In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

Set during the great influenza outbreak in 1918, Mary Shelley finds herself separated from her family and arriving in the bustling seaport of San Diego.  She begins to settle into her life and then receives word that the boy she is secretly in love with has been killed at war.  When a man takes her picture and insists a ghost is in the photograph with her, Mary Shelley sets about to prove the science from the fiction.  But is the fiction real?

Content Notes:                       

There is a scene discussed where someone walks in on Mary Shelley and her “boyfriend” and it looks compromising from the door (it wasn’t, but that didn’t stop the person from spreading rumors about what he saw). 

Teacher Notes:

I thought this book was odd.  It reads a lot like a historical fiction book with the ghost story part being thrown in almost as an afterthought.  While I wouldn’t discourage kids from reading it, I don’t know that they would enjoy it or get into it.

Book Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph31JdCvMIQ

From Norvelt to Nowhere by Jack Gantos

In this hilarious sequel to Dead End in Norvelt, Jack is once again pitted with Miss Volker, this time on a road trip!  After several old ladies pass away under suspicious circumstances, Miss Volker finds herself the oldest resident of Norvelt, and thereby must honor her promise of marrying old Mr. Spizz.  When Mr. Spizz admits to killing all the old ladies so that Miss Volker must marry him, Miss Volker decides that he must pay for his crimes.  Miss Volker then receives word that her sister has died and this provides Miss Volker with the perfect opportunity to take Jack across the country for a history lesson as he helps Miss Volker make funeral arrangements.  Or is he along to help her destroy Mr. Spizz?  Find out in this action-packed, belly-laughing adventure!

Content Notes:                       

None J

Teacher Notes:

While not as good as the first book, this sequel still provided plenty of belly laughing moments as well as an unusual twist at the end!  I teach an excerpt from Dead End in Norvelt to my 6^th grade students and they BEG to read the rest of the book.  I’m excited to recommend this to my kids to read when they finish the first one!

Excerpt read by Jack Gantos! J

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0phLhFwu0wU

The Book of Bad Things by Dan Poblocki

Cassidy Bean is looking forward to her last summer being a part of an exchange program that places students who live in the city with a family in the country during the summer.  Cassidy can’t wait!  The family she’s lived with for the past 2 summers has invited her back.  Upon her arrival, however, things aren’t all that they seem and not every member of the family is glad to have her back.  As strange things begin to occur in this sleepy town, Cassidy begins to wonder what exactly is going on and if she’ll ever get back to the city life again.

Content Notes:                       

None J

Teacher Notes:

Nail biting and suspenseful!  This book is an excellent age-appropriate ghost story book that completely creeped me out.  I highly recommend it to all my students wanting a good scare.

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby

With her king father caught in a deadly war, Solveig along with her siblings are sent to a hidden fortress to wait out the war.  Once the ice freezes, the royal siblings along with the soldiers sent to protect them are separated from the rest of the world by a frozen sea of ice.  Treacherous acts begin to take place with every person suspecting the other.  No one realizes who is responsible or how deep the treachery goes.

Content Notes:                       

None J

Teacher Notes:

Great book!  I highly recommend to any student who loves a good fantasy or a book about kings and queens set in the medieval period.  

Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii by Vicky Alvear Schecter

Faced with an unwanted marriage to a man forty years older than her, Lucia feels trapped in her home.  Things begin to change, however, with the return of a house slave, Tag, a childhood friend who has obviously grown up in the three years he had been in Rome to train as a medic for Lucia’s dad’s gladiator school.  As the earth begins to tremble, Lucia and Tag are faced with decisions in a desperate attempt to find freedom.

Content Notes:

While there isn’t any sexual content other than kissing, “virginity” is mentioned several times.  There is no bad language.  Even though the setting is at a school for gladiators, the violence is minimal.

 

Teacher Notes:
The only thing that made me a little uncomfortable for my middle school students was the infrequent talk of virginity.  Other than that, this was a good romance book that was essentially “G” rated in nature.  I would recommend this book for Jr. High students and up.  One thing to note is that the chapters are written in alternating points of view (Lucia & Tag) so a reader who has trouble keeping characters straight may struggle with this book.

Up for Sale: Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery by Alison Marie Behnke

This nonfiction book relays statistics and true stories about people who are involved in the human trafficking epidemic in the world.  The book is divided into sections that discuss the different types of slavery (from debt-bonded slaves to sex trafficking slaves) and the final chapter outlines what is currently being done to help fix the problem.  It also lists websites so the reader can look up how he or she is inadvertently contributing to the human trafficking problem.

Content Notes:

The book does talk about the sex-trafficking industry.  It also describes the physical abuse many slaves face in captivity.

Teacher Notes:

This is a very tastefully written book about the current human trafficking problem.  Because of the discussion on sex-trafficking, I would not recommend this book to any student lower than an 8^th grade level.  I do think we need to educate our students about this problem & have real discussions about ways they can protect themselves & help others. 

The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O'Brien

In a world where the only hope of receiving an education is through participation in a reality tv school, Rosie struggles to remain within the top 50 students who will make the cut to stay.  As Rosie struggles to remain, she uncovers a startling mystery about the school and what really occurs during the night. This discovery leads to a fight for her life as she tries to outwit the people in charge.

Content Notes:

The book mentions the word “sex” one time and is a vague reference to something that occurs in a rough part of the country.   

Teacher Notes:

I was able to read a pre-released copy of this book (it is scheduled to be published September 16, 2014).  I read another series by this author (Birthmarked) and while that is more Jr. High/High School appropriate, The Vault of Dreamers would be appropriate for middle school students and up.   This book was a little more Sci-Fi in nature and had an interesting cliff hanger twist at the end of the book.  I enjoyed it!

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

In an effort to prevent war, Arabella is being forced to marry an old man who she has never met before.  Seeing no other way out, Arabella (or Lia as she is known throughout the rest of the book), takes her ladies maid and runs away to start a new life far from wars, kingdoms, and being a princess.  Lia soon discovers, however, that no matter how far she runs, she cannot escape her destiny or her duty to her kingdom.

Content Notes:

The book has bad language & mild sexual content (kissing, discussions about sex, a character is an unwed mother).

Teacher Notes:

This book is not appropriate for middle school students but would be appropriate for mature Jr. High and High School students. While a little slow at the beginning, the storyline did pick up as the book went along.  This book is similar to The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson.

 

The Circle: Book One of the Sidhe by Cindy Cipriano

Calum Ranson’s family is full of secrets.  Magic swirls around them, and as Calum starts to lose his abilities, he begins to worry.   When a new girl comes to town, strange things begin to happen.  Calum must decide who to trust in a battle to regain loved ones who have been lost.   

Content Notes:

No bad language or inappropriate content.

Teacher Notes:

I loved this fantasy book!  If you liked the Fablehaven books by Brandon Mull or the Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black you would like this book!

 Book Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgZugrFB6OE

 

The Fallout by SA Bodeen

After escaping from the Compound, Eli and his family must begin to adjust to a life that went on without them.  Eli begins to research charity organizations his father supported and uncovers a startling discover as well as a horrifying truth.  As the family adjusts, they must decide who they can trust and with people not being who they appear to be, this becomes increasingly difficult.

Content Notes:

No bad language or inappropriate content.

Teacher Notes:

This is the sequel to The Compound, which I loved!  While I liked this book a lot, I was a little disappointed in the author’s writing style.  Kids will love this book…it was just a little slow at the start! J

Drowning by Rachel Ward

After a drowning accident at a lake, Carl begins to be haunted by his brother.  But was the accident really an accident?  Carl has no memories before the lake, but as his memories return, a horrifying realization occurs and Carl must deal with consequences, and his dead brother, before it’s too late.

Content Notes:

The book has bad language, sexual content, and deals with alcoholism. 

Teacher Notes:

This book is not appropriate for middle school or junior high students.  It may be appropriate for high school students who are aware of the content.

Hidden Like Anne Frank by Marcel Prins, Peter Henk Steenhuis, & Laura Watkinson

This book is collection of true stories of 14 people who hid like Anne Frank did during World War 2.

Content Notes:

The stories are children friendly in talking about hiding during the Holocaust.    

Teacher Notes:

I found this book to be a little hard to read.  If students like The Diary of Anne Frank or if they like to learn more about the Holocaust, they would enjoy this book.  As a teacher, this book would be good to use as a whole class read aloud since each story is a self-contained story.  A similar book that I enjoyed more would be Survivors:  True Stories of Children in the Holocaust by Allan Zullo & Mara Bovsun.

 

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

A dystopian book like none other, Brandon Sanderson takes the reader on an adventure through a world ruled by Epics, regular people who one day begin to exhibit extraordinary super powers.  Watching his father die at the hand of an invincible Epic, Steelheart, David burns with a desire for revenge.  As he meets up with a band of humans who are fighting the Epics, David has an opportunity to change the face of the human race…if he can stay alive long enough to do it.

Content Notes:

The book has many fight scenes & opens with people being vaporized in a bank. 

Teacher Notes:

This book was recommended to me by my son and when I first picked it up, I did not have high hopes that it would live up to how great he said it was.  I honestly LOVED this book!  I loved the action and suspense that the book brings, as well as the twist on a dystopian society.  This is a wonderful boy book that I highly recommend!

Book Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sC9NtpXLH4

Similar Books:

While not exactly like this, I think if you like this book you would also like the Michael Vey series by Richard Paul Evans

The Selection by Kiera Cass

In a dystopian society ordered by castes, the Selection affords an opportunity to move up.  Thirty-five girls compete to become the Princess of the nation, for most a dream come true.  For America Singer, however, the Selection is an opportunity to send money home to her family and nurse the heartbreak of losing her secret love.  Can anything change her mind and change the course of her future?

Content Notes:

The book references a boy taking advantage of a girl and briefly talks about virginity.

Teacher Notes:

While there is nothing graphic in this book, I feel this book would be more appropriate for Jr. High students or mature 6^th graders.  There is not any bad language or violence, just some boy/girl relationship issues.  This book reminds me a lot of the tv show, The Bachelor.

I'm Not Who You Think I Am by Peg Kehret

At her birthday party, Ginger is approached by an unknown woman and is left with a feeling of being watched.  She continues to notice this woman at odd times and becomes increasingly creeped out.  When the woman confides in her a startling secret, Ginger must figure out the truth and find a way to keep herself safe.

Content Notes:

This book deals with “stranger danger”.  If made into a movie, it would be rated G.

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students.  I loved the way the book approached child abduction and ways that students can empower themselves to make smart choices.  Excellent book!

Similar Books:
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney
Three Black Swans by Caroline B. Cooney
Abduction by Peg Kehret

Followers by Anna Davies

Briana has always wanted to fit in at MacHale, a prestigious private school in Maine.  After trying to find her niche for several months Briana decides to audition for a role in the Winterm production of Hamlet.  Disappointment soon follows when Briana does not receive a role, but is instead asked to be the plays “social media director”.  When actors begin to die, Briana must uncover the truth about the play to save the rest of the cast.

Content Notes:

The book does discuss several students dying.  There is no bad language and the deaths are not blood and gore type incidents. 

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students.  I was impressed that the author could write a “horror” book and keep it age-appropriate.

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

Racing against time, Allie, Kanin, and Jackal, set out to defeat the evil vampire Sarren.  Dealing with heartbreak of losing Zeke only makes the journey all the more difficult.  Will Allie come to grips with his death and stop Sarren from destroying the world?  Or will she succumb to her grief and become the monster the humans think she has become?

Content Notes:

The book contains several scenes with bad language.  It also has a lot of violence and gore.

Teacher Notes:

While I really enjoyed this series, like the 2^nd and third books, this book is not appropriate for middle school students.  It would be appropriate for mature Jr. High students or High School students and above.

Inhuman by Kat Falls

Lane McEvoy has always enjoyed the safety and security of living in the sterile environment behind the wall.  In a post viral world, Lane’s curiosity about the Feral Zone is not strong enough to make her leave the safety of home.  Things change however, when her dad is accused of illegally smuggling and Lane is forced to confront her biggest fears in order to save her dad.

Content Notes:

The book briefly mentions kissing in the first chapter. Other content includes violence when the main characters fight some inhuman characters.   

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students.  This book is a dystopian book that has a fantasy element to it.  I haven’t read anything like it and thought it was great! J

Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst

Eve is being chased by a serial killer.  To make matters worse, she has no idea why he’s chasing her and can’t even remember her past.  Her dreams at night are filled with circus images and an old woman who tells stories.  Could this be a clue to her past?  Eve must navigate between the real and the imagined to find her way to safety.

 

Content Notes:

This book would be rated PG if made into a movie.

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students. 
Book Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5b4nQKM-YE

 

Variant By Robison Wells

Looking for a fresh start, Benson Fisher is excited to be starting at the private school, Maxfield Academy.  This changes the moment Benson steps foot inside the school and realizes there are no adults and the students are locked inside school grounds surrounded by razor wire.  What is going on?  As Benson understands the truth about the school, he becomes even more desperate to escape.  But do the other students want him to succeed?

Content Notes:

When students get in trouble they are sent to “Detention” and never return.  There is also some violence between students.  For this reason, the book would be rated PG-13 if made into a movie.

Teacher Notes:

This book is appropriate for all middle school students.