Dear Reader,
Welcome! I took a hiatus this spring from writing this newsletter as I have been teaching and coaching my ELA grad students. It's a position I love, but that plus parenting our two little boys has meant less time for gushing about books with you.
Nevertheless, it's a joy to be back here. Whether you have been around for awhile or have recently joined the fun, I'm glad to return to our book chats. I'll be in your inbox just about every Tuesday to recommend a great book to teach.
Today's Book Recommendation
Title: The Town With No Mirrors
Author: Christina Collins
Genre: Dystopian
Age Range: 10+
Summary: 12-year-old Zailey lives in Gladder Hill, a secluded town designed to support healthy body images by preventing residents from ever seeing their own reflection. No photos, no mirrors, no glass windows — even the water is altered so it isn't reflective. But Zailey is an artist and can't help herself from drawing secret portraits of all of the other residents. When her "superficial" portraits are discovered, a series of events lands her in the "real world" where she discovers harsh truths about the Gladder Hill she thought was her safe haven.
Teaching with The Town With No Mirrors
Recommend it to students who like these dystopian stories:
By reading it, students will learn about...
Body image: What external and internal pressures create unhealthy body images? Is it better to not know what you look like rather than risk a toxic body image?
Portraits: Do we draw portraits to celebrate our looks, or to capture our humanity? Is it self-absorbed to want a portrait of ourselves?
The Media: Is being scrutinized by the media the price of being famous? Or do celebrities deserve privacy?
My Two Cents: I first heard about this book when observing a Dystopian Book Club unit in a former colleague's 6th grade ELA class. If you also teach such a unit, I highly recommend adding The Town With No Mirrors as an option. With a 660L lexile measure and a straightforward plot, it's an accessible text that still provides a thought-provoking storyline.
Resource of the Week
Ready to level up your classroom library this fall? I'd love to curate a book wish list for you. Complete the Google Form and I'll send you a customized list of 50+ books your students will love.
Have a good one and learn everything you can,
Hannah
PS: Do you teach a dystopian unit? Reply and share which titles you include!
