Independent Reading Novel One
There are ten novels to choose from (see below); you only need to pick one. As you work your way through the novel and the course, you will complete a variety of assignments; for a handy list of the assignments, click here.
A Step from Heaven by An Na
Follow Young Ju’s family as they migrate from Korea to the United States. See what happens as their dream of this land of great promise crumbles under the pressure of low paying jobs and a language-barrier. Be in awe of this brave young girl as she steps up as a leader in her family and helps them find a better way in this strange new land
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Francie Nolan loves books and penny-candy. Like the tree that grows in the middle of the city, she struggles to survive in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn. Francie’s wit and wisdom sparkle and create life in the middle of squalor.
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
A true Cinderella story- this autobiography follows Yen Mah, the youngest of five children, through her school years. After Yen Mah’s mother dies, her father marries a woman who despises Yen Mah and her siblings. Despite her parents neglect, Yen Mah defies all odds. This is a heart-breaking journey of hope.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Follow Esperanza as she migrates from Mexico to California with her mother after her father’s tragic death. Esperanza’s world is turned upside down as she moves from a wealthy world where she was a princess in her own right to a world where she is considered a worker.
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
16-year-old Steve Harmon is accused of playing a role in the fatal shooting of a convenience-store owner. But is Steve really guilty or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Follow Steve’s journey through this suspenseful and innovative novel that combines journal writing and a script of the trial.
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
An obese boy and a disfigured girl develop an incredible friendship after suffering from years of teasing and bullying from their peers. See what happens their senior year of high school when their friendship is put to the test.
The Chosen by Chaim Potok
Journey to 1940s Brooklyn, New York and explore the unlikely friendship of two young men as they struggle to understand their religion and their place in this world. See what happens when news of the Holocaust travels over the ocean to New York.
The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
Go back in time with a young American girl, Hannah, to Poland, 1942- the Holocaust. Enter a concentration camp with Hannah as she learns a newfound-respect for her religion and the sacrifices that her elders made because of their religion.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Follow Ponyboy through his world of greasers and socs. Greasers always live on the outside and need to watch their backs; Ponyboy is a greaser. A soc has money and can usually get away with anything. Watch as Ponyboy’s gang of greasers match up against the town’s gang of socs. See what happens when one of the socs is murdered by one of the greasers. Suddenly this orderly world crumbles and nothing is the same.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
See what happens in the sleepy Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression through the eyes of an endearing little girl- Scout Finch. Journey with her as she struggles to comprehend issues of race, class, justice and the pain of losing one’s innocence and growing up.