Danger at the Breaker

From the Series On My Own History

  • Interest Level: Grade 2 - Grade 4
  • Reading Level: Grade 3

Eight-year-old Andrew is starting his first day of work in a coal mine. With bloody knuckles and an aching back, Andrew quickly learns that life in the mines is dirty, dark, and difficult. Before his first day at the breaker is through, he will find out that it can be dangerous too.

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978-0-7613-5842-8
$28.99
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Interest Level Grade 2 - Grade 4
Reading Level Grade 3
Genre Social Studies
Category 5 Kinds of Nonfiction, 5KN: Narrative Nonfiction
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Brand On My Own Books
Imprint Millbrook Press ™
Language English
Publication Date 2009-08-01
Reading Counts! Level 4.5
Text Type Narrative Nonfiction
BISACS JNF007020, JNF051160, JNF011000
Graphics Full-color illustrations
Lexile 530
Guided Reading Level N
ATOS Reading Level 3.1
Accelerated Reader® Quiz 47161
Accelerated Reader® Points 0.5
Features Author/Illustrator note, Bibliography/further reading, Reviewed, and Teaching Guides

Author: Catherine A. Welch

Catherine A. Welch is an award-winning author with more than 20 books to her credit and is a writing instructor with the Institute of Children's Literature. Elementary teachers have found her two short historical fiction books especially useful in the classroom. A teaching strategy for her book, Clouds of Terror, an NCSS/CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, appeared in Instructor (October 1995). A four-day lesson plan for Danger at the Breaker, her book praised by School Library Journal and Booklist, appears at teachers.net. While many of her works are biographies and history books, her writing credits include several science books. She has degrees in biology and biochemistry, and enjoys giving writing workshops to children and teachers.

Illustrator: Andrea Shine

Lerner eSource™ offers free digital teaching and learning resources, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS) teaching guides. These guides, created by classroom teachers, offer short lessons and writing exercises that give students specific instruction and practice using Common Core skills and strategies. Lerner eSource also provides additional resources including online activities, downloadable/printable graphic organizers, and additional educational materials that would also support Common Core instruction. Download, share, pin, print, and save as many of these free resources as you like!

On My Own History

With striking, full-page illustrations, real and fictionalized characters, and stories featuring events that really happened, these books capture readers’ interest and imagination. View available downloads →

Reviews

Booklist

“In simple yet never condescending prose, Welch relates the compelling story of a young boy’s first day at work in the Pennsylvania coal mines of the 1880s. . . The author brings a new (and welcome) level of realism to the easy-reader format.”
Booklist

Booklist

“. . .Welch relates the compelling story of a young boy’s first day at work in the Pennsylvania coal mines of the 1880s.”
Booklist

School Library Journal

“Shine’s dramatic watercolors add depth and emotions to Welch’s historical novel . . .”
School Library Journal