When it comes to summer, this is when I get a lot of my pleasure reading done! I try to mix up the genres I read. But I find myself falling back to YA novels. They are just too good to not read! Also, when I read upper elementary and middle school books, it helps me prepare for book clubs in the fall. Anyone else do this too or is it just me?
I'm hoping to do "Book Highlights" on incredible books I can find online or at your local bookstores. As a person of color, I like to look for protagonists who reflect my students.
So let's hop to it and let me show you my first Book Highlight!
*This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. These involve no extra cost to you, but may result in me receiving a small commission- for which I am very grateful! You can view my full disclosure here.Drama
By: Raina Telgemeier
If you like the gravel novel book, Smile, then you will love her newer book, Drama!
My 4th graders, especially the girls, love reading Raina Telgemeier's Smile books! They always beg be to buy more copies or ask when so-and-so is done with it. The kids cannot get their hands off of these books! So when I was online shopping on Scholastic Book Clubs, I came across Raina's other popular books and Drama stood out to me. And I knew I had to buy a copy for my class.
Drama is a charming graphic novel centered around a middle schooler named Callie. A great aspect of this book is its diverse portrayal of characters. There are several POC (people of color) as well as LGBT characters, some of which are already out and some of which are still figuring things out being doing so-- and this is the only aspect of the story where there is no drama whatsoever and it's all presented very positively! This is a quick and easy read that ALL kids should read! It's a female-positive story; however, I don't like pointing out that the protagonist of this story is STILL a white, middle class, cisgender character and everyone else are secondary characters in the main character's drama.
If you like the gravel novel book, Smile, then you will love her newer book, Drama!
I hope you can add this book to your classroom library if you haven't already! Click on the book above to buy online! It is a must read and this would be a great back-to-school read for your students in the fall!
Happy Summer Reading!!
