My school is located in an urban area of Ohio. My students have taken advantage of school choice and are determined to earn their high school diplomas.
Most of our kids fight some sort of battle every day.
Our students struggle with poverty, homelessness, employment, transportation, and language barriers. In spite of all of this, they show up to school. Some days are better than others, but the kids are earning credits and passing tests and working their way towards graduation.
My students are not, on average, avid readers. I have to sell them on novels, but when they buy in it is amazing! My kids, especially the boys, have read more novels this school year than they have in their lives.
My most reluctant reader will usually try a novel with a character they can relate to.
Our spring goal is to read one new book per student, so we need books that interest them.
Urban stories, stories of struggle, immigration, and romance describe the lives of my kids. The characters, settings, and conflicts in these books are familiar to them and I hope they will read and enjoy these novels.