School is out for MiniMe but my nagging her to read a few books this summer has just begun. She picked out a book this weekend, which led to an interesting exchange.
"Mom, I found a book I want to read. It's called Survival of the Fittest and it's about a bunch of girls who are competing in the Miss Teen pageant who have to survive when their plane crashes on an island."
Me: Hmm, I guess that's the prissy version of Lord of the Flies.
"What? I don't know that one."
This got me thinking about the books on the reading list for young adults these days compared to the reading list I had in middle/high school.
So, Lord of the Flies. Should it be on reading lists for contemporary youth? Is it still relevant or are there more modern books that would be just as relevant and maybe more interesting to our young adults.
I loved some of the books I was assigned to read: The Great Gatsby, The Crucible, Brave New World.
What if students were assigned to read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak instead of The Crucible? The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger instead of The Great Gatsby. How about The Road by Cormac McCarthy instead of Brave New World.
What books were you assigned to read as a young adult?
3 comments:
Mine were much the same as yours - classics. I just printed out the reading list for my son's school. On the 8th grade list: "The Secret Life of Bees" and "The Five People You Meet In Heaven." Worthwhile books, but also on the list: "A Separate Peace," "The Good Earth," and "Watership Down." Much more like the books I had to read.
What about starting her with the movie Lord of the Flies; the 1990 version.
Good idea about the movie - thanks!
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