An American Plague by Jim Murphy

This book is a multi-award winner for a reason. It is fascinating! I'll admit, when I first saw the book, I thought it looked boring and was not drawn to it at all. However, once I opened it and saw its engaging format, I decided to give it a try. It is written in dramatic narrative, which means it reads like a story. It is also about a real event in our history, the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. I found the factual basis of the story to be so interesting and enjoyed how it gave a glimpse into what life and medicine were like in that time. Another outstanding feature of this book is that it includes prints of actual documents from that time as primary sources. That adds so much to the experience of reading this excellent book. I'd recommend it to anyone- don't hesitate to give it a try!

Comments

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

This book is a Newbery Medal winner, and for good reason. It is another book that I was unable to put down once I started reading it. Annemarie is the main character, and she has a best friend, Ellen, that is moving in and pretending to be part of Annemarie's family in order to keep her safe. This is because Ellen is Jewish and the Nazis are coming in and removing all of the Jewish people. Annemarie ends up having to go on a very risky and dangerous mission in order to save Ellen's life. It is a fast read, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is a powerful reminder of the horrible things people went through during the Holocaust.

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

This book is about a young girl named Melody that has significant physical disabilities. She cannot talk, walk, or do much of anything on her own. However, her mind is very sharp and she is incredibly smart. The frustrating part is that no one, not even her parents, realize that she is intelligent. She is put in a classroom at school that is not challenging her at all. This is a story about how she was able to begin to communicate and reveal just how smart she truly is. Eventually she was able to start connecting with her peers and go to regular classes in school. It is a valuable story to read as a reminder not to assume someone's ability just by the way they look. It is a wonderful book!

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

This book was a selection I had chosen for World Read Aloud Day last week. Our high school literacy club sent students over to do a read aloud for each of my 3 classes that day. This book is powerful, thought-provoking, and has beautiful illustrations. It is a picture book, so it doesn't take long to read. One of my favorite features of the book is that it provides information in the back about many notable Black Americans that are alluded to in the story. It is a worthwhile read by a great author!

Mrs. Rogness's Book Recommendations

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