Discussion Starters for Any Book

YHBA Bloggers, let's go beyond writing "I like this book because it was good." We know you like the book-that is why you're reading it. We know the book is good-that's why it's a Young Hoosier Book! Instead, choose one of these Discussion Starters and us it to get you THINKING. Then write one awesome paragraph. Restate the Discussion Starter in your paragraph-turn it into a statement and then give us some info and reasons for your thoughts.

1. Is there one character who is similar to you?
2. Have you ever had a similar experience as someone in the book?
3. Compare this character/story/event to another book. (Make a text-to-text connection)
4. How would you resolve the conflict (problem) in the book?
5. What would you do differently than the main character?
6. What "touches" you most about this book?
7. If you could jump in at any point of this story, where would it be? Describe that scene.
8. Did you feel any emotions while you read this?
9. Were you sorry the book ended?
10. Why did the author write this book?
11. Would the story have been different if you were the main character?
12. Does the setting (time and place) of the story make a difference?
13. Is the story realistic?
14. Think of all the ways a specific character changed in the book.
15. What did the main character learn?
16. What did you learn from reading this book?
17. Why did the author choose the title of the book?
18. What is the lesson you learned from this book?
19. What do you think will happen after the end of the book?
20. Have you read other books by this author? If so, how is this book like those other books by this author? (Discussion Starters from http://www.teachervision.fen.com/literature/teaching-methods/1728.html

Need another word for good? Use this online thesaurus to find more interesting words for your writing! http://thesaurus.reference.com. I entered the word good and found 423 synonyms (words with similar meaning).

The 2006-2007 Intermediate YHBA List!

Alphin, Elaine Marie.....Germ Hunter: A Story About Louis Pasteur
Balliett, Blue.....Chasing Vermeer
Clements, Andrew.....The Last Holiday Concert
Cline-Ransome, Lesa.....Major Taylor: Champion Cyclist
Collins, Suzanne.....Gregor the Overlander
DeFelice, Cynthia.....The Ghost of Cutler Creek
Greene, Stephanie.....Owen Foote, Mighty Scientist
Haddix, Margaret Peterson.....Say What?
Hannigan, Katherine.....Ida B:…and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World
Johnston, Tony.....The Harmonica
Kehret, Peg.....The Stranger Next Door
Kornblatt, Marc.....Izzy's Place
Krull, Kathleen.....Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss
Peck, Richard.....The Teacher's Funeral
Ryan, Pam Munoz.....Becoming Naomi Leon
Smith, Charles R......Hoop Kings: Poems
Swain, Gwenyth.....Chig and the Second Spread
Tavares, Matt.....Oliver's Game
Van Draanen, Wendelin.....Attack of the Tagger
Wright, Betty Ren.....Crandall's Castle

The 2006-2007 Young Hoosier Book Award Winner,
Intermediate Level (grades 4-6): The City of Ember

Way to Go!

Congratulations to all of Mrs. Kruse's class for voting for their favorite YHBA book this year and to the NINE students who read ALL of the Young Hoosiers! WAY TO GO!

For the 2006~2007 Young Hoosiers, go to http://younghoosier.blogspot.com . This is a blog site for teachers and students only.
Happy Reading~
Mrs. Trinkle

It's time to VOTE!

Tell us which YHBA you are voting for and tell us why! Make an argument why we should vote for YOUR favorite YHBA? Why is your favorite so special??? Vote here by clicking on the comments link right here!!

Mrs. Trinkle with her favorite kindergarten reader. 

Missing Test

The AR Test for In The Shadow of The Mammoth is missing. Sorry, guys. If you read this book, talk to Mrs. Trinkle about it and that will count for your total. There are 18 books on our list. Remember, you don't have to take a test for Supercroc, because it is an 8th grade reading level, but check it out anyway! It has awesome photos!! Also, Stink Alley is out of print so we do not have it.

First Name Only ~

You guys are doing great! We have students out there in Indiana blogging with us here in Avon. Keep up the good work. Don't forget to sign your first name and the city where you live.

Welcome

Welcome to the Young Hoosier Book Award readers' blog. Tell us what books you are reading, which ones you like, and make a pitch for your favorite Young Hoosier book!

How to post: Go to younghoosier.blogspot.com

Click on the Comments link at the bottom of this section, under the list of Young Hoosier Books.Write your paragraph about a Young Hoosier Book. Please sign your first name (only) and the name of your city! Then click on Anonymous. Finally, click on Login and Publish. Happy Reading!!

Here are this year's intermediate (grades 4-6) titles:
Macaroni Boy by Ayers, Katherine
Aliens From Earth: When Animals and Plants Invade Other Ecosystems byBatten, Mary
Sliding Into Home by Butler, Dori Hillestad
In the Shadow of the Mammoth by Clark, Patricia N.
The Monsters of Morley Manor by Coville, Bruce
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Creech, Sharon
The City of Ember by DuPrau, Jeanne
Stink Alley by Gilson, Jamie
A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson by Green, Michelle Y.
Because of Anya by Haddix, Margaret Peterson
Spy Cat by Kehret, Peg
Night of the Living Gerbil by Levy, Elizabeth
Judy Moody Gets Famous by McDonald, Megan
7x9 = Trouble by Mills, Claudia
Here’s What You Do When You Can’t Find Your Shoe by Perry, Andrea
Trout And Me by Shreve, Susan Richards
Super Croc and the Origin of the Crocodile by Sloan, Christopher
Surviving the Applewhites by Tolan, Stephanie S.
The Meanest Hound Around by Wallace, Carol
Blue Eyes Better by Wallce-Brodeur, Ruth