Great Middle Grade Reads discussion

For the first time, we had a tie, so I'm creating threads for both books/series. We have a lot to discuss!

This is on my to-read list, so I'm excited to get it from the library and then start reading!

When my boys started reading this series, I found Origami Yodas EVERYWHERE -- on the bookshelves, on the desks, beside the toothbrush holders. Very safe the house was.

This one I don't know and I'm looking forward to it.

I bought this last month at the school book fair. Looking forward to starting it this weekend!

I loved this book when I read it but I think it is more of a elementary level book... Like 4th or 5th grade. But its still a good book!!!

I agree with the age-level, Teddy. I'm still enjoying it, though. It has a lot of laugh-out-loud humor!

I got it! Hope to start reading tomorrow.

Done. Much quicker read than I expected. Some of the content might be a titch mature for 4th-graders - I'd recommend it for reluctant readers who are a little older. I enjoyed it, but I've already pretty much forgotten it - it's deeper than Wimpy Kid, I guess, but not by a whole lot. It's fun, and that's good.

So, what did you think? Did I overlook resonance? Do I under-appreciate it?

Oh, since the 'this topic is about' feature is not being utitlized, here's the handy link to the book page: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.

Ordered but it hasn't arrived yet

Finished; a fast read. I can see the appeal of this book for the 4th-5th grade crowd. I liked it, didn't LOVE it, but it was fun. I thought for a book with multiple viewpoints, he did a good job of making each character distinctive.

Mine came this morning. I read several sections quickly and enjoyed them I'd say he does have the middle school voice down very well. Then I went to see the Fault in Our Stars and really liked that.

Since we have two series we're discussing, I'm extending our Origami Yoda/Narnia threads into July.

I loved the premise of this book - I thought it would be great for reluctant readers or fans of Wimpy Kids/Charlie Joe Jackson. I thought Dwight's character was an interesting choice. I haven't read any of the others in the series yet, but am curious if his personality changes at all.

I made the Origami Yoda at the back. It turned out well. Now I wish I'd had this series when my boys were about 10 years younger

Hello all, I will be making an appearance on local TV to discuss recommended clean reading for middle grade reads. Does anyone have any recommendations? TY

Lorraine wrote: "Hello all, I will be making an appearance on local TV to discuss recommended clean reading for middle grade reads. Does anyone have any recommendations? TY"

there are so many wonderful books for middle graders. I love my books but won't promote them here. I suggest Hatchet and other books by Gary Paulson, and The books by Tamora Pierce except the circle opens series deals with more adult themes, and The Ninja Librarian by Rebecca Douglass as well as still loving the Trixie Belden series and Harry Potter of course

Thanks Dixie, I have noted your recommendations as I am putting a list together as the station will most likely offer this list to viewers upon request.

Lorraine wrote: "Thanks Dixie, I have noted your recommendations as I am putting a list together as the station will most likely offer this list to viewers upon request."

Hi Lorraine, this is a great discussion item! You might get a bigger response if you made a new topic under "General Discussions." People who aren't participating in the BOTM may not find your question here.

Thank You MG Moderator,

I should have done so. I already have obtained some lists from my fellow reading specialists in the last few days. I think I’ve got it covered. Thanks so much again for the assistance.

Good People Here!

The day after Origami Yoda came into this house there were 125 Yodas lying around.

Oh yeah, and 125 missing pages from my latest book draft.

Oh, Ben, yikes!

Ben wrote: "The day after Origami Yoda came into this house there were 125 Yodas lying around.

Oh yeah, and 125 missing pages from my latest book draft."

I'm so sorry, but I couldn't stop laughing when I read this. I know it's not funny at all.

We ended up with Origami Yodas everywhere too. I still have a blue one sitting on my desk, and I find myself asking him questions sometimes.

Funny, I talk to mine too. When he answers back is when I will start worrying.

I got the book today--can't wait to fold my own Yoda. Sage advice may he to me give.

I enjoyed this book when I read it (even though I don't really even like Star Wars that much). Read the next sequel to it as well. I didn't try to make the origami Yoda because I totally suck at origami.

I teach 12 - 13 year olds and there are some reluctant readers amongst them. They are loving the Origami Yoda, and are very competitive about who is going to read the book next. They love it so much that they want our class play to be based around the Origami Yoda. So, now they are busy writing, too.
They can recite parts of the book. They debate the Yoda's force, using evidence from the text. They make links to other more sophisticated texts (eg Because of Mr Terupt) with several voices from one class. And this is not even during lesson time.
We are not going to be using it for our literature study, but it is great mileage for my more reluctant readers.
For something with a bit more complexity and rich language, but still very much in the same format, I am finding the Timmy Failure series very popular.

Oh, how wonderful, Megan -- thanks for posting!

Finally read it! I like what Megan's students are doing with it, and appreciate that that book leaves the reader to decide about Yoda's powers (or lack of).

The only thing I wonder about is all the books that make it seem like middle school boys are as obsessed with girls as vice versa. If I can judge by my guys and their friends, the boys are still several years from that, hormones or not. Too bad mine are older now--or I'd take a poll to see how often they actually think about asking girls to dance.

Oh, and my first effort at folding a Yoda was pathetic. Practice I must.

The 4th and 5th grade boys I taught last year wouldn't stop passing notes, "do you like me?" To the girls or fighting over who had told who some boy/girl drama secret. It was constant

I think it's a small-scale cultural thing. Maybe it starts with someone's big sister, or the way the second-grade teachers handled Valentine's Day, or something.

My son reports that there was very little boy/girl drama until high school, and even then it's only among some teens. And when I was teaching 6th grade I saw only a tiny bit of it. (But I admit I may have missed some.)

Interesting.

It was pretty clear when I was in jr. hi that though the girls did a lot of talking about boys, only a few of either gender actually paired up, and I think few of the boys were very interested.

The soon to be 5th grader I tutor makes these Yoda Orgami figures all over the place. @Ben - Oh, dear, but hilarious, too. @boy/girl drama - it was rare till high school (personally and when I taught middle school), but EVERYONE seemed to talk about it. When I taught 2nd grade there were a couple kids talking boyfriend/girlfriend, but they were quite satisfied with just the talk.

Sandy, you remind me of a friend's son, who spent most of his 5th grade year planning with his "girlfriend" how they were going to go kiss in the hall during recess. This required the development of an intricate plan involving all sorts of other kids as lookouts, etc.

Not surprisingly, though they enjoyed the planning, they never carried it out :D

I know I don't live where you do but in 25 years of teaching I know of three very explicit sexually active events involving 5th graders. And a lot of talk and online things we have to bust kids for that are sexual harassment issues. I'm glad not everywhere is like this but then I know it isn't. My husband teaches 22 miles north but in another state and those schools are richer, whiter and more innocent in some very concrete ways. Although he teaches music and I teach handicapped and emotionally disturbed so we get very different contact from the start.

Dixie, I'm sure there are some kids here doing that, too. Happily, not all the children seem to be aware of it.

Would this series be appropriate to read out loud with my 7 yo son? He loves Star Wars and loves reading. He enjoys The Magic Tree House series.

Oh Yes, I think he would be happy to listen to this

Dixie wrote: "Oh Yes, I think he would be happy to listen to this"

Thank you!

Though he might wonder why the narrator is worrying about girls :)

Rebecca wrote: "Though he might wonder why the narrator is worrying about girls :)"

Rebecca, I'm sure he will roll his eyes at that. :)