[LM_NET] TAR: HS ESL Bio-Medical Novels

[Brenna Greer <bgreer@MARLBORO.K12.NJ.US>]

Hi All,

My husband is an ESL teacher in a high school.  Two of his sophomore
students have a science project for which they must read a science
fiction or nonfiction book that deals with genetic
technology/inheritance.  Then they must choose a biological career that
was addressed in the book and write a report about the career.  Finally,
they need to write a paper on a biological topic addressed in the book.
It seems like an interesting project, but the list of pre-selected books
that the teacher gave them includes books that are either too difficult
or too lengthy for the students, who read English at a 5th-6th grade
level, to read and understand in a timely matter.  He asked me for some
suggestions for alternative books that are shorter/easier to read.  I
came up with a couple, but thought you might have some other
suggestions.  The problem, as I see it, is that the subject of genetic
technology is not one that is often addressed in middle-grade
literature, and if it is addressed, it is not in enough detail
especially as it relates to the biological career.

 

Anyway, here are some of the teacher's selected books:

The Scarpetta Series by Patricia Cornwell

Jurassic Park, Andromeda Strain, Prey by Michael Crichton

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure
of DNA by James Watson

Stem Cell Symphony by Ricki Lewis

 

I recommended the following:

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson

The Exchange Student by Kate Gilmore

Amy, Number 7 (Replica Series) by Marilyn Kaye

 

If any of you have any other suggestions, I'd appreciate your help. 

 

Thanks,

 

Mrs. Brenna Greer

School Media Specialist

Robertsville Elementary

Morganville, NJ

bgreer@marlboro.k12.nj.us

 


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