Ms. Dirickson's Reading List

       I was "today years old" when I discovered Christopher Paolini was only 15 years old when he wrote the first draft of Eragon... I am actually really shocked and impressed with this, as I loved this book in elementary school.      In the novel, "Eragon" is the name of a poor farm boy, who lives in a place called "Alagaesia". This fictional place exists in medieval times. Eragon is just a regular medieval kid until he finds a dragon egg. When the egg hatches, he realizes that the dragon (Saphira) and him are bonded, and he is destined to be a Dragon Rider. The problem is that there is a dictator, Galbatorix, who wants control of all dragons and their Riders to use for his own military might. Furthermore, he has a dream about an elf that needs saving, and realizes he is the only one who can do it.      This novel would be great for upper elementary and middle school readers who are into fantasy. I enjoyed this novel around 4th or 5th grade, especially b

       "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou is one of the most classic autobiographies to date. She tells of her difficult childhood, and the hardships she faced, but she does so in a poetic manner. Maya explains the racism she experiences in Stamps, Arkansas, as well as her familial problems she suffers in Missouri and California. Everywhere she goes, her life is followed by tragedy, until she is finally old enough to find her own footing in the world and stand up for herself. Her story is very emotional, painful and yet so moving and inspiring.      As a teacher, I would suggest this book for 10th - 12th grade, as there is some very mature and intense moments in the novel. I also believe it is important to preface with the culture of the time, and explain what most people of color were experiencing at the time. This is a great novel to teach about autobiographies and memoirs, and also to delve into a poetry unit. I also view it as an opportunity to teach about

      "The Atomic City Girls" is a Historical Fiction novel by Janet Beard. The novel begins with a prologue to give the reader some background, where the government has started buying people's homes and forcing them to leave immediately. Their goal was to build Oak Ridge - a sector of the Manhattan Project - in the state of Tennessee. The men and women who were recruited to work here were also strictly held to privacy, just like those working on the Manhattan project in New Mexico. The story focuses on June Walker, a young farm girl from Tennessee. She is hired to work at Oak Ridge only a year after she graduated high school, and she is doing a job she does not really know the purpose of- she only knows that she is to operate a machine, and she can never tell anyone about her work or where she lives. Throughout the novel, she struggles with romance, homesickness, and of course her curiosity about the project. June's story at Oak Ridge is based on the women who worked

  Cover of "The Place Where You Live" by James Luna, Illustrated by Thelma Muraida     "The Place Where You Live" is a children's book about home. The author is from San Bernardino, California and grew up with Mexican and American culture. Every page has the words printed in English and Spanish, and contains beautiful artwork to help the reader understand the book. Throughout the story, the author describes "the place where you live", which is your home. He describes what his kitchen is like when his grandmother (Abuela) is cooking, what school is like, the park, corner store, library and more. Throughout the book, the reader can get an idea of what the characters daily lives are like, and more importantly what their favorite aspects of home are.  I really enjoyed the artwork in this book. I have said this almost every week, but I really do think this is my favorite artwork. The colors are very bright and warm, and each page reminds me of the time I ha