(BOMN - Blayney, Orange East, Millthorpe, Nashdale)
Book Options for Term 1 2010
PLEASE CHECK THE UPDATES PAGE REGULARLY ... FOR UPDATES!!! THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS (John Wyndam) - SUGGESTED BY GLEN
I have read the first few pages of The Day of the Triffids - it certainly seems like an interesting read (having read only the first 12 pages or so). Do you think some of the language might be too challenging for our students? I think it's a book we could run with...
"When a freak cosmic event renders most of the Earth's population blind, Bill Masen is one of the lucky few to retain his sight. The London he walks is crammed with groups of men and women needing help, some ready to prey on those who can still see. But another menace stalks blind and sighted alike. With nobody to stop their spread, the Triffids - mobile plants with lethal stingers and carnivorous appetites - seem set to wipe out the survivors."
Genise Flynn- I read this years ago, and perhaps because it is a film, it could be more easily read but I know I had difficulty finding a copy of one of his other books last year _ "The Chrysalids" so are they readily available?
GALAX-ARENA (Gillian Rubiinstein) - APOLOGIES as I CAN NOT REMEMBER WHO CAME UP WITH THIS SUGGESTION.
Pro : It's an Australian title. Con : I've been unable to find a sample chapter on-line so I'll have to check out the library. Has anyone a copy of their own (or at their school)?
"Children are kidnapped to perform in a deadly circus for a mysterious audience."
Genise- I bought this and will read it this week when we are at camp, so I will see if it is good then- but I was able to buy it straight off the shelf and I think it is readily available.
This one caught my attention this morning.
"The picnic on the beach is Eva's last memory. As she lies in the hospital bed while her mother explains about the accident and the coma, Eva senses there is something they are not telling her--a price she must pay to be alive."
THE GIVER (Lois Lowry)
"In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12-year-old Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. Under the tutelage of the Elders and an old man known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his utopian world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy."
I have this book at home on my bookshelf waiting to be read so I'll take a closer look this weekend.
"Meg's father mysteriously disappears after experimenting with the fifth dimension of time travel. Determined to rescue him, Meg and her friends must outwit the forces of evil on a heart-stopping journey through space and time."
"The Planet of the Apes" (Pierre Boulle) - Posted by Glen A bit of a drama as the first copy of this story is actually in French later translated to English. It also exists in comic form as well as numerous movies. Not sure if it could be a bit challenging and possibly unsuitable with some of the themes but another option none-the-less.
Plot Overview
After having their ship crash on a mysterious planet, two US astronauts wander across the desert plain. Thinking they are alone, the surprise comes when life forms appear, not just as mute human but as apes. Walking, talking apes. The apes see themselves as the original beings on the planet and do anything to keep all humans locked up.
Book Options for Term 1 2010
PLEASE CHECK THE UPDATES PAGE REGULARLY ... FOR UPDATES!!!
THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS (John Wyndam) - SUGGESTED BY GLEN
I have read the first few pages of The Day of the Triffids - it certainly seems like an interesting read (having read only the first 12 pages or so). Do you think some of the language might be too challenging for our students? I think it's a book we could run with...
"When a freak cosmic event renders most of the Earth's population blind, Bill Masen is one of the lucky few to retain his sight. The London he walks is crammed with groups of men and women needing help, some ready to prey on those who can still see. But another menace stalks blind and sighted alike. With nobody to stop their spread, the Triffids - mobile plants with lethal stingers and carnivorous appetites - seem set to wipe out the survivors."
Read the first chapter on-line.
Plot Summary on Wikipedia
Genise Flynn- I read this years ago, and perhaps because it is a film, it could be more easily read but I know I had difficulty finding a copy of one of his other books last year _ "The Chrysalids" so are they readily available?
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GALAX-ARENA (Gillian Rubiinstein) - APOLOGIES as I CAN NOT REMEMBER WHO CAME UP WITH THIS SUGGESTION.
Pro : It's an Australian title. Con : I've been unable to find a sample chapter on-line so I'll have to check out the library. Has anyone a copy of their own (or at their school)?
"Children are kidnapped to perform in a deadly circus for a mysterious audience."
Genise- I bought this and will read it this week when we are at camp, so I will see if it is good then- but I was able to buy it straight off the shelf and I think it is readily available.
Plot Summary on Wikipedia
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EVA (Peter Dickinson)
This one caught my attention this morning.
"The picnic on the beach is Eva's last memory. As she lies in the hospital bed while her mother explains about the accident and the coma, Eva senses there is something they are not telling her--a price she must pay to be alive."
Read the first chapter on-line.
Plot summary on Wikipedia
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THE GIVER (Lois Lowry)
"In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12-year-old Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. Under the tutelage of the Elders and an old man known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his utopian world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy."
Read the first chapter on-line
Plot summary on Wikipedia
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A WRINKLE IN TIME (Madeleine L'Engle)
I have this book at home on my bookshelf waiting to be read so I'll take a closer look this weekend.
"Meg's father mysteriously disappears after experimenting with the fifth dimension of time travel. Determined to rescue him, Meg and her friends must outwit the forces of evil on a heart-stopping journey through space and time."
//Read the first chapter on-line//
//Plot summary on Wikipedia//
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"The Planet of the Apes" (Pierre Boulle) - Posted by Glen
A bit of a drama as the first copy of this story is actually in French later translated to English. It also exists in comic form as well as numerous movies. Not sure if it could be a bit challenging and possibly unsuitable with some of the themes but another option none-the-less.
Plot Overview
After having their ship crash on a mysterious planet, two US astronauts wander across the desert plain. Thinking they are alone, the surprise comes when life forms appear, not just as mute human but as apes. Walking, talking apes. The apes see themselves as the original beings on the planet and do anything to keep all humans locked up.
Sites to visit:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063442/plotsummary
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_the_Apes_(novel)
The following site has quite an extensive list of books. Could prove useful, particularly the short stories top 100.
Cheers, Glen
http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersykes/topscifi/lists_books_rank1.html
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