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On Mondays, Jen Vincent and Kellee Moye host What Are You Reading? on their blog, teachmentortext.com. If you are ever in need of a book recommendation, this is a guaranteed place to find some!
I've been reading books that will work with some of the social studies curriculum that I've been working on and this week, I read several, but two that I will share here.
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis is the first of a trilogy about a girl living in Afghanistan within the last fifteen years. Thank you so much to Tara for this recommendation! Parvana, the main character, introduced me more intimately to the plight of people living with the Taliban. Many of the books I read were longer than this one, and I appreciated the concise, but high-impact story. I have the next two books in the trilogy on my nightstand and I am sure that I will need to hear about Parvana's survival before next week.
Our school media specialist put this next one in my hands and I am so glad that she did! The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman is an absolutely beautiful book about immigration to the United States. This book could not only be used within an American history unit, but also would make a great mentor text because the grandfather saves important mementos and uses them as the foundations and inspirations for his memories.
Happy reading,
I had not heard of The Matchbox Diary before but it sounds amazing. I love immigration stories and this sounds like it would be a great addition to any unit about immigration.
ReplyDeleteI love Deborah Ellis! Have you read No Ordinary Day by her? If not, I think you would enjoy it. I added The Breadwinner to my TBR list. I haven't read her early work. I have The Matchbox Diary on my TBR list and can't wait to get my hands on it! Patience is not one of my strong suits...at least not when it comes to books!
ReplyDeleteHappy Reading!
I have not read No Ordinary Day. If we include India in our regions, I will definitely check it out. (I may read it anyway because I really like Deborah Ellis, too.)
DeleteBoth are great recommendations, Melanie. I saw The Breadwinner on Tara's blog & did bookmark it. Thank you for The Matchbox Diary. I will be sure to get it. I love all the Fleischman books.
ReplyDeleteYou're the second person to mention The Matchbook Diary, so I'll be adding that to my list. I haven't heard of The Breadwinner, but it sounds like a book (and series) that I don't want to miss. Have you read Shooting Kabul? It begins in Afghanistan, but the family emigrates to the US. It's quite an adventure!
ReplyDeleteCatherine
I have read Shooting Kabul and it is on my list for the unit.I need some picture books and I am working on that.
ReplyDeleteI just saw The Matchbook Diary when I was leaving the bookstore Sunday and now I know I want to get back there and check it out. I too am a big fan of Deborah Ellis. I think I have read the Breadwinner 3 times now. Once on my own, then with my book club and then to my children. It is that good.
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