I’m a high school English teacher in an inner-city school. Last year, I decided to make my kids buy/check-out/steal a book and read it. We chose to do Stephen King’s “The Shining”, but it proved to be too long and difficult. I want to do it again this year, but with a book that may prove to grab their attentions better than “The Shining”. Any suggestions? I think a book of short stories would be good, but I have some paramaters I need fulfilled:
The book needs to be available in a school library (as long as the school has it available, I’m allowed to have my kids read it…I don’t care if there is some ‘adult’ language or situations as long as it doesn’t go overboard and I get complaints)
It has to be available in soft-cover (I don’t want to make them spend more than $8.00 or so)
It has to be interesting! Most of these kids don’t read anything. They all read well below grade level (they’re freshmen), so nothing too advanced, but I want it to be at a level that challenges them.
My first choice is going to be “Stranger in a Strange Land” by Robert Heinlein. That might be to complicated for them, but I read it when I was 13 and it changed my whole world view.
How about The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper? It’s interesting, has a great plot, and draws heavily on Welsh mythology, which might be fun to cover a bit as well.
Or, in another book centered around a character named Will, The White Mountains. Excellent adventure, a but more sci-fi, and freaked me out when I read it.
Well I know quite a few Girl books but not much more. How about Romiette and Julio. Its like romeo and juliet but more modernized, Computers,high school,and gangs. Also they dont die in the end.
also maybe “To kill a Mocking Bird” I read it in my 8th grade gifted class. We all liked it but found it a little difficult. If your kids are a year older than we were, they will probably like it.
somebody reminded me of Bridge to Terabithia from a recent thread.
I would be leery of Sci-Fi at this stage, its a bit too specfic for an entire class. Maybe one of the classics like One flew over the Cuckoos nest or Catcher in the Rye
Please, not the Catcher in the Rye. I despised that book when I read it, and I think that in my class the year we read it there were two types of people, those who loved it and those who hated it.
I’d try to steer away from some of the classics - a lot of times those are really tough reads. The short-story idea sounds great, especially one with a mixture of stories because even if a student hates one of the stories, they may really like another.
I don’t know a lot of short-story books that might appeal to that age group, though. I’ll do some thinking and see what comes to mind though.
One book I enjoyed as a teen was Don’t Care High by Gordan Korman. A funny book that revolves around high school kids. Also The Princess Bride was really fun to read. If you’re looking for short stories, and don’t mind sticking with Stephen King, he’s got several short story collections out there. Personally, I like Skeleton Crew and Night Shift the best, but he’s got other regular short story collections, and a few novella collections too (Four Past Midnight, Different Seasons and The Bachman Books). As Lsura already said, going with short stories may offer the best way to give everyone something they like (and hate!). Short stories may offer more opportunities for discussion too, since your students could compare stories that explore similar themes in different ways. Good Luck!
How about Roots? I read it in middle school, so I don’t think it would be too difficult for freshmen reading a little below level. It’s a good story and you learn a lot of history painlessly. And it’s basically a true story.
A Stephen King selection a bit easier than The Shining might be 'Salem’s Lot, if you want to go that route. His Night Shift collection isn’t difficult and has some good scares.
What about the Harry Potter books? Would they consider them too juvenile?
A young adult selection I have read myself and found interesting and engaging is Music From a Place Called Half Moon. Its main theme is Indian integration in 1950s North Carolina. Amazon says it’s for grades 6-10. Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
The Dark is Rising is a great book. I was also going to suggest Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. They recently began marketing it as a YA novel, although it really wasn’t written for children originally. All kinds of great issues… war, fitting it, getting involved wth something that seems harmless but has unintended consequences…
I’ll second The Princess Bride and To Kill A Mockingbird. I’d nix Bridge to Terabithia, though – my 12-year-old nephew, who dislikes leisure reading, had a hard time getting interested in that. I’ve never read it – take my opinion with several grains of salt.
Actually, the only book I recall him really digging was the first Harry Potter. Hm.
Oh – meant to mention. I’m reading Michael Chabon’s Summerland now, and it’s fantastic. Great older kids’ book. His writing is very engaging, as his book The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay, but it’s on an appropriate level for children.
I was thinking of a book I recently read called “The contender” I’m pretty sure it was meant for about a 9th grade level. Pretty good, about boxing and drugs and such , but interesting enough for a girl to keep reading
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton? I remember loving that book when I was young. It was fairly easy to read. There was a movie based on the book if you wanted to show it after the reading. I think that boys and girls would find it interesting.
I was a big Paula Danziger fan back in my middle school years. If your freshmen read below standard freshmen levels, it would be appropriate. Her books are funny, to the point, easy to relate to as a teen. I would recommend Can You Sue Your Parents For Malpractice? or This Place Has No Atmosphere.
Another suggestion is Tim Sandlin. I read Skipped Parts by him recently and it was great. It has some mature themes to it (meaning it talks about gasp sex). The main character and the style of the book reminds me of Catcher in the Rye. But much more modern and less whiny and bitchy (I hated Catcher in the Rye when I first read it).
Also, if you want to stick with Stephen King, try getting them to read a story out of Different Seasons. Three of the four stories have been made into movies–Apt Pupil, Stand By Me, Shawshank Redemption. The stories are shorter than his novels, and would probably be a quicker read for your students.
I definitely second “The Outsiders” S.E. Hinton. Very entertaining, and not too hard to read.
I also second one of the novellas from Different Seasons (I think you can find and buy Apt Pupil on its own- not sure about the others), especially The Body. Nothing I can think of to first.
Yep. It’s with Brad Renfro and Ian McKellan, and, despite a different ending from the story (understandable choice, and almost as effective), it’s actually very good.
