Reading Challenge

We received an invitation to participate in a reading challenge. Brad Tower (who lost his three children in a fire a few years ago) is organizing an activity to read a book and write a letter to his late daughter, Maddy. I am inviting enrichment students and a few others to participate and you are welcome to pass it on to other students. I'm not sure what other teachers are encouraging it. This activity will go very well with our Letter to Author unit and so I would like to see 100% participation. 

I have listed six/seven suggestions for books that inspire empathy. I would like your student to read one of these book by November 4th and we will work on the letters to Maddy on November 6th/8th. Students who do the challenge will be treated to lunch and a limo ride around November 14th (we will probably shoot for Nov. 15th or 16th because of the 2nd/3rd field trip on the 14th). Here are my book suggestions. Please have them read one they have NOT read before and one that challenges them:
El Deafo
Wonder
The One and Only Ivan
Auggie and Me
Just my Luck
Ugly
The Family Under the Bridge (2nd or 3rd grade only)
Here is Brad Towers invite: 
The challenge is to read a book that is challenging for the reader, that takes at least 10 hours to complete, and inspires empathy in the reader.  “Wonder” is still a favorite of mine, and would qualify for any age reader, but I’d like to give teachers the ability to name a challenge book for their class that would also qualify.  The reader then needs to complete the book and write a “Dear Maddy” letter, sharing what it was about the book that they enjoyed (or didn’t), and which characters they identified with and why.  For students who meet the challenge by November 9th, I’d like to treat them to lunch and a limo ride for Maddy’s birthday (this can be on her actual birthday, Nov 14th, or whatever day you feel is most appropriate for the school.

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