Texts & Materials
WHAT ARE WE READING THIS YEAR?
This year, we are going to be reading some of the greatest stories of all time. These three: The House on Mango Street, The Hunger Games, and Romeo & Juliet, are stories that the WORLD loves and knows by heart. They are referenced in pop culture, in the media, and discussed throughout your college experience.
The House on Mango Street
The Hunger Games
Romeo & Juliet
WHY DO WE HAVE TO READ THESE TEXTS?
We read whole class novels and plays so that we may have a common experience together. When we can experience a story together, we can discuss the big life questions that the story makes us think about, we can argue about decisions made by the characters, and we can enjoy the surprises, thrills, and tragedy together as a community.
These books have stood the test of time. They have brought discussion, debate, controversy, and teach lessons across the generations that have read them.
WHY CAN'T I JUST READ WHATEVER I WANT?
YOU CAN! And you SHOULD!
There is absolutely no stopping you when it comes to independent reading. In fact, these three stories won't take up your entire year's worth of homework (there's plenty of time in between!) so make sure to keep a long running list of other books that you are excited to experience. Reading whole class novels DOES NOT MEAN YOU STOP READING OTHER THINGS! The books we are reading serve a specific academic purpose for us -- your reading for fun and enjoyment should never stop. When in doubt, check out All Time Favorite Young Adult Books! on YouTube to see what's new and what you might like. Almost all of these books are available in the library -- if you can't find what you're looking for, just let me know and I'll make sure we find it!