6th grade read aloud

[Justin]

Hi,

I want to start thinking about what novel I want to read aloud to my 6th grade students at the beginning of the year to really hook them on
reading.  I want something that I can then use as a mentor text to refer
back to during the school year.  I was tossing around The Hunger Games
but it is now on the Caudill list and I wonder if most kids have read it
already.  But something similar that will draw kids in right away.  Any
suggestions?

[Pam Goble]

Brendan Doyle will be good source for you; he is going through the same motions for 6th grade. HG is a great book, but i think older kids would get more out of it.

[Judi Holst]

A book that reminds me of THE HUNGER GAMES is THE MAZE RUNNER. I'm not sure about using it with 6th grade, but you might want to read it and judge for yourself.

[Kelly Farrow]

I might suggest Among the Hidden as another excellent dystopian fantasy, if that genre is what appeals to you about the Hunger Games. It's been around awhile and many 6th graders may have missed it. VERY thought provoking and much better than Haddix's more recent title on this year's Caudill list, Found. I've heard some good buzz about Gone by Michael Grant, and since you're obviously not scared away by the mature themes in Hunger Games, I'd also recommend considering Life as We Knew It by Pfeffer.

[Jennifer Trannon]

I just asked my son, who just finished 6th grade, for the best read alouds his teacher did last year. He said Found really got them all into it. He said, "We were ready to hang her to get her to read more." Not sure if that's the result you're going for but . . . :-)

[Sandy]

I haven't read it yet, but the 6th grade English teachers read aloud, "The Schwa Was Here" by Neal Shusterman and the kids love it.

[Rich Dodson]

I live in the Bay Area, and we use "Al Capone Does my Shirts" It's historical fiction about a family living on Alcatraz, but a real winner. There is a second book in the series that we will use for the first time this coming school year called Al Capone Shines my Shoes.

[Tara Smith]

I begin the year with The Red Kayak - it is accessible to all students, and they love the book. I refer back to this all year for variety of reading strategies. Hunger Games is such a wonderful book - but I'm not sure the entire class would "get it" until the end of the year-ish.