reluctant readers
How to Throw a Book-themed Party for Kids
By emily |
(Originally published at Redeemed Reader on July 10, 2013, in connection with that year's Summer Reading Challenge) This week on our Summer Reading Challenge, we're ...
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Wildfire by Rodman Philbrick
By Janie Cheaney |
Wildfire is a fast read that will take even reluctant readers into the heart of a fast-moving catastrophe. Wildfire by Rodman Philbrick. Blue Sky (Scholastic), ...
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Knights vs. Dinosaurs by Matt Phelan
By Janie Cheaney |
Three boastful knights bite off more than they can chew in this legendary tale by a popular graphic novelist. Knights vs. Dinosaurs by Matt Phelan. ...
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“Born to Read” by Gladys Hunt
By Janie Cheaney |
Gladys Hunt reflects on the importance of reading in a child's life and shares some of her favorite books for encouraging kids to read. This is ...
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50 Wacky Things Animals Do by Tricia Wagner
By Janie Cheaney |
“Wacky facts” about 50 animals introduce young readers to the amazing variety of creation. Ages 6-10 50 Wacky Things Animals Do: Weird and Amazing Animal ...
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Power Forward by Hena Khan
By Janie Cheaney |
Zayd's dream of playing basketball on his school's A-team clashes with his Muslim family's goals for him. Ages 6-10 Power Forward (Zayd Saleem, Chasing the ...
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*Tiger Boy by Mitali Perkins
By Janie Cheaney |
Tiger Boy, set in the Sundarban Islands, is a satisfying tale of courage and responsibility for younger middle-graders. a review from our archives! (originally published June ...
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Fuzzy by Tom Angleberger
By Janie Cheaney |
Fuzzy may seem far-fetched, but it raises some interesting, real-world questions in an entertaining way. Fuzzy by Tom Angleberger and Paul Dellinger. Amulet, 2016, 253 ...
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The Big Dark by Rodman Philbrick
By Janie Cheaney |
A small England Community fights for survival when a solar flare wipes out all sources of power, in this taut thriller with a 12-year-old hero. ...
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The Double Cross by Jackson Pearce
By Janie Cheaney |
A 12-year-old spy trainee proves his calling in spite of obvious physical drawbacks, in this entertaining middle-grade adventure. The Double Cross, and Other Skills I ...
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Frank Einstein and the Anti-Matter Motor by Jon Schieszka
By Janie Cheaney |
Though not to be taken at all seriously, this wacky series by Jon Schieszka threads some real science into its far-out storylines. Frank Einstein and ...
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The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John
By Janie Cheaney |
A fifth-grade prankster meets his match, joining forces with his rival to pull off the greatest fifth-grade prank of all time. The Terrible Two by ...
Read More McBroom series by Sid Fleischman
By Megan Saben |
This post is part of our "Summer of Great Family Reads" series. Don't miss the initial post full of more excellent recommendations! McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre ...
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Terror at Bottle Creek by Watt Key
By Janie Cheaney |
In a fast, thrilling read, a 13-year-old boy must display courage, ingenuity, and persistence in extremely dangerous circumstances. Terror at Bottle Creek by Watt Key. ...
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Sunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm
By Janie Cheaney |
In this graphic novel with a bittersweet twist, Sunny's disappointing “vacation” in her grandfather’s retirement community conceals some family secrets. Sunny Side Up by Jennifer ...
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My Life in Pictures by Deborah Zemke
By Janie Cheaney |
Bea Garcia learns to deal with disappointment and make the most of her artistic gifts in this first cartoon-illustrated installment of a series. My Life ...
Read More Reading Outside Your Preferred Genre
By Alysha |
As a teacher, I’ve had various conversations with parents about how to get their children engaged in reading. The flip side of that conversation comes ...
Read More SIX by M. M. Vaughan
By Janie Cheaney |
SIX by M. M. Vaughan. Simon & Shuster (Margaret K. Elderberry Books), 2015. 361 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-14 ...
Read More Fort by Cynthia DeFelice
By Janie Cheaney |
Fort by Cynthia DeFelice. Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2015. 200 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 10-12 (especially boys and reluctant readers) ...
Read More The Fog Diver by Joel Ross
By Janie Cheaney |
The Fog Diver by Joel Ross. Harper, 2015. 323 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-16 Bottom Line: The Fog Diver ...
Read More Wilder Boys by Brandon Wallace
By Janie Cheaney |
Wilder Boys by Brandon Wallace. Aladdin, 2015. 220 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 (especially boys) Bottom Line: Questionable premises ...
Read More Lucky Strike by Bobby Pyron
By Janie Cheaney |
Lucky Strike by Bobby Pyron. Scholastic (Arthur Levine), 2015. 263 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Bottom Line: A “lucky” ...
Read More Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James Swanson
By Janie Cheaney |
Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson. Scholastic Press, 2009. 194 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: The ...
Read More Guts & Glory: The American Civil War by Ben Thompson
By Janie Cheaney |
Guts & Glory: The American Civil War by Ben Thompson. Little, Brown, 2014. 317 pages, including index. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ...
Read More Bible Review: The Action Bible ESV
By Janie Cheaney |
The Action Bible Study Bible ESV, edited by Catherine deVries, illustrated by Sergio Cariello. David C. Cook, 2015. 1248 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages ...
Read More Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
By Janie Cheaney |
Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff. Penguin, 2014, 305 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Bottom Line: Absolutely Almost is a reassuring tale for middle ...
Read More *You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang
By Janie Cheaney |
*You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant. Two Lions (Amazon), 2014. 30 pages. Reading Level: Easy Readers, ages 4-8 Recommended For: ...
Read More *Rise by Trip Lee
By emily |
*Rise: Get Up and Live in God's Great Story by Trip Lee. Thomas Nelson, 2014. 240 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 and up Maturity ...
Read More Arcady’s Goal by Eugene Yelchin
By Janie Cheaney |
Arcady’s Goal by Eugene Yelchin. Henry Holt, 2014. 234 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: 3 (ages 8-10) and up Bottom Line: ...
Read More The Scavengers by Michael Perry
By Janie Cheaney |
The Scavengers by Michael Perry. Harper, 2014, 322 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 4 (ages10-12) and up One-line Summary: The Scavengers ...
Read More The Paladin Prophesy: Book 1 by Mark Frost
By Janie Cheaney |
The Paladin Prophesy: Book 1 by Mark Frost. Random House, 2012. 560 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) One-line Summary: ...
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El Deafo by Cece Bell
By Janie Cheaney |
El Deafo by Cece Bell. Amulet, 2014. 241 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: 3 (ages 8-10) Bottom Line: Author/illustrator Cece Bell ...
Read More Young Houdini: The Magician’s Fire by Simon Nicholson
By Janie Cheaney |
Young Houdini: the Magician’s Fire by Simon Nicholson. Sourcebooks, 2014. 232 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Imagine ...
Read More World War I: An Interactive History Adventure by Gwenyth Swain
By Janie Cheaney |
World War I: an Interactive History Adventure by Gwenyth Swain. (You Choose Books), Capstone, 2012. 112 pages including timeline, index, etc. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ...
Read More Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey by Nick Bertozzi
By Janie Cheaney |
Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey by Nick Bertozzi. First Second, 2014. 125 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 4 (ages 11-12) and up This ...
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I Can Read / Made By God
By Megan Saben |
I Can Read! Made by God series, edited by Mary Hassinger. Zonderkidz, 2010-2011, 32 pages. Reading Level: Easy/Leveled Readers, Ages 4-8Maturity Level: Level ...
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Raising “Wild” Readers
By Megan Saben |
How do you teach the pleasure of reading to non-readers? Convinced by research studies and personal experience that worksheets and conventional methods of teaching literary ...
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Cinder by Marissa Meyer
By Hayley Morell |
Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Square Fish, 2012. 387 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12 – 15 Recommended For: 6 (ages 15 – 18) and up Bottom ...
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*Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel
By Janie Cheaney |
Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel. Scholastic (Graphix), ask 2013. 238 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: 3 (ages 8-10) and up Bottom ...
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Twerps and Bullies: Middle Grade fun for boys
By Betsy Farquhar |
I'll admit it: I cracked up when I read Wimpy Kid. Clearly, my sense of humor is rather juvenile (or, maybe I've just spent a LOT of ...
Read More *Jane, the Fox, and Me by Fanny Britt
By Janie Cheaney |
Jane, the Fox, and Me by Fanny Britt and Isobelle Arsenault (translated from the original French). Groundwood, 2014, 101 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ...
Read More *Unspoken by Henry Cole
By Janie Cheaney |
*Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad, by Henry Cole. Scholastic, 2012, 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, Ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-10 and ...
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Summer Reading Challenge, Week 6: The Lightning Thief
By Hayley Morell |
Welcome to Week 6 of our Summer Reading Challenge! If you’d like to see other posts in this series,
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Church Literacy, Part One: Interview with Mom of a Dyslexic Child
By emily |
How Is Your Church Affected by Literacy Challenges? How many words do you read in your church worship service? 500 or more? Don't forget to ...
Read More Zeus, King of the Gods by George O’Connor
By Janie Cheaney |
Zeus, King of the Gods, (#1 in The Olympians graphic-novel series) by George O’Connor. First Second, 2012, 80 pages. Reading Level: Picture books (graphic novel), ...
Read More The Adventures of Achilles by Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden
By Janie Cheaney |
The Adventures of Achilles, by Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden, illustrated by Carole Henaff. Barefoot Books, 2012, 96 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages10-12 Maturity ...
Read More The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
By Janie Cheaney |
The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, by Christopher Healy (drawings by Todd Harris). HarperCollins, 2012, 436 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended ...
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Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin
By Janie Cheaney |
Breaking Stalin’s Nose, written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin. Henry Holt & Company: 2011, 154 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 5 ...
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*Hereville by Barry Deutsch
By Janie Cheaney |
*Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword (graphic novel), by Barry Deutsch. Abrams (Amulet), 2010, 139 pp. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: Ages 8-10 ...
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The Airborn trilogy by Kenneth Oppel
By Janie Cheaney |
Airborn, by Kenneth Oppel. HarperCollins, 2004, 355 pp. Skybreaker (2007); Starclimber (2009). Reading Level: Middle grade, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-12 and up One-line ...
Read More Stalking the Elusive Boy Reader
By Janie Cheaney |
Supposedly, one of the most-asked questions in children's publishing divisions is, "Will boys read it?" Will boys read anything? Or only books that have "butt" ...
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
By Janie Cheaney |
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan: The Lightning Thief (Hyperion/Miramax,2005), The Sea of Monsters (2006), The Titan's Curse (2007), The Battle of the ...
Read More *Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
By Janie Cheaney |
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen. Random House (Wendy Lamb Books), 2007. 88 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: 4 (Ages 10-12) Bottom ...
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It’s a Book by Lane Smith
By Janie Cheaney |
It's a Book by Lane Smith. Roaring Brook Press, 2010. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 10-12 and up Bottom ...
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