In progress Library

Wow - I could spend a lot of hours on this. It is difficult for me to whittle down my list of books for a classroom library. I can rationalize reasons to include or unclude (new word) books for just about anything. It is hard to separate what I like from what is good for a classroom, this is where the rationalizing came in. Well I hope if you guys peruse the list something triggers a spark that leads you to picking one of the books up.

Author	Title		Publication Date		Notes
Achebe, Chinua	Things Fall Apart		1994		A fictional account of a tribe in Africa. Strong points about tradition versus change that all ages can relate to.  Valuable starter for the topic of colonialism. That will be a can of worms, eh?
Alexie, Sherman	Smoke Signals		1998		A novel about a boy's struggle with what forgiveness is among many other things. It is by Sherman Alexie so you can be assured of its wit.
Alexis, Sherman	The absolutlely true diary of a part time indian		2012		Novel/memoir about a life that has to navigate through distinctly different cultures and expectations.
Anthology	Dear Bully: Seventy Authors tell Their Stories.		2013		I always like anthologies and compilations because they allow more opportunities to connect with the reader and spark future thoughts/research.
Anthology	It's Not All Black and White: Multiracial youth speak out.		2012		See Above
Anthology	Foretold: 14 tales of prophecy and prediction		2012		I asked my niece for a couple recommendations and this is one I got. I have not read it as June 15 2013.
Anthology	The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction		2006		I think anthologies are like getting a taster spoon of a new ice cream at the Chocolate Shoppe. Another budget buster but it is a used edition. I am saving for a poetry anthology but the poetry wheel is installed on the class Ipad.
Bauer, Marion Dane	On My Honor		1987		I like books that put people in situations where everything does not go according to hoyle and then they have to deal with the internal consequences.
Beah, Ishmael	A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a boy soldier		2008		A memoir about child soldiers in Sierra Leone. The children become soldiers through little choice of their own. This book is a stark example of violence and culture shock. It also has the universla theme of the conflict between the powerful and powerless.
Collins, Suzanne	The Hunger Games		2010		Only Book 1 - If they like it they can get the rest. I liked this book and I think it has a good female lead. Katniss fulfills many traditional male lead roles.
Cormier, Robert	The Chocolate War		2004		I still need to read this but a friend told me she would never speak to me again if I did not put this in my library.
Crist, David	The Twilight War: The secret history of America's 30 year conflict with Iran		2012		An excellent book that works to show how complicated life and foreign policy can be. One of the best I have read in the last three years. Probably for high level readers.
Croucher, Phillip	The Road to the NHL		2013		There is no way my library would not have a hockey book in it! I chose this one because it has Sidney Crosby in it and he is currently the most popular hockey player to YA's
David McCullough	Seventeen-Seventy-Six		2007		U.S. history. Enough Said
Dbackderf, Derf	My Friend Dahmer		2012		Graphic novel. Good discussion openers about what it means to be a friend and what is the adults role in a student's life.
Eagleman, David	Sum: forty tales of the afterlife		2010		This book entertains alternative ideas of afterlife. It is an easy to read, short book but has the potential to widen a reader's perspective.
Junger Sebastian	War		2011		Some students will probably enlist or have relatives in one of the many conflicts the US has involved itself in and that alone is enough for inculsion.
King, Stephen	Skeleton Crew		1986		You cannot have a library without a Stephen King book!
Ness, Patrick	A Monster Calls		2013		A book about dealing with grief and/or potential loss of someone to cancer. This book addresses how unique it is that we each respond to life's happenings.
Oxford English Dictionary	Oxford English Dictionary		2013		OK I blew my budget immediately but I went back to Donorschoose.org and they bought this for my library because I thought this is important vehicle students can take to start exploring words and language.
Perkin, John	Confessions of an Economic Hitman		2005		Shining a little light on the dark side of economic growth and the search for profit. You could get the same message out of a Dr. Suess book but this one relates human experiences.
Picoult, Jodi	House rules: A novel		2010		another book I have not read but I put on the list because of my 17 year old niece's recommendation.
Spiegelman, Art	Maus		2003		Graphic Novel that addresses the holocaust.
Steinbeck, john	The Grapes of Wrath		1939		US history (dustbowl) justice, the powerful and powerless. This book has it all. Plus it is just a good read. Probably time for me to reread it.
Thompson, Criag	Habibi		2011		Graphic Novel. Could be slightly controversial but also contains good cultural and natural world discussion points.
Wright, Richard	native Son		2003		I included this rather than some more current book that addressess similar issues because I knew it better.
Zarr, Sara	How to save a life		2012		Lots of dilemas and possible solutions. Does have some possible taboo topicslike teen age pregnancy.
Zusak, Markus	The Book Thief		2007		A book about German citizens during WWII and death. The narrative style is non-standard so it is a good intro into the idea that style does not have limits. This book is working its way to a hybrid style of graphic novel and novel, not completely unlike "Monster" by Walter Dean Meyers.