The Cat Ate My Gymsuit

     Marcy Lewis hates everything in her life.  She is shy, scared, and embarrassed about her weight.  Ms. Finney changes all that.  Ms. Finney is an amazing English teacher who teaches Marcy to trust herself, her voice, and the other people in her life.  When Ms. Finney is fired for not saying the Pledge of Allegiance, Marcy is devastated.  She risks everything to try and get Ms. Finney back.  
     The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danzinger is an awesome book for struggling teenage readers.  It is easy to read, but deals with teenage issues, so struggling readers don't feel they are reading a kid's book.  It is funny and poignant at the same time.  Most teens can relate to some part of the book - being embarrassed about changing for gym, weight, fighting with their parents, dealing with younger siblings, struggling to fit in with other teens, or standing up for what they believe in when it goes against the values of other people.  My students love this book.

Reading Don't Fix No Chevy's

      Teenage boys tend to struggle in school, especially in reading and English classes.  Boys read all the time, just not in the traditional ways their teachers value.  As a result, boys don't see themselves as readers and that affects their abilities in school.  Michael Smith and Jeff Wilhelm use research and interviews with forty-nine guys to show teachers how to build literacy for the young  men in our classrooms.  Their findings are easily implemented.  A must read for language arts teachers.