High School Classic Book Club
Have fun reading several of the well known high school classic novels with weekly live discussions, sharing other art based off the books and opportunities to ask questions.
Andromeda Edison
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(48)
What's included
12 live meetings
9 in-class hoursHomework
4+ hours per week. Each learner will be expected to read between classes.Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
We will read an average of 3 to 4 books in a 12 week period, the final books decided on will be up to the learners in the section. In the first class we will be going over the possible classic books to choose from (what a classic is and discuss each story). My objective will be to create an interest and love of reading before we even start. At the end of the first class we will vote on which books to read together (taking in to account any books the learners present might have already read so we don't repeat on anyone - unless requested). There are so many great books to read, we can start with picking from: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The, by Mark Twain Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Giver, The by Lois Lowry Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Shogun by James Clavell Three Musketeers, The by Alexandre Dumas Second list as needed: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Canterbury Tales, The by Geoffrey Chaucer Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller East of Eden by John Steinbeck Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes Hobbit, The by J.R.R. Tolkien Importance of Being Earnest, The by Oscar Wilde Little Prince, The by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Old Man and the Sea, The by Ernest Hemingway Odyssey, The by Homer Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Scarlet Letter, The by Nathaniel Hawthorne Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë **If a learners has an additional book they want to read, we will discuss it.** Before we start each book we will discuss the important aspects of the book, anything historic they should know about and any concepts they should be aware of. It will generally take about 3-6 weeks to complete the book (depending on the size of the book, I will let the learners know how long we will take once we decide on the book and set weekly reading targets). Each week we will discuss what we have read, I will have questions to ask but generally I prefer to let the learners run the discussion. If movies have been made of the books, we may review scenes from the sections we just read and discuss those as well. My novel discussions format is primarily based on the Thomas Jefferson Education methods for discussion. I will stay available on the weekly OutSchool chat for any words or confusions that come up as they read (some of these books were written a long time ago and the English language has gone through a lot of changes).
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Some of these books have been banned for various reasons.
Be aware some of the things covered in classic books can be thought provoking and cover a vast area of subjects, which some may find uncomfortable. If you have any questions on the books please feel free to ask.
Some notes on books on current list as well as other options that have been offered (most of these notes have been taken from commonsensemedia.com):
- 1984 by George Orwell - strong social and political themes, as well as for sexual content.
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - The story includes abuse of whiskey, as well as child beating and other real and threatened violence (though little of it is graphic). There is a pretty constant use of the "N" word. However, Huck and Jim's humanity, and Huck's inner moral struggles as he questions what he's been taught about slavery actually expose the irrationality of racism.
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - Although there are no explicit descriptions of sexual acts, promiscuous sex is the norm, and there is a violent orgy. There is also a suicide. Citizens of the World State take a tranquilizing, hallucinatory drug called soma, and on an Indian reservation, residents drink mescal and use peyote during tribal initiations.
- Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas - drug use, sexual references (not explicit), violence, murder and is overall a revenge story.
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - profanity and some violence.
- Giver, The - The novel has a few disturbing scenes, such as when Jonas experiences the suffering of a wounded soldier, and when he learns that his community euthanizes unwanted people. There are also mild references to sexual desire ("stirrings").
- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - some child abuse mentioned.
- Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck - when published was called "pack of lies" and "communist propaganda", also has sexual references (not explicit).
- Great Gatsby, The, by F. Scott Fitzgerald - includes references to alcohol drinking, marital infidelity, murder, suicide, homosexuality.
- Hobbit, The by J.R.R. Tolkien - scary scenes in the pitch-blackness when Bilbo the hobbit is threatened by goblins and trolls in caves, and a very creepy scene with Gollum, who keeps thinking about how he'd like to eat Bilbo. The dwarves and Bilbo are captured a few times, whipped once, almost cooked once, and strung upside down to be eaten later. Swords and arrows kill in a big battle that includes some sad deaths. Few truly gory details except a goblin head and a wolf skin propped up on a gate. And there are fights with big spiders and evil wolves. Dwarves, Gandalf, and Bilbo love their drink and making smoke rings from their pipes.
- Little Prince, The by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - The language and themes can sail over the heads of young, casual readers, but there's nothing inappropriate for young readers. The prince allows himself to be bitten by a poisonous snake, which some children might view as suicide even though the author explains that the prince isn't dead.
- Odyssey, The by Homer - Because the book recounts not only Odysseus' tumultuous journey home and his son Telemakhos' coming of age but also tales of Odysseus' bravery in the Trojan War, it includes a good deal of violence. There's also some implied sexual activity (though nothing graphic).
- Old Man and the Sea, The by Ernest Hemingway - It's packed with epic struggles (man vs. nature, man vs. himself), eternal issues (love, survival, teaching the next generation, tenacity against the odds) and strong writing. It's also about three days in a boat in which most of the action takes place in the title character's head, punctuated by graphic descriptions of, say, the gutting of fish. It's also somewhat fraught with a late-in-life perspective that may be largely lost on young readers.
- Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare - it includes little inappropriate sexual content or profanity, but there are a few very violent scenes in which major characters are run through with swords.
- Scarlet Letter, The by Nathaniel Hawthorne - a classic American novel that deals with adultery, sin, religion, and redemption.
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - racist use of "negros" word, rape case being tried.
- Three Musketeers, The by Alexandre Dumas - includes references to hanging, marital infidelity, murder, rape, sexual assault, suicide threats
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë - Heathcliff's pride and suffering make him cruel, menacing, and his and Cathy's end is not the stuff of fairy tales. It's also worth noting that there are almost certainly ghosts in this book, though Bronte leaves it up to the reader whether or not to believe.
Supply List
Each leaner will need to have their own copy of the books we choose from: Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Great Expectations by Charles Dickens To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Night Trilogy by Eli Wiesel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 1984 by George Orwell Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined May, 2020
5.0
48reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have been working in the area of human rights education since 2015, having lectured all across the United States on the subject of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations document fro 1948). I am a certified instructor in the area of human rights, include educating others on how to lecture on this subject.
In 2018 I was also awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award in Washington D.C. for my work in spreading awareness on human rights.Reviews
Live Group Class
$145
for 12 classes1x per week, 12 weeks
45 min
Completed by 6 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
3-9 learners per class
