Dead City

When this book was first suggested I did not know how much I would enjoy it but as I began reading it I really started to enjoy it. The story is well written and keeps the reader engaged. I can see using this book in my classroom as an example of a fun engaging book that will keep most of the students wanting to know what happens as the end. It is filled with suspense. It also has some factual information as well as a lot that is fictional. This book features several strong female leads and examples of boys who do not mind having a female in charge. This could be helpful for many male students to see as well as female students that may be a little shy. This is not a typical zombie story. There are level to the zombies. They also have to stay on the island of Manhattan and be close to Manhattan schist which is what makes the dead into zombies. There are so many connections to different mythologies and codes. The groups that protect and police the zombies are called Omegas and have a secret society of high school aged students that monitor zombies. The zombies in this book don't like being called zombies and prefer undead. They also try to blend into the world and wear makeup to fit in. I like this concept. It is different than most other zombie books which is refreshing.

There are a few grammatical errors that make a few places difficult to read. These places could give students an opportunity to discuss the importance of editing and that even the best editor miss some things. They could then work as a class to fix the errors. This will help them learn how to fix the same errors in their own writing. I enjoyed this book so much that when the book ended I ordered the rest of the series. My husband could not wait so he actually ordered them tonight so I could read them to him over the break.

Wonder Part 2

This is such a great book. I just want to keep reading. Even my husband wants me to keep reading. I'm so glad that everything worked out so well for Auggie in the end. I am also glad that the bully will be going to a new school next year. It was so great that the principal was able to present Auggie with an award at the end of the year to recognize how much he went through. I also like that he was able to make friends with some of the boys that had not been the nicest to him during the year. I think that nest year Auggie is going to have a great year. It was sad when his dog died. It is clear that he has grown so much over the year.

It is great to see the family come together over the  death of the dog and getting the new puppy. I cant wait to use this in my classes to teach friendship and bullying. There are so many good lessons in this book. There are adults that could stand to learn from this book too. The part where they are at camp and the older bullies start a fight is great for teaching students to standup for those that are being bullied. You do not need to promote fighting but defending those that are being bullied is important. It is also important to show that you can make mistakes and may not always be the best friend but can be forgiven. At the same time being a bully is not being a friend. I can see doing a project of picking out examples of being a good and bad friend to help students understand how to treat people. I would also like to have students understand that all people are to be treated with respect even if we are not their friend.

Wonder Part 1

So far I really like this book. I feel so bad for Augie It can be hard going to a new school let alone school for the first time. It made me so sad that his friends were mean to him. I really like Summer she is the only person who wants to be friends with Augie simply because she did not want him to sit alone. I this is so sweet. I got so mad at Jack for giving into peer pressure and saying negative things about Augie behind his back. This is not how friends behave.

I liked getting to see the different sides of the story. Especially Via and Jack's you learn that Via has had a very difficult year but because she knows that Augie is having a hard time and their parents are worried about him she keeps her problems to herself. I would hope when I have kids that I am able to give them all the attention they need. I also like that is shows Jack having met Augie before and him knowing that the student he was being asked to show around was Augie. It also shows that he did not mean to hurt Augie he was just trying to be one of the group. While this is still not acceptable everyone makes similar mistakes from time to time.

I think I would use this book to teach topics such as bullying. Many times Augie is bullied just because he looks so differently. No one bothers to get to know him. I do not see the teachers trying to help much either though. God teachers know what is going on in their classroom and I feel that there are several times that teachers could have talked with students about getting to know someone and the damage that bullying has on people.

Wednesday Wars Part 2

I love how this books ends. I also like that he seems to understand that she did not give him the assignments because she hates him. I was not sure how this book was going to end. I am so glad that her husband was able to come home. I also like that the book dealt with difficult subjects such as his sister leaving and his father not wanting to help her get home. The Vietnam War era is a difficult time to explain because society was very different in many ways then today. I would use this book to help students understand what the culture looked like at the time of the war to give some context.

I am not sure if students would like the book as well as I did but I would like to see how many of them tried reading it and really liked it. I will have to keep it in mind if I teach upper elementary. The book is very well written and makes you care for the characters and want to see the happy ending that comes at the end of the book. Now I want to know more about what happens to the people in the story when they are older. I want to know how his father deals with him not wanting to be an architect.

One of my favorite parts was when he got to go to the baseball game. I was so disappointed in his father for not taking him to the game. I am also so proud of his teacher for making sure he gets to go still. I also think it is great that she was able to get the baseball stadium for the other student's father. This shows that she is truly a caring teacher who wants the best for all her students. I also liked that she taught him how to run better. They are able to connect through this activity and I believe that this is when he realizes that she really is there to help him and does not hate him for being in the class on Wednesdays.