Young Adult Books - The Teacher Bees Blog (Page 2)

Young Adult Books

Books with social justice messages geared towards young adult readers

Books about Poverty and Abuse

Books about Poverty and Abuse

Recently I read two books that have striking similarities: The Benefits of Being an Octopus [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35890044-the-benefits-of-being-an-octopus?from_search=true] , by Ann Braden, and Eleanor and Park [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15745753-eleanor-park?ac=1&from_search=true] , by Rainbow Rowell. Both books

The Poet X

I am a sucker for narrative books in verse, and the newest addition to my collection, The Poet X [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33294200-the-poet-x] , is a powerful one. Written by slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo, it tells the story of Xiomara, a girl who initially keeps her words to

Daniel's Story

I began reading Daniel's Story [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40959645-daniel-s-story], by Carol Matas, in preparation for the Manitoba Adolescent Literacy Summit in April. Carol Matas will be offering a session about teaching the Holocaust, and I wanted to become more familiar with her books before the

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12000020-aristotle-and-dante-discover-the-secrets-of-the-universe?ac=1&from_search=true] is the coming of age story of two teenage boys as they embark on a friendship that gradually becomes a deeper relationship. With beautiful prose, the title is

A Girl Called Echo

A Girl Called Echo

When I pick up a book set in my own province, it feels like I have found something special. Seeing my home in print on the page gives me a feeling of connection to a text that I don't often get with other books. Even rarer is finding

Prisoner B-3087

Prisoner B-3087

Prisoner B-3087 [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15756277-prisoner-b-3087?ac=1&from_search=true] , by Alan Gratz, is based on the true story of Yanek Gruener, a Holocaust survivor. Starting in the Jewish ghetto in Kraków, Poland, the novel recounts his experiences in ten concentration camps over the course

If You Come Softly

If You Come Softly

If You Come Softly [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36076595-if-you-come-softly], by Jacqueline Woodson, is a story grounded in the tradition of Romeo and Juliet. Two young people from different groups love each other despite opposition from their different worlds. While Romeo and Juliet was famously about two lovers from

Grenade

Grenade [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37825453-grenade?from_search=true], by Alan Gratz, tells the story of the invasion of Okinawa during World War II. The book features two characters' perspectives: Ray, a young American soldier, and Hideki, an Okinawan boy who has been drafted by the Japanese

The Reckoner Series

The Reckoner Series

I first started this blog to examine books that offer diverse voices to the world and allow students to see their own experiences, struggles, and successes reflected back at them. The diverse voices movement have highlighted a growing number of authors from a variety of different backgrounds, although I often

Love, Hate & Other Filters

Love, Hate & Other Filters

Love, Hate & Other Filters [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31207017-love-hate-other-filters?from_search=true] , by Samira Ahmed, is a coming of age story for young adults. It tells the story of Maya Aziz, a Muslim teenager who is straining against the strict expectations of her parents. Rejecting her mother&

Two Boys Kissing

Two Boys Kissing

Two Boys Kissing, by David Leviathan, is a novel that explores what it is like being gay for today's teens. It follows several gay teens over the course of two days, showing a diverse set of experiences. For instance, one plot line follows Avery, a transgender teen as

Identity Literature Circle

Identity Literature Circle

Earlier this year, I decided to develop another literature circle for my grade seven classroom. I currently teach two literature circles that focus on the themes of human rights and heroic journeys respectively. Inspired by Kelly Gallagher, I decided to condense these two units and create a third in order

The 57 Bus: A Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives

The 57 Bus: A Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives

Summer is an excellent time to catch up on reading, so stay tuned for book reviews of texts that belong in the classroom and beyond. Today's review is on The 57 Bus [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33155325-the-57-bus?ac=1&from_search=true], by Dashka Slater.

Posted by John David Anderson

Posted by John David Anderson

Over the last two months, I have been toying with the idea of building a new literature circle for my class based on the theme of identity. As I investigated texts, a second theme of bullying began to emerge in many of the books I have been previewing. Both themes

Sadia Book Review

Sadia Book Review

My hometown of Winnipeg is an increasingly diverse place, and every day in the classroom this fact is becoming more and more evident. Students come from many parts of the world, practice different religions, and bring a variety of cultural backgrounds with them when they come to school everyday. Learning

Lily and Dunkin

Lily and Dunkin

Recently, I started hunting for novels for an identity themed literature circle. Lily and Dunkin [https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/055353677X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=055353677X&linkCode=as2&tag=ebees-20&linkId=0dc9da4c9980840c06102e34a20c6079] , by Donna Gephart, was

Books for the Resistance

Books for the Resistance

The past week I have been fascinated by the student movement in the United States that has risen up to advocate for gun control [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-guns-students/florida-students-take-on-nra-set-eyes-on-midterm-elections-idUSKCN1G80GT] . Their passion and arguments for their cause are commendable. Seeing these student activists organize school walkouts and boycotts is

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Every once in a while you come across a book that is equal parts tragedy and triumph. Refugee [https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0545880831/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0545880831&linkCode=as2&tag=ebees-20&linkId=e049b5fc81fb5763e866c1b89d9e2ce4] , by