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The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis

Posted by on February 8, 2012 in New Book Reviews | 7 Comments

If you answer YES to at least one of my questions, you’re going to love today’s video. If you do not answer YES to any of my questions, it must mean you have not read The Mighty Miss Malone.

*Are you mapping out how you’re going to book talk The Mighty Miss Malone to your students?

*Do you want to place it in the hands of every child who enters your library, bookshop, or classroom?

*Do you get teary-eyed just thinking about the trials and tribulations of Deza’s family?

*Do you want to give precious Deza a big hug and tell her she’s one of the bravest and smartest characters you’ve ever met?

*Do you send Colby Sharp random text messages about how you cannot stop thinking about Christopher Paul Curtis’ characters?

*Did you go into work groggy because you were up all night reading?

* Did you start your 2013 Mock Newbery list with it?

*Do you want to add it to your social studies curriculum?

* Do you think it is a beautiful title that will make kids question their actions, think, and want to learn more about the Great Depression?

*Are you thankful Christopher Paul Curtis told Deza’s side of the story?

*Do you imagine yourself re-reading it in ten years?

I answered “yes” to every question. Thank you, Christopher Paul Curtis, for educating and inspiring me.

Borrow The Mighty Miss Malone from your school or public library. Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops.

Random House created a top-notch discussion guide. 

“I have four rules for young people who want to be writers, and the first rule that I have is — and you’ve got to follow these. Rule number one is to write every day, because writing’s like anything else that you do. The more you do it, the better you’re going to get at it. ” – Christopher Paul Curtis

Libraries have always been very special to Christopher Paul Curtis

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John Schumacher (aka Mr. Schu) is a teacher-librarian at Brook Forest Elementary School in Oak Brook, Illinois. He is a proud member of the Nerdy Book Club.  He has taught English in Seoul, South Korea, and is loving his eighth year at Brook Forest. John serves on ALSC’s Children and Technology committee, AASL’s Best Websites for Teaching and Learning, and two readers’ choice award committees. He was a judge for School Library Journal‘s 2011 Trailee Awards and recently became a FableVision Ambassador. In his spare time (ummm…what’s that?) he reads, travels, and blogs at Watch.Connect.Read.and Two Libraries, One Voice. John is a 2011 Library Journal Mover and Shaker.