Sahara Special - Lexile Level 660
Sahara Special was a book that was given to me my first year
of teaching. It had made a home on one
of my bookshelves 6 years before I ever took the time to read it. Esme Raji Codell did an excellent job sharing the scared feelings of a young student. In all honestly, I wish that I had read it
sooner! This book made me look at my
students through different eyes.
Sometimes we want our students to be perfect, open-books that have no
problems. Unfortunately, the truth is
that our students have just as many problems as we do…sometimes more! After reading this book, I actually used Ms.
Pointy’s journal writing idea. It has
allowed my students to be more open with their feelings, without fear of being
persecuted for their thoughts!
Sahara Jones is a young girl that has created a self-imposed
separation from all people and responsibilities. She has no real friends, other than her
cousin Rachel, and her mother has given up trying to help her with school. Sahara will be repeating the 5th
grade because she refused to do or hand in any work during the previous
year. Though she yearns for friendship,
she is so unsure of herself that she pushes away other students that want to
befriend her.
When the new year starts, Sahara finds herself in the 5th
grade and now with a new teacher, Ms. Pointy.
Ms. Pointy is an eccentric teacher that definitely breaks the mold when
it comes to 5th grade teachers.
She is exciting, inventive, and a little weird.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when Ms. Pointy
assigns each student to have a journal that they are to write in every
day. Students can leave the page for the
teacher to read, or they can mark it as private. Ms. Pointy does not care what they write
about, as long as they are writing.
Sahara is a writer, and she lets Ms. Pointy know it. Unfortunately it takes her quite some time to
finally come out of her shell to share her talents.
Sahara is also dealing with problems at home. She is trying to get over her father leaving
her, but finds it hard to understand why he has left. Over the course of the year, she finds that
she worries less about her father, and more about what she wants in life.
This book is amazing, and though it is geared more towards
young secondary students, I think that it definitely resonates with any
teacher. I high recommend this book to
ANY teacher!
Sahara Special book trailer
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