The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Author: John Boyne

Publisher: David Fickling Books

Publish Date (Reprint): October 23, 2007

Summary: Bruno and his family moved to a new home in a new town, far away from his friends.  Bruno is very bored in his new home and begins wandering around the home.  He stumbles onto a concentration camp where he meets a boy in striped pajamas.  A friendship begins to blossom as the two compare lives and realize they are very different from each other.

AR Book Points: 7

Source: www.arbookfind.com

Age Range: 9th grade and up

Quality: This book is very tragic and might be hard for some students to understand. If used properly the book can introduce the atrocities of WWII and concentration camps.   

Life Connections

• Death
• Understanding history - WWII, concentration camps
• Friends in unlikely places

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game

Author: Michael Lewis

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company

Publish Date (Reprint): September 17, 2007

Summary: A depiction of the life of Michael Oher, #74 of the Baltimore Ravens.  Oher's childhood was unlike many children's lives.  At the age of 13, Michael does not know his real name, his father or how to read or write.  Through miracles performed by members of his community and adopted family Michael learns how to read and write and is eventually granted a scholarship to Ol Miss.  Through determination, hard work and a little bit of luck, Michael Oher is drafted into the NFL.  

AR Book Points: 19

Awards: Alex Award/Honor

Source: www.arbookfind.com

Age Range: 9th grade and up

Quality: This book provides a look into an American child whose life is unlike most, but identical to those in his neighborhood and surrounding areas.  Michael Oher is essentially homeless and is given many opportunities to help him succeed.  His community and family love him and help him succeed.  Children will identify with this because Michael is a real character in a real situation and overcomes the things that could potentially hold him back.  

Life Connections

• Life is not easy
• Helping others succeed can bring happiness to both you and the recipient. 
• Understanding determination
• Understanding different life situations

Cinnamon Girl: Letters Found Inside of a Cereal Box

 

Author: Juan Felipe Herrera

Publisher: Joanna Cooler Books

Publish Date: August 9, 2005

 

Summary: Written in free verse, this story describes how young Yolanda deals with the tragedy of September 11. She keeps poems and letters she finds in and around Ground Zero in a cereal box.  She collects dust around New York City with the intent of returning it to Ground Zero, hoping to silence the ghosts and bring her uncle back to life. 

Award: Americas Award Book

Source: www.arbookfind.com

AR Book Points: 2

Age Range:  13 and up

Life Connections

• Understanding Hispanic (Puerto Rican) culture
• Understanding events in history
• How to deal with tragedy and death

Aani and the Tree Huggers by Jeannine Atkins

Author: Jeannine Atkins

Illustrator: Venantius J. Pinto

Publisher: Lee & Low Books

Publish Date: April 1, 2000

Summary: Aani bravely participates in the Chipko Andolan, or "Hug the Tree Movement" in her home town in India.  She and the other women in town wrap their arms around the trees in order to keep developers from cutting them down.  This is based on a true story from the 1970s in India.

Source:  www.arbookfind.com

AR Reading points: .05

Grade Level: K-3

Awards: Children's Book Award, Smithsonian's Notable Book

Life Connections:

• Standing up for something without a voice
• The importance in nature
• History