Last month I did a
post on using The Bluford Series as a way to connect with struggling and reluctant
readers. Another great resource I’ve utilized over the years to hook the hard-to-hook is Orca Soundings
published by Orca Book Publishers.
Orca Soundings is a
collection of about fifty high interest novels written between the second and
fifth grade level. There are mystery, romance, adventure, survival and
contemporary stories.
When I taught
junior high and high school, these books were part of my classroom library. My
struggling readers were attracted by the covers and the manageable length of
the stories. Some of my students went on to read higher level trade books after getting their start with Orca Soundings.
Orca Soundings has
received positive reviews from the big reviewers:
"Soundings...use simple vocabulary
and short sentences combined with lots of authentic dialogue and engrossing
subject matter, making them ideal for high-interest, low-reading-level
collections. The authors are not afraid of controversial language or material,
which is in large part the secret of the series' appeal. Open endings lend to discussion
and further exploration. These little novels with their colorful covers are
sure to be a hit."
– VOYA
"With their Dr. Phil talk-show
themes, angst-driven protagonists, and short texts, these slick novels will
appeal to reluctant readers who want fast-paced escapist reads." - School
Library Journal
"[The Soundings have] interesting
and fast paced plots...At a reading level of grade 4 or lower and generally
being just over a hundred pages in length, these books will have students
feeling a lot less intimidated than if they were given The Grapes of Wrath."
- Dwayne Jeffery, Reaching Reluctant Readers (aka Books for Boys)” in The
Alan Review
It’s another great
resource to have when trying to hook the hard-to-hook.
Have you read any Orca Soundings books? What other books have you used when trying to hook the hard-to-hook?
Thanks for stopping
by.
