Literacy Matters Vol. 23 Winter 2023

Books for older students: Teen books My name is Brain Brian Betancourt, J. (1995). Apple Paperback. ISBN: 978 0590449229. Topic: Dyslexia In this timeless classic novel, the author, who struggles with dyslexia herself,

Wonderstruck Selznick, B. (2011). A novel in words and pictures. Scholastic Press. ISBN: 978-0545027892 . Topic: hearing impairment In this Schneider Family Award -winning novel, two stories of two deaf children who live in two different time zones 50 years apart are intertwined through the American Museum of Natural History. One child’s story is told in text, and the other child’s story is

shares an in-depth portrayal of a boy in his challenges to hide his dyslexia from friends and to survive being teased by his peers for his learning difference.

told through cinematic images. This is a great book to discuss the power of words and images in connection with social studies.

Eleven Reilly Giffs, P. (2008). Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN: 978 0385353304. Topic: ADHD This teen novel draws readers ages 8-12 into a mystery story while at the same time helping them understand about challenges individuals with dyslexia face and how they cope with them. Sam, who has dyslexia and is also a gifted woodcarver, tries to unravel the shocking fact of having been kidnapped as a child.

Lights, Camera, Disaster Dionne, E. (2017). Arthur Levine Books. ISBN: 978 1338134087. Topic: ADD This middle school novel presents the challenges a gifted girl with ADD and executive functioning disorder faces who only seems to be able to focus when she can make movies. It helps readers understand how both giftedness and disabilities can reside in one person and require determination

Literacy Matters Feature Article

Fish in a Tree Mullaly, L. (2017). Puffin Books. ISBN: 978 0399162596. Topic: Dyslexia With the help of a teacher, middle school student Ally learns to accept her dyslexia challenges and grows into a resilient young woman. Readers gain detailed insights into her inner and outer struggles with her reading problems and with being bullied. This novel received the American Library Association Notable Children’s Book

and support to find a way to function effectively in life.

Waiting for Normal Connor, L. (2008). Harper Collins. ISBN: 978-0-06-08 9090-2. Topic: Bipolar Disorder Teen readers learn in this Schneider Family Award-winning book how it takes strong resilience to live with dyslexia in a family where the bipolar disorder of the mother dominates life.

Focused Gerber, A. (2021). Scholastic Press. ISBN: 978-1-338 18597-3. Topic: ADHD In the first-person narrative, Clea shares her struggles with ADHD in middle school. After getting diagnosed with ADHD, she has to learn to accept this fact and acquire coping mechanisms with the help of an open mind, heart, and support from various people.

Award and was named the best book of the year in the School Library Journal in 2017 . In 2018, it won the Schneider Family Award and the William Allen White Children’s Book Award .

Close to Famous Bauer, J. (2012). Puffin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-2420-217 4. Topic: Dyslexia In this Schneider Family Award-winning teen novel, readers meet twelve-year old Foster, who becomes famous as a cake baker in a little town where she and her mother recently moved. Still, her dyslexia provides hurdles that she is forced to face if she is to become a

This Is Not the Abby Show Reed Fisher, D. (2016). Delacorte Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0-553-53-634-8. Topic: ADHD The main character Abby is an engaged middle school student who is not only gifted in math and science but also struggles greatly with ADHD. Teen readers learn about the challenges with ADHD and what attending a special summer camp does for Abby to learn to control her ADHD features.

celebrity chef in the future. Members of the town will help her with this challenge, encouraging readers to see the strengths and weaknesses in every person and to support each other in managing weaknesses like dyslexia.

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