Late elementary to middle school
A- Joseph Bruchac/I- Dan Andearsen, Eagle Song, 1999, realistic fiction
A story at times difficult to read, but definitely valuable. Through the story the reader is challenged to consider prejudice and the trials of being the new kid from another ethnic group. An ethnic group that is not very common off reservations. Good for learning about the Mohawk culture, a unit to study and compare various Native American nations before reading the title has always been a wonderful experience, and an opportunity to consider the experiences of a culture not many talk about. They are still in a huge struggle and underrepresented in material taught but native of the land we inhabit. Great to pair with others listed below. Includes authentic language in the narrative. A thought provoking piece which should be accompanied by discussions and written responses about the character and his development as the plot thickens. The reader should be asked often what they would do if.... and respond in a journal. Young men can benefit through being asked to consider the importance of family, spirituality, and talking things out instead of fighting.
A-Cornelia Cornelessen, Soft Rain:A Story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears, 1999, realistic fiction
The narrator shares with the reader one young girl's experience on the Trail of Tears. Moving and at times tear jerking, the reader is left with a sense of what the experience was like. Important piece to learn about another culture, the experience of the exiled cultures, and to consider the evil of prejudice and racism. Used after a unit of study covering all the Native American nations, this novel helps the reader to truly appreciate the struggle for these people during this shocking voyage. Written as a narrative, the dialogue and narrator allow us to feel the experience and understand the events. A great source for analyzing character development and feelings. Readers should explain how the character feels and give details from the text to support their answers. Also, an assignment can be to summarize the historical events surrounding the story. A great resource to pair with non-fiction research about the Trail of Tears and to discuss fiction versus non fiction formats on a serious topic. This can be pairred with Eagle Song to have a complete picture of the Native American experience in history and in recent years. We should remeber that these groups still live on reservations suffering great poverty and are not represented in the mainstream culture.
The narrator shares with the reader one young girl's experience on the Trail of Tears. Moving and at times tear jerking, the reader is left with a sense of what the experience was like. Important piece to learn about another culture, the experience of the exiled cultures, and to consider the evil of prejudice and racism. Used after a unit of study covering all the Native American nations, this novel helps the reader to truly appreciate the struggle for these people during this shocking voyage. Written as a narrative, the dialogue and narrator allow us to feel the experience and understand the events. A great source for analyzing character development and feelings. Readers should explain how the character feels and give details from the text to support their answers. Also, an assignment can be to summarize the historical events surrounding the story. A great resource to pair with non-fiction research about the Trail of Tears and to discuss fiction versus non fiction formats on a serious topic. This can be pairred with Eagle Song to have a complete picture of the Native American experience in history and in recent years. We should remeber that these groups still live on reservations suffering great poverty and are not represented in the mainstream culture.
A-Nicholasa Mohr/I-Ray Cruz, Felita, 1999, realistic fiction
This novel tells the story of a young girl from Puerto Rico who must move and is promised she will like her new neighborhood in New York City in the 1970's. The plot is about her adjustments and the ridicule she and her family face in the new neighborhood due to bullying and prejudice. Realistic conversations communicate the tone of the prejudice she faces and make this book a great resource for discussing the topic of bullying and stereotypes. Her parents' reactions along with her siblings reactions to the events in the neighborhood make this a great resource for studying relationships and point of view. Additionally, cause and effect along with alternate endings can be considered at the points when the tension grows. Readers can be asked if they would do what the family did in the end when they returned to their old neighborhood.
High School
A- Vera Bristol , Anya's Ghost, 2011, contemporary fiction, Graphic Novel
An entertaining story about a high school student who must contend with her multicultural family and being a teenager. The authentic Russian foods her mother creates are not what a teenager who is worried about their weight would like. Therefore, there is a lot of discussion possible around her culture and who she needs to make happy- her or her mother. Also, peer pressure can be discussed and the importance of appearances. The reader follows her as she helps the adults in her family learn English, copes with the difficulties of being in high school. At times the story is a little creepy as the ghost in the story is very vividly portrayed through the illustrations and the speech bubbles. The teacher should ask students to consider why a ghost appears to her and what it teaches her. The language and the format allow the reader to focus on the issues not the vocabulary.
Another excellent read for students to consider all the themes/conflicts common to being in high school. An inviting text being presented through a different modern format will encourage more reading and the illustrations depict the characters with great detail drawing the reader in to think more deeply.
A- Vera Bristol , Anya's Ghost, 2011, contemporary fiction, Graphic Novel
An entertaining story about a high school student who must contend with her multicultural family and being a teenager. The authentic Russian foods her mother creates are not what a teenager who is worried about their weight would like. Therefore, there is a lot of discussion possible around her culture and who she needs to make happy- her or her mother. Also, peer pressure can be discussed and the importance of appearances. The reader follows her as she helps the adults in her family learn English, copes with the difficulties of being in high school. At times the story is a little creepy as the ghost in the story is very vividly portrayed through the illustrations and the speech bubbles. The teacher should ask students to consider why a ghost appears to her and what it teaches her. The language and the format allow the reader to focus on the issues not the vocabulary.
Another excellent read for students to consider all the themes/conflicts common to being in high school. An inviting text being presented through a different modern format will encourage more reading and the illustrations depict the characters with great detail drawing the reader in to think more deeply.
A-Art Spiegelman, Maus, 1986, historical fiction, biography
Set in Nazi Germany this is the story of the author's father and his survival of the holocaust as told through mice. While retelling the events, the format of the text allows the reader to understand without being overwhelmed by the events. An important topic presented in a modern format. Retelling events is a possible task to use with this text. Possibly use with Diary of Anne Frank to compare and contrast two different experiences, as she was not successful in escaping but Mr. Spiegelman was. Some study of informative text on the events in Nazi Germany should be included. The vocabulary and presentation allows the reader to focus on the difficult theme. A stirring experience would be to pair this text with The Trail of Tears as one can compare plot and events, the experience of each character, and the impact of format on the stories of these individuals.
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