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...

Smile

By Raina Telgemeier

This appears on the 100 books to read before you grow up so I've picked up a copy for my class set and here I am reading it. It's autobiographical in the main part, which is of real interest to me, and tell the story of the author's trials and tribulations around knocking her teeth out. The artwork is delightful, the story engaging and the discussion it has raised in my class this week is fantastic, I highly recommend this book to sit in your class library and to be enjoyed by all ages.

Synopsis

Family, friends, boys... dental drama?!

A True Story

Raina just wants to be a normal  sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgury, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. Raina's story takes us from middle school to high school, where she discovers her artistic voice , finds out what true friendship really means, and where she can finally... smile. 

Author

Raina Telgemeier is an American cartoonist whose works include the autobiographic webcomic Smile, which was published by Scholastic Press's Graphix imprint as a full-color graphic novel in February 2010. Wikipedia

Other Books

• Smile (2010)
• Drama (2012)
• Sisters (2014)
• Ghosts (2016)

 

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)

The Last Juror

By John Grisham

I had such a run on John Grisham novels during the mid-2000s and finished at that point with this one. I've always enjoyed his writing and, almost despite that fact all his writing is stand alone, I've thoroughly enjoyed every novel he has written. The location of 'Ford County' is a recurring place that appears in multiple novels, and here we are again, in Ford County.

Synopsis

In 1970, one of Mississippi's more colourful weekly newspapes, The Couny Time, went bankrupt. To the surprise and dismay of many, ownership was assumed by a 23-year-old college drop-out, named Willie Traynor. The future of the paper looked grim until a young mother was brutally raped and murdered by a member of the notorious Padgitt family. Willie Traynor reported all the gruesome details, and his newspaper began to prosper.
The murderer, danny PAditt, was tried before a packed courtroom in Clanton. Mississipp. The trail came to a startling and dramatic end when the defendant threatened revenge against the juros if they convicted him. Nevertheless, they found him guilty, and he was sentenced to life in prison.
But in Mississippi in 1970, 'life' didn't necessarily mean 'life' and nine years later Danny Padgitt managed to get himself paroled. He returned to Ford County, and the retribution began.

Author

John Ray Grisham, Jr. is an American bestselling writer, attorney, politician, and activist best known for his popular legal thrillers. His books have been translated into 42 languages and published worldwide.  - Wikipedia

Other books by the author

A Time to Kill(1989)

The Firm (1991)

The Pelican Brief (1992)

The Client (1993)

The Chamber(1994)

The Rainmaker (1995)

The Runaway Jury(1996)

The Partner (1997)

The Street Lawyer (1998)

The Testament (1999)

The Brethren (2000)

A Painted House(2001)

Skipping Christmas (2001)

The Summons (2002)

The King of Torts (2003)

Bleachers(2003)

The Last Juror(2004)

The Broker(2005)

Playing for Pizza(2007)

The Appeal (2008)

The Associate(2009)

The Confession(2010)

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer(2010)

The Litigators(2011)

Theodore Boone: The Abduction(2011)

Calico Joe (2012)

The Racketeer (2012)

Theodore Boone: The Accused(2012)

Sycamore Row(2013)

Theodore Boone: The Activist(2013)

Gray Mountain(2014)

Theodore Boone: The Fugitive(2015)

Rogue Lawyer (2015)

Theodore Boone: The Scandal(2016)

The Whistler(2016)

Camino Island(2017)

The Rooster Bar (2017)

Total Control

By David Baldacci

This was one of the stand alone novels Baldacci wrote quite early on. It was the one that gripped me so hard, I thought it was so clever. I read it at a time in my life when I had a lot of time on my hands. During the end of my third year of university I was on a 5 week placement at... I don't recall the name of the school- it was 23 years ago.
It was a 3 hour trip each way. A lot of time to go stir crazy. So I began reading. Those were the days... 6 hours a day to just sit, reflect and read. What a joy.

Synopsis

Baldacci proves again that he is the new superstar in the thriller firmament, a total master of plo, pacing and surprise.
Jason Archer is a rising young executive at Triton Global, the world's leading technology conglomerate. Determined to give his family the best of everything, Archer has secretly entered into a deadly game of cat and mouse. He is about to disappear - leaving behind a wife who must sort out his lies from his truths, an air-crash investigation team that wants to know why the plane he was ticketed on suddenly fell from the sky, and a veteran FBI agent who wants to know it all.
Soon the startling truth behind Jason Archer's disappearance explodes into a sinister plot with the murder of the country's single most powerful individual. And Archer's wife, Sidney, is plunged straight into the violence that is leaving behind a trail of dead bodies and shocking exposed secrets.

Author

David Baldacci is one of the for most popular authors living today. The current publishing run sports the brag "110 million copies sold". That is quite a feat for someone who published their first novel in just 20 years ago.
"Born in 1960 in Virginia, Baldacci received a degree in B.A in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University and also a degree in Law from the University of Virginia. For nine years, he practiced law, first as a trial and then as a corporate attorney in Washington, D.C."

- Famous Authors

Other books written by the author

The Author is prolific so you can either following the link above to the definative list of his works or the list below is merely what I have read to date of publishing:

• Absolute Power (1996)
• Total Control (1997)
• The Winner (1998)
• The Simple Truth (1998)
• Saving Faith (1999)
• Wish You Well (2001)
• Last Man Standing (2001)
• The Christmas Train (2003)
• Split Second (2003)
• Hour Game (2004)
• The Camel Club (2005)
• The Collectors (2006)
• Stone Cold (2007)
• Simple Genius (2007)
• Divine Justice (2008)
• True Blue (2009)
• Memory Man (2015)

The Narrows

By Michael Connelly

Another wonderful piece by Connelly. He continues to dig the the depths of what makes Harry, Harry. At the same time we follow a case that grips you by the throat and never lets you go until the very end. It seems that the Poet has returned and is out to get the beautiful profiler, Rachel Walling. Unfortunately for the Poet, Rachel happens to be someone close to Harry Bosch and that will be his downfall, I'm sure of it.

Synopsis

Harry Bosch confronts a villian who's long been in hiding... he's called the Poet.
Former FBI agent Rachel Walling has recieved the call she's been dreading for four years. The Poet is back. Has has not forgotten her. And he has a special present for her.
Harry Bosch is adjusting to life in Las Vegas as a private investigator and a new father. He gets a call, too, form the widow of a friend who died recently, someone who worked on the famous case tracking the killer known as the Poet...

Author 

Michael Connelly began writing for the Los Angeles on the Crime Beat. He turned out his first novel in 1992, Bill Clinton was spotted purchasing Michael’s third novel, Concrete Blonde, in 1994 and he never looked back. 26 novels later and he’s still going. On a personal note, with the title “The wrong side of goodbye” I’m a little nervous about reading the 2016 novel for fear of Harry dying off… no comments giving that away people, I’m hoping to address that demon over Christmas.

Books by the same author

There are so many novels he's written, a full list can be found here. But I'm going to focus on what I consider to be the most significant in terms of Harry Bosch's character development.

The Black Echo (1992)
The Last Coyote (1995)
A Darkness More Than Night (2001)
Nine Dragons (2009)
The Drop (2011)
Switchblade (2014)

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

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)

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper

By Phaedra Patrick

This has been the loveliest, gentlest story I've read in a while. It's a mystery, with no murder. It's a romance with no lover. I particularly enjoyed the aspect of the story that addressed the 'it's never too late'. As Arthur discovers, for the first time what his wife's life was like before he met her he can't understand what it was about himself that she was attracted to. But as he finds out more and more about her he discovers more and more about himself. This is a hopeful story of love, jealousy, grief, loss and thankfulness. Beautifully written.

Synopsis

Arthur and Miriam Pepper were happily married for forty years. They shared an uneventful life in Yorkshire, two children and had no secrets. At leaast that what Arthur thought.
Now he is on his own. He gets up every morning, eats his breakfast, waters his plant, Frederica, and speaks to nobody unless it is absolutely necessary. Until something disrupts his routine.
On the first anniversary of Miriam's death, Arthur finds a small box containing a gold charm bracelet. On the underside of an elephant charm is a telephone number and , uncharacteristically, Arthur picks up the phone.
That call changes everything he thought he knew about Miriam. Embarking on. journey, charm by charm, Arthur uncovers his wife's secret life before they met, and along the way learns more about himself.

Author

Phaedra Patrick is the bestselling author of two novels THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER and RISE AND SHINE, BENDICT STONE (known as WISHES UNDER THE WILLOW TREE in the UK).

She qualified firstly as a stained glass artist before gaining her professional Marketing qualifications. She has worked as a waitress, stained glass designer, film festival organiser and communications manager. She enjoyed her first real writing success when she entered and won several short story competitions, and she now writes full time.

Phaedra lives in Saddleworth, UK, with her husband and son and she is currently working on her next novel. 

Other Works

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper (2016)
Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone(2017)

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)

Nine Dragons (Harry Bosch #14)

By Michael Connelly

Nine Dragons, certainly for me, is one the top five Harry Bosch books when it comes to looking more deeply into the protagonists soul. When I started the series I figured, though the writing was good, the stories would weaken. I mean, how much stuff can happen to one guy? In one lifetime? Really? But the way Connelly writes, the depth of his characters, the interactions between them is remarkable. I don't feel like I'm reading a novel, more like experiencing it. Another good Connelly, Bravo!

Synopsis

Detective Harry Bosch is called to investigate the murder of a store owner in a tough LA neighbourhood. For Harry, it's a trip down memory lane:he's been to Fortune Liquors before and remembers Mr Li - a man who offered him santuary during LA's notorious riots. Now the debt must be repaid.
Mr Li left a clue to his murderer's identity, a clue that leads Harry into a parallel criminal universe ruled by the Triads. But as he gets closer to this shady underworld, the Triads send Harry a devastating message - they have taken something of his, something he holds very dear. As Harry's life implodes, he must risk everything to track a killer who knows how to get under his skin...

Author 

Michael Connelly began writing for the Los Angeles on the Crime Beat. He turned out his first novel in 1992, Bill Clinton was spotted purchasing Michael’s third novel, Concrete Blonde, in 1994 and he never looked back. 26 novels later and he’s still going. On a personal note, with the title “The wrong side of goodbye” I’m a little nervous about reading the 2016 novel for fear of Harry dying off… no comments giving that away people, I’m hoping to address that demon over Christmas.

Books by the same author

There are so many novels he's written, a full list can be found here. But I'm going to focus on what I consider to be the most significant in terms of Harry Bosch's character development.

The Black Echo (1992)
The Last Coyote (1995)
A Darkness More Than Night (2001)
Nine Dragons (2009)
The Drop (2011)
Switchblade (2014)

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)

Brian's Winter

By Gary Paulen

When I first decided to read Hatchet to my class I thought it a really good idea to purchase and share the other books in the series for my better readers to enjoy themselves should they wish. I loved Hatchet myself and was told this sequel was just as good. And having just completed it I would have to agree. I loved every moment of reading this book and refused to put it down.

Synopsis

In the Newbery Honor-winning Hatchet, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson learned to survive alone in the Canadan wilderness, armed only with his hatchet. Finally, as millions of readers know he was rescued at the end of the summer. But what if Brian hadn't been rescued? What if he had been left to face his deadliest enemy- winter?
Gary Paulsen raises the stakes for survival in this riveting and inspiring story, as one boy confronts the ultimate test and the ultimate adventure.

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...

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)