Author/Illustrator: Jenny Nimmo
Plot Summary: Charlie Bone discovers he is endowed with a magical power and is sent to a Bloors Academy where his life is forever changed. He begins to learn about his unusual family, ties to a magical dynasty and sees that people are not always who they appear to be.
Comments: Although this book is reminiscent of Harry Potter, it is interesting in its own right. It is also a good choice for students who may have the reading ability but not the stamina for the longer, darker, and more involved Harry Potter series. Not nearly as commercialized as Harry Potter, this book has very interesting and unusual characters and children with quirky personalities.
Extensions:
1. This could be used as a read aloud, or in a literature circle for third or fourth grade. Students would respond either verbally or in written format what they think their own endowment might be, or what they would like it to be. What would like be like with that particular capability?
2. Similar to #1, students would be assigned an endowment and would have to articulate - verbally or in written format - how their life would be given that additional power, or vision?
3. This book would be a good choice for a literature circle for second or third grade gifted students.
Themes/keywords: magic, schools, England
Age/Reading Level: 3 - 6; ATOS - 4.8; Follett - 4.7; Lexile - 630
Standards:
ELA2R2 The student demonstrates the ability to read orally with speed, accuracy, and expression.
ELA2R4 The student uses a variety of strategies to gain meaning from grade-level text.
ELA2W1 The student begins to demonstrate competency in the writing process.
ELA2W2 The student writes in a variety of genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive, and response to literature.
ELA3R3 The student uses a variety of strategies to gain meaning from grade-level text.
ELA3W1 The student demonstrates competency in the writing process.
ELA3W2 The student writes in a variety of genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive, and response to literature.
Publisher's Info: Orchard Books, New York. 2002
ISBN-13: 978-0-439-47429-0
ISBN-10: 0-439-47429-9
Awards/Review Sources:
School Library Journal 02/01/03
Book Links (A.L.A.) 03/01/05
Booklist 01/01/03
Horn Book 10/01/03
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 05/01/03
Library Media Connection 04/01/03
Genre/Dewey: Fiction
Websites:
Author's website
Scholastic website contains puzzles and a trivia game
Notes for Booktalk:
Additional books in this series:
Midnight for Charlie Bone (2002)
Charlie Bone And The Time Twister (2002)
Charlie Bone And The Blue Boa (2004)
Charlie Bone And The Castle of Mirrors (2005)
Charlie Bone and The Hidden King (2006)
Charlie Bone and the Wilderness Wolf (2007)
Children of the Red King(2009)
Additional books by Jenny Nimmo can be found here.Vocabulary:
Comments