2003-2004 marked the first year of the 5th Grade Bonanza Book Club.

5th Grade Bonanza Book Club

A fifth grade teacher's wish came true this year!

Mrs. Colen, the reading teacher at Nolan Elementary, has always wanted to have a book club. This year three different fifth grade groups read and discussed three books. The students read and discussed Maniac Magee, The Westing Game and The Magicians Nephew, while enjoying hot chocolate and delicious snacks. Lively discussion and debate took place about the characters, authors and the themes and ideas contained in the stories.

It is hoped this will start a fifth grade tradition, which will run for many years to come.

We need a lot of parent help to make this successful and exciting. At least one volunteer per group will need to read the book or have already read the book, to help with discussion groups.

The group will meet one day a week Monday- Thursday. Which day will depend on the book title. Please talk to your children; this is just a one recess a week commitment for 4 weeks. It will be fun and interesting to find what a book club is like. This is not mandatory but please encourage your child, especially as at times they cannot go out to recess anyway due to the weather. The children will be asked to pre-read, or have read to them, so many chapters each time. We will do a storyboard and also have general discussions so those children who do not manage to get all the reading done can still join in.

Each time we will be serving hot chocolate and goodies and will be having fun with the most exciting gift of all: the written word.

How will it work?

Sign up and we will send a slip home confirming everything. As much as possible the books will be loaned out on a special 4-week loan. Do not have to be re-stamped or returned until the end of the 4 weeks. Students are responsible for the books; any lost books will have to be replaced.

What if I have read all these titles?

If your child has read all these books then that is wonderful, and please come to the Book Club. We value your opinions and contributions.

Contact Bev Bird or Kerri Kilpatrick if you have any questions or would like to volunteer. Please remember we will not be able to do this without parent volunteer help.

2003-2004 Bonanza Book Club Book Review

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. (Newberry Medal winner)
One fateful day sixteen people gather for the reading of Samuel W. Westing's will. To their surprise, the will turns out to be a contest, challenging the heirs to find out who among them is Westing's murderer. Forging ahead, through blizzards, burglaries and bombings, the game is on. Only two people hold all the clues. One of them is a Westing heir. The other is you! "A supersharp mystery ...confoundingly clever, and very funny."

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
In this child's classic a trumpeter swan called Louis learns to speak to the world through a trumpet. With the support of an unusual boy named Sam, the swan has some rather unswanlike adventures." It's written for everyone with an imagination, a story that stays with you for a lifetime."

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (Newberry Medal winner)
Into the divided town of Two Mills Pennsylvania wanders orphan Jeffrey Lionel Magee, who is running away from his aunt and uncle. The town is soon abuzz with the news of Jeffrey's incredible sports feats - he can outrun and outhit anyone in ........
"What's true, what's myth? It's hard to know. Read the book and find out"

The Magicians Nephew by C.S. Lewis
This classic, the first book written in the chronicles of Narnia.
Narnia...where the woods are thick and cool, and where talking beasts are called to life. A New World where the adventure begins. Digory and Polly meet and become friends one cold, wet summer in London. Their lives burst into adventure when Digory's Uncle Andrew, who thinks he is a magician sends them hurtling to ... somewhere else. They find their way to Narnia, newborn from the Lions song, and encounter the evil sorceress Jadis before they finally return home." The secret passage to the house next door leads to a fascinating adventure, read the book and enjoy the journey".

These books were chosen with input from Mrs. Colen and Mrs. Paschal. A big factor this first time was finding titles that we had 20+ copies of to loan to students (trying to make it easier for parents).