We live just a few blocks from a high school and every Friday night in the fall, we are serenaded with their marching band and football cheers. Hearing them for the first time is one of many cues that summer is over. While that's a bittersweet feeling, I do relish the energy of students coming together and the community they create. I hope you're experiencing this optimistic energy and community in your classroom because that's where the learning magic lives.

This week's book is best for younger middle schoolers so if you teach bigger kids, feel free to skip to the Literacy Love Notes for a new idea or two.

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Title: Totally Psychic​

Author: Brigid Martin

Genre: Paranormal fiction

Age range: 8+ (Target age: 9-12)

Summary: 12-year-old Paloma is a psychic—as is everyone else in her family. As a Flower Medium, Paloma can hold seances with ghosts where flower apparitions add layers of meaning. But having a special gift also comes with unique responsibilities. What do you do when the spirits you summoned won't return? Add in having an Abuela who is the most famous psychic in the world and a mom who wants nothing to do with talking to ghosts and you have lots of drama for Paloma and her friends to navigate.

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It's similar to:

If your students enjoy the spunky, go-get-them protagonists in Front Desk by Kelly Yang and Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston, they'll be big fans of Paloma's energy and problem-solving skills.

For your students into all-things spooky, if they enjoyed Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier, they'll also enjoy the friendly nature of the spirits in Totally Psychic.

Why it's an engaging addition to your classroom library...

October is (almost) here and as the wind whips through the trees outside your classroom, lean into the spooky season. If students are amped to watch scary movies, nudge them in a more literary direction by telling them about the sufficiently spooky Ouija Board scene in Totally Psychic that unleashes a hoard of spirits on Paloma and her friends. This is a fun, light-hearted read so for many of your students, it will be an easy sell.

While it's light-hearted, the frequent seances offer varied depictions of grief. We know our students are dealing with loss and I appreciate books like this that honor the impact of loss but don't focus the entire plot on grieving. Students will feel seen without having all of their emotions dredged up.

Paloma and her family are Cuban-American and the story is filled with references to Latin American culture. Students from these cultures will appreciate the inclusion of Spanish phrases and dialogue. Students from different backgrounds will have a view into a new way of life (and no doubt will find much that is similar to their own).

Finally, it has a great sisterly "enemies-to-friends" trope as we see the relationship between Paloma and her younger sister Magdalena go from squabbling siblings to supportive buddies. You know you have students who struggle to get along with their brothers and sisters—Paloma's story will be relatable and educational.

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Literacy Love Notes:

📝 Are your students writing stories? I love these specific and authentic revision strategies from Pernille Ripp. Use them as a whole class mini-lesson, in small group instruction, or during writing conferences.

📚 There's a perpetual need for easy, literacy-themed classroom decor and @whimsyandrigor's reading life display delivers. It's simple, requires minimal printing and cutting, and the "without shame, she abandoned..." section sends a powerful message to students about what it means to be a reader.

🧠 Dr. Zaretta Hammond's work on the intersection of culturally responsive teaching and neuroscience has deeply influenced my pedagogy. She now has a podcast. I just listened to "Episode 9—Kicking Off the School Year: Getting Belonging Right" and this 16-minute listen will help you ensure all students feel they belong.

Have a good one and learn everything you can,

Hannah

PS: I have a copy of Totally Psychic and it's much better suited for your classroom library than my bookshelf. Would you like it? Reply and let me know!

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