By Issy Gee
Over the course of the year, I’ve recommended a plethora of different books - everything from the classic horror of The Shining, to the heartbreaking romance of Song of Achilles. Maybe you decided my words had some merit and tried out the books, or maybe you dismissed them entirely. For those who belong to the latter faction, you’ll be happy to hear that I decided to get the opinion of a few professionals for this recommendation. I interviewed three different English teachers, all of whose classes I’ve thoroughly enjoyed, and asked them what book they feel all high school students should have read by the time they graduate. Here were their responses:
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, recommended by Ms. Lindamood
Things Fall Apart tells the story of Okonkwo, a wealthy Igbo warrior living during the period in which Europe was establishing a colonial presence in Africa. It explores his struggle to maintain his traditions and social prestige as a missionary group installs themselves in his village. Chinua Achebe is nothing less than a master storyteller, and his use of imagery and symbolism is fascinating to immerse yourself in.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, recommended by Mrs. Moulton
To Kill Mockingbird focuses on the Finches, a family living in 1930s Alabama, as their town deals with a crisis of conscience. Atticus Finch, the head of the family and a lawyer, is assigned to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. What follows is Atticus defending Tom to the best of his ability, despite the discriminatory court system. As Atticus works to achieve justice, his children, Jem and Scout, reckon with the public backlash their father receives as a result.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, recommended by Ms. Florea
Frankenstein is a classic; it is a beautiful commentary on the nature of humanity, interwoven with a captivating storyline. It tells the tale of brilliant scientist Victor Frankenstein; Frankenstein creates a sentient creature, and the consequences of his actions follow him through the rest of the book. It’s truly a shame how pop culture has twisted Shelly’s masterpiece into a Halloween mask with an inaccurate name; Frankenstien is the scientist, not the creature. Dispelling this error is one of the many reasons everyone should read Frankenstein.
Works Cited
“Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley: 9780143131847 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books.” PenguinRandomhouse.com, 16 Jan. 2018, www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/557081/frankenstein-the-1818-text-by-mary-shelley-introduction-by-charlotte-gordon-editorial-apparatus-by-charles-e-robinson.
File:to Kill a Mockingbird (First Edition Cover).Jpg - Wikimedia Commons. 1960, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:To_Kill_a_Mockingbird_(first_edition_cover).jpg.
Wikipedia contributors. File:ThingsFallApart.jpg - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ThingsFallApart.jpg.
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