Dear Reader,

I love writing these newsletters to you. There's such a plethora of fabulous middle grade and young adult books out there and it's just not possible for one teacher to read them all. To help you out, I read as many as I can and then tell you about my favorites right here, every Tuesday.

If you want more than this, check out the literacy learning materials in my TPT store. Give me a follow and you might win a $10 gift card to TPT. Here's how to enter:

1. Sign in to your TPT account.
2. Go to my store: Middle School Book Life.​
3. Follow me.
4. Take a screenshot that shows you are following me.
5. Email me the screenshot at Hannah@middleschoolbooklife.com (or reply to this email).

All followers are eligible to enter the raffle!

Now onwards to the good stuff: Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston.

Today's Book Recommendation

Title: Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston​

Author: Esme Symes-Smith

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 10+

Summary: When Callie's father is called to the royal capital of Helston to train the crown prince, 12-year-old nonbinary Callie sees it as a chance to fulfill their dream of becoming a knight. Yet it turns out that Helston isn't the land of opportunity they thought it was (it's rife with bullying and bigotry) and Callie must find a way to lead their new-found friends in a battle to ensure everyone can be who they want to be.

Teaching with Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston

Do you teach a fantasy book club unit? Include Sir Callie. Clubs that choose it will analyze gender identity, roles, and expectations. Reading about these topics in a fantasy world can be a way to recognize similar issues in the real world.

Or, make it available as an independent reading selection. Recommend it to students who enjoyed:

• ​Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston (fierce 12-year-old protagonist who leads in the face of prejudice)
• ​Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez (supportive parents who are always on their kid's side)

Resource of the Week

Snag our Story Elements Escape Room. It requires about 4 minutes of prep, making it your perfect companion for end-of-the-school year mayhem.

Have a good one and learn everything you can,

Hannah

PS: What book are you teaching right now? Reply and let me know!