the forty book challenge

THE FORTY BOOK CHALLENGE“Failure is not an option, so why talk about it?”

- Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer

“YOU WANT ME TO WHAT?” You will be reading forty books this year.

This includes books that we read together for class.

You will be reading from a variety of genres in order to explore books you might not ordinarily read and to develop an understanding of literary elements, text features, and text structures.

NEW: You will be creating reports/projects throughout the year on books that you read.

THE EXPECTATIONS Poetry anthologies/novels: 2 Traditional literature: 2 Realistic fiction: 6 Historical fiction: 2 Fantasy: 4 Science fiction: 3 Mystery: 2 Informational: 5 Biography, autobiography, memoir: 2 Personal-choice chapter books: 11

SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT Any book you read that is more than 350

pages long will count as TWO books.

THE NOTES : POETRY ANTHOLOGIES/NOVELS Shortened form of writing Contains figurative language – similes,

metaphors, personification Author’s expression of feelings, opinions May follow a form/structure but does not

have to

POETRY ANTHOLOGIES

THE NOTES: REALISTIC FICTION Characters are every day people doing every

day things Setting is a modern-day realistic place Plot consists of realistic events May highlight social issues

REALISTIC FICTION

THE NOTES: HISTORICAL FICTION Takes place in the past (forty years before

now is considered historical) Plot (storyline) contains historical events Characters may be historical figures

HISTORICAL FICTION

THE NOTES: FANTASY

Contains unrealistic or unworldly elements Characters may have magical powers in

addition to human qualities Theme is often focused on good versus evil

FANTASY:

THE NOTES: SCIENCE FICTION

Fantasy that involves or is based on scientific principles

Often set in the future

SCIENCE FICTION

THE NOTES: MYSTERY Involves something unknown Centered around person investigating

wrongdoing or obtaining secret information

MYSTERY

THE NOTES: TRADITIONAL LITERATURE Stories passed down for generations Original stories usually passed down orally Myths, legends, folk tales, fairy tales, nursery

rhymes Unknown origin

TRADITIONAL LITERATURE

THE NOTES: INFORMATIONAL Provides information on a topic Nonfiction Organized into sections or categories No characters or settings

INFORMATIONAL

THE NOTES: BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR Biography – Story of someone’s life written

by someone else Autobiography – Story of someone’s life

written by his/herself Memoir – a short account of the author’s

experiences written by him/herself

BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR

PLANNING FOR THE CHALLENGE Now that you have taken notes, we are going to use a Multi-

Flow Thinking Map to help us plan for the 40 Book Challenge. On a blank piece of paper, draw the following map.

INSTRUCTIONS In the left hand boxes, answer the question:

How will I achieve meeting the goals of the 40 book challenge?

In the right hand boxes, answer the question(s): What will be the results of my meeting this goal? What benefits are there to completing the challenge?

Within the frame of reference (outside black box), write 2 - 4 of your favorite books and/or genres.