Literature Study & Analysis for Middle School: Ongoing Classical Book Club

Photo courtesy of Jaredd Craig.
We discuss the books at length so make sure your child has read and has copies of the books so we don't give away any plot lines or spoilers.
This will be an ongoing literature class where we will discuss a new book every two weeks.  I will gently guide the discussion on different book topics such as: plot, character attributes and development, themes, symbolism, genre types, and literary devices.
This will be a time for students to share their love of reading.  We will leave most time open for discussion and learn different book elements around that discussion. I mainly use Socratic discussion when discussing the books and themes of the novels.  I try to get students to think about what they are reading. I have found that readers love to share what they are reading with others and why they love it.  This class will give that opportunity to students who love to read.  I will also use google slides in my classroom presentations. Some weeks we may have handouts related to the different literary elements we will be discussing. This class can also be used as a literature credit for the school year.  

The week before we study each novel I will send out discussion questions from each novel.  I will also send out a reference sheet that will give examples and definitions of any literary elements we will be learning in class.   

Please make sure that students have copies of the books in their possession as we read and discuss each book.   
  
2025
Weeks January 5th and 12th--A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. In this book we will discuss the themes of the novel, historical fiction, and plot.

Weeks January 19th and 26th--Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare.  We will discuss historical fiction, themes, foreshadowing, character development and tone and mood of the story.  

Weeks February 2nd and 9th-- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine Engel.  In this early children's science fiction novel we will be discussing science fiction, symbolism, family, belonging, and a little bit of fantasy.  

For the week of February 23rd, I will be out of town for my other job. 

Weeks February 16th and March 2nd-- Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman.  In this medieval novel about a young woman we will discuss coming of age, life in the Middle Ages, setting, family roles, point of view, and characterization.  

Weeks March 9th and 16th-- poetry.  We will read and discuss the following poems as time permits; "Do Not Go Gently into that Good Night," by Dylan Thomas, "In Flanders Fields," by John McCrae, "If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking," by Emily Dickinson, "Listen to the MUSTN'TS," by Shel Silverstein, and "Dream Variations," by Langston Hughes.  (I have chosen older poems because to understand poetry you must read it and these are in the public domain, so we can read them in class.) We will discuss-- rhyme, meter, rhythm, stanzas, and more depending on time.  We may not be able to discuss all poems in-depth.  

Weeks March 23rd and 30th-- Goose Girl by Shannon Hale.  We will discuss fairy tales, characterization, setting, point of view, dynamic versus static characters, and themes of the novel. 

Weeks March April 6th and 13th-- Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. We will discuss fantasy, plot, characters and setting.  

Weeks April 20th and 27th-- My Name is Keoko by Linda Sue Park.  We will focus on themes, characters, dynamic versus static characters, and symbolism. 

Weeks May 4th and 11th-- Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis.  We will talk about historical fiction, plot, characters and setting.  
FALL 2025

Weeks of August 25th and September 1st--Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.  In this novel we will discuss setting, dynamic verses static characters, dialogue, and  point of view.

Week of September 8th-- I will be moving my daughter into her dorm for college. 

Weeks of September 15th and 22nd-- The Giver.  We will focus on themes, characters, dynamic versus static characters, the first dystopian novel, and symbolism. 

Weeks of September 29th and October 13th-- Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.  We will discuss setting, character development, protagonist verses antagonist, climax, and rising and falling action in this classic book set in Ozarks.   

The week of October 6th will be Fall Break.

Weeks of October 20th and 27th--The Tiger by William Blake, Let the Light Enter by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, in Just by e.e. cummings, The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes, O Captain, My Captain by Walt Whitman and The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus. (I have chosen older poems because to understand poetry you must read it and these are in the public domain, so we can read them in class.)  We will heavily discuss the literary elements of each poem.  

Weeks of November 3rd and 10th--Revolution is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine.  In this novel we will talk about plot, rising and falling action, historical fiction, and characters. (Please be aware that this book is about the Cultural Revolution in China.  The book is told from the perspective of a young girl, but there is one scene where a neighbor throws herself out a window and dies. Please assess if your student can handle this content.)

Weeks of November 17th and December 1st-- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.  In this book we will discuss plot, story themes and characters.  

Week of December 8th-- The Elves and the Shoemaker by the Brothers Grimm and Christmas at Red Butte by Laud Maud Montgomery.

Weeks of January 5th and 12th--Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Lavine

Weeks of January 19th and 26th-- Animal Farm.  We will discuss allegory, symbolism, rhetoric, and characters in this classic by George Orwell.

Weeks of February 2nd and 9th-- Redwall #1 by Brian Jacques.

Weeks of February 16th and 23rd-- Call of the Wild by Jack London.  We will discuss personification, anthropomorphism, climax, setting, and themes-- like man verses nature.  (This book has some scenes where dogs fight viciously. This can be upsetting for some readers.  Please assess if your student can handle this content.)

Weeks of March 2nd and 9th-- Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan. We will discuss themes, characters, historical fiction and plot.  

Weeks of March 16th and 23rd-- We will discuss several poems including: The Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth, Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickenson, Mother to Son by Langston Hughes, and The Bells by Edgar Allen Poe.  We will heavily discuss literary devices within the poems. (I have chosen older poems because to understand poetry you must read it and these are in the public domain, so we can read them.)

The week of March 30th will be Spring Break. 

Weeks of April 6th and 13th-- 

Weeks of April 20th and 27th--The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi.  We will discuss setting, character development, historical fiction and foreshadowing.



This class will rely heavily on student discussion.  We will need to cancel class if there are not at least 5 learners.