Each student will read both novels.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

     Winnie Foster longs for a life of freedom from her stiff, wealthy family. When she escapes the confines of her fenced-in yard one day, she discovers a spring on her family’s property. Little does she know, this spring is magic. When she meets the mysterious members of the Tuck family, she learns that the spring gives the gift of immortality. But is it a gift? Will Winnie keep the secret with which she has been granted? Will she go back to her old life, or will she drink the water and live eternally with the Tuck family?

     This is a wonderful book that teaches life lessons on the ebb and flow of life. Not only are the themes prevalent in today’s world, but it’s also a fast-paced, exciting book that young people seem to love.

Fish by L.S. Matthews

     “Tiger is the child of humanitarian aid workers living in a country torn by famine and war. When their government asks them to evacuate the country, the family must make a difficult trek across the mountains to make their way back home.
     The day they leave their village, Tiger rescues a fish that is slowly suffocating in a mud puddle. As the family can only take what belongings they can carry on their backs, Tiger's choice to carry the fish seems absurd. But as the mud puddle is quickly drying up, Tiger is worried that the fish will die. "'All the animals here have died --- and lots of the people,'" says Tiger's father. "'One fish is just one fish after all.'" However, Tiger's parents, and the Guide who takes them across the border, help Tiger transport the fish. First the fish is carried in a cooking pot, then in a water bottle, and eventually in Tiger's mouth. The people who they meet along the way think what Tiger is doing is strange, but they are also impressed by the compassion the child has for another living creature.

     FISH is L.S. Matthews's first book. The focus and simplicity of this tale make it appealing to a broad range of readers. Tiger narrates the book. It is never clear whether Tiger is a boy or a girl. This makes it easier for the reader to identify with Tiger and perhaps also with the adventures that Tiger and the fish encounter.
     This book is a simple story about a child and a fish. It is also about trying to make a difference, even if it is just in the life of one being. What Tiger does for the fish is no different from what Tiger's parents do as aid workers. Each makes a difference in the world one life at a time.”

Taken from the website: http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/0385731809.asp