My Australian Readers’ Challenge
One of the great things about the Readers’ Challenge (ARC) is that adults can join in and read for the Challenge too. I have begun an assault on the many books that I targeted to read this year – and found many to be listed in either the Adult Reading list or that for Students 12 – 17 years of age.
Many of the Children’s Book Council of Australia award nominees are on the ARC list, too. Since we all like to read these before the awards are announced in August – they can be included in my ARC selections!! Here is my list with a small comment…
- My Sister’s Keeper (Jodie Piccoult). This is a story about a young girl who was conceived in the hope of providing a donor match to help fight her sister’s rare leukemia. As Anna grows older she begins to question her parent’s right to harvest genetically compatible body fluids from her to keep her sister alive, and sets out to challenge this legally. A moving and gripping tale results.
- Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Albom) tells the journey of Eddie, who dies tragically on his 83rd birthday. How he dies and the people he comes across after this help him to consider what he has done with his life and the impact he has made on both loved ones and strangers.
- The Turning (Tim Winton) is a collection of personal stories deftly woven together to depict life in a coastal town in Western Australia. Each tale is both separate and part of a unique whole. These insightful stories show intimate connections of ordinary everyday people, and the ways in which they impact on one another are considered over several decades.
- Shadows in the Mirror (Cameron Nunn) is charactered by teenage boys in a boarding school setting, dealing with all the issues which face youth, and more. The intrigue which develops in the story occurs when two roommates discover a dark mystery in the school’s past. Loyalties and values are tested over time and the fight for the truths to be revealed results in a deadly struggle.
- Mao’s Last Dancer (Li Cunxin) is the memoirs of a young boy from peasant China who rose to fame as one of the world’s greatest ballet dancers. Li was selected from his village school to take part in training for Madame Mao’s revival of ballet in China – chosen on his physique alone. It was his intense determination to rise from his family’s near-starvation existence that provides an amazing tale of courage to be admired by all.
- Billy Mack’s War (James Roy) – War is never easy, even if you manage to survive. Survivors were often reluctant to speak of their experiences, and James Roy captures the long lasting difficulties this creates for them and their families. Through the eyes of Danny, we learn of one soldier’s experiences and struggles, in spite of being awarded a rare recognition of bravery – the Victoria Cross.
Please add your comment about any great books you have read, or tell us about how your ARC is going!!
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June 2nd, 2006 at 4:51 pm
A comment in another post would sit well here:
Margaret Simkin Says:
May 29th, 2006 at 4:08 pm e
Female students from year 11 at my school are really enjoying Jodie Piccoult’s books. My Sister’s Keeper in particular has been a real hit (did it make you cry too?)
Once a group of students gets into an author like these girls have it becomes very easy to recommend other titles or authors.
I would love to find a similar response that might work with older boys.
June 2nd, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Does anyone have any suggestions for authors that might appeal to older boys?