1. Shining a Light on
2011- 2012 VRC
for Middle School
Early Preview

2. Bystander(2009) by James Preller
Fast Action…Realistic yet surprise-
like ending…very middle school
like
A must-read book - aligns with state
of Virginia’s Middle School
Counseling Curriculum on
bullying
DISCUSSION GUIDE:
http://media.us.macmillan.com/di
scussionguides/9780312379063
DG.pdf

3. Exposition
o Eric has moved to Long
Island from Ohio with his
Genre: mom and brother.
Realistic Fiction
o His father is
Setting: schizophrenic and left the
family a while back.
Long Island, NY
Problem
o Eric is a passive
Main Characters:
observer / bystander to
Eric Hayes – The Observer Griffin’s bullying ploys
Griffin Connelly – The Bully o Just how important a role
David Hallenback – The Victim do authority figures play
in usurping bully
mentalities in an
individual or group

4. •Discussion Guide for “The Bystander” in pdf format:
http://media.us.macmillan.com/discussionguides/9780312379063DG.p
df
•Panel Discussion on cyberbullying in Bethlehem Public School
District , featuring local parent, James Preller:
http://bcsd.k12.ny.us/news/201011/101007_cyberbullying_panel.cfm
http://www.jamespreller.com/2010/06/09/class-
discussion-guide-talking-points-and-other-news- •Bullying is VA Students - The Virginia Pilot, July 8 2011
about-bystander/ http://hamptonroads.com/2011/07/bullying-va-students-top-concern-
•For help in implementing or enhancing survey-finds
bullying prevention programs in your state,
contact the Children's Safety Network at •For more information about bullying prevention in Virginia, contact
csn@edc.org. Erima Fobbs, Office of Family Health Services, at (804) 864-7733 or
erima.fobbs@vdh.virginia.gov.
•Office of Attorney General / Virginia Rules /
Bullying •For more information on bullying prevention from the Children's
http://www.virginiarules.com/virginia- Safety Network, click here
rules/bullying http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/publications_resources/Bullyin
gPrevention.asp.
•Interactive Websites on Bullying:
http://www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/ •Middle School Bullying that features both Elementary and Middle
School assistance and Virginia Bullying Legislation links
http://www.bam.gov/sub_yourlife/yourlife_bu http://youthviolence.edschool.virginia.edu/bullying/bullying-middle-
llyroundup.html school-research.html

5. Chasing Lincoln’s Killer:
the Search for John Wilkes Booth
by James L. Swanson
GENRE:
Nonfiction
EXPOSITION:
Based on rare archival material, obscure
trial manuscripts, and interviews with
relatives of the conspirators and the
manhunters.
The book includes:
1. Step by step sequence of events
2. Listing of ALL involved
3. Goo-Gobbles of pictures
4. Conspiracy theories
5. First-hand look at Lincoln the man,
husband , and father

6. o Study Guide on Scholastic Site:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.
jsp?id=39033_type=Book_typeId=1303455
o Video of author
http://www.bookvideos.tv/videoid/2240
o Pdf. Memorabilia in support of the book.
http://www2.scholastic.com/content/collateral
_resources/pdf/c/CLKP-PDFART.PDF
o Resource Page for Novel
http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/viewWo
rkDetail.do?workId=1303455

7. o National Park Services Lincoln Memorial Site:
http://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm
o Abraham Lincoln on History.com:
http://www.history.com/topics/abraham-
lincoln/interactives#/wiki?topic=103
o Lincoln Treasure Hunt:
http://www.siec.k12.in.us/~west/proj/lincoln/treasure.htm
o The Lincoln Museum’s interactive website on “Lincoln’s Life”:
o Lincoln Assasination Website: http://www.alincoln-
library.com/lincoln-assassination.shtml
o The Assasination of President Abraham Lincoln:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/alrintr.html
o The Trial of the Lincoln Assasination Conspirators:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/lincolnconspiracy/linc
olnconspiracy.html
o The Assasination of Abraham Lincoln Consiracy on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qAeFjCscRY

8. The Leanin’ Dog by K. A. Nuzman
Awards and Nominees
•2011 South Dakota Prairie Pasque
•2011 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book
Award Masterlist (VT)
•2011 Grand Canyon Reader Award for
Intermediate Readers (AZ)
•2011 Beehive Reading Award (UT)
•2011 Colorado Children's Book Award
•2011 State Book Award (ME)
•2011 Triple Crown Award (Austin, TX)
•2011 Mark Twain Reader Award (MO)
•2011 Children's Book Award (RI)
•2011 Volunteer State Book Awards (TN)
•2011 Children's Book Award (SC)
•2009 YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
nominee

9. o Genre: o Exposition:
Historic Fiction (poetic format) Dessa’s mother died in her arms
causing her to have
o Setting:
nightmares, and Dessa suffers
Colorado – 1930s from agoraphobia (fear of leaving
o Main Characters: home). A stray dog shows up at
Dessa Dean (her father, the the house suffering from just the
dog) opposite ---fear of close quarters
and small spaces
(claustrophobia)…The dog
becomes the catalyst for the
family’s healing process.

10. o The Leanin’ Dog Reading Guide
http://www.kanuzum.com/LeaninDog_ReadingGuide.pdf
o Book Marks for Leanin’ Dog
http://www.kanuzum.com/Leanin_Dog_Bookmark.pdf
o Additional Discussion Guide can be found in the 2010 Mark Twain Awards
for K12 titles:
www.maslonline.org/resource/resmgr/reading_incentive_awards/beattie-
marktwainpacket20102.doc
o Different types there are by checking out http://phobialist.com/ and its
reversed list at http://phobialist.com/reverse.html
o Learn about Virginia’s trapping rules and regulations here:
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/
o Dessa Dean’s mother suffered from diabetes. Learn more about the
disease and how to prevent it at http://www.diabetes.org/
o The events in the story culminate during Christmas. Learn the history of
advent calendars and then make one:
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/11/29/10-advent-calendar-ideas/ .
o Math: Dessa Dean has to write problems that show she knows her
multiplication tables. How well do you know yours? Find out at
http://www.multiplication.com/interactive_games.htm

11. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
o Awards –
o Georgia Book Award
o VRC 2011
o nominee, 2011-12
o 2011 SIBA finalist
o Capitol Choices 2011
o Golden Kite Award 2011

12. o Genre:
Realistic Fiction http://www.kathyerskine.com/Kathryn_Ers
kine/MOCKINGBIRD_Research.html
(told in 1st person)
o Problems:
o Setting:
- Kaitlyn struggles to make friends and
Present Time come to closure with Devon's death
- Kaitlyn is unsure how she should act
o Main Characters:
and if she can help her father as well.
Kaitlyn
Devon Other Questions that Arise:
Kaitlyn’s father 1. Do people with Asberger’s see the
world differently? What things
o Exposition: might be more difficult for them–or
Kaitlyn and her father are trying to deal easier?
with the loss of her brother 2. What parts of school might they
Devon. Things are hard for Kaitlyn who especially enjoy or not like? What
has Aspergers, because Devon was the one would make them uncomfortable?
who helped her know what would annoy 3. And how can other people make
or just be weird if she did. life easier for them?

13. Out of My Mind
by Sharon M. Draper
o Genre: Realistic Fiction
o Setting: Present Day
o Main Character: Melody
o Exposition: Eleven-year-old Melody has a
photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that
is always recording. Always. And there’s no delete button.
She’s the smartest kid in her whole school—but NO ONE
knows it.
Most people—her teachers and doctors included—don’t
think she’s capable of learning, and up until recently her
school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-
level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she
could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks
and knows. But she can’t. She can’t talk. She can’t walk.
She can’t write.
o Problems: Melody has a photographic mind but
cannot communicate and has been assigned to a special
needs class.

14. o Problems:
1. Melody has a photographic mind but cannot
communicate and has been assigned to a special
needs class.
2. Cerebral Palsy
3. Thoughtless teachers
4. Crual classmates
5. Bathroom issues
Study Guide on
Author’s Site:
http://sharondraper.com/bookdetail-guides.asp?id=35

15. Pop by Gordon Korman
o Genre: Realistic Fiction
o Setting: Kennesaw , New York/
Present day
o Main Characters: Marcus Jordan
o Exposition:
Unusual friendship between a past pro
football player and a recently transplanted
high school student from Kansas---trying
out for the school team.
Marcus is happy to have somebody to
practice with, and has a ball interacting
with his new friend, Charlie Popovich,.

16. o Problems:
1. Marcus can't help but noticing that Charlie really seems to be a
little strange.
2. Charlie is suffering from Early Onset Alzheimer's, a fact which
his family is struggling to keep hidden.
3. Marcus’s friendship with Charlie is bringing Marcus into conflict
with the ex-ball player's family, the football team, a grumpy
exterminator, and even the law.
4. Marcus may have to make some considered choices in regards
to his own future, if he wants to keep up his friendship with
Charlie

17. Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon
Winner of the:
•2010 Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award
•2010 NAACP Image Awards
nominee, for "Outstanding Literary Work for
Youth/Teens“
•2010 ALA/YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
•2010 ALA Notable Books for Children
•A 2009 Junior Library Guild Selection
•2009 Booklist Top Ten Historical Fiction for Teens
•2009 Booklist Top Ten Debut Novels

18. o Genre: Historical Fiction
o Setting: Chicago / 1968
o Main Character: Sam Childs
13 years old
o Exposition:
o Sam is the son of known civil rights
activist Roland Childs. His older
brother is starting to become
interested in the Black Panther
movement. Sam is trying to make up
his mind which route to take…his mind
or his heart…the rock or the river… http://authors.simonandschu
o Problems: ster.com/Kekla-
o The old adages of peaceful vs. forceful Magoon/48551529
resistance arises in this novel…one that
totally divided the African American
community in the 1960s.
Author’s Interview

19. Strange Case of Origami Yoda
by Tom Angelberger
o Genre:
Fantasy Fiction
o Setting:
Present Time
o Main Characters:
Tommy, Dwight, Harvey, and
Origami Yoda

20. http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/folding-your-own-origami-yoda-other-star-wars-papercraft/
o Exposition:
Sixth-grader Tommy and his
friends describe their
interactions with a paper
finger puppet of Yoda, worn
by their weird classmate
Dwight, as they try to figure
out whether or not the puppet
can really predict the future.
Includes instructions for
making Origami Yoda.

21. Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nichols
o Genre: Realistic Fiction
o Setting: Present Time
o Main Character: Sam / age 11
o Exposition:
o Sam is in the last stages of leukemia and wants to know
facts. Facts about UFOs, ghosts, how it feels to kiss a
girl. He wants to break a world record, watch horror
movies, go up the down-escalator. ..and find answers to
all of the questions nobody ever answers.
o Written as a collection of journal entries, lists, questions,
and pictures, Sam's story will make you laugh, it will
make you cry, and it will show you how one boy finds a
way to live forever.

22. When the Whistle Blows by Fran
Cannon Slayton
o A growing up novel with
scenes reminiscent of
Richard Peck’s “Long Way
from
Chicago”…Classic…Witty
…Warm…Well written
A growing up novel with scenes reminiscent of Richard
Peck’s “Long Way from Chicago”

23. o Genre:
o Historical Fiction
o Linked stories set on seven consecutive
All Hallows' Eves
o Setting:
o 1943 through 1949
o Rowlesburg, West Virginia
o Main Character:
o Jimmy Cannon during his teenage years
o Jimmy describes the high jinks, the
championship football game, the risks
and rewards of his part-time job, and
other significant events that shape his
love for his small hometown at a time
and place when the railroad was the
town.

24. o Exposition:
Main Character’s two older
brothers, his friends, and especially his
father, a formidable figure in a long
succession of Cannon men who have
worked for the B&O railroad.
o Questions to Answer:
1. Why does Dad insist that Jimmy must not
follow in his dad’s footsteps.
2. What is his father's role in the secretive
and mysterious "Society" of local men?
Last yearbook for Rowlesburg High School 3. How does the “Society” affect Jimmie’s
http://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/Rowle future?
sburg-High-School/46482

25. Thank You for
Attending!
Sabrina Carnesi
The Marie Holland Library
Crittenden Middle School
Newport News, VA
757-591-4900 ext.22575
sabrina.carnesi@nn.k12.va.us