The River

By Gary Paulsen

The story, in my mind is third in the series, Following 'Hatchet' and 'Brian's Winter'. Now I've begun the saga that is the Brian trapped in the wilderness I feel I have to complete the mission with him. I've really enjoyed this book, though the detail of their survival is lacking, but then is the length of time they need to survive. The assumption, I guess, is that we are all too aware now of Brian's skill in survival situations. We no longer need the detail of eating bugs and the longing, aching hunger that comes from a situation like this. That's not where the action lies. It's in pulling through someone who knows nothing of this at the beginning of the tail and spends the second half of the book unconscious. I'd certainly encourage my class to read this one for themselves the next time I share 'Hatchet'.

Synopsis

Two years ago, Brian Robsen was stranded alone in the wilderness for fifty-four days with nothing but a small hatchet. He survived. Now, the governmentwants him to do it again - to go back into the wilderness so that astronauts and the military can learn the survival techniques that kept him alive.
This time he won't be alone: Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist, will accompany him. But during a freak storm, Derek is hit by lightning and falls into a coma. Their radio transmitter is dead. Brian's only hope is to build a raft and try to transport Derek a hundred miles down the river to a trading post - if the map he has is accurate.

Author 

Gary James Paulsen (born May 17, 1939) is an American writer of young adult literature, best known for coming of age stories about the wilderness. He is the author of more than 200 books and has written more than 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for teenagers. He won the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1997 for his lifetime contribution in writing for teens. Wikipedia

 

Brian's Saga

Hatchet (1986)

The River (1991)

Brian's Winter (1996)

Brian's Return (1992)

Brian's Hunt (2003)

Other works

Dogsong (1985)

The Winter Room(1989)

Woodsong (1990)

Winterdance (1994)

Harris and Me (1993)

And more...

The Runner

By Christopher Reich

It's not often I say this but, of all the books I've reviewed this has to be one of the most disappointing. Perhaps it was because Reich's debut novel was so brilliant, maybe there was only one way to go. Having read many other novels by Reich I prefer to think of this one a slow, deep breath before beginning the long distance race which is the creation of a successful career as a novelist with many, many compelling thrillers in the canon.
Or maybe I was just wasn't compelled by the premise. It could easily be just your cup of tea.

Synopsis

July 1945. For Germany the war is over.
But in POW Camp 8 on the outskirts of Garmisch, one man refuses to believe his duty to the Fatherland is finished. Erich Seyss, once one of Germany's greatest Olympic sprinters, now awaits trial for war crimes committed as a fanatical officer in Hitler's SS. But he has no intention of facing his accusers. Instead, he is determined to run one last race for Germany.
Given only seven days to track down Seyss, Devlin Judge, a lawyer with in the international Military Tribunal set up to try Nazi war criminals, faces an almost task. Not only must he outwit an elite killer trained to operate behind enemy lines, but he must also fathom the extraordinary conspiracy to which Seyss is the key. A conspiracy that could change the face of Europe forever.

Author

He was born in Tokyo on November 12, 1961. He moved to the United States in 1965. He attended Georgetown University and the University of Texas and worked in Switzerland before returning to the United States to become an author. He lives in San Diego and is the author of nine novels. 

Other Books by the Author

Numbered Account (1998)
The Runner (2000)
The First Billion (2002)
The Devil's Banker (2003)
The Patriots' Club (2004)
Rules of Deception (2008)
Rules of Vengeance (2009)
Rules of Betrayal (2010)
The Prince of Risk (2013)
Invasion Of Privacy (2015)
The Take (2018)

Amulet

By Kazu Kibuishi

My boy recommended this one to me. And when we went to the LIT QUIZ this year there was practically a whole section dedicated to it.
This is the first book in a series and it's a goodie. The illustrations are wonderfully done. The dialogue sharp, the story begins explosively and doesn't let you go. 10/10

Synopsis

THERE'S SOMETHING STRANGE BEHIND THE BASEMENT DOOR...
After a family tragedy, Emily, Navin and their mother move to the ancestral home to start a new life. On the family's very first night in the mysterious house, Em and Navin's mom is kidnapped by a tentacled creature. Now it's up to Em and Navin to figure out how to set things right and save their mother's life!

Author

Kazuhiro "Kazu" Kibuishi is a Japanese–American graphic novel author and illustrator. He is best known for being the creator and editor of the comic anthology Flight and for creating the webcomic Copper.

Other works

• Flight, Vol. 1 (Flight, #1) 2004 
• Daisy Kutter: The Last Train 2005 
• Flight, Vol. 2 (Flight, #2)2005 
• Flight, Vol. 3 (Flight, #3) 2006 
• Flight, Vol. 4 (Flight, #4)2007 
• The Stonekeeper (Amulet, #1) 2008 
• Flight, Vol. 5 (Flight, #5) 2008 
• The Stonekeeper's Curse (Amulet, #2) 2009 
• Flight, Vol. 6 (Flight, #6) 2009 
• The Cloud Searchers (Amulet, #3) 2010 
• Copper 2010 
• Flight, Vol. 7 (Flight, #7) 2010 
• The Last Council (Amulet, #4) 2011 
• Flight, Vol. 8 (Flight, #8) 2011 
• Prince of the Elves (Amulet, #5) 2012 
• The Mystery Boxes (Explorer, #1)2012 
• The Lost Islands (Explorer, #2) 2013 
• Escape from Lucien (Amulet, #6) 2014 
• Firelight (Amulet, #7)2016 
• Supernova (Amulet #8) 2018

Novel Study

Amulet Book One Reading Guide: This is a reading guide for book one of the Amulet graphic novel series by Kazu Kibuishi. The guide is broken down into eight days of assigned reading pages and corresponding comprehension questions.

The Martian

By Andy Weir

I was delighted when we unwrapped this penultimate book from the book club this year. It's been sitting on my shelf for a year now, just waiting.
For the past month I had two copies in my house. My boy and I read it at the same time. Well, when I say "the same time" my boy obviously polished it off in three days and I'm still, 24 days later, finishing it off.
I loved it. A book with some action, brilliant.
Now that we've both read the book we might well watch the movie.

Do you think it'll ruin the book? 

Synopsis  

I'm stranded on Mars.

I have no way to communicate with Earth.
If the Oxygenator breaks down, I'll suffocate.
If the Water Reclaimer breaks down, I'll die of thirst.
If the Habitat breaches, I'll just kind of explode.
If none of those things happen, I'll eventually run out of food and starve to death.

I'm screwed.

Author

Andrew Taylor Weir is an American novelist whose debut novel, The Martian, was later adapted into a film of the same name directed by Ridley Scott in 2015. He also worked as a computer programmer for much of his life. He received the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 2016. Wikipedia

Other Books

The Martian (2011)

Artemis (2017)

Study Guides

The Martian: Classroom Edition Teacher’s Guide

Fever Crumb

By Philip Reeve

So, if you're a regular reader of my blog you'll know my son is in process of reviewing the Mortal Engines series of books but I thought I go right back to the prequels and go from there in order. Maybe this book is littered with 'aha' moments but I won't know for a while. I do have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the series. It's a weird world, its London, but not the London we know. The names have shifted. Like its set hundreds of years from now, for example, the is Ox Fart Circus and the Orbital Moatway.

Synopsis

An Abandoned Baby hides an explosive truth.

Thousands of years from now, Fever Crumb is rescued from the ruins of London by some eccentric Engineers. Could her mysterious powers be the key to saving their city?
Fever Crumb is the first of Philip Reeve's sensational prequels tothe mortal engines quartet, one of the greatest fantasy worlds ever created.

Author

Philip Reeve is an author and illustrator. First known as the creator of the fantasy fiction quartet Mortal Engines. He won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize with his Mortal Engines series, as well as the Nestlé Book Prize - Gold Award and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award.

Others in the series:

• Mortal Engines (2001)
• Predator's Gold (2003)
• Infernal Devices (2005)
• A Darkling Plain (2006)
• Traction City (World Book Day, 2011), a novella

Infernal Devices (Predator Cities #3)

By Philip Reeve.

This book is the third in Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines quartet and is recommendable only if one is doing a full-series read-through. The best part for me was when the sky-castle thingy-ma-doodle exploded in a blaze of easily-forgettable glory! It is set about 16 years after the end of the previous book and is kind-of "meh" in comparison to some of the other books in the series, but remember that's just my opinion and it certainly doesn't prevent you from voicing yours! :)

Synopsis

Wren is desperate to escape the static city, and a charming submarine pirate is happy to help her. But when she steals a mysterious object, she ignites a conflict that could tear the world apart.

Author

Philip Reeve is an author and illustrator. First known as the creator of the fantasy fiction quartet Mortal Engines. He won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize with his Mortal Engines series, as well as the Nestlé Book Prize - Gold Award and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award.

Others in the series:

• Mortal Engines (2001)
• Predator's Gold (2003)
• Infernal Devices (2005)
• A Darkling Plain (2006)
• Traction City (World Book Day, 2011), a novella

Die Trying

By Lee Child

Gotta love a good roller coaster ride written by Lee Child. Everyone one of them is a good. My book club really enjoys them. And whenever we need some fallback reading we always go to Child. It's popular writing but its not deep writing. The depth of character appears to be moving at a snails pace but we have a lot of books to see it go.  But I've started at the beginning. I'll be reading through them all in due course.

Synopsis

Jack Reacher, alone, strolling nowhere.
A Chicagostreet in bright sunshine. A young woman, struggling on crutches. He offers her a steadying arm.
And turns to see a handgun aimed at his stomach.
Chained in a dark van racing across America, Reacher doesn't know why they've been kidnapped. The woman claims to be FBI. She's certainly tough enough. But at their remote destination, will raw courage be enough to overcome the hopeless odds?

Author

James D. "Jim" Grant, primarily known by his pen name Lee Child, is a British author who writes thriller novels, and is best known for his Jack Reacher novel series. Wikipedia

He was born in 1954 in Coventry, England, but spent his formative years in the nearby city of Birmingham. By coincidence he won a scholarship to the same high school that JRR Tolkien had attended. He went to law school in Sheffield, England, and after part-time work in the theater he joined Granada Television in Manchester for what turned out to be an eighteen-year career as a presentation director during British TV’s “golden age.” During his tenure his company made Brideshead Revisited, The Jewel in the Crown, Prime Suspect, and Cracker. But he was fired in 1995 at the age of 40 as a result of corporate restructuring. Always a voracious reader, he decided to see an opportunity where others might have seen a crisis and bought six dollars’ worth of paper and pencils and sat down to write a book, Killing Floor, the first in the Jack Reacher series. LeeChild.com

Other Books

Killing Floor (1997)
Die Trying (1998)
Tripwire (1999)
The Visitor (2000)
Echo Burning (2001)
Without Fail (2002)
Persuader (2003)
The Enemy (2004)
One Shot (2005)
The Hard Way (2006)
Bad Luck And Trouble (2007)
Nothing To Lose (2008)
Gone Tomorrow (2009)
61 Hours (2010)
Worth Dying For (2010)
The Affair (2011)
A Wanted Man (2012)
Never Go Back (2013)
Personal (2014)
Make Me (2015)
Night School (2016)
The Midnight Line (2017)
Past Tense (2018)

Killing Floor

By Lee Child

“I worked thirteen years, got me nowhere. I feel like I tried it their way, and to hell with them. Now I'm going to try it my way.”
― Lee Child, Killing Floor 

As you all know, if I can I will begin with the first book in a series. And so I have. I've really enjoyed this first of many, many Jack Reacher books. He's a hard case. A little less suave than James Bond but with an equal strength and commitment to purpose. It a great read for a bit of light entertainment. I'm looking forward to reading some more.

Synopsis

Killing Floor is the first book in the internationally popular Jack Reacher series. It presents Reacher for the first time, as the tough ex-military cop of no fixed abode: a righter of wrongs, the prefect action hero. 
Jack Reacher jiumps off a bus and walks fourteen miles down a country road into Margrave, Georgia. An arbitary decision he's about to regret.
Reacher is the only stranger in town on the day they have had their first homicide in thirty years. The cops arrest Reacher and the police chief turns eyewitness to place him at the scene. As nasty secrets leak out, and the body count mounts, one thing is for sure.
The picked the wrong guy to take the fall.

Author

James D. "Jim" Grant, primarily known by his pen name Lee Child, is a British author who writes thriller novels, and is best known for his Jack Reacher novel series. Wikipedia

He was born in 1954 in Coventry, England, but spent his formative years in the nearby city of Birmingham. By coincidence he won a scholarship to the same high school that JRR Tolkien had attended. He went to law school in Sheffield, England, and after part-time work in the theater he joined Granada Television in Manchester for what turned out to be an eighteen-year career as a presentation director during British TV’s “golden age.” During his tenure his company made Brideshead Revisited, The Jewel in the Crown, Prime Suspect, and Cracker. But he was fired in 1995 at the age of 40 as a result of corporate restructuring. Always a voracious reader, he decided to see an opportunity where others might have seen a crisis and bought six dollars’ worth of paper and pencils and sat down to write a book, Killing Floor, the first in the Jack Reacher series. LeeChild.com

Other Books

Killing Floor (1997)
Die Trying (1998)
Tripwire (1999)
The Visitor (2000)
Echo Burning (2001)
Without Fail (2002)
Persuader (2003)
The Enemy (2004)
One Shot (2005)
The Hard Way (2006)
Bad Luck And Trouble (2007)
Nothing To Lose (2008)
Gone Tomorrow (2009)
61 Hours (2010)
Worth Dying For (2010)
The Affair (2011)
A Wanted Man (2012)
Never Go Back (2013)
Personal (2014)
Make Me (2015)
Night School (2016)
The Midnight Line (2017)
Past Tense (2018)

Predator Gold (Predator Cities #2)

 By Philip Reeve

As soon as I finished Mortal Engines I immediately went to get this follow up novel. I have enjoyed all of them, but this was a bit of a low point in the series, mainly because not much happened, I mean, sure, he introduces a lot of new characters, but nothing cool happened. It was a little disappointing for the second in the series but I'm hoping it'll just get better and better from there.

 Synopsis

Anchorage is fleeing across the ice wastes. Far above a tiny aircraft falls from the sky. Having escaped from London, Tom and Hester seek refuge in a city devastated by plague, haunted by ghosts, and filled with deadly secrets...

 

 

Author

Philip Reeve is an author and illustrator. First known as the creator of the fantasy fiction quartet Mortal Engines. He won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize with his Mortal Engines series, as well as the Nestlé Book Prize - Gold Award and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award.

Others in the series:

• Mortal Engines (2001)
• Predator's Gold (2003)
• Infernal Devices (2005)
• A Darkling Plain (2006)
• Traction City (World Book Day, 2011), a novella

The BFG

By Roald Dahl

This term's novel study was a huge success. The BFG is such a classic tale. Adored by children and teachers everywhere. The movie was a delight too, the new Steven Spielberg film was a true delight. I think a big part of the magic of the book is the clever way in which Dahl has the BFG talk. I'm sure there is a system or style he speaks in but all I know it is very clever and I enjoyed using 'the voice' twice as much as the children enjoyed listening to it.

Synopsis

The BFG is a nice and jumbly giant. In fact, he is the only big friendly giant in giant country. All the other giants are big bonecrunching brutes, and now the BFG and his frined Sophie must stop them guzzling up little human beans - with some help from Her Majesty THE QUEEN.

Novel Study

The BFG Novel Study Unit - This 147 page novel study for The BFG, by Roald Dahl, includes comprehension by chapter, 22 additional Common Core aligned activities, Culminating Project Choices, assessments, bookmarks, and answer keys.Open-ended questions and graphic organizers are easily adaptable for every type of learner. Common Core codes are listed on each resource, along with a student-friendly "I can" statement. No prep, and perfect for whole class, small group, or even independent study.

Author 

Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter, and fighter pilot. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide.
He chronicles his childhood in Boy and his early adult life in Going Solo. 

Books by the same author

Children's books


Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964)
The Magic Finger (1966)
 Fantastic Mr Fox (1968)
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (1972)
Danny, the Champion of the World (1975) 
The Enormous Crocodile (1978)
The Twits (1980)
George's Marvellous Medicine (1981)
Revolting Rhymes (1982)
The BFG (1982)
Dirty Beasts (1983)
The Witches (1983)
Boy: Tales of Childhood (1984)
The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (1985)
 Going Solo (1986)
Matilda (1988)
Rhyme Stew (1989) 
Esio Trot (1990) 
The Minpins (1991)
 Roald Dahl's Guide to Railway Safety (1991)
My Year (1991)

Other works
The Gremlins (1943)
Over To You (1946)
Some Time Never (1948)
Someone Like You (1953)
Kiss Kiss (1960)
Switch Bitch (1974)
James and the Giant Peach (1961)
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More (1977)
My Uncle Oswald (1979)
Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories (1983) 
Two Fables (1985)
Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life (1989)
The Vicar of Nibbleswicke (1991)

Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #2)

By Jeff Kinney

Rodrick Rules is the second book in the series. When I shared the Diary of Wimpy Kid book with my class the majority of them were really keen to read the other books in the series. And it gladdened my heart to hear them ask. This particular 'episode' in the series also has a movie attached which, in my opinion was done rather well too.

Synopsis

Whatever you do, don't ask Greg Heffley how he spent his summer holidays, because he definitely doesn't want to talk about it.
As Greg enters the new school year, he's eager to put the past three months behind him... and one event in particular.
Unfortunately for Greg, his older brother Rodrick knows all about the incident. And secrets have a way of getting out... especially when a diary is involved.

Author

 Jeffrey Patrick "Jeff" Kinney is an American cartoonist, producer and author of children's books, including the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series. He is also attributed as the creator of the child-oriented website Poptropica. He started working on The Diary of a Wimpy Kid sometime during 1998, however, it wasn’t published until the spring of 2007. The series gained quick popularity and attained the number one position on important charts with a worldwide sale of 42 million copies up till 2010.

Books in the Series 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway

Mortal Engines (Predator Cities #1)

By Philip Reeve

This book was pushed towards me by my intermediate teacher this year. I was reluctant at first, but I soon polished off it and two others in the series. I am currently reading number 4 in the series. I have thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the world it's set in. If you haven't read this series, I suggest it with great enthusiasm.

Synopsis

In the distant future, cities on wheels fight each other for survival. As London pursues a small town, young apprentice Tom is flung out into the wastelands, where a terrifying cyborg begins to hunt him down.

Author

Philip Reeve is an author and illustrator. First known as the creator of the fantasy fiction quartet Mortal Engines. He won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize with his Mortal Engines series, as well as the Nestlé Book Prize - Gold Award and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award.

Others in the series:

• Mortal Engines (2001)
• Predator's Gold (2003)
• Infernal Devices (2005)
• A Darkling Plain (2006)
• Traction City (World Book Day, 2011), a novella

The Burning Bridge (Ranger's Apprentice #2)

By John Flanagan

This Ranger's Apprentice series was a particular favourite of my son's and I've been really enjoying them too. The Burning Bridge sees the growth and development of Will. His relationship with Horace deepens especially when it comes down to the two them  holding the line and preventing a strike against the Kingdom. 

Synopsis

As the Kingdom of Araluen prepares for war against Morgarath, Will and Horace accompany the Ranger Gilan on a mission to Celtica. But Celtica's villages are silent. Only and exhausted and starving girl called Evanlyn can tell them why: Morgarath has sent his foul creatures to enslave the Celts. While Gilan rides swiftly back to Araluen to report this news to the King, Will, Horace and Evanlyndiscovers the true purpose behind Morgarth;s actions. The Kingdom is sure to be defeated in a surprise three-sided attack - unless they can find a way to prevent it.

Author

 John Anthony Flanagan is an Australian fantasy author best known for his children's books. His best-known work is the Ranger's Apprentice medieval fantasy novels and companion series Brotherband Chronicles. He also writes novels for adults.
His bestselling Ranger’s Apprentice adventure series originally comprised twenty short stories, which John wrote to encourage his twelve-year-old son, Michael, to enjoy reading. Michael was a small boy, and all his friends were bigger and stronger than he was. John wanted to show him that reading was fun, and heroes weren’t necessarily big and muscular. Now in his mid-twenties, Michael is six feet tall, broad-shouldered and powerful – but he still loves The Ranger’s Apprentice.

(Wikipedia and WoJF)

Other Titles by this author

The Ruins of Gorlan (2004)
The Burning Bridge (2005)
The Icebound Land (2005)
Oakleaf Bearers (2006)
The Sorcerer in the North (2006)
The Siege of Macindaw (2007)
Erak's Ransom (2007)
The Kings of Clonmel (2008)
Storm Peak (2009)
Halt's Peril (2009)
The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (2010)
Avalanche Pass (2010)
The Lost Stories (2011)
The Outcasts (2011)
The Invaders (2012)
The Hunters (2012)
The Royal Ranger (2013)
Slaves of Socorro (2014)
Scorpion Mountain (2014)

The Grey Raider (2015)
The Tournament at Gorlan (2015)
The Ghostfaces (2016)
The Battle of Hackham Heath (2016)
De jacht op het schaduwdier (Dutch exclusive) (2017)
The Caldera (2017)

After the Crash

By Michel Bussi

Here is the next book delivered to me by the book club. It's the first real thriller and the one I have most enjoyed, though it was a little predictable as it progressed. I remember trying to get through The girl in the Dragon Tattoo when it came out, which was the only other translated contemporary novel I've read, I really should have another crack at that sometime soon. With being so busy this month I've really struggled to find time to read, which is very annoying to me as you might imagine.

Synopsis

On the night of 22 December, a plane crashes on the Franco-Swiss border.
All the passengers are killed instantly, apart from one miraculous survivor- a three month old baby girl. But who is she? Two families step forward to claim her but is she Lyse-Rose or Emilie?
 Two decades later on the eve of her 18th birthday the detective who investigated the case makes a discovery that could change everything...

Author

Michel Bussi is a French writer of detective novels, and a political analyst and Professor of Geography at the University of Rouen, where he leads a Public Scientific and Technical Research Establishmen.

Other novels 

Code Lupin (2006)
Omaha crimes (2007)
Mourir sur Seine (2008)
Sang famille (2009)
Nymphéas noirs (Black Water Lilies) (2011)
Un avion sans elle (After the Crash) (2012)
Ne lâche pas ma main (Don't Let Go) (2013)
N'oublier jamais (2014)
Gravé dans le sable, re-written version of Omaha crimes (2014)
Maman a tort (2015)
Le temps est assassin (2016)

Holes

By Louis Sachar

Back in 2002 I read this book  to my class and we talked about friendship and the importance of family. It was one of the early books, after Harry Potter, that I read to my Year 5 class. They thoughly enjoyed it. The following year the movie came out and we loved that too. Since then there have been any number of resources available for novel-study. I can highly recommend thi book as a novel study, especially for those older primary school children.

Synopsis

Stanley Yelnats isn't too surprised to find himself at Camp Green Lake, digging holes in the dried-up lake bed, day after scorching day. After all, his family has a history of bed luck.
The boys at Camp Green Lake must dig one hole each day, five feet deep and five feet across. But waht are they digging for? Why did Green Lake dry up? And what do onions and lizards have to do with it all? The answers lie in Stanley's own past...
Holes is a funny, surprising and deliciously suspenseful novel, weaving past and present into a plot that tangles and untangles to a thrilling end.

Novel Study

This novel study for Holes by Louis Sachar contains 108 pages of resources, including comprehension, vocabulary, Common Core activities, assessments, and more!
You will find that this study's layout is student-friendly, and that the questions and activities are easily adaptable to every learner. All Common Core activities have the Common Core code listed in the bottom corner, keeping both you and your students focused.
This is a well-rounded, no-prep novel study that will engage your students and sharpen their reading skills. Perfect for whole class, small group, or even independent study.
UPDATE!
♥BONUS digital version included, which works with Google Drive and contains eye-catching color versions of all resources.
♥Use the paper or the digital version; BOTH are included with your purchase!

Movie Tie-in

Holes (2003) A wrongfully convicted boy is sent to a brutal desert detention camp where he joins the job of digging holes for some mysterious reason.

Author  

Louis Sachar is an award-winning author of twenty-five books for children and young adults. His book, Holes, won the prestigious National Book Award and the Newbery Medal.

Other Books

• Sideways Stories from Wayside School (1978)
• Johnny's in the Basement (1981)
• Someday Angeline (1983)
• Sixth Grade Secrets (1987)
• There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom (1987)
• The Boy Who Lost His Face (1989)
• Wayside School is Falling Down (1989)
• Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School (1989)
• Dogs Don't Tell Jokes (1991)
• More Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School (1994)
• Wayside School Gets A Little Stranger (1995) 
• Kidnapped at Birth? (1992)
• Why Pick on Me? (1993)
• Is He a Girl? (1993)
• Alone In His Teacher's House (1994)
• Holes (1998) 
• Class President (1999)
• A Flying Birthday Cake? (1999)
• Super Fast Out of Control! (2000)
• A Magic Crystal? (2000) 
• Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake (2003)
• Small Steps (2006) 
• The Cardturner (2010)
• Fuzzy Mud (2015)

A series of Unfortunate Events

By Lemony Snicket

I've had a wonderful holiday week with my boy. We've done some lovely things despite it raining non-stop for 5 days.
He's reading the Lemony Snicket books at school then, during the holidays we discovered the NetFlix series starring Neil Patrick Harris.
What a brilliant series. Although I have not yet read any of these books beyond "the bad beginning" my boy assures me this series plots very closely to the original books. Each book is covered through two episodes of the series.
It was great to see Rhys Darby in an episode or two. It's always nice to see a New Zealanders in such successful shows.
We watched 8 episodes, the first four books, and the first thing we did when we'd finished was check on iMDB to see if they were planning on televising the whole series… it looks promising.
(Update: It certainly is, the next 8 episodes are out on Netflicks now, and we are enjoying those too) 

Synopsis 

Dear Reader,
 I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.
 In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast. It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.
With all due respect, Lemony Snicket

Novel Study

This is a literature guide to A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. This novel unit would be great for use in a literature circle or novel study group. Activities contain higher level thinking reading comprehension questions, vocabulary, as well as extension activities. A complete answer key is included in page format, so pages with answers could be printed for students with IEPs.

Author 

Daniel Handler is an American writer, musician and journalist. He is best known for his work under the pen name Lemony Snicket, having published children's series A Series of Unfortunate Events and All the Wrong Questions under this pseudonym.

Other novels 

The Bad Beginning (1999) 

The Reptile Room (1999) 

The Wide Window (2000) 

The Miserable Mill (2000) 

The Austere Academy (2000) 

The Ersatz Elevator (2001) 

The Vile Village (2001) 

The Hostile Hospital (2001) 

The Carnivorous Carnival (2002) 

The Slippery Slope (2003) 

The Grim Grotto (2004) 

The Penultimate Peril (2005) 

The End (2006)

Numbered Account

By Christopher Reich

I happened upon this novel by chance at a second-hand book fair. I picked it up in a bundle of books on a similar genre. I loved it. A total thrilling ride which I couldn't put down. In fact I'm very surpirsed some movie studio hasn't grabbed the rights and turned it into a blockbuster. If you enjoy crime, if you enjoy the thriller, if you enjoy authors like Grisham and Connelly and Clancy you'll certainly enjoy Christopher Reich. 

Synopsis

 Nick is willing to do whatever it takes to find his father's killer - even if it means abandoning a glittering career on Wall Street and a beautiful fincee. And when he infiltrates the bank in his search for the truth, he finds himself plundged into a world where everything- gold, power, even life and death - has its price. 

Sinking ever deeper into this clandestine world of unbridled greed and treachery, Nick turns to an alluring but dangerous woman with an agenda of her own, and too soon learns that in order to catch his father's murderer he too, must become a criminal.  

As the bank comes under investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Nick finds himself protecting the one man who may hold the key to the truth- the key to his father's murder. As his search intensifies, as Nick gets closer to the answers, he must face the fact that his own life could be the final sacrifice he has to make.

Author

He was born in Tokyo on November 12, 1961. He moved to the United States in 1965. He attended Georgetown University and the University of Texas and worked in Switzerland before returning to the United States to become an author. He lives in San Diego and is the author of nine novels. 

Other Books by the Author

Numbered Account (1998)
The Runner (2000)
The First Billion (2002)
The Devil's Banker (2003)
The Patriots' Club (2004)
Rules of Deception (2008)
Rules of Vengeance (2009)
Rules of Betrayal (2010)
The Prince of Risk (2013)
Invasion Of Privacy (2015)
The Take (2018)

The Jungle Book

By Rudyard Kipling

I've always loved The Jungle Book. It was one of my favourite movies as a kid and with going to Cubs and Scouts as a kid, of course the whole thing is particularly special for me.
What I didn't realise was that the story of Mowgli is one of a few short-stories that actually make up The Jungle Book. The book I read included Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Toomai of the Elephants, The White Seal and Her Majesty's Servants.
The new movie blew me away and was the kick I needed to get reading this piece of classic literature.

Synopsis

The Jungle Book introduces Mowgli, the human foundling adopted by a family of wolves. It tells of the enmity between him and the tiger Shere Khan, who killed Mowgli's parents, and of the friendship between  the man-cub and Bagheera, the black panther, and Baloo, the sleepy, brown bear, who instruct Mowgli in the Laws of the Jungle.

Author

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist. Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book, Kim, and many short stories, including "The Man Who Would Be King". Wikipedia

 

Other Books 

 The Jungle Book (1894)
Just So Stories (1902)
Kim (1901)
Captains Courageous (1897)
"If—" (1895)
"Gunga Din"(1890)
"The White Man's Burden" (1899)

...and Other works

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Potter #3)

By J.R. Rowling

1999 was the second year of my teaching career and I read a review in the Times Educational Suppliment about the this new author whose books were taking the world by storm. I began that year with my first reading of Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone. My students were gripped and we continued reading through all three of the pubished books into 2000. In my opinion The greatest thing that any author has done, save for Roald Dahl, for eight to ten year old boys was when Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series of books. Arguably, the biggest thing that happened to counter that was when Rowling sold the movie rights. But I guess this is part of the reason I've started these novel-studies and structured them around available resources, including the movies inspired by them.

Synopsis

Harry Potter, along with his best friends, Ron and Hermoine, is about to start his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry can't wait to get back to school after the summer holidays. (Who wouldn't if they lived with the horrible Dursleys?) But when Harry gets to Hogwarts, the atmosphere is tense. There's an escaped mass murderer on the loose, and the sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school...

Author

Born in Yate, England, on July 31, 1965, J.K. Rowling came from humble economic means before writing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, a children's fantasy novel. The work was an international hit and Rowling wrote six more books in the series, which sold hundreds of millions of copies and was adapted into a blockbuster film franchise. In 2012, Rowling released the novel The Casual Vacancy.

Books by the same author

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)

Other novel studies on this site

Study Unit

There are a raft of study units for supporting literacy through Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

But here is my favourite:

This novel study resource is This includes the assignment page, rubric, character tracker, glossary, and chapter pages. This is meant to be printed double sided and the stapled into a booklet.

This is a companion to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Can be used for the whole class or small literature circles.

Movie tie-in

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) - It's Harry's third year at Hogwarts; not only does he have a new "Defense Against the Dark Arts" teacher, but there is also trouble brewing. Convicted murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Wizards' Prison and is coming after Harry.

Available for purchase: 

Mighty Ape

Amazon

 

Mind Hunters

by John E. Douglas, Mark Olshaker 

I've always been interested in Criminal Minds the TV series. I think its one of those series that has never lost its edge. But this is not that. Rather it tells the story, through the dramaisation of interviews and discussions held with those first FBI agents who were charged with researching those murders that we later come to know as 'serial killers' in fact it is this particular fledgling department that creates such terms. The Netflix series was quiet and 'ploddy' but well written and produced as it explored the minds of the killers and the hunters.

Synopsis

He has hunted some of the most notorious and sadistic criminals of our time: The Trailside Killer in San Francisco, the Atlanta Child murderer. He has confronted, interviewed and researched dozens of serial killers and assassins, including Charles Manson, Richard Speck, John Wayne Gacy, and James Earl Ray - for a landmark study to understand their motives. To get inside their minds. He is Special Agent John Douglas, the model for law enforcement legend Jack Crawford in Thomas Harris's thrillers Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs, and the man who ushered in a new age in behavorial science and criminal profiling. Recently retired after twenty-five years of service, John Douglas can finally tell his unique and compelling story.

Authors

John E. Douglas heads the FBI Elite Serial Crime Unit and is widely experienced in the field of serial killers. This work explores psychology and motives in this area of crime.

Mark Olshaker, author of four novels and producer of the Emmy-nominated The Mind of a Serial Killer, lives in Washington DC. 

Other titles

Mindhunter (1995)
Journey Into Darkness (1997)
Obsession (1998)
The Anatomy of Motive: The FBI's Legendary Mindhunter Explores the Key to Understanding and Catching Violent Criminals (1999)
Broken Wings (1999)
The cases that haunt us (2000)
Law & Disorder: The Legendary FBI Profiler's Relentless Pursuit of Justice (2013)