Intermediate Book Resources
Books are listed in alphabetical order. Resources were available online as of March 2009 and as with all online content may change over time. If you have additional resources to add to the list or have concerns about what is posted here, please contact Liz at lyanoff@nycap.rr.com
42 Miles. Written by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer. Clarion Books, 2008.
Author website(s):
Our interview with Ms. Zimmer
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/tracie-zimmer-interview/
Publisher Website:
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?titleNumber=100453
Reviews:
School Library Journal
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6552579.html
Ready Junky’s Reading Roost
http://readingjunky.blogspot.com/2008/05/42-miles-by-tracie-vaughn-zimmer.html
Lesson plan ideas:
Consider connecting this verse novel to discussions of verse novels and poetry more generally. Check out this essay about verse novels at Alternative Teen Services. http://www.yalibrarian.com/wordpress/2008/06/ya-free-verse-novels/
The content of the text also related to counseling curriculum about managing divorce.
A Dog on His Own by Mary Jane Auch. Holiday House, 2008.
Author website(s):
Publisher Website:
http://www.holidayhouse.com/title_display.php?ISBN=9780823420889
Other related website(s):
I really liked this view of the Auch’s studio.
http://www.auchbooks.com/studio
Reviews:
Cincinnati Library
http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/spotlight/feature.asp?id=10569
Lesson plan ideas:
Connect with your local animal shelter.
The Invasion of Sandy Bay. Written by Anita Sanchez. Calkins Creek Books, 2008.
Author website:
http://www.anitasanchez.webs.com/
Our interview with Anita Sanchez
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/anita-sanchez-interview/
Publisher Website:
http://www.calkinscreekbooks.com/books/historical_fiction/invasion_of_sandy_bay_the.html
Reviews:
Books we love from the Park Ridge Public Library
http://prkcs.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/the-invasion-of-sandy-bay-by-anita-sanchez/
Lesson plan ideas:
Connect to your study of the War of 1812.
Lawn Boy. Written by Gary Paulsen. Wendy Lamb Books, 2007.
Author website(s):
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/garypaulsen/
Publisher Website:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385746861
Reviews:
Commonsense Media
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Lawn-Boy.html#
NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/books/review/McGrath-t.html
Lesson plan ideas:
Really fun way to consider economics.
Reader’s theater script: www.txla.org/groups/tbA/docs/readers/Lawn%20Boy.doc
Other information from the publisher’s website:
Nominee 2008 – ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers
Nominee 2008 – Texas Bluebonnet Award
Winner 2007 – Parents’ Choice Award
Winner 2008 – New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Award
Winner 2008 – NCSS/CBC Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
Winner 2008 – New Mexico Book Award
Leepike Ridge. Written by N.D. Wilson. Random House, 2007. 
Author website(s):
Our interview with N.D. Wilson
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/n-d-wilson-interview/
Publisher Website:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375838743
Reviews:
School Library Journal
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379/post/600014060.html
The Reading Zone
http://thereadingzone.wordpress.com/2008/03/16/leepike-ridge-by-nd-wilson/
Lesson plan ideas:
Action, adventure, suspense. Wilson’s writing may inspire your writers to pick up a pen/keyboard and write a story of their own.
Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf. Written by by Jennifer L. Holm. Illustrated by Elicia Castaldi. Ginee Seo Books, 2007.
Author website(s):
Illustrator website(s):
Our interview with Elicia Castaldi
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/10/18/elicia-castaldi-middle-school-is-worse-than-meatloaf/
Publisher Website:
http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=1&pid=536386&er=9780689852817
Reviews:
Reading Rocks
http://teachers.spart5.k12.sc.us/symborse/blog/?p=289
School Library Journal
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379/post/1160014716.html
Lesson plan ideas:
Plenty of inferential thinking in this text. Also art and illustration extensions are limitless.
Awards noted by publisher
ALA Notable Children’s Books
NAPPA Gold Award Winner
NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Ookpik: The Travels of a Snowy Owl. Written and illustrated by Bruce Hiscock. Boyds Mill Press, 2008.
Author website(s):
http://www.brucehiscock.com/index.html
Publisher Website:
http://www.boydsmillspress.com/books/nonfiction_picture_book/ookpik.html
Our interview with Bruce
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/bruce-hiscock-interview/
Reviews:
CM magazine
http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol15/no2/ookpik.html
Oneota Reading Journal
http://www2.decorah.lib.ia.us/Oneota%20Journal/html/08SigOth2O.htm
Lesson plan ideas:
Check out Bruce’s website for “how to draw”, “what’s new in the woods” and other extensions.
Rickshaw Girl. Written by Mitali Perkins. Illustrated by Jamie Hogan. Charlesbridge, 2007.
Author website(s):
Our interview with Ms. Perkins
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/07/04/mitali-perkins-interview/
Illustrator website(s):
http://www.charlesbridge.com/contributorinfo.cfm?ContribID=314
Our interview with Ms. Hogan
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/jamie-hogan-interview/
Publisher Website:
http://www.charlesbridge.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=4449
Other related website(s):
Jane Addams Children’s Book Award
http://home.igc.org/~japa/jacba/2008/mainpage_2008.html
Reviews:
CCBC
http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailBook.asp?idBooks=2145
Curled up with a good kids’ book
http://www.curledupkids.com/rickshaw.htm
PaperTigers
http://www.papertigers.org/reviews/USA/papertigers/RickshawGirl.html
Lesson plan ideas:
Resources from publisher
http://www.charlesbridge.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=4449
Steel Drumming at the Apollo. Written by Trish Marx. Illustrated by Ellen B. Sinisi. Lee and Low Books, 2007.
Author website(s):
Our interview with Trish Marx
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/trish-marx-interview/
Illustrator website(s):
Our interview with Ms. Senisi
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/ellen-senisi-interview/
Publisher Website:
http://www.leeandlow.com/books/111/hc/steel_drumming_at_the_apollo_the_road_to_super_top_dog
Other related website(s):
Hamilton Hill Arts Center
http://www.hamiltonhillartscenter.org/
Interview with the authors
http://www.leeandlow.com/p/marx-senisi.mhtml.
Reviews:
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Steel-Drumming-Apollo-Road-Super/dp/1600601243
Lesson plan ideas:
Connect to music lessons and also to “quest” stories.
Stolen Children. Written by Peg Kehret. Dutton Juvenile, 2008.
Author website(s):
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/kehret.html
Our interview with Peg Kehret
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/peg-kehret-interview/
Publisher Website:
http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780525478355,00.html?Stolen_Children_Peg_Kehret
Reviews:
Genre Go Round Reviews
http://genregoroundreviews.blogspot.com/2008/07/stolen-children.html
Lesson plan ideas:
As with Leepike Ridge this book might inspire your writers to pen an adventure of their own. Certainly also connects to safety curriculum.
