I teach high school English and I am responsible for the entirety of 10th grade which is world literature (no British or American works). Our school requires summer reading. When I got the job, I inherited the previous teacher's choice of Things Fall Apart. This was…not great. A fine book for adults, not so much 15 year olds, especially reading at home with no guidance.
I was in a crunch for choosing the next year's book so I chose a classic that parents would be less likely to come at me for since it's been taught for decades. I ended up choosing All Quiet on the Western Front. It was okay. The kids were bummed with how depressing it was but it's short enough that they managed it. The themes are thankfully right there in your face so that was a plus.
But, I would like for my kids to have something truly interesting to read over summer and preferably something in their age range. My issue is I have zero time to find and read more diverse novels that are appropriate and wouldn't be challenged by admin. If I can get admin on board, they'll fight parents for me on letting the kids read it. An example of something I probably couldn't get past parents or admin would be anything by Khaled Hosseini. Wonderful books and probably something they should read in their lifetimes but not something I can send home.
So, has anyone read any books, preferably YA but doesn't have to be, that are from "world" authors? Or even if the author is British or American or has that in their cultural history, the topics and settings are from other non-Western cultures or settings? I would like something at or under 400 pages to be manageable for 15-16 years olds at home.
by AbjectCap5555
4 Comments
*The Scarlet Pimpernel*
*#1 Ladies’ Detective Agency* or *44 Scotland Street* (by Alexander McCall Smith)
Look up Nnedi Okorafor. She’s Nigerian-American, if I remember correctly, and has written both adult and YA fantasy and sci-fi books.
Some Canadian recommendations that are or have been on the main or approved alternate curriculum reading list for teens in Canada.
The Keeper of the Isis Light by Monica Hughes. A classic YA sci-fi that explores themes of belonging, self-acceptance, xenophobia, and colonialism taking place in space
Rilla of Ingleside by LM Montgomery. A classic YA from the perspective of a young girl who reaches dating age about an hour before WWI is declared. It’s unusually funny for a war book that also explores the realities of war and separation. Set in a small village in PEI
Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Set in India, the ocean, Mexico, and Canada. My kid read it this year for school and liked it a lot more than he liked most of the other options.
Oh man things fall apart was my freshman summer reading too, I hated it
Here’s two I might suggest
– Red Scarf Girl is a memoir of a kid going through the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Both educational, accessible to young teens and I at least found it engaging when we read it in school for summer reading
– The Power of One: takes place in South Africa in the 40s, I also read this one in highschool. Mc deals with bullying and learning to box with the background of all that’s going on in South Africa during that time period. There’s also a fun film adaptation students may like to watch after