Best Books of January 2011

Current Mood: thirsty
Current Song: Without a Trace score music
January 2011: 21 books + scripts read
Non-Fiction Must-Have
Self-Management for Actors: Getting Down to (Show) Business by Bonnie Gillespie
Recommended for ages 7 and up
Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream by Jenny Han
Recommended for ages 10 and up
Wish by Joseph Monninger
Luv Ya Bunches by Lauren Myracle
Violet in Bloom by Lauren Myracle
Thirteen Plus One by Lauren Myracle
Recommended for Teens
Sphinx's Queen by Esther Friesner (sequel to Sphinx's Princess)
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart (fourth and final volume in the Ruby Oliver series)
The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman
The Play's the Thing
Born Yesterday by Garson Kanin
The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) libretto by Joanne Bogart and Eric Rockwell
I just came across your site and love the various reading lists you've put together. Perhaps you can help me with my dilemma.
I've been reading A Separate Peace as a whole-class novel with 8th graders (I inherited the curriculum), and although both the backdrop (WWII) and themes (coming-of-age, competition, friendship, identity. . .) are compelling, the writing is too difficult for a handful of students so they resort to cliffnotes and sparknotes. Do you have any suggestions for one or two alternative novels?