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Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Language Arts: Please complete pages 182, 183, and 184 in your vocabulary workbook. Tuesday, February 7, 2012 Language Arts: Please complete pages 177, 179 (bottom only), 180, and 181 in your vocabulary workbook. Upcoming Tests: *Monday, 2/13 -- Religion Units 9 & 10 (plus Beatitudes, Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, and Ten Commandments!) -- Study Guide will be distributed at the end of this week. *Tuesday, 2/14 -- FINAL Vocabulary test! (Congratulations -- you will have completed the vocabulary workbook!) *Wednesday, 2/15 -- Prince and the Pauper test **Reminders -- Thursday, 2/16 is Science Fair judging day -- students will present their projects to judges! Friday, 2/17 is a noon dismissal! Monday, February 6, 2012 Language Arts: Please complete pages 171, 172, 174, 175, and the top of 176 in your vocabulary workbook. (Afternoon patrols will be given time in the morning to complete if they did not bring their workbooks home, due to their leaving for patrol duty prior to assignment.) Friday, February 3, 2012 Literature: Please finish reading Prince and the Pauper. We will discuss the novel next week and then watch a 1937 (yes, that's right -- starring Errol Flynn!) version of the story! We'll compare and contrast the stories! Please remember to return your signed report card on Monday. Have a great weekend! Thursday, February 2, 2012 Language Arts: Unit 15 Vocabulary test is tomorrow (Friday, 2/3). Literature: Please continue reading Prince and the Pauper and have the novel completed for class on Monday, 2/6. We will be sure to discuss through chapter 28 tomorrow (Friday, 2/3) to assure understanding of all the family dynamics of Prince Edward, Tom Canty, and Miles Hendon! REMINDERS: Please have your Responsibility Record signed! Also, please have your report card signed and return to Mrs. Taylor! Remember -- The Talent Show begins right after the "Blessing of the Throats" (which takes place @ 12:30), so the show should start by 1pm! Come enjoy all the wonderful exhibitions of talent! This is a great way to cap off a fabulous Catholic Schools week! Monday, January 30, 2012 Language Arts: Unit 15 Vocabulary exercises (pages 167 - 170). Literature: Please read chapters 22 - 24 of Prince and the Pauper. **REMINDER: Tomorrow (Tuesday, 1/31) is Culture Day! Noon Dismissal! ALL students are asked to wear PE uniforms! Monday, January 23, 2012 Literature: Please read chapters 13 and 14 of Prince and the Pauper. NO vocabulary this week, due to March and no school on Friday. Friday, January 20, 2012 REMINDER: Enjoy NOODLES & COMPANY for dinner tonight! Help the Auction Committee raise MUCH NEEDED funds -- 25% of sales from Noodles & Co. tonight will go to BSS -- Visit Noodles & Co. on Duke Street (right around the corner from BI, next to the Giant)! Literature: Please read chapters 10, 11, and 12 of Prince and the Pauper. Wednesday, January 18, 2012 Literature: Please read chapter 9 of Prince and the Pauper. ALSO, please design YOUR seal -- you are now the King or Queen of England and you must have your royal seal to affix to your royal orders! Remember, this is YOUR SIGNATURE, exclusive to YOU! Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 162 and 163. Unit 14 test is Friday, 1/20. Also -- remember to make the corrections for your essay (Due Friday, 1/20). Tuesday, January 17, 2012 Literature: Please read chapters 7 and 8 of Prince and the Pauper. Remember ORB due Friday (1/20)! Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 160 and 161. Also -- If I did not get your essay back today (for essay contest) -- I will discuss with you tomorrow -- next drafts (or final copy for some) will be due this Friday, 1/20. REMINDER -- This is the last week of the quarter -- please be sure all assignments are turned in! (For ALL classes!) Friday, January 13, 2012 Literature: Please read chapters 4,5, and 6 of Prince and the Pauper. Also -- REMINDER: NEXT ORB is due Friday, 1/20! Have a great long weekend! Thursday, January 12, 2012 Language Arts: Unit 13 Vocab test. ALSO: ROUGH draft of your essay (see Monday posting) due tomorrow (Friday, 1/13) -- NO EXCEPTIONS! (Typed, double-spaced). Literature: Please read chapters 2 and 3 Prince and the Pauper. ALSO: Remember to get Responsibility Record signed AND next ORB is due NEXT Friday (1/20)! Wednesday, January 11, 2012 Language Arts: Please complete the Noun Worksheet distributed in class today. Tuesday, January 10, 2012 Language Arts: Vocabulary Workbook pages 155 and 156 (Unit 13 Test is Friday, 1/13). Also, continuing working on your essay rough draft -- due Friday, 1/13. Literature: Please read the Preface and Chapter 1 of Prince and the Pauper. Also, review Hugh Latimer's letter to get a "taste" of "Olde English"! Monday, January 9, 2012 Language Arts: Vocabulary Workbook pages 153 and 154 (Unit 13 Test is Friday, 1/13). ALSO: Rough Draft for writing contest is due Friday, 1/13. Remember -- you need to write an essay (300 - 500 words) about EITHER theme: "Planting the Seeds of Faith" OR "Inspiring Others to Grow" -- remember this is for a CONTEST! Rough draft is due FRIDAY -- NO EXCEPTIONS! Tuesday, January 3, 2012 Happy New Year! Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 138 - 143 (Please SKIP: page 140 AND the "Word Families" section on page 143). Tuesday, December 13, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 136 and 137. Unit test is on Friday, 12/16. Literature: Please write a diary entry, from the point of view of either Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, or Fred Scrooge about what their opinion/thoughts are about Christmas on Christmas Eve. Remember, this is BEFORE Ebenezer goes to bed! This needs to be typed, double-spaced -- minimum of one paragraph. Due tomorrow, 12/14. Monday, December 12, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 134 and 135. Unit 12 test is on Friday, December 16th. REMINDER: Please be sure to complete your permission slip for the field trip on Thursday and return tomorrow. Friday, December 9, 2011 Language Arts: Please finish your 5-paragraph essay on the Christmas tradition you have been researching (we used class time this morning to continue research and writing). Essay needs to be TYPED, DOUBLE-SPACED, with name and date in upper right corner. Due Monday, 12/12. REMINDER: Permission slips are being sent home today -- please check backpacks! If you would please complete and return them Monday, that will be very helpful! Also, if you'd like to chaperone -- we'd love to have you join us! Thursday, December 8, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary Unit 11 Test -- tomorrow, December 9th. Also -- we will continue our research regarding the Christmas tradition you have chosen to write your 5-paragraph essay on. Essays will be due on Monday, December 12th. Tuesday, December 6, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 129 and 130. Also, if you did NOT turn in your story ending (due to absence or band) -- please be sure to turn it in tomorrow (Wednesday, 12/7) morning. Monday, December 5, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 127 and 128 -- Unit 11 test is Friday, 12/9. Religion: Please find an article (magazine, internet, newspaper, etc.) highlighting something GOOD and write a short paragraph explaining why this is good and how this illustrates humans acting as images of God. As humans, created in God's images and with His grace, we are able to overcome weakness and bad situations to prevail in goodness. Tuesday, November 8, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 103 & 104. Unit 9 test is Friday, 11/11. Literature: Continue to work on your fable. We MAY be able to use a class period next week to finalize things, but the remainder of the project will need to be completed at home -- the students have been given several class periods to work on this project. They will have a class period to work on the translation, but students are encouraged to TRY and work on the translation -- they may only have one class to work on the translation. Text for the fable is to be TYPED and all drawings are to be hand-done with color (crayons, colored pencils, etc.) -- the FINAL fable will be due Friday, 11/18. Religion: Continue to work on world religion projects -- we worked with the laptops today (success!) and will plan to utilize them again on Thursday. Work will still need to be done at home however to complete the project for presentation on Monday, November 21st. REMINDER: Wednesday (11/9), Thursday (11/10), and Friday (11/11) are noon dismissals due to conferences. Monday, November 7, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 101 & 102. Unit 9 Test is Friday, 11/11. Literature: We will continue to work on our fables. Please TRY and work on translating your fable -- don't stress about this however, we will have class time and both Madame and Senora have offered their help in class as well. We do not have a due date for this project yet, as we're seeing how students are progressing and since it is multi-dimensional, we want to be sure all components are being addressed. Having said this, students can continue to work on their story as well as start their illustrations, leaving space for the story. REMINDER: Second ORB is due Friday, November 11th. Religion: Please be sure to bring the research materials for your world religion project -- we will be able to utilize the laptop cart tomorrow to work on the PowerPoint presentations -- PLEASE use your time efficiently! Thursday, November 3, 2011 -- HAVE RESPONSIBILITY RECORDS SIGNED! Language Arts: Vocabulary Unit 8 test tomorrow. Also, if you still need to turn in your Target essay -- please do so tomorrow (this may be the final or it still may be a draft, depending on changes that need to be made.) Literature: Please have your rough draft of your fable ready to begin translation -- the translation may require you to edit your English version! You have been working on the draft for 2 days in class, you should be ready for this step! Reminder: 2nd ORB is due next Friday, November 11th. Religion: Please bring in materials to start your research for your World Religion project. The final project is due November 21st, but you will be given time in class to work on it BUT you need to bring in the materials! PLEASE be prepared! Tuesday, November 1, 2011 Language Arts: Please complete pages 96 & 97 (Vocabulary workbook) -- Unit 8 Test is Friday, 11/4. Literature: REMINDER -- 2nd ORB is due next Friday, November 11th -- plan accordingly! Thursday, October 27, 2011 **REMINDER: Haunted House on Friday (10/28 - 7pm)!!! Literature/Language Arts: Please work on your "Fable Draft Packet" -- the packet to help you organize your thoughts for the writing of your fable. You need to have this done for Monday (10/31), so you can meet with your editing partners for feedback. Remember: This is a fable for your first grade buddy AND it will be translated into your chosen language (French or Spanish) as well! We will continue to work on this through next week! Enjoy the long weekend! Tuesday, October 25, 2011 Religion: Ten Commandments Quiz -- You will be asked to list the Commandments (in order!), along with the meaning of the Commandment. Review the packet you have been working on this past week -- this will ONLY be on the Commandments! Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 89 & 90 (sorry about page confusion from yesterday! The students knew the right pages, I was one the one on the wrong page!) -- still working on Unit 7! Test is Thursday! Thanks! *complete the grammar worksheet (diagramming and identifying parts of speech) -- this will help you prepare for test on Thursday. Monday, October 24, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 87 and 88. Unit 7 test is THURSDAY (10/27) due to no school on Friday! (Also, there will be a grammar component to the vocabulary test to review what we've been covering -- direct object, subject complements, prepositions, adjectives, and adverbs -- some diagramming, identifying parts of speech, and punctuation!) Literature: Please find an example of a Fable (you can use children's books as well as the internet) to share with the class. Tuesday, October 11, 2011 Religion: Review for Unit 3 test -- ALSO: Ten Commandments! Language Arts: Page 87 & 88 vocabulary workbook -- Unit 6 test is Friday, October 14th. Friday, October 7, 2011 Language Art/Literature: Please write your second draft (or final for some) of your letter to the author for the Target essay. Remember to attach the first draft to this next version -- Due TUESDAY, 10/11. (Remember to type and double space.) Literature: Please complete reading of the novel, The Little Prince. We will continue to discuss the novel next week, but reading of the entire novel should be completed for Tuesday, 10/11. Thursday, October 6, 2011 Language Arts: Unit 5 test (Vocabulary) tomorrow (Friday, 10/7). Also spelling rule test (doubling, drop-e endings). Literature: Please read chapters 16 - 20 (pg. 67 - 76). Tuesday, October 4, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 63 and 64. Unit test is Friday, 10/7. Also, spelling rule test will be Friday, 10/7 as well. Literature: Please read chapters 11 - 15 of The Little Prince. (Pages 47 - 66) Monday, October 3, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 61 and 62. Unit 5 test will be Friday, 10/7. Additionally, a spelling test, highlighting the rules we discussed today about adding endings to words will be given on Friday -- students need to learn the RULE -- words will be given to illustrate the rule of adding endings. Students did a word sort today highlighting the rule. Literature: Please read chapter 10 of The Little Prince. (Some did not know to read Chapter 10) REMINDER: A Science Fair informational meeting will be held TONIGHT (Monday, 10/3 @ 6pm in the Science Lab) Friday, September 30, 2011 Language Arts: Please work on the ROUGH DRAFT of your letter to the author/poet (from a piece of literature of your choosing) -- letter must be 300 - 500 words, typed, double-spaced. Remember, this is a personal reflection -- what this piece of literature means to you, how it has impacted you, influenced you, made you happy, sad, etc. It is FACTUAL (you can not make up a life situation!) Draft is due on Monday, October 3, 2011. Literature: Please read chapters 6 - 10 of The Little Prince. **Interims were sent home today via "backpack" -- if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Have a great weekend. Thursday, September 29, 2011 Language Arts: Unit 4 vocabulary test tomorrow (Friday, 9/30). ALSO: Students will be participating the the Target Corporation's contest, "Letters About Literature," and will be writing a reflective letter to an author/poet of their choosing responding to that person's work. Students are asked to choose the author/poet they would like to write to and write a ROUGH DRAFT of their letter. The letter must be between 300 - 500 words, typed, and double-spaced. The draft is due MONDAY, OCTOBER 3rd. Literature: Please read chapters 4 & 5 of The Little Prince. Wednesday, September 28, 2011 Literature: Please read chapters two and three (pages 5 - 12) of The Little Prince. (Reminder -- First ORB is due NEXT Friday, October 7th.) Monday, September 26, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook -- pages 54 - 57 -- Due Wednesday. Unit 4 test is Friday, 9/30. Literature: Please read the dedication as well as chapter one (pages 3 - 5 approximately) of The Little Prince. Although some of the students have read the novel, we will still be utilizing the novel in our study of literature. I'm hopeful that they will gain even more insight into the author, purpose, as well as metaphorical meaning as we read the novel (in English!) together! ** REMINDER: We will venture to "The Edge" tomorrow for our field trip! Please be sure to wear PE uniforms, tennis shoes, and pack a brown bag lunch (with beverage). Our bus will depart at 8:30 am -- our estimated time of arrival home is around 4:15 pm, however will send an email update tomorrow afternoon on our return to give a more exact time for pick-up. If your child has permission to walk home, please let me know. Thanks! Tuesday, September 20, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook -- pages 46, 47, 48, and bottom portion of page 50 (the second set of questions #1 - 8 -- choosing the correct word). Literature: Complete the comic strip/graphic depiction for The City of Ember -- Due tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/21). Religion: Test on Units 1 & 2 -- tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/21). **REMINDER: Please have your permission slips (2) completed and signed for our field trip next week. Monday, September 19, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook -- pages 42, 43, and 45 -- these are review pages for Units 1 - 3. Unit review test will be Friday, September 23rd. Religion: Units 1 & 2 Test will be Wednesday, September 21st. Literature: Work on comic strip/graphic depiction of key scenes that tell the story from The City of Ember. Remember, you must have a beginning, middle, and end. It also must follow the sequence of the novel! You only have 6 boxes/panels to depict the story -- be sure you are selecting scenes that MUST be in the story! This is due Wednesday, September 21st. REMINDERS FOR MONDAY, September 19, 2011 Monday, 9/19 is a RED shirt for charity day! If you would like to participate, please bring $1 (to be donated to the American Heart Association, in conjunction with our "Jump Rope for Hearts") and wear a RED shirt. If you would like to wear your choice of pants (not uniform pants) -- we ask for a $2 donation! Thanks very much for your help with raising much needed funds to combat heart disease! Also, please remember to have your permission slips completed and signed and return ASAP. Thursday, September 15, 2011 Reminder: Tomorrow (Friday, 9/16) is Pizza Day! Language Arts: Please write a well developed paragraph in response to the article we discussed in class. Remember what your PURPOSE is for writing (to offer your opinion of the article) -- be sure to reference points from the article to help make your case! Due Friday, 9/16. Also -- Unit 3 Vocabulary test tomorrow (9/16). Tuesday, September 13, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 40 & 41. Unit 3 test is Friday, 9/16. If you did not attach the FIRST draft of your paragraph on amusement parks to the one edited today, please be sure to bring that in to include with your newest version. Literature: What would be your most PRIZED possession if you lived in Ember? Would it be a can of pineapple? Colored pencils? A favorite scarf? Please decide what you would have and bring that item in tomorrow! We will have an "Ember Show-n-tell!" Monday, September 12, 2011 Language Arts: Vocabulary workbook pages 38 and 39. Unit 3 test will be Friday, September 16th. ALSO: Please write another opening paragraph with the theme of "Amusement parks" -- remember, you are NARROWING the topic down to a subject that falls within this theme. Please utilize the information we discussed in class to help you narrow your subject down. Due tomorrow, 9/13 (just the opening paragraph). REMINDERS: First pizza day is this Friday (9/16) -- You MUST have your order in by Wednesday to get pizza this Friday! Also -- the nurses are still in need of several Emergency Care forms -- ALL students must have one in order to participate in our field trip on Tuesday, September 27th! Thanks! Friday, September 9, 2011 Religion: Any materials needed for your collage -- please bring on Monday. ALSO: Please be sure you have completed an UPDATED Emergency Care form (form is available on the BSS website). A new form is needed each year (Diocesan requirement) -- each student MUST have one prior to our field trip on the 27th. Please be sure you have submitted your form -- if you aren't sure, send me an email and I'm happy to check with the office. Thanks very much! Remember to have your Responsibility Record signed as well! Have a great weekend! Thursday, September 8, 2011 Religion: If you need any pictures for your collage, please be sure to bring to school tomorrow. Language Arts: Unit 2 Vocabulary test -- Friday, September 9, 2011 ALSO: Please look for your BSS flash drive -- if you are not able to locate it, please let me know. We will begin working on the school laptops and will need the flash drives. Thank you! Wednesday, September 7, 2011 Welcome back! This page is for the 2011/12 school year -- if you are a subscriber and do not wish to be updated on assignments for 7th grade Religion, Language Arts, and/or Literature, you may "unsubscribe" to this page. We will be transitioning to a new system but in the interim, the Schoolnotes.com page will be used. Thanks very much for attending Back-to-School night last week. It was wonderful seeing you and if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to a great year with your student! Homework: Language Arts: Pages 33 and 34 Vocabulary workbook. Unit 2 vocabulary test is Friday, September 9th. Also, please write an opening paragraph using the topic "amusement parks" -- remember to utilize some techniques we talked about in class to narrow your topic down. Paragraph should be typed, doubled-spaced -- you ONLY need to write the opening paragraph! Literature: ORB guidelines were distributed last week. They are posted below -- the first ORB is due Friday, October 7th. LivelyLiterature – ORB Projects (ORB = OutsideReading Book) 7thGrade Literature 2011-12
*“Let Me Show You What I’ve‘Seen’” –Read a novel of your choice. Uponcompletion of your book, draw a picture, illustrating a scene you “saw” in thebook. On the back of the drawing, please write a summary explaining thescene and its relevance to the story.
*Book and a Movie – Read a book that has beenmade into a movie. After completing yourbook, watch the movie. Write a minimumof a 5 paragraph paper comparing and contrasting the book and the movie, aswell as whether you enjoyed the book or movie better! (Please have your MOVIE approved FIRST byyour parents!)
*Free Choice – Choose any age appropriatenovel -- upon completion, YOU choose what project you’d like to submit – anopinion paper, a poster or other art form, book jacket, etc. If you choose an edible project, PLEASE haveyour project approved FIRST!
*Award Winning – Choose a novel that haswon an award (Newberry Award, Children’s Literature Award, etc.) When reading is complete, write a press releaseor create a poster announcing the award-winning book and why it’s won theaward. Remember to include information about the book (a short summary) as wellas COMPELLING information about why the book won the award (great life lesson,expressive writing, etc.) and “endorsements” from others about the book. If making a poster – all information must beon the poster and the poster must be visually appealing!
*Current Events – “We Are theWorld!” – Insupport of the theme “We Are the World” and “Together we’ll make the world abetter place”, please choose a news article (NOT from an internet source –newspaper, news magazine, etc.) Please read the article and prepare a 2 – 3minute presentation about the issue for your classmates. (*Please be sure tosee Mrs. Taylor to coordinate presentation date). You may use a PowerPoint to assist with yourbriefing. You MUST have a copy of yourarticle!
*“Must” Read! – Choose a novel from thelist provided. After reading one of thenovels, complete the literary organizer about the novel. (** SEE LIST BELOW) “Must” ReadNovels for Middle School – The following are novels that have been selected by students,parents, teachers, and librarians as books that are highly recommended and“MUST” be read! There are shortsummaries following the titles. Al CaponeDoes My Shirts ByGennifer Choldenko A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in1935, when guards' families were housed there, and has to contend with hisextraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister.(Historical Fiction)
Tangerine By EdwardBloor Paul Fisherplays soccer despite the thick glasses he wears because of a mysterious eyeinjury. (Fiction)
Heat By MikeLupica Pitchingprodigy Michael Arroyo is on the run from social services after being bannedfrom playing Little League baseball because rival coaches doubt he is onlytwelve years old and he has no parents (Fiction)
The HungerGames, Catching Fire, AND/OR Mocking Jay By Suzanne Collins America, nowPanem, requires each of its twelve territories to select two children betweenthe ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the Hunger Games. On television,these twenty-four kids will fight to the death, and only one willsurvive. (Fiction) *The HungerGames is the first book in the trilogy, followed by Catching Fire and Mocking Jay.
Crossing theWire By Will Hobbs Fifteen-year-oldVictor Flores journeys north in a desperate attempt to cross the Arizona borderand find work in the United States to support his family in central Mexico.(Fiction)
Chains ByLaurie Anderson Fatecan be cruel to anyone. However, if you are a young slave and have yourpromised freedom taken away, Fate needs to prepare for battle. Isabel iswilling to work for anyone who will set her free, and she knows that freedomcomes at a very high price. (Historical Fiction)
Shepherd'sGranddaughter By Anne Laurel Carter Ayoung girl dreams of following in her grandfather’s footsteps tending sheep onthe land of her ancestors. But what is a family to do in the face of beingbullied off of their much contested land in the Middle East? (RealisticFiction)
Orphan of the Sun BrooklynBridge By Karen Hesse It's1903, and Joseph and his family are Russian immigrants who start manufacturingAmerica's first "teddy bear" and are lucky in their endeavors. Allthe while, homeless children fight for survival under the Brooklyn Bridge.(Historical Fiction)
By Gordon Korman CapAnderson has spent his life living on an alternative farm commune with hishippie grandmother. He's never tasted pizza or watched TV, has long hair, andwears tie-dyed shirts. Then suddenly, Cap's thrown into the 21st century and -oh, yeah - middle school. (Fiction)
TheBest Bad Luck I Ever Had By Kristin Levine Itis 1917 in Alabama and while most of the residents in tiny, World War I–eraMoundville, Alabama, are shocked that their new postmaster is African American, Dit is simply surprisedthat said postmaster’s child turns out to be a girl, not the boy his own age hewas expecting. The friendship that growsbetween them however is actually thebest luck Dit and Emma could have. (Fiction)
The WednesdayWars By Gary Schmidt Beinga seventh-grader is tough enough. Having to read Shakespeare's plays everyWednesday with your teacher is even tougher. (Fiction)
By Rebecca Stead Miranda'slife seems ordinary -- until the notes start to arrive with clues that predictthe future and they do come true. (Fiction)
Stargirl By Lois Lowry Set inNazi-occupied Denmark in 1943, this novel tells of a 10-year-old girl whoundertakes a dangerous mission to save her best friend. (Historical Fiction)
TheShakespeare Stealer Fourteen-year-oldorphan Widge works for a mean and unscrupulous master who goes by the name ofFalconer. Ordered to steal the script for Hamlet, Widge is taken to London andforced to attend a performance of the play. Instead of concentrating onstealing the script, he becomes engrossed in the show. Reluctantly, Widgeadmits his failure to Falconer and is told to return until his mission isaccomplished. Nothing goes as planned and a very surprised Widge finds himselfan accepted member of the backstage crew. Once a lonely outcast, he has friendsand a place to call home for the first time in his life. Will he have the moralintegrity to disobey his master or will he betray his new family? Set inElizabethan London, The Shakespeare Stealer introduces us to Shakespeareanstagecraft, life on the streets of London and to the truth behind the youthfulappearance of Queen Elizabeth I! (Fiction) The EarthDragon Awakes by Laurence Yep This story isa powerful example of historical fiction. Readers see the experiences of awealthy white family and an immigrant Chinese family at the time of the 1906San Francisco earthquake. A subplot describes discrimination that isexperienced and overcome.
The SistersGrimm (The Fairy Tale Detectives) by Michael Buckley Buckley hascreated a world in which humans and fairy-tale creatures live side-by-side inrural New York in an uneasy alliance. Brought here by Wilhelm Grimm in anattempt to save them, the Everafters are now kept in check by the man'sdescendants. Enter Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, two sisters seemingly abandoned bytheir parents, who have been brought to live with a grandmother whom theythought was dead. Heartbroken and wary, the girls are immediately swept up in amystery that includes giants, pixies, fairies, and witches. Readers wellgrounded in their fairy tales will get the most pleasure from recognizing thecharacters–Prince Charming, Jack-the-Giant-Killer, the Three Pigs, the MagicMirror, and more–but the fast pace, sly humor, and cleverly inserted vocabulary lessons will entertain even those who are meeting thecharacters for the first time. Softly rounded, black-and-white illustrationsand old-fashioned silhouettes at the chapter headings complete the first-ratedesign of this madcap adventure. (Fiction) (*First book in the series)
Walk Two Moons By SharonCreech Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle'smother has disappeared. While tracing her steps on a car trip from Ohio toIdaho with her grandparents, Salamanca tells a story to pass the time about afriend named Phoebe Winterbottom whose mother vanished and who received secretmessages after her disappearance. One of them read, "Don't judge a manuntil you have walked two moons in his moccasins." Despite her father'swarning that she is "fishing in the air," Salamanca hopes to bringher home. By drawing strength from her Native American ancestry, she is able toface the truth about her mother. | ||||||
