When it comes to literature, teaching the classics is important. But it’s a good idea to add contemporary titles to your curriculum, too, especially if your students sometimes have trouble connecting with older texts.
That’s why we created the Discovering Literature collection, a curated selection of noteworthy books that are capturing the attention of teachers and students across the country.
Springtime is a season of change, a theme that students can certainly understand. This month’s Discovering Literature Digest showcases four exceptional stories about personal transformations. In each of these novels, the protagonists learn the importance of accepting one’s identity and believing in themselves, even if the world around them does not.
Fish in a Tree
For the longest time, sixth-grader Ally has been able to hide her inability to read by causing trouble in class. But her new teacher, Mr. Daniels, encourages her to have more faith in herself and explains that there’s nothing wrong with having dyslexia. Soon, Ally discovers she has the power to succeed and recognizes that everyone is smart in different ways. Perfect for middle-grade readers, this novel offers powerful lessons on confidence and celebrating differences.
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The School for Good and Evil
Friends Sophie and Agatha are selected to attend the School for Good and Evil, where children are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. Bubbly Sophie dreams of becoming a princess at the School for Good, while gloomy Agatha believes she’ll be sent to the School for Evil. But upon arrival, the girls end up in opposite schools, leading them to question who they really are. Middle-grade readers will appreciate this novel’s message about not making judgments based on appearances.
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Darius the Great Is Not Okay
Geeky teenager Darius feels like an outsider, both in American society and with his Persian family. But when Darius visits his grandparents in Iran for the first time, his life is transformed. With the help of Sohrab, a local boy he meets, Darius immerses himself in Persian culture, finally finding a place where he belongs. Covering topics like parental expectations, depression, and friendship, this story is one that will resonate with high-school readers.
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The Black Kids
It’s April 1992, and Ashley Bennett and her friends are counting down the days to high school graduation. But everything changes when four LAPD officers are acquitted after beating a black man named Rodney King. As a child of black professionals and one of the few black kids among her upper-class peers, Ashley soon finds herself having to confront what it means to be black outside of her immediate circle. Strong language, violence, and sexuality make this book more suitable for older readers.
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Find even more exciting books in the Discovering Literature collection!