Fantasy/Science Fiction

Capital Choice
MULTICULTURAL
Hale, Shannon
Book of a Thousand Days
Bloomsbury
2007
Upper (5-6)

Summary: Fifteen-year-old Dashti, sworn to obey her sixteen-year-old mistress the Lady Saren, shares Saren's years of punishment locked in a tower, then brings her safely to the lands of her true love, where both must hide who they are as they work as kitchen maids.

Strengths: I liked the various pictures placed throughout the book; it was fresh and something different for a chapter book. I liked the developement of Dashti's character and the language used.

Concerns: It could be slightly difficult for 5th and 6th graders. There is also a little violence.

Classroom use: This could be used in the classroom library for students to check out for enjoyment. The book could be mentioned when doing a unit on fantasy or Mideaval times.


Dahl, Roald
The Witches
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
1983
3rd-6th grades

Summary: The story of a boy and his Grandmamma who know all about witches and during a stay at a hotel stumble upon all the witches in England including the Grand High Witch.

Strengths: The story is entertaining and it has a lot of action and suspense. The pictures in the story do help amplify the imagination as one pictures what the witches look like.

Concerns: This book could be frightening for younger children. They could really believe that there are witches in the world.

Classroom Use: This book could be used as an example of fantasy. It might be used along with the movie adaptation.


Levine, Gail Carson
Ella Enchanted
HarperCollinsPublishers
1997
3rd-5th

Summary: In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.

Strengths: The was filled with many fantasy elements and humor. I liked that on almost every ending to the chapters some event would happen to make reader want to keep on reading onto the next page.

Concerns: The book is almost entirely different than the story of Cinderella except for the fact that her father marries and woman with two daughters and she makes her work in the house. A child might have expectations of what the story is about and be disappointed when he or she discovers it is very unlike the traditional story.

Classroom use: This book can be used when talking about fantasy stories or when comparing traditional stories to ones that are similar to them or that have the same elements.

Sleator, William
The Boy who Reversed HImself
E.P. Dutton
1986
4th-6th

Summary: When Laura discovers that the unpopular boy living next door to her has the ability to go into the fourth dimension, she makes the dangerous decision to accompany him on his journeys there.

Strengths: The high amount of imagination in the book is amazing. To take on subjects such as the fourth dimension and reversing oneself is brave and makes for a very entertaining worth-while read.

Concerns: The idea of a fourth dimension or scientific happenings such as these might upset some parents. Some of the events might be inappropriate also, such as when something reaches inside Laura's nose.

Classroom Use: If a student is interested in subjects of science or science fiction, this book may be a good recommendation or for any student to enjoy from the classroom library.



Anderson, M.T.
Feed
Candlewick Press
2002
6th<>

Summary: In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble.

Strengths: The storyline is creative and well throughout. the book will keep the audience in suspense. Since the text has a way at times of losing the reader, it was good idea to have short chapters.

Concerns: There is a high amount of obscenity in the book that parents would find inappropriate.

Classroom Use: This book might interest children who find science fiction interesting.