I'm never quite sure when it's appropriate to start talking about back to school stuff. Like, maybe you're stoked to review your units or shop for new classroom decor. But maybe you're so caught up in swimming/biking/hiking/rosé drinking/World Cup watching that school is not even on your radar. Whatever camp you're in, when you're ready to get more books for your classroom library, I'm here to help you.

Now on to this week's book, an excellent beach read.

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Title: The King is Dead​

Author: Benjamin Dean

Genre: Realistic fiction

Age range: 13+

Summary: King James has just ascended the throne after the death of his father. As a 17-year-old, he is understandably nervous about leading the British monarchy. And as the first Black, (closeted) gay King, he is terrified of the racism and homophobia he is sure to face. Then, details of his family's private life start to splash across the tabloids and James must decide who he can trust—and who is trying to implode the monarchy.

Recommend The King Is Dead to students who enjoyed...

• ​American Royals by Katharine McGee (royal teenagers getting into mischief while growing up with the weight of their country on their shoulders)
• ​The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (another pair of Black teen twins navigating adolescent hopes and hardships)

How I'd teach it:

This is a great independent reading selection. The scandals, romance, and betrayals will make students keep reading while the stark examination of racism gives them lots to mull over. Analyzing King James through an identity iceberg would be fascinating—the intersectionality of his race (Black), age (17), sexual identity (gay), and social status (um, he's the King) provides loads to analyze. Here's a very un-fancy Iceberg Identity worksheet, if you need one.

Looking for cross curricular learning? Find out when students are learning about monarchies (probably a systems of government unit) or British history and hype up this book. Though fiction, it'll give students an insider's perspective to monarchical life—a nice narrative balance to what's traditionally an informational unit of study.

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Literacy Love Notes:

• Want to establish a vibrant reading culture while building relationships with your students? Get my newly published Lesson Plan: Mirrors and Windows in Literature and watch your students discover what reading can do for them.
• Do you teach social studies? I'm curating a "starter pack" for social studies classroom libraries—here are a few titles I have so far. What would you add?
• I never thought I'd suggest hanging a shower curtain in your classroom, but this "shower curtain art" tip from @buildingbooklove is next level. I'd totally choose one like this and make a cozy reading nook.

Have a good one and learn everything you can,

Hannah

PS: I'd love to share your thoughts to help more teachers find this newsletter. Could you reply to this email and finish this sentence? Educators should read The Classroom Library Chronicles because...

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