How about When I was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago. I taught that to low 10th graders.
Kaylee: Can I? Zoe: Sure. He's out, though. Kaylee: He did this for me, once.
'Safe'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
ChiKat - May 16, 2012 7:03:49 am PDT #18717 of 28326
That man was going to shank me. Over an omelette. Two eggs and a slice of government cheese. Is that what my life is worth?
Hil R. - May 16, 2012 7:07:50 am PDT #18718 of 28326
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian?
Fred Pete - May 16, 2012 7:16:59 am PDT #18719 of 28326
Ann, that's a ferret.
Emma
Could include two days devoted to a movie version. Clueless as a demonstration that those old books are relevant to people today?
I don't remember reading any novels in 7th grade English. The Red Pony was 8th grade, although I remember it as a collection of loosely related novelettes and novellas.
What time of year would this be taught? If second quarter, one of Dickens's Christmas works (A Christmas Carol isn't the only one) might be an option.
It's been a while since I've read any of the shorter Trollopes. Some of them do have female protagonists, but I'm not sure they're the type of women that today's 7th grader would like to identify with. (Still re-reading The Prime Minister, and Emily Wharton-Ferdinand Lopez story standing on its own might work if it didn't involve abridging. And the theme -- the dangers of getting involved with Mr. Wrong -- could be a useful hook for adolescent girls. In a way that won't make parents squirm -- unlike Dangerous Liaisons.)
Polter-Cow - May 16, 2012 7:17:58 am PDT #18720 of 28326
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian?
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
ChiKat - May 16, 2012 7:18:22 am PDT #18721 of 28326
That man was going to shank me. Over an omelette. Two eggs and a slice of government cheese. Is that what my life is worth?
Other thoughts:
Diary of Anne Frank (the play or the book)
A Raisin in the Sun
Our Town
The Importance of Being Earnest
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
Lord of the Flies
Flowers for Algernon
The Joy Luck Club
Night
DavidS - May 16, 2012 7:24:41 am PDT #18722 of 28326
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Other thoughts:
These are all the books that Emmett considers to be Incessantly Depressing, for the record.
Polter-Cow - May 16, 2012 7:27:44 am PDT #18723 of 28326
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
The Importance of Being Earnest is depressing?
Burrell - May 16, 2012 7:30:23 am PDT #18724 of 28326
Why did Darth Vader cross the road? To get to the Dark Side!
These are all the books that Emmett considers to be Incessantly Depressing, for the record.
Well not The Importance of Being Earnest I assume?
Kat - May 16, 2012 8:07:19 am PDT #18725 of 28326
"I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret." Leigh Bardugo
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian?
Fun book, but appropriateness for an entire class of 7th graders? Questionable.
If you are doing trade fiction, consider Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.
The Importance of Being Earnest would be a stretch for most 7th graders. It's a stretch for many 11th graders (difficulty with richness of language as well as the different type of reading a play requires).
DavidS - May 16, 2012 8:09:50 am PDT #18726 of 28326
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
The Importance of Being Earnest is depressing?
No, not that one. I don't think he'd appreciate Oscar Wilde though.
But the Diary of Ann Frank, and Lord of the Flies both bummed him out and now he dreads his English class.