Happy Tuesday, y’all! This week, Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl asked us to share books we were assigned in school. Many of us will have similar books on our lists this week. I twisted this topic a while ago, sharing unusual books I’ve read in high school. You can find this list here. So this week, I’m sharing books I think they should discuss in school.
These books are all YA, but they cover topics that should be discussed in school. The best part is that they don’t all have to be taught in English class. There are a few that would not be lost in a history class. A couple of these books are on various banned lists, which means they need to be read and discussed even more.
All titles are linked to Goodreads.
Without further ado, here are books I think they should discuss in school!
The War Outside by Monica Hesse
- Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
- Release Date: September 2018
- Class: US History, US Government.
- Reason: Opens a discussion about the US government’s treatment of its citizens during WWII.
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
- Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Own-Voices
- Release Date: September 2020
- Class: US History, US Government
- Reason: Opens a discussion about the US government’s treatment of its citizens during WWII.
Sold by Patricia McCormick
- Genre: YA, Contemporary
- Release Date: September 2006
- Class: Geography, Ethics, Global Citizenship
- Reason: Discusses human trafficking as both domestic servants and sexual servants.
You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen
- Genre: YA, Contemporary
- Release Date: February 2022
- Class: English, Ethics
- Reason: It opens up a discussion on racism and discrimination based on religion.
Revenge of the Sluts by Natalie Walton
- Genre: YA, Contemporary
- Release Date: February 2021
- Class: Ethics, Digital Citizenship
- Reason: Discusses consent, intention, and sharing of information in the digital age.
These Deadly Games by Diana Urban
- Genre: YA, Contemporary, Mystery
- Release Date: February 2022
- Class: English, Digital Citizenship
- Reason: Everything online may not be what it seems.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Genre: YA, Contemporary
- Release Date: October 1999
- Class: English, Health
- Reason: Speaking up for yourself, even if it means going against popular opinion. You’ll thank yourself!
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
- Genre: YA, Contemporary
- Release Date: March 1993
- Class: English, Health
- Reason: Speaking up for yourself and your friends. The truth will set you free.
Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell by Liane Shaw
- Genre: YA, Contemporary
- Release Date: April 2016
- Class: English
- Reason: Features a neurodivergent main character placed in a difficult position.
The Victoria in My Head by Janelle Milanes
- Genre: YA, Contemporary
- Release Date: September 2017
- Class: English
- Reason: Finding yourself and knowing it may go against your parents’ expectations.
Those are ten books I think they should discuss in school. Have you read any of these? What books have you read that you believe should be discussed in school?
Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my other bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.
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I really like what you did with the topic and I think it’s good mix of history, school-related and every-day topics as well as ones relevant for living in the 21st century! Wish they would rethink reading lists every now and then instead of every x years.
My girls (22 & 16) have always been disappointed with the books they’ve been assigned in school becuase they’re not a true representation of what’s out there. Why are so many books being discussed in schools written by dead, white, men? What about the rest of the world? There are so many stories to learn about.
Pam
Good twist on the theme. I haven’t done mine yet.
I tweaked the prompt as well! Great list!
I love this list and agree with all of your picks.
My library’s YA section has “Sold” on display right now!
The only one I’ve read on here is Revenge of the Sluts and that’s an interesting pick but I agree with you! Excited to see We Are Not Free on here—it’s still on my TBR but I’ve heard great things about it and can imagine it would be a great book to discuss in schools. The first book that came to mind for me was The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed. Great twist to the topic!
Great twist on the topic! I’ve only read a couple of these, but I agree, they should be discussed in school. THE WAR OUTSIDE is one I’ve been meaning to read. Thanks for the reminder!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Such a great twist on this topic! I don’t think I’ve read any of these books, but I might in the future 🙂
If you’d like to visit, here’s my TTT: https://thebooklorefairy.blogspot.com/2024/10/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-was-assigned-in-school.html
I like this! I’ve not read any of these books, but I’m going to have to look into a few of them.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
Excellent choices–if only….
Speak is powerful! That’s the only book from your list that I’ve read.
Here is my TTT: https://thissideofstoryland.blogspot.com/2024/10/top-ten-tuesday-ranking-10-books-i-was.html
Great take on the topic! I haven’t read any of these yet but I completely agree that school reading lists should indeed include books that cover these important topics that should be discussed in school.
Good tweak on this week’s topic!
What great ideas to shake up some stale reading lists!
I think Speak was a popular book for schools in the 2000s. I remember reading an article where it said that girls get the message about assault, but boys don’t, and that’s because girls are more likely to suffer from it than boys.
I like your twist on the topic, and definitely think schools should feature more contemporary books in their reading lists than they sometimes do. I haven’t read any of these books, but I’m definitely going to keep my eye out for some of them. I hope you have a great week.
Here’s my TTT if you wish to visit – https://justanothergirlandherbooks.blogspot.com/2024/10/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-was-assigned-to.html
Some of these look like excellent suggestions, although I bet most of them would be panic banned within moments in a bunch of places if they were ever actually picked! I think schools should move with the times more than they do and start incorporating a lot more modern choices.
I haven’t read any of these, but they all cover important topics everyone should learn about
Interesting titles. I’ll have to look into some of these for my classroom. I like how you twisted this list topic this week. Clever!