DYSLEXIA IN MIDDLE GRADE FICTION by Joy McCullough-Carranza

Percy Jackson is probably the most famous dyslexic character in middle grade fiction, inspired by Rick Riordan’s own dyslexic son. Wanting to engage his son with books and capitalize on his interest in Greek myths, Riordan created a world in which dyslexia was not a disability—it was a side effect of being a demigod. What's more, the things that are a hindrance in the classroom become some of Percy’s most valuable assets when battling hydras and Titans.

Seeing characters like Percy and his demigod friends turn their challenges into real advantages as they save the world is incredibly powerful for other kids with similar struggles. But not all kids are epic fantasy types, and Percy Jackson isn’t the only dyslexic in middle grade. I wanted to highlight a few of my favorites.

CLOSE TO FAMOUS – This beautiful contemporary novel introduced me to Newbery Honor winner Joan Bauer, and now I’m itching to get my hands on everything she’s ever written. Her protagonist Foster can barely read, but she’s a whiz in the kitchen. When she and her mother flee an abusive boyfriend and land in a quirky small town, Foster’s baking skills help her make friends. Her seriously delicious treats even help her befriend a reclusive Hollywood movie star, who helps Harper learn to read while Harper teaches her a thing or two as well.

MAY B – Written by Project Mayhem contributor Caroline Starr Rose, MAY B is a verse novel about May, who struggles to teach herself to read while trapped alone by a blizzard on the American frontier. Caroline, whose own nephew is dyslexic, has received very moving feedback from readers who felt the book spoke directly to them. One said, “It was as if she were writing right into the places of my heart where those accusations of being careless and not good enough had settled. And she whispered that like May, I could overcome. I could hope for the good things even when they are hard. Thank you, Caroline. Thank you, May.”

ELEVEN – Written by Newbery Honor-winning author Patricia Reilly Giff, ELEVEN is an engrossing mystery about Sam, an eleven year old with dyslexia who must make friends with a new girl so she can help him solve the mystery of his own abduction. This book beautifully balances a story about friendship and family with a suspenseful mystery.

The HANK ZIPZER series – Written by Henry Winkler (that’s right, the Fonz), along with SCBWI executive director Lin Oliver, this lower middle grade series features a character based on Winkler himself as a boy growing up with dyslexia. Winkler says, “When I was growing up in New York City, no one knew what dyslexia was. I was called stupid and lazy…I spent most of my time covering up the fact that reading, writing, spelling, math, science—actually, every subject but lunch—was really, really difficult for me.” There are seventeen books in this funny, fast-paced series.

MY NAME IS BRAIN BRIAN – This straight-forward contemporary novel is written by dyslexic author Jeanne Betancourt, who points out on her website that Gustav Flaubert, W.B. Yeats, Hans Christian Anderson, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Agatha Christie were all dyslexic. Of all the books listed, this book deals the most directly with the issue, showing the journey of a boy’s diagnosis with dyslexia. Betancourt also writes a chapter book series called PONY PALS, which features a dyslexic main character.

We’re all about middle grade here at Project Mayhem, but I would also like to give honorable mention to the brilliant young adult novel MAGGOT MOON by UK author Sally Gardner, who is dyslexic herself, and the poignant and wonderful picture books THANK YOU, MR. FALKER and THE ART OF MISS CHEW, which both show Patricia Polacco’s journey through dyslexia as a child.

Do you know of other great middle grade books that feature characters with dyslexia? Or books that show some other perceived disability in a new light? I’d love to hear about them!

Hooking the hard-to-hook: Part Two

Last month I did a post on using The Bluford Series as a way to connect with struggling and reluctant readers. Another great resource I’ve utilized over the years to hook the hard-to-hook is Orca Soundings published by Orca Book Publishers.

Orca Soundings is a collection of about fifty high interest novels written between the second and fifth grade level. There are mystery, romance, adventure, survival and contemporary stories.

When I taught junior high and high school, these books were part of my classroom library. My struggling readers were attracted by the covers and the manageable length of the stories. Some of my students went on to read higher level trade books after getting their start with Orca Soundings.

Orca Soundings has received positive reviews from the big reviewers:

"Soundings...use simple vocabulary and short sentences combined with lots of authentic dialogue and engrossing subject matter, making them ideal for high-interest, low-reading-level collections. The authors are not afraid of controversial language or material, which is in large part the secret of the series' appeal. Open endings lend to discussion and further exploration. These little novels with their colorful covers are sure to be a hit." – VOYA

"With their Dr. Phil talk-show themes, angst-driven protagonists, and short texts, these slick novels will appeal to reluctant readers who want fast-paced escapist reads." - School Library Journal

"[The Soundings have] interesting and fast paced plots...At a reading level of grade 4 or lower and generally being just over a hundred pages in length, these books will have students feeling a lot less intimidated than if they were given The Grapes of Wrath." - Dwayne Jeffery, Reaching Reluctant Readers (aka Books for Boys)” in The Alan Review 

It’s another great resource to have when trying to hook the hard-to-hook.

Have you read any Orca Soundings books? What other books have you used when trying to hook the hard-to-hook?

Thanks for stopping by.

Hooking the hard-to-hook

I’ve spent the bulk of my educational career working with reluctant and struggling readers. (See my post here for details on ways to engage these students.)

When you have a double dose of challenge, i.e. a student who both doesn’t like to read and is also several grade-levels behind in-terms-of reading skills, your options for connecting that student to the “right” book narrow considerably.

I’m talking about the junior high and early high school students who put their heads down or act out or walk out instead of giving a book a try. Some of these students might also have identified learning disabilities, but many do not. What they have all had are multiple negative experiences with reading, whether self-created in the most supportive print-rich homes and classrooms or not.

I don’t remember exactly how I discovered the Bluford Series, but when I did it started several of my most reluctant and challenged readers down the path of literacy. I love it when older students say, “that’s the first book I’ve ever read” and suddenly reading time isn’t torture anymore.

From the Townsend Press website:

The Bluford Series is a collection of twenty high-interest novels that have captivated teens nationwide. Set in fictional Bluford High, a tough but nurturing inner city high school, the novels speak to the interests, struggles, and concerns of today’s 5th–10th graders. Praised by faculty, parents, and students alike, the Bluford Series has transformed entire classrooms into reading zones. A frequent choice for school- and city-wide reading initiatives, the series has been widely reviewed in the Journal for Adolescent and Adult Literacy (JAAL) and repeatedly endorsed by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).

Over the years I’ve used the Bluford Series novels for whole class, small group and individual reading.

Even though it is called a series, you don’t have to read these books in any order. Characters overlap between stories. A minor character in one story may be the narrator in another book.

  

What I LOVE about the Bluford Series is that the stories are complex with well-developed characters while also being accessible to struggling readers. They are not little kids’ books; instead, they are mature stories that older students connect with but are written at fifth and sixth grade reading levels. ALA, YALSA and KIRKUS have all given these books positive reviews.

These novels cost one dollar each. Yes, just a dollar!!! And, Townsend Press will send you three free sample copies to try out.

Thanks for stopping. If you have favorite books that hook the hard-to-hook I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

Sweet Tooth, Anyone?

The Princess Candy Series

by Michael Dahl

Tales of a Sugar Hero Blurb:

On her eleventh birthday, Halo Nightly receives a mysterious collection of candy jars from her Aunt Pandora. The sweet treats inside fuel her with the powers of fire, water, earth, and air! As the worlds newest sugar hero, Halo must defeat the evil sour-villains who threaten to rid the world of fun and flavor!

The Green Queen of Mean Blurb:

Look out litterbugs! When friend-to-the-planet Flora is paired with classmate Halo, things look good for her science report on pollution. Unfortunately, when Halo eats a little of her superhero candy and flies out for a breath of air after finishing the project, Doozie Hiss steps in to sabotage their work. Little does she know that Flora has a secret identity and the power to avenge any nongreen attitudes.

  
The Marshmallow Mermaid:

After an elementary school has closed for the day, a dangerous monster comes out of the school's swimming pool looking for food. He eats marshmallows and goes back in the water. Complaints are made to the principal about the marshmallows being stolen every night from the kitchen. After eating some of her Aunt Pandora's Cody turns into Princess Puffer fish.

The Evil Echo:

Halo Nightly (Princess Candy) is back, using her super powers to fight the Evil Echo, a shape shifter out to win Cody Phinn's attention. As a shape shifter, Echo is able to make people believe she's Halo—or at least the dark side of Halo. Echo goes around doing things that are uncharacteristic of Halo who is shocked when even her grandmother accuses her of doing something wrong. This female superhero will, undoubtedly, appeal to young girls.


These books are not only a ton of fun for MG readers, they combine great storytelling with the madly-popular graphic novel format. Readers of Dragonbreath, Bone, and The Amulet series will enjoy them. I know my daughter currently gobbles up anything structured in graphic novel form.

As a middle grade author, I balked at the rise in popularity of graphic novels, feeling like they weren't "real" literature. I didn't think they counted as quality reading time for my kids. And yes, I was a butthead for thinking that. As an educator, I have watched as reluctant readers have become less reluctant, as vocabularies and fluency have improved, and as graphic novels have been the doorway to other, more traditional books. They are the best of both worlds for kids--great stories and awesome graphics.

What are your thoughts about the 

graphic novel vs. the traditional novel? 

Book Review: CJJ's Guide to Extra Credit

Title: CHARLIE JOE JACKSON'S GUIDE TO EXTRA CREDIT

Author: Tommy Greenwald
Illustrator: J.P. Coovert

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan)
Release Date: August 7, 2012

* ARC received from publisher

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. OF MICE AND MEN. THE GREAT GATSBY. LORD OF THE FLIES. CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO EXTRA CREDIT.

Okay, that last one might not continue the “classic” tradition of American literature, but those first four do have something in common with the protagonist of the last one, Charlie Joe Jackson. And that is, Charlie Joe Jackson is sure to have never read those first four books, and if we learned anything from the first book in the series (CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING) then we can be sure that Charlie will fight, tooth and nail, to make sure he never reads them in his lifetime. The problem is, if he doesn’t read them, he might be in danger of failing, and in turn, he might have to resort to anything to raise his grades, even (gasp), doing extra credit. Therein lies the crux of the second book in the series, CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO EXTRA CREDIT.

In this second book of the series, our lovable but ever-lazy Charlie Joe Jackson finds himself sweating bullets on Report Card Day (Charlie’s the only person who actually calls the day that, and that tells you quite a bit about his character right there). When his parents see that his grades basically add up to be an A short of AC/DC—a group I’m sure Charlie adores, since he’s a big classic rock fan—they (meaning, Dad, who serves as the “heavy” of the two parents) threaten to send him to Camp Rituhbukkee (Charlie jokes it stands for “Read-a-book”). So Charlie must attempt to make a deal with his parents to help him reclaim his summer freedom. That deal, Charlie decides, is that for the upcoming term he will get all A’s (and one B, because Science and Charlie are not A-greeable, if you get my meaning). Mom and Dad (see earlier note about the “heavy”) decide that it is a fair deal.

What follows is Charlie’s hilarious attempt at gaining extra credit in his classes, which means double the work and a whole lot of creativity on the teachers’ part to make Charlie work for it (translated: he pretty much must grovel like a pig for them). Sure to please the reluctant reader, and the reader who just acts reluctant because, you know, that’s the cool way to act, this second book is a great follow-up to the first one (which I loved) and is sure to lead to more Charlie Joe Jackson guides. I hope…you listening, Roaring Brook?

Voice aplenty, which is a strength of Greenwald’s, this book is uber-enjoyable to read. But by far, something I enjoy the most about Greenwald’s ability to craft a narrative in both this and the first book, is his way of “tricking” the reader. Behind a façade of a “Guide” he hides a full, elaborate narrative that allows for full development of some authentic characters. Using this sly slight-of-hand style, he is sure to hook and then reel in those aforementioned reluctant readers in the same manner a parent uses reverse psychology to trick the kids that veggies are not yucky, or hanging with the opposite sex is totally okay, or that wearing a sweater vest to church is the very definition of cool (okay, that last one is just evil, parents, please don’t make the kid wear the sweater vest…please).

Speaking of parenting, I kid you not, my son picked up this book many times to "read" to the point where it became a part of his hands. I think he was going for extra credit himself. Here's the proof:

In sum, yeah, the book is great. Highly recommended. It releases TOMORROW (August 7) so do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. And if you wish, feel free to check out Project Mayhem’s old review of the first book, CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING, or you can see my original interview with Tommy Greenwald to learn about the man behind the books guides.

Reaching Reluctant and Struggling Readers

An author friend who is scheduled to speak at a school asked for my input on how to connect with both struggling and reluctant teen readers—the student population I worked with for fifteen years.

I realize that different teachers will have different styles and also may be somewhat limited in what their schools will allow them to do. Given that, here are some things that worked for me in my classroom full of 13 to 19 year-old struggling and reluctant readers over a period of 15 years. Most of my students were boys.

1. Read out loud to your students w/out requiring them to follow along. Just require that they listen. Make sure it is a good book or short story with a lot of action. Make sure you know how to read out loud. Nothing kills a story easier than a reader who hasn't taken the time to hone up on their read aloud skills.

2. Have quiet reading time every day at the same time where the students can choose what they want to read. Do not require them to keep a reading journal. No strings attached, just read a book, the newspaper, a magazine, whatever. (My goal is to eventually get them to read books but forcing that up front creates the opposite result. They need to choose it.)

3. Have a wide variety of books available and be an expert on what those books are by having read many of them yourself. You want your students to have confidence in you as someone who knows what they are talking about when it comes to books.

4. Do frequent book talks/teasers where you read a snippet and talk a little about the author or story and then make the book available.

5. Bring your own books in and share them.

6. As the teacher or person in charge, you also need to read during the silent reading time. This shows your students that you value reading. And, if other adults happen to be in your classroom during silent reading time, they need to read too.

7. Let kids stop reading a book if they want to, just like us adults do when we want to.

8.  If you have a book in a series, make sure you have the rest of them. (I once had a student eat up 13 books in a series he started.)

9. If a student is having trouble connecting with a book, hand-pick a few based on what you know about him and set them on his desk. This personal touch goes a long way.

10. If you see a student is really engrossed in a certain book you might mention another book that is related or similar when they are almost finished.

11. If a student actually wants to read a book that he’s already read, let him.

12. Bottom line—you have to meet the kids where they are and not try to impose some program on them and expect them to fit into it.

13. Allow your students the time to develop into readers. Every time you get into a power struggle with a kid about reading you are potentially driving them away from reading because of that negative experience.

Thanks for stopping by. I’d love to hear your thoughts on engaging struggling and reluctant readers. What has worked for you? What hasn't worked? What do you think will work?

What Do You Think of Accelerated Reader?

This post originally ran at my blog, Caroline by line, in September 2009.

In honor of the new school year (which for us started yesterday), let's get talking about reading programs, specifically Accelerated Reader. 

I have read a lot lately about AR: the program, the books, the ways it encourages/discourages reading, advantages/disadvantages in participating... the list goes on. The discussion has been lively, interesting, and broad in the opinions expressed.

Every year, more schools are participating. Every day, new books are added to the system.

For those of you who aren't familiar with AR, it is a testing program meant to encourage children to read more. Though schools handle the specifics differently, children earn points for passed tests which can then be used to earn rewards. For example, my son, now in third grade, earned the most points for his grade last year (86, but this Mama's not counting, or anything) and received a trophy at the end of school closing ceremony.

Where do I fall on the AR debate? Below I've pasted a comment I left at Goodreads several months ago.

This is such an interesting discussion to read, as a teacher, mother, and writer. When I first started teaching, AR was optional, and I avoided it, feeling the way many of you have mentioned. Later I became part of a school where it was required. I've seen it push children to read. My own sons, natural readers, are very excited about it. It saddens me, however, to see kids held to a reading range, where they can't sample titles above or below. Several of my older students told me they couldn't read certain books that connected nicely to my curriculum because they were below their reading level. And many, many kids only pick up books if they are AR, the saddest aspect of the program. However, new and old books are being added to the list daily. 

It's a mixed bag, isn't it? Natural readers will read. My sons read both AR and other titles, happily. Children not so enamored with reading might struggle or find success with AR. What really needs to happen, AR or not, is for teachers and parents to be passionate advocates of literature, reading what's current and what's classic, discussing these titles with their children, asking questions, engaging in the conversation great literature creates. This is how to "make" readers!

Are you familiar with Accelerated Reader? What do you think?

Dear Norton Juster:

I just saw you’re speaking at the SCBWI-LA conference this summer, and it’s killing me that I’m not able to attend.

When my sixth-grader teacher assigned THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH to my class, I loved all your clever expressions, the “synonym buns”; the average guy who claimed to be the shortest giant, tallest midget, thinnest fat man, and fattest thin man; the Humbug’s anxious response of “Seventeen!” every time he was faced with a math problem.

Then I went on to teach sixth grade, and THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH became my favorite novel to share. I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve read your book at least thirty times. There are phrases that still float through my mind, words that roll off the tongue so perfectly, like the Humbug’s pronouncement, “A slavish concern for the composition of words is the sign of a bankrupt intellect,” or the Whether Man’s “It’s more important to know whether their will be weather than what the weather will be.”

Kids love  your book -- even kids who, like Milo, aren’t really into school and learning and things like spelling February. I had a student two years in a row, who when he discovered my younger students were reading about Milo, Tock, and the Humbug, begged me to let him read along. In his social studies class. This is a kid who otherwise would be labeled as a reluctant reader.


And the activities we did, all in conjunction with your book! A word market just like the one Milo encounters in Digitopolis, color poetry inspired by Chroma the Great’s colorful symphony, and everyone’s favorite, the words vs. numbers debate.

I’ve written you fan mail full of questions my students had, like why didn’t Milo’s car ever run out of gas? Did Milo ever return to the Lands Beyond? Did other kids get sent on a quest to return Rhyme and Reason to Wisdom?

Thank you for creating a book that has brought me so much pleasure and has awakened curiosity in so many children.

From a former sixth-grade fan,
Caroline Starr Rose

Bill Peet Reforms a Reluctant Reader!

I bet a lot of these look familiar!

When I was in first grade, I had a bit of a problem, I loathed reading! I was a good reader, but I always thought it took up far too much of my valuable kid time! I'd much rather be scaling the monkey bars or playing Ghost in the Graveyard with the neighbor kids (nighttime version of tag, much more fun in the dark!).

 

At parent teacher conferences, much to their mortification, my parents were informed about my lack of enthusiasm when it came to reading. We had a list hanging in the classroom with everyone's name on it and a star for each book a student had finished. Let's just say my name might have been at the bottom of that dreaded list and might have had maybe one star...or possibly none at all!

Long story short, duly worried, my mother forced me to our local library. The librarian asked me what I liked. I told her I liked animals and I like going to the zoo. She said, "I have just the book for you!" She vanished into an aisle and quickly returned with a book in hand.  She handed me the book. It didn't look too long, so I liked that! It was called HUBERT'S HAIR-RAISING ADVENTURE. The cover looked crazy! There was a lion, a zebra, a rhino and something that might be a goat, all tangled up in a massive pile of legs and hooves. My interest peaked!

The book that won me over!

My fascination with books began at that moment, all thanks to famed author and illustrator, Bill Peet. His book that got me started, HUBERT'S HAIR-RAISING ADVENTURE, has been in print for 52 years (yes, I said 52)!

After that day in the library, I read every single book that Bill Peet ever created--and the list is long! I have an inkling that Bill Peet's wonderful books are a reason I love writing about animals so much today! It's amazing that one person's writing can make a child love reading and eventually writing so very much.

The Awesome Bill Peet

You can find out more about Bill Peet at www.billpeet.net. I highly recommend his books for any young reader--reluctant or otherwise. His stories are absolutely relevant to today's world and could have been written yesterday! They are fun, exciting, teach great lessons about life and are beautifully illustrated by Bill Peet, covering just about any animal or creature you can think of!

A young Bill Peet sketching Dumbo for Disney

Hmmm...from reluctant reader to published author! Sounds like I've had a hair-raising adventure of my own! Okay, that was cheesy, but you know what I mean!

xoxo -- Hilary