make excuses. I put my phone where I can’t reach it and pick up a book. I prioritize it and want my own children at home to see me read frequently. I find it’s an important hobby to model for my kids and for my students. I always SHOW them how much/often I read. </li></ul><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><b>2. @englishelixir</b></a><br />Amanda is a middle school English teacher with a passion for reading. In addition to teaching, she also is a TpT Author. Amanda reads a mix of young adult and middle grades novels. Her favorite genres are realistic fiction, crime/mystery, and graphic novels.<br /><div><ul><li><b>What is the best book you've read so far this year? </b><i>The Prince and the Dressmaker</i></li><li><b>What are three of your favorite books to recommend to students who claim they don't like to read? </b><i>The First Part Last</i> by Angela Johnson, <i>All the Bright Places</i> by Jennifer Niven, and <i>Long Way Down</i> by Jason Reynolds</li><li><b>How do you select the books you read? </b>Generally, I’ll select a book based on reviews from friends online or I will be interested by the cover!</li><li><b>How do you make time for reading?</b> I’m a big morning reader when I’m not at school, and when I am there, I read with students during silent reading time.</li></ul><b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tiplerteaches/" target="_blank">3. @tiplerteaches</a></b><br />Megan is an Indigenous educator who is committed to decolonizing her teaching practices, disrupting the curriculum and including more representative texts in English Language Arts. She is particularly passionate about Indigenous literatures and #ownvoices. Aside from teaching, she enjoys coaching basketball, crafting and drawing, and collecting sneakers! Megan reads primarily young adult literature and her favorite genres are realistic fiction and novels in verse. She curates a list of indigenous texts <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12AKDfXOICKMg5IgD-QKNJlYHYbCdzufE0gVQMj_PO-4/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>.<ul><li><b>What is the best book you've read so far this year? </b>Just one?! Most recently I loved <i>Clap When You Land</i> by Elizabeth Acevedo. </li><li><b>What are three of your favorite books to recommend to students who claim they don't like to read? </b>Anything Jason Reynolds, <i>The Prince and the Dressmaker</i>, and <i>The 57 Bus.</i></li><li><b>How do you select the books you read? </b>Mostly recommendations from fellow teachers (in real life and Instagram) and student recommendations.</li><li><b>How do you make time for reading? </b>I resisted audiobooks for a long time, but I find they're a huge asset during the busier parts of the year with teaching and coaching. I always have a novel or audiobook with me and try to squeeze in reading time. That being said, I prefer being able to sit down and power through a book in one sitting. I have to consciously set that time aside, or else I find a million other things that "need" to be done.</li></ul><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><b>4. @rileyreadsya</b></a><br />Kara Wojick is a middle school teacher with experience in grades 6-8, and works especially closely with reluctant readers. She blogs about how to create engagement around reading and design systems to help teachers maintain a robust independent reading program all year long. Kara  reads a mix of young adult and middle grades novels. Her favorite genres are realistic fiction, particularly coming of age, and dystopian novels. Kara shares her book review on her blog, <a href="https://www.rileyreadsya.com">https://www.rileyreadsya.com</a>.</div><div><ul><li><b>What is the best book you've read so far this year? </b><i>Genesis Begins Again</i> </li><li><b>What are three of your favorite books to recommend to students who claim they don't like to read? </b><i>Ghost Boys, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,</i> and <i>Everything, Everything</i></li><li><b>How do you select the books you read? </b>I look for award-winners, read amazon reviews, and like project lit titles, but I’m very picky! I also like to read a diverse range of characters and authors. </li><li><b>How do you make time for reading? </b>I set weekly goals! (Page goals— just like I do for students!)</li></ul><a href="https://www.instagram.com/elaclassroom/" target="_blank"><b>5. @elaclassroom</b></a><br />Lauralee Moss has taught middle school and high school English for over a dozen years. She blogs at Language Arts Classroom and reads a new book to her students every Friday for First Chapter Friday. Lauralee reads primarily young adult fiction and her favorite genres are romance and dystopia. You can find even more book reviews on her blog, <a href="https://languageartsclassroom.com/blog/educational-books">https://languageartsclassroom.com/blog/educational-books</a>.</div><div><ul><li><b>What is the best book you've read so far this year? </b><i>Frankly in Love</i></li><li><b>What are three of your favorite books to recommend to students who claim they don't like to read?<i> </i></b><i>Speak, So B It</i>, and any graphic novel.</li><li><b>How do you select the books you read? </b>I stay current with hashtags on Instagram. I pay attention to new releases, but I also look at popular writers. If students often like a writer, I'm likely to read another book by that author. </li><li><b>How do you make time for reading? </b>I snag five minute periods of time, often between classes in the halls.</li></ul><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><b>6. @secondaryurbanlegends</b></a><br />You can always find Samantha sharing about books and all things engaging literacy. Samantha reads a mix of young adult literature and middle grades novels. Her favorite genres are realistic and historical fiction.</div><div><ul><li><b>What is the best book you've read so far this year? </b>No way!!! I read like 100 a year and this year alone I would give five starts to like 10. </li><li><b>What are three of your favorite books to recommend to students who claim they don't like to read? </b><i>Crossover, Drums Girls and Dangerous Pie</i>, and <i>A Long Walk to Water.</i></li><li><b>How do you select the books you read? </b>Start with popular then do classics. </li><li><b>How do you make time for reading? </b>It’s second nature to me. It’s how I relax, it’s how I clear my head, and it’s also where I find my purpose.</li></ul><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/2peasandadog/" target="_blank"><b>7. @2peasandadog</b></a></div></div>Kristy Avis, 2 Peas and a Dog, is a Canadian middle school teacher. When she is not teaching, she loves creating lesson plans to help other ELA teachers. She reads a mix of young adult and middle grades novels. Her favorite genre is realistic fiction. Kristy also reviews books on her blog, <a href="http://www.2peasandadog.com" target="_blank">www.2peasandadog.com</a>.<div><ul><li><b>What is the best book you've read so far this year? </b><i>Clap When You Land</i> by Elizabeth Acevedo</li><li><b>What are three of your favorite books to recommend to students who claim they don't like to read? </b><i>Ghost</i> by Jason Reynolds, <i>Refugee</i> by Alan Gratz, and any graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier</li><li><b>How do you select the books you read? </b>I read the back of the novel (book summary) and decide if it would interest my students. If so I will read it, if not I will leave it for another teacher to read. </li><li><b>How do you make time for reading? </b>I make time to read by listening to audiobooks while doing chores, cooking, or commuting. I also set a bedtime and read before bed. </li></ul><div><b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/theliterarymaven/" target="_blank">8. @theliterarymaven</a></b></div><div>That's me! I am a former high school English teacher turned 6th grade ELA teacher, which might explain why I favor young adult literature over middle grade novels. My favorite genres are historical fiction and dystopia. You can find book reviews <a href="https://www.theliterarymaven.com/search/label/my%20bookshelf" target="_blank">here</a> on my blog and book recommendation lists <a href="https://www.theliterarymaven.com/search/label/book%20list" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div><ul><li><b>What is the best book you've read so far this year? </b>It's a tie between <i>Girl, Serpent, Thorn</i> by Melissa Bashardoust and <i>Mirage</i> by Somaiya Daud.</li><li><b>What are three of your favorite books to recommend to students who claim they don't like to read? </b><i>Forged by Fire </i>by Sharon Draper<i>, Girl, Stolen </i>by April Henry, and anything by Jason Reynolds</li><li><b>How do you select the books you read? </b>Because of the reviews I do here on my blog as well as on social media, I am fortunate enough to receive ARCs from a number of publishing companies, so many of the books I read are gifted to me. Otherwise I read popular new titles on my Kindle through Overdrive or books in my classroom library that I haven't read yet.</li><li><b>How do you make time for reading? </b>This has been tough for me with three little ones at home. I got into audiobooks in the last year and that has helped tremendously. I always have a book with me at school or in the car when I might have a few minutes to squeeze in a few pages. I also try to read before bed at least a few nights a week.</li></ul></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3wzRLrt0Q0/X3jHmZATl9I/AAAAAAAATV8/db6-Yls-QOsbMk3ffSKbifWi9Ih5z_tUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1510/Slide1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="With so many great books out there, following Instagram accounts that highlight middle grade new titles to read and recommend to students." border="0" data-original-height="1510" data-original-width="792" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3wzRLrt0Q0/X3jHmZATl9I/AAAAAAAATV8/db6-Yls-QOsbMk3ffSKbifWi9Ih5z_tUgCLcBGAsYHQ/w210-h400/Slide1.png" title="With so many great books out there, following Instagram accounts that highlight middle grade new titles to read and recommend to students." width="210" /></a></div></div></div>

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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ldM-_yCbT5o/XxSgyDjshiI/AAAAAAAASac/SwbIEfg9IgkpfObd8agVXJEHyXYuPFJwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Slide4.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="In Finale by Stephanie Garber, sisters must band together to thwart evil forces.  Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom use." border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ldM-_yCbT5o/XxSgyDjshiI/AAAAAAAASac/SwbIEfg9IgkpfObd8agVXJEHyXYuPFJwgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/Slide4.png" title="In Finale by Stephanie Garber, sisters must band together to thwart evil forces.  Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom use." width="400" /></a></div>
<b>The basic plot from Amazon: </b>A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.<br />
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It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.<br />
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With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.<br />
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Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.<br />
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Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JsQBoTMOvz4/XxSg5mNgzKI/AAAAAAAASag/oPbEEd1uPdYXGo44H5NP5k1YiJpPcbYuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Slide10.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="In Finale by Stephanie Garber, sisters must band together to thwart evil forces.  Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom use." border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JsQBoTMOvz4/XxSg5mNgzKI/AAAAAAAASag/oPbEEd1uPdYXGo44H5NP5k1YiJpPcbYuwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/Slide10.png" title="In Finale by Stephanie Garber, sisters must band together to thwart evil forces.  Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom use." width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b>Why I liked it: </b> The focus of </span><a href="https://amzn.to/3fk0tZm" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Finale</a>, the final installment in the Caraval trilogy,<i> </i>alternates between sisters Scarlet and Tella. <i><a href="https://www.theliterarymaven.com/2018/08/review-caraval-stephanie-garber.html" target="_blank">Caraval</a></i>, book 1, focused on Scarlet, and <i>Legendary</i>, book 2, focused on Tella.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">The Fates released during Caraval are gaining strength. Scarlet and Tella’s mother, also freed from the Deck of Destiny finally awakens, but then sacrifices herself in an attempt to kill Fallen Star Gaveriel. The girls’ mother Paloma, was once known as Paradise of Lost and she and Gaveriel were lovers. Gaveriel is Scarlet’s true father and he kidnaps her and tries to convince her to take control of her powers. Meanwhile Tella struggles with wanting to fall in love with Legend (Dante) and knowing that it will destroy him. Love is the weakness for Gavriel and the Fates as well. </div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Throughout the book neither Scarlett nor Tella can be sure who they should trust. The ending of the book and the series was fitting, but definitely left me hoping that this third book wouldn’t actually be the end. Scarlet took her place as the ruler Valenda and Tella is hoping that Legend will kidnap them so that their adventures can continue.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
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<b>Classroom application: </b><i>Finale</i>, like <i>Legendary</i>, is high school appropriate and up.<br />
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If you are interested in purchasing a copy of <i>Finale</i> for yourself, you can find it on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/3fk0tZm" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<i>Note:</i> The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XPw3yklqtlk/XxShA5gUDjI/AAAAAAAASak/6US3SapJJvwSmpIMX0EENzp1jWJYYqtawCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Slide9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="In Finale by Stephanie Garber, sisters must band together to thwart evil forces.  Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom use." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XPw3yklqtlk/XxShA5gUDjI/AAAAAAAASak/6US3SapJJvwSmpIMX0EENzp1jWJYYqtawCLcBGAsYHQ/w266-h400/Slide9.png" title="In Finale by Stephanie Garber, sisters must band together to thwart evil forces.  Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom use." width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hbOrV485KBw/XxShTBWmUhI/AAAAAAAASa4/Vb1S9ebVRwQ4bsPTeZfSW28dYRN9_cGoACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Slide6.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Legendary by Stephanie Garber is a fantasy novel set in a wonderful world of magic. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom use." border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hbOrV485KBw/XxShTBWmUhI/AAAAAAAASa4/Vb1S9ebVRwQ4bsPTeZfSW28dYRN9_cGoACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/Slide6.png" title="Legendary by Stephanie Garber is a fantasy novel set in a wonderful world of magic. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom use." width="400" /></a></div>
<b>The basic plot from Amazon: </b>A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.<br />
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After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.<br />
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The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more―and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about―maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.<br />
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Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wL7z1-HSmx4/XxShMmOZpmI/AAAAAAAASaw/TpkxcEi3ooAhc9-_b462P3pIBHs6wuCPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Slide11.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Legendary by Stephanie Garber is a fantasy novel set in a wonderful world of magic. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom use." border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wL7z1-HSmx4/XxShMmOZpmI/AAAAAAAASaw/TpkxcEi3ooAhc9-_b462P3pIBHs6wuCPwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/Slide11.png" title="Legendary by Stephanie Garber is a fantasy novel set in a wonderful world of magic. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom use." width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b>Why I liked it: </b></span><i><a href="https://amzn.to/38I6vAH" target="_blank">Legendary</a> </i>is a fantasy book, but there's no witches or werewolves or vampire (not my taste in fantasy), just a wonderful world of magic. While <i><a href="https://www.theliterarymaven.com/2018/08/review-caraval-stephanie-garber.html" target="_blank">Caraval</a></i>, the first book in the series focused on Scarlett, this second book is focused on her younger sister Tella. Where Scarlet was practical and cautious as she played in Caraval, Tella is bold and a risk taker. She acts on instincts and deals with the consequences later. </div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">The first game of Caraval was played by Scarlet and it was just a game, but this second round of Caraval is played by Tella and is more personal because she is hoping to win back her mother. The Deck of Destiny, something she’d discovered in her mother’s room as a child and the mythical Fates are real life figures trapped within the cards all with their own unique powers. Her mother is trapped within one of these cards.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
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<b>Classroom application: </b>I'd label this one as high school appropriate and up because the romance scenes can get a little steamy. Students who enjoy the detailed worlds of fantasy series like the Red Queen series and the Lunar Chronicles will like this series as well.<br />
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If you are interested in purchasing a copy of <i>Legendary</i> for yourself, you can find it on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/38I6vAH" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<i>Note:</i> The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1ab1f2MvqM/XxShGybGOGI/AAAAAAAASao/qVyl8fPk96Yd5n_7ONswBntPVOAO45mHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Slide5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Legendary by Stephanie Garber is a fantasy novel set in a wonderful world of magic. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom use." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h1ab1f2MvqM/XxShGybGOGI/AAAAAAAASao/qVyl8fPk96Yd5n_7ONswBntPVOAO45mHgCLcBGAsYHQ/w266-h400/Slide5.png" title="Legendary by Stephanie Garber is a fantasy novel set in a wonderful world of magic. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom use." width="266" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-chnivdS9UDg/X5d9GsvGTmI/AAAAAAAATvg/6xiClQyQnnYvKEZYGWD9AL5mZ_TxRSyAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s792/Slide1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trying to avoid the Zoom gloom? Need a break from the routine of synchronous classes? Check out these fun ideas for middle and high school students." border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="792" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-chnivdS9UDg/X5d9GsvGTmI/AAAAAAAATvg/6xiClQyQnnYvKEZYGWD9AL5mZ_TxRSyAwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/Slide1.png" title="Trying to avoid the Zoom gloom? Need a break from the routine of synchronous classes? Check out these fun ideas for middle and high school students." width="400" /></a></div>Trying to avoid the Zoom gloom? Need activities for class meetings or just a break from the routine of synchronous classes? Check out these fun games and activities your middle and high school students will love.<br /><br /><div><b>1. Mad Gab</b></div><div>These puzzles are a group of words, that at first glance and first saying don't make sense, but when you say them slowly and listen to what you hear, you can figure out what the phrase is. For example,  Common Firm Their Rain becomes Come In From The Rain. When we played over Zoom, I had students turn off their mics and cameras, so other students couldn't hear or see what they were saying. Students made their guesses in the chat. <a href="https://www.thinkablepuzzles.com/madgabs/" target="_blank">This site</a> has tons of lists of Mad Gab phrases.</div><div><i>*Recommended by <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Literary-Maven">Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven</a></i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BoBGqxeyJeI/X3HqNm6kMwI/AAAAAAAATTM/OPo-szcL3RQgy0N1C-3VWURWsS7a3X6jACLcBGAsYHQ/s1152/Distance%2BLearning%2BPP%2BGame%2BTemplate%2BCover%2B-%2BMolly%2BLedford.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Trying to avoid the Zoom gloom? Need a break from the routine of synchronous classes? Check out these fun ideas for middle and high school students." border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BoBGqxeyJeI/X3HqNm6kMwI/AAAAAAAATTM/OPo-szcL3RQgy0N1C-3VWURWsS7a3X6jACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/Distance%2BLearning%2BPP%2BGame%2BTemplate%2BCover%2B-%2BMolly%2BLedford.png" title="Trying to avoid the Zoom gloom? Need a break from the routine of synchronous classes? Check out these fun ideas for middle and high school students." width="400" /></a></div><br />2. PowerPoint Games</b></div>With this easy to use <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Distance-Learning-Editable-PowerPoint-Game-Template-Review-Online-5427601" target="_blank">free editable PowerPoint template</a>, you can add your questions and answers to this interactive review game and play with your students on Zoom, Google Meet, or your online meeting platform of choice! (Instructions for editing and use with Zoom are included.) Review content, play trivia, and more with this easy PowerPoint game. You can keep a running scoreboard on the screen, and make the game as short or long as you want.<br /><i>*Recommended by <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Littlest-Teacher" target="_blank">Molly Ledford, The Littlest Teacher</a></i><div><br /></div><div><div><b>3. <a href="https://artfulparent.com/the-scribble-drawing-game/" target="_blank">The Scribble Drawing Game</a></b></div><div>Using Zoom's whiteboard, I drew a scribble that students and I then copied onto a piece of drawing paper. We had two minutes (you could adjust the time) to turn that scribble into a drawing. Students could color in their drawings if they had enough time. When time was up, each player that wanted to held their drawing up to their camera to share. Our first scribble led to fairly similar results, but drawings got more and more creative after a few rounds. </div><div><i>*Recommended by <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Literary-Maven">Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven</a></i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>4. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#" target="_blank">Skribbl</a></b><div>This is pictionary, online. My advisory students loved it. We used it once a week as a fun, community-building activity. Kids log in and we each took a turn choosing word from the menu secretly presented to us and then drawing. The rest of us tried to decipher their skribbles. Is that a dog or a camel? Skribbl gives you a hint in the form of how many letter in the word...and then slowly reveals some letters. Some kids were excellent drawers, some rocked at guessing the words, and one "just hung out at the bottom of the leader board" alone with his excellent attitude, every time. On Skribbl days, I put music on my computer and we had fun, together, and, online. That can be difficult to capture. For teachers who want to tailor the words to their classes, that is possible. There is an option to enter your own words. The Spanish teacher used Skribbl in class to reinforce vocabulary.<br /><i>*Recommended by <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#" target="_blank">Rachel Cummings, Writing by Rachel</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>5<a href="https://kahoot.com/" target="_blank">. Kahoot!</a></b></div>Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn – any subject, on any device. Students just need a join code to play a game, no sign up is required. Kahoot! has a collection of pre-made content related and just for fun games. Students can play individually or in teams. During online learning, my students liked to log in on another device, usually a cell phone, so they could see the questions and leaderboard in my Zoom window.</div><div><i>*Recommended by <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Literary-Maven">Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uL284udZzvk/X3HkC7Bp17I/AAAAAAAATSk/klv9teRbxGk7odjtVqso5yf2_2sKA9HngCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Slide2%2B-%2BLyndsey%2BGresehover.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trying to avoid the Zoom gloom? Need a break from the routine of synchronous classes? Check out these fun ideas for middle and high school students." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uL284udZzvk/X3HkC7Bp17I/AAAAAAAATSk/klv9teRbxGk7odjtVqso5yf2_2sKA9HngCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/Slide2%2B-%2BLyndsey%2BGresehover.PNG" title="Trying to avoid the Zoom gloom? Need a break from the routine of synchronous classes? Check out these fun ideas for middle and high school students." width="400" /></a></div><br />6. Digital Escape Rooms</b></div>My students' favorite activities that we do every year are digital escape rooms. Once I realized how engaged they were while doing these, the more digital escapes I started to create. One of my favorite digital escape rooms is my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ELA-REVIEWTEST-PREP-DIGITAL-ESCAPE-ROOM-BUNDLE-DISTANCE-LEARNING-3674747" target="_blank">ELA Test Prep/Review</a>. It covers main idea, point of view, text structure, parts of the plot, author's purpose, and figurative language- all important standards that students must master. I found that my students no longer dreaded test prep or the review of skills once they began "competing" to see who could finish first. Digital escapes can be done in groups or individually, whichever works best for your students.<div><i>*Recommended by <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Lit-With-Lyns" target="_blank">Lyndsey Gresehover- Lit with Lyns</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>7<a href="https://quizizz.com/" target="_blank">. Quizziz</a></b></div><div>Quizziz is similar to Kahoot! except that the students progress through the questions in a random order. </div>I've used pre-made trivia games on Quizziz, but also highly recommend making some custom games for your students. Last year, I put together a trivia game based on unique facts students submitted to me about themselves as well as a who's who game with baby pictures. Both were a big hit and helped to build community.</div><div><i>*Recommended by <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Literary-Maven">Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven</a></i></div><div><br /></div><b>8. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">GimKit</a></b><div>Gimkit is an engaging game that ramps up competition online and is <a href="https://languageartsclassroom.com/2020/03/four-digital-tools-to-engage-students.html" target="_blank">one of four tools I use regularly to engage students online</a>. I use GimKit as an extra practice, a fun activity. Students must answer questions, and when they do, they earn “money.” They can buy power-ups and shields for protection. They compete against their classmates. </div><div><i>*Recommended by <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Language-Arts-Classroom" target="_blank">Lauralee, Language Arts Classroom</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iEwX-J2VXgU/X3HkLVy2VGI/AAAAAAAATSs/dM0svhwrN48u_bGiNI_skwlu0FCQFG75wCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/Digital%2BBookshelf%253B%2BMiddle%2BSchool%253B%2BHigh%2BSchool%2B-%2BReading%2Band%2BWriting%2BHaven.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Trying to avoid the Zoom gloom? Need a break from the routine of synchronous classes? Check out these fun ideas for middle and high school students." border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iEwX-J2VXgU/X3HkLVy2VGI/AAAAAAAATSs/dM0svhwrN48u_bGiNI_skwlu0FCQFG75wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/Digital%2BBookshelf%253B%2BMiddle%2BSchool%253B%2BHigh%2BSchool%2B-%2BReading%2Band%2BWriting%2BHaven.jpeg" title="Trying to avoid the Zoom gloom? Need a break from the routine of synchronous classes? Check out these fun ideas for middle and high school students." width="400" /></a></div><br />9. Digital Bookshelves</b></div>In an online meeting, teachers can use <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Bookshelf-for-Sharing-Independent-Reading-Online-Distance-Learning-5853872" target="_blank">digital bookshelves</a> as a starting point for conversations about independent reading or even whole-class texts. I design my digital bookshelves so that students can label the shelves differently (love, like, meh OR challenging, just right, easy are a couple of examples). Students can have their own digital bookshelf, or we can provide class shelves so students can see what their peers are reading. When meeting with small groups or a whole class, teachers can ask students to share what they are currently reading or what they have just finished as well as where they placed it on their bookshelf and why. It’s interesting to enhance digital bookshelf meetings with discussions about book diet, abandoning books, and book volume. Students can read the first line of their favorite book on their shelf and even make book recommendations for classmates. The digital bookshelf I created can also be used as a landing spot to link course texts, audiobooks, and podcasts that are available online.<div><i>*Recommended by <a href="https://www.readingandwritinghaven.com/" target="_blank">Melissa from Reading and Writing Haven</a></i></div></div><div><br /></div><b>10. Scattergories </b></div><div>The first time I played with my students, I created my own "game cards" in Google Slides, but then found this <a href="https://swellgarfo.com/scattergories/">online generator</a> that allows you to adjust the timer and number of categories. I had students type their answers into the chat on Zoom, but not submit them until the timer went up.</div><div><i>*Recommended by <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Literary-Maven">Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven</a></i></div><div><div><br /></div><div><b>11. Scavenger Hunt</b></div><div>I created a list of items students would be looking for around their house and assigned a point value to each item ahead of time. I also broke my students up into two teams. I put this information into a Google Sheet and did some formatting so that each team's score would automatically add up as I added in points for items they'd found. I did this around Earth Day so all of the items on the list were connected to that theme. Here's a quick <a href="http://www.lifebetweenweekends.com/2020/05/zoom-scavenger-hunt/">list of ideas</a> for creating your own scavenger hunt. </div><div><i>*Recommended by <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Literary-Maven">Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven<br /></a></i></div></div><div><i><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Literary-Maven"><br /></a></i></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eXwLhtY1OEY/X3HpxKwl4aI/AAAAAAAATTA/VrIPgpWixqgM_19KKI1UXs211iv-bx9xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1510/Slide1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trying to avoid the Zoom gloom? Need a break from the routine of synchronous classes? Check out these fun ideas for middle and high school students." border="0" data-original-height="1510" data-original-width="792" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eXwLhtY1OEY/X3HpxKwl4aI/AAAAAAAATTA/VrIPgpWixqgM_19KKI1UXs211iv-bx9xwCLcBGAsYHQ/w210-h400/Slide1.png" title="Trying to avoid the Zoom gloom? Need a break from the routine of synchronous classes? Check out these fun ideas for middle and high school students." width="210" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Literary-Maven"><br /></a></i></div>

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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AnXRtWcSLSo/XvawkDrvUGI/AAAAAAAASLk/Cxpcci4OMukRbNj66Nk-cVR6gs4QDrt3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Slide2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="In Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Cheldenko, when Moose's father takes a job on Alcatraz Island, Moose must learn to navigate new friendships and the attention at the school he attends off the island while taking on responsibility for minding his sister. Read on for my full review and ideas for classroom use." border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AnXRtWcSLSo/XvawkDrvUGI/AAAAAAAASLk/Cxpcci4OMukRbNj66Nk-cVR6gs4QDrt3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Slide2.png" title="In Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Cheldenko, when Moose's father takes a job on Alcatraz Island, Moose must learn to navigate new friendships and the attention at the school he attends off the island while taking on responsibility for minding his sister. Read on for my full review and ideas for classroom use." width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="text-align: left;">The basic plot from Amazon: </b>The Newbery Honor Book and <i>New York Times</i> Bestseller that is historical fiction with a hint of mystery about living at Alcatraz not as a prisoner, but as a kid meeting some of the most famous criminals in our history. <i>Al Capone Does My Shirts</i> has become an instant classic for all kids to read! <br />
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Today I moved to Alcatraz, a twelve-acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turd and surrounded by water. I'm not the only kid who lives here. There are twenty-three other kids who live on the island because their dads work as guards or cooks or doctors or electricians for the prison, like my dad does. And then there are a ton of murderers, rapists, hit men, con men, stickup men, embezzlers, connivers, burglars, kidnappers and maybe even an innocent man or two, though I doubt it. The convicts we have are the kind other prisons don't want. I never knew prisons could be picky, but I guess they can. You get to Alcatraz by being the worst of the worst. Unless you're me. I came here because my mother said I had to.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFF4M6YJ86A/XxSflClYFdI/AAAAAAAASaM/wmmW7AQjCJEKLYOzz2qnnmdVD_41YVDLACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Slide14.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="In Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Cheldenko, when Moose's father takes a job on Alcatraz Island, Moose must learn to navigate new friendships and the attention at the school he attends off the island while taking on responsibility for minding his sister. Read on for my full review and ideas for classroom use." border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFF4M6YJ86A/XxSflClYFdI/AAAAAAAASaM/wmmW7AQjCJEKLYOzz2qnnmdVD_41YVDLACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Slide14.png" title="In Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Cheldenko, when Moose's father takes a job on Alcatraz Island, Moose must learn to navigate new friendships and the attention at the school he attends off the island while taking on responsibility for minding his sister. Read on for my full review and ideas for classroom use." width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b>Why I liked it: </b></span>I read Gennifer Cheldenko’s middle grades historical fiction novel <i><a href="https://www.theliterarymaven.com/2017/06/review-chasing-secrets-gennifer-choldenko.html" target="_blank">Chasing Secrets</a></i> several years ago when it was featured on our Reading Olympics list and loved her attention to details and her choice of relatively unknown events in history. While Al Capone and Alcatraz Island are certainly well known, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3fSMIAX" target="_blank">Al Capone Does My Shirts</a></i> focuses not on the prisoners, but on the families that lived and worked there.<br />
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Moose’s father has taken on two jobs, one as an electrician on the island and one as a prison guard, to help support his family and hopefully pay the tuition for Natalie, his daughter with special needs, to attend an exclusive school. Moose must learn to navigate new friendships on the island and the attention at the school he attends off the island while taking on responsibility for minding Natalie. Moose has good values and good intentions, but hijinks ensue when he gives into petty desires and more serious problems occur when he is given too much responsibility by his parents.<br />
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<b>Classroom application: </b>This book is appropriate for middle school and up and has a wide appeal with humor and gangsters, but also insight to life as the sibling of someone who is differently abled. While Natalie's differences are not given a label in the book, by today's standards she would likely be diagnosed as autistic. It was interesting to see who differently abled people were treated nearly 100 years ago. The history of society's view of differently abled individuals could be a possible research topic for students. Students might also be interested in investigating some of the gangsters in the book (and the rest of the series).<br />
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If you are interested in purchasing a copy of <i>Al Capone Does My Shirts</i> for yourself, you can find it on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/3fSMIAX" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<i>Note:</i> The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRiS4_YCu7k/Xvaweky1mTI/AAAAAAAASLg/OTPn3I4zzK4-BkyE7FI0gigT222sGTXLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Slide2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="In Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Cheldenko, when Moose's father takes a job on Alcatraz Island, Moose must learn to navigate new friendships and the attention at the school he attends off the island while taking on responsibility for minding his sister. Read on for my full review and ideas for classroom use." border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRiS4_YCu7k/Xvaweky1mTI/AAAAAAAASLg/OTPn3I4zzK4-BkyE7FI0gigT222sGTXLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Slide2.png" title="In Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Cheldenko, when Moose's father takes a job on Alcatraz Island, Moose must learn to navigate new friendships and the attention at the school he attends off the island while taking on responsibility for minding his sister. Read on for my full review and ideas for classroom use." width="266" /></a></div>
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On My Bookshelf: Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Cheldenko

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