Recommended Reading List
(Dream Library)
My
Father Had a Daughter – Grace Tiffany – A story told from the
perspective of Shakespeare’s daughter, with lots of historical background
of the plays and the time in which Shakespeare lived. The heroine, Judith
Shakespeare, is strong, rebellious, and shows many of the hard things about
growing up and making a life for oneself.
The
Face on the Milk Carton – Caroline B. Cooney – While looking at
a milk carton at lunch, Janie Johnson realizes that her parents may have been
lying to her about who she really is. Janie has to find the real truth about
her identity, and decide if she can trust the people that she has always called
her family.
Esperanza
Rising - Pam Muñoz Ryan – A young, wealthy girl from Mexico is
forced to come to the United States and work as a farm laborer during the
Great Depression. She leaves behind the life she loved in order to keep her
family safe, and learns about what real strength of character means.
The
Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan – This story tells the stories of Chinese-American
women who have trouble understanding their mothers and the choices that they
have made in their lifetimes. Both the mothers and the daughters in this story
have interesting histories, and reasons that the other women don’t understand
for the choices that they have made.
Cry,
the Beloved Country – Alan Paton – Set in the 1940’s, in
the time of Apartheid in South Africa, this story is about a Zulu pastor and
his son and the injustices that they face in their country. Race relations
and justice for all humans are big topics in this book.
All
Quiet on the Western Front – Erich Maria Remarque – Set in World
War I, this story is told by Paul Baumer, a young German soldier who enlists
with his classmates. Paul finds out many of the horrible things that war makes
men think and do first hand, as he vows to unite people that fight against
each other for no good reason.
Much
Ado About Nothing – William Shakespeare – This comedy features
two young lovers, Hero and Claudio, who seem to have nothing but stumbling
blocks to their happiness in several very dramatic scenes. Beatrice and Benedick
deliver some of the funniest lines, lovers who love to hate each other and
serve each other some of the best insults that Shakespeare wrote.
The
House on Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros – This book is made up
of many short segments telling about what life is really like for the Hispanic
community in cities, and how disadvantaged people dream for something better
in their lives.
A
Wrinkle in Time – Madeline L’Engle – This book explores
the limits of what is real, what is possible, and what is true, when Meg,
her brother, and Calvin try to rescue her father from a different fold in
time that leads them to many exciting and frightening new worlds.
Catherine,
Called Birdy – Karen Cushman – This tale is of a young English
girl in the middle nobility during the Middle Ages. Her problems are like
those of every teenager, but she tells hilarious stories about difficulties
of her life at that age in a journal format complete with her obnoxious father
and overbearing suitors.
Page Last Modified: 7/25/04