On My Bookshelf: Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

The basic plot from Amazon: Liam has always felt a bit like he's stuck between two worlds. This is primarily because he's a twelve-year-old kid who looks like he's about thirty. Sometimes it's not so bad, like when his new principal mistakes him for a teacher on the first day of school or when he convinces a car dealer to let him take a Porsche out on a test drive. But mostly it's just frustrating, being a kid trapped in an adult world. And so he decides to flip things around. Liam cons his way onto the first spaceship to take civilians into space, a special flight for a group of kids and an adult chaperone, and he is going as the adult chaperone. It's not long before Liam, along with his friends, is stuck between two worlds again—only this time he's 239,000 miles from home.

Frank Cottrell Boyce, author of Millions and Framed, brings us a funny and touching story of the many ways in which grown-upness is truly wasted on grown-ups.

Why I liked it: Cosmic alternates between the present action, Liam lost in outer space with four other children, and the past events leading up to his adventure gone wrong. Liam is frequently mistaken for an adult, which has its benefits, like the time he almost test drove a fancy sports car or repeatedly rode an intense amusement park ride without needing parental consent, but when he wins a trip to ride an exciting new thrill ride, which turns out to be a trip into outer space, he may have finally let things go a little too far. As the supervising "adult" it is up to Liam to get the other children to work together so they can safely return to Earth. Despite the dangerous situation he is in, Liam is able to remain remarkably calm and even crack jokes. 

Classroom application: I'm always on the hunt for funny books and ones that will appeal to my male students. Cosmic fits the bill for both. It's a great middle school read and would likely appeal to less mature high school students as well (and we all know how mature high school boys are). There's no mature content to be concerned about.

Though entirely fictional, Cosmic would also be a good recommendation for students interested in space. The book does make reference to real events and people in the history of space exploration.

The book would also be an interesting pairing with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The plot has similar elements (four winners of a misleading prize, a quirky prize master,  four unusual children and their parents). Students could compare the social commentary of the authors based on the characters and whether or not issues have changed from the publication of one book to the other.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Cosmic for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: 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.

Using Digital Breakouts to Engage Secondary Students: 3 Ways to Gamify Learning

Though breakouts, otherwise known as escape rooms, have just recently become popular in the classroom, the concept behind these learning experiences has existed for over 20 years. Breakouts as a classroom activity are modeled after escape rooms, which are physical adventure games in which players solve a series of puzzles and riddles using clues, hints and strategy to escape from a room. These real life escape rooms were inspired by "escape the room"–style video games, which similarly have various puzzles and riddles themselves follow the theme of the room. The format of a room or area containing puzzles or challenges has also been featured in multiple TV game shows.

On My Bookshelf: The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith

The basic plot from Amazon: Eden was always good at being good. Starting high school didn’t change who she was. But the night her brother’s best friend rapes her, Eden’s world capsizes.

What was once simple, is now complex. What Eden once loved—who she once loved—she now hates. What she thought she knew to be true, is now lies. Nothing makes sense anymore, and she knows she’s supposed to tell someone what happened but she can’t. So she buries it instead. And she buries the way she used to be.

Told in four parts—freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year—this provocative debut reveals the deep cuts of trauma. But it also demonstrates one young woman’s strength as she navigates the disappointment and unbearable pains of adolescence, of first love and first heartbreak, of friendships broken and rebuilt, all while learning to embrace the power of survival she never knew she had hidden within her heart.

Why I liked it: The Way I Used To Be is the devastating story of how keeping a secret you shouldn't can destroy your life. After Eden is raped in her own bed her brother's best friend, she is convinced that no one will believe her. Instead of seeking help, she tries to pretend it never happened, but the trauma of the event and refusing to deal with it just leads to a spiral of destructive behavior and ruined relationships. She and her best friend, Mara, get tired of being picked on at school and make themselves over. They begin drinking, using drugs, and partying with older guys. After being unable to be honest with Josh, her almost boyfriend, and ending her relationship with him, she begins using sex with near strangers as another form of escape. She is angry and hostile to her parents and once beloved older brother. Almost four years later, when her perpetrator is accused of attacking someone else, Eden is finally pushed to share what happened to her in hopes that it will never happen again.

Classroom application: While Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, a popular novel on a similar topic, is often used at the middle school level, I'd save this one for high school and up. Besides the sexual violence of the rape, which is eventually described in fairly graphic detail, the other mature content: sex, drugs, drinking make it more appropriate for older students. 

The novel is a perfect illustration of the "victim mentality" and why so many sexual assaults go unreported. If used in class, I would have single gender groups discuss the book before bringing the class back together. I think students might feel more comfortable talking about sex and the ways people express their sexuality (i.e. the judgement around promiscuity for females, but not for males), which would lead to more honest conversations. 

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of The Way I Used To Be for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: 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.

On My Bookshelf: Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

The basic plot from Amazon: This edition of Margot Lee Shetterly’s acclaimed book is perfect for young readers. It is the powerful story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program. Now a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner.

Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.

This book brings to life the stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, who lived through the Civil Rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the movement for gender equality, and whose work forever changed the face of NASA and the country.

Why I liked it: Hidden Figures is a wonderful mix of history lesson and biographical narrative. The text explains the challenges of African Americans from roughly the 1940s through the 1970s, but makes the information personal through the stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden. I loved that the book focused on minority women and the important, yet little known role (as the title implies) that they played in both the war effort during World War II and the achievements in space during the Cold War. I was amazed at some of the difficult choices the four women made to help advance their families, their race, and their gender.

Classroom application: This book would be a perfect pairing with a history unit on World War II, Civil Rights, the Space Race, and/or the Cold War. The text has math and science, particularly physics, tie ins that could lead to cross-curricular lessons. The book could also be part of literature circles focused on women breaking out of stereotypical roles. If your students are a fan of Steve Sheinkin's nonfiction, like Bomb and The Port Chicago 50, they'll love this one as well.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Hidden Figures for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: 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.

On My Bookshelf: Patina by Jason Reynolds

The basic plot from Amazon: Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves.

Patina, or Patty, runs like a flash. She runs for many reasons—to escape the taunts from the kids at the fancy-schmancy new school she’s been sent to since she and her little sister had to stop living with their mom. She runs from the reason WHY she’s not able to live with her “real” mom any more: her mom has The Sugar, and Patty is terrified that the disease that took her mom’s legs will one day take her away forever. So Patty’s also running for her mom, who can’t. But can you ever really run away from any of this? As the stress builds up, it’s building up a pretty bad attitude as well. Coach won’t tolerate bad attitude. No day, no way. And now he wants Patty to run relay…where you have to depend on other people? How’s she going to do THAT?

Why I liked it: Patina is the second installment in Jason Reynold's Track series. I loved the first one, Ghost, and was thrilled that Patina was just as good. Patina, who goes by Patty, is on the same track team as Castle, known as Ghost. Patina picks up where Ghost left off, but the focus is now on Patty and her life so Ghost becomes a minor character. Like Ghost, Patty faces challenges at home and running track is her escape. Her mother suffers from diabetes so Patty and her younger sister live with their aunt and uncle, who are an interracial race couple. Patty is also struggling to make friends at her new school where many of the students are well off. I loved Patty's fierce devotion to her family and her refusal to be anyone but herself.

Classroom application: This series, appropriate for middle school and up, is definitely one to recommend to your reluctant readers, especially female students who may be struggling with their confidence as Patty would serve as a strong role model. The novel could also be a springboard into discussions about class and race as Patty struggles with judgement about having a white "mother" and not relating to the wealthier students at her school.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Patina for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: 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.

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 5/8 Topic: Reflecting & Recharging

Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven & Kristy, 2 Peas and a Dog host #2ndaryELA on Twitter every Tuesday evening from 8 - 8:30 PM EST. #2ndaryELA is a weekly chat for secondary English Language Arts teachers focused on a topic. Every Sunday, we post the topic and questions on our blogs to allow you to prepare for the upcoming Tuesday evening's chat. Thank you to everyone who joined us last week and we hope that you will join us again.

We'd also love for you to join our 2ndaryELA Facebook group, even if you aren't on Twitter. 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

On Tuesday, May 8, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about reflecting on this school year and recharging for the next one.

The Format:
8:00 – What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: What were your greatest successes this school year?
8:10 Q2: What do you hope to improve upon for next year? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: What are your personal and professional plans for summer 2018? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: What is on your personal and professional summer reading lists? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: Share your best advice for having a relaxing summer. #2ndaryELA

The Directions:
1. Log into Twitter on Tuesday from 8-8:30 PM EST.
2. Search for tweets with the hashtag #2ndaryELA in the search bar. Make sure to click “Latest.”
3. Introductions are for the first 5 minutes.
4. Starting at 8:05 (@literarymaven or @2peasandadog) will post questions every 5 minutes using the format Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. and the hashtag #2ndaryELA.
5. Respond to questions using the format A1, A2, A3, etc. with #2ndaryELA.
6. Follow any teachers responding and who are also using #2ndaryELA.
7. Like and respond to other teachers' tweets.

You can schedule your responses to the questions ahead of time using a scheduler like TweetDeck or HootSuite (but don't forget to use A1, A2, etc. and #2ndaryELA). Links are encouraged, so be sure to use a link shortener like tinyurl, bitly, goo.gl or ow.ly Just visit one of those links and paste your long link to shorten it for Twitter. Using images is also encouraged when relevant.

New to chats? Here are the rules:
1. Stay on topic & stay positive!
2. Please do not post or promote paid products unless specifically asked.
3. If you arrive late, try to look through other posts before beginning.
4. Feel free to just read, like, and/or retweet.
5. Always use our hashtag #2ndaryELA, including in your replies to others.
6. Make sure your twitter feed is set to public. (Also keep in mind that Twitter is completely public – that means students, parents, and administrators can and will read what you tweet.)

You can also check out a quick video tutorial in this blog post.

Be sure to spread the word to any teacher friends who might be interested in joining us as well. We look forward to chatting with you Tuesday evening and in our 2ndaryELA Facebook group!

Get caught up on past chats here:

End of the Year Engagement

This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about engaging students through the last days of the school year. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed final papers and projects. Teachers also shared ways to make review for final exams interesting.

Read through the chat below to find tips for how to stay healthy during this busy season. You'll get ideas about year end celebrations. You'll also find ways to help students (and yourself) stay cool on those hot days.

Hope you'll join us next week for our final chat of the school year. We'd also love for you to join our 2ndaryELA Facebook group (even if you aren't on Twitter). 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

End of the Year Engagement