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Lasky, Kathryn. Memoirs of a Bookbat. Hong Kong: Harcourt Brace, 1996. (summary and questions by Seth Thomas)
Summary: The story of a girl caught between her parents? ideology and her own, in the context of books and censorship! It?s a tale about growing up as a thinker.
For whom appropriate: Grades 9-12
Teach it or circulate it? Teach it. There are plenty of issues that can be covered regarding the students? lives, and it is open to many interdisciplinary activities.
Shaded/Dense Questions: Which scene in this book best defines the parent-child relationship at your age? Explain. Explain why you support or do not support Harper?s cause, and her parents? cause. Should she support her parents? cause?
Thematically related literature: The Giver, The Minister?s Daughter, On the Road (maybe)
Additional Dense Questions:
How can parental beliefs, as in this book, separate a child from
his or her social surroundings?
Why is it important for adolescents including Harper to have some control over their lives?
Laurence, Margaret. A Jest of God. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1981.
Summary: This is a kind of romantic story about a middle aged woman who is living on the prairies in Canada. She is a teacher and lives with her mother. She is seeking a chance for happiness which she finds with a man who desparetly wants to be with her. This is another great work from one of Canada's most famous female writers.
For Whom Appropriate? 11th-12th grade students
Teach it or circulate it? This is a required piece of reading in many Canadian schools just because it is so well written and done by a famous writer. Some naive males may become bored with it; Teach it and find a way to get the males involved.
Dense questions: How does this story represent the idea of prairie living?
What would it be like from the city perspective?
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York City: Grand Central Publishing, 1960 (entry created by Anders Lundahl).
Summary: Scout and Jem Finch and Dill Harris are children growing up in depression era Maycomb county, and they develop a fascination with the local shut in Boo Radley. However, bigger issues come to the forefront when local black man Tom Robinson is accused of assaulting and raping Mayella Ewell, and Atticus Finch, Scout and Jem?s father, is assigned to represent him. Will the all white jury be able to see Tom Robinson?s side of the case, and will the children ever solve the mystery of Boo Radley?
Appropriate: 8th-10th grade.
Teach it or Circulate it: Teach it. Definitely, there is a reason it is so widely taught. Summarizing this book is incredible difficult as it is working on so many levels.
1. Who do you think was ?the mockingbird? in this story? Were there more than 1?
2. Atticus Finch acted very heroically in the novel. Can you name some real life heroes you have experienced in your life? How are they similar/different from Atticus?
Other Dense questions What do you think Scout learns about the beauty of human life and what does she realize about the assumptions and stereotypes that the adults in her community hold? What does she not learn about being a proper lady that she does learn about being a good person? Why do you think it was significant that Scout and Jem attend the black church with Calpurnia especially in light of the Tom Robinson trial?
Questions:
Related Material:
My Antonia--Willa Cather; Dicey's Song--Cynthia Voigt
Lee, Marie G. Finding My Voice. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992.
Summary: This is the story about Ellen Sung, a Korean-American living in a small Northern Minnesota town located on the Iron Range. Ellen lives constantly trying to juggle her parents expectations for her, a school life where she wants gymnastics to fit in, and a social life that is converging on her Senior year at high school with a newfound boyfriend. The conflict between what Ellen wants, and what her parents want is a focal point in the book along with the problems faced by being the only minority in a small town school.
For Whom It's Appropriate? 7th to 12th grade students
Teach It or Circulate It? I would have to say that I would teach this book through all the grades listed. Even though the book itself is not hard reading, the subject matter relating to race and family issues in it, can be explosive if not handled in the right manner. For that reason I think that teacher involvement is a must for this book.
Dense Questions: Ellen has problems dealing with her parents when it comes to Tomper. If you were Ellen's parents, how you have reacted if you found out about her relationship at the very beginning, (Answer question in a dialect form between you and Ellen)? Looking at Ellen's racially motivated problems in the book, how would you have dealt with them differently given you own knowledge about racism and that which is shown in the book? Ellen is constantly being compared with her older sister by her parents, and the book shows that this didn't really help to motivate her toward her studies like her parents had hoped. What do you think they could have done differently to help motivate Ellen?
Thematically Related Literature: Saying Goodbye-Marie G. Lee, A Jar of Dreams-Yoshiko Uchida, Who's Hu?-Lensey Namioka
Summary This is a story about a very unique and special friendship between a boy and a girl. It embodies emotions felt by adolescents who don't quite "fit in."
For Whom Appropriate? The students in the story are 17, but I think it would also be appropriate for 7th and 8th graders.
Teach It or Circulate It? This book sparks real relevance for today's students. I would probably at least put it on a list as an option to read, or I might teach it to expose students to a contemporary piece they can relate to.
Dense Questions: How is Owen and Natalie's relationship different from a formula romance novel's portrayal of male/female relationships? Have you ever not wanted to be in the "in crowd?"
Thematically Related Literature: Nite Kites--M.E. Kerr; Not for a Billion Gazillion Dollars--Paula Danziger.
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Lenski, Lois. Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison. New York: Harper Trophy, 1995. (summary and questions created by Emily Dull-Heidenreich)
Summary: Indian Captive is based on the true story of Mary Jemison who is a 12 year old girl who gets kidnapped during a raid by the Seneca tribe of the Iroquois in order to replace a young Indian boy who was killed by settlers. She is forced from her home and made a part of the Seneca tribe. She learns about the culture and traditions of the tribe and eventually finds her place in their society.
Appropriate for: Grades 5, 6, 7
Taught or Circulated? Circulated among students or taught it literature circles surrounding fitting in, acceptance, American Indian culture, or in a unit centering around Indo-European relations.
Dense/Shaded Questions: Is it possible to find home away from your home? Would you be able to leave your family if you were forced to? Where does the feeling of belonging come from? Is it possible to find similarities among cultures that outwardly seem like polar opposites?
Levine, Gail Carson. Ella Enchanted. Harper Collins, 1997 (summary and questions created by Caitlin Knoll)
Summary: Ella is bound by a curse put on her by an evil fairy to obey anything asked of her. As she grows up she tries to resist and finds some limited ways around the curse. Ella does not fit into the traditional ideas of Cinderella, she attempts to disobey and sacrifices her own happiness for others.
Dense Questions: Do you think that Ella’s stepsisters had unsightly physical problems (baldness for example) because they were ugly on the inside? What exactly made them “ugly” and how did those behaviors make Ella seem like a more attractive person inside and out?
Ella’s “gift” to obey orders is clearly a bad thing because obeying can sometimes be a bad thing. Do you think this book teaches young readers to question authority? Or just question in general?
Appropriate For: 6th and 7th grade.
Teach or Circulate: I probably would not teach this book because I would worry that my male students wouldn’t get very much enjoyment out of it. I would definitely incorporate it into my classroom through the classroom library, individual reading, or literature circles.
Questions: How would life feel if you were cursed like Ella? What ways would you attempt to resist the curse? Ella saves Char and herself, how do you feel about the shift from traditional fairy tale events?
Related Literature: Grendel – John Gardner
Snow White, Blood Red – Ellen Datlow
Spindle’s End – Robin McKinley
___________________________________Lipsyte, Robert. One Fat Summer. New York: Bantam Books, 1977. (Summary and questions by Amanda Doroff.)
Summary: One Fat Summer is about a boy named Robert who has self image issues because he is over weight. Throughout the summer he faces challenges with work, his family, bullies, his best friend, and his weight. Robert learns how to face his fears, stand up for himself, and how hard work and a positive attitude pays off.
One Fat Summer is appropriate for students at the middle school or older ages.
One Fat Summer could be a book that is taught in classes, however because of the touchy issues and a few sexual and violent scenes, I would recommend that this book is just circulated to mature students.
Questions: Describe a situation where you have been bullied with no one around to help, or where you have bullied someone else. Would you have been as brave as Robert was during all the times he was picked on or had hard times during his summer, why?
Lipsyte, Robert. Summer Rules. New York: HarperCollins, 1981.
Summary: Bobby Marks is forced by his dad to be a camp counselor in the summer of 1954. Bobby not only has to take care of a bunch of really spoiled kids but he has his first girlfriend, and doesn't know how to tell her it's over. Bobby is a smart alec and has to figure out when it's good to lie and when you have to tell the truth.
For Whom Appropriate: Grades 6 and up.
Circulate It: This book is really fast moving and an enjoyable read. It would be very enjoyable to the junior high level.
Dense Questions: Can you think of a time when your parents made you do something you didn't want to do, like Bobby's parents made him be a counselor at camp? When Bobby lied to Harley to get him off the roof, do you think it was justified? When does our society condone lying? Image is very important in our society. Can you think of any examples where its justified to keep quiet in order to save someone's image?
London, Jack. The Call of the Wild, Great Britain: Ouffin
Books, 1983.
Summary: This book describes the life of a dog named Buck. Who goes from a comfortable living in Santa Clara Valley to a team dog in the great north. The book written in the 3rd person focuses on the dog(Buck) and his gradual rediscovery of his ancestral instincts.
Appropriate: 6-8 grades
Teach it: This is a short book that I feel would interest a
large
number of students. It also deals with self-discovery and learning.
Dense Questions: How does Bucks life change when he is taken
from his home in Santa Clara, and how does he deal with these
changes? Describe the rigors and dangers of life for the people
who lived and worked in the north and how they coped with this
hostile environment.
Complimentary pieces: Gary Paulson books
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. Evangeline. New York: Airmont Publishing Company Inc., 1965.
Summary: After Acadia is destroyed and scattered by the British, young lovers Gabriel and Evangeline are parted, shortly after their wedding. They are sent to live in totally different places, and spend their lives seeking each other out. Years are filled with near-misses, until finally, in old age, Evangeline, who is now a Sister of Mercy, is reunited with Gabriel as he takes his last breath.
For Whom Is This Appropriate? 10th-12th grade
Teach or Circulate? Teach. The form and language may be hard to follow on your own without first having a lesson in poetry.
Dense Question: Do you think love is worth a lifelong search to find your soulmate? What if travel was as difficult now as it was in the poem?
Related Literature: Romeo and Juliet
Lovitt, Chip. Michael Jordan. New York: Scholastic Books, 1999.
Summary: This book highlights the life of Michael Jordan from infancy to being one of the best basketball players that ever lived. There are some surprises in here.
For whom appropriate: 7th through 12th grade.
Teach it or circulate it: This is a great book to circulate. It would be especially a good read for those students who love basketball or any other sport.
Dense Questions: Would you have given up basketball if you
didn't make the varsity team, like what happened to Michael Jordan?
If you were the bets basketball player in the world, would you
play basketball for the fun of it and risk hurting yourself, like
Michael did? Do you think Michael really was only a one-man show
on his team, the Chicago Bulls?
Lowry, Lois. A Summer to Die. New York: Bantam Book,
1977.
Summary: Meg goes through many struggles during her thirteenth year. She must find out who she is through traumatic changes such as moving and her sister's illness and death.
For whom appropriate: 5h through 9th grades.
Teach it or circulate it: This is a good book to circulate. It would be especially beneficial to girls who are going through changes like moving, sibling rivalry, or a family illness or death.
Dense Questions: How is Meg's sibling rivalry similar to those you have with your family? How can a traumatic change. Like Meg having to move, benefit you in the end?
Thematically related literature: After the Rain, Norma Fox-Mazer. Toning the Sweep, Angela Johnson.
Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Laurel Leaf, 2002. (Summary and questions created by Sandy Ludwig)
Summary: This is a story about a young boy named Jonas. The book takes place in a utopian community that is completely organized and controlled. Each year, students in this community are presented with their roles in the community which they will perform until old age. When Jonas is assigned to be the next Receiver, he begins to learn about the way life used to be, including colors, feelings, pain, and emotions. These discoveries lead Jonas to question his community and his future in it.
For Whom Appropriate? 9th-12th Graders
Teach it or circulate it? This is an incredible book that all students should read at some point, so it could most easily reach all students if it is taught. This would also be a great way to introduce the ideas of utopian/dystopian societies because it is a not as challenging as some others, like 1984 or Brave New World.
Shaded or Dense Questions: What are some appealing aspects of this utopian society to you? What do you believe is text is implying about government control?
More Dense Questions: Have your parents ever lied to you about an important issue like Jonas's father does? If you were Jonas, what questions would you ask the Giver about society?
Related Literature: Animal Farm, 1984 by George Orwell; Brave New World by Aldous Huxley; Anthem by Ayn Rand; Lord of the Flies by Sir William Golding; Utopia by Thomas More; Gulliver's Travels by Jonathon Swift.
Lynch, Chris. Iceman. New York: HarperCollins, 1994.
Summary: This is a story about a fourteen year old boy, Eric, who is a characteristically ruthless hockey player. He comes into conflict with himself as he tries to reconcile his own needs with those of his parents. The story deals with relationships between brothers, friends and parents.
For Whom Appropriate? 8th-10th grades
Teach it or circulate it? This would be a good book to circulate. It is a very powerfully written story that deals with issues of a troubled family. It would be a great option for a student who has trouble staying on task with the regular class curriculum.
Dense questions: If you were a counselor what would you suggest to Eric to help him deal with his inner rage? Do you know anyone like this? How do you act around them?