This week I'm highlight:
Shadow Children Series
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Why I think Boys Will Like It
This series got one of my "nonreaders" reading so much we had to take his book away from him! Love it!
This series is about a boy, Luke, who is a third child in a world where it is illegal to have more than 2 children. Luke must be kept hidden. Of course he doesn't! Boys like this series for several reasons. They like Luke and the fact that he doesn't always listen to the rules - that he takes risks even if it means getting in trouble. They also like that the book moves at a steady pace. There aren't lags in the action, so there isn't much chance for boredom to set in. And - they aren't deterred by it's size. The books are on the short side, so many of my boys are willing to give them a try. In contrast I was talking about The Red Pyramid (a book I know they'd love!). It is 530 pages. Many boys were intersted until they heard the length! They won't do that with the Shadow Children books.
I also like that there are 7 books in the series, so if they do get hooked, they'll have several books to read.
From Goodread about book #1
Luke has never been to school. He's never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend's house for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend.
Luke is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the Population Police. He's lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with a new housing development replacing the woods next to his family's farm, he is no longer even allowed to go outside.
Then, one day Luke sees a girl's face in the window of a house where he knows two other children already live. Finally, he's met a shadow child like himself. Jen is willing to risk everything to come out of the shadows -- does Luke dare to become involved in her dangerous plan? Can he afford not to?
You know, I've read the first six books and still haven't picked up that seventh one. I really liked the series (though it started to drag near the end, probably why I didn't finish it).
ReplyDeleteMy students love these books! Good choice. :-)
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