The Dark is Rising

Meet Will.

He's eleven.

And, he just found out
he's the last of a race of immortal warriors
destined to rid the world of
the Dark forces.

Now he must team up with three children
(and their Great Uncle Merry)
to find six magical signs that will
aid him in his destiny.

I don't want to give away everything,
so here's the trailer for the movie that just came out.
If you're thinking about reading the whole series,
this movie will give you a really good overview!
But don't think it covers everything!

Trust me when I say:
the books are SO much better!

The Dark is Rising series is a powerful tale based on Arthurian myths and legends. Susan Cooper is a fabulous writer and weaves her tale of mystery and suspense with masterful beauty. When it comes to epic battles between good and evil, she ranks right up there with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. She happens to have quite a large following of devoted readers. I myself am one them. Perhaps you've never heard of her before this, but let me be the first to recommend her. You won't find a more uniquely imaginative author.

The Dark is Rising Sequence:

Over Sea, Under Stone



The Dark is Rising



Greenwitch



The Grey King



A Newberry Award Winning Book

Silver on the Tree



Cooper, S. (1973). The Dark is Rising. New York: Atheneum

Samir and Yonaton

My name is Samir. I’m a Palestinian and I live in the middle of a war-zone. I want to be like my brother Fadi…dying the death of a hero. Actually die…not fall off my stupid motorbike and land in the hospital like a coward cheating death. Never mind the fact that this is a Jewish hospital. How can it be that the only people who can save my leg are the same ones responsible for my brother’s death? How can anyone in this hospital understand me? Even if they are my age...

Samir and Yonaton is about a friendship forged from the ashes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As each child’s story unfolds, they will discover a deep humanity that leads to the tearing down of racial walls and emotional barriers. Use this book with your students to get them personally involved in a centuries-old conflict that still effects the world today.

The Thief Lord

A Batcheider Award Winning Book!

Prosper is on the run with his five year old brother Bo. Detective Victor is hot on their trail, trying to return them to an aunt and uncle they want nothing to do with. Luckily, the young thief lord and his family of followers are there to help. But, this street crew is about to get more than they bargained for when the Thief Lord accepts a challenge from Victor himself. Will they ever find a place to belong?

Getting students to enjoy what they read can be like pulling teeth. However, Cornelia Funke's books are so entertaining your students might just forget they're in class. For further exploration, research the city of Venice and its legends!

Check out the trailer for the movie! Have a movie day and compare it to the book!



Funke, C. (2002). The Thief lord. New York: Scholastic, Inc.

Flotsam

A Caldecott Award Winning Book!


An Ode to Imagination!



Flotsom is so beautifully illustrated that it doesn't need words to tell its story. Just pictures from a camera that washes up on the shore and into the hands of a little boy.



The question is...where did it come from?



If you're looking for a story to foster creative writing, look no further! This is the perfect addition to any Language Arts classroom. You'll be amazed at what your students come up with!

Wiesner, D. (2006). Flotsam. New York: Houghton Mifflin.

House of Dies Drear

An ALA Notable Book!

History tells us that Dies Drear was an abolitionist, and this huge house of his was a station on the Underground Railroad. Thomas Small knows all about the history of the Underground Railroad. More than he really wanted to know considering his father is a college professor. But what about the legend of Dies Drear himself? They say that the murdered spirit of Dies Drear still haunts the house to this day. Thomas is about to find out there's more than meets the eye when he and his father stumble on a secret that has been jealously protected for more than a hundred years.

Hamilton is a master of language. Her words roll ominously off the tongue, captivating her readers. This book fits collaboratively into any history lesson on slavery and the Civil War. Try these links below to use with your students:

Dies Drear: A Study Guide
file:///Users/joyreid/Desktop/house_of_dies_drear.pdf

Dies Drear: A Resource for Middle School Teachers
http://www.leasttern.com/DiesDrear/diesdrear.htm

An Interview with Virginia Hamilton
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=1474_type=Contributor_typeId=3195

Hamilton, V. (1968). The House of Dies Drear. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

Fever 1793

Philidelphia, 1793.

It's the middle of summer and the heat is unbearable. The once thriving city is deserted. Our coffeeshop, my only home, been ransacked by thieves. Yellow ribbons flutter about on doors and gates signaling certain death for those inside. Corpses have been flung outside of doors and windows. All because the families had to wait for the ominous bell ringer yelling "bring out your dead!" before they could be carted away without even being given a proper burial. All we can hope to do is wait until the frost when the sickness goes away and the people come back to the city. But will we survive until then?

Fever 1793 is a poignant historical account of the yellow fever epidemic during the Revolutionary period in American history. Each chapter takes an excerpt from famous documents of the 1700s and explores them at length through the eyes of Matilda. This book could be used for any subject in the curriculum. Perhaps a scientific study on how plagues are spread? Or a literary study on the multiple perspectives offered from the various tracts?

Whatever you decide, this book is sure to capture the attention and emotions of your students as it puts them in the shoes of someone who has lived through it all and lived to tell about it.

Anderson, L.H. (2000). Fever 1793. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.