CCAC CI Cycle #2 Executive Summary and Recommendations - EIV Book Club Titles: A Study of Community

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1	Vetting and Review Criteria (established by CCAC Continuous Improvement Cycle #1 Nov/Dec 2020): 1. Diversity: Exposes students to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences; students see themselves in the books 2. Student Appeal: Variety of reading levels and topics 3. Literary Merit: Awards, positive professional reviews, compelling characters, exemplary author’s craft and story telling 4. Alignment to Curricular Goals: The text matches the unit focus and can be used to teach the English Language Arts skills specific to the unit of study 5. Student Navigation of Text, Topics, and Themes: Is the content sensitive? Is the content age appropriate? Can the book stand on its own without needing a lot of supplemental adult support? Will students understand what is going on?
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3	Vetting Criteria CCAC Response Summary English 4 A Study of Community January 2021 EIV Book Club Titles Awards and Reviews	% of Ratings of "Keep as Selection: Adequately Meets Criteria"	% of Ratings of "Keep but may require advisement"	% Ratings of "Concerns in this area sufficient to consider repurposing"	Summary of Commentary	Action
4	Boot Camp by Todd Strasser	90%	10%	0%	The topics in this book will appeal to many students and the characters are relatable. The book provides depth of thinking and includes positive messages. There is a lot of violence described in this book with pretty high level concepts around authority and life choices which can be discussed. Violence is portrayed through extremes of being sent to a 'boot camp.' Students struggling with their parent/guardians' authority or being threatened to be sent to a boot camp may need support.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
5	Borderline by Allan Stratton	85%	15%	0%	This text is accessible and students should be able to explore multiple skills at an independent level with this text. The culture and customs could have been deeper and richer if the author was Muslim. Topics around bullying, bias, and racism could be sensitive for some students.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
6	Dear Justyce by Nic Stone	85%	15%	0%	The author uses many different modes of communication to tell this story. This diverse literary approach helps make the book engaging and interesting. This text aligns to the theme of community and belonging. This book contains strong language, domestic abuse, police misconduct, gang culture, and racial stereotypes.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
7	Dry by Neal Shusterman	85%	15%	0%	This book addresses how different young people within a community use their varying skills and attitudes to help one another get through a crisis drought situation. It's topic (drought/climate change/how people react in extreme situations) is timely and appropriate and begs the question: What decisions would you make when pushed to the brink? Book does make reference to prostitution, rape, gun violence, and near suicide.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
8	Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero	100%	0%	0%	Told from the perspecitve of a Mexican-American high school student, many students, especially Lantinx students, will connect with the challenges the characters face. This book will open opportunities for great discussion and learning about understanding trauma, culture differences, differences in family dynamics, religion and expectations, and dealing with school peers.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
9	Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley	76%	4%	20%	Accesible fiction featuring a gay student with anxiety, panic disorder, and agoraphobia, a different mental illness that isn't normally shown, which could be especially engaging to teenagers who may be going through the same issues. The book includes many topics high school kids could relate to, ranging from streaming sci-fi series to friend drama to coming out to parents, family, and friends. Some characters wrestle with Christian values and peer pressure pertaining to sex, sexual orientation, and consent. Male character rejects sexual advances due to religious convictions. Focus and positive messaging centers friendship, healing, and mental health and explores the intersectionality of those concepts.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
10	I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson	90%	10%	0%	This novel introduces an LGBTQ+ character without being heavy-handed or gratuitous. The depictions of grief, coming of age, etc. were realistic, relatable, and age-appropriate. This book includes sensitive content including profanity, sexuality, teen drinking/drugs, bullying, and implied rape (the main character does not quite understand it for what it is). Due to the complex novel told in two voices, non-linear timeline, parenthetical asides and figurative language, this book is a challenging read.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
11	Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds	95%	5%	0%	The accessibility of the verse format as well as the well-developed characters make this a magnet book that pulls even non-readers into finishing the text, maybe the first time they've completed a book in a long time. While gun violence is a sensitive topic, this book lends itself to high school seniors having the opportunity to see from different perspectives, practice having empathy for others, and dialogue with their peers about how everyone can play a part in having a positive impact in their community.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
12	My Friend Dahmer by John "Derf" Backderf	67%	33%	0%	Extremely compelling characterization and storytelling in this graphic novel about a serial killer but is presented in a school appropriate way with interesting art style that should appeal to most students. This book is the least graphic story about a cannibal serial killer you're likely to run across, but the text does contain several examples of bullying, teen alcohol abuse, and the death of small animals. Readers should be aware the book is based on the author's friendship with serial killer Jeffery Dahmer when they were in high school together. It is highly suggested that students read the whole book, especially the preface where the author sets the tone and makes it clear that he is not glorifying Dahmer. He specifically says he's a wretched person.	Conditional approval for 20-21 book clubs. Usage paused pending additional collaboration and support from LISD counselors re: bullying, mental illness, and criminal content.
13	Ready Player One by Ernest Cline	85%	15%	0%	Though packed with 80's pop culture references that may not be understood, students can connect with the characters and will relate to the virtual / tech world. The explicit language is scattered and brief. Readers could easily over look it. This book includes a male masterbation scene with a virtual female that is purposeful in character development. It is where Wade, the main character, discovers that digital relationships cannot replace real human relationships. This may be a valuable insight for our students.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
14	Refugee by Alan Gratz	100%	0%	0%	Immigration and refugees have been historically tough, controversial, and engaging topics, and through historical fiction students are able to see/experience what real people have gone through. This book weaves together points of view from different time periods and different cultures and provides an opportunity to empathize with the characters' traumas in very difficult situations. There are opportunities to identify with a wide range of characters. Some historical support may be necessary for students. This book could be used as a cross curricular study for History and English.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
15	The Nowhere Girls by Amy Lynn Reed	72%	20%	8%	Empowering book that "takes on big topics like trauma, activism, and the importance of consent as it follows three misfits, Grace, Erin, and Rosina, who start a movement to end the rape culture at their small-town high school" (Commonsensemedia.org).This book has sexual content and negative stereotyping of men and Christians due to some characters' lived experiences. The overall topic of the book is rape and how the victim did not get justice. This book includes characters from a multitude of backgrounds which gives plenty of perspective with a good overall message. Since this book is going to be used for a senior level book club students should be mature enough to handle the content.	Conditional approval for 20-21 book clubs. Usage paused pending additional collaboration and support from LISD counselors re: sexual assault resources.
16	The Round House by Louise Erdrich	80%	20%	0%	This book does a good job of characterizing complexities of Native American relationships with whites, especially from a historical standpoint. Conflict resolution and the healing process from bad situations is prevalent. There are some mature themes (including the aftermath of a rape), but they are handled in a sensitive manner. This book would mostly appeal to higher-level readers due to the complexity of the author’s style.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
17	The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten	100%	0%	0%	The content is presented in a sensitive manner that teaches the reader about mental illness while engaging them through the narrative. It also gives students tools that may help the school climate, inclusivity, and empathy.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
18	This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp	100%	0%	0%	This title helps students try to make sense of the world and find hope in tomorrow. The book is written from the perspective of several different students, so the reader may see themselves or a friend in one or more of these characters. Though the content is sensitive (a school shooting), it is handled responsibly. Though the structure is complex, it is still navigable for most students.	Meets criteria. Available for use in the 20-21 book clubs.
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