<p>My 4th grade son needs suggestions for a book report. It must be based in the Mid-West (to work together with his social studies). Many suggestions the teacher gave us are “girl” books and have no appeal to him (Little House, Sara Plain & Tall series).</p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I remember my D reading a book in school that was written from the point of view of Lewis and Clark’s dog. You might do an Amazon search.</p>
<p>Any restrictions of the type of book? Does it have to be Historical Fiction? Any certain time period? Could you shoot the teacher an email and ask for book ideas that might appeal more to a boy? He would surely engage more in the book report if it was more of a “boy” book and surely she must realize this, or if not, she may be able to ask the school’s librarian for ideas?</p>
<p>When I was looking for “boy” books I was told to check out Gary Paulsen’s books. The Newbury winner is Hatchet - boy has to survive in the Canadian wilderness. Don’t know if the Canadian wilderness qualifies as part of the mid-west. I believe that Tracker takes place in Minnesota. I haven’t read either of them so can’t tell you anything more about them.</p>
<p>Could Colorado count? Ralph Moody’s Little Britches is an absolutely wonderful book with huge boy appeal (and adult appeal too).</p>
<p>Tom Sawyer works, but maybe your son has already read it.</p>
<p>Oh - Sterling North’s Rascal. That’s set in Michigan.</p>
<p>Great idea to investigate Gary Paulsen books. My boys loved to read his books growing up, and read a couple of them several times.</p>
<p>Eddie Rickenbacker: Boy Pilot and Racer (there is a whole Young Patriots series so there might be some others he would enjoy in the series)</p>
<p>A look at how Eddie Rickenbacker, an Ohio farm boy with Swiss roots, grew up to become a World War 1 Flying Ace, a founder of our commercial aviation, a pioneer racecar driver & the owner of no less than the famed Indianpolis 500 Speedway.
Originally published 80 years ago, Patria Press is re-issuing the Young Patriot Series – all fine stories about the childhoods of many of our heroes & heroines.</p>
<p>Ages 9 - 12</p>
<p>Paulsen wrote “the rifle” but i am not sure of the setting. i believe it begins pre-civil war in pennsylvania, but the real story is what happens after the gun is found post civil war.</p>
<p>might be a bit dramatic for a young boy, but i know my boys loved it. anyone know the setting? not sure if it was midwestern or not.</p>
<p>here’s a link i found for midwestern literature that might appeal to boys–lots of great suggestions!</p>
<p>[Readers</a> Advisory - Midwestern Literature](<a href=“http://osol.listenillinois.org/consulting/ra/ra_midwestern.asp]Readers”>http://osol.listenillinois.org/consulting/ra/ra_midwestern.asp)</p>
<p>Huckleberry Finn? It may be a little much for him, and he’s not going to get what arguably makes it the Great American Novel. But it would be great for him to read it now, and feel connected to it, and do a book report.</p>
<p>The fourth graders in my school like Trouble River by Betsy Byars. It’s about a 12 year old boy and how he has to save himself and his grandma from the indians. He builds a raft and floats them down a river.</p>
<p>I also vote for the Gary Paulsen book. I thought one of them took place in Minnesota or Wisconsin.</p>
<p>Where did the Boxcar series take place?</p>
<p>Check out Richard Peck’s books - they take place around the time of the World’s Fair in Chicago, in Illinois. Very funny and great boy appeal.</p>
<p>^^^ Lewis and Clark and Me: A dog’s Tale </p>
<p>some suggestions here:
[Macmillan</a> :: Children & Teens Books: Regional America & Americana Midwest Books](<a href=“http://us.macmillan.com/MacmillanSite/categories/Childrens/RegionalAmericaAmericana/Midwest]Macmillan”>http://us.macmillan.com/MacmillanSite/categories/Childrens/RegionalAmericaAmericana/Midwest)</p>
<p>post deleted - not age appropriate</p>
<p>Blue Balliett’s Chasing Vermeer takes place in Chicago around the University of Chicago.</p>
<p>Two suggestions:</p>
<p>First, [Bud</a> Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis](<a href=“Penguin Random House”>Penguin Random House) which takes place in Flint, Michigan and is about a boy looking for his father who plays (he thinks) in a jazz band during the depression.</p>
<p>Another possibility is Richard Peck’s A Long Way from Chicago <a href=“http://eduscapes.com/newbery/99b.htm[/url]”>http://eduscapes.com/newbery/99b.htm</a> about two kids who spend their summers with their Grandmother in a small Illinois town. It was a Newbery honor book and is basically a collection of related funny short stories.</p>
<p>Chasing Veneer is fun.</p>
<p>By the Great Horn Spoon is an excellent! book I read in 4th grade. :D</p>
<p>Deals with the CA gold rush, dunno if that’s close enough.</p>
<p>Lincoln and His Boys, by Rosemary Wells (a great author)</p>
<p>I second the 2 books by Richard Peck as well as “Chasing Vermeer”. S (13 yo) loves all 3 of these.</p>
<p>In addition to the Lewis and Clark dog book that NorthMinnesota posted the one my D read is “The Captains Dog: My journey with Lewis and Clark” by Roland Smith ages 9-12</p>