Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles

Knowles, J. (2013). Jumping Off Swings: Vol. 2. Living with Jackie Chan. New York, NY: Candlewick.

Summary: Josh is spending his senior year of high school with his Uncle Larry, a man who bases his life off the principles of karate. Josh needs this distraction as he is dealing with his own internal turmoil, leaving his hometown with his own secret. He makes friends, teaches karate and even develops a crush trying to suppress his past. Will it come back to haunt him?

Review: An interesting read of internal conflict. Made me very curious about the first part of this series.

Diversity: Upstairs neighbors in this book are gay parents.

Suggestions for Teachers: Use this in a coming-of-age unit or for lit circles.

Reading Level:

1. Quantitative: Lexile 530, ATOS Book Level 9.67-12.01, Flesh-Kincaid 8.32-12.12, 8.41-10.81 RMM
2. Qualitative: This text is slightly complex. It is organized chronologically and there are a few flashbacks. Vocabulary is contemporary and familiar. Those who have read the first book in the series will have a stronger understanding of the story.

Content Areas: English

Common Core State Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3
Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Relevant links: Teaching Books, Jo Knowles

Subjects/Themes: family, acceptance, teen pregnancy

Awards: N/A

Series Information: N/A

I Will Save You by Matt de la Peña

de la Peña, M. (2010). I will save you. New York, NY: Delacorte.

Summary: Kidd Elliott has run away from a group home after tragically and dramatically losing both his mother and his father. He hopes to start over working at a campsite in Cardiff, CA with Mr. Red, his boss who has experienced his own tragedy, as a mentor. He falls in love with Olivia who also has her own secret. What makes things difficult is his best friend Devon from the group home whose risky behavior tries to derail Kidd's fresh start.

Review: An intense look at PTSD, domestic abuse, friendship and family. De la Peña shows his depth as a writer with Kidd's character.

Diversity: An accurate representation of diverse beachside Southern California. Red dates women of color. Olivia has her own issues which make her different. Kidd is biracial.

Suggestions for Teachers: Great for coming-of-age literature circle or a look at trauma.

Reading Level:

1. Quantitative: Lexile 770, ATOS Book Level 9.67-12.01, Flesh-Kincaid 8.32-12.12, 8.41-10.81 RMM
2. Qualitative: This text is very complex. Lots of flashbacks with organization. The ending and discovering the secrets of the narrator will require a close-reader The language is largely contemporary and familiar. Overall, this novel may appear accessible but a sophisticated reader will understand Kidd's true identity at the end. Knowledge of trauma and personality disorders will help create meaning for readers.

Content Areas: English

Common Core State Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3
Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Relevant links: Teaching Books, Matt de la Peña

Subjects/Themes: family, acceptance, PTSD, trauma

Awards: 

• ALA-YALSA Best Book for Young Adults and Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers
• Finalist for the 2011 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award

Series Information: N/A

Kendra by Coe Booth

Booth, C. (2008). Kendra. New York, NY: Push.

Summary: Kendra lives in the Bronx with her grandmother. Her mother, only 14 years her senior, just finished her Ph.D. Kendra hopes to live with her mother. Her father lives upstairs with his younger sister and Kendra's best friend, Adonna. Kendra is trying to figure out puberty, boys and win her mother's acceptance.

Review: A raw book of coming-of-age. Compulsive and compelling. Due to the sex scenes, I would recommend this for a high school library.

Diversity: Strong and powerful female African American characters of low socio-economic status.

Suggestions for Teachers: Great for coming-of-age literature circle.

Reading Level:

1. Quantitative: Lexile 770, ATOS Book Level 9.67-12.01, Flesh-Kincaid 8.32-12.12, 8.41-10.81 RMM
2. Qualitative: This text is slightly complex; the organization is chronological and easy to follow. The language is also largely contemporary and familiar. Overall, this novel is very accessible. Knowledge of housing projects could help readers visualize more.

Content Areas: English

Common Core State Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3
Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Relevant links: Teaching Books, Coe Booth

Subjects/Themes: family, acceptance

Awards: N/A

Series Information: N/A

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle

Federle, T. (2014). Better Nate than ever. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster for Young Readers.

Summary: Nate has a big dream. He wants to perform on Broadway. When an audition for a musical version of ET avails itself, Nate plans a surreptitious trip to NYC where hopes of being a star will allow him to feel more at home than he does in his own school.

Review: Federle brings us a character who is questioning his identity and takes us on a ride where we're rooting for Nate, the underdog, and wish him joy and happiness. A great coming of age story for youth.

Diversity: This novel features a kid who doesn't fit in. There are assumptions that Nate is questioning his sexual identity and teased by others at his school as effeminate and possibly gay. This is a story that isn't often told especially for middle grades and that is why I love this book because so many students who question their sexual identities start doing so long before high school where it is more prevalent in YA. This is a great middle school book and it offers a window and possibly a mirror for our youth struggling to figure out who they are.

Suggestions for Teachers: This novel would work well for lit circles with the guiding topic of coming-of-age. It would be a book that should be facing out in a classroom library and book talked.

Reading Level:

1. Quantitative: Lexile 930L, ATOS Book Level 7.0, Flesh-Kincaid 6.51, 7.0 RMM
2. Qualitative: This text is slightly complex as there is a singular first person narrator and the narration is chronological. Language is largely contemporary and explicit and thus moderately complex. The theme of an underdog achieving his dream is simple and accessible. Students who have some knowledge of Broadway and New York City might have a stronger understanding.

Content Areas: English, Contemporary Issues

Common Core State Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1
Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3

Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

Relevant links: Tim Federle's website, Teaching Books

Subjects/Themes: coming of age, LGBTQQ

Awards: Odyssey, Stonewall, ALA

Series Information: sequel is Five, Six, Seven Nate!