Grade Six students recommend

A book I enjoyed reading ... 

Grade Six 2017

At the end of each year I like to review the books mentioned by Grade 6 students in their Year Book.  I missed doing this last year but now I have a copy of the 2017 book I am catching up.  Later I hope to take a look at their 2018 choices. I was away from my school library this year so I am especially curious to see my senior student choices.

In 2017 the students mentioned these series:

Once, Soon, Then, Now, After Morris Gleitzman
Cherub Robert Muchamore
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
Ruby Redfort by Lauren Child
Spirit Animals
A series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett
Magisterium by Holly Black
Friday Barnes by RA Spratt

Here are individual titles which I have talked about on this blog (Click the titles)

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
The thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
The Blue cat by Ursula Dubosarsky
Out of my mind by Sharon Draper
Withering by sea by Judith Rossell
City of Ember by Jacqueline DePrau
Wonder by RJ Palacio
The fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L Holm
An eagle in the snow by Michael Morpurgo
Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
The honest truth by Dan Gemeinhart
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

Other titles:

Smile by Raina Telegemeier
Brotherband by John Flanagan
One Perfect Pirouette by Sherryl Clark
The many worlds of Albie Brights by Christopher Edge
How to train your dragon by Cressida Cowell
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Girl Stuff by Kaz Cooke
Granny by Anthony Horowitz
The demon dentist by David Walliams
Jodie by Randa Abdal-Fattah
Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt
Marley a dog like no other by John Grogan
Playing cupid by Jenny Meyerhoff
A dog's purpose by Bruce Cameron
The girl who rode the wind by Stacy Gregg
Boom by Mark Haddon
Stay well soon by Penny Tangey

Grade Six students recommend 2016

A book I enjoyed reading ... Grade Six 2016

Each year I use our student Year Book to list here on my blog the favourite books named by our Grade Six students.

Below are links to some past lists. .  There were a lot of new choices this year and not so many of the obvious popular titles which I find quite exciting.

2010
2011
2012
2014
2015

It is interesting this year to see such a huge variety of titles.  Only a few titles were mentioned more than once.  Hatchet (3), Rain Reign (4), Alex Rider (2), Harry Potter (2) and Wonder (6).

I have linked to my reviews so you can read a little more about some of these choices.

Series listed by students :

A series of Unfortunate events Lemony Snickett

Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Michael Scott

Tom Gates Liz Pichon

Harry Potter JK Rowling

How to train your dragon Cressida Cowell

Friday Barnes RA Spratt

Heartland Lauren Brooke

Alice Miranda Jacqueline Harvey

Stuff Happens various authors

Storey Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths

WeirDo by Ahn Do

Kaboom Kid David Warner

Once, After, Now, Soon Morris Gleitzman

Novels I also read and loved :

Cartwheeling in thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell

Song for the Scarlet Runner by Julie Hunt

The war that saved my life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Out of the dust by Karen Hesse

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

Rain Reign Ann M Martin

Bird Crystal Chan

The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander

Wonder by RJ Palacio

Floors Patrick Carmen

Other titles :

Blueback Tim Winton

Stay Well soon by Penny Tangey

Too small to fail Morris Gleitzman

Matilda Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl

Gangsta Granny David Walliams

Mr Stink David Walliams

Just Shocking Andy Griffiths

A room full of chocolate Jane Elson

Meet Grace (Our Australian girl series) by Sofie Laguna

Hatchet Gary Paulsen

I survived the shark attacks of 1916 Lauren Tarshis

Half a man Michael Morpurgo

Wonder struck Brian Selznick

George's secret key to the universe Stephen Hawking

Magnus Chase and the sword of Summer Rick Riordan

Alex Rider Anthony Horowitz

Fly away girls Julia Lawrinson

The Hobbit JRR Tolkein

Nick Riley's ninth life Bronwyn Blake

Magic Thief Sarah Prineas

Caro was here Elizabeth Farrelly

Quest of the Sunfish Mardie McConnochie

Extra Time Morris Gleitzman

The red pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney illustrated by Shane W Evans

The Red Pencil is a verse novel. I adore verse novels.  Reading this one I knew I would be taken on a hugely emotional journey.  It is a long book at 308 pages and yet I read it all in one sitting.  I will recommend this text to senior primary students and to teachers exploring the topic of refugees.

The Red Pencil is a beautifully crafted and very important story especially right now with so many people from around the world forced to move from their home and seek refuge often in distant places.
Amira has just turned twelve. Her life is a happy one but she has one desperate desire - to go to school, to learn, to enjoy a life of possibilities beyond those offered in her small Sudanese village. In part one, Our farm South Darfur, Africa September 2003 - March 2004 we read about daily life - the struggles and love in this family.  Every family in the village watched the moon.

"A hiding moon is a curse

it means

the worst

luck is sure to fall

...

That is why we wake the moon.

Tradition tells us

to make the waking loud.

To rouse that moon.

To scare it out,

             to full sight."

Little sister Leila is born on a night when the moon stays hidden.  She is born with oddly shaped legs and a crooked spine but she will grow into a girl with inspirational determination.

There is a threat hanging over this small community.  The Janjaweed are a group of militia. The word janaweed means devils on horseback.  They attack Amira's village, her father is killed and so the remaining villagers including Amira, her mother and little sister must flee.  The journey is dangerous and terrifying.

"Our weary feet

keep moving

silently

across vast sheets of sand,

spreading wide

for miles,

rolled out like a rippling carpet,

leading to uncertainty"

Eventually the group reach a displaced persons camp and so the story moves to Part 2 Kalma April 2004 - June 2004.  It is in this camp that Amira is given her precious red pencil by a aid worker.  She also begins important, but secret lessons, with Old Anwar.  It is these two things which rekindle her dreams of education and a different life path.

Here is a detailed review.  You can read the author's experience and listen to a podcast. Here is a video where Andrea Davis Pinkney talks about her book.

You might also like to read the Horn Book review.  Our copy of The red pencil  contains a discussion guide, Sudanese word list and author notes.

I would recommend you also read A long walk to water, Inside out and back again, Secrets in the fire, and the picture book Four feet two sandals.

This tale of displacement in a complex, war-torn country is both accessible and fluent

Secrets in the fire by Henning Mankell

Secrets in the fire is one of the saddest, most heart-breaking books I have ever read.  It is certainly only suitable for our most mature senior Primary students.  That said I am glad I read this book and that for a moment in time I was able follow the life journey of this brave little girl in war torn Africa.

Sofia is living a peaceful and simple life in a small village in Mozambique :

"They had lived in that village, all their lives. What Sofia remembered most clearly was the village of round huts with their neatly flattened roofs of palm leaves.  That was where she had been born, and where Maria and Alfredo had been born.  When she was a baby, her father, Hapakatanda, had lifted her towards the sky to let her greet the sun."

Her life is shattered when the bandits arrive.  They murder all the village occupants and only a handful of people survive - including Sofia, her mother Lydia, her sister Maria and young brother.  On the run, the family become refugees moving from village to village and barely surviving.  Finally they reach safety and make a new home.  One day, the white priest, urges everyone to attend an important meeting where he explains the dangers of landmines.  Sofia knows she must stay on the path but when the path is muddy after the rain the boundary lines become  unclear. Sofia steps off the path while playing with her beloved older sister Maria.  Sofia is critically injured and her sister is killed.  Now Sofia must take on a new challenge adapting to her life with prosthetic legs. Her main comfort comes from the words of wisdom offered years ago by the village elder :

"It was old Muazena who told Sofia and Maria about the secrets in the fire.  Every flame has a secret.  If you sit at the right distance from the fire you can look so deeply into the dancing flames that you can foresee what is going to happen in the future."
"Every day is a plant that you should nurse and water, keep clear of weeks and one day harvest. Every plant represents a day in your life that you haven't lived yet."

Sofia experiences so much pain but her spirit is resilient.  She makes some generous friends (young, old rich and poor), she learns to walk again and with help she is able to find her place once again in the village with her family close by.  You can read more details of the plot here.

Secrets in the fire was originally published in Sweden under the title Eldens Hemlight (1995).  It was the winner of Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award in 2002.

Secrets in the fire is based on a true story.  There are two sequels.  You should also look for A long walk to Water and Figgy in the world.  Here is a set of brief teaching notes from Amnesty International.

Grade Six reading list

Each year I share here on my blog a list of books recomened by our departing Grade Six students taken from their Year Book.  You might like to review past lists.

There are no real surprises on this list.  The list is not as inspirational as I would like but there are some gems.  Here are my general observations :

• Many students listed a series name rather than an individual title
• Eight students listed Hatchet by Gary Paulsen because this had been studied in class.  I have no problem with this choice but I am concerned that these students did not name a book read independently and of their own choice
• Of 100 students only two listed very junior titles - Where is the Green sheep by Mem Fox and Where's Wally (I have not included these in the list below) and four Young Adult titles.
• I have included the library call number used at our school
• Two students named special authors - Jackie French and Isobelle Carmody

Year Six 2014 recommend …

 

Heroes of Olympus [F Rio]

The Secret Hen house Theatre [F Pet]

Miss Understood [F Roy]

Shadow [F Mor]

Hatchet [F Pau]

The call of the wild [F Lon]

The Giver [F Low]

Finding Serendipity [F Ban]

The Hobbit [F Tol]

Mum in Love [F Shu]

Cherry Crush [F Cas]

Wonder  [F Pal]

Northern Lights [F Pul]

Waffle Hearts [F Par]

The puzzle ring [F For]

The quicksand pony [F Les]

Forgotten Pearl [F Mur]

The Snow Queen [QF And]

Junonia [F Hen]

Born to run [F Mor]

Unlikely Friendships [591.56 Hal]

 

Series

Warriors by Erin Hunter

The Floods by Colin Thompson

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Tom Gates

The treehouse books by Andy Griffiths

Rangers Apprentice

Harry Potter

Three Doors by Emily Rodda

Brotherband by John Flanagan

Ruby Redford by Lauren Child

Cherub by Robert Muchamore

Spirit Animals

Conspiracy 365

Grimstones by Asphyxia

Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Narnia CS Lewis

Don’t look now by Paul Jennings

 

Give me four reasons by Lizzie Wilcock

First of all I must say I do not like the cover of this book so below I have included the alternate cover which I prefer. I bought this book home to read because it was added to my school library last year and I suspected it might be more suitable for high school readers.  I can now say it is a book that a senior primary student would enjoy but I do think the cover makes it appear to be for an older audience.  Secondly while I did read this book quite quickly, which is a sign that I enjoyed it, I suspect if you ask me about the plot in a month or two I will have forgotten most of it. I do not mean to imply this book is not worth reading but it is essentially just a candy floss type of book - quick enjoyment not much substance.

Paige is the quiet girl. Paige is the good girl of the family. Paige is almost invisible at school because she is clever and obedient   Paige is lucky to have a special group of three friends.  The friends like to play a game called "Give me four reasons"  Each person in the group shares 'their reason'.  As the story opens it is the last day of Primary school.  The students of Year Six are waiting for the half lunch bell so the fun can begin - a huge water fight. While this is raging we get our first insight into Paige who hides from all the action in the toilets.

The final ritual of the last day in Primary is a ceremony to receive a certificate and to collect the class yearbook or passport as it is called here.  These passports contain the thoughts of all the class members.  Paige hosts a special end of Year 6 party at her house and the four friends open their passports ready to read all the funny things written by their classmates but when Paige looks in her book the pages are blank.  The four friends have a motto "don't change" but the Christmas holidays, family breakups and High School mean Paige is about to go through enormous change. The question is how will these changes affect her friendships, her identity and her values.

Here is the author web site about this book.  If you enjoy this book look for others with a similar theme by Catherine Bateson especially Being Bee and Millie and the Night Heron.

Year Six recommend ...

Each year I report on books that our departing students recommend in their Year Book.  I was not in my school library in 2012 but I am pleased to see a terrific variety of books on this list.  I have only included books that are in our school library.  Here is the list from 2011 and now for 2012 ...

Year Six 2012 recommend …

• Boom by Carl Hiaasen
• The invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
• Once, Then, Gone Morris Gleitzman
• A series of Unfortunate events by Lemony Snicket
• Fearless by Tim Lott
• The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein
• Brotherband by John Flanagan
• Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

• Spirit Walker series by Michelle Paver
• Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan
• Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve
• Redwall series by Brian Jacques
• Wildwood by Colin Meloy
• Narnia series by CS Lewis
• Snap by Alison McGhee
• Double act by Jacqueline Wilson
• Clarice Bean by Lauren Child
• Conspiracy 365 series by Gabrielle Lord
• The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
• The brilliant world of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon

• Magyk by Angie Sage
• Angel Creek by Sally Rippin
• A horse named Elvis by John Heffernan
• Why I hate school by Michael Fatarsky
• The one and only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
• Candy Floss by Jacqueline Wilson
• Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
• Mud sweat and tears by Bear Grylls
• Cherub series by Robert Muchamore
• Moonrunner by Mark Thomason
• Pangur Ban the White cat by Fay Sampson
• There’s a boy in the girls bathroom by Louis Sacher
• UFO Unavoidable family outing by Dave Hackett

Pig City by Louis Sachar

Here is a book that is good from the very first word to the very last. I enjoyed this book so much I found myself reading it over breakfast then I would come to a part that was so shocking that I simply had to stop and take a break. A few hours later back I would come. Then I simply gobbled up the last fifty pages of this terrific book.

Pig City was first published as Sixth Grade secrets in 1987. I think we used to have this in our library but I had not read it perhaps because back then I didn’t know how much I loved the story telling of Louis Sachar.

In this book we have our central character Laura and her Year 6 classmates who are in the final stages of the year prior to High School. Laura starts an exclusive gang called Pig City and this is where the trouble really starts.

Mr Doyle, the long suffering class teacher, makes students copy dictionary pages as a punishment. By the end of the year Laura is certainly in deep trouble – she has to copy 16 pages!

This is a story about misunderstandings, rivalry jealousy, gangs and the ups and downs of school life but more than anything this is a story about friendship.

This book will certainly be one I remember for a long time. Students in Years 4, 5 and 6 will really enjoy this realistic, funny, sad, horrifying story about school life.

Year 6 an important story and a new novel

This week I am reading “The colour of home” by Mary Hoffman to my Year 6 students. I continue to be amazed at how much this story affects me when I read it aloud. Hassan has just arrived in England as a refugee from Somalia. Every part of his school day is confusing including lunch which he does not recognise and so does not eat. But it is through the painting of his home that we are given a confronting insight into the real story of war and violence that Hassan as witnessed. This is such a powerful story which is told simply and with great compassion. A perfect book for Year 6 as they try to understand the plight of refugees in our world.

Last night I stayed up really late to finish “Princess Ben” by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. This book has all the ingredients I enjoy. Fairy Tale motifs are woven skillfully into the story, the feisty heroine is smart and unconventional, there is a little magic and at the end some romance. I can’t wait to see what my Year 6 girls think of this one. I especially enjoyed the sophisticated vocabulary used by Murdock and the authentic 'voice' of Ben (Benevolence) as she recounts this important year in her life. This author also has a web site http://www.catherinemurdock.com where I found it interesting to read her views on cover design. This is something I am constantly conscious of as I watch children select books in my library. I think the publisher made a good choice with this cover for Princess Ben.

I think this book would appeal to girls in Year 5 up to Year 8.