Written by: Rick Riordan
Riordan, R. (2005). The lightning thief. New York: Miramax Books Hyperion Books for Children.
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended grades: 6th – 12th grades
Awards: Bluebonnet Award 2006 Nominee, ALA Notable book 2005,
Summary: Percy Jackson thinks that he is an unlucky boy; he just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Percy soon finds out that he is a demigod and that his father is Poseidon. Percy, Grover and Annabelle begin a quest to find Zeus’ master bolt before the summer solstice. While on the quest, they face many mythological creatures.
Personal Reflection: This book is a good example of integrating fiction with mythology. This book would be a great addition to high school or middle school literature during a unit on Greek myths. Students could compare and contrast the mythological creatures based on what they have learned. Riordan modernizes mythology and makes it relatable to students. Because the protagonist in this book is a boy with ADHD and dyslexia, this book relates to a wide variety of readers.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book for library purchase because it is fun book that both boys and girls would read.
A Wrinkle in Time
Written by: Madeleine L’Engle
L’Engle, M. (1962). A wrinkle in time. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers.
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended grades: 5th – 8th grades
Awards: 1963 Newbery Award winner
Summary: Meg Murry, her younger brother, Charles, and classmate, Calvin O’Keefe meet three celestial beings that take them on a journey through space to find her father who is being held captive on another planet. They travel through a tesseract—a “wrinkle” in time and space—whose existence Mr. Murry was working on when he was captured.
Personal Reflection: As a professional educator, I think this book is a good example of the fantasy/science-fiction genre. This book would definitely appeal to children because the characters are relatable and the book does not contain difficult vocabulary. Meg learns many life lessons during her quest to save her father and, eventually, her brother from captivity. The prevailing themes in this book are those of conformity and good versus evil. When Meg returns to save her brother, she has to fight against IT. The only way to defeat ITs unstoppable mind-controlling power is with love. This teaches the students that love is the most powerful emotion.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book for library purchase because students will be drawn to its fantastical science-fiction aspect.
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