Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday--Contemporary and Classic Pairings

I am so excited to be participating in my first Top Ten Tuesday!  It's hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and is a really fun way to stay connected with other book bloggers and see some of their book favorites!


Today's Top Ten is about YA books that could be paired with classics.  I love this topic because I think there are some great YA books that could really be explored in a classroom.  So here's my list:

  • Lord of the Flies by William Golding/The Maze Runner by James Dashner--A group of teen boys trying to survive together.  Some turn bad, some become leaders, and danger lurks...

  • The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne/Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson--Two female protagonists turned into outcasts because of a decision they made.  But if only people looked beyond their initial judgment... 

  • Night by Elie Wiesel/Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys--Intense view of life in a concentration camp...and anything by Ruta Sepetys is SO GOOD!

  • 1984 by George Orwell/Matched by Ally Condie--Societies where everything is chosen for you and constantly monitored.  But these main characters aren't satisfied with staying in that life.  Not a lot of action in either of these books but both are very thought-provoking.

  • Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen/Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles--They hate each other, then they love each other--both SO GOOD!  The most popular classic and YA romances, for sure.

  • The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan/Blue Plate Special by Michelle Kwasney--The lives of various women are connected through time.  Nice and sentimental with a few surprises thrown in here and there

  • The Crucible by Arthur Miller/Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill--Obviously both about the Salem Witch Trials, but Hemphill's book gives light to some of the minor characters of Miller's play.  

  • Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger/An Abundance of Katherines by John Green--Young men trying to find themselves by taking a literal and metaphorical journey (and shouldn't all schools have SOMETHING by Green in their curriculum???)

  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee/My Mother the Cheerleader by Robert Sharenow--Both focus on civil rights with adult decisions affecting the young protagonists

  • The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien/The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness--Unanticipated journeys with crazy action, unique characters, and special powers


8 comments:

  1. Great match ups. Would you have students read both? Interesting.

    Here are my thoughts on the Best Required Reading!

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    1. I think it would be great for students to read both to get a feel for the similarities/differences.

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  2. The Maze Runner and The Knife of Never Letting Go are 2 of my faves and I agree - they would make excellent additions to the curriculum.

    Tanya Patrice
    Girlxoxo.com

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  3. Speak is a great choice! I found that novel very confronting to read, but the conclusion was so rewarding.

    Also, I just have to say that I love your name!

    Delicious & Fictitious

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    1. Delicious & Fictitious is an awesome name, too!

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  4. I loved To Kill a Mockingbird so now I want to read my Mother The Cheerleader. Great list!

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    1. Thanks, Tiffany! I had fun putting the list together.

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  5. Such great pairings! I was drawing a blank on what to pair with P&P, can't believe I didn't think of Perfect Chemistry - such a great idea! :) Also, first time I've seen Lord of the Flies with Maze Runner instead of Divergent or Hunger Games. This is a great list.

    My TTT:

    http://diamondinroughcoal.blogspot.com/2013/09/top-ten-tuesday-7.html

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