My high school students love a good story and are eager to discuss the hardships and shortcomings of favorite characters. However, by the time they reach my class, their interest in picking up a book has waned. A common answer for the age-old question: “What’s your favorite story?” is Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief, typically read in middle school. The older works I have hold little of adventure. Many have sympathetic characters, but my students are so far removed from the time period, the similarities are often missed. When I’m able to introduce characters and/or situations that they as readers can be pulled into or relate to, I find they won’t put the book down. Their willingness to discuss literary topics increases. Their written responses carry more depth.
I have selected two novels that I believe will reach my students interests. The first is The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett. This novel will bring back the fantasy adventure story many of them love. Additionally, it offers the themes: coming of age, self-identity, anti-bullying, and acceptance. This book is about standing up for the weak even when you are unsure of how to do so. The second novel is Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts. This novel takes place in small-town Oklahoma, paralleling with where I teach. For my students, this story will be culturally and socially relevant. The themes include self-identity, acceptance, family, and redemption. This book is also about standing up for others, including yourself, and being there for others.
These products offer my students more variation in their literary choices. My goal is to remind them that literature offers amazing characters and situations, but equally, my goal is also to push them to be thought-provoking and to speak and write with purpose.
About my class
My high school students love a good story and are eager to discuss the hardships and shortcomings of favorite characters. However, by the time they reach my class, their interest in picking up a book has waned. A common answer for the age-old question: “What’s your favorite story?” is Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief, typically read in middle school. The older works I have hold little of adventure. Many have sympathetic characters, but my students are so far removed from the time period, the similarities are often missed. When I’m able to introduce characters and/or situations that they as readers can be pulled into or relate to, I find they won’t put the book down. Their willingness to discuss literary topics increases. Their written responses carry more depth.
I have selected two novels that I believe will reach my students interests. The first is The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett. This novel will bring back the fantasy adventure story many of them love. Additionally, it offers the themes: coming of age, self-identity, anti-bullying, and acceptance. This book is about standing up for the weak even when you are unsure of how to do so. The second novel is Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts. This novel takes place in small-town Oklahoma, paralleling with where I teach. For my students, this story will be culturally and socially relevant. The themes include self-identity, acceptance, family, and redemption. This book is also about standing up for others, including yourself, and being there for others.
These products offer my students more variation in their literary choices. My goal is to remind them that literature offers amazing characters and situations, but equally, my goal is also to push them to be thought-provoking and to speak and write with purpose.
Read more