The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

I have recently finished, (for the umpteenth time) the short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving.  It is an enjoyable, funny story of the school master, Ichabod Crane, and what happens when he tries to win the affections of a girl clearly out of his league, Katrina Van Tassle. When Ichabod Crane shows up, Katrina is already being courted by Abraham Van Brunt, or as his friends call him, Brom Bones.  Katrina is not only pretty, she's also rich, and Ichabod Crane likes her for both reasons.  But, in the end, his affection apparently isn't returned because after a huge party at her father's house, to which the whole neighborhood is invited, Crane tries to stay behind to have some one on one time with Katrina, but she apparently breaks up with him, because he leaves in a very "desolate and chapfallen" way.  On his way home, in the dark of night, all alone except for his borrowed horse Gunpowder, Ichabod meets an unwelcome fellow traveler.  What happens next, I'll leave up to you, to find out!

Racing the Sun by Paul Pitts

Racing the Sun by Paul Pitts is about 12 year old Brandon Rogers, a young Navajo who has grown up in the Salt Lake area, and knows little about his heritage.  That all changes though, when his Navajo grandfather moves off the reservation and onto the lower bunk in Brandon's room.

At first, Brandon doesn't know what to make of this new change, but as he warms up to his grandpa, he starts learning things he didn't know before, and starts to realize that his Indian heritage is something he can be proud of.

I have read this book with my students, and have enjoyed it tremendously.  I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a good middle grade read, or a positive coming of age story.