Monday, September 2, 2013

TTT: Contemporary Books That Would Be Great Paired With A Required Reading Book

Contemporary Books That Would Be Great Paired With A Required Reading Book
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they have a different Top Ten list topic that a bunch of bloggers take and make their own list of those things. This week is Top Ten books with X setting.
 
I've split this into two sections. The first consists of books that I think would go well paired with an existent required reading book. The second is made of books that I couldn't find a match for, but that I still think should be required reading for High School students.

Books Paired with Other Books:
 
The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #5)1. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series (paired with any Greek Myths or The Odyssey)
I mean, kind of obvious (and this would most likely work best in middle school), but that would be the best required reading assignment EVER.


The Fault in Our Stars2. The Fault in our Stars (paired with Mortals by Tobias Woolf)
Mortals isn't a book, but it is a short story I had to read for English class last year. It's all about how we think we will be perceived after we die and how we actually are perceived. I think The Fault in our Stars really gets to the root of that discussion (as well as others) and makes you laugh and cry along the way. 

Eleanor & Park3. Eleanor and Park (paired with Romeo and Juliet)
A doomed loved story from back then paired with a (relatively) doomed love story from the relative now. I think together they would show that being young and in love is a universal and timeless theme in the world. There will always be young people falling in love and making admittedly not great decisions because of it.

4. Anna and the French Kiss (paired with Pride and Prejudice)
Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1)Just like Eleanor and Park goes well with Romeo and Juliet, I'd say that Anna and the French Kiss goes well with Pride and Prejudice. (I guess I'm not 100% sure that Pride and Prejudice is taught in schools, seeing as it was never a part of my school's curriculum. But I would be very surprised if it wasn't taught anywhere in school). Anna and the French Kiss is a modern gem, with humor and a tale of true love. I think it very much goes along with Pride and Prejudice.

5. The House of the Scorpion (paired with To Kill a Mockingbird)
The House of the Scorpion (Matteo Alacran, #1)The House of the Scorpion deals with a lot of issues, but one of them is treating certain people (clones) like less than other people. Except for the few people who are willing to reach out and show kindness to those people, acknowledging that they are just as deserving of love as anyone else it. I think the themes of injustice aren't necessarily identical, but they do parallel each other.


Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)Books I Think Should Be Required:

6. Harry Potter
Yes. Just yes. (I am of the very firm belief that everyone should read the Harry Potter books).


Unwind (Unwind, #1)7. Unwind
This book hits so many important points, but the important thing is that it lets you make your own decisions about what you read. The writer doesn't take you directly to the answer he wants you to arrive at. He just presents situations to you and you come to decide for yourself.

The Help8. The Help
 I think this is one of the most important books I've read and easily one of the most important books that has come out in my lifetime. Beyond that, it tells a simple, but beautiful story.

Little Women (Little Women, #1)
9. Little Women
I know this is already a classic, but I don't recall ever hearing of it taught in school. I've always loved this book and I think it tells a great story with humor, wit, and great lessons.

11 comments:

  1. Eleanor & Park with Romeo & Juliet is a great choice! Love your list.

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  2. I think The Help would make an excellent required book.

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  3. Your reasons with your pairings are really great and make a lot of sense. I see a couple books that I'm going to have to check out. The Help should be required reading, such a great story.

    My TTT

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  4. I paired Eleanor and Park and Romeo and Juliet, too! I wish more schools taught Pride and Prejudice (unfortunately, my school didn't teach any Austen either). TFIOS, HP, Unwind, The Help, and Little Women would be fantastic additions to the curriculum!!

    My TTT

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  5. I absolutely agree with The Help. It is such a good story and also incredibly important.

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  6. I studied Pride and Prejudice for GCSE English, much to my despair. I'd have much rather read and studied Frankenstein! I totally agree that everyone should read Unwind. It's one of the best books I have ever read, and it had a huge impact on me!

    Books of Amber

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  7. I love all your pairings! They all make total sense to me! If my teacher were to make us read those classics with your pairings, I think all of us would be encouraged! New follower on BlogLovin'
    My Top 10 Tuesday
    Review: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

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  8. Awesome pairings! I think The Fault In Our Stars is a great book to be taught in schools---seems like along with the great writing, the themes and characters are easy to relate to for a high school student.

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  9. Love a lot of your choices, and I did the same thing for Percy Jackson.

    I actually had to read Little Women in school... so it is required reading in some places... I think we're getting to see a lot of interesting variety in that on this weeks top ten list.

    New bloglovin follower

    http://littlesqueed.blogspot.com/2013/09/top-ten-tuesday-what-im-reading-and.html

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  10. I've never read "mortals" but it sounds like a great fit for The Fault in Our Stars. Great list!

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  11. This is the second list I have seen Unwind on. I need to read that book.

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