Prezi

Prezi is and web-based service that allows users to create online presentations that do so much more than PowerPoint.  You work with one screen so that your audience can see the big picture, and then you zoom in for details.  Check out the one I made about Rodman Philbrick, who by the way is a fabulous young adult author, for one of my graduate school classes. 

Rodman Philbrick on Prezi

Prezi is free for anyone with a (dot)edu email address.  It is relatively easy to use and quick to learn and would be a great way to engage students during lessons or to give them an outlet for presenting their own information.  My attempt resulted in a relatively simple presentation, but if you take the time, Prezi offers many cool effects that can make your work shine. 

Take some time to explore the Prezi database to see some really great examples.  The following example isn't super relevant to the blog or anything, but it's a great example of what you can do with Prezi.

Future-Proof Your Education on Prezi

Discworld Series

The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett has been around for nearly thirty years now, but it is new to me and probably to many young adult readers. The series, which features wizards, wordplay, and wit, is a hilarious look into an alternate universe of magic. I think any young reader (or adult) who loves fantasy and silliness would enjoy this series. It should be appropriate for readers as early as seventh grade. Enjoy!

Books for Reluctant Readers

ALA’s website has a section for YA literature with booklists updated every year, including one for reluctant readers.  There are tons of recommendations that look great.  The “Top Ten” lists are especially helpful.  This site is not the easiest to navigate, but the content is totally worth it.
I’d love to hear of any other great book lists (perhaps more condensed) for reluctant YA readers if you know of any!

Rodman Philbrick Online

Philbrick is probably best know in the young adult literature world for Freak the Mighty, the story of an unusual pair of friends who go on adventures. I highly recommend this book. Philbrick’s website is a great resource for kids. It offers the standard information about the author, the books, and the awards, but it is obvious that Philbrick genuinely cares about his fans. He has posted pictures of himself, listed his mailing address and promised to read and reply to every letter he receives, answers the top ten questions he is asked, links teaching guides for his books that he has received, and encourages young authors to write and try to get published. He included links for the Scholastic writing contests with advice to be very careful about following the rules for entry because it is very easy to be disqualified. His links to information about the movie made from Freak the Mighty, information about the medical condition one of the boys in that book has, and to his personal blog are all a great touch for the site.

I am most impressed, however, by the fact that he shares the play he has written for Freak the Mighty. He says that he has heard from many teachers who have staged versions of the book and movie, and he thinks it is wonderful. When one of his close friends wanted to stage the book, he wrote a one-act and later a two-act version. He tried to get the play published, but when it was rejected, he decided to just give it to anyone who wants it. If you send him an email address, he will send the scripts for either the one-act or two-act versions in a PDF file for free. It is exciting to see a young adult author who is so willing to help kids and teachers.

This is a great site for a great author.  Check it out!

Two New Books

I’ve come across two new books I know students will love: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (and Jane Austen) and I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want To Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb.  I really enjoyed both books and am excited to share them with students.

In P&P&Z, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy still find time to love and hate each other, but only in their time off from being action stars who must fight off zombies.  Girls will love Austen’s romance, and boys will be enthralled with the ninja zombie-killing skills.  This book could be great scaffolding into Jane Austen, but also just fun.


Click here for Goodreads review.

 In Genius, readers are told that we are being given a rare view into seventh-grader Oliver Watson’s plot to take over the world starting with his middle school.  This wildly funny book shows us that all of us, even the evil geniuses among us, deal with the same annoying struggles such as trying to make our parents proud and finding the acceptance we didn’t know we cared about.



Click here for Goodreads review.