On My Bookshelf: Shooting Kabul by N. H. Senzai

The basic plot from Amazon: In the summer of 2001, twelve year old Fadi’s parents make the difficult decision to illegally leave Afghanistan and move the family to the United States. When their underground transport arrives at the rendezvous point, chaos ensues, and Fadi is left dragging his younger sister Mariam through the crush of people. But Mariam accidentally lets go of his hand and becomes lost in the crowd, just as Fadi is snatched up into the truck. With Taliban soldiers closing in, the truck speeds away, leaving Mariam behind.

Adjusting to life in the United States isn’t easy for Fadi’s family and as the events of September 11th unfold the prospects of locating Mariam in a war torn Afghanistan seem slim. When a photography competition with a grand prize trip to India is announced, Fadi sees his chance to return to Afghanistan and find his sister. But can one photo really bring Mariam home? Based in part on the Ms. Senzai’s husband’s own experience fleeing his home in Soviet controlled Afghanistan in the 1970s, Shooting Kabul is a powerful story of hope, love, and perseverance.

Why I liked it: Shooting Kabul is set in a time period similar to The Kite Runner. Fadi's family flees Afghanistan because of the Taliban’s increasing control over the country. The family lived in the United States while their father attended university, but returned to Afghanistan to help rebuild the country after the Soviets’ control ended. With his degree in agriculture, he helped rid the country of opium and plant crops. At first the Taliban seemed to be a force of positive change, but as their control increases, it becomes dangerous for their father to remain. The night of their escape is full of peril and in one terrible moment, the youngest sister is separated from the family and left behind in Afghanistan. The family joins extended family members living in the Little Kabul area of San Francisco. Fadi feels uncomfortable at school, but makes a few friends in the photography club. I appreciated the realism of the family's struggles to assimilate and start over in the United States.

Classroom application: September 11th occurs shortly after the family settles in San Francisco. There is increased hostility and violence toward Muslims and individuals mistaken as Muslims. Students could research the treatment of these groups following September 11th and many of the misconceptions about the Islamic religion.

Connections could also be made with the current refugee crisis in Syria. Students could explore the process of seeking asylum.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Shooting Kabul  for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

On My Bookshelf: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

The basic plot from Amazon: Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Why I liked it: Lola and the Boy Next Door, similar to Isla and the Happily Ever After, has an overlap in characters. Anna and Etienne, the main characters in Anna and the French Kiss, work at the same movie theater as Lola. At the end of Isla and the Happily Ever After, Lola and Cricket show up in Paris before going to see Cricket’s twin sister Calliope perform in the Olympics.

I appreciated that the novel moved away from the stereotype that the boy is always the heart breaker in teenage romances. While I don’t like to see anyone’s heart broken, the reversal of roles was refreshing. Lola’s indecision hurts both Max and Cricket.

Classroom application: As a competitive figure skater, Calliope does not lead a normal teenage life. She and her family move often to be with the best trainers, so Cricket is her closets friend. Students could research the challenges of Olympic athletes or teenagers in competitive sports.

The novel is set in San Francisco , specifically the Castro, the neighborhood I stayed in on my most recent trip to the city so I loved recognizing the names of real places, restaurants, etc. The novel could serve as a mentor text with students researching a place and then using real details about the place in a fictional story.

The twins Cricket and Calliope are related to Alexander Graham Bell, who Cricket describes as a fraud who didn't actually invent the telephone. Students could research the controversy and make a decision for themselves. The topic could lead to an argument essay or a debate.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of  Lola and the Boy Next Door for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Classic Literature for the Secondary Classroom: 10 Titles Still Worth Teaching

Classic literature is considered classic for good reason; its characters are relatable and its themes are timeless. If you are making additions to or revising the reading list for your English Language Arts course, here's 10 classic literature titles that are still worth teaching in middle school and high school.

1. Night by Elie Wiesel
While perhaps the most well known piece of Holocaust literature, this literary nonfiction is also a coming of age tale. Elie's struggle with his relationship with his father, with his faith, and with his own identity are ones most teenagers face. Wiesel tells his story in simple language and remains fairly objective even in the most painful moments. To supplement my unit on Night I use variety of resources to help students make a personal connection with the Holocaust, such as assigning them the identity of a real Holocaust victim and looking at how food (or lack of) was used as means of control in the ghettos and camps. As not to limit my students knowledge of the holocaust and genocide to a single experience, I also use excerpts of Night as part of a larger unit on genocide.

2. Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck

The classic novel has a simple plot, but it is impossible not to connect with the characters' plights. During my novel unit, I review many literary terms: conflict, setting, characterization, theme, symbolism, foreshadowing, mood, etc. Because it is short, it is a great choice if you have to do all of your reading in class or if you are trying to build up independent reading stamina with your students. I usually assign at home reading and then review key scenes with close readings in class. There are also several film versions, one old, two newer ones, and even a film of the play version of the novel. Watching one is the perfect opportunity to practice Common Core standard #7.

3. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
The Pearl is a classic story about love, ambition, and hubris. The novella's accessible language and structure are unintimidating (it's only 96 pages!), but students can dig deep and work on skills like analyzing symbolism, characterization, and conflict. During our unit, my students make their own reading guides, construct symbolism flipbooks, read nonfiction paired texts, and practice literary quote analysis. They make connections to income inequality in our own society and imagine ways that Steinbeck's story could have ended differently. They also enjoy creating skits reenacting dramatic scenes, which is always good for adding laughter to a serious book!
*Recommended by Danielle @ Nouvelle ELA

4. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
The Killer Angels is a fictitious account of the Battle of Gettysburg from the perspective of several generals from each side. It's an interesting book to teach because of the characterization of each of the generals, but also because Shaara's novel is controversial and has some problematic scenes. Older students can grapple with questions of author bias and deification of certain historical figures. This novel is also fantastic for inspiring creative writing. My students write a letter home from a chosen general and imagine what "version of events" that character might share with a loved one. They also work on close reading, character sketches, and creating found poetry. I love to see the creativity that comes out of this unit.

*Recommended by Danielle @ Nouvelle ELA

5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird is a unique classic that can be taught from countless angles with a focus on any number of literary elements. The way Harper Lee portrays the events of Maycomb County through Scout’s innocent six-year-old eyes is brilliant. Every time I read this novel with students, we peel away deeper layers of meaning. Although the story itself is somber, we all walk away from the novel feeling a greater sense of empathy and compassion for our neighbors. While many students are bored with classic novels, most of my kids finish this one and actually recommend it to others. When I teach To Kill a Mockingbird, my students always enjoy paired text activities. We dive into human rights articles and Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches, for instance. There's certainly no shortage of fiction and nonfiction texts with similar themes of prejudice, discrimination, acceptance, and love. I incorporate presentations and jigsaw research projects that make the novel relevant and memorable for teens. Because of its historical setting, this novel is also a perfect text to use as the basis of a cross-curricular study.
*Recommended by The Reading & Writing Haven

6. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Lord of the Flies focuses on the true, dark, inner nature of humans. Without rules and society, who would we really be…savages? While the characters are young boys, William Golding has a way of making their experience on the island applicable and interesting to readers of all ages. Because the plot is similar to other stories and texts (the show Survivor, the book Hatchet, and the movie Castaway just to name a few), it’s fun to make connections as we read. Plus, the author omits just enough details to create a suspenseful, eerie mood while forcing readers to make sense out of details and fill in the gaps of meaning for themselves. I’ve taught this novel with both seniors and sophomores, and at each level, I’ve implemented versions of a survivor simulation. The details change every year, but students enjoy the competition of voting people off their team in an effort to crown an ultimate survivor at the end of the novel. Many of the emotions the students feel throughout the simulation mirror those the characters experience in the book. The options for engaging students kinesthetically and creatively as well as for using STEM challenges are endless with this approach.

*Recommended by The Reading & Writing Haven

7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Students love to imagine themselves in the waves with Pi as he sets out on a magical voyage. Along with Pi they also learn what it is to be fully human, to face challenges with humor, wisdom and originality. Students love this story because it draws on their unique skills, beliefs and imagination to fully explore escapades few have encountered, yet teens tend to crave. Their love for adventure weaves together with active solving problems skills through 100 neuro-related tasks that engage both sides of their brain through multiple intelligences responses as they read Life of Pi.
*Recommended by Ellen Weber - Brain Based Tasks for Growth Mindset

8. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The cultural idea of Frankenstein permeates popular culture, from children's cartoons to parodies-- but it how well does it match up with the actual story? The opportunity to examine the original text and compare to the cultural idea is a great tool for engaging students in this classic, if somewhat challenging, old text. There are also other ideas to explore with students, such judging based on appearances (great for personal writing) or how the story would have ended different if the female monster had been finished (a fun alternate ending project!) Imagery, setting, Gothic horror, and frame story are just some of the literary elements in this story, but students can also discuss what are the responsibilities of a creator (or parent) and whether the creature is good or evil (and if that changes in the story). For an added level of comparison, it's fun to include the 1931 Boris Karloff film, which is both short while still providing higher-level thinking and analysis writing.
*Recommended by Ms. Dickson, High School English on a Shoestring Budget

9. Animal Farm by George Orwell
Could George Orwell see into the future? His novel Animal Farm is certainly relevant in today’s world where the line between fact and fiction is more difficult to distinguish than ever before. This classic explores pertinent themes including the use of language to deceive others, the inevitable corruption of absolute power, and the manipulation of the less educated. The novel can be taught as an animal fiction story or satirical allegory, thus, appealing to a range of student levels. Even the most reluctant readers will enjoy this imaginative tale narrated by talking animals. Instead of reading quizzes, I use a trashketball game to review and assess students' learning.
*Recommended by Kim, OCBeachTeacher

10. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
My aunt gave me a boxed set of The Chronicles of Narnia when I was in 4th grade. I loved it! (And I still have it.) The fantasy aspects, the adventures, the realistic squabbling among Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, the mystery of Aslan -- all appealed to me. So when The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe became part of the curriculum at my school, I was thrilled and designed a project to give my ELLs practice in writing good descriptions. They didn't know what Turkish Delight was and since it's an important part of the novel, I bought some for them to taste. After they each ate a piece, the students brainstormed adjectives to describe the candy. From the list that was generated, they picked three adjectives and used a graphic organizer to write details about each one. Then the students turned the information on their organizers into paragraphs about Turkish Delight. They followed up by "publishing" their paragraphs as podcasts, which they really enjoyed creating.
*Recommended by Susan at The ESL Nexus

On My Bookshelf: Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

The basic plot from Amazon: If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling.

Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off.

Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist.

Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

Why I liked it: In Every Last Word the main character suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but displays more obsessive assumptions than compulsive ones. Samantha fixates on boys that she likes, imagines interactions with them that never occur in reality, and sees possibilities for relationships where there are none. Her compulsions center around the number three. She scratches the tape on the driving board three times before diving into the pool and she can only park when the number on her odometer ends with a three.

Samantha also suffers from high anxiety, much of it caused by her "perfect" group of friends. Similar to the group of friends in Before I Fall, Samantha's friends are the most popular girls at school; they're pretty, inseparable, and exclusive. The girls are also bullies. They are a stark contrast to the group of friends Samantha makes in the Poet's Corner, a group of individuals who are diverse, caring, and supportive.

In the novel, there is a lot of focus on the relationship between Samantha and her therapist. Their relationship was critical to Samantha's well being. Her therapist was able to see through Samantha's lies (as a trained professional should be able to do), but also treated Samantha like an adult. When Samantha stops taking some of her meds, her therapist works out an alternative plan rather than just reprimanding her or insisting she continue taking them. It is her therapist who first recommended writing to Samantha, a activity that becomes very cathartic for her.

Classroom application: The novel would be a perfect addition to literature circles focused on mental health issues, friendships, or the power of writing.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of  Every Last Word for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here. Note: The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Reflecting & Recharging: Preparing For An Even Better Next Year In The Classroom

This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about reflecting on this school year and recharging for the next one. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed their successes from this year. Teachers also shared the things they'd like to improve upon next year.

Read through the chat below to learn what other teachers will be doing over the summer to for professional development. You'll get ideas about what to add to your personal and professional reading lists. You'll also find advice on how to relax over the summer.

This is our last chat for the 2016-2017 school year, but we hope you'll join us again in July when we start preparing for the 2017-2018 school year. We'd also love for you to join our 2ndaryELA Facebook group (even if you aren't on Twitter). 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

On My Bookshelf: The Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin

The basic plot from Amazon: On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated Navy base at Port Chicago, California, killing more than 300 sailors who were at the docks, critically injuring off-duty men in their bunks, and shattering windows up to a mile away. On August 9th, 244 men refused to go back to work until unsafe and unfair conditions at the docks were addressed. When the dust settled, fifty were charged with mutiny, facing decades in jail and even execution.

The Port Chicago 50 is a fascinating story of the prejudice and injustice that faced black men and women in America's armed forces during World War II, and a nuanced look at those who gave their lives in service of a country where they lacked the most basic rights.

This thoroughly-researched and documented book can be worked into multiple aspects of the common core curriculum, including history and social studies.

Why I liked it: Just like Steve Sheinkin's other nonfiction works, The Port Chicago 50 reads like
a good story. The author used interviews to write this narrative nonfiction about a little known event in history. The book highlights the issues surrounding segregation in the military and Thurgood Marshall, who went in to become a Supreme Court justice, is an important character.

Classroom application: The book could be used as part of a history unit on WWII or the Civil Rights Movement, read during Black History Month, or incorporated into a unit on heroes.

The book would connect well with other real life or fictional court cases: the Scottsboro boys, Tom Robinson's case in To Kill a Mockingbird, or even the film A Few Good Men. Students could also research the most common reasons for honorable discharges over time.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of  The Port Chicago 50 for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.
Note: The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Reflecting & Recharging

Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven & Kristy, 2 Peas and a Dog host #2ndaryELA on Twitter every Tuesday evening from 8 - 8:30 PM EST. #2ndaryELA is a weekly chat for secondary English Language Arts teachers focused on a topic. Every Sunday, we post the topic and questions on our blogs to allow you to prepare for the upcoming Tuesday evening's chat. Thank you to everyone who joined us last week and we hope that you will join us again.

Looking for the recap? Click on the image below.

We'd also love for you to join our 2ndaryELA Facebook group, even if you aren't on Twitter. 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

On Tuesday, May 9, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about reflecting on this school year and recharging for the next one.

The Format:
8:00 Intros: What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: What were your greatest successes this school year?
8:10 Q2: What do you hope to improve upon for next year? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: What are your personal and professional plans for summer 2017? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: What is on your personal and professional summer reading lists? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: Share your best advice for having a relaxing summer. #2ndaryELA

The Directions:
1. Log into Twitter on Tuesday from 8-8:30 PM EST.
2. Search for tweets with the hashtag #2ndaryELA in the search bar. Make sure to click “All tweets.”
3. Introductions are for the first 5 minutes.
4. Starting at 8:05 (@literarymaven or @2peasandadog) will post questions every 5 minutes using the format Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. and the hashtag #2ndaryELA.
5. Respond to questions using the format A1, A2, A3, etc. with #2ndaryELA.
6. Follow any teachers responding and who are also using #2ndaryELA.
7. Like and respond to other teachers' tweets.

You can schedule your responses to the questions ahead of time using a scheduler like TweetDeck or HootSuite (but don't forget to use A1, A2, etc. and #2ndaryELA). Links are encouraged, so be sure to use a link shortener like tinyurl, bitly, goo.gl or ow.ly Just visit one of those links and paste your long link to shorten it for Twitter. Using images is also encouraged when relevant.

New to chats? Here are the rules:
1. Stay on topic & stay positive!
2. Please do not post or promote paid products unless specifically asked.
3. If you arrive late, try to look through other posts before beginning.
4. Feel free to just read, like, and/or retweet.
5. Always use our hashtag #2ndaryELA, including in your replies to others.
6. Make sure your twitter feed is set to public. (Also keep in mind that Twitter is completely public – that means students, parents, and administrators can and will read what you tweet.)

Be sure to spread the word to any teacher friends who might be interested in joining us as well. We look forward to chatting with you Tuesday evening and in our 2ndaryELA Facebook group!

Get caught up on past chats here:

On My Bookshelf: I Don't Want to Be Crazy by Samantha Schutz

The basic plot from Amazon: A harrowing, remarkable poetry memoir about one girl's struggle with anxiety disorder.

This is a true story of growing up, breaking down, and coming to grips with a psychological disorder. When Samantha Schutz first left home for college, she was excited by the possibilities -- freedom from parents, freedom from a boyfriend who was reckless with her affections, freedom from the person she was supposed to be. At first, she revelled in the independence. . . but as pressures increased, she began to suffer anxiety attacks that would leave her mentally shaken and physically incapacitated. Thus began a hard road of discovery and coping, powerfully rendered in this poetry memoir.

Why I liked it: I wasn't crazy about I Don't Want to Be Crazy (no pun intended) because of its lack of character development. There was very little exposition and introduction of characters or setting before Samantha heads off to college and her mental health issues escalate. From there, the plot mainly consists of pain attacks and bad relationships.

The book does paint a clear picture of what a panic attack looks like which might be reassuring to a student who suffers from them. The book could also serve as a warning to young women headed of to college about the realities of relationships in college. Too many young men (and I'm sure some young women) are looking for quick and easy, no strings attached, leaving behind many a wounded heart.

Classroom application: Because of the rampant drug use in the book and the few sexy scenes, this would be a high school only recommendation, and even then, likely only for certain students. An excerpt illustrating what a panic attack is like could be used during a unit about mental health issues.


If you are interested in purchasing a copy of  I Don't Want to Be Crazy for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.