Monday, February 8, 2010

BOOK OF THE WEEK: This is What I Did by Ann Dee Ellis


Everything was fine for 13-year-old Logan...last year. This year he is really having a hard time fitting in at his new middle school, especially since there are rumors about him and his role in a heinous crime last year. With the support of his family, an unlikely friend, and his therapist, Logan learns to speak up for people who can't stick up for themselves.

This book is written differently...it's in prose that goes back and forth between different events, but told completely from Logan's point of view. I was hooked immediately and finished it in a day. At the very beginning I had a hard time getting used to the writing. I liked the way it was written because I had never encountered anything like it before. It was also a little suspenseful...I kept asking myself...what happened? Why is he so upset? I'd get clues here and there, but it wasn't until the end that all the pieces of the puzzles fit perfectly in place, and I thought, "Oh wow! That's intense!"

I think students would be able to put themselves in the story, at least as one of Logan's classmates. I think they'll be able to identify with him, especially since fitting in is a top priority for many middle schoolers. Since it's not written like most books, it might take a little bit before they get used to the writing style, and the suspense will keep them interested in the story.

http://www.anndeeellis.com/ (Click on Book Shelf, and then choose This Is What I Did)

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