We've been taking a lot about books around our house. We've been working on reading authors with varying backgrounds and experiences. We've also been working on encouraging Munchkin to read non-graphic novels once in awhile. He's still of an age that he gets to pick his books, they aren't assigned by the school. With three generations in the house now, and two different school countries, we started talking about what books we were required to read in school. And of course, then we started talking about what books we would recommend to be read in schools. All of which led to my question for today: If you could choose one book as a mandatory book what would it be? For Secondary School/High School (grade 9-12)? For Primary/Elementary (grade 1-5)? For Junior/Middle (grade 6-8)?
To Kill a Mockingbird and/or Death of Salesman - Secondary / High School Harry Potter Sourcers Stone - Elementary Old Yeller or Tom Sawyer / Huck Finn - Junior/Middle
@cfile To Kill a Mockingbird and Old Yeller & Tom Sawyer were mandatory reads for me. I don't recall which grades, but I know I had to read them. I cried at Old Yeller.
Oliver twist 8 to 12 year old. The 39 steps, and Animal farm, for 12 to 16 year old. A dolls house (play by Ibsen) and A tale of two cities (unabridged ) high school I think all were required reading once upon a time.
If you could choose one book as a mandatory book what would it be? For Secondary School/High School (grade 9-12)? The Great Gatsby For Primary/Elementary (grade 1-5)? Island of the Blue Dolphins (more for 4th/5th) For Junior/Middle (grade 6-8)? The Outsiders
For Secondary School/High School (grade 9-12)? I second Animal Farm or Lord of the Flies For Primary/Elementary (grade 1-5)? For upper elementary, I'd have to say Wonder For Junior/Middle (grade 6-8)? I second The Outsiders
Elementary - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Middle School - The Hobbit High School - Animal Farm or Fahrenheit 451
I created my own list for my kids and was tracking it for awhile. It has 150+ books on it. hee hee I think there are a few I have not read yet. I will have to think about which ones I would pick for a single title per age group.
Island of the Blue Dolphin was one of my favorite books BITD. I gave it as a gift to a lot of young girls over the years.
I was homeschooled and I don't remember any that my mom made me read. But I did read many of the ones mentioned above. This was really hard to narrow down. These are books I've made all of my kids read (when appropriate). For Secondary School/High School (grade 9-12)? To Kill a Mockingbird For Primary/Elementary (grade 1-5)? Chronicles of Narnia For Junior/Middle (grade 6-8)? The Hiding Place
I have a few of these in my 'to read' - The Outsiders and 1984 and i know DD already read To Kill a Mockingbird and Animal Farm but i didn't read along with those - The Great Gatsby was possibly one of the worst reading experiences I've had (and only recently but then Catcher in the Rye was equally painful for me) so i can't agree on that one - is the point meant to be of the misgivings of wealth & style without substance?? Anyway, I'd second (or third?) Wonder for Primary - DS's class read it in 3rd or 4th class (he also loved The Hobbit at that stage). The Giver was one of my faves that would suit a bit older than that so Junior. In terms of older kids, it's kind of an Aussie classic with a movie & tv adaptations (that like so many adaptations didn't do the book justice) now but Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden is hard for me to go past. I have The Hate U Give on the shelf that has been spoken of highly as suitable for that age too but haven't read myself so can't personally recommend yet Random related Q - is studying a different Shakespeare play each year part of yr 7 and up common in US state curriculums? DD always enjoys it but DS's intro to it (albeit over Zoom classes and Google Docs) hasn't gone so well
I know I read Romeo and Juliet in grade 9, and Hamlet in grade 10. Then, in Grade 11 I took Shakespeare for an English credit. I don't recall reading any before Romeo and Juliet. I don't know if you have them available, but there's some fabulous Lego Shakespeare books (Brick Shakespeare) that we read with Munchkin when he was grade 3. They are abridged, but include the language and the Lego just makes it fun.
How'd I miss this thread?! I'm not sure what I'd recommend, but here is my required reading history: For College/University: The Odyssey and/or The Iliad For Secondary School/High School (grade 9-12): To Kill a Mockingbird, Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, Alas, Babylon, Much Ado About Nothing, The Crucible, Huckleberry Finn, Peace Like A River, and All Quiet on the Western Front For Junior/Middle (grade 6-8): The Outsiders For Primary/Elementary (grade 1-5): I don't remember any of the titles of the required books. I personally read the first few Harry Potter books, Little House on the Prairie.
