Senior High Novels
Beauty Queens- Libba Bray
Synopsis (from fyreflybooks)
When the plane carrying the fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream Pageant crashes into a remote tropical island, the outlook for the survivors is pretty grim. Sure, struggling for survival on the beach will give the girls the opportunity to work on their tan, but the sweat makes their mascara run, and there’s no place to plug in a blowdryer. While some girls are convinced that the pageant’s sponsors, the Corporation, will be sending a rescue party shortly, and that they should therefore continue practicing their dance numbers and Q&A, other girls see the need for more practical measures. Why Teach This Novel It's basically Lord of the Flies that started with "what would happen if a group of contemporary, beauty pageants had crashed on the island. The text itself is self-aware and self-criticizing as it satirizes consumerist mindset of western, contemporary culture. This is a great way to have students to think critically about their own lives and introduce critical literacy skills. Appropriate Grade Level/Reading Level Gr 9-12 Curriculum English 10-1 (used with Lord of the Flies) Themes -parody; satire -beauty; physical appearance -societal influences -gender constructions and expectations -ethics; principles -feminine identity -consumerism; post-modernism -corporate control |
Lord of the Flies- William GoldingLinks
Excerpt (Prologue and chapter 1) Teacher's Resource Discussion Questions Libba Bray discusses Beauty Queens: "This story is brought to you by The Corporation: Because Your Life Can Always Be Better™. We at The Corporation would like you to enjoy this story, but please be vigilant while reading. If you should happen to notice anything suspicious in the coming pages, do alert the proper authorities. Remember, it could be anything at all --- a subversive phrase, an improper thought or feeling let out of its genie bottle of repression, an idea that challenges the status quo . . ." |
Crow Lake- Mary Lawson
Synopsis (from Alberta Education)
Crow Lake is set in a northern Ontario farming community and the labs of University of Toronto. Narrator Kate Morrison is a zoologist in her late twenties who lives for her hero, her brother Matt. The book portrays realistic family battles and a painful past that gets in the way of Kate's relationship with another boy, Daniel. Eventually, Kate learns to change her views and becomes a survivor of sorts. Lawson's novel is about misunderstandings, sibling love, repressed resentment, loyalty, emotional isolation, and surviving poverty and tragedy. Crow Lake will resonate for rural readers in particular, because of the setting and culture, but it has appeal for all students. Why Teach This Novel The characters are complex and flawed, making them feel genuine to the reader. This novel explores the idea of childhood and one's past, showing how misunderstandings can turn into regret and resentment, and how our sacrifices and choices shape who we become later in life. It can be used to generate discussions about conflict, family, choices, and many more. |
Appropriate Grade Level/Reading Level Gr. 10-12 Curriculum English 30-2 Themes -sacrifice; choices -family; siblings -loss; death of parents -community; solidarity; support -misunderstanding; resentment -innocence and childhood Notes -Warnings: References to sexual relationships and domestic abuse/violence. -Alberta Education approved text Links Alberta Education Site Q and A with the Author Excerpt (Prologue) |
The Fault in Our Stars- John Green
Synopsis (From Booklist on Amazon)
At 16, Hazel Grace Lancaster, a three-year stage IV–cancer survivor, is clinically depressed. To help her deal with this, her doctor sends her to a weekly support group where she meets Augustus Waters, a fellow cancer survivor, and the two fall in love. Both kids are preternaturally intelligent, and Hazel is fascinated with a novel about cancer called An Imperial Affliction. Most particularly, she longs to know what happened to its characters after an ambiguous ending. To find out, the enterprising Augustus makes it possible for them to travel to Amsterdam, where Imperial’s author, an expatriate American, lives. What happens when they meet him must be left to readers to discover? Why Teach This Novel Green is incredibly poetic in his writing and captures those genuine moments of vulnerable emotion through the teenage characters. This is a novel of finding love and acceptance in each other, finding beauty in life, accepting the inevitability of death, and everything in-between. The students can appreciate the honesty of the characters and the frustration they go through because they are not "normal". Though, just a fair warning, keep the tissues handy because you'll need them. |
Appropriate Grade Level/Reading Level Gr. 9-12 Themes -cancer and illness -love; falling in love -death; losing someone -disappointment in role models Notes -Warnings: brief mention of sexual activity, swearing, car vandalism (they throw eggs at it), character death Links John Green's Vlog Youtube Channel “Whenever you read a cancer booklet or website or whatever, they always list depression among the side effects of cancer. But, in fact, depression is not a side effect of cancer. Depression is a side effect of dying.” |
Just Listen- Sarah Dessen
Synopsis (from School Library Journal)
Annabel Greene seemingly had everything: cool friends, close family, good grades, and a part-time modeling career in town. But it all came crashing down, and Annabel has spent the summer in shaky, self-imposed exile. She finds herself dreading the new school term and facing, well, everyone again. The last thing she wants to do is revisit old friendships while the losses are painful, the secrets behind the rifts are almost unbearable. Her solid family seems fragile, too. What happened to cause the stiff silences and palpable resentments between her two older sisters? Why is no one in her loving but determinedly cheerful family talking about her middle sister's eating disorder? . . . Caught between wanting to protect her family and her own struggles to face a devastating experience, Annabel finds comfort in an unlikely friendship with the school's most notorious loner. Owen has his own issues with anger, but has learned to control it and helps her realize the dangers of holding in her emotions. Why Teach This Novel This book has a very similar plot to Speak by Laurie Anderson in that the protagonist, Annabel, is nearly sexually assaulted at a party and is then socially isolated by her peers. She then befriends another loner who helps her through the experience. Students will identify with the fear and loneliness of not belonging to a group, but unlike Speak, there is an added level of conflict with Annabel's sister's eating disorder. Themes of self-image and how we are perceived by others make this book a deep and worthwhile read. |
Speak- Laurie AndersonAppropriate Grade Level/Reading Level
Gr 9-12 Themes -self-image; popularity -secrets -family -friendship (losing old friends and making new ones) -eating disorder -trauma; attempted sexual assault -controlling emotions; anger Notes -Warnings: non-explicit reference to attempted rape, eating disorder -fans of Sarah Dessen will find many subtle references to other characters from her other novels. |
Mean Boy- Lynn Coady*
Synopsis (from Amazon)
Earnest, small-town Lawrence Campbell is fascinated by his poetry professor, the charismatic and uncompromising Jim Arsenault. Larry is determined to escape a life of thrifty drudgery and intellectual poverty working for his parents' motel and mini-golf business on Prince Edward Island. . .Jim's magnetic personality soon draws Larry's entire poetry composition class into his orbit. . . Drawn by ambition and fascination, [other literary acolytes] assembles [themselves] fawningly around Jim, tagging along to bars, showing up at readings, thrilled to be invited to Jim's home, a shambling farmhouse in the woods where he lives with Moira, his shrewish backwoods muse. Lost in adulation, Larry is so delighted to be singled out for Jim's attention that he does not pause to wonder what Jim expects from his increasingly close relationship with the young poet.
Why Teach This Novel
I have heard many great things about this book, but I have not had time to read it yet. When I do, I will come back to fill this out.
Appropriate Grade Level/Reading Level
Themes
Notes
*I have not personally read this novel yet, but I eventually will, and will return to fill this out in detail.
Links
Earnest, small-town Lawrence Campbell is fascinated by his poetry professor, the charismatic and uncompromising Jim Arsenault. Larry is determined to escape a life of thrifty drudgery and intellectual poverty working for his parents' motel and mini-golf business on Prince Edward Island. . .Jim's magnetic personality soon draws Larry's entire poetry composition class into his orbit. . . Drawn by ambition and fascination, [other literary acolytes] assembles [themselves] fawningly around Jim, tagging along to bars, showing up at readings, thrilled to be invited to Jim's home, a shambling farmhouse in the woods where he lives with Moira, his shrewish backwoods muse. Lost in adulation, Larry is so delighted to be singled out for Jim's attention that he does not pause to wonder what Jim expects from his increasingly close relationship with the young poet.
Why Teach This Novel
I have heard many great things about this book, but I have not had time to read it yet. When I do, I will come back to fill this out.
Appropriate Grade Level/Reading Level
Themes
Notes
*I have not personally read this novel yet, but I eventually will, and will return to fill this out in detail.
Links
Uglies- Scott Westerfeld
Synopsis (from School Library Journal)
Tally Youngblood lives in a futuristic society that acculturates its citizens to believe that they are ugly until age 16 when they'll undergo an operation that will change them into pleasure-seeking "pretties." Anticipating this happy transformation, Tally meets Shay, another female ugly, who shares her enjoyment of hoverboarding and risky pranks. But Shay also disdains the false values and programmed conformity of the society and urges Tally to defect with her to the Smoke, a distant settlement of simple-living conscientious objectors. Tally declines, yet when Shay is found missing by the authorities, Tally is coerced by the cruel Dr. Cable to find her and her compatriots–or remain forever "ugly." Tally's adventuresome spirit helps her locate Shay and the Smoke. It also attracts the eye of David, the aptly named youthful rebel leader to whose attentions Tally warms. However, she knows she is living a lie, for she is a spy who wears an eye-activated locator pendant that threatens to blow the rebels' cover. |
Why Teach This Novel This futuristic, science-fiction novel explores the idea of cultural obsession with beauty and appearances. These themes are not so far removed from our own consumerist culture. This book also looks at the deeper side of government and social control as the protagonist, Tally, discovers that the price of being beautiful and fitting in with everyone else means giving up freedom of choice. Appropriate Grade Level/Reading Level Gr. 8-12 Themes -beauty; self-consciousness -control and influence of society and popular perceptions -changing one's physical look -exploration; discovery of truth -ethics; principles -government control Notes -This is part of a series: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras Links Diigo Bookmark List of Uglies Teacher Resources WebEnglish Teacher Unit Plans and Resources Uglies Discussion Questions |
Wyrd Sisters- Terry Pratchett
Synopsis (from Amazon)
When Duke Felmet kills King Verence and names himself the new King of Lancre, Verence's ghost haunts the castle and his young son is smuggled out of the kingdom and taken to a coven of three witches for protection. These witches bestow three gifts upon the baby and place him with the owner of an acting troupe. The new king is an evil one, and the entire kingdom (animal, vegetable, and mineral) expresses its displeasure. How could the witches possibly refrain from using their magic skills to meddle in royal politics, place the rightful heir on the throne, and set things right? Why Teach This Novel Pratchett's wit and humour really makes this novel enjoyable. His style is often tongue-in-cheek and sarcastic, even using footnotes in a less-than-serious manner. The references to Shakespeare provide a good illustration and discussion of allusions, satire, and contexts. This is a good text to use to show how settings, characters, and elements can be changed to produce new texts. This would also be a good time to discuss things what you can and can't borrow from original works (plagiarism, copyright, etc.). Appropriate Grade Level/Reading Level Gr. 10-12 (but would work best if students have read one or both of Hamlet or Macbeth.) Curriculum English 20-1 |
Use this annotated reading guide to help catch the allusions in Wyrd Sisters.
Themes
-satire/parody -murder; plotting -justice Notes -Alberta Education approved text -This novel is part of the "Discworld" series. The books do not have to be necessarily read in order, but characters do often reappear in other books. Links Alberta Education Site Author's Site "In the middle of this elemental storm a fire gleamed among the dripping furze bushes like the madness in a weasel's eye. It illuminated three hunched figures. As the cauldron bubbled an eldritch voice shrieked: 'When shall we three meet again?' |
The Year of Secret Assignments- Jaclyn MoriartySynopsis (from ageappropriate)
In order to improve relations between rival schools Ashbury High and Brookfield High, students in the 10th grade are assigned a pen pal with whom they are to correspond throughout the year. Best friends Cassie, Emily and Lydia begin writing to Matthew, Charlie and Sebastian respectively, and before long the six develop relationships that vary between oddly hostile through budding romance. When the kids begin to challenge each other to pull off “secret assignments”, things begin to happen that none of them expected. Misunderstandings arise that threaten to destroy the friendships that have grown out of their letters. But when Cassie is tricked and humiliated, they all join forces to extract revenge. Why Teach This Novel The characters explore self-discovery throughout the school year as they step outside of their comfort zones to get to know strangers from another school. The letter writing format is the best part, and as you read the correspondence, you become familiar with each character's tone and style of communication. This is great to show how meaning and a story can be constructed from something as simple as letters. Appropriate Grade Level/Reading Level Gr. 8-12 Curriculum Gr. 9 Language Arts 1.1 extend understanding by taking different points of view when rereading and reflecting 2.2 Discuss character development in terms of consistency of behaviour and plausibility of change 2.3 Identify ways that a change in narrator might affect the overall meaning of oral, print, and other media texts. 5.1 Analyze how oral, print, and other media texts reflect the traditions, beliefs, and technologies of different cultures, communications, or periods in history |
Themes -friendship: keeping old friends and developing new ones -love and relationships -self-acceptance and discovery -stepping outside of comfort zones -looking past initial impressions/preconceptions Notes -Warnings: references to under-age drinking, drugs, vandalism, some talk of sex, anger management issues, breaking-and-entering, mild language -Takes place in Australia -Story is told mostly through letter format Links Excerpt Two Activity Plans (designed during PSI): 1. The students will choose one key character from the novel and create a collection of 10-12 items that will describe or give clues/hints about that character’s personality, lifestyle, and preferences. If a person, who has never read the book, were to look through the collection of items, they would be able to make fairly accurate inferences about this character’s personality, habits, etc. A written reflection accompanying the collection is required to explain the reasoning behind each item. 2. What if Emily and Charlie, Lydia and Seb, and Cassie and Matthew weren’t paired together for the pen-pal assignment? What if Charlie and Lydia ended up writing to each other instead? Or Cassie and Charlie? How do you think the story would have changed or the events differed? How would each person react to the other? Do you think that the story would have ended the same way that it did? Choose one of the alternative pairs and write 3 letters from each person (6 letters total).
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