Flight by Sherman Alexie

Genre - Fiction

Rating - 5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 9-12

The Scoop - "Zits" has been in and out of foster homes and in and out of trouble, but when he experiences life from different points in history, he learns about what is really important.

The Story - Once again Sherman Alexie takes a completely heartbreaking story and turns it into a funny, irreverent, honest exploration of abandonment, violence, self-awareness and historic injustices.   This is a book to read in one sitting, but the amount of issues explored make it a novel that could be discussed at great length.  Students will appreciate Zits' honesty and struggle through adolescence.  Without preaching, Alexie presents a good lesson on what can happen to unchecked self-loathing, anger and the consequences of giving up hope.

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards 

SSUSH12 The student will analyze important consequences of American industrial growth.
ELA9RL1 The student demonstrates comprehension by identifying evidence (i.e., examples of diction, imagery, point of view, figurative language, symbolism, plot events and main ideas) in a variety of texts representative of different genres (i.e., poetry, prose [short story, novel, essay, editorial, biography], and drama) and using this evidence as the basis for interpretation.
ELA9RL3 The student deepens understanding of literary works by relating them to contemporary context or historical background.
ELA9RC4 The student establishes a context for information acquired by reading across subject areas.
ELA9W1 The student produces writing that establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and signals closure.

Students will choose one of the time periods Zits travels to and write a letter from the person Zits visits to Zits.  Students will explore what Alexie intends to convey to the reader by sending Zits to each of these historical times. 

Flight by Sherman Alexie  
New York : Black Cat : Distributed by Publishers Group West, c2007
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Genre - Fiction

Rating - 5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 8-12

The Scoop - When cartoonist Junior deserts his friends on the rez and attends the all-white school across town, he knows his life will never be the same.

The Story - Sherman Alexie  is one of the most talented writers currently producing work.  Although his work deals primarily with Native American experiences, there are universal themes that many readers can identify with.  Many students know what it feels like to be the outsider or the one who was never very good at sports or the one whose parents were unreliable.  Alexie's humor and insight into human behavior create a world where everyone is welcome...even when he talks about the disdain or hate for white people on the rez.

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards

SSUSH6 The student will analyze the impact of territorial expansion and population growth and the impact of this growth in the early decades of the new nation.

ELAMLRL3 The student deepens understanding of a work of multicultural literature by relating it to its historical and/or contemporary context, as well as to works from other cultures.
ELA9RL3 The student deepens understanding of literary works by relating them to contemporary context or historical background.
ELA9W1 The student produces writing that establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and signals closure.

ELA9W3 The student uses research and technology to support writing.

Students will research the formation of the Bureau of Indian Affiars and describe the structure of Native American government. Students will then relate their research to the novel and explain how it affects the story.  

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie New York : Little, Brown, 2007
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Stiff : The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Genre - Non-fiction

Rating - 5/5

Age group recommendation - 9-12 grade

The Scoop - A fascinating (and fun!) look at how human cadavers have been used throughout history, discussing how the use of dead bodies has benefited every aspect of human existence.

The Story - What could be a really morbid read actually turns out to be a fascinating look at where those donated bodies go and what purposes they serve.  From historic curiosities to military testing, Roach leads the reader through some eye-opening uses for human cadavers.  Those who are very squeamish may not make it past the third chapter, where the author looks at those who study decay in cadavers.  Those who are scientifically minded won't be able to put the book down.  In most cases, Roach approaches each use for cadavers with humor and respect for those who donate their remains. This would be a great book for an anatomy class to read at the beginning of the class.  

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards 

SCSh1. Students will evaluate the importance of curiosity, honesty, openness, and skepticism in science. 

ELA12W3 The student uses research and technology to support writing.

ELA12C1 The student demonstrates understanding and control of the rules of the English language, realizing that usage involves the appropriate application of conventions and grammar in both written and spoken formats.

After reading the book, students will research an aspect of the book in order to write a persuasive essay on whether or not the practice they've chosen is ethical, necessary or a historic atrocity.  For an expanded lesson, students could be divided into teams and assigned opposing sides of an issue covered in the book.  Students research their side and participate in a moderated debate on the subject.  The anatomy teacher(s) should definitely be included!
 

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
New York : W.W. Norton, c2003
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

The BBC Archive

The BBC Archive is chock full of useful resources.   The archive collections include Art and Artists, Books and Writers, Politics and Government (UK and non-UK), Science and Technology, and more.  The collections are comprised of BBC broadcasts from both TV and radio and go as far back as 40 years.

In addition to fun things like Dr. Who and James Bond, the collections also have information that would be an excellent addition to a research project on the Holocaust (first-hand accounts of the Nazi regime ), ideas for building physics or mechanical projects (The Great Egg Race), and author interviews that would add another dimension to a literature study (Virginia Woolf, JRR Tolkien,  Ian McEwan, and more).

Sam Patch : Daredevil Jumper by Julie Cummins

Genre - Biography

Rating - 3.5/5

Age group recommendation - K-3

The Scoop - Sam Patch was born jumping...or that's what people say!  For the rest of his life Sam made amazing jumps, even over Niagara Falls!

The Story - This book has a sad, abrupt ending.  It is factual and matter of fact, but there is little cushioning of Sam Patch's fall to his death.  The details of his jumps in the beginning of the book are interesting and exciting.  I think kids would be interested to see how daredevils created their stunts in the 1800s.  The ending gives a realistic conclusion to a dangerous life, but I  wish the author had padded it a little. 

Educational applications - With help from Holiday House. 

Georgia Performance Standards

M3N4. Students will understand the meaning of division and develop the ability to apply it in problem solving.

The illustrations in the book make Sam Patch's jumps look amazing, but often younger students often do not have a clear concept of distances.  By measuring Sam's jumps (up to 125 feet), students will better understand the concept. Students can divide each of Sam’s jumps by 3 and then use a yardstick to measure out (perhaps on the school playground) exactly how far Sam jumped.

Sam Patch: Daredevil Jumper by Julie Cummins Illustrated by Michael Austin
New York : Holiday House, c2009

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Aviary: Web-Based Photo Editing

Aviary, an free online photo editing site, is very easy to use. The graphics are colorful and fun. The tools are easy to figure out and there are many different ones to choose from.  Sharpen or blur, add text or stickers (including mustaches!), use a sepia or Polaroid effect!


Aviary also offers a version specifically for educators. Create private pages for classes or students with access to school-safe content only. 

This would be an excellent tool for any project with a multi-media component.  Students can find images online or bring in their own photos to scan and edit. 

Additional features are available, but there is a cost for the upgrade. 

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn

Genre - Fiction Young Adult

Rating - 3.5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 6-9

The Scoop - When Ali agrees to spend the summer with her aunt and cousin at the family's lake house, she has no idea of the family mystery that has been hidden for thirty years.

The Story - I think certain students will find this book exciting and suspenseful.  Parts of it are intriguing and the family dynamics are easy for a variety of students to identify with.  I found the middle of the book very irritating to read; Hahn uses arguments and petty dialog to establish the rifts Sissie causes between Emma, Ali and Dulcie.  She shows this effectively, but I wanted to stop reading because the dialog was so annoying.  I am not sure how students would react to this or if they would view it as anything other than a part of the story.  There are some other good elements to the story - teenage independence, relationships across generations, and the consequences of lying and secrets.  Since Hahn was a children's librarian, I would have to assume that she knows this age group's taste and preferences.

Educational applications -  With help from the State Library of Louisiana.  

Georgia Performance Standards


S6CS9. Students will investigate the features of the process of scientific inquiry.
ELA6RC2 The student participates in discussions related to curricular learning in all subject areas.
ELA6RC3 The student acquires new vocabulary in each content area and uses it correctly.
ELA6W1 The student produces writing that establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and provides a satisfying closure.
ELA6W3 The student uses research and technology to support writing.
The teacher and media specialist will introduce the Library of Congress Everyday Mysteries web site to the class.  Students are divided into groups of two, select a mystery from the web site and use the scientific process to question and research the mystery they chose.  Students may use any additional resources needed either print or online.  All resources must be reputable.  Student will compile their information into a simple report to share with the class.

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn 
 New York : Clarion Books, c2007
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library