California

I Will Save You

Posted on October 1, 2013 by webmaster

“Creating a community of avid readers, one video at a time^©“

I Will Save You
by Matt De la Pena

After running away from a group home, 17-year-old Kidd Ellison sets up camp at a beach, where he is put to work by Mr. Red, an aging surfer who runs a maintenance shop. Hardworking and handsome, if somewhat slow, Kidd begins to make friends with some of the camp’s teens, especially Olivia, a blond beauty who wears a ski cap that covers part of her face regardless of the weather. Then Devon, Kidd’s former best friend and nemesis, finds Kidd and threatens to destroy the peaceful life that he has fallen into.

Narrated by Kidd, it moves from the immediate past and a possible murder to the present, then to the far past, constantly offering clues to the mysteries of Kidd’s sad and violent life.

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
740	Middle School	320	Adventure	2011	0385738285

Of Mice and Men

Posted on September 23, 2013 by webmaster

“Creating a community of avid readers, one video at a time^©“

Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck

This is a story of the strange friendship between a strong man and a giant with the mind of a not-quite-bright child. Driven from job to job by the failure of the giant man-child to fit into the social pattern, they finally find – in a ranch – what they feel their chance to achieve a homely dream they have built. But once again, society defeats them.

How to Access the Lesson:

To Access the UB the Director Lesson you should register and log in. Then click on the lesson icon

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
630L	High School	112	Historical Fiction	2002	0142000671

Black Pearl

Posted on September 20, 2013 by webmaster

“Creating a community of avid readers, one video at a time^©“

The Black Pearl
by Scott O’Dell

Ramon wants to prove to his father, Blas Salazar, that he is just as good as Sevillano, Ramon’s worst enemy and Ramon’s father’s best pearl diver, at pearl diving. Manta Diablo, the monster of the deep, guards “The Pearl of the Heavens,” the ocean’s biggest pearl, that Ramon wants to dive for. Ramon got “The Pearl of the Heavens” and brought back home. When Ramon tells his father about the pearl, his father gives it to the church. Luzum, an old Indian tells Ramon that he should give it back to the Manta Diablo because the monster will come after him.

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
980	Middle School	144	Drama	2010	0547334001

Quake Disaster in San Francisco 1906

Posted on September 16, 2013 by webmaster

“Creating a community of avid readers, one video at a time^©“

Quake: Disaster in San Francisco – 1906
by Gail Langer Karwoski

It is 1906, and 13-year-old Jacob Kaufman, who lives in San Francisco with his father and little sister, is outside when a major earthquake shakes the city, cracking streets and toppling buildings. After Jacob and his dog save the life of San, a Chinese boy, the two join together to search for their families and for food and temporary shelter. Though San occasionally faces racial hostility, the boys meet many strangers who help them through the difficult days

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
770	Middle School	153	Historical Fiction	2006	1561453692

Picture Perfect

Posted on September 15, 2013 by webmaster

Picture Perfect
by Elaine Marie Alphin

Ian Slater’s best friend has vanished. Ian and Teddy were supposed to spend the afternoon photographing the redwoods, but Teddy never showed up. People might go missing in a big city like San Francisco, but not a little town like Sawville. Has Teddy gone in search of the father he’s never met? Or has something terrible happened to him? What is the truth behind the picture perfect image?

Click for More

Ian doesn’t know. But he’s suddenly hearing strange voices, and he keeps seeing Teddy in his dreams. Even more disturbing – he can’t quite remember everything he did on the day Teddy vanished. Now people are telling him he’s acting strangely, and the sheriff is questioning him. Ian is determined to prove – to the sheriff and to his teachers and classmates, as well as to himself -that he has nothing to hide. But the more he searches for clues to Teddy’s disappearance, the more he wonders: How well did he ever know Teddy? How well does he even know himself?

Growing up in California, I always admired the majestic redwoods. When I had the opportunity to return there for a speaking engagement, I explored them again with a friend, and thought how deceptive, and threatening, the shadowy, towering redwoods could become – and how difficult it was to capture the truth about them in a photograph. I thought how easy it would be to disappear into the mist, and how easy it was for truth to disappear into an image, and Ian and Teddy were born.

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
800	Middle School	244	Drama	2003	0822505355

Esperanza Rising

Posted on July 1, 2013 by webmaster

Esperanza Rising
by Pam Munoz Ryan

Esperanza thought she’d always live with her family on their ranch in Mexico–she’d always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home, & servants. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California during the Great Depression, and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers. Esperanza isn’t ready for the hard labor, financial struggles, or lack of acceptance she now faces.
When their new life is threatened, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances–Mama’s life and her own depend on it.

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
750L	Middle School	262	Realistic Fiction	2001	0439120411