Studyplans

The story of James and Anikwa, of the Miami tribe, are both 12 years old in 1912 and live near what is today Fort Wayne, Indiana.  They are friends and tell of the events in their lives in one page poems, alternating between James and Anikwa. When the War of 1812 comes to the area, their families have different, sad, experiences and this story is also told through the eyes of the boys.  Be sure to read the notes at the end of the book explaining the shape of the poems and the reason the book was written.  This heartfelt book is appropriate for mature middle-school students, high school students, and adults. 

Conor O'Neil lives in South Boston and likes to make maps, both of where he lives and of made up lands. He lives in a duplex with his parents and sisters.  His grandfather lives in the other part of the duplex and likes to tell the old stories of Ireland.  Conor thought they were just made-up tales until a banshee comes to visit, he, his sister and grandfather take a trip to the Other World, and Conor wins the a contest against three birds.  His prize is to determine who lives or dies when the banshee, Ashling, keens.  This is a book that is perfect for those students who are in the middle grades. 

Lewis Blake lives on the Tuscarora Indian reservation that straddles the Unites States and Canada in the area close to Niagara Falls.  In 1975,m the year the story begins, Lewis, who is given the nickname Shoe by his friend George Haddonfield, is in the seventh grade and hoping for a better year in school than the last one.  Lewis has to deal with a vicious bully at school as he tries to fit into both the white world of his friend and the Indian world of his family through the school year.  This book would be particularly interesting for those in middle school and older, even adults, who plan to visit Niagara Falls and the area. 

Sparky is a young dog who lives with Josh.  He is gets excited and his hair falls in his eyes so he gets in trouble often.  In his backyard he digs up a magic bone that takes him to London where he has amazing adventures and meets other dogs. 
This beginning chapter book would be great for a beginning reader who loves dogs and wants to know more about London.  The pages in the back of the book tell about some of the famous places Sparky saw while he was in London: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Convent Garden, and the Queen's Guard.

Dini has made the long trip from India to visit her friend, Maddie, in Washington, D.C. and is excited to find the Dolly Singh, a famous Bollywood actress who Dini knows from her small town in India, is going to be at the Smithsonian for the grand opening of her latest movie.  Dini, Maddie, and their new friend Brenna are invited to dance at the opening.  However, before that can happen Dini and her friends need to solve many problems for Dolly involving a lost passport, an elephant, a caterer who backs out at the last minute to provide food for the Easter Egg Roll at the White House, a hotel cook and his staff, a broken toe, and other disasters.  Dini keeps her wits about her during it all and in the end everthing turns out very well. 
Because this book is based in Washington, D.C., it would be an interesting book for middle school aged children to read before, during or after a trip there.  They could recognize some of the places where Dini went, such as Union Station, the zoo, airport, metro, taxis, and street names.