Illuminations Year 1, High School

This exciting story by Eloise Jarvis McGraw is a Newbery Award winner written for grades 6-9. Set in ancient Egypt, it is the story of a young orphan boy named Ranofer who has a promise as a goldsmith. He has been apprenticed to a local goldsmith, and despite the death of his parents, things look promising...until gold begins disappearing from the shop. Is Ranofer a suspect? The truth is shocking! Involving tomb robbers, the pharoah, and his own brother, this tale will thrill your student while teaching him a lot about the culture of ancient Egypt.

The Phantom Tollbooth is becoming a classic along the lines of Alice in Wonderland. This highly acclaimed modern tale begins with Milo, a typical bored kid with a room full of toys and nothing to do. Don't you "love" it when your kids whine, "I'm bored! I have nothing to do!" Well, Milo receives a magical tollbooth, and since he has nothing better to do, he drives through it with his toy car...and into an amazing, hilarious adventure. Masterful puns and witticisms are found throughout the book, making it a fun read-aloud. One funny is example is when Milo meets half a kid (since the average family has 2.5 kids). The book not only has a great, exciting story line, it's full of idioms, expressions, and plays on words - teaching a lesson in language arts as well.