Science Fiction Trish McCoy Room 203 MMS

What is science fiction? There are a multitude of definitions and explanations. Science fiction is one of those things that we know when we see or experience it.

COMMON TRAITS OF SCIENCE FICTION (Not all science fiction stories will have all of these qualities.)  A setting in the future, in alternative timelines, or in a historical past that contradicts known facts or history.  A setting in outer space, on other worlds, or involving aliens.  Stories that involve technology or scientific principles that contradict known laws of nature.  Stories that involve discovery or application of new scientific principles (time travel, nanotechnology, faster-than-light travel, robots)  Stories in which organized society has collapsed.

What is a literature circle? A literature circle is a group of students reading the same book. All groups in the class will be reading the same genre. The groups will meet to read and understand sections, to review for presentations, to discuss the book, to encourage and motivate. Groups are NOT to enable a student to NOT read the book and just gather information from others in the group. This helps no one and will reflect in everyone’s grade! At the end of the section, groups will work together to prepare and present a PowerPoint on their book. The grades for the students will be recorded from the PowerPoint presentation, student participation in the group exercises, and various worksheets and assignments given by the teacher. You MUST read the book in order to achieve passing scores on these assignments. Once you choose a book, it is yours. There will be no switching groups! Only five students per group. Do NOT choose a group simply because your friends are in it. You will be stuck with this book for five to six weeks, and you will have to read it; choose a group by book.

COULD YOU SURVIVE ON YOUR OWN, IN THE WILD, WITH EVERYONE FIGHTING AGAINST YOU? Twenty- four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see. Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love. Suzanne Collins reads excerpt.

Imagine living in the shadows, hiding your existence from almost everyone in the world. This is the plight of Jen, Trey, Nina, and all other third-born children. With their nation plagued by drought and food shortages, their government has made it illegal for families to have more than two children. Yet thousands of thirds exist without identification cards or rights of any kind. As these shadow children begin to discover and communicate with each other, their worldviews broaden. They begin to wonder why their government claims that they are the cause of all of their nation's ills, and they question the worth of their leaders themselves. Fearfully, unwittingly, or angrily, these secret children emerge from the shadows to fight for change. Seven book series Readers will be required to read two or three of the books.

"Mother? " There was no reply. She hadn't expected one. Her mother had been dead, now, for four days, and Kira could tell that the last of the spirit was drifting away... Now she was all alone. Kira, an orphan with a twisted leg, lives in a world where the weak are cast aside. She fears for her future until she is spared by the all-powerful Council of Guardians. Kira is a gifted weaver and is given a task that no other community member can do. While her talent keeps her alive and brings certain privileges, Kira soon realizes she is surrounded by many mysteries and secrets. No one must know of her plans to uncover the truth about her world and see what places exist beyond.

Living in a future where sixteen- year-olds are surgically transformed from "uglies" to "pretties," Tally Youngblood struggles with a choice: to become beautiful and content forever, or to leave the world she knows and keep her own face. Tally's decisions bring her to both locations as well as others she'd never dreamed of, but they also get her in and out of trouble, and force her to grow and change and learn. This trilogy follows the high-tech adventures of Tally Youngblood. As an ugly, then a pretty, and finally a special, Tally works to take down a society created to function with perfect-looking people who never have a chance to think for themselves.

Three young teens witness a total solar eclipse and are changed forever in this novel, told in alternating narratives, that weaves exciting astronomy facts into the teens’ personal lives. Ally, 13, is fascinated by the scientific event, as are 1,000 other people from all over the world who come to view the Great Eclipse at her family’s wilderness site. Glamorous teen Bree has an opposite view and is appalled that her parents, both physics scholars, want to move to the site: how can she manage without the mall? Then there is Jack, who loves art and science fiction but is a failure at science and is brought to the site by his teacher. The anticipation building up to the great event brings thrilling changes in all three young lives.