Top Ten Tuesday: Thirty Male Book Characters We’d Totally Date by Clara A., Amanda C., Kiersten R., & Ashley F., 8th Grade

July 22, 2018August 29, 2017 by Kellee

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Thirty Male Book Characters We’d Totally Date

by Clara, Kiersten, Amanda, and Ashley, 7th grade (2016-2017) now 8th graders!

Clara A.

1. W.W. Hale the Fifth from Heist Society by Ally Carter

Hale is a combination of bad and sensitive. He is a thief; however, ever since his mom left him, he has been so scared of losing anyone else.

2. Seth Logan from The Lost Heir by Allison Whitmore

Seth is a guitar player who most people hate; however, he never loses sight of those he loves.

3. Alexi from All Fall Down by Ally Carter

Alexi is very protective of those he loves, even when they are over seas. He cares about his friends and always makes sure they are safe.

4. Josh from The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Josh is always willing to do whatever for his friends such as giving them his sweatshirt on a cold, chilly night.

5. Dodge from The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Whether he is a revel, knight, or peasant, Dodge never game up on his one true love even if it means dying for her.

6. Luis from Can’t Look Away by Donna Cooner

Luis is both athletic and smart. He plays track and would do anything to help people.

7. Jonas from The Giver by Lois Lowry

Jonas always tries to do what is right. Even if it means breaking the law to save a child’s life.

8. Kyle from The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke

Kyle’s ability to make decisions quickly makes him a great leader. He made so many sacrifices to save his friends.

9. Dai from The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke

Dai tries to hide his feelings and act tough; however, he cares for people and hates hurting them.

10. Eli from The Summer I Save the World in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz

Eli cares for his family, especially his little brother. He doesn’t try and high his feelings but talks to someone about them.

Amanda C. & Kiersten R.

1. Josh from The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

I love Josh’s caring and attentive personality. The fact that he still tried to speak with Emma after 6 months shows how much he really cares for her! -Amanda

2. Alex from Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Alex is a sweet guy who’s very protective over Lena. I love the fact that he’s not afraid to stand out and go against society. -Kiersten

3. Clay from Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Even though he didn’t really show it, Clay loved and wanted to help Hannah. After she died, he didn’t want the same thing to happen to Skye. He wasn’t gonna lose someone else. -Kiersten and Amanda

4. Noah from Paper or Plastic by Vivi Barnes

I love Noah’s serious yet geeky personality. Though he’s quiet, he feels comfortable talking to Lex, and I think it’s so cute how he has a quiet and serious side to him but also a sweet and caring side. -Amanda

5. Xander from Matched by Ally Condie

Xander is super caring and nice to his best friend, Cassie. He’s super protective, and he supports Cassie in everything. Normally, he’s the quiet, obedient type, but he never stops talking to Cassie. -Kiersten

6. Peter from The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox

We love how Peter has such a friendly personality. He gives off a brave, strong image. He handles emergencies well and doesn’t have much of a temper. We imagine him with a New York accent, too. -Kiersten and Amanda

7. Zander from How to Rock Braces and Glasses by Meg Haston

Zander has this laid-back personality that I absolutely adore. He knows how to stick with the right crowd. Plus, he’s in a bad which I think is awesome. -Amanda

8. Mfumbe Taylor from The Barcode Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn

Mfumbe is a hardworking and perfect-student type of person, but he has ideas that go against the norm of society. He’s very caring and one of the most good-looking guys in his grade. He’s friendly, too. -Kiersten

9. Eli from The Summer I Save the World in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz

Eli is a very sweet guy, and the gift he gave to Nina is super cute. The first kiss she got from him on the bench was a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e! -Kiersten and Amanda

10. Jaime from Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

He’s super shy and geeky, but when he’s around Peppy, he can be super adorable. Plus, he’s really intelligent. -Amanda

Ashley F.

1. Harry Potter from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

He is brave, powerful, confident, magical, and cares for others.

2. Tobias aka Four from the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth.

He is athletic, brave, fearless, loving, caring, and strong.

3. Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

He is unique, different, confident, full of spirit, and brave.

4. Peeta Mellark from the Hunter Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

He’s brave, strong, loving, loyal, and cares for the people he loves.

5. Finnick Odair from the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

He’s really strong, flirtatious, charming, and works really hard.

6. Evan Walker from The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey

He’s mysterious, super sweet, and seems creepy but isn’t.

7. Thomas from the Maze Runner series by James Dashner

He is strong, brave, courageous, and good looking.

8. Newt from the Maze Runner series by James Dashner

He is muscular, supportive, and smart.

9. Sean from Autumn Falls by

He’s understanding, caring, really sweet, and almost perfect.

10. J.J. Austin from Autumn Falls by Bella Thorne

He’s kind, sweet, smart, loves video games, and adores fictional things.

Who are your book crushes?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 8/28/17

September 3, 2017August 28, 2017 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

CONGRATULATIONS
Caitlin C.
for winning our giveaway of The Real Us by Tommy Greenwald!

Last Week’s Posts

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Tuesday: Top Ten Antagonists from Christian U., 8th grade

Wednesday: Marti’s Song for Freedom by Emma Otheguy

Thursday: The First Week in Kellee’s Classroom!: Setting Up the School Year in Week One with Expectations, Kindness Goals, One Word Goals, and Six-Word Memoirs

Friday: Tinyville Town by Biran Biggs

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “How Kids Can Help Homeless Children” by Melody J. Bremen, Author of The Boy Who Painted the World

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

I finished listening to The Smell of Other People’s House by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, and I DEFINITELY can see why it was honored as a finalist for the 2017 Walden Award! It is a brilliantly crafted story that puts the reader in 1970s Alaska within intertwining stories of 4 teenagers and everyone in their lives.

I very much look forward to reviewing the first book in the Gamer Squad series for you all this week!

Ricki

I am doing a lot of rereading this week in preparation for the courses that I am teaching this week.

This is my fourth time reading Sherman Alexie’s Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. I am very excited to hear what my students think about it because it is my first time teaching it at the college level. I’ve generated a lot of critical activities to engage with the book. I’ll feature them on this Thursday’s post in case anyone wants to swap ideas! It doesn’t matter how many times I read this book—each time, I am swept up by the emotions of the text.

I also reread Teaching English by Design by Peter Smagorinsky in preparation for my class. He does a fantastic job exploring supportive practices for teachers. I love this text for methods courses.

My older son is loving this book right now, so we’ve been reading it each night. I read it a long time ago, so it was great to revisit it!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

Currently reading: Unsouled by Neal Shusterman – I AM SO CLOSE TO BEING DONE! The curse of back-to-school tiredness means I read for such a short time each night, but I cannot wait to finish. It is so good!
Currently listening: Knockout Games by G. Neri – I just started this on Friday, so I look forward to getting more into it.
Next: Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill
Then: Things That Surprise You by Jennifer Maschari

Ricki

I am very fortunate to work with Todd Mitchell, author of The Last Panther. I visited his book launch this week, and I am very excited to read the book!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Thirty Male Book Characters We’d Totally Date by Clara A., Amanda C., Kiersten R., & Ashley F., 8th Grade

Wednesday: Gamer Squad series by Kim Harrington

Thursday: Teaching Ideas for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Friday: Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw by Todd Calgi Gallicano

Sunday: Author Guest Post!

So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

and

Author Guest Post!: “How Kids Can Help Homeless Children” by Melody J. Bremen, Author of The Boy Who Painted the World

August 27, 2017August 27, 2017 by Kellee

How Kids Can Help Homeless Children

While writing my latest novel, The Boy Who Painted the World, I did research on homeless people – specifically, homeless children. The main character of the book, Indigo, is a ten-year-old homeless boy and I wanted to understand a little bit about what his world is like. I came upon some pretty scary statistics:

There are 100 million homeless children around the world.

There are 2.5 million homeless children in the United States. That means there is likely to be one homeless child in every classroom.

That’s a lot of kids without a permanent roof over their head. These children might be sleeping in a shelter, a motel, or even in a car. They’re under a lot of stress, which causes them to do poorly socially and in school. Their circumstances can affect them great later in life with both physical and psychological issues.

What Can I Do?

Every person, no matter how old, can help, and it doesn’t have to be anything mind-blowing or difficult. Even a simple smile to someone on the street can cheer someone up.

Here are some easy ways that you can make a difference:

Give money: Carry some small change with you and give it to people who are asking for money on the street. That money may just buy them their next meal.
Donate clothing: Save old clothing and shoes that you no longer wear and donate it.
Donate toys and books: Donate gently used toys and books that you are no longer using.
Volunteer: Volunteer some of your time and help out at a shelter or soup kitchen. You can also tutor kids and help them out with their homework.

If everyone person does a little something, it can go a long way to alleviating the hardships of the homeless.

Links to websites that can help you take action

Stand Up for Kids: http://www.standupforkids.org/

School on Wheels: https://www.schoolonwheels.org/

Volunteers of America: https://www.voa.org/

The Boy Who Painted the World
Author: Melody J. Bremen
Published 2017

About the Book: Indigo is a boy with a dream. He spends his mornings in a refrigerator box, his afternoons shoveling snow, and his nights in the basement of a homeless shelter. But during every free moment, he draws and dreams of becoming a famous artist. His best friend Jade looks after him, but she is arrested for shoplifting and he’s left all alone. With his box of pencils under his arm, he sets out on a quest to search for Jade and discovers a whole new world… full of the art he loves.

His journey brings him friendship, family, and the courage to hold onto his dreams.

About the Author: Melody J. Bremen writes books for middle grade and young adult readers. She lives on a distant planet where all they do is write and read books. (Sometimes they eat jelly beans.) She has a faithful computer named Oswald.

Visit Melody’s blog: http://melodybremen.com/blog/
Sign up for Melody’s newsletter: http://www.subscribepage.com/newsletter-sign-up

Thank you, Melody, for this important guest post!

and

Tinyville Town by Brian Biggs

August 25, 2017 by Kellee

Tinyville Town Series
Author & Illustrator: Brian Biggs
Published by Appleseed, an Abrams Imprint starting in 2016

Brian Biggs describes the series as Sesame Street meets Fisher Price.

I say it is Richard Scarry meets Mr. Rogers and Thomas the Train (but there are no talking trains).

There will be at least 8 books.

Though hopefully more because I want one about every member of the town!

There are two kinds of books in the series:

Board books about individual members of the society

Large-format picture books about how the whole town comes together.

This set up is perfect because when you read the picture book, you can find all of the members of the board books in the picture book. They become friends that you recognize like a search-and-find within the story.

In the classroom, Tinyville Town would fit perfectly with Junior Achievement and early-ed social studies as students learn about jobs and communities.

Parents, your kids will love these books! It is a perfect combination of everything kids and adults want in picture books.

For more information:
Here’s an interview with Brian Biggs about Tinyville Town
Here’s Brian Biggs’s Blog Post about Tinyville Town

Recommended For:

In the Middle School: Setting Up the School Year in Week One with Expectations, Kindness Goals, One Word Goals, and Six-Word Memoirs

April 22, 2023August 24, 2017 by Kellee

Monday

The first week of school is scary for all students. And boring. It is filled with syllabus review and lunch room rules. I want my students’ first day to be filled with friendliness. This year, to do this I started the year with telling my students about me. I have a philosophy that if students see you as a human, they are more likely to respect you and your class. After sharing about me, my family, my history, and my life, we played a fun game of Kahoot about me.

On day one, I wanted to make my expectations clear: I want you to do your best all year. That’s all I ask. To start this conversation, I showed them one of my favorite TED Talks: “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Lee Duckworth, a psychologist who studies grit in many different aspects. When finished with the TED Talk, I asked each class, “Why would I show you this on day one?” One of my 6th grade girls said it the best, “You showed it to us because you want us to do our best all year because effort and wanting to grow is really important.” Our district has been focusing on growth mindset in students and teachers, and the idea of grit fits this goal.

Finally, I also introduced my students to the idea of OneWord365–that instead of setting unrealistic and too many goals, pick a word that summarizes the path they want the year to take. Most of the students’ choices included words that fit the growth mindset. Once each student had turned in their word to me, we then picked One Word for each class that embodied everyone’s word. Our words are: determination, try, and happiness.

Sidenote: I did this activity on our first day of preplanning with my entire staff, and I only got positive feedback about it. Each teacher came up their own One Word then as a PLC (professional learning community) they came up with a summarizing word and a visual representation.

Tuesday

Tuesday was Code of Conduct and Syllabus day, so it was a bit boring; however, I fancied up my syllabus this year, so it was a bit more fun to look at:

I redid my rules this year to be called “Expectations” and to be short, sweet, and what I really see as important in humans:

Be kind
Be respectful
Be responsible
Do your best

Wednesday

Wednesday was all about getting to know my students. Each year I have my students fill out an interesting and reading survey to help me get to know them. Wednesday was also BOOK DAY! Students were so excited to be able to dive into my classroom library. As students looked for books and filled out their survey, I went around to help with book selection and make discussion.

Thursday

Each year in the first week, I make sure to read Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson to my students. With looping students, I try not to duplicate from year to year, but this is a text that I read at the beginning of the school year no matter what. Why? Because it uses Chloe’s tough lesson of not being kind to Maia to teach us about the power of kindness ripples and how they can affect the universe.

When we finished the book, I point out that Chloe wasn’t “bad” nor a “bully” but what she did by excluding Maia was devastating. I asked them to think about something in their life that they could do just a bit kinder: either broad like smiling at strangers more or specific like being nicer to a certain person. They then set kindness goals for the year which I’ll post for the entire year.

Friday

Friday it was once again about getting to know my students. I introduced them to the idea of six-word memoirs. First, we talked about Ernest Hemingway’s six-word story (“For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn”) and the power of his six words and how Smith Magazine took the idea and turned it into people writing their memoir in six words.

To help them understand the idea, I showed them the Six Magazine You Tube video with teens’ six-word memoirs:

And I shared fiction characters’ six-word memoirs:

Cinderella: Sometimes the shoes you pick matter OR Sometimes fairy godmothers do show up.
Simba: Don’t believe an uncle with scars.
Alice: Down the rabbit hole yet again.
Romeo: Loving someone may very much kill

Then I gave them Smith Magazine’s six tips for writing a six-word memoir:

It only works if it is personal.
Limitations force you to be creative.
Get inspired by reading other memoirs.
Like any story, make revisions.
Put the best six words in the best order.
Publish your story to inspire others. (Though I made it clear this was optional)

And I sent them on their way, and the response has been phenomenal (shared only those with permission given):

Fear is my greatest enemy, always. -Amy, 6th grade
I fear an average human life. -Anonymous, 6th grade
Books are portals, go through them. -Anonymous, 6th grade
Music–the best thing that happened. -Anonymous, 6th grade
Sibling always wanted. Five years old. -Anonymous, 6th grade
Hospital. Diagnosed. Kept on living great. -Daniel, 6th grade
If you believe, you can succeed.” -Ian, 6th grade
Face what scares you most. -Lorenza, 7th grade
The great outdoors is my indoors. -Alexandra, 7th grade
Life is like a hard dream. -Anonymous, 7th grade
Who I am is not clear. -Anonymous, 7th grade
You can die happy or unhappy. -Anonymous, 7th grade
Hufflepuff isn’t the same without me. -Vanessa, 7th grade
Family means nobody gets left behind. -Anonymous, 7th grade
I said it was impossible. “Nevermind.” -Anonymous, 7th grade
Stop being worried and live life. -Anonymous, 7th grade
Why do people tell unnecessary lies? -Anonymous, 8th grade
Why do girls create unnecessary drama? -Emily, 8th grade
Don’t think twice, or never achieve. -Anonymous, 8th grade
Fake smiles, fake laugh, real tears. -Anonymous, 8th grade
It is not just a game. -Christian, 8th grade
2009: Plane ticket–Egypt to America. -Clara, 8th grade
Your separation made everything more difficult. -Amanda, 8th grade
See you later, Island of Enchantment. -Lucas, 8th grade
Dancing is how I express myself. -Ashley, 8th grade
Parents can never stick together forever. -Anonymous, 8th grade
Try your best; get better results. -Anonymous, 8th grade
Divorce can break a child’s heart. -Anonymous, 8th grade
Prepared to succeed; failed of hesitation. -Anonymous, 8th grade

It is through these activities that I show my students that I care for them.

What do you do your first week of school?

Marti’s Song for Freedom | Martí y sus versos por la libertad by Emma Otheguy

August 24, 2017August 23, 2017 by Kellee

Nonfiction Wednesday

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!

Marti’s Song for Freedom | Martí y sus versos por la libertad
Author: Emma Otheguy
Illustrator: Beatriz Vidal
Published July 17, 2017 by Lee & Low Books

Summary:

Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crece la palma,
Y antes de morirme quiero
Echar mis versos del alma.

As a boy, José Martí was inspired by the natural world. He found freedom in the river that rushed to the sea and peace in the palmas reales that swayed in the wind. Freedom, he believed, was the inherent right of all men and women. But his home island of Cuba was colonized by Spain, and some of the people were enslaved by rich landowners. Enraged, Martí took up his pen and fought against this oppression through his writings. By age seventeen, he was declared an enemy of Spain and forced to leave his beloved island.

Martí traveled the world, speaking out for Cuba’s independence. But throughout his exile, he suffered from illness and homesickness. He found solace in New York’s Catskill Mountains, where nature inspired him once again to fight for independence.

Written in verse, with excerpts from Martí’s seminal Versos sencillos, this book is a beautiful tribute to a brilliant political writer and courageous fighter of freedom for all men and women.

Praise:

“A sensitive and poignant tribute to one of Latin America’s most important historical figures.” – School Library Journal, starred review

“A moving account of [Marti’s] crusade for justice.” -Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A timely story that will inspire many to fight for equality and sing songs for freedom.” -Booklist, starred review

“Spotlights a steadfast hero and brilliant writer still worth admiring today.” -Kirkus reviews, starred review

“A direct and approachable introduction to the life and works of Cuban poet and freedom fighter José Martí.” -Shelf Awareness, starred review

About the Creators:

Emma Otheguy is a children’s book author and a historian of Spain and colonial Latin America. She is a member of the Bank Street Writers Lab, and her short story “Fairies in Town” was awarded a Magazine Merit Honor by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Otheguy lives with her husband in New York City. This is her picture book debut. You can find her online at emmaotheguy.com.

Beatriz Vidal is an award-winning painter, illustrator, and teacher. Her work has appeared in well-known publications such as The New York Times Magazine, Woman’s Day, and the New Yorker. Her artwork has also been featured on PBS programs and in numerous exhibitions around the world, including the International Exhibition of Illustrations for Children in Italy and the Society of Illustrators in New York. Vidal divides her time between New York City and Buenos Aires, Argentina. You can visit her online at beatrizvidal.com.

Review: This beautiful bilingual biography deserves all the praise it is receiving. The beautiful pieces of art that accompany the poetic verses turns this picture book biography into a piece of art! I also loved that not only is Martí’s biography in Spanish and English, but so is the author’s back matter.

I also am so glad that I learned about José Martí! I didn’t know anything about the Cuban war for independence and emancipation from slavery. Cuba has such an extensive history that is not taught here, so this story definitely fills a gap in history education. While the story teaches primarily of Martí’s life, the back matter goes deeper into Cuban independence and reading both is definitely going to pique interests to learn more. I think this book would pair nicely with books about our Civil War to compare the United States to other countries’ fights for freedom.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Emma Otheguy was kind enough to share an activity guide for the text. All of the activities come in Spanish and English and can be downloaded at http://emmaotheguy.com/my-new-book/.

Activity 1: “José Martí wrote many letters throughout his life. He wrote about things he found beautiful or interesting, and also about injustices, and how he though they might get better. Write a letter to a friend, a relative, or an elected official about something you’re passionate about. It can be anything you care about, whether it’s helping your neighbors, caring for animals, or respecting the planet–just share how you feel. Then cut out your letter an mail it.” Followed by a outlined letter for kids to feel out.

Activity 2: “Did you know that José Martí was a poet, and that is poetry book Versos Sencillos was written and published right here in the United States? If you ever hear the song Guantanamera you’ll notice words from Marti’s poetry in the song! Read the first stanza of Martí’s poem, then fill in the blanks to create your own poem.”

Activity 3: “Read the book and solve this crossword puzzle”

Activity 4: “As teenagers, José Martí and his friends wrote and published their own newspaper, La Patria Libre (the free homeland), supporting Cuban independence. Can you create a newspaper? Fill out the boxes with the latest news.” Includes a place for Read All About It, Letter to the Editor, and an illustration.

Discussion Questions: How did José Martí play a part in Cuba’s fight for independence?; Did his age when sent to America surprise you?; Why is Cuba such a mix of culture?; How did the author use José Martí’s own words within her biography of him?; If you were to write to your government about an injustice you see in your country, what would you write about?

Flagged Passages:

Read This If You Love: Margarita Engle’s books, Henry’s Freedom Box by Henry Levine and other biographies about the fight for emancipation in the United States, Nonfiction picture book biographies

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Emma Otheguy for providing a copy for review!**

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Antagonists from Christian, 8th grade

July 22, 2018August 22, 2017 by Kellee

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Antagonists

from Christian U., 7th grade (now 8th grade!!)

1. Queen Wasp from The Nest by Kenneth Oppel

Queen Wasp attempts to convince Steven to kill his own baby for a new one from a series of dreams. Strategic, Queen Wasp really deserves a spot on the list of the best antagonists.

2. Luke from The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Luke was strategic, acting as the hero the whole book but was really the villain. With Luke being able to trick Percy into doing his dirty work, he is one of the most hated antagonists.

3. The Warden from Holes by Louis Sachar

The Warden tricks a group of kids to dig holes just for her to try and find a buried suitcase of money. Sneaky, the Warden is one of my top 10 antagonists.

4. Coastal Guard from The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke

The Coastal Guard tries to fight off the experiments who try to make it to an area with others of their kind. Fearless, the Coastal Guards are actually the enemy.

5. The Animals from Frenzy by Robert Lettrick

The animals of the forest are infected and start to pick off the humans. One by one. Unstoppable, the animals kick everyone out of their way.

6. The Witches from Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy by Nikki Loftin

The witches disguise themselves as school teachers just to eat their students. Strategic (and kinda gross!), the witches are surely evil antagonists.

7. Giant Cyclops from The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

The Giant Cyclops captures Grover and threatens to eat him up. The Giant Cyclops is fearless and will take down anyone in his path.

8. The Government in Bot Wars by J.V. Kade

The U.D. Government tries to take away Trout’s dad because he supports bots (who didn’t do anything wrong). The U.D. Government bombs bot territory and is bad to the good bots.

9. Hitler and the Nazi Party from Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Hitler affected Fredrich’s future in music and sent his dad to prison for him not following the Nazi Party. Hitler is pure evil.

10. The Poacher from Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby

The poacher killed Sukari’s mother which was the reason why Sukari went to Charlie. The poacher caused many of the problems and is a dangerous antagonist.

Thank you, Christian!