Author: Harper Lee
 Title: To Kill a Mockingbird

Summary: The novel tells the story of the lives of Scout and her brother, Jem, children growing up in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Along with their summer friends, Dill, the children become entranced with the ideas of getting a glimpse of their reclusive and unseen neighbor, Boo Radley. Meanwhile, their attorney father, Atticus Finch, has decided to defend Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accursed of raping a local white woman, Mayella Ewell. The children get caught up in the trial, in which Tom is convicted and eventually killed trying to escape from prison. Jem and Scout become the targets of Bob Ewell, the father of Mayella who tries to kill them one Halloween night on their way home from school, but Boo Radley- who the children have never seen- shows up to save them, killing Bob in the process. 

 

Explanation of why it's important: To Kill a Mockingbird teaches many valuable lessons about family, friendship, forgiveness, standing up for what is right – even if the system is against you, and about the history of the American South. We should never forget and never repeat the actions of race relations and segregation in todays society. As the story is based on real life events, it is important to show the heroes that stood up for what is right in a time where that was incredibly dangerous. This book conveys the atmosphere of the time and many cultural attributes of the South at the time, it also shows home important it is that we don’t give into the mob mentality when people are doing things to hurt other innocent people. It shows us to never judge a book by its cover and to extend compassion and maintaining peace and respect in our dealings with all people. 

 

2.

Author: Suzanne Collins

Title: Hunger Games

Summary: The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, is a country that consists of a wealthy capital region surrounded by 12 poorer districts. Early in its history, a rebellion led by a 13th district against the Capitol resulted in its destruction and the creation creation of an annual televised event known as the Hunger Games. In punishment, and as a reminder of the power and grace of the Capitol, each district must yield one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 through a lottery system to participate in the games. The 'tributes' are chosen during the annual Reaping and are forced to fight to the death, leaving only one survivor to claim victory.

 When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

 

Why is it important: The underlying meaning behind the interactions present in "The Hunger Games" taught us valuable lessons and ones that can be applied to any and all aspects of life. The importance of sacrifice is shown through Katniss’ maturity and her willingness to put others before herself. Self-sufficiency will ensure your survival, when you are put in the toughest situations, you must believe in yourself and your abilities to get you through the toughest situations imaginable. There’s nothing wrong with getting a little bit of help, and Katniss must learn this tough lesson as sometimes you cannot survive alone. Arrogance can become a big problem, and it begins as Katniss if so upset with her situation it blinds her. Perception is everything and as her perception of the situation around her changes, as well as the perception of her changes she can fight an even bigger battle than when she started. Staying true to herself until the very end, allows Katniss to become the girl on fire.

 

3. 

Author: Robert Kirman

Title: The Walking Dead, Compendium 1

Summary: Introducing the first eight volumes of the fan-favorite, New York Times Best Seller series collected into one massive paperback collection.

 In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally start living. With The Walking Dead #1-48, this compendium features more than one thousand pages chronicling the start of Robert Kirkman's Eisner Award-winning story of zombie horror, from Rick Grimes waking up alone in a hospital, his band of survivors seeking refuge on an isolated farm and the controversial introduction of Woodbury despot, The Governor.

 

Why is it important: Survivalists are everywhere, and we are all just trying to survive something. Zombies have been known to represent human’s primitive dear of predators as zombies themselves are the scariest predators. They have also suggested that zombies symbolize emotional emptiness and boredom that related to humanities fear of the idea f living a “lifeless less”, walking around bored, dead, alone, dazed. There is also the idea that all zombie apocalypse stories keep readers interested as it represents the breakdown of society as we know it, a notion about what might happen in a world where war, terrorism, disease epidemics, natural disasters, and financial collapse are real threats. These stories can be seen as a glimpse of all the possibile ways a person who could respond to a disaster and makes the reader take a look at what is really important, what is necessary for survival and how to take control for the common good. 

 

4.

Author: Markus Zusak

Title: The Book Thief

Summary: It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. 
 Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s ground breaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist – books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau. This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

 

Why is it important: The Book Thief is a powerful, emotional, suspenseful book that allows dynamic characters teach the reader an important historical lesson. The importance placed on books themselves is shown throughout the novel as we learn that reading isn’t just a matter of loving books, we must be sure not to take them for granted. Unlike today’s society, Liesel didn’t have the luxury of going to a library, online, or a bookstore to see what the newest bestseller was. She needed to steal books in order to read anything. Today we can read whatever we want at the click of a button. The portrayal of excitement and influences that the books have in the context of the Holocaust highlight just how powerful literature is. 

 

5.

Author: Rohinton Mistry

Title: A Fine Balance

Summary: With a compassionate realism and narrative sweep that recall the work of Charles Dickens, this magnificent novel captures all the cruelty and corruption, dignity and heroism, of India. 

 The time is 1975. The place is an unnamed city by the sea. The government has just declared a State of Emergency, in whose upheavals four strangers--a spirited widow, a young student uprooted from his idyllic hill station, and two tailors who have fled the caste violence of their native village--will be thrust together, forced to share one cramped apartment and an uncertain future. 
 
 As the characters move from distrust to friendship and from friendship to love, A Fine Balance creates an enduring panorama of the human spirit in an inhuman state.

 

Why is it important: The book tells of the hard life the four of them lead, how they slowly learn to know about one another, once the prejudices are proven not only wrong but sometimes destructive, once the crust of appearances and false assumptions breaks thanks to shared hardships, once they can move beyond the brazen law of mistrust which is that of the oppressor and oppressed, in a society where everything is corrupted by the all-powerful God Money. Lauren

ISNB: 978-1-55451-957-6 

 

This collection of poems, essays, interviews, and art are combined to express the experience of being a Native woman. Stories of abuse, intergenerational trauma, and stereotyping are countered by the voices of passionate girls and women demanding change and realizing their dreams. Sometimes outraged, often reflective, but always strong, the women in this book give teen readers insight into the lives of women who, for so long, have had their history hidden and whose modern lives have been virtually invisible.

 

This novel would be appropriate for the Intermediate reader because it connects our youth with a current Canadian issue of “Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women” that they may have seen often on social media. This text would work well within a cultural diversity requirement or need. The book consists of short literary pieces that are easy to read and also allow for a young reader to feel and understand the emotions that are within the words. Many youth often can connect with the feeling of not being noticed or considered important by the society around them.

 

2. Dashner, J. The Maze Runner. Delacorte Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-385-73794-4 

 
This piece of contemporary literature text is Book 1 of a young-adult dystopian science-fiction series. When main character, Thomas wakes up in a metal elevator, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone. The boys pull him out of the lift and tell him he is in the ‘Glade’, part of a maze in which they live. Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive. Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever and according to her, the last girl alive. And before she slips into a coma, the message she delivers is terrifying. “Remember. Survive. Run.” Thomas breaks rule after rule to find a way out of the maze. Rescuers break into the maze and Thomas discovers that the outside world is battling and dying from a sickness called “The Flare” and that him and the other youth were put into the maze to test strengths and durability to find the strong ones who could beat the Flare. 

 

            This novel would be appropriate for the Intermediate reader because it is fast-paced, action-packed and exciting which will keep the interest of readers. With its mystery like vibe, young reader will be drawn into the “what is going to happen next” excitement and since the language structure is easy to understand, readers of all levels can obtain success with this novel. Reading the book, feels very much like watching a movie as it is written in the third person which may help struggling readers understand the context more as they do not have to dive deep into the words or emotions to understand what is going on with the characters. There is also a popular movie that can be connected with this novel which youth may have already seen and could a prior knowledge base before reading the book.

 

 

3. Keyes, D. Flowers for Algernon. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1956. 

ISBN: 978-0-15603-008-3

 

            The continued success of this novel mixed with time gone by has moved it from once a contemporary category into a classical category that now falls under the ‘Literary Canon Text’ umbrella.  It is a character study of one man, Charlie Gordon. Charlie is a 32-year-old developmentally disabled man who has the opportunity to undergo a surgical procedure that will dramatically increase his mental capabilities. This procedure had already been performed on a laboratory mouse, Algernon, with remarkable results. Charlie will be the first human subject. Due to his increased intelligence, Charlie is able to discover the experiment's "fatal flaw" and is reduced to watching the end for both Algernon and himself, hoping to salvage something for the future from his brief bout with genius.

 

This novel would be appropriate for the Intermediate reader because the internal meanings of the writing and the style of the writing are easy for young readers to understand and connect to. Many life lessons are taught that are just as important today as when the novel was written over sixty years ago. Two lessons are expressed very strongly in this book; friends will never be forgotten, and do not judge a book by its cover which are important social concepts for youth to understand. The understanding of diversity is very important for intermediate readers to incorporate into their daily lives to help decrease judgement in our society. Getting to know people before making a judgement call by the way they look will be important for students inside and outside the classroom. 

 

 

4. Rigg, R. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Quirk Books, 2011. 

ISBN:978-1-59474-476-1

 

This Young Adult Fiction novel is Riggs's first novel. It’s an enjoyable, eccentric read, distinguished by well-developed characters, a believable Welsh setting, and some very creepy monsters. Readers are taken on the journey of self-discovery with 16-year-old Jacob, a tightly wound but otherwise ordinary teenager who is "unusually susceptible to nightmares, night terrors, the Creeps, the Willies, and Seeing Things That Aren't Really There." When Jacob's grandfather, Abe, a WWII veteran, is savagely murdered, Jacob has a nervous breakdown, in part because he believes that his grandfather was killed by a monster that only they could see. On his psychiatrist's advice, Jacob and his father travel from their home in Florida to Cairnholm Island off the coast of Wales, which, during the war, housed Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Abe, a Jewish refugee from the Nazis, lived there before enlisting, and the mysteries of his life and death lead Jacob back to that institution. 

 

This novel would be appropriate for the Intermediate reader because the writing is easy to be understood by many reading levels. The use of historical photos is interesting and helps readers to understand the physical description of the characters in the novel and their unique traits. Trying to discover where you come from is also a theme in which many youth can connect to.  

 

 

5. Robson, D.A. Sugar Falls: A residential School Story. Highwater Press, 2012. 

ISBN:978-1-55379-334-2

 

This graphic novel is based on a true story. A school assignment to interview a residential-school survivor leads Daniel to Betsy, his friend’s grandmother, who tells him her story. Abandoned as a young child, Betsy was soon adopted into a loving family. A few short years later, at the age of 8, everything changed. Betsy was taken away to a residential school. There she was forced to endure abuse and indignity, but Betsy recalled the words her father spoke to her at Sugar Falls — words that gave her the resilience, strength, and determination to survive. 

 

This novel would be appropriate for the Intermediate reader because the graphic novel design is one that connects with many readers. The well-designed graphics and easy-to-follow plot line also for instant grasping of the concepts and themes within the story. This novel also helps those that have had or have never had family involved in the Residential School system what life was like in that particular period of Canadian history and the impact that it now holds for our youth today.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This novel, written in 1925, is the story of a young, handsome and mysterious millionaire, Gatsby, and his destructive romantic obsession with Daisy, a wealthy and beautiful young woman, who always remains just out of Gatsby’s reach.  The story is narrated by Nick Carraway, a former neighbor of Gatsby’s, and  is set in the summer of 1922 on Long Island, New York, playground of the wealthy.  It is a portrait of the hedonistic jazz age, with its lavish parties, and also explores the idea of the American Dream, and it’s corruption from the ideal of working hard to build a life, to the shallow goal of getting rich.

This is a good choice for grade 10 students.  It is written in beautiful prose that is accessible to upper intermediate students.  It also deals with themes that are relevant in our world today, is full of potent symbolism and provides an excellent opportunity to discuss point of view and the reliability of a narrator.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This is an extraordinary historical novel written in 2005.  It is set in Nazi Germany in 1939, and it tells the poignant story of Liesel Meminger, a young girl who is adopted by Rosa and Hans Hubermann, after her mother leaves her and her brother dies. With the help of her loving stepfather, Lisa learns to read.  She develops such a passion for books that she steals them from wherever she can find them, and then shares the books with the Jewish man hidden in the basement, and with her neighbors during bombing raids. A unique characteristic of this novel is that the story is narrated by Death, who also explains the reasons for each character’s demise, thereby making death seem something less distant and frightening. 

This is a great book for intermediate students. It ties in with the study of the Second World War, and there is much interesting symbolism in the book, relating to freedom and expression. The novel not only demonstrates a love for books, but also serves as a reminder of their value.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

This mystical tale written in 1988, is the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy from Andalusía in Spain, who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. It is set some time in the past, before the advent of technology. The story is simply written and has the quality of a myth or fable.  Santiago’s quest leads from Spain deep into the Sahara Desert and finally to Egypt, to discover riches much different, and more satisfying than he ever imagined. The story ultimately teaches that the journey is more important than the destination.

 

This is a good choice for grade 8 or 9 students.  It can lead to interesting discussions about the importance of listening to our hearts, and the possibility of following our dreams by learning to read the signposts scattered along the path of our lives, so that ultimately we will end up in a happy and fulfilling place.  The novel is full of symbolism, and also is a good vehicle for teaching the literary device of foreshadowing. 

Olympians by George O’Connor

 Olympians is a series of graphic novels, which re-construct and re-tell classic Greek myths. The first was written in 2010 and the most recent in 2017. Each volume of the Olympians tells the story of one of the gods in the Olympic pantheon.  Each is researched extensively, relating the history behind the myth, and is illustrated in a bold, dynamic style. The stories are fast-paced, action-packed, high-drama adventures. O’Connor’s vibrant art work brilliantly fuses ancient Greek mythology and super-hero aesthetics.

 

This series of graphic novels can be read on many levels: as adventure stories and as a way to learn about ancient history.  It effectively connects timeless myths to popular culture. 

Also, as many classical literary works, as well as some contemporary ones often contain classical allusions,   understanding Greek mythology allows a much deeper understanding of other literary texts. 

 

Holes by Louis Sacher

This is a very clever and humorous story written in 1998. It is a story about crime, punishment and redemption.  It is also a tale of adventure and mystery.  The protagonist, Stanley Yelnats is under a curse, which began with his great-great-grandfather.  Now Stanley has been unjustly accused and sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the warden makes the boys "build character" by spending all day, every day, digging holes - five feet wide and five feet deep. Soon Stanley comes to realize, however, that there is something more than character building going on at the camp. The boys are digging holes because the warden is searching for something. 

This story is suitable for the lower intermediate levels. It has a very interesting and complex plot, but the writing is simple and elegant. The story is fun to read, and is relevant, as it deals with issues of privilege and race in a real and understandable way.  

 

 

 

 

Why is this appropriate? “1984” is an appropriate selection for the Intermediate reader because it deals with an overbearing government and technological advancement…two issues that are quite prominent in today’s news and mainstream media. It also deals with the idea of personal thought, and who has the right to free thinking and free speech.

 

The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood (1984)

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian and theocratic state that has replaced the United States of America. Because of dangerously low reproduction rates, Handmaids are assigned to bear children for elite couples that have trouble conceiving. Offred serves the Commander and his wife, Serena Joy, a former gospel singer and advocate for “traditional values.” Offred is not the narrator’s real name—Handmaid names consist of the word “of” followed by the name of the Handmaid’s Commander. Every month, when Offred is at the right point in her menstrual cycle, she must have impersonal, wordless sex with the Commander while Serena sits behind her, holding her hands. Offred’s freedom, like the freedom of all women, is completely restricted. She can leave the house only on shopping trips, the door to her room cannot be completely shut, and the Eyes, Gilead’s secret police force, watch her every public move.

Why is this appropriate? First off, “The Handmaid’s Tale” was writing by Margaret Atwood, an award-winning Canadian author, which adds diversity to the published selection. The book also deals heavily on the subject of free will, women’s rights, and right to sexuality. These issues, especially those concerning the equality of women in the world, are important and prominent to adolescents and are issues that need to be discussed openly within the classroom.

 

The Marrow Thieves – Cherie Demaline (2017)

In a futuristic world ravaged by global warming, people have lost the ability to dream, and the dreamlessness has led to widespread madness. The only people still able to dream are North America's Indigenous people, and it is their marrow that holds the cure for the rest of the world. But getting the marrow, and dreams, means death for the unwilling donors. Driven to flight, a fifteen-year-old and his companions struggle for survival, attempt to reunite with loved ones and take refuge from the "recruiters" who seek them out to bring them to the marrow-stealing "factories."

Why is this appropriate?  “The Marrow Thieves” was written by Cherie Demaline; an award-winning Canadian author, who is also of Metis descent. This adds more diversity to the choice of novels. “The Marrow Thieves” also bring to light the hardships and mistreatment that Canadian Aboriginals endured for centuries before the book was written, but an issue that is prominent in today’s Canadian culture. The books also deals heavily with the issue of Global Warming, something that all Intermediate students should be aware of and be able to discuss. 

 

The Walking Dead – Robert Kirkman (2003)

The Walking Dead is an ongoing black-and-white comic book series created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore. It focuses on Rick Grimes, a Kentucky deputy who is shot in the line of duty and awakens from a coma in a zombie apocolypse at has resulted in a state-wide quarantine. After joining with other survivors, including his loved ones, he gradually takes on the role of leader of a community as it struggles to survive the zombie apocalypse.

Why is this appropriate? Who doesn’t love zombies these days!? Zombies are a huge part of pop culture in today’s adolescent media. “The Walking Dead”, although violent, offers great insight into the aspects of human nature, good vs. evil, fear of the unknown, and survival. It is also a graphic novel, which adds more diversity to reading material and offers over 200 issues already printed. Leaving lots of time for students to read ahead. 

 

Ready Player One – Ernest Cline (2011)

“Ready Player One” is a dystopian novel, and as such, takes places in the futuristic setting of the year 2044, with the entire world held in the clutches of many global, economic, and social problems. Global warming, overpopulation. and mass unemployment are just some of the larger issues at hand. Many people, including the teenaged protagonist Wade Watts, use a virtual reality video game called OASIS as an escape from these hardships. The realistic simulations and developed technology allows players to immerse themselves entirely within the game. It is a type of MMORPG, or Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. The game was created by James Haliday, who had announced on his deathbed that he had left something called an Easter egg inside OASIS. To find the egg, a player must find three keys and unlock three gates. The first person to find the Easter egg would inherit Halliday’s massive fortune and the entire corporation of OASIS.

 

Why is this appropriate? “Ready Player One” is already being hailed as a cult classic and a pop culture mecca with numerous references to the 1980’s (a big era that’s rebounding in today’s social culture). The book deals with issues of government control, technology, global warming, overpopulation, and the dream of getting rich. The key point that I believe connects best with students is the idea of this dystopian society where many relegate to their online personas as a means to live the life they truly desire…something that the current video game and technologically driven era of teenagers can really relate to.

 

This 1950s novel shares 16 year old Holden Caulfield’s story as he is failing out of school and heading home for the holidays. This text looks at issues like identity, belonging, and mental health. Holden Caulfield has become a popular character in the teen literary world and the book has been a staple in the literary canon for quite some time. Many schools have used “The Catcher in the Rye” in their curriculum. I remember reading it when I was in high school and it was one of the first novels read as a whole class that I found a connection with. It deals with real issues, real feelings, and introduces the (for lack of better words) “teen-angst” world in an advanced and eloquent way. While it is a text that is sometimes challenged or deemed “banned”, I believe it deserves a place in our classrooms.

 

 

This is a coming-of-age novel centered around character Charlie and his high school experience as an outsider. Charlie struggles with loss, abuse, and repressed memories. This is a text that I often refer to as the modern day Catcher in the Rye. It tackles similar issues and personalities in a more modern way that students may identify with. This novel was also adapted into a film in 2012. I think it would be interesting to use in an Intermediate class, even alongside “The Catcher in the Rye” with activities on comparisons and similarities. The themes and ideas within both texts are not specific to their publishing date but instead are ongoing and timeless. The film can also be incorporated into the unit, activities like letter writing (as the novel is written through letters to an unknown character), and can even add a music or poetry component as Charlie creates a mix-tape throughout the story that adds an appropriate soundtrack to the novel. 

 

 

“The Hate U Give” is about Starr Carter, a girl who lives in a poor neighbourhood but attends a prep school. She attempts to balance both communities while staying true to herself. Her friend, Khalil, is killed by a police officer even though he was unarmed. The story focuses on Starr’s fight for what she believes in. This piece not only supports cultural diversity but also issues that are constantly seen in the media regarding Black Lives Matter movements. I think texts like this are important for all students to read in order to understand the struggles that many people in our societies face every single day. There is also a film adaptation being made which will hopefully be a nice addition to this work in any classroom lesson. 

 

 

Maus, a graphic novel created in 1991, visualizes a story of a Holocaust survivor. The Jews are represented as mice and other Germans as cats and pigs. It was the first graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1992. It is a, for lack of better words, painful read as it depicts a harsh reality that many faced during this time. The visuals are beautiful and tasteful as they convey such a dark story. There are many resources for this text for educators and how to implement it into a classroom novel study. Graphic novels are a nice way to support all readers in a classroom, especially the ELL students.

 

A novel about twins, Jude and Noah, who have quite different personalities from each other but both struggle with identity and family values. A major theme in the book is sexuality, as Noah identifies with the LGBTQ community but has a hard time attempting to fit into the world around him. This young adult novel has won many awards, including the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature in 2015. While I could come up with quite a few examples for this category, I wanted to note this text especially for its portrayal of the character Noah as it conveys a realistic story and struggle with identity and sexuality. Perhaps the theme of sexuality can be controversial but I think it is important to read texts that offer realities that our students are facing and support these diverse stories. 

Title: Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus 

Summary: Frankenstein is written in epistolary format, which means that it is comprised of letters and journal entries from Robert Walton, an explorer attempting to discover a passageway through the North Pole. On his journey, Walton discovers a man and a monster in an existential struggle. The man being Victor Frankenstein, a scientist whose creation is a result of his quest to obtain the power of God; and his creation, the monster, who seeks affection but is shunned from humanity because of mankind’s prejudice towards deformity of physical differences. Learning that he was created without the ability to have free will with his own feelings, the monster sets upon a quest of revenge against his creator, Frankenstein. The story of the monster’s creation and the ensuing battle unfolds as Victor Frankenstein lays dying in a cabin aboard the ship of Robert Walton; a  joyous time where the monster claims his creator’s affection and attention, yet also tragic because of the unrequited and cruel rejection of the creator. 

Explanation: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein teaches many lessons: humanity’s relationship to innovation—both our desire for it and our fear of the changes it can bring, the importance of owning up to our responsibilities, the need for companionship, and the struggle concerning science and ethics. Even though Shelley’s novel was written in 1816, the themes still remain a topic of conversation in today’s society. Specifically, one of the overarching themes of science and technology in the classic novel speaks towards what scientists today are currently studying and trying to conquer: biogenetics. Not only does this topic help to integrate other subjects such as Science, but it also assists with comparing and contrasting conversations about the present, the past, and possibly the future. 

Contemporary Literature Text

Author: Malala Yousafzai

Title: I Am Malala

Summary: Malala was only ten years old when the Taliban took control of her region. When this happened, rules were put out, mainly against women—no driving, no listening to music, no grocery shopping: many basic necessities needed to live a ‘normal’ and free life. Malala’s family is loving and encouraging and helped her fight for her right to be educated. It was this fight that almost cost Malala her life; on October 9, 2012, she was shot in the head on her way to school. Surviving this traumatic and life-changing experience, Malala has now become an international symbol for peaceful protest and an advocate for educational rights. 

Explanation: Although this is a memoir, it is important that Intermediate students are exposed to different types of literature. I Am Malala is a memoir written by Malala herself, and it provides readers an incredible first-hand experience of the triumphs and obstacles she had to face. What’s significant about teaching this novel is that it points out human brutality still present in this day and age as a result of the basic rights to education. Nevertheless, Malala’s work is a positive piece that stresses and celebrates the importance of universal education and how using fame in the right way can bring about change across the world.  

Piece of Literature that Supports Cultural Diversity

Author: Khaled Hosseini 

Title: The Kite Runner 

Summary: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini tells the story of a privileged Afghan boy named Amir, his relationship with his childhood friend Hassan, and Amir’s return to Afghanistan as an adult after it has come under Taliban rule. Although published in 2003, most of the novel’s setting takes place in Afghanistan in the 1980’s, while the other setting takes place in current day America. When in America, Amir looks back on his old life in Afghanistan and comes to the realization that everything he has done and developed in the last twenty-six years has been because of a bad choice he made in the past. As a result, Amir returns to Afghanistan to try and reconcile his relationship with old friends and make amends for what he did in the past. 

Explanation: Hosseini’s novel deals with many teaching ideas that can resonate with Intermediate students as well as connect with other courses throughout the curriculum. Ideas such as abuses of power, redemption, sacrifice, as well as the rich history of Afghanistan and its culture. This book also tests the maturity and responsibility of Intermediate students as the novel contains sensitive subject matter that all students may not be prepared for. There are many resources that the teacher can use to help students make sense of the respective subject matter and it will be a teaching and learning process together for both students and the teacher. The novel brings up many questions and concerns that are poignant throughout societies today but also provides many lessons that students can take away and apply to their own day-to-day lives. 

Graphic Novel

Author: Alan Moore

Title: V for Vendetta 

Summary: Alan Moore’s dystopic masterpiece, V for Vendetta’s takes place in a totalitarian England following a devastating war that changed the face of its citizens. The main character is a man in white mask as he fights political oppressors through terrorism and seemingly absurd acts. It is a gripping tale of the blurred lines between ideological good or evil and details a world where the political and personal freedoms are non-existent. The graphic novel encompasses mixed feelings of grief, compassion, rage, and love, stemming from the complex characters, artwork, and themes present in Moore’s one-of-a-kind work.  

Explanation: Moore’s graphic novel may be set in the 80’s, but it speaks of the fight for personal and societal freedom—a struggle current societies and cultures around the world are still dealing with today. The graphic novel would also be a great choice to use to contrast works of William Shakespeare because of the intertextuality that Moore implements throughout his work, as well as to past historical events like the Holocaust, due to the countless literal and artistic references. The graphic novel also makes for an incredible close-reading piece, as there is the challenge of understanding both the artwork and the respective literature that is involved on each and every page. 

Author: Lois Lowry 

Title: The Giver

Summary: The setting of The Giver is a world where everything is perfect; there is no pain, no love, and no emotions. The main character’s name is Jonas—he is a young boy and he is of age to receive his “assignment” for the rest of his life. Jonas is chose as a Receiver, a person who must keep all the old memories of the community from before it turned into a utopic environment. As Jonas receives from the Giver, he sees memories of fear, joy, and happiness and all of this is changing Jonas’ perspective on life and as a result, wishes to escape. If he escapes, he can save his community and return everything back to its original order. 

Explanation: One of the main themes of this book is the idea of uniformity. Lowry plays with this idea throughout the book with the hope that readers react in diverse way and hope to imagine what kind of world it would be like if it was the case. The society that the characters live in is somewhat of a Utopia and deals with government and power struggles and the advancement of technology. Many of these ideas overlap with ideals that societies around the world have and uphold today. The characters are of the same age as those students that are reading the novel so in terms of making connections, it would be easier to reflect and have discussions.  

The story centres around the relationship of two boys –Amir, a son of a wealthy Kabul merchant of the ruling Pashtuns and his closest friend Hazara who belonged to an impoverished caste. He was severed from this boy during ethnic, religious and political turmoil the country was going through. But their strong bond prompted Amir to journey to reach his friend and get past the wrongs against him and his family. The novel depicts beautifully the relationship between strong friend despite their financial and social differences with Hazara being the son of Amir`s father`s servant.  It was a heart rendering story of family, love, sacrifice against the backdrop of a war torn country –Afghanistan.

3. Save Me a Seat                            by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan(piece of literature that supports cultural diversity)

The story is about an immigrant boy, whose accent, well pressed clothes and curry lunches differentiates him from others. There is another boy named Joe who has an Auditory Processing disorder. Together these two boys are bullied by apparently the most popular boy of the class. Both have different perspectives of their bullying incidents. When Joe's mother displays affection, for everyone to see it is evident how painful it is for the boy. Ravi's confidence gradually wears away he seeks for his identity, where he is and where he belongs to. Gradually they both draw courage to build an inner strength to improve their lives in their new country.

4.. Epileptic                                           by David B. (graphic novel)

This graphic novel is about the author’s struggle with epilepsy. The story depicts how sensitive and intense it was for him considering his family had a troubled history and how illusory it was at his young age. He has described the untiring efforts that went into his treatment where they left no stone unturned, starting from acupuncture, spiritualism and macrobiotics. The author has represented graphically the whole scenario extraordinarily by balancing literary traits as well as the psychological bias that it came with.

5. Go Ask Alice                                  by Beatrice Sparks (Young adult fiction)

The book conveys a strong message about drug abuse. It is attributed to Anonymous but about a teenage girl who suffers from drug addiction and escapes from home. Although she is a daughter of a highly regarded professor, due to relocation she befriends a girl and together they get into the drug circle. They met boys who introduced them to the drug world and also used them for trade. In spite of her several attempts she cannot free herself from it and is on and off drugs. Prostitution and drugs rules her life. Eventually she is able to free herself from hospital where she was being treated. She returns home and is eventually able to free herself from drugs. She enjoys family time and gets supports from new friends. Unfortunately the diarist was found dead a few weeks before her final entry. The reason is unknown, either intentional or premeditated.

Wonder (R.J. Palacio 2012) This is a novel about growing up. The main character is heading into grade 5, yet the message that the author sends transcends grade level. This novel honors themes such as inclusivity, diversity and perseverance. Integrity and hard-ship are themes that students can relate to throughout the plot. All students can relate to one if not more of the characters crafted by R.J. Palacio. The premise of the novel is a once home-schooled boy who was born with a facial deformity. The novel takes us through his first year in school and the impact on those around him. The novel is unique because it is told from different perspectives. It reminds students that no matter how you feel-there are always two different sides to the story.

The Breadwinner (Deborah Ellis, 2000) The main character, Parvana lives in Afghanistan. It is set during the unrest of the Taliban. Parvana’s father is arrested and due to the rules of women not working, the family struggles. A decision comes that Parvana will dress and live as a boy-for mere survival and to be able to earn money. Parvana’s family begins to separate as her siblings grow up, marry and move. Paravana’s father is finally released from prison, and he and his daughter set off to find their family. There are sequels to this book. 

Harry Potter (The Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K.Rowlings, 2004) This is a book choice based on a Mental Health Project. Along with Sunnybrooke Hospital and The Royal Ottawa Hospital I have been on a team of writers to produce a unit based on the themes of this particular novel. Harry (the main character) interacts with the Dementors (depression). He interacts with others and establishes relationships with others after being isolated from his family-for being different. He engages in a ‘stress buster’-sports to assist him in his Mental Health Journey. By engaging in this novel in this light, I have learned so much more about my students and helped them develop a tool kit to assist them in their own Mental Health Journey. 

Freak the Mighty (Rodman Philbrick, 1993) This novel is a journey of the two most unlikely friends. One is a large, considered ‘slow’ learner boy who is being raised by his grandparents because his father-who is now in jail, killed his mother. The other friend was born with a rare genetic disorder making him small in stature. He is brilliant, inquisitive and set for an adventure. The two together become an entity called, ‘Freak the Mighty’. Together they battle to world and we as the readers learn many lessons about life, happiness and what a family is truly.

Hatchet (Gary Paulsen, 1987)-The Main character, Brian is involved in a plane crash. The pilot and co-pilot both die in the crash. All are considered dead and the crash is not located by the search party. The novel follows Brian’s quest for survival in an unknown space-thought to be Northern Canada due to the inhospitable conditions. Brian learns about himself and his abilities throughout his journey to wait for rescue. Students enjoy this book due to survival components in the wilderness and many life threatening encounters.

This novel, which is narrated by Scout Finch, daughter of a local lawyer Atticus Finch, takes place in Alabama during the Great Depression. The novel is follows Scout, her brother Jem, who are both fascinated by the local haunted Radley Place house, and the man, Boo, who lives inside. Boo leaves little presents for Scout and her brother in a hallowed out tree, but he is never seen. Scout and Jem’s father takes on a new client, who happens to be African-American named Tom Robinson, who has been falsely accused of rape by Caucasian Mayella Ewell. Although Mayella has lied about being raped by Robinson, he is convicted and sentenced to jail. A few weeks later, Tom is caught trying to escape from jail and is shot. Mayella’s father, furious with being vilified in the trial, attempts to get his revenge on Atticus by killing Scout and Jem. However, Boo Radley comes to the rescue and saves the children, and killing Mr. Ewell in the process. Scout repays Boo by saving him from a murder trial by telling the police that Mr. Ewell fell onto his knife. 

I think this is a good text to use with intermediate students as it deals with racism and growing up, which are prevalent topics and issues for students at this age. It also deals with issues of morality, ethics, and the importance of sticking up for what you think is right, which are all important topics for students to explore at the intermediate level. 

 
Contemporary literature text

Summary: August ‘Auggie’ Pullman is a 10 year-old boy who has a cranio-facial abnormality. He has been homeschooled his whole life, but his parents decide to send him to a regular school in grade 5 due to the limitations of what his mother is able to teach him, and to learn to thrive in a world where not everybody will be your friend. This story follows Auggie through his adventures in his Grade 5 year- the bullying, making and losing friends, and finally his acceptance into his class.

This text would be appropriate for an Intermediate audience as not only does it highlight the aspect of bullying, which is a prevalent topic at this age level, but being resilient and persevering through tough times. This book also illustrates how just one person can change and affect something big, which could be inspiring for students at this age to hear. 

 
Piece of literature that supports cultural diversity

Summary: This story, written in verse, follows Lupita and her family who move from Mexico into the USA. While when them first immigrate to the US, her family is they are ready to establish themselves, however Lupita’s mother is diagnosed with cancer, placing a strain on the newly immigrated family.  The mesquite tree acts as an escape for Lupita, who is often left in charge of the rest of her family, despite only being a senor is high school. This story explores both the families’ heritage (Mexican), as they try to adjust to American culture. 

This text would be appropriate for an Intermediate audience as it deals with situations that some students may deal with, and has a modern character of a similar age. It also explores the narrative of a family’s immigration story, and can teach the students about a culture and language that they may not have been exposed to.  It also shows Lupita’s development as a character, and how Lupita maintains her self-identity in the midst of dealing with a family crisis, which could be an encouraging for students dealing with issues.

Graphic novel

Summary: This graphic novel tells the story of Cece, who is staring at a new school, and also has a hearing aid. At her previous school, her entire class has hearing aids, so she did not stick out as she does at her new school. All Cece wants is to have friends at her new school, but her phonic ear makes her “different”, and many students distance themselves from her. However, Cece soon finds out that she can not only hear her teacher while she is teaching, but her “Phonic Ear” allows her to hear her teacher no matter where she is, and she begins to consider this a superpower. Soon, Cece becomes more confident in herself, and becomes comfortable in challenging those who see her as too different to be a friend, and eventually Cece finds a friend who does not care about her differences, but helps her embrace them. 

This text is appropriate for an Intermediate audience as it allows the students to experience what it was like to grow up hearing impaired, which is something many of them would not have experienced, or know about. It shows how a young girl overcame her perceived setback of having a hearing aid, and the importance of making friends who empower you and your weakness, not ignoring you due to it.  It also exemplifies how you can take something that is often looked at as a weakness, and turn it into a strength, or a superpower. 

 
Young adult fiction text

Summary: This novel takes place in a dystopian future in the nation Panam, made up of 12 districts. The Panam government (Capitol) is totalitarian, has an abundance of wealth, and rules over the 12 districts, who all vary in wealth. The novel follows Katniss Everdeen, who is from District 12, the poorest of all the districts. Two ‘tributes’ from each district participate in a Capitol run, televised spectacle called “The Hunger Games” as a punishment for a rebellion in the past. In the Hunger Games, there can only be one winner, and that winner is the last tribute alive. Katniss selflessly take the place of her younger sister, who was initially chosen as District 12’s tribute, and is forced to battle to the death. Katniss outsmarts and out-wits her opponents, despite being from a “losing” district. 

I think that this book would be appropriate for an Intermediate audience as this text deals with a variety of issues, but the ones I think students could engage with most is the youth empowerment and totalitarian societies. It is also important that the story includes a strong female protagonist, which is an important thing for female students, as well as male students to see. 

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a text which uses a farm setting to discuss the events which led to the Russian Revolution and the leadership of Stalin. It is best described as a satirical text which goes against the leadership of Stalin, the dictatorship and Stalinism as an ideology. This is all portrayed through the farm animals. The animals are all based on significant historical individuals. I would select this text for the Intermediate reader at the grade 10 level due to the cross curricular expectations being met in both history and civics. I believe that it is a book that everyone should read. It is a great text to use for discussing metaphors and the purpose of satire.  

Contemporary Literature Text

The Help by Kathryn Stockett was published in 2009 and I would consider it to be a wonderful contemporary literature text as well as a great movie (for those who enjoy the incentive of watching the movie after a novel study). It is about the lives of black women who were working in the homes of wealthy white families in Mississippi at a time when civil rights was at a peak. I would use this for Intermediate readers as it discusses themes relating to racism, historical ills, and social justice. It would compliment a study of To Kill a Mockingbird or give students an option between the two due to similar themes.

Cultural Diversity

Parvana’s Journey by Deborah Ellis is a great book set in Afghanistan. With the Taliban in control Parvana seeks to find her siblings and mother following the death of her father. Along her journey she encounters other children who have been impacted by the war too. This book was brought to my attention by an ESL learner in my class from Afghanistan last semester who gave me his copy and told me I had to read it (which he made sure I did since he asked daily for a week so we could talk about his home country). I would use it in an Intermediate classroom as it discusses the role of gender as well as the impact of war on children/youth. This book can lead to great discussions about perseverance, human rights, bravery and the persistence needed to survive. 

Graphic Novel

Maus by Art Spiegelman is a graphic novel which is well suited for a grade 10 English class. It would be a great text to use in cross curricular expectations with a Canadian history class due to the depiction of the holocaust in the form of a graphic novel. All characters are portrayed as animals and would be interesting to note any comparison with Animal Farm and the effectiveness of this idea. It is based on interviews that he had with his father who was a Holocaust survivor. It is an interesting text as it includes numerous different classifications. It would be an interesting discussion as to how it could be seen as history, fiction, and nonfiction. I like the thought of questioning what is history? What is not history? Can history be taught through a graphic novel? A video game? I would like to use this text to explore what is literature and whether graphic novels can be considered good literature. Themes to be explored include antisemitism, memory, human rights, and guilt. 

Young Adult Fiction

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton is a great young adult text about two rival gangs and a series of events including a murder, a fire in church, and confrontation with the law. It is a great choice to include in an Intermediate classroom due to the discussion of socioeconomic status, gang violence, crime and the impact of poor decisions. It is a great coming of age story which is suitable for grade 9/10 English classes.