Last year we did very little reading, I must confess. I forced Kait to struggle through Swiss Family Robinson even though she hated it, and she also read Homer for history. But it was awful, and when we finally got through those I gave up and focused on other areas. So we'll have some catching up to do, and I've been compiling a list of books I'd like her to read this year. I tried to remember what I read back in Jr High, and I want to give her a variety because she hates books from "the olden days" (i.e. anything earlier than the 1950's.) I doubt we'll get through all the books on my list (which will probably continue to grow) but I have thought of some great books I'd like to have on hand. Here they are, in no particular order:
- Where the Red Fern Grows
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- Pride and Prejudice
- Little Women
- Adventures of Huck Finn
- Diary of Anne Frank
- Black Beauty
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- Pilgrims Progress
What do you think of my list? Would you add a book? Scratch one? What have your kids read in Jr High?
7 comments:
Michelle,
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Susan C. Weaver (aka Lily Sue)
Oh, my! I can't remember any books I read from Jr. High...except Little House on the Prairie. But your list sounds great...I'm sure you're daughter will love those choices!
I remember reading Catherine, Called Birdie. It's about a young lady, set in the medieval era, who has to fend off the unwelcome suitors her parents try to arrange for her. It was so hilarious! It had a good moral lesson at the end, too. I think your daughter would love it for Catherine's antics, not to mention it may help expand her interests in history.
I feel your pain - my 11 year old fought me tooth and nail this year too. Some of those titles were ones he's read, some are ones he'll read this year. To Kill A Mockingbird is still one of my favorites! What about The Hobbit and Cheaper by the Dozen - two vastly different books but both classics.
Susan, great suggestions! And it's nice to know I'm not alone. We're getting down to the wire now to start school. I'm so not prepared! I think I'll go to the library and check out a few titles to have ready. I have the Hobbit around here somewhere already, along with the Narnia books. I'd like to start with Where The Red Fern Grows though, I think. We'll see what's available.
Brandi, that books sounds good--I'll have to remember it when we get to studying the dark ages and medieval times!
Lacie, hi there! I had a hard time remembering too, so I had to use google to compile my list. We read some of the Little House books a few years ago. We have the complete set given us by my husband's grandmother. Not sure what printing they are but they look old.
Lily Sue, nice to meet you! Thanks for stopping by!
Ah, Michelle. Book lists. Love 'em. I've forever made book lists for my kids. Like you, some books they've enjoyed, others they just didn't get. My youngest is a senior this year, so I'm feeling the panic of "Oh-no!We've never read..." and she's not a very voracious reader. Each kid is so different. My boys read Tom Sawyer, my daughters not. One daughter ate up everything Louisa May Alcott, the other isn't interested. Books I always require at some point in high school are To Kill a Mockingbird just because I think it's about the best example of American lit. out there, The Bronze Bow, an autobiography called The Persecutor by Sergei Kordakov if you can find it. Others I recommend are The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, (we did this one together for discussion), as well as The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus (as a complete Bible overview). There are soooo many good books that may not be considered classics, but I preferred my kids to be introduced to. Good Christian reading from authors like F. Peretti or A. Hunt. Oh, and we read the Hobbit & LOTR series aloud prior to the movies being released which REALLY gave us a lot to look forward to. Blessings on your list and your coming school year!
Naomi, awesome list! Thanks! Some of those are a few years away but I love that you choose what YOU deem valuable and not what is "supposed" to be read, like Huck Finn. I have that on my list but I'm really not sure she'll like it. I need to be okay letting her lead the way, as long as we find some good books in the end. The last thing she read and liked, honestly, was Sweet Valley Twins, from my old collection. Keeping that in mind, I'm thinking of what can be a stepping stone forward from there since that was such an easy book (we're talking the ones where the girls are in 6th grade, not S.V. High). I'll have to check out some of the titles you mention! =)
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