Category: Book Units

This resource offers vocabulary work, reading comprehension and discussion questions about the story and characters.

About the book (Not included):
The View from Saturday is a children’s novel by E. L. Konigsburg, published in 1996. It won the 1997 Newbery Medal for excellence in American children’s literature, the author’s second Medal. Theme of the book: “Kindness and the courage it takes to be kind.”

Reading level: 6th-8th Grade

This resource offers vocabulary work, reading comprehension and discussion questions about the story and characters..

About the book (Not included):
Bridge to Terabithia is a work of children’s literature about two lonely children who create a magical forest kingdom in their imaginations. It was written by Katherine Paterson and was published in 1977 by Thomas Crowell. In 1978, it won the Newbery Medal. Paterson drew inspiration for the novel from a real event that occurred in August 1974 when her son’s friend was struck dead by lightning.

The novel tells the story of fifth grader Jesse Aarons, who becomes friends with his new neighbor, Leslie Burke, after he loses a footrace to her at school. She is a smart, talented, outgoing tomboy from a wealthy family, and he thinks highly of her. He is an artistic boy from a poorer family who, in the beginning, is fearful, angry, and depressed. After his meeting Leslie, his life is transformed. He becomes courageous and learns to let go of his frustration. They create a kingdom for themselves, which Leslie names “Terabithia.”

This resource offers vocabulary work, reading comprehension and discussion questions about the story and characters..

About the book (Not included):
Dead End in Norvelt is an autobiographical novel by the American author Jack Gantos, published  in 2011. It features a boy named Jack Gantos and is based in the author’s hometown, Norvelt, Pennsylvania. According to one reviewer, the “real hero” is “his home town and its values”.