Every year I do an activity with my students I call Novel Madness. It’s a tournament to determine their favorite novel of all time. They initially brainstorm 30 or 40 books, then narrow it to the top 16. Pairs of students work with one book to prepare a speech, persuasive essay, and blog posts. Round One this year is September 11, 2015. Here are the matchups:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling vs. Flush by Carl Hiassen
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey vs. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Wonder by R.J. Palacio vs. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney vs. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Cinder by Marissa Meyer vs. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
By the Great Horned Spoon by Sid Fleischman vs. Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli vs. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Read student blogs about Novel Madness here. Please leave comments! My students love it when someone besides their classmates comment!
I think either Cinder or Wonder is going to win! But I think all of them are going to be amazing.