Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Top Ten Books That I Wish Were Taught In Schools


Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish!


1.  DREAMLAND by Sarah Dessen
2.  THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher
3.  CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein
4.  BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys
5.  BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver
6.  THE MOCKINGBIRDS by Daisy Whitney
7.  THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green
8.  HARRY POTTER by JK Rowling
9.  SPLIT by Swati Avasthi
10.  WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson

I was going to include a reason for each book, but it ended up sounding very fangirl-y, so I'll only say that all ten books are incredible and worth discussing in a classroom setting.

What are your top ten choices?

24 comments:

  1. Laurie Halse Anderson would be an excellent choice for the classroom. I think teachers do encourage their students to pick up her books. I think The Fault in Our Stars would be excellent too.

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    1. LHA's books are always great for discussion and light analysis. I really hope teachers encourage their students to check out her work!

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  2. A lot of those are on the summer reading lists and I definitely taught some of those in my class -- but I do wish there were more schools and teachers who did. Some great picks!

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    1. That's fantastic that some of my picks are the summer reading list, and that you've taught some, too! Sounds like you're at an excellent school (and that you're an excellent teacher)! :)

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  3. I completely agree with TFiOS, Dreamland, and Harry Potter. I really want to read Wintergirls, Code Name Verity, and Between the Shades of Gray. I hear they added 13 Reasons Why to a new course at the school I taught at! Great list, Lea!

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    1. You definitely need to check out WINTERGIRLS, CODE NAME VERITY, and BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY! They're all amazing!

      That's awesome that 13RW was added! I always get excited when I hear that schools are branching out in YA literatuare. While teaching the classics is a good idea, it's also smart to show what readers can do with a more current novel.

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  4. The fault in our stars and Harry Potte <3 I think Between shades of gray would be a fantastic book for school.

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    1. BSoG would be a great book for discussion in school! So many different ways to approach that novel.

      Thanks for dropping by! :D

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  5. Ok why Harry? I mean I love it but why do you think it should be taught? :)

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    1. The HP books are excellent starting points for analysis. I remember when I was in high school, we were barely dipping our toes into the messy waters of analysis - we focused mainly on symbols, themes, metaphors, etc. The later HP books are perfect for that (even for deeper analysis, too - there are so many arguments that you can make for those novels). I think it would be a great way to introduce analysis without intimidating students ;)

      I actually came so close to choosing one of the HP books + films for an analysis essay + presentation, but ended up switching to Pixar's UP since I didn't have the time to reread a novel. While I loved analyzing UP, I still wish I would have scheduled in some time to read HP! It would have been so fun to look at one of those stories on a deeper level (but maybe I'm just a total English major nerd, thinking that analysis is fun and possible with most novels).

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  6. We both have Wintergirls on our lists, Lea. Great minds think alike, I guess! I think that that book is incredibly vital to teens. I haven't read a lot of the books on your list, but I definitely agree with The Fault in Our Stars, too! Great list this week, doll :)

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    1. *high five for WINTERGIRLS* -- that book is definitely worth reading in a school setting.

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  7. I almost put Between Shades of Gray on mine too!

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    1. Fabulous book, right? I had a hard time narrowing down my list (I almost left off BSoG, but changed my mind at the last minute).

      Thanks for stopping by! :)

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  8. EXCELLENT choices.

    Split would definitely be on my list. I think it's a very important book.

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    1. Glad you would put SPLIT on your list too - it really is an important story.

      Thanks for stopping by! :D

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  9. I seriously considered listing the fault in our stars on mine as well. Great picks! Here is my TTT
    http://hauntedgravebooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/top-ten-books-that-should-be-required.html

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    1. TFIOS = Fantastic. I almost left it off, but changed my mind at the last minute.

      Thanks for dropping by!

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  10. Awesome choices :D I loved The Fault in Our Stars so much. <3 And Harry Potter! Sigh. I would vote for Graceling. And The Scorpio Races. Cause those are my two favorite books, hih (A) Thank you for sharing :)

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    1. Ooh, GRACELING and TSR! Those are fabulous stories. :D

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  11. Wonderful choices! I have TFiOS on my list as well. I love Sarah Dessen, and I keep seeing her books pop up the lists this week. (I can't believe I didn't pick one of her novels myself!) I really need to read Wintergirls, it's been o my to-read list for far too long.

    Great list!
    Chelsea @ Books Turn Brains

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  12. These books would have been SO great to read in school. I probably would have read a lot more if we had gotten to read some of these books. :) Great list!

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  13. Awesome list! Wintergirls and TFiOS made my list as well. :)

    My TTT:

    http://qaisracetusbookblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/top-ten-tuesday-9313.html

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  14. Very excellent list. There are a couple that I haven't read yet, but I totally agree with the ones I have read. This is a really thoughtful list and teachers should take notice and update their teachings.

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