Here are a few little notes from Carol about her books:
- Link to her novels: http://tinyurl.com/TPRSnovels
- Link to her home page: tprstorytelling.com
Carol explains:
My goal is to provide a variety of novels of different genres at each level so that each kid will encounter at least one book that s/he REALLY LOVES. All the books are written specifically so that both males and females can engage in and enjoy the story, regardless of whether it’s the exact genre of their choice. The challenge is to NOT publish a single books that is mediocre. It takes time (A LOT of time) and diligence to ONLY put out books that are excellent. Good isn’t good enough. We keep striving to do better…
Felipe Alou – Easy read, based on 150 unique words, written in past tense. Even though it’s a novice-level book, some level 2-3 teachers use it for the topic of civil rights (movement). Mixes a little history with an inspirational TRUE story.
Houdini – Our most popular novice level read. Based on the *top* 200 words in Spanish (220 in French), two versions- present & past tense. There are a few reasons it’s so easy to read/teach: It’s based on everyday, concrete events that American teens relate to. High-frequency words embedded amid hundreds of cognates and repetition strategically camouflaged in a humorous & light-hearted storyline.
Esperanza – A TRUE story, based on 200 unique words, drawing from the top 250 words in Spanish. Written in first person present tense, which makes it a great platform for teaching first person perspective. Although the language level is very low, the topics– political corruption, immigration, unions & strikes– are a bit more complex, making it a more challenging read. Spending more time on pre-readig activities to build background knowledge makes the read more interesting and much easier. Used by teachers in levels 1, 2 and 3 – level 1 because of ease of language and levels 2-3 because of the meaty content.
Granada – A popular “Twilight-like” mystery based on top 300 words. Great read and fun culture in Alhambra, Granada, Spain. Present tense.
Piratas 1 and 2 – Both popular, due to action, adventure and easy language. Piratas 1 – present tense, fewer than 300 unique words; Piratas 2 – past tense, 280 words.
Robo en la noche – Based on actual bird sanctuary and real-life topic in Costa Rica. Based on 400 words, and now available in two versions under one cover, past & present tense.
Problemas en paraíso – Pulls from top 400 words in Spanish, past tense. Fun, suspenseful plot that teens can relate to. Fun read, with lots of repetition and recycled vocabulary woven into the story.
Baker van a Perú / Maldición – Fun storylines with twists and turns that weave in culture from Peru, Ecuador and the Amazon. Perfect for level 2.
Salvatrucha – Compelling, realistic story, based on a compilation of true accounts of kids in La Mara Salvatrucha. Have a tissue handy. The story is not “fun,” but it is definitely engaging and thought-provoking.
Hija del sastre– Great story that ties in history of Franco’s fascist rule of Spain. Provides great op to study Spanish history / culture. Higher-level language, appropriate for level 3/4.
La Guerra Sucia – Suspenseful mystery based on Argentina’s Dirty War. History provides perfect backdrop for this story, which is based tens of thousands of similar accounts of ‘los desaparecidos’ in the 1970’s. High-level language, appropriate for level 3/4.
[Note: Carol also has a brochure that lays out the novels by level, tense and word count that you can request from her.]