Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday- Books I Wish Were Taught in Schools

Top Ten Tuesday is a really cool original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and The Bookish.  Each week they post a new Top Ten List that bloggers join in on answering... and today (September 3rd), I'm one of them :)




Today's Topic:

Top Ten Books I Wish Were Taught in School





1.  Looking for Alaska by John Green- Because it's beautiful and smart and everything that a teen book should be.
2.  It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini- Because boys seem to like it and it covers mental illness.
3.  Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson- YES!!  Because this is a must for all high schoolers!!
4.  After by Amy Efaw- Because it covers teen pregnancy, denial, and the juvenile justice system.  It also opens up tons of issues for discussion.
5.  The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky- Because it is an unusual book with a memorable M/C.
6.  Crank or Impulse by Ellen Hopkins- Because I think teens would be interested in reading a book written in verse.
7.  Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher- Because it covers teen suicide and bullying.
8.  Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling- Because why the hell not?
9.  Hate List by Jennifer Brown- Because it's about a school shooting and seeing the signs.
10.  Hold Still by Nina LaCour- Because it covers how to deal with the death of a friend.
11.  Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti- Because it shows the effects of bullying on a girl and it's really emotional.

Books that ALMOST made my list:
Go Ask Alice
You Don't Know Me
Please Ignore Vera Dietz
But I Love Him

I'm super interested to see what books you guys came up with.  It was HARD for me to narrow down my list!!  Also I feel like I lean towards wanting schools to teach books about issues that effect teens today where as the required reading for schools seem to be classic themes that don't have a lot of effect on their lives.  IMO the books that are taught in schools turn a lot of kids off to reading completely.  Why not let them read these life-changing books that will let them see how awesome reading can be???

11 comments:

  1. I have to respectfully disagree with you on Perks. It ripped so much off from The Catcher in the Rye- I was really surprised. I taught Catcher to my juniors last year and a few of them had read Perks and they too were shocked.

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    1. I HATED Catcher in the Rye and didn't really love Perks that much so....

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  2. Go Ask Alice would be amazing as well, I like the inclusion in an honorable mention. Speak is on my list. And I can't believe I forgot about Crank and Thirteen Reasons Why. Great list.

    My TTT

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  3. Great list. I think I would've loved reading Harry Potter at school! It's such a great series. I love the look of some of these books, (Crank, Impulse, Hold Still) so I'll have to check them out.

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  4. I only came up with seven today so I'm impressed by your list! And I agree, I was completely turned off to reading in school because so many of the required books are dry and old and hard to relate to. I actually haven't read many of the books on your list yet but I think I'm going to need to read Speak soon. It definitely seems like a YA required book.

    Here's my TTT

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  5. I agree with Perks, Harry Potter and Thirteen Reasons Why. I think these books should really be read by everyone at least once. :)
    My Top 10 Tuesday
    Review: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

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  6. Oh my gosh I can't believe I forgot After! Such a good book. Great list!

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  7. Thirteen Reasons Why and Hate List made my list too! I haven't read Looking for Alaska yet but I have it sitting on my TBR shelf :)

    Great choices!
    Christy @ Christy's Book Addiction

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  8. Three of the books on your list almost made it onto mine, but I have to say that you are all kinds of awesome. I'm following now.

    In terms of Perks though...that book was written in the 90's and we're over 20 years later and we STILL relate to EVERY issue in that book. That kind of relatability is hard to create and even harder to maintain. That book is one of the best books in the world.

    Here's my Top Ten Tuesday

    Rebecca @ Vicariously!

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  9. You know you've chosen a good list of books that should be taught in school when one of them actually is! At the high school in my town, Speak was a required reading book. Just thought you'd be happy to know that one of your picks is being read by students. :)

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    1. Very cool!! I've seen it on a lot of banned books list, so I didn't think schools allowed it. Good to know they do!

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