Students' Favorite Books

[Judy Arzt]

What books do you find go over well with students for gaining a grasp of history?

[Chris Kenny]

I teach an American Studies class and I thought kids were really engaged by Frederick Douglass's autobiography. It is full of interesting content related to slavery and its psychological effect, and the kids really identify with it since it is through the eyes of a younger Douglass. Douglass also has a very direct, simple style. I got a lot of mileage out of it. 

[Judy Arzt]

Your reply makes me think of Incidents in the Life of Slave Girl (Harriet Jacobs). In one chapter, she describes living in a crawl space. I found parts of the book illuminating for students. It is another first-person narrative. Just some chapters from it might work if the Frederick Douglass one does. It is very similar, but told from the point of a view of a women.

[Chris Kenny]

Yes, I think I might supplement the Douglass book with the chapter of Harriet Jacobs hiding in a crawlspace. I show a clip from the PBS documentary Africans in America that dramatizes that part of her narrative really well, too.

[Jeanette "JJ" Jones]

This is interesting because I teach Frederick Douglass while my English partner teaches Incidents at the same time.  The students then do some research (using authentic slave narratives--from a variety of online and book sources)  to write creative slave narratives, many students use the form of a stump speech. We had also the opportunity to see a performance of Incidents this past fall.

[Molly Smith]

I have had very good luck with All Quiet on the Western Front. Students remember World War I as something other than the war that came before World War II. I have used it as summer reading but also during the year.

[Judy Arzt]

Hi Molly, Yes, All Quiet on the Western Front works well, especially among strong readers. It helps readers see war from multiple perspectives and on a personal level. It also helps that the characters in the book are not much older than the students themselves.Speaking of All Quiet, another book that comes to mind is Slaughterhouse 5, and "so it goes." Has anyone used that Vonnegut classic?

[Jeanette "JJ" Jones]

Have you tired Ernst Junger Storm of Steel?  I have had success with teaching excepts of it.

[Shawn McCusker]

I like to show them parts of the Graphic Novel version of the 9/11 Report.  It works well for many levels and it is really good with my ELL kids.  The content is good and it really generated some good discussion. I have used other graphic novels as well.  "Zinn's Peoples History of the American Empire" and "In the Shadow of No Towers" come to mind.

[Lisa Matherson]

I like to have my students read as much as they can.  Most of their reading is not class assigned, but simply on a personal level.  I suggest books and they read them.  Many find out that they actually enjoy reading the books.  The one book that I do have my APUSH students read is a supplement to their overall curriculum.  The book is titled, History Lessons: How textbooks from around the world portray U.S. history.  They find it rather interesting to see their history from the different perspectives.

[Kay Conners]

I ordered Long Walk to Water for my World Geography students to read together next year. Look forward to seeing where that leads to their understanding of that part of Africa and the culture of Sudan. Anyone else use this book in class? Would love to chat with you about it.

[Bill Chapman]

Kay, how did your students respond to Long Walk to Water?

[Carla Fitzgerald]

Does anyone have ideas for Medieval World History books appropriate for eighth graders?  My English teacher teammate and I are going to try a hummanities approach with our classes this year.  I am having a challenging time finding books for China, Europe (narrowing down the choices) Africa, and the Middle East.  Any input would be great!!