Summer Book Club 2016: Let’s discover books together for the first time

I am wrapping up my first year teaching with a classroom library. I’ve shared many great books on this blog and reviewed dozens more on my Goodreads feed (see the right column of this blog page).

• Top Ten Books to Start a Classroom Library
• Coteachers Share Graphic and Verse Novels
• Letting Literature Do the Work: How I Started an Inclusive Literature Workshop

I am now looking ahead to next year, knowing my classroom library needs new, great books to start the year.

I’ve read over one hundred books in search of that just-right book for each student, but I just cannot keep up with all the recommendations I’ve been getting from We Need Diverse Books, Nerdy Book Club, Goodreads, and Facebook friends. So this summer’s reading list is 25 books that I have NOT read but have been recommended, and I am inviting my junior high readers to vet these books with me.

Now I realize it is irresponsible to create a book list for junior high kids without having read the books, but I have a few explanations for this plan.

1. These titles come from great sources that I have come to trust, having read so many books suggested by my teacher friends.
2. All of these titles are categorized on Amazon as being for mid to upper middle school, with the exception of a few that are 9th grade and up (for students who are ready to stretch into more mature material).
3. I want students to have a say in which books I buy for the classroom, so this is a genuine invitation to help me develop our classroom library.
4. Readers read when they are not in school, and readers always have a to-read list. This list provides me and my student readers that to-read list in the hopes that they will find a new author, topic, or genre that will take them into new to-read paths.
5. I want students to have some practice selecting books by reading reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, looking at the target audience for the title, and considering the authors –rather than depending on the teacher for their books. I hope students also find a bargain book store or visit their local book shop.
6. I don’t want to be the authority on the books for my students. I am excited to read these books with the students and to hear what they think on Snapchat and our blog, kidblog.org/class/SBC2016

On the book list I sent to students and parents, I wrote this suggestion:

To choose the books, look at the summaries and reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. On Amazon, if you scroll down, you can see the target audience (grades 5-9 or 9-12)if you are not sure if the books are appropriate (too mature or too elementary).  For most of these titles, you can also read parts of the first chapter. Consider the font style and if the chapters are titled. You can buy the books through Dr. Donovan by filling out this order form (Due May 23^rd), check them out from your library, or order them on your own. We recommend you get together with a few friends and buy different titles to trade over the summer. Dr. Donovan will post reviews on Snapchat: dr.sjdonovan. We will also have a summer blog to share your reviews and discuss the books. There is no particular order and no rules, but Dr. Donovan plans to read ALL of them! Join kidblog.org/class/sbc2016 with this code: bedufaw.

At the end of the summer, our summer book club will decide which titles to buy for the classroom and how many. Now, there are many other great titles that I have read and plan to buy for the next school year, but these look like promising additions and include nonfiction, fiction, verse, historical, fantasy, science fiction. I’ll share the results at the end of the summer, which for me is mid-August.

How will you promote summer reading? What titles are you sharing?