Anchor Text Titles
Book Title: The Epic of Gilgamesh by Unknown
Good Reads Description
Miraculously preserved on clay tablets dating back as much as four thousand years, the poem of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, is the world’s oldest epic, predating Homer by many centuries. The story tells of Gilgamesh’s adventures with the wild man Enkidu, and of his arduous journey to the ends of the earth in quest of the Babylonian Noah and the secret of immortality. Alongside its themes of family, friendship and the duties of kings, the Epic of Gilgamesh is, above all, about mankind’s eternal struggle with the fear of death.
Our Reasoning
We chose this epic to show students where stories originated from and how they all follow the common pattern of a Hero’s Journey. This will help set the pace for traveling the world in literature over the next 90 days.
Book Title: Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
Good Reads Description
Sophocles' Oedipus Rex has never been surpassed for the raw and terrible power with which its hero struggles to answer the eternal question, "Who am I?" The play, a story of a king who, acting entirely in ignorance, kills his father and marries his mother, unfolds with shattering power; we are helplessly carried along with Oedipus towards the final, horrific truth.
Our Reasoning
We chose this play to closely examine rhetoric within the characters’ speeches as we move from ancient literature to medieval literature.
Book Title: Dante’s Inferno by Dante Alighieri
Amazon Description
Dante's Inferno. An epic and searing poem, that takes the reader on an intense journey through the darkest pits of hell. As important and classic as the day it was written over 600 years ago. Dante's Inferno is one of the best and enduring works of Western Civilization. The immortal drama of a journey through Hell. Belonging in the immortal company of Homer, Virgil, Milton, and Shakespeare, Dante Alighieri's poetic masterpiece is a moving human drama, an unforgettable visionary journey through the infinite torment of Hell, a supreme expression of the Middle Ages, a glorification of the ways of God, and a magnificent protest at the ways in which men have thwarted the divine plan. One of the few literary works which has enjoyed a fame that was both immediate and enduring, The Inferno's power has not been lessened or obscured after six centuries. It confronts the most universal values—good and evil, free will and predestination—while remaining intensely personal and ferociously political, for it was born out of the anguish of a man who saw human life blighted by the injustice and corruption of his times.
Our Reasoning
We chose this novel to help students explore the “big questions” associated with human nature, evil, redemption, goodness, and sanctity.
Book Title: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Amazon Description
Things Fall Apart is the first of three novels in Chinua Achebe's critically acclaimed African Trilogy. It is a classic narrative about Africa's cataclysmic encounter with Europe as it establishes a colonial presence on the continent. Told through the fictional experiences of Okonkwo, a wealthy and fearless Igbo warrior of Umuofia in the late 1800s, Things Fall Apart explores one man's futile resistance to the devaluing of his Igbo traditions by British political and religious forces and his despair as his community capitulates to the powerful new order.
Our Reasoning
We chose this novel to depict an aspect of the African experience.
Book Title: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Good Reads Description
Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and soul-stirring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago, who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried near the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Romany woman, a man who calls himself a king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the right direction for his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or whether Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles in his path; but what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of treasure within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.
Our Reasoning
We chose this novel from a South American author that provides content of Magical Realism.
Book Title: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Common Sense Description
Parents need to know that although this film -- an adaptation of graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi's critically acclaimed memoir about growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution -- is animated, it's aimed at adults. There are many references to the atrocities (mostly executions and bombings) of life before, during, and after the revolution. Several scenes involve secret parties during which secular Iranians drink and smoke; as a teenager living in Europe, Marjane also drinks, smokes, tries hash, and sleeps with two guys (at one point, feeling suicidal, she also takes lots of pills). If teens are interested, they'll learn a lot about the harsh realities of life in an oppressive culture. It's worth noting that there are two versions of the film: The original is in French with subtitles; the other is dubbed in English.
Our Reasoning
We chose this graphic novel for students to experience a different type of genre exploring an Iranian teen’s experience in addition to being non-fiction.
Book Title: Julius Caesar by Shakespeare
Amazon Description
Based on Plutarch's account of the lives of Brutus, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony, Julius Caesar was the first of Shakespeare's Roman history plays. Presented for the first time in 1599, the play reveals the great dramatist's consummate ability to explore and express the most profound human emotions and instincts. So clearly and urgently does it impact its insights into history and human behavior, Julius Caesar is traditionally among the first of Shakespeare's plays to be studied at the secondary-school level.
In addition to its compelling insights into the human condition, Julius Caesar is also superb drama, as Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators hatch a plot to overthrow Caesar, dictator of Rome. After Caesar is assassinated, Mark Antony cleverly turns the crowd against the conspirators in one of the most famous speeches in literature. In the civil war that follows, the forces of Mark Antony and Octavius Caesar eventually win out over the armies of Cassius and Brutus. Humiliated and desperate, both conspirators choose to end their lives. These tragic events unfold in a riveting dramatic spectacle that also raises profound questions about power, government, ethics, and loyalty.
Our Reasoning
We chose this play for students to experience Shakespeare and his universal and timeless themes.
Book Title: Night by Elie Wiesel
Good Reads Description
Born in the town of Sighet, Transylvania, Elie Wiesel was a teenager when he and his family were taken from their home in 1944 to Auschwitz concentration camp, and then to Buchenwald. Night is the terrifying record of Elie Wiesel's memories of the death of his family, the death of his own innocence, and his despair as a deeply observant Jew confronting the absolute evil of man. This new translation by his wife and most frequent translator, Marion Wiesel, corrects important details and presents the most accurate rendering in English of Elie Wiesel's testimony to what happened in the camps and of his unforgettable message that this horror must simply never be allowed to happen again.
Our Reasoning
We chose this memoir to represent one of the European experiences, the Holocaust, in addition to serving as a work for nonfiction studies.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
“Parents need to know that A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier is the critically acclaimed memoir of Ishmael Beah, who was a child soldier during Sierra Leone's civil war. Orphaned at 12, Ishmael would walk through a war-ravaged countryside, often starving and always afraid, until at 13, he found refuge with government soldiers. Soldiers who would turn him into a killer. For the next three years, Ishmael would witness or take part in unimaginable acts of violence that are often graphically described in the book. Violent death is constant and pervasive, with countless men, women, children, and babies stabbed, shot, mutilated, or burned alive. One town he enters is described as having "air that smells of blood and burnt flesh." At 16, UNICEF workers gained his release and he was sent to a rehabilitation center for boy soldiers where he found a chance to rebuild his life. Beah would go on to finish his education in the United States and become UNICEF's Advocate for Children Affected by War. First published in 2007, A Long Way Gone was a New York Times best-seller. It has been translated into more than 40 languages and is sometimes assigned in school” (CommonSenseMedia.org).
This memoir was chosen to depict an aspect of the modern African experience in addition to serving as a work for non-fictional studies.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
“One night on the heath, the brave and respected general Macbeth encounters three witches who foretell that he will become king of Scotland. At first sceptical, he’s urged on by the ruthless, single-minded ambitions of Lady Macbeth, who suffers none of her husband’s doubt. But seeing the prophecy through to the bloody end leads them both spiralling into paranoia, tyranny, madness, and murder.
This shocking tragedy - a violent caution to those seeking power for its own sake - is, to this day, one of Shakespeare’s most popular and influential masterpieces” (goodreads.com).
This play was chosen for its exploration of universal themes such as the dangers of absolute power and the consequences of guilt.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Parents need to know that although this film -- an adaptation of graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi's critically acclaimed memoir about growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution -- is animated, it's aimed at adults. There are many references to the atrocities (mostly executions and bombings) of life before, during, and after the revolution. Several scenes involve secret parties during which secular Iranians drink and smoke; as a teenager living in Europe, Marjane also drinks, smokes, tries hash, and sleeps with two guys (at one point, feeling suicidal, she also takes lots of pills). If teens are interested, they'll learn a lot about the harsh realities of life in an oppressive culture. It's worth noting that there are two versions of the film: The original is in French with subtitles; the other is dubbed in English (commonsensemedia.org)
This graphic novel was chosen for students to experience a different type of genre exploring an Iranian teen’s experience in addition to being non-fiction.
A Time to Kill by John Grisham
“Before The Firm and The Pelican Brief made him a superstar, John Grisham wrote this riveting story of retribution and justice. In this searing courtroom drama, best-selling author John Grisham probes the savage depths of racial violence, as he delivers a compelling tale of uncertain justice in a small southern town, Clanton, Mississippi.
The life of a ten-year-old girl is shattered by two drunken and remorseless young men. The mostly white town reacts with shock and horror at the inhuman crime. That is, until her black father acquires an assault rifle and takes matters into his hands.
For ten days, as burning crosses and the crack of sniper fire spread through the streets of Clanton, the nation sits spellbound as young defense attorney Jake Brigance struggles to save his client's life, and then his own’ (goodreads.com).
This novel was chosen for our semester fictional text because it includes engaging content. It was also chosen for its recognizable author in the hopes of appealing to reluctant readers.
Book Club Titles
Book Title: Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Common Sense Description
Fifteen-year-old Kambili and her older brother Jaja lead a privileged life in Enugu, Nigeria. They live in a beautiful house, with a caring family, and attend an exclusive missionary school. They're completely shielded from the troubles of the world. Yet, as Kambili reveals in her tender-voiced account, things are less perfect than they appear. Although her Papa is generous and well respected, he is fanatically religious and tyrannical at home—a home that is silent and suffocating.
As the country begins to fall apart under a military coup, Kambili and Jaja are sent to their aunt, a university professor outside the city, where they discover a life beyond the confines of their father’s authority. (Amazon, 2012)
Our Reasoning
Because this course is a survey of world literature, this text was chosen to exemplify an aspect of different cultural experiences. Within small groups, we want students to experience choice with modern text that relate to the larger units and anchor texts in class. These modern texts will help students make text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections as they analyze literary elements studied in class. Although these texts may include sensitive material, in our advanced courses we believe our students are emotionally and socially mature enough to handle these real world topics.
Book Title: Soldier Boy by Keely Hutton
Common Sense Description
Soldier Boy begins with the story of Ricky Richard Anywar, abducted in 1989 to fight with Joseph Kony's rebel army in the Ugandan civil war (one of Africa's longest running conflicts). Ricky is trained, armed, and forced to fight government soldiers alongside his brutal kidnappers, but never stops dreaming of escape. The story continues twenty years later, with a fictionalized character named Samuel, a boy deathly afraid of trusting anyone ever again.
Our Reasoning
Because this course is a survey of world literature, this text was chosen to exemplify an aspect of different cultural experiences. Within small groups, we want students to experience choice with modern text that relate to the larger units and anchor texts in class. These modern texts will help students make text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections as they analyze literary elements studied in class. Although these texts may include sensitive material, in our advanced courses we believe our students are emotionally and socially mature enough to handle these real world topics.
Book Title: The Good Braider by Terry Farish
Common Sense Description
A family must flee war torn Juba, Sudan and relocate to Portland, Maine in the United States. The family must grapple with what it means to be both Sudannse and American in this coming of age story.
Our Reasoning
Because this course is a survey of world literature, this text was chosen to exemplify an aspect of different cultural experiences. Within small groups, we want students to experience choice with modern text that relate to the larger units and anchor texts in class. These modern texts will help students make text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections as they analyze literary elements studied in class. Although these texts may include sensitive material, in our advanced courses we believe our students are emotionally and socially mature enough to handle these real world topics.
Book Title: Born A Crime by Trevor Noah
Common Sense Description
Parents need to know that It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood is an adaptation for younger readers of comedian and Daily Show host Noah's 2016 memoir Born a Crime. Noah grew up as the ultimate outsider: the son of a black South African mother and a white European father, at a time when laws under Apartheid made it illegal for mixed-race couples to marry or have children. The book explores gender roles, and the relationships between different factions within the black community, as well as between blacks and whites and "colored" (mixed race) people. There are incidents of disturbing violence against Trevor and his mother, who's beaten and shot by his stepfather. The publisher's epilogue on the history of Apartheid mentions the Sharpeville Massacre, when white police opened fire on a crowd of unarmed black protesters, killing dozens of people. Noah, who was a mischievous kid, makes a distinction between the corporal punishment he receives from his devoted mother and the callous violence of his stepfather. Abel, the stepfather, is frequently drunk and has a history of marijuana use. Trevor describes the petty crimes he committed as a young adult, as well: He and his friends were loan sharks and music pirates before Trevor began his career as a comedian and television host. Fans of Noah's stand-up comedy or The Daily Show will find plenty of his trademark sharpness and self-effacing humor even as he relates memories of suffering poverty and abuse.
Our Reasoning
Because this course is a survey of world literature, this text was chosen to exemplify an aspect of different cultural experiences. Within small groups, we want students to experience choice with modern text that relate to the larger units and anchor texts in class. These modern texts will help students make text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections as they analyze literary elements studied in class. Although these texts may include sensitive material, in our advanced courses we believe our students are emotionally and socially mature enough to handle these real world topics.
Book Title: A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
Common Sense Description
Parents need to know that A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier is the critically acclaimed memoir of Ishmael Beah, who was a child soldier during Sierra Leone's civil war. Orphaned at 12, Ishmael would walk through a war-ravaged countryside, often starving and always afraid, until at 13, he found refuge with government soldiers. Soldiers who would turn him into a killer. For the next three years, Ishmael would witness or take part in unimaginable acts of violence that are often graphically described in the book. Violent death is constant and pervasive, with countless men, women, children, and babies stabbed, shot, mutilated, or burned alive. One town he enters is described as having "air that smells of blood and burnt flesh." At 16, UNICEF workers gained his release and he was sent to a rehabilitation center for boy soldiers where he found a chance to rebuild his life. Beah would go on to finish his education in the United States and become UNICEF's Advocate for Children Affected by War. First published in 2007, A Long Way Gone was a New York Times best-seller. It has been translated into more than 40 languages and is sometimes assigned in school.
Our Reasoning
Because this course is a survey of world literature, this text was chosen to exemplify an aspect of different cultural experiences. Within small groups, we want students to experience choice with modern text that relate to the larger units and anchor texts in class. These modern texts will help students make text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections as they analyze literary elements studied in class. Although these texts may include sensitive material, in our advanced courses we believe our students are emotionally and socially mature enough to handle these real world topics.
Book Title: This Is My America by Kim Johnson
Common Sense Description
Parents need to know that Kim Johnson's This Is My America is about a 17-year-old, African American girl in Texas named Tracy, who races the clock to get an appeal for her father on death row. Intensifying her family's crisis, a schoolmate is murdered and Tracy's brother, Jamal, is the prime suspect. A couple and a teen girl are murdered. Police kill a man during an arrest. A teen gets a black eye in a fistfight. A love triangle contributes to a violent crime. There are several passionate romantic kisses, and it's ambiguous how far some characters go sexually. Strong language incudes "s--t," "f--k," "ass," and "damn." Teens get drunk, smoke weed, and smoke cigarettes at a high school party.
Our Reasoning
Because this course is a survey of world literature, this text was chosen to exemplify an aspect of different cultural experiences. Within small groups, we want students to experience choice with modern text that relate to the larger units and anchor texts in class. These modern texts will help students make text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections as they analyze literary elements studied in class. Although these texts may include sensitive material, in our advanced courses we believe our students are emotionally and socially mature enough to handle these real world topics.
Book Title: All American Boys by Jason Reynolds
Common Sense Description
Parents need to know that All American Boys, by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, is an eye-opening view of a brutal assault by a police officer on an innocent 16-year-old boy as seen through the alternating perspectives of the abused and a teen witness to his beating. It was named a 2016 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book. There's racial tension, and violence includes a boy beaten by an adult (with severe injuries described), fights between boys, and threats. There's also positive activism in the face of brutality, which should inspire tweens and teens. Some strong language includes "s--t" and f--k."
Our Reasoning
Because this course is a survey of world literature, this text was chosen to exemplify an aspect of different cultural experiences. Within small groups, we want students to experience choice with modern text that relate to the larger units and anchor texts in class. These modern texts will help students make text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections as they analyze literary elements studied in class. Although these texts may include sensitive material, in our advanced courses we believe our students are emotionally and socially mature enough to handle these real world topics.
Book Title: American Street by Ibi Zoboi
Common Sense Description
Parents need to know that Ibi Zoboi's American Street is the story of Fabiola, an American-born teen who's been raised in Haiti by her single mother. When they decide to return to the United States, her mother is held at immigration and Fabiola must travel alone to her aunt's home in Detroit. Zoboi's story of how Fabiola tries to make a new life for herself in a struggling and often violent neighborhood is raw and full of swearing ("f--k," "s--t," c--k"). Several storylines revolve around drug dealing and an abusive relationship. While there are poignant elements to the novel -- Fabiola's determination to free her mother and a tender first romance -- this book is best suited for mature teens.
Our Reasoning
Because this course is a survey of world literature, this text was chosen to exemplify an aspect of different cultural experiences. Within small groups, we want students to experience choice with modern text that relate to the larger units and anchor texts in class. These modern texts will help students make text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections as they analyze literary elements studied in class. Although these texts may include sensitive material, in our advanced courses we believe our students are emotionally and socially mature enough to handle these real world topics.
Book Title: On The Come Up by Angie Thomas
Common Sense Description
Parents need to know that On the Come Up by Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give) is a heartfelt and surprisingly humorous coming-of-age novel about 16-year-old aspiring rapper Brianna, whose first song goes viral for the wrong reasons. It's set in the same fictional Garden Heights neighborhood of The Hate U Give, but Bri is totally different from that story's Starr. Although there are tough topics such as racism, gang violence, abandonment, and poverty, there are plenty of positive messages for teens about communication, courage, perseverance, and self-control. A character is slammed to the ground by high school security guards. Teens are held at gunpoint by a gang member. One character is a former drug addict and another is a drug dealer. There are mentions of weed, cocaine, cigarettes, and Hennessey. Strong language includes several uses and variations of "s--t," "f--k," "ass," "bitch," "damn," "bastard," and the "N" word.
Our Reasoning
Because this course is a survey of world literature, this text was chosen to exemplify an aspect of different cultural experiences. Within small groups, we want students to experience choice with modern text that relate to the larger units and anchor texts in class. These modern texts will help students make text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections as they analyze literary elements studied in class. Although these texts may include sensitive material, in our advanced courses we believe our students are emotionally and socially mature enough to handle these real world topics.
The Crucible is a play by American playwright Arthur Miller. Written in 1953, it is a dramatized and fictionalized retelling of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692-1693. The majority of the characters are real historical figures, and the play serves as an allegory for McCarthyism. (https://www.thoughtco.com/the-crucible-overview-4586394)
The Great Gatsby, published in 1925, is F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous novel. Set during the Roaring 20s, the book tells the story of a group of wealthy, often hedonistic residents of the fictional New York towns of West Egg and East Egg. The novel critiques the idea of the American Dream, suggesting that the concept has been corrupted by the careless pursuit of decadence. Though it was poorly received in Fitzgerald’s lifetime, The Great Gatsby is now considered a cornerstone of American literature. (https://www.thoughtco.com/the-great-gatsby-overview-4582166)
Of Mice and Men is a 1937 novella by John Steinbeck. Set during the Great Depression, the book tells the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant workers and long-time friends employed on a ranch in California. Through its use of colloquial language and detailed characterization, Of Mice and Men offers an unsparing portrait of its characters and the violent and harsh conditions they face. (https://www.thoughtco.com/of-mice-and-men-overview-4581333)
The Scarlet Letter: Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 novel, The Scarlet Letter, is a classic of early American literature. Written at a time when American cultural identity was starting to develop, the author portrays a believable representation of a Puritan colony during the nation’s earliest days. The book tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman in 17th century Boston—then known just as the Massachusetts Bay Colony—who is forced to wear a scarlet “A” on her chest as punishment for having a baby out of wedlock. Through the story of Hester, Hawthorne explores the community as a whole and the norms and mores under which it operates. (https://www.thoughtco.com/the-scarlet-letter-overview-4588783)
The Great Gatsby, published in 1925, is F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous novel. Set during the Roaring 20s, the book tells the story of a group of wealthy, often hedonistic residents of the fictional New York towns of West Egg and East Egg. The novel critiques the idea of the American Dream, suggesting that the concept has been corrupted by the careless pursuit of decadence. Though it was poorly received in Fitzgerald’s lifetime, The Great Gatsby is now considered a cornerstone of American literature. (https://www.thoughtco.com/the-great-gatsby-overview-4582166)
Of Mice and Men is a 1937 novella by John Steinbeck. Set during the Great Depression, the book tells the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant workers and long-time friends employed on a ranch in California. Through its use of colloquial language and detailed characterization, Of Mice and Men offers an unsparing portrait of its characters and the violent and harsh conditions they face. (https://www.thoughtco.com/of-mice-and-men-overview-4581333)
Fences Perhaps Wilson’s most renowned work, Fences explores the life and relationships of Troy Maxson, an activist-minded trash collector, and former baseball hero. The protagonist represents the struggle for justice and fair treatment during the 1950s. This moving drama earned Wilson his first Pulitzer Prize. https://www.thoughtco.com/august-wilson-the-pittsburgh-cycle-plays-2713472
Death of a Salesman, one of Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, narrates the last 24 hours in the life of 63-year-old Willy Loman, a failed salesman who had a distorted idea of the American Dream and work ethic. The play also explores his relationship with his wife, his sons, and his acquaintances. https://www.thoughtco.com/death-of-a-salesman-overview-4588266
If time permits:
The Crucible is a play by American playwright Arthur Miller. Written in 1953, it is a dramatized and fictionalized retelling of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692-1693. The majority of the characters are real historical figures, and the play serves as an allegory for McCarthyism. (https://www.thoughtco.com/the-crucible-overview-4586394)