The Greatest - Muhammad Ali by Walter Dean Myers

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”  This is what Muhammad Ali used to say.  This book is about Muhammad Ali's life and how he had to deal with discrimination, war, society, and especially boxing. I like this book because it shows the true frustration a boxer faces in his life, especially for Muhammad Ali who was an African American boxing. I recommend this book because it's good know about the American events during the 1950s-1970s in Muhammad Ali's views.  For example the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam war, and sports. If you are into the civil rights movement and boxing you will love this book because that's mainly what all of the book is about.

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

"It’s like
my mind
and my body
and my heart
just don’t seem to be able to agree
on anything."
One of my favorite books is What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones. It's about a 15 year old girl who battles love and friendships. I like this book because i'm the same age as the main character and i can relate to some of her problems and stories. I would recommend this book because it is full of romance and humor. I think if you like hearing about relationships and fights with your friends this is the book for you. Read a sample here.

Nothing to Lose by Alex Flinn

"I shouldn't have come back to Miami . . . I've been escaping cops' notice for a year now. I'm no longer Michael Daye, high school athlete with a promising future. Now I look like someone with no future."  One of my favorite books that I read this year in Literacy Strategies class would be the book Nothing To Lose by Alex Flinn. This book is about a boy named Michael who has been running from the cops for about a year. Will he find a way to run away and escape or will he be caught and have "Nothing To Lose". I like this book because it shows the lifestyle through a different point of view. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure books or who likes criminology.Read a sample here.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

“Brian looked back and for a moment felt afraid because the wolf was so... so right. " One of my all time favorite books is Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.  It's about a 13 year old boy who is stranded alone in the wilderness of Canada with no food or shelter, but who learns how to survive when death is ready to greet him each day.  I like this book so much because it demonstrates how even in the face of great fear, survival is an option.  I recommend this book because Gary Paulsen is a fantastic writer who is so good with language and can make you feel like you are in the shoes of his main character.  You will like this book if you enjoy survival stories set in the outdoors, but also if you are interested in the psychology of survival. Click here to read a sample