What are your don't miss literature books?

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  • January 26, 2011 at 6:55 pm
    6boys1girl
    Participant

    My husband and I are trying to put together a literature list of the books that we ABSOLUTELY want our kids to read before the graduate. We are having a hard time determining which ones we think are REALLY worth it. There are so many good ones and even many great ones.

    Can you tell me which are your don’t miss ones? And why? This would be specifically for jr high/high school.

    Thanks, Rebecca

    January 26, 2011 at 7:52 pm
    LindseyD
    Participant

    Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White has been my favorite book yet, and we just began our third year of hsing. If you haven’t read it, I would say to do so soon because of your kids’ ages.

    The Little House Series is another to read for sure. 

    In school I remember enjoying The Old Man and the Sea, but if I remember correctly, that’s a short story. Still good though. I also thoroughly enjoyed Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth were my favorites. Cyrano de Bergerac by Rostand is also funny. 

    Blessings,

    Lindsey

    January 26, 2011 at 8:05 pm
    nerakr
    Participant

    Anything by Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott (for your girl, of course)

    Black Beauty

    Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

    Anything by Elizabeth George Speare

    Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt

    If I think of any more, I’ll post again.

    Karen

    January 26, 2011 at 8:53 pm
    csmamma
    Participant

    Oh my – there are SO many. Here’s a copy (from my files) of those which we’ve read, as well as those yet to read for upper highschool grades.

    1st/2nd Grade:

    • A grain of Rice

    • The Box Car Children

    • Family under the bridge

    • The Hundred Dresses

    • My Fathers Dragon

    • The Story of Dr. Dolittle

    • Twenty & Ten

    • Follow my Leader

    • Henry Huggins

    • Homer Price

    • Mountain born

    • Mr. Poppers Penguins

    • Charlottes Web

    • The Cricket in Time Square

    • The Door in the Wall

    • Ginger Pye

    • Misty of Chincoteague

    • The Courage of Sarah Noble

    • A Lion to Guard us

    • The Matchlock Gun

    • Sarah, Plain and Tall

    • Sarah Whitcher’s Story

    • Old Yeller

    3rd/4th Grade:

    • Red Sails to Capri

    • The Twenty One Balloons

    • Sign of the Beaver

    • Shilo

    • Caddie Woodlawn

    • My Side of the Mountain

    • Where the Red Ferns Grows

    • The Little House Series

    • Carry on Mr. Bowditch

    • Little Britches

    • All of a Kind Family

    5th/6th Grade:

    • In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson

    • Island of the Blue Dolphins

    • Call it Courage

    • Henry Reed

    • The Incredible Journey

    • Just So Stories

    • King of the Wind

    • Rascal

    • The Bronze Bow

    • The Great and Terrible Quest

    • Adam of the Road

    • Chronicles of Narnia – Complete series

    • From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

    • Phantom Tollbooth

    • Ben & Me

    7th/8th Grade:

    • Johnny Tremain

    • The Hobbit

    • Light in the Forest

    • The Giver

    • King of the Wind

    • God’s Smuggler

    • Mary Jones & Her Bible

    • The Singing Tree

    • The Good Master

    • The Kings Fifth

    • Anne of Green Gables

    • I am David

    • Snow Treasure

    9th/10th Grade:

    • Dear Mr. Henshaw

    • Amos Fortune Free Man

    • Call of the Wild

    • Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison

    • Maniac Magee

    • Swiss Family Robinson

    • My Side of the Mountain

    • Stink Alley

    • To Kill a Mockingbird

    • Trumpeter of Krakow

    • Around the World in 80 Days

    • Nothing to Fear

    • Sounder

    • The Yearling

    11th/12th Grade:

    • Robinson Crusoe

    • Oliver Twist

    • Pride and Prejudice

    • To Kill a Mockingbird

    • The Scarlet Letter

    • Treasure Island

    • Pilgrims Progress

    • The Hiding Place

    I’m in the process of adding to the list (mostly upper grades since oldest is 16).

    Blessings ~ Heather

     

     

     

    January 26, 2011 at 9:30 pm
    csmamma
    Participant

    I realized the length after I posted, sorry about that. I also see that you were looking for middle/highschool.

    As far as why we choose the books we do. That’s a very good question. It would be too much to try to answer that for each book. However, I’d love to hear discussion on this; Next to the literary quality of a classic, what are the why’s of the books we choose? Next to the Bible, which books do we consider of utmost importance for our children to read and why?

    Thanks for posting this great question, Rebecca.

    Blessings ~ Heather

     

    January 26, 2011 at 9:39 pm
    6boys1girl
    Participant

    I did ask about jr high/high school specifically but don’t at all mind the other grade information. I’m just trying to focus on my older two at this time (grade 9 and 8) but will be going over the youngers books soon after that. So thanks for posting.

    My husband and I had a great discussion last night on what our purpose for literature was. We came to the conclusion that there are many-from teaching them something (Pilgrim’s Progress), to exposing them to great vocabulary/literary quality, to encouraging them to enjoy reading, to exposing them to great literature so they don’t waste time on twaddle. We also realized that everyone’s idea of great literature will be slightly different. So we are trying to come up with our CORE list for jr high/high school-this will be a list of (some number) of books that all our children will be required to read. Then we will be making a list (however long) of books they can choose from which will allow them to find what they most enjoy. Yet, it is STILL hard to narrow down or even decide in ANY fashion which ones should “make the list”.

    Thanks to those that have already posted! Any other input would also be appreciated!

    -Rebecca

    January 26, 2011 at 10:18 pm
    easybrizy
    Participant

    I definitely think some CS Lewis should make it in there. 🙂

    January 27, 2011 at 4:20 pm
    Joytoread
    Participant

    Thank you for posting that long list Heather.  There were books on there that I have never heard of. It is nice to have names of books that you can research on or look for in the used stores.  My children are young enough to use any of them.

    So thanks for taking the time to send that list.

    Kim.

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