MILKWEED
BY JERRY SPINELLI Genre: Young Adult/Historical Fiction Interest Level: Grades 5 - 9 Reading Level: * Grade level Equivalent: 5.2 * Lexile Measure®:510L * DRA: 60 * Guided Reading: Y Awards: * Best Children’s Books of the Year * Booklist Book Review Stars * Kirkus Book Review Stars * Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People * YALSA Best Books for Young Adults * Young Adults’ Choices * Golden Kite Award * Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature * National Jewish Book Award * Iowa Teen Award, nominee Description: This book was chosen to be part of the set for several reasons. The first reason this text was included was because of the of the setting; this book provides readers with a glimpse of life in the Ghettos and Concentration Camps. The second reason this book was chosen was because of the perspective from which the story is told. The main character in the story is also the narrator,however the story is being told from the point of view of the character as an adult who is reflecting back on his life while also examining his future. Lastly this book was chosen because of the themes present in the text, especially the theme of identity which is one adolescents students struggle with and relate to. Other themes include survival, friendship, family, innocence, and maturity. |