Novel Review Information Eighth Grade Honors

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1 Title Author Educational Value Sensitive Content Animal Farm (GCA) George Orwell aka Eric Blair Animal Farm offers a depiction of a world in which personal freedom is non-existent. Personal freedom is relevant in contemporary society, giving students the opportunity to connect with relevant global concerns. The educational value is in the author s use of dystopian ideas to provide students the opportunity to deconstruct, analyze, and compare different types of government. Dystopian Imperialism Historical accuracy Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 offers an illustration of a dystopian society that shuns critical thinking, especially through the reading of books. Censorship is central to the storyline, warning readers to be careful of technology and education. The educational value in Fahrenheit 451 is in the use of the author s dystopian society providing students an opportunity to estimate and predict the future of America if censorship is allowed to pass unchecked. Dystopian Censorship Imagery

2 Giver, The Lois Lowry The Giver is a dystopian novel that gives readers a glimpse of what it would be like to live in a society where major life decisions are made for all citizens. The key to the attempt at Utopia is sameness, which assures that all children through the age of 12 will advance in the same time frame. Students are able to evaluate the abstract ideas of sameness vs. individuality and the benefits and downfalls of each. Students weigh the value of making critical decisions on one s own, as well as the ease of having decisions made for them. Dystopia Family structures Freedom of choice Great Expectations Charles Dickens The novel explores the coming of age of a young boy during the British Industrial Revolution. Students will explore Dickens unique syntax and imagery in order to further enhance their own writing style. Language Ambition Self-improvement Social class differences Crime (guilt vs. innocence)

3 Hobbit, The (GCA) J.R.R. Tolkien The first of Tolkien s novels, The Hobbit explores the journey of Bilbo Baggins on his quest to reclaim treasure from Smaug. Baggins faces many challenges along the way, facing his personal fears as he leaves the comfort of his shire. This representation of the fantasy genre is an archetypal study of traditional elements of the hero s journey. The vivid imagery and complex character development add to the notable elements of this book. The Hero s Journey Good vs. evil The effect of greed Hound of Baskervilles, The (GCA) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle This whodunit follows the classic Holmes and Watson format. The novel explores the mystery surrounding the death of Charles Baskerville. The lore of a hound-like beast and its involvement with the Baskerville family brings Holmes to Devonshire to solve this perplexing case. Students explore the structure of detective fiction and the significance of characters, setting, and plot. Students also build historical context by exploring the views and mores of the later Victorian era ( Truth vs. fantasy Classicism and hierarchy Superstition and folk tales The red herring

4 Miracle Worker, The William Gibson This play introduces students to the elements of modern drama through the inspirational true story of Helen Keller, a blind, deaf, and mute girl and her teacher, Annie Sullivan. Students learn how to draw inferences regarding characterization, tone, and plot development. None Triumph of the human spirit Teachers can transform lives Perseverance can lead to success and redemption Night Eliezer Wiesel This memoir introduces students to a first-hand account of the Holocaust as the narrator and his father fight for survival through their time in a number of concentration camps. Students learn how to make cross-curricular connections. Language Survival Family ties/bonds Finding light in the darkness Struggle to maintain faith Inhumanity Tradition

5 Raisin in the Sun, A (GCA) Lorraine Hansberry A Raisin in the Sun portrays an African American family living on the south side of Chicago. This drama examines the family dynamics and significance of family during the racially tense 1950s. Students explore dramatic elements in this American classic and discuss the nuances between reading a play versus a novel and the impact of viewing a play versus reading one. Students also explore dynamic characters and their interactions with one another. Language American Dream Racial prejudice and identity Family dynamics Significance of family and home Red Pony, The John Steinbeck The Red Pony features a young adolescent, Jody, who embodies both a rebellious spirit and the need for acceptance. During the novel he experiences four moral lessons. While birth and death are experienced throughout the novel, there is a sense of loss present in the mood. Father/son relationships Loss Birth and death

6 Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson This adventure novel follows young Jim Hawkins, who as a teenager in the 1790s finds himself in possession of a treasure map that holds the location of pirate booty. Jim sets sail in search of the treasure with a host of characters, including Long John Silver, who starts out as an amicable sea cook, but then transforms into dangerous pirate leader looking to take the treasure for himself. Students will explore the elements of literature, explain details of the time period as well as use challenging vocabulary. Search for heroic role models Futility of Desire Wednesday Wars, The Gary Schmidt This Newberry Award-winning, coming-of-age story follows the adventures of a 7th-grader during the school year in Long Island, NY. While all of his friends are attending religious education classes on Wednesday afternoons, the main character must spend the time with his English teacher. The English teacher introduces him to Shakespeare, which in turn becomes the vehicle for life lessons for the protagonist. The novel presents cross-curricular opportunities for history/social studies, since it is set during the Vietnam War, as well as Shakespeare summaries and character references. Personal transformation The power of literature Love and friendship

7 Midsummer Night s Dream (GCA) William Shakespeare A Midsummer Night s Dream is a light-hearted comedy that centers around a love triangle. Romantic confusion enshrouds the characters as they fall in love. Hermia won t marry Demetrius because she yearns for Lysander, but her best friend, Helena, loves Demetrius. Students will recognize the concept of comedy and possibly connect with the idea of catharsis. Love s challenges Dreams Comedy