Our librarian told me yesterday about a book called A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey, which details the struggles of a black teenager going to a poor high school in Washington DC who makes it to Brown University and succeeds. It's going to be the state of Maryland book for 2008, apparently, a book that will be handed out at festivals and a book around which several events will be planned. She suggested it for 9th grade summer reading, and put a copy in my hands today. I'm only on page 20, but I'm already really emotionally invested in the story, to the point where I'm getting weepy-eyed. This kid could have been my student. Adding to the interst for me is that the subject is the class of 1995, exactly my age. I think I'm going to push for this being the book, along with one international book choice (thanks for the suggestions!) and one book for Social Studies.
With the latter in mind, I've been charged with finding an option to put alongside The Alchemist and Ender's Game that is a little more female-focused - a novel about ideas, spirituality, philosophy or existentialism in some way, but with a female protagonist. And, understand I'm asking this question without ever having read Ender's Game. Any ideas? The last ideas were really good.
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You could try Sophie's World, by Jostein Gardner, though it's really much more about philosophy (written as a story) than it is a work of literature. My high school students love it, however.
Or A Heart of Stone (though the end is just plain heart-breaking), by Renate Dorrestein.
Neither are American, by the way.
Don't have a suggestion- but had to chime in that I LOVED Ender's Game. Its an awesome book! And then if you throw in the Ender's Shadow it becomes even more amazing. Orson Scott Card is by far one of my favorite authors. He also has a column that he writes for that happens to have have a lots of book suggestions. You can find it on his website. Not sure if that will help or not.
Since Hope in the Unseen (which seems a bit dated as a work of non-fiction since it is over 10 years old - no matter how wonderful it is) is not international, does this mean you are freed from that restriction?
If so, I'd recommend Octavia Butler's Kindred. I think it fits what you were describing to a tee.
If you were still going for international, my other thought was something by Margaret Atwood - like The Handmaiden's Tale, but I can't remember how much, if any sex, is in it?
EIB:
I think the summer reading assignment is in three parts: a book that everyone reads (that would be "Hope in the Unseen"), then from a selection of international coming-of-age texts for English (I'm not having a problem filling these options out), then from a selection of texts (I don't think he cares if it's international or not) for Humanities that have to do with existentialism or spirituality. It's for the latter that I'm currently looking.
As for Kindred, I love it... but it's a summer reading text for 10th grade (American Literature). I was considering Butler's Parable of the Sowers, which I haven't read but seems interesting. A Handmaid's Tale is a book we do with advanced seniors... I think it's too tough for not-quite 9th graders.
And, as for a non-fiction book being dates, I think good non-fiction stands the test of time. Plus, I think it can really get kids connected to the community. Check out this email from the director of the program:
I’m so happy to hear of your interest in One Maryland/One Book. I have been inviting Maryland schools, public libraries, colleges/universities/community colleges and, frankly, any other interested organizations to join in One Maryland/One Book by planning related programs. The programs can be anything from reading and discussion to film screenings to writing workshops—basically, whatever and organization feels best matches the needs and interest of its members/patrons/staff. We’re very excited given that this is the first time for a statewide community reading project in Maryland, and we specifically selected this book with adults AND high school students in mind.
And I must say your timing is impeccable! I just found out on Monday that a sponsorship from Bank of America will allow us to provide copies of “A Hope in the Unseen” to all Baltimore public high schools, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. It would be wonderful if (your school) chose Maryland’s One Book for its Freshman Reading Program. Without question it is an inspiring and thought-provoking read for students.
Here’s what’s on tap as far as programming and support materials…
One Maryland/One Book will officially kickoff on Saturday, June 14 here in Baltimore. First Lady Katie O’Malley is our honorary chair.
Community programs will take place around the state in August, September and October.
The author and protagonist of the book (Ron Suskind & Cedric Jennings) are both scheduled to be at the Baltimore Book Festival on September 26 & 27. The Friday program will be an event specifically for students—final details TBD.
I am scheduling programs for Ron & Cedric at other locations around the state as well.
The Enoch Pratt Free Library is planning events at almost every branch (no confirmation yet on the exact number), so there may be a tie-in for students there as well. In fact, there will be programs offered through almost all public library systems in the state.
A Teachers’ Guide is being created. The Guide should be available electronically early next month and in hard copy by late May. Copies will be free to all interested educators. Right now, I can only tell you that the structure of the Guide will be broken down in the fashion of assignments—certain number of pages, accompanying background and vocabulary for those pages, etc., and then the next “assignment” in the guide will follow the same pattern to the end of the book.
There will be posters, bookmarks and other promotional materials, as well as a website.
Those are the high points. Please let me know if you have any other questions—I’d really love to have (your school) on board for this project. I hope to hear from you again soon!
I agree with Atwood being a great get...but if you're looking at transition books for 9th graders, you probably can't go wrong with something by Kingsolver, eh?
The problem with female protagonist stories that come to my mind that fit the grade level such as "The Lighthouse", or anything by Chopin, is that they aren't exactly "The eyes are watching God" books - I don't see anything I've listed as being related to coming of age stories, or tying in with Inner-City experiences - hence...What the female protagonist coming of age stories I used to read in Michigan are NOT what my kids are interested in here in Milwaukee.
On a side note, Tigers won last night, Milwaukee lost. I had some fun with that. It'll be your turn soon :)
I have to say, I'm actually surprised you'd never heard of A Hope in the Unseen. But, now that you know, if you ever do get the chance to see either Ron Suskind or Cedric Jennings speak, they are phenomenal.
Yeah, it totally seems like something I should have heard of. It's right up my alley.
Of the books mentioned, I have only read SciFi (or SF rather) by Butler; and I've read Handmaid's Tale, & Ender's Game (as well as the sequels to it). I agree they are too young for Atwood's book. The protagonist in Ender's Game is a young boy, not a girl. Ender's Game might be timely in some ways: Card often writes around the theme of the innocence of youth taken away much too soon; In this case the book is also about humanity's response to its possible extinction by an outside force & society's consumption of its youth in warfare & about the consequences of a war fought remotely. It is not, however, related to the inner city experience.
In case it wasn't obvious in my prior, I really like Ender's Game and other works by Card. I would heartily recommend this book for any thinking person.
Thank you, Epiph. I regularly read your blog, not only because you're a fellow Tigers' fan, but also because you're a city teacher who loves his job. (I don't know where you teach, but I only hope it's at the high school where, in two years, my only baseball-playing student will attend.)
I'm a middle school special educator who works with students on math goals -- we split up our middle school classes this year to provide a smaller class size for a first-year teacher, and I love my current mixed-bag of students, all of whom are struggling with math, and all of whom regularly work very hard for me.
One of these students, a 16-year-old 8th grader (yes, I know ... no comments necessary on that statement, please), has a deal with me that she completes her math work for me to my satisfaction, and then can spend some time reading. She loves to read. I'm going to take a look at "A Hope In The Unseen" for her.
Please keep up the literature discussion. Although I have only posted once or twice before, I regularly review your suggestions to offer to my older students as extra-curricular reading.
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