Sci Fi, Future Fiction, & Dystopian Fiction

The genre that I'm highlighting this month is: Science Fiction, Future Fiction, and Dystopian Fiction. I clump all of these books together they all deal with societal fears and what life might be like if we aren't careful. It's always a good idea to start off a new year by looking at dystopian fiction, right? =) I was going to break these down into the subcategories, but found it got kind of difficult to put some of these books into just one of the subcategories. I haven't always been big into sci fi, but I think I've found a new love in literature! And I think this is one genre that is really on the rise in pop culture.

Science Fiction/Future Fiction/Dystopian Fiction

Midnighters series-S. Westerfeld
Maximum Ride series by James Patterson
Hidden Talents-D. Lubar
The Illustrated Man-R. Bradbury
Uglies-S. Westerfeld
Pretties-S. Westerfeld
Specials-S. Westerfeld
Extras-S. Westerfeld
The Host-S. Meyer
The Last Book in the Universe-R. Philbrick
The Death Collector-J. Richards
The Shadow Children series (Among the Hidden)-M.P. Haddix
The City of Ember-J. DuPrau
Tunnels-R. Gordon & B. Williams
Everlost-N. Shusterman
The Supernaturalist-E. Colfer
Barcode Rebellion-S. Weyn
Turnabout-M Haddix
Door to Time-U. Moore
Chasing Yesterday-R. Wasserman
The Time Hackers-G. Paulsen
The Hunger Games-Suzanne Collins
Found-Margaret Peterson Haddix
Unwind-Neal Shusterman

Remember:
Italics means I haven't read it yet, underlined means it is a series. And remember that this is not a complete list but a work in progress!

Character Fiction and Down-home-feel-good-be-inspired Books

Each month I spotlight a genre for my students, so I've decided to post genre book lists each month. This month is Character Fiction and Down-home-feel-good-be-inspired books.

Character Fiction

This genre is one that I may have invented. I've always struggled to find a place for these books. How would you classify Anne of Green Gables? I realized that these stories revolve around a character and his/her life. These are character-driven stories. It isn't about action or plot devices--it is all about the character development. These are those characters that you get to know and learn to love and while reading the book, you feel like you're making a good friend, like if you ran into this character on the street, you would greet each with a big hug/high five and invite him/her over for a family dinner. I consider Anne one of my childhood friends, that's for sure! Thus a genre was born. Now I realize that girls tend to gravitate toward character fiction more than boys (boys tend to go for biographies about someone they admire, such as a sport's hero, or books with stronger plot/more action), but there are some books on the list that boys and girls will appreciate.

Smiles to Go-Jerry Spinelli Stargirl--Jerry Spinelli
Maniac Magee-Jerry Spinelli
Loser-Jerry Spinelli
Defining Dulcie-Paul Acampora
Ida B-Katherine Hannigan
Shug-Jenny Han King of the Screwups-K.L. Going Utterly Me, Clarice Bean-Lauren Child
Ramona Forever-Beverly Cleary
The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones-Helen Hemphill
Miss Spitfire-Sarah Miller
Heartbeat-Sharon Creech
Fearless Fernie-Gary Soto
Write On, Callie Jones-Naomi Zucker
The Schwa was Here-Neal Shusterman
Antsy Does Time-Neal Shusterman
So Totally Emily Ebers-Lisa Yee
Millicent Min, Girl Genius-Lisa Yee
Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time-Lisa Yee
No More Dead Dogs-Gordan Korman
The Secret Blog of Raisin Rodriguez-Judy Goldschmidt
The Loser's Guide to Life and Love-A.E. Cannon
Diary of a Wimpy Kid-Jeff Kinney

Down-home-feel-good-be-inspired books

These are those books that make you want to be a better person because you read the book. These are the books that feel like a cozy blanket wrapped around you. These are the books that make you feel like you just watched a Hall-mark card commercial. These are simply good books.

Hattie Big Sky-Kirby Larson
Ruby Holler-S. Creech
Ida B-K. Hannigan
Antsy Does Time-N. Shusterman
A Year Down Yonder-R. Peck
Because of Winn-Dixie-K. DiCamillo
Notes from the Dog-G. Paulsen
The Last Lecture-R. Pausch
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane-K. DiCamillo
On the Wings of Heroes-Richard Peck

**Books in italics means I haven't read them yet...but I will!