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Recommendations for school novels!
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=7962
Author:  Kate [ Fri Jun 04, 2010 8:31 am ]
Post subject:  Recommendations for school novels!
I have 6th class next year (same as year 7) and have been given the task of choosing the class novels! I'm so excited, but my problem is that they are *so many* books I love that I'm having trouble choosing!

I can have up to three - I think one might be Boy by Roald Dahl. It's one of the more advanced Dahl books, and is funny and light-hearted as well as dealing with serious themes. I want one of the others to be historical - but not the Irish Famine, as they've studied that in quite a bit of detail this year. They did Under the Hawthorn Tree, Wildflower Girl and Holes this year.

Other class information: mixed boys and girls, very multicultural - only 7/20 are Irish-born. It might be nice to have something with a non-white protagonist, as half the class aren't white - but I don't want to be too heavy-handed with the anti-racism messages either, as we don't have any problems of that sort in our school, luckily.
Author:  Emma A [ Fri Jun 04, 2010 12:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
How about one of Judith Kerr's books - When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit and its sequels? Or is that a bit 'young' for most of your class?
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
For something historical, could you try 'Gulliver's Travels'? There's quite a bit of historical info. in there to be drawn out, but you needn't go over the top with it and could tailor it to the age/ability of the group. Or perhaps 'To Kill A Mockingbird'? Again, plenty of historical info., and it might be a good way of looking at the race issue as well?

I wish I could remember what I was reading in year 7, but the only book springing to mind is 'Quartet' by Tamora Pierce, but that would be far, far too long (though you could maybe just do one of the books? It is an excellent story!)

HTH :D
Author:  Sarah_G-G [ Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
I expect you've already thought of it, but I know we read Michelle Magorian's "Goodnight Mister Tom" in year 7, which is obviously both historical and a good read. We also read "Bridge to Terabithia" though I can't now remember who that's by. All I now remember of it is that a girl and a boy make friends, the girl likes scuba diving, and there's a good exploration of death and grief. (Incidentally, I love the fact that I'm not sure of any of the names and haven't a clue what the bridge was, or Terabithia for that matter, but I do know the girl liked scuba diving! :lol: I remember weird things...) I have a feeling my friend's brother also read the first in the Earthsea quartet by Ursula LeGuin in year 7 or 8 because I vaguely remember him borrowing the book off me! That's fantasy though.
Author:  Carys [ Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
I remember doing Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry in year 7.
Author:  fraujackson [ Sun Jun 06, 2010 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
Tom's Midnight Garden (I can't remember who wrote it, sorry. Philippa Pearce?) We read this when I was 11 and I absolutely loved it. Still do, in fact. It has both a male and a female main characters, and a bit of mystery/supernatural/history, etc.

I also like Momo by Michael Ende.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
Sarah_G-G wrote:
We also read "Bridge to Terabithia" though I can't now remember who that's by. All I now remember of it is that a girl and a boy make friends, the girl likes scuba diving, and there's a good exploration of death and grief.

It's by Katherine Paterson (http://www.terabithia.com/), and yes, it's fairly traumatic but well done.

I think my favorite of Paterson's is The Master Puppeteer, set in Osaka during a famine in the 1780s, so perhaps a "new" setting for most of the students. One set in Africa with themes in common might be Nancy Farmer's A Girl Named Disaster. I'm useless at guessing age ratings, though!

Back in the dark ages our official junior high 'Underground Railroad' book was a coming of age novel called Brady, by Jean Fritz. Fortunately I'd already read and loved it. (Having books turned into something to be dissected generally ruined them for me, so I always hesitate to recommend.)
Author:  Pingaware [ Sun Jun 06, 2010 8:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
We read Private Peaceful, which is historical, in Year 7. Huge recommendation in order. Shame the rest of the books (Whispers in the Graveyard, Fire-Eaters, another I can't remember) weren't exactly great.
Author:  jmc [ Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
Our Year 7's read Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman, who is an Australian childrens author and who is very popular. It's about a family who have to leave Afghanistan as refugees. It's not a difficult read but there are lots of themes to explore.

Another one of Morris Gleitzman's book is Two Weeks with the Queen. It is discovered that his brother has cancer so he is sent to live with relatives in England, who has never met, where he wants to see the Queen so he can get her doctor to save his brother as she must have the best doctor in the world. It deals with grief, culture shock and friendships.
Author:  macyrose [ Tue Jun 08, 2010 3:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
And Both Were Young by Madeleine L'Engle is set in a Swiss boarding school.
Author:  Pado [ Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
To Kill a Mockingbird is typically read at that age here, and might address the multicultural issues also.
Author:  La Petite Em [ Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
I suppose it could be adapted for younger students but perhaps I should point out that I studied To Kill A Mockingbird in Year 11 and the themes can get quite complex. I'm just not sure how my class in Year 7 would have coped. I did a strange book called Room 13 in Year 7, which was really bad incidentally, but I do know that my sister studied Feather Boy, by Nicky Singer, and really enjoyed it. In Year 8 I remember looking at Holes by Louis Sachar, Skellig by David Almond and Witch Child by Celia Rees. Hope this helps!
Author:  JB [ Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
I agree about To Kill a Mockingbird. Our niece is about to start studying it in Year 11 for her GCSEs.
Author:  Mel [ Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
I used to teach To KIll a Mockingbird at GCSE level (Yr 11) and would find the rape allegations too much for Year 7. A book that used to go down well in a mixed ability class was that old favourite The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier about refugees in Poland and elsewhere during the Second World War. It is written in short bite-size chapters and beautifully illustrated by C Walter Hodges.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Jun 15, 2010 2:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
I've been racking my brains for ages, because I knew that there was a book that I wanted to mention and could not remember it at all! As always happens, it just came back to me. Again, I don't know if they might not be too long, but might you consider one of the Redwall series by Brian Jacques? I don't remember a whole lot about them, but I do remember how much I was struck by the religious imagery through them - at base, it's essentially a moral tale of good v evil, but there are plenty of other themes running through it.

I hope that you don't mind me posting again - I just had to add it!
Author:  Mia [ Sun Jun 20, 2010 1:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
Redwall would be good, I think. My ex used to know Brian Jacques and I've met him a few times. It's not over-religious.

ETA: I've just seen it's out of print, alas.
Author:  RoseCloke [ Fri Jul 09, 2010 4:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recommendations for school novels!
A book that really stayed with me was The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden and it specifically touches on how people deal with others from different social and racial(?) backgrounds. It was an absolutely beautiful book, giving strong weight to both the traditional needs of the girl and the reality that she was going to have to live somewhere in a non-gypsy family. The prejudices of the children and their parents are balanced by the kindness of her teacher and the vicar - it's been over twelve years since I read this book and I can remember so much of it!

We also read Narnia books (possibly a little outdated now with too much religious emphasis for a state school?), Red Sky in the Morning (we loved this book and half the class was in tears at the end - boys too!) and the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, but that might come under poetry more than books.

I hope these recommendations aren't too late! :D

Edit: I'd second the Silver Sword as another one of my childhood favourites.
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