The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die was written by April Henry.  This is one of the most popular books in my sixth grade classroom.  The book is about a teenager named Cady.  She wakes up from unconsciousness to discover she has been badly beaten and can't remember anything.  She manages to escape her tormentors, but when she seeks help from a local police officer, she is accused of crimes she didn't commit or at least doesn't remember committing.  On the run, she meets Ty who helps her uncover the truth behind her parents disappearance, the crimes for which she is accused, and eventually a plan of biological warfare.  Several copies of this book can be found at Mrs. Baker's classroom library.  This is what my students are saying about The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die.

Luke said, "I liked this book because it was a mystery.  The author wrote this book very well.  It feels like it has many different climaxes."

Abby said, "It was very descriptive and  it threw clues to you through the whole book.  It was very interesting and an ongoing book.  It seemed perfect to me since I love mysteries."

Nick said, "It is action packed through the beginning, middle and end.  It was well written.  It was one of the best books I have read in a long time!"

Caitlyn said, "What I really liked about this book was that it was suspenseful, and it kept my attention the whole time.  It was the type of book where you never know what is going to happen next.  I love that in a book!"

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: April Henry, Author
Did you know that April Henry has written other books?  She has also written Girl, Stolen.  This is about Cheyenne, a blind girl who is very ill.  She is left alone in the car when her stepmother goes into the pharmacy to get her medicine.  While gone, the car is stolen with Cheyenne still in it.  She must find a way to escape her kidnappers before something truly terrible happens!  I am currently reading, The Body in the Woods by April Henry which was released in June of 2014.  This book is about three teens, Alexis, Nick, and Ruby, who have joined the Portland County Sheriff's Search and Rescue.  While searching the woods for an autistic man, they find the dead body of a young girl. They must work together to find the murderer before one of them becomes the next victim. Both of these April Henry books can be found at Mrs. Baker's classroom library!

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall/ The Amulet Series

Gabriella recommends The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn.  After seven years in an orphanage, Florence is excited to be moving in with her Great Aunt and Uncle at Crutchfield Hall in the English countryside.  However, she soon meets the ghost of her cousin, Sophia, who haunts the rooms of the country manor.  As the manipulative Sophia creates a plan to gain revenge for her death, Florence begins to fear for the residents of Crutchfield Hall.  Gabriella said, “I like this book because it grabs you from the beginning of the book to the end.  Plus, it is scary, and I like scary books more that any other type of book!”  Since reading The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall, Gabby has continued to read books written by Mary Downing Hahn.  Books by Mary Downing Hahn can be located at our school library or in Mrs. Baker’s classroom library.

Nathan recommends The Amulet Series by Kazu Kibuishi.  In this graphic novel, Emily and Navin move with their mother into the house of her great grandfather.  The house proves to be dangerous and Emily and Navin must enter a dark and sinister world in order to save their mother.  In this world, they must face demons, robots and talking animals.  Nathan said, “I like it because some of the parts are funny and other parts of the story are adventurous.  I always wonder what is going to happen next in every book.”  Nathan has read most of the books in this series.  Currently, six books are available in The Amulet Series.  These books can be found in the school library or in Mrs. Baker’s classroom library.

Mrs. Baker’s Blurb: Most Popular Books at RSMS
Are you wondering what other middle school students are reading?  One way to find out this information is to check our school library’s online catalogue, Destiny Quest.  You can access the catalogue on your Vportal at home or at school.  Currently, the top ten most checked out books at River Springs Middle School are: (drum roll, please!)

1. Ungifted by Gordon Korman
2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney
4. Dork Diaries: Tales of a Not-So-Talented Pop Star by Rachel Renee Russell
5. The Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger by Louis Sachar
6. Welcome to Camp Nightmare by R.L. Stine
7. 12 Again by Sue Corbett
8. Big Nate Strikes Again by Lincoln Pierce
9. The Blood of Olympus by Rick Rioridan
10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

The Selection Series/ Ender's Game

Natalie recommends The Selection Series by Kiera Cass.  In this book, thirty-five girls have been selected to live at the palace and compete to become the wife of Prince Maxon.  America Singer is less than thrilled when she is among the selected girls.  She loves her boyfriend, Aspen, and doesn’t want to leave him to pursue this better life without him.  However, when she meets Prince Maxon, she begins to question her best laid plans.  Natalie said, “I love The Selection Series!  It is action-packed through all three books, and it had the perfect amount of romance.”  This book is available at Mrs. Baker’s classroom library.

Jackson recommends Ender’s Game by Orsen Scott Card.  Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is taken from his family to attend an elite military training school.  The planet is being threatened by alien forces and the military seeks a general to lead their forces in the attack.  Ender quickly becomes a leader in his school and in his training, but is he able to be the general that Earth so desperately needs?  Jackson said, “ I like the book because it kept my attention the entire time.  I also like that the main character is a boy.  Sometimes it is hard to find a book where a boy is the main character.  The battle school was really cool!  Also, I like to read books that have a movie so I can watch the movie when I finish the book.”  River Springs students can find this book at the school library.

Mrs. Baker’s Blurb: Children's Choice Book Awards
Books with medals on the front are oh so tempting!  It is so shiny.  Most of the time, it is also a fantastic book to read.  But who is selecting these books for awards?  Most of the time it is teachers and librarians.  You should consider looking at the Children’s Choice Book Awards.  These books were selected by students just like you.  You can find a complete list of current and past winners at www.ccbookawards.com

Blog Overview

Are you tired of adults telling you what you should be reading?  This blog is a place where sixth grade students can learn about books that other sixth graders are reading. Each week, I will be asking a female and male student from the sixth grade reading classes at River Springs Middle School to recommend a novel that they have recently read.  The students will provide a summary of the book and explain why they like this book.  My students will be using this blog as a tool to help them share and select books to read throughout the year.

I want to know what you, my middle school students, actually want to read and not what librarians or teachers tell me you should be reading, so I will be using this blog as a tool to help you and me find books that you will love.  However, I also want you to expand your reading interests and try new books and genres.  Each year, thousands of books are published for children and young adults. As sixth graders, you are in a unique position because you are sometimes too mature for children’s literature, but you may still be slightly uncomfortable with some of the content in young adult literature.  This will be a perfect place to help you find books that are “just right!”

Many of my students love to read.  Yay!  But many of you do not really like it all that much. However, I am quite determined that all of my students will develop a love of reading.  Part of developing a love of reading is finding books that you love to read.  Unfortunately, you may read some duds before you find a winner.  But a great book is always worth it!

I know you guys get tired of hearing me say this buuuuuttt:

If you want to score well on the FSA exam this year, then you have to be reading… A lot!