Nutmeg 2015 Intermediate
Resources curated by Jane E. Martellino
Nominated Titles for Students entering grades 4 - 6
Take a look at a commercial for our Nutmeg Newspaper!
NUTMEG NEWSPAPER
Here is the digital newspaper:
http://www.flipsnack.com/JaneMartellino/nutmeg-news-for-staples.html
The students wrote a second edition of NUTMEG NEWS!
A Slide Show of the Nominated Titles Follows:
Book Trailers and Author Videos
THE FOLLOWING SECTION SHOWS EACH NOMINATED TITLE WITH RESOURCES TO SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING AND ENCOURAGE READING!
Resources for Walls within Walls
Summary: After their father, a video-game inventor, strikes it rich, the Smithfork kids find they hate their new life. They move from their cozy Brooklyn neighborhood to a swanky apartment on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue. They have no friends, a nanny who takes the place of their parents, and a school year looming ahead that promises to be miserable.
And then, one day, Brid, CJ, and Patrick discover an astonishing secret about their apartment: The original owner, the deceased multimillionaire Mr. Post, long ago turned the apartment itself into a giant puzzle containing a mysterious book and hidden panels—a puzzle that, with some luck, courage, and brainpower, will lead to discovering the Post family fortune. Unraveling the mystery causes them to race through today's New York City—and to uncover some long-hidden secrets of the past.
Maureen Sherry's page-turning debut novel is filled with adventure, intrigue, and heart. -From Harper Collins
Contact:
Email: maureen@maureensherry.com
Twitter: @msherry (It looks like she really doesn't use it)
RESOURCES:
- Fans of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler will also thoroughly enjoy this age appropriate and wholesome story, and will delight in following the characters as they close in on solving the mystery. - See more at: http://www.storysnoops.com/detail.php?id=1304#sthash.42jmjF4q.dpuf
- Guided Reading Level: Q
- Lexile: 770L
- Available in Kindle edition.
- High interest for reluctant readers.
- Author interview.
- Our Texas colleagues created an extensive list of links including a reader's theatre script.
Sweet Discussion Questions (Sweetonbooks.com)
• Did their new fortune make the Smithforks happier?
• Can money make everything better?
• Do you think it is hard to move?
• How can you make starting in a new place easier for yourself or others?
• What kind of challenges does young Patrick face with his reading problems?
• Do you think Patrick's reading challenges make him appear less smart?
• Would you like to solve a real life puzzle like that?
• What do you think of the danger the children put themselves in to solve this puzzle? Do you think that is a good idea in real life?
Discussion Questions:
1.Did their new fortune make the Smithforks happier?
2. Can money make everything better?
3. Do you think it is hard to move?
4. How would you make starting in a new place easier for yourself or others?
5. Would you like to solve a real life puzzle like that?
6. What do you think of the danger the children put themselves in to solve this puzzle? Do you think that is a good idea in real life?
7. Would you like to live in the Smithfork kids quirky new apartment or their cozy Brooklyn apartment?
8. Have you ever been to New York City? If yes, what was it like?
9. Did you think the mysterious man who kept showing up in the apartment was bad?
10. Have you ever discovered a mystery about something? What?
11.What would you do if you discovered a missing fortune? How would you spend it?
12.Did you enjoy the poems in the book? Did they help you figure out the clues?
13. Would you recommend this book to a friend?
14. Did you discover any cool historical facts about the New York City landmarks?
15. Why did Mr. Post hide his fortune?
16. Would you like to live in New York City? Why or why not?
17. What did Patrick retrieve after Brid and CJ lowered him into the space below the Giant Eye? What did the kids do with this item?
18. Who was the first to discover the map of Manhatten? Where did this person find it?
19. Why does Eloise Post go by "Eloise Munn?"
20. Which invention by Bruce Smithfork comes in handy for the treasure hunters?
21. Who is Joe Torrio?
22. Why do you think Mr. Post was so impressed my Rafael Gustavino's work?
23. Name one of the seven locations the treasure hunters visited.
24. What happened to the treasure hunters while they were on the subway train?
25. Did this book remind you of any book or movie you had read or seen before? If so, which one?
26. Would you read the next book? Why or why not?
RESOURCES FOR WHITE FUR FLYING
SUMMARY:
Zoe’s family rescues dogs in need. There is always the sweet smell of dog and a warm body looking to cuddle or play. There is always a new dog to be saved and loved. Fur flies everywhere. It covers everything. Zoe’s house is never silent.
But the house across the street is always silent these days. A new family has moved in and Phillip, the boy, has stopped speaking. He doesn’t even want to try.
Zoe knows that saving dogs and saving boys are different jobs, but she learns that some parts are the same. Both take attention and care, understanding and time. And maybe just a bit of white fur flying. (Amazon)
- Lexile: 450L
- Kindle edition available.
Read Alikes: If you enjoyed White Fur Flying, you might like these suggested titles.
Vocabulary:
flawed
earnest
forbidden
wander
tepid
philosophical
distracted
clatter
wiry
beacon
CURRICULUM GUIDE:
The following curriculum guide was created by the great, Kathleen Odean, a former school librarian and Chair of the 2002 Newbery Award Committee. She gives professional development workshops on books for young people and is the author of Great Books for Girls and Great Books about Things Kids Love.
This guide, written in alignment with the Common Core Standards (www.corestandards.org) has been provided by Simon & Schuster for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Pre-reading Question:
How are pets important in people’s lives? Can people and pets be friends? Can pets be friends with each other?
Setting: The questions below align with the following Common Core Standards: (RL.2–5.1)
1. What is Zoe’s home like? What is the house like where Phillip is staying? Using details from the book, compare how the two homes are similar and different. Which home seems more welcoming, and why?
2. What else do you know about where this story takes place? Referring to the text, describe the other buildings, the area around the houses, the animals besides the pets, and the weather.
Themes: The questions below align with the following Common Core Standards: (RL.2–5.1, 3) (RL.4–5.2)
3. The dogs and the parrot play important roles in this story, which is about how important pets can be. How is Jack important to Phillip? Find other examples in the book of how the pets help people.
4. The people also help the animals. What does Zoe’s mother do to help dogs? What are other examples of people helping animals in the story?
5. Zoe says at the beginning of the last chapter, “Sometimes you think you know more than you really do—people, events, things that are true and things that are not.” Discuss what she means. In what ways were Zoe and Alice wrong about Phillip’s aunt and uncle? What else do you think Zoe’s talking about?
6. In her journal, Alice calls Zoe a hero for going out to find Phillip and Jack. How does
Zoe show courage? Who else in the book shows courage, and how?
Character: The questions below align with the following Common Core Standards: (RL.2–5.3)
7. Describe Alice and Zoe, using examples from the book. How are they alike? How are
they different? What is their relationship like?
8. What is Phillip like at the beginning of the book? How does he change by the end of the book? Why did he stop talking? Why does he start again?
9. Describe Zoe’s parents, and Phillip’s aunt and uncle. How are they similar? How are they different? How does Phillip’s aunt change during the story?
10. The dogs also have personalities. Using specifics from the text, describe each one, how they differ from one another, and how they act with one another.
Plot and Structure: The questions below align with the following Common Core Standards: (RL.2–4.3) (RL.2–3.5) (RL.5.5)
11. Summarize the first chapter. Why do you think the author opens the book the way she does? What is the connection between Alice’s story about the wicked queen and the arrival of the new neighbors?
12. How do the dogs affect what happens in the book? How do they interact with Phillip? How do those interactions change Phillip’s actions and feelings?
13. At the end of Chapter 9, Zoe says, “It was the next day that life changed for all of us.” How does this sentence create suspense? Describe what happens the next day, giving details. How does that day change the lives of different characters?
Point of View: The questions below align with the following Common Core Standards: (RL.2–5.6)
14. In many ways, this story is about Phillip and how he changes. Yet Zoe narrates the story. Find examples that show it’s a first-person narration. Why do you think the author chose Zoe to tell the story? How would it have been different if Phillip told the story?
15. At the end of Chapters 5 and 8, the print changes to italics. Reread these parts of the book. What do they have in common? Why do you think the author put them in italics?
16. Zoe narrates most of the story, but the final pages are from Alice’s point of view, as recorded in her journal. What does Alice say that Zoe would not say? Why do you think the author ends the book with the journal entry?
Language: The questions below align with the following Common Core Standards: (RL.2–5.4)
17. Lena likes to say the phrase, “You don’t know.” Near the end, Alice uses that phrase in her poem. Why does she repeat it in the poem? Discuss how her poem relates to various characters in the story.
18. Alice’s father says that Alice is “like a spy” and that being a writer is like being a spy. What does he mean? How is a writer like a spy? Drawing from the text, discuss how Alice is like a spy.
19. Below are some figurative phrases from the story. Choose one or more of the phrases to analyze. What two things are being compared? What does the comparison add? How does it change your reaction or the image in your mind?
• “like burritos” (chapter 1)
• “he is a prisoner” (chapter 2)
• “like guardian angels” (chapter 3)
• “like music” (chapter 4)
• “like a child” (chapter 11)
• “like little bits of glass” (chapter 12)
• “lonely as a cloud” (chapter 16)
• “sweeter than soap” (chapter 16)
Activities:
A Parade of Pets!
Have children do simple research on a pet: one they have, one they would like to have, or one they are just interested in. They can each write a short paragraph about the pet and its notable features, and draw or paint a picture to go with it. Have them share their work orally and create a bulletin board with the drawings and paragraphs to form a Parade of Pets.
Follow That Trail!
As a group, students will review what they know about the neighborhood in the book,
brainstorming as many features as possible, including fields, roads, fences, a gate, a brook, and more. Have students individually or in pairs draw a map of the area with pictures that include the different features. Have them indicate the route Zoe took on the night Phillip and Jack went missing. They can also add a simple map key. No two of the maps are likely to look the same. Have students share their maps and discuss the differences between them.
RESOURCES FOR UNWANTEDS
When Alex finds out he is Unwanted, he expects to die. That is the way of the people of Quill. Each year, all the thirteen-year-olds are labeled as Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Wanteds get more schooling and train to join the Quillitary. Necessaries keep the farms running. Unwanteds are set for elimination.
It’s hard for Alex to leave behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted, but he makes peace with his fate—until he discovers that instead of a “death farm,” what awaits him is a magical place called Artimé. There, Alex and his fellow Unwanteds are encouraged to cultivate their creative abilities and use them magically. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation.
But it’s a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be divided between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron’s bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artimé that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate magical battle. (Amazon)
From Common Sense Media:
Parents need to know that this dystopian novel begins with a rather disturbing scene: frightened teens are sent to a death farm, thinking they will be exterminated in a lake of boiling oil. What follows is a fast-moving fantasy for kids, especially the more reluctant readers, who are not quite ready for Harry Potter, but are looking for an adventure -- and a little magic. There is a very obvious good-vs.-evil storyline and readers get the message that creativity is essential to a thriving society.
Contact:
Twitter: @lisa_mcmann
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McMannFan
Lisa McMann
P.O. Box 52143
Mesa, AZ 85208-0108
USA
RESOURCES AND MORE:
- Lexile: 880L
- Kindle edition available
- Visit the author's website.
- Free downloadable curriculum guide with excellent CCSS aligned discussion questions.
- Facebook page
- Book Trailer
- Lisa McMann audio interview
- This book was on the 2013-2014 California Young Reader's Award. They have a full curriculum packet online. Check it out!
Read Alikes: If you enjoyed Unwanteds, you might enjoy these suggested titles.
RESOURCES FOR TUESDAYS AT THE CASTLE
- Lexile level: 860L
- Kindle edition available.
- Genre: Fantasy
- Author's website
- Other state's book award lists: Consider reaching out to school media specialists from: California, Illinois, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Tennessee, Virginia, Rhode Island (all listed it on their 2014, or 2014-2015 nomination lists).
Contact:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaDayGeorgeBooks?ref=ts
Email: http://www.jessicadaygeorge.com/About/Contact.aspx
Twitter: @JessDayGeorge
Resource Guide: Check out CYRM Guide.
Read Alikes: If you liked Tuesdays at the Castle, you might enjoy these suggested titles.
RESOURCES FOR SPY SCHOOL
Actually, no. There's been a case of mistaken identity—but that doesn't stop Ben from trying to morph into a supercool undercover agent, the kind that always gets the girl. And through a series of hilarious misadventures, Ben realizes he might actually be a halfway decent spy…if he can survive all the attempts being made on his life! - From the publisher
REVIEWS:
BOOKLIST: "Similar in many ways to the Alex Rider books for an older audience, this romp is a great choice for reluctant readers of either gender."
HORNBOOK: "Funny and suspenseful, this book is perfectly pitched for middle-grader and tween boy."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Twists and turns in the plot keep readers guessing until the very end. The story, over-the-top funny, combines Alex Rider's espionage skills with a huge dose of the sarcasm of Artemis Fowl."
CONTACT:
Email: stuart.gibbs@rocketmail.com
Twitter: @AuthorStuGibbs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Belly-Up/112359602116863
GENRE: Science Fiction
Other:
- Lexile Level: 740L
- Kindle edition available.
- Peggy Sharps' Reading Rocks- Really List
- CCBC 2013 List
- CONNECT with school librarians in these states: Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award List 2014-2105, South Caroline Junior Book Awards 2014-2015, and Virginia's Reader's Choice Book Award Nominees 2014-2105.
- Visit the author's website.
- Take a quiz after reading the book.
- Fun follow Spy Book Club Actvities
- While the following resources are for the sequel, Spy Camp, many of the links are relevant to this title.
RESOURCES FOR SHADOW
With the horrors of war bearing down on them, Aman and his mother are barely surviving in an Afghan cave, and staying there any longer will end horribly. The only comfort Aman has is Shadow, the loyal spaniel that shows up from places unknown, it seems, just when Aman needs him most.
Aman, his mother, and Shadow finally leave the destroyed cave in hopes of escaping to England, but are held at a checkpoint, and Shadow runs away after being shot at by the police. Aman and his mother escape--without Shadow. Aman is heart-broken.
Just as they are getting settled as free citizens in England, they are imprisoned in a camp with locked doors and a barbed wire fence. Their only hope is Aman's classmate Matt, his grandpa, and the dream of finding his lost dog. After all, you never lose your shadow.
CONTACT:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michaelmorpurgoofficial?rf=107602419269480
RESOURCES AND MORE:
- Lexile level: 780L
- Audio available on CD
- View an author interview.
- Lots of author interviews on Teachingbooks.net and other resources.
- Listed in Dr. Peggy' Sharp's What's New in Children's Literature 2013 list
- On the New York Charlotte Book Award Nominees 2014
- Lessons for the first five chapters
- Activity sheet from the author (one of them gives a list of other animal heroes which students can research)
Read Alikes: If you enjoyed Shadow, then you may like these suggested titles.
RESOURCES FOR SAINT LOUIS ARMSTRONG BEACH
Saint is a boy with confidence as big as his name is long. A budding musician, he earns money playing clarinet for the New Orleans tourists, and his best friend is a stray dog named Shadow. At first Saint is sure that Hurricane Katrina will be just like the last one--no big deal. But then the city is ordered to evacuate and Saint refuses to leave without Shadow. Saint and Shadow flee to his neighbor's attic--and soon enough it's up to Saint to save them all.
- Lexile Level: 660L
- Kindle edition available.
- Visit the author's website
- Explore www.louisarmstronghouse.org
- NPR- Louis Armstrong- The Man and His Music- Part 1
- Teachervision website: Discussion guide
- Penguin Book Reader's Companion (includes discussion questions)
- Key Vocabulary: Swaying, Virtuoso, Versatility, Evacuate, Triumphed, Rummaged, and Sapient.
- Ideas for pre-during-post reading at the readingforknowledgeblog.
- Extension ideas with another text.
Read Alikes: If you liked Saint Louis Armstrong Beach, then you might like these suggested titles.
RESOURCES FOR KING OF THE MOUND
When Nick starts working for Mr. Churchill, the owner of the semiprofessional team Nick’s dad plays for, he meets Satchel Paige, arguably the best pitcher in the world. Not allowed in the major leagues because of his skin color, Satchel teaches Nick that some things can be overcome with hard work and dedication, and that just because you’re down, you are most certainly not out.
As Satchel and his unique teammates barnstorm toward a national baseball tournament, Nick wonders if he can really overcome what seems like the impossible and pitch again.
Contact:
email: LouisMay1961@gmail.com
Resources and More:
- Lexile level: 900L
- Kindle edition available.
- On the Florida Sunshine State Young Reader's Award Nominees 2014-2015
- Teachingbooks.net
RESOURCES FOR LIAR AND SPY
Contact:
Twitter: @rebstead
Resources and More:
- Lexile level: 670L
- Kindle edition available, Audio Version available, available on Overdrive also.
- View the book trailer
- A teacher resources kit with discussion questions and related cross-curricular activities.
- Visit the author's website.
- Great Teacher Resource file free through Follet Titlewave.
- Fantastic resources including reader's theatre script from our Texan colleagues. (Bluebonnet Award Nominees 2014-2015)
- Discussion questions from the site "Lit-Lovers".
- On the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award Nominees 2015: Intermediate Division
- On the Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award Nominees 2014-2015
-
Carnegie Medal 2014
- On the Illinois list: Bluestem Book Award Nominees 2015
- On the Iowa list: Iowa Children's Choice Book Award Nominees 2014-2015
- On the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award Nominees 2015: Grades 6-8
- On the Massachusetts Children's Book Award Nominees 2014-2015
- On the Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Nominees 2014-2015
- On the Missouri Mark Twain Book Award Nominees 2014-2015
Dr. Peggy Sharp's "What's New in Literature 2013 List" - a gem for character
Read Alikes: If you liked Liar and Spy, you might enjoy these suggested titles.
Resources for Joshua Dread
SUMMARY: For Joshua Dread, middle school is proving to be, well, awkward. Not only do bullies pick on him, but do you see those supervillains over there trying to flood the world? The ones that everyone, including his best friend Milton, are rooting for Captain Justice to take down? They're the Dread Duo, and they just happen to be his parents. As if trying to hide his identity wasn't hard enough, Joshua has started leaving a trail of exploding pencils and scorched handprints in his wake, and only Sophie, the new girl in town with a mysterious past, seems unsurprised. When a violent attack at the Vile Fair makes it clear someone is abducting supervillains, and that his parents may very well be next, Joshua must enlist both Sophie and Milton's help to save them. Well-written, fast-paced, and remarkably funny, Joshua Dread is the first in a series that will appeal far beyond its target audience.- from the publisher.
Contact:
Twitter: @leebaconbooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leebaconbooks
Genre: Fantasy
Resources and More:
- Lelxile level: 700L