Taking Control

Synopsis: Themes: Hi-Lo, Sports, urban teens, Basketball. They all walked to the court. Uncle Robert passed the ball to Patrice. She stepped toward the baseline. She looked so natural. She shot the ball. Nothing but net. Akil's jaw dropped. "Can you do that again?" The answer was yes. Finding the "right book" for struggling learners is essential to build both confidence and proficiency. Reading supports must be seamless, so that struggling readers are not stigmatized. The District 13 series does just that--written using carefully chosen vocabulary and simple sentences, the novels offer compelling teen stories about characters that interest young adult readers. Using sports as a backdrop, these edgy and mature titles confront issues that are of great importance to urban teens, especially teenaged boys: Coming of age, dating, fitting in, friendships, drugs, self-esteem, and school. Straightforward plots move readers through the 48-pages of text quickly and efficiently with satisfying resolutions.