An Abundance of Katherines

An Abundance of Katherines is by John Green. It is about a boy named Colin who has dated, and gotten dumped by 19 girls named Katherine. At the end of high school, when the 19th Katherine dumps him, he and his friend Hassan go on a road trip. Colin is a child prodigy, he is really smart, and Hassan has a totally different personality. The characters in this book are really good, and I would recommend it. It has a little mature stuff, but not that much.

SOL: Spring Trip

We run in to the water as soon as we arrive. Still fully dressed, the waves splash at our feet. We change in to our swimsuits, and feel the ocean on our first day of the trip.
Days later, coral cuts our feet as we explore, swimming deeper. We put on water shoes and walk on the coral reef. Waves splash our face, and saltwater gets in our eyes.
Every afternoon we arrive at the camp and jump into the water. By our last day our legs sting from cuts. The sun shines down on the water, making it aqua blue and surreal. We step in the sand, and, realizing that the water is deep we do our best to stay afloat.
Eventually we swim to shore.
Goodbye ocean
Goodbye
sunsets over the waves.
We have to leave these memories.
Climbing over the wall, jumping over the rocks, leaping into the water, and tracing our names in the sand.
We say goodbye to Camp Homelani
We might never see this beach again.

The Boy in Striped Pajamas

This book by John Boyne is about a boy named Bruno who lives in Germany. His father is a commander for World War II, but he knows very little about the war. He ends up moving to a camp, and out his window he can see a lot of people in what he calls 'striped pajamas'. He ends up finding out more about them, and exploring near the camp. This book is pretty short and sad, and it is very good. There is a movie of the book that I haven't seen yet. This book doesn't have mature topics and it is really good, I would definitely recommend it.

Fish in a Tree by Linda Mullally Hunt

Fish in a Tree is about a girl named Ally Nickerson who has trouble reading. Nobody knows that she does and she really struggles at school. She is convinced that she is stupid, and a lot of teachers really dislike her. But then she moves to a class with a teacher named Mr. Daniels. He shows her that she is smart, even when girls tease her. She manages to realize the possibilities and make friends. This was a pretty young themed book, but I still thought the writing was pretty good. It definitely did not have any mature themes. If you are interested in the topics in this book than I would recommend reading it.

Poems for Poetry Map

Supply Closet Poem

Pens and pencils
 Everywhere I look
Markers and paper
Notebooks and glue sticks
This is a child's paradise
A room to be creative.
Draw a picture, or
Write a story.
Shelves filled with poster board
yes,
This is a child's paradise

Ode to the UFA

A few red couches
Forty-four metal lockers
and 7 chairs that surround the table.
We all sit here
Talking and laughing
Pencils in hand.
We stand
on the carpeted floor
all together
Oblivious of it all.

Standing at our lockers
Lounging on the couches,
Our little room
Right off the hallway.
We come here
when we want to laugh,
or smile.
We don't need
Anything else.
We are happy here.

Limercks

There once was a girl named Grace
Who was happy in her place
Swinging by the monkey bars
Watching all the passing cars
and she wanted just a taste...

There once was a box of chips
When I saw it I smacked my lips
But I gave it away
Got it back the next day
Then I let out happy yips

Free Verse Poetry

The Supply Closet

Pens and pencils
Everywhere I look
Markers and paper
Notebooks and glue sticks
This is a child's paradise
A room to be creative.
Draw a picture, or
Write a story.
Shelves filled with poster board
yes,
This is a child's paradise


What if these shelves were empty?
I cannot help but wonder.
If the paper and pencils all
disappeared.
No binders, or glue.
What would we do?