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On Overcoming Racism...
-To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee...even though this book has been on the required reading list for most high schools for the past fifty years, it deserves its spot on the list.-The Help by Kathryn Stocket...set in the deep South during the Civil Rights era
-The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie...a Native American student leaves the reservation to attend school and doesn't really fit in either world.
On technology...
-Feed by M.T. Anderson...this book is all about consumerism and technology run amok. It is an important topic for teens to consider and discuss together.
-1984 by George Orwell paired with its modern retelling, Little Brother by Cory Doctorow, for a look at current technology uses that are really "big brother-ish".
-The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams...just because it is hilarious!
On censorship and book banning...
-Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury...book banning to its extreme-Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher...a modern look at censorship
Dystopian Societies...(Cautionary tales!)
-The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood-Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Histories...
-The Book Thief by Markus Zusak...set during WWII-The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver...the detriments of colonialism in Africa
Americana...
-The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain...the great American Novel!!!
-The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald...the beginning of the Jazz era
-Casey at the Bat by Ernest Thayer...poem about baseball... http://youtu.be/X-2lXQQcXb8
On Growing Up...
-Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson or 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher...books on dealing with tough topics.-Lord of the Flies by William Golding...disturbing look at negative peer pressure.
-Staying Fat for Sarah Brynes by Chris Crutcher...accepting people who are different
-The Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Green...belonging and acceptance
-The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton...finding one self
Nonfiction...
-Night by Ellie Weisel...WWII holocaust-The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass
Classics...
-Shakespeare-Odyssey and Iliad by Homer
-The Divine Comedy by Dante
-Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen...not as a required read for school, "but just so that girls can see that romantic men existed before Edward Cullen." -quote from my daughter, Carly
You have a fantastic list there and I love the way you have split it up. I have read most of these books and loved them. A few are on my TR list.
ReplyDeleteWow wonderful list. I have some of the same books on mine. I have not read The Sledding Hill but am a huge fan of Chris Crutcher and almost added Crazy Horse Electric Game, which is one of my favs by him. Also thought about Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes.
ReplyDeleteLove your lists and categories! We really need to pick up The Help. Movie's coming out soon!
ReplyDeleteAwesome book choices. I am having a great time reading this particular list on various blogs! I also will include Speak, Hunger Games, and Sherman Alexie!
ReplyDeleteGreat categories (I did a similar thing)! I loved The Handmaid's Tale as a teen- I can't believe I don't own it.
ReplyDeletelol- for P&P. Nice list.
ReplyDeleteThis is great list! I have a few on my TBR that I need to get to. Looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing :)
I haven't read some of these so I can't voice an opinion on some but I agree with you on most of them. All but Lord of the Flies. Sorry, it wasn't a favorite. I love what you're daughter says about Austen. LOL. So true.
ReplyDeleteI love how you've organized your list and that you've come up with more than 10 again. We have some of the same books, but your list is definitely more exhaustive. :)
ReplyDelete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteYour daughter Carly is very smart! But you already knew that, right? ;-)
And I'm so pleased to see Homer, Dante and Shakespeare on your list! =D
I like how you grouped your list. I need to catch up reading some of these titles myself! Definitely love hitchhiker!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful, wonderful list, Anne! And I love the way you've organized it. It's obvious you're a librarian - this is such an exhaustive list! I was intrigued by the topic but didn't have the energy to make my own list, so I am enjoying yours.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of your list that I am familiar with, and I must look into the few I haven't heard of before!
Sue
I read several of these in high school for classes. 1984 scared the tar out of me, and pretty much cemented my dislike of dystopian literature. Great mix of old and new books, nice list. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteWell thought out. I like that you divided it into categories. Impressive list. My high school English teacher had a list of 100 books every high school student should read. At once point I was working my way through them (a mimeographed hand written list...I know, I'm dating myself.) I know I still have that list somewhere. For a long time I carried it in my wallet. Some day I'll find it...
ReplyDeleteI like the categories. I think some of them overlap a little. I really loved dystopian books as a teenager myself. I think that teens get really into thinking about the different possible futures.
ReplyDeleteCome visit me at The Scarlet Letter.
You wowed me! Excellent list. Love the categories, too!
ReplyDeleteI am so incredibly glad to see Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes on this list--I read it last fall semester for my YA class and fell in love. It is an important book...and I think instead of being banned, it ought to be required!
ReplyDeleteGood call on The Poisonwood Bible. Definitely a good read for teenagers trying to learn about the world (and I loved it too!)
ReplyDeleteGood call on The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy. That is my favorite series of all time and it is sad how many people do not know it!
ReplyDelete