First Chapter Wednesdays With Mrs. J

In this episode, we read the first chapter of All the Bright Places, by Jennifer Niven, as part of our week focused on realistic fiction.

In today's episode, we read the first chapter of Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt. This book is a perennial favorite in my classroom library, and if you haven't already read it, you definitely should. If you have already read it, maybe a revisit is in order. It will feel like a visit with an old friend.

In this episode, we read the first chapters of The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick, a Newbery Honor Book.

In this episode, we read the first chapters of How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story by Tim Tingle. This is one of our titles for our set focusing on historical fiction. Enjoy!

Set in an America of the future where Muslims have been identified as a threat and imprisoned in internment camps, Layla and her family must decide how to resist and regain their freedom.

Listen to Chapter One of Stamped. A history book that never reads like one, Stamped is a remix of Dr. Kendi's comprehensive work on the history of racist ideas in America and how they have shaped lives, events, and people through our history.

Listen to an excerpt from Furthermore, and meet Alice Alexis Queensmeadow, a girl with no color in a land where color is everything. Fans of magic, fairy tales, Disney movies, and adventure will fall in love with this thrilling tale that follows Alice on her quest to save her father from the weird, magical land of Furthermore.

In this episode, we meet Ryan Dean West, the irrepressible main character of Andrew Smith's hilarious YA novel, Winger. Looking for a fast read with lots of good laughs and an unexpected ending? Add Winger to your "to-read" list!

Listen to Chapter 1 of Scythe. The first volume of the Arc of a Scythe trilogy, this series takes place in a world where humanity has conquered death, but an elite group of assassins called Scythes has taken over the task of natural selection. Perfect for fans of thought-provoking, dystopian fiction, or for a reader seeking to engage with a high-interest series that will keep you guessing till the very end.