2. T HE F ORTY B OOK C HALLENGE “Failure is not an option, so why talk about it?” - Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer

3. “Y OU WANT ME TO WHAT ?” You will be reading forty books this year. This includes books that we read together for class. You will be reading from a variety of genres in order to explore books you might not ordinarily read and to develop an understanding of literary elements, text features, and text structures. NEW : You will be creating reports/projects throughout the year on books that you read.

4. T HE EXPECTATIONS Poetry anthologies/novels: 2 Traditional literature: 2 Realistic fiction: 6 Historical fiction: 2 Fantasy: 4 Science fiction: 3 Mystery: 2 Informational: 5 Biography, autobiography, memoir: 2 Personal-choice chapter books: 11

5. S OMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT Any book you read that is more than 350 pages long will count as TWO books.

6. T HE NOTES : P OETRY A NTHOLOGIES /N OVELS Shortened form of writing Contains figurative language – similes, metaphors, personification Author’s expression of feelings, opinions May follow a form/structure but does not have to

7. P OETRY A NTHOLOGIES

8. T HE N OTES : R EALISTIC FICTION Characters are every day people doing every day things Setting is a modern-day realistic place Plot consists of realistic events May highlight social issues

9. R EALISTIC FICTION

10. T HE N OTES : H ISTORICAL F ICTION Takes place in the past (forty years before now is considered historical) Plot (storyline) contains historical events Characters may be historical figures

11. H ISTORICAL F ICTION

12. T HE N OTES : F ANTASY Contains unrealistic or unworldly elements Characters may have magical powers in addition to human qualities Theme is often focused on good versus evil

13. F ANTASY :

14. T HE N OTES : S CIENCE F ICTION Fantasy that involves or is based on scientific principles Often set in the future

15. S CIENCE F ICTION

16. T HE N OTES : M YSTERY Involves something unknown Centered around person investigating wrongdoing or obtaining secret information

17. M YSTERY

18. T HE N OTES : T RADITIONAL L ITERATURE Stories passed down for generations Original stories usually passed down orally Myths, legends, folk tales, fairy tales, nursery rhymes Unknown origin

19. T RADITIONAL L ITERATURE

20. T HE N OTES : I NFORMATIONAL Provides information on a topic Nonfiction Organized into sections or categories No characters or settings

21. I NFORMATIONAL

22. T HE N OTES : B IOGRAPHY /A UTOBIOGRAPHY /M EMOIR Biography – Story of someone’s life written by someone else Autobiography – Story of someone’s life written by his/herself Memoir – a short account of the author’s experiences written by him/herself

23. B IOGRAPHY /A UTOBIOGRAPHY /M EMOIR

24. P LANNING FOR THE C HALLENGE Now that you have taken notes, we are going to use a Multi-Flow Thinking Map to help us plan for the 40 Book Challenge. On a blank piece of paper, draw the following map.

25. I NSTRUCTIONS In the left hand boxes, answer the question: How will I achieve meeting the goals of the 40 book challenge? In the right hand boxes, answer the question(s): What will be the results of my meeting this goal? What benefits are there to completing the challenge? Within the frame of reference (outside black box), write 2 - 4 of your favorite books and/or genres.