Challenge Books

We are mid-swing of our Challenge Novel Reader's Workshop. It has been an interesting year as the students have LOVED reading Maniac Magee. The Challenge Novels are geared to the age group of fifth graders who may or may not experience life challenges. Some of the examples include diabetes in the book Sugar Isn't Everything, or foster families in the book Pinballs.

Other titles include, The Great Gilly Hopkins, The Golden Glove, and Slake's Limbo. The students independently read the titles and will follow up with a discussion to our KidBlog website. Students answer the following questions about the book they have read and respond to another title of a book they have NOT read, and would possibly like to read based on the recommendation.


o  1^st Section- Synopsis of book. Tell the audience what the book was about. Give details about the story but do not give away the entire plot. A synopsis is a mix between a summary and a blurb.
o  2nd Section- Your review of the book. Share your opinion about the book. Tell the audience what you liked or did not like about the book- use specific evidence. Make personal connections.
o  3^rd Section- Recommendation – Tell us if you recommend this book to others. Give a specific audience you are recommending it too – for example “I would recommend this book to girls in elementary school who like to laugh and have fun.”


Students have enjoyed reading and are surprised to "like" the books that may not have been a first choice novel if given their own chance to select any book. We have encouraged students to find other "Challenge" novels about fifth grade hurdles, obstacles, and opportunities. Some titles include Rules, By Cynthia Lord. It is a novel about a young girl who has an autistic brother and the challenges she faces in finding how important family is, and how everyone is different, including the rules for eveyrone.

We hope that you have chatted with your child about his or her reading choice! It is always exciting to see boys and girls with their noses stuck in books!