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Thanks for the great list--even as a student I really detested that most of the "great literature" we had to read seemed to be all about the message that life and humanity and fate were really miserable, depressing, and hopelessly fallen, and that nothing had much of a happy ending or deserved one. The dog or the horse or the deer or the baby or the friend or the lover would die in the end, and that seemed to make it more "important" and "deep" than the stories where the dog got better or the baby was found in time or the couple found a way to work things out, and I was never sure why. Didn't sometimes good, happy "deep and important" things happen in real life? I remember that after reading Lord of the Flies, to get the taste out of my mouth, I started writing a story about my friends and I getting marooned on an island, and WE didn't act like that! :) Okay, so it wasn't the kind of story that will ever be nominated for an award, but I think these parents do have a point. Is that really what we want students to think that this "real life" we are sending them out into is ALL about? That the painful, wrenching, slam-you-to-the-mat bad stuff is the really important and "real" stuff that should be focused upon? Lauri Cahoon-Draus K-12 Library Media Specialist Suring School Libraries draus@suring.k12.wi.us "It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts." Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia. >>> TinaHudak <tinahudak@COMCAST.NET> 2/2/2005 6:57:54 AM >>> Dear folks, I will just throw this out...on the HS parent list-serv (which I am a parent...) there is an ongoin and sometime heated discussion about the required 10th grade books...many parents are upset that they are all so depressing...Farenheit 451, Hiroshima, Lord of the Flies, Native Son, MacBeth...etc. and that there is not comic relief - nothing to show another side of life...I just came across the required reading list for 8th grade (posted) and noticed many of these books have the same themes...does ANYONE's school system consult the librarians/media specialists when composing required reading lists? Just a thought... I sent out a list of some of my favorite YA books that aren't too depressing and not so commonly used (this genre always seems to be overlooked by English departments), as alternatives...use what you can if you need any titles - Howe, Norma*Adventures of the Blue Avenger (great for boys) Nicholson, William*The Wind Singer (trilogy)..great..about a society based on grades! Napoli, Donna diAnything*.reinterprets fairy tales from a different character's perspective*great books Gibbons, Alan*Shadow of the Minotaur (Greek myths & video games combined*great audiotapes) Woodson, JacquelineMiracle's Boys (many, many wonderful novels) Bloor, EdwardStoryTime (funny about a school for "gifted" students!) Almond, DavidThe Fire-Eaters (and MANY more great titles) Crossley-Holland, Kevin *At the Crossing Places (King Arthur) Crutcher, ChrisWhale Talk (athletes who play an individual sport) Dessen, Sarah Keeping the Moon Engdall, Sylvia *Enchantress From the Stars Farmer, Nancy The House of the Scorpion (3 awards) Ferris, Jean Love Among the Walnuts Flake, Sharon The Skin I'm In Fleischman, Paul Whirligig (Newbery) Gardam, Jane Bilgewater Hardman, Ric Sunshine Rider (first vegetarian western) Hidier, Tanuja Desai Born Confused Jimenez, Francisco Breaking Through (non-fiction) * sequel to The Circuit Jones, Diane Wynne Too numerous to mention (fantasy) Kindall, Patrice Owl In Love LeGuin, Ursula Too numerous to mention (fantasy) Lubar, David Dunk (anyone from NJ boardwalk?) Martinez, Victor Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida McDonald, Joyce Shades of Simon Gray Pullman, Phillip *The Dark Materials, The Golden Compass Singer, Nicky Feather Boy (about bullying*great story) Virginia Euwer Wolff *Making Lemonade Zindel, Paul The Pigman ( a classic) Myers, Walter Dean Slam! -------------------------------------------------------------------- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. 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