Book Talk Showcase: Find Your Next Read!

Objective

To introduce potential books for literature circles and persuade classmates to consider them.

Time Allotment

15 minutes

Instructions

1. Choose Your Book (2 minutes)

   • Look through the Excerpt Collection: Diverse Genres or think of a book you've recently loved that fits the criteria for literature circles (interesting, appropriate length/complexity, good for discussion).
   • Choose one book you want to share.

2. Prepare Your Pitch (5 minutes)

   • Think about why this book would be a great choice for a literature circle.
   • What genre is it? What are the main themes or exciting plot points?
   • What makes it engaging? Why would your classmates want to read it and discuss it?
   • Practice a short (30-second)

Excerpt Collection: Diverse Genres

Read these short excerpts from different genres. Think about which one sparks your interest the most and why. These are just examples to get your literary juices flowing!

Excerpt 1: Fantasy

From The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

I was running away, but I didn’t know where I was going. I just knew I had to get out of there. My stepdad, Gabe, was probably already home, and if he found out I’d been expelled again, he’d make my life Hades. Literally. I ducked into an alley, my backpack heavy on my shoulders. I wished I could just disappear. That’s when I saw it. A huge black dog, with eyes like glowing coals, stood at the end of the alley, blocking my escape. It snarled, a deep, guttural sound that vibrated through the ground. I didn’t know what kind of dog it was, but it definitely wasn’t a poodle.

Reflection Questions:

1. What elements of fantasy do you notice in this excerpt?
2. What makes you want to keep reading this story?
   
   
   
   

Excerpt 2: Science Fiction

From The Giver by Lois Lowry

It was almost December, and Jonas was beginning to be frightened. No, frightened wasn't the right word, Jonas decided. Frightened was the way he had felt a year ago when an unidentified aircraft had overflown the community, long after the regular dispatch of cargo. Then, it had been a panic, a breathless horror. Now, he was apprehensive. He was not yet twelve; he would be next month, but already he was feeling the apprehensive tremor that he knew other Elevens were beginning to feel. He was not looking forward to the Ceremony of Twelve. It was a day when the community made important decisions about their future, about his future.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does this excerpt create a sense of mystery or wonder?
2. What futuristic or different societal aspects do you observe?
   
   
   
   

Excerpt 3: Mystery

From A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book. In this book, not only is there no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things in the middle. This is because the lives of the three Baudelaire orphans were filled with misfortune and misery. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire were intelligent children, and they were charming and resourceful, but they were also very, very unlucky, and most everything that happened to them was rife with disaster. Rarely did they experience a pleasant surprise, or a moment of true joy.

Reflection Questions:

1. What tone does the author set immediately? How does this draw you in?
2. What kind of