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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Books I’d Recommend to Students if They Like ______.

One of my most important jobs as a reading teacher is helping students find books that they will like. Often students don’t know what to read next, and it is up to me to help them find their next book. My Top Ten Tuesday list this week is ten books/series that my students really enjoy and some books/series I may recommend, depending on the student, for them to read next.

Kellee

1. If a student likes the Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi, I recommend the Battling Boy series by Paul Pope or Doug TenNapel graphic novels.

Battling Boy 0-545-31480-1

All of these graphic novels are very complex and deep, but often my students get stuck wanting to read only Kibuishi’s work. Paul Pope and Doug TenNapel are perfect books to turn to because they are brilliant graphic novelists.

2. If a student likes the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, I may recommend Promise of Shadows by Justina Ireland, the Olympians series by George O’Connor, or Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs.

promise of shadows zeus oh my gods

Often by the end of any of the Riordan series, students are fascinated by and experts in the mythology that was shared. To continue expanding their mythology knowledge, O’Connor’s Olympians series is perfect while the other two novels are YA mythology-based action books that are perfect for Percy Jackson fans.

3. If a student likes the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney, I may recommend the Origami Yoda series by Tom Angleberger or the Joey Pigza Series by Jack Gantos. 

origami yoda joey pigza

Kids who like Diary of a Wimpy Kid like it for the humor and illustrations. While Origami Yoda and Joey Pigza may have less illustrations, they both are hilarious.

4. If a student likes the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, I may recommend the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld.

uglies

While Hunger Games is probably the most popular dystopian series, when I think of the epitome of dystopian, I think of Scott Westerfeld’s series.

5. If a student likes the Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renée Russell, I may recommend Sugar and Ice by Kate Messner or the Ginny Davis series by Jennifer Holm.

sugar and ice middle school is

My students who read Dork Diaries are looking for stories that they will connect with. Both Sugar and Ice and Ginny’s books are true representations of middle school, and I know students will find the same connection with them.

6. If a student liked the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, I may recommend the I, Q series by Roland Smith or the Matt Cruse series by Kenneth Oppel.

i, qairborn

Alex Rider is definitely my go to for adventure/spy books for my students, but when they finish his series, I always recommend Matt and Q’s story as a next step because they are both as action-packed as Alex’s stories yet different enough to be new and exciting.

7. If a student likes Wonder by RJ Pacalio, I may recommend Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin or Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper.

rain reign out of my mind

The protagonists in all three novels are so special, and readers reading their stories will build empathy for those around them.

8. If a student likes the Harry Potter series, I may recommend The Dungeoneers by John David Anderson or The Books of Beginning series by John Stephens.

dungeoneers -c emerald atlas

When I read both of these books, my very first thought was that students who were Harry Potter fans will love these as well. They are fantasy-based yet not too far fetched while also being adventurous and well done.

9. If a student likes Smile and Sisters by Raina Telgemeier, I may recommend El Deafo by Cece Bell.

el deafo

Smile and Sisters are so popular, but students often don’t know what to read when they finish with Raina’s books; however, they don’t have far to look because Newbery Honor El Deafo is sitting on the shelf right next to Raina’s books and is brilliant, thought-provoking, emotional, and funny.

10. If a student likes the Maze Runner series, I may recommend the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness.

knife of never letting

The Maze Runner series is suspenseful, has an evil government, and is packed with excitement from beginning to end. My readers who finish The Maze Runner series are looking for another book that will hold there attention, and the Chaos Walking series is the epitome of suspense, evil antagonists, and excitement.

What books do you recommend if your student likes _____?

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7 Responses to Top Ten Tuesday: Books I’d Recommend to Students If They Like _____.

  1. GReat matchups! Tera Lynn Childs has another series based on Greek mythology–Sweet Venom. Those who like the action/fighting/monsters in Percy Jackson will love these three descendents of Medusa who protect the human world from monsters that escape–and are destined to fulfill a prophecy.

  2. Oh, I love doing this! What great suggestions you have here! I did the same thing for my son’s 8th grade class (many years ago!) & included these kinds of “If You Like, Then Try…” suggestions in a presentation i did on reading & writing for the 8th grade English classes – the kids loved it!

    Another great choice for kids who like Rick Riordan is the trilogy that begins with The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu, similar Greek gods in modern day life story with lots of action & adventure plus a great sense of humor (she is a favorite author of mine!).

    And the Unwind series by Neal Schusterman (a family favorite here!) is great for teens who like The Hunger Games.

    Great lists!

    Sue

    P.S. Kellee – I finally reviewed Ghost Hawk and will get it in the mail to you as soon as I feel well enough to get to the post office (hopefully tomorrow – I rested today!):

    http://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2015/10/middle-gradeteen-review-ghost-hawk.html

    Writing about it reminded me of how much I loved it – hope you and your students do, too!

    • Kellee says:

      I love doing this too! It is one of my favorite things to do 🙂
      I haven’t read The Shadow Thieves, but I own it and loved The Real Boy by Ursu. Thank you for the recommendation. I do love Unwind as well, but I need to read the rest of the series–great suggestion!

      P.S. Thank you! I cannot wait to share it with my kids, and I’ll definitely share your review when I share it with them 🙂

  3. Renee MDBR says:

    Great recommendations – I like how you made the choices based on what kids have already read. There are choices here that both my son and my daughter would enjoy! Thanks for joining us in the Kid Lit Blog Hop!

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