The Cruel Prince

The Cruel Prince 

by Holly Black

“You're no killer.
He has no idea what I am.
Maybe I don't know either. Maybe I never let myself find out.”

The Cruel Prince is a wild ride of a tale. Holly Black leads her readers through the first book of The Folk of the Air series with the prowess of a writer who knows her audience can survive whatever ups and downs are thrown at them. The main character, Jude, is a human girl who was taken as a child, with her sisters, to live in the lands of the fey after a brutal and heartbreaking murder. Jude adapts to life in the Courts of Faerie, but she has never forgotten her weaknesses. As she dives into a plot to gain power, Jude finds that she may not be as clear on who is good and who is evil as she once thought, even when it comes to herself.

In the Classroom
Students will complete the following writing assignment:
Consider one of the major characters in the book (Jude, Taryn, Cardan, Madoc, etc.) and discuss the chosen character in an analysis essay. How does this character fit or defy gender norms and/or stereotypes? Use a minimum of 4 text examples to support your claims.

Age level: Young Adult

to all the boys I've loved before

to all the boys I've loved before

by Jenny Han

“I like to save things. Not important things like whales or people or the environment. Silly things. Porcelain bells, the kind you get at souvenir shops. Cookie cutters you'll never use, because who needs a cookie cutter in the shape of a foot? Ribbons for my hair. Love letters. Of all the things I save, I guess you could say my love letters are my most prized possession.”

To All the Boys I've Loved Before is a sweet story about being a teenage girl. The main character and narrator, Lara Jean, walks readers through the ups and downs of her high school days as though they are friends strolling beside her. Han writes in a way that is candid, humorous, endearing, and at times heartbreaking. She depicts the trials and anguish of teenage love in a way that takes readers right back to the age of 16 in the best possible way.

In the Classroom
Students will think about the things that they save. It could be related to a hobby or it could be something with sentimental value. Each student will pick one thing that they save that has meaning to them, and they will have the option to write a short paper or to create a 5 minute presentation explaining why they keep this item.

Students should consider:
Why do they save this item?
How long have they had the item?
Why does it have value to them?
How would they feel if the item was lost?

Age level: Young Adult

Six of Crows

Six of Crows

by Leigh Bardugo

“He'd broken his leg dropping down from the rooftop. The bone didn't set right, and he'd limped ever after. So he'd found himself a Fabrikator and had his cane made. It became a declaration. There was no part of him that was not broken, that had not healed wrong, and there was no part of him that was not stronger for having been broken.”

Six of Crows, book one in a duology, is a feat of storytelling by an author who is a master of her craft. The story takes place in the fictional city of Ketterdam, which is what one might imagine New York City was like at its gritty beginnings. The protagonist of the novel is Kaz Brekker, a street smart crime lord prodigy, who is planning the heist of his life. Kaz assembles a crew to help him pull off the greatest robbery of all time, and in the process, maybe, keep the world from imploding. Each member of the crew, including Kaz, is incredibly well developed, as they really are all "main characters" in their own rights. Bardugo fluidly transitions between character perspectives, and her world building is incredible. This book and its sequel are must-reads for anyone who enjoys YA Fantasy with a substantial dash of Ocean's Eleven-like intrigue and crime.

In the Classroom
Students will create a character based on given criteria. This criteria will include: A difficult back story that has shaped the character and explanation of how the past affects the character in the present, physical details about the character, a brief description of three of the character's closest friends, what the character does for a living, and a problem the character faces in the present and must solve. Students have freedom to use any medium to respond to this portion of the assignment, but the medium must be first approved by the teacher.

For a bonus piece of the assignment students can also create a drawing of the character they have created.

Age level: Young Adult

Malala's Magic Pencil

Malala's Magic Pencil

By Malala Yousafzai

Illustrated by Kerascoet     

"My voice became so powerful that the dangerous men tried to silence me.
But they failed.
And now my voice is louder than ever.
Louder because people have joined me, and together we make a chorus, standing up for what we believe."

Malala's Magic Pencil is an empowering children's book that allows young readers to experience the author's true life tale. Malala takes her story to the level of a child, without sacrificing the depth of its message. The beautiful illustrations, by the husband and wife team Kerascoet, depict Malala's journey in a way that is both real and full of magic.

In the Classroom

In the author's note to the reader at the end of the book, Malala writes, "Once, I wished for Sanju's magic pencil. Now I know that when you find your voice, every pencil can be magic."
Have students read the above quote, and in a short written response explain how they can use their own voices to help people in their community. Students will then create a picture to support their writing.

Age level: Children's book