The following books will be needed for this class.  You may purchase them from amazon, thrift books, abebooks, or any other retailer, or borrow them from your local library.  Listening to the audiobook version is also acceptable. 

BOOK LIST
"Words on Fire" by Jennifer A. Neilsen
"The Island at the End of Everything" by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
"They Called Us Enemy" by George Takei with Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker
"The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by Bryan Mealer and William Kamkwamba (please note that we are reading and discussing the Young Reader's edition, not the picture book or the book geared toward adult audiences) 

The selections for this class are all commonly found on reading lists for learners ages 12-16.  Because each family is different as to what is appropriate for their learners, please read this section. 

"Words on Fire" takes place during the Russian occupation of Lithuania, where Lithuanians were subject to violence and death for (among other things)reading, owning, and transporting books written in Lithuanian. There is violence in this book, although it is not graphically portrayed. A more complete summary can be found here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/words-on-fire#:~:text=WORDS%20ON%20FIRE%20tells%20the,and%20stays%20out%20of%20town.

"The Island at the End of Everything" tells of a 12 year-old girl being forcefully separated from her mother and sent to an orphange because of her mother's leprosy. "Friendships and familial bonds are all important; the fierce love between a mother and daughter is at the very heart of the novel. Themes of prejudice, difference and loss are deftly handled, and there is real emotional depth and poignancy to the story, which is at times heartbreaking but ultimately one filled with hope." https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/may/16/island-at-end-of-everything-by-kiran-millwood-hargrave-review-

"They Called Us Enemies" is a graphic novel that does not shy away from the realities of Japanese Interment Camps during WW2. Read more here: https://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/george-takei-they-called-us-enemy/1011

I will not be explicitly teaching about any of the historical events that surround these books, but am prepared to deal with any questions that arise in our student-led discussions. As we discuss these novels in class, we will affirm the value of all humanity, regardless of country of origin, religion, economic status, gender, etc.  If you have questions, please don't hesitate to message me.