ABANDONED. Hist. fic...Middle /high school grade level, published in '08

[ɯɐɔ]

It was published in or around 2008, and I've heard that it may not be appropriate for middle schoolers because it has frequent swearing. Also heard that it is a funny novel. Is historical fiction.

[Dee]

What era of history? Country set?

[Debbie is on Storygraph]

Anything of the plot at all? timeframe or country?

[Kate]

This is just a shot at solving this. Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen fits your description. It is historical fiction, set during World War II at a farm in the midwest. The main character is a city boy who spends the summer with relatives on a farm. It is funny laugh-out-loud, and has some questionable language. The only thing I can recall concretely is that the farm boy likes to act out war scenes against the "Japs."

[ɯɐɔ]

My teach won't tell me. She says that if she does, I'll go home and read it all in one night, which is true. She also said that she would confiscate my book at the end of class, but I told her that I would just get it at the library. My teacher than went on to say that she would check out every copy of that book at both our public and school library. I guess she really doesn't want me to read ahead.

[ɯɐɔ]

I don't think that's it, Kate, but I appreciate your help! :)

[Dee]

wow - can teachers really do that? maybe I've been out of school too long, my teachers (at least in Australia) encouraged us to read - and as long as we were reading who cared

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen]

It might be a little bit easier if we knew anything about the time frame or plot...

[Ann aka Iftcan]

I know Dee--my teachers were also of the opinion that if we had a book that wasn't obviously PORN, they weren't going to object. I can't believe a teacher won't tell a student the name of a book that the student wants to read--even if it IS something that is planned as a reading assignment. I showed this link to my daughter, and she snorted and reminded me of the 10th grade English teacher she had who told my daughter, "You can't possibly understand that book as a student, because I can't understand it as a teacher." (The book in question was a simple little sci-fi. And my daughter had been reading those since 4th grade.) So my daughter was willing to believe it. Sigh, I wonder what the world is coming to, when intelligent, interested children can't even get told the title of a book.

[Dee]

admittedly, my teacher did tell me no more romance books on my reading list...hehe

[Cheryl]

I know we're off-topic, but yes, my son's high school English teachers don't want him reading ahead, either. He's not exactly, fully, sure why, but he says they have reasons and he respects the reasons.

[Lee Anne]

Well, as a English teacher, I can say it's probably a combination of reasons. At least, my reasons would be as follows:
1)no accidental or purposeful spoilers for anyone in the class
2) creates a class experience, something that can be shared together as a community rather than experiencing everything by yourself. Which leads to
3)more emotional intensity.

It also allows you to talk about the plot, examples of foreshadowing, etc., without having those who have read ahead introduce too much knowledge. It's actually easier to explain some literary ideas (foreshadowing, rising action, etc.) and see them as you read it, rather than just look back at them from the end.

And slowing down your reading also makes you mull over the ideas and characters and situations, whereas if you are devouring a book in one night (as I often do with intriguing books), you aren't going to reflect on it as much because you just want to get to the end.

And you know your teacher will tell you the title at the end. So even if you *do* find the title before she wanted to, do her (and you) a favor and don't read ahead.

[Dee]

While I understand many of those reasons, if a student is that far advanced reading wise then shouldn't alternatives be considered?

Case on point - I read all of Cynthoa Voigts books 2 years before they were even considered class reading and I dealt with having to do it again

But from what the OP has said it doesn't seem as if this is potential class reading or if it is - why doesn't the teacher take this as a learning/trust opportunity and say here is the title however we are going to read this in class soon and I would like you not to read it for these reasons - because saying can't read it and then they try to find/sneak and read

But that is just me...

[ɯɐɔ]

Yeah: my friends and I are very fast readers, as always read ahead. I guess she wants me to "fully comprehend" the novel, not "read it all at once". It wouldn't matter, since we have the slowest readers in our class, EVER, so whenever she picks one of those readers, I naturally read ahead. :) A lot of you have come up with interesting...additions, for example, and I totally agree with them: I read To Kill A Mockingbird when I was about 7 or 8, at a Girl Scout sleepaway camp. I was heartbroken to learn that I left it on my bunk bed and it fell onto the muddy floor, ruining the cover. Seriously: 8 year old, freaking out about a muddy book, not that she was without parents for a week. I find that quite funny. Still, though...if it makes a difference, I may not have mentioned that she was jokingly saying that to me, because we get along pretty well together, and even have the same birthday (different years, though. :D )!

[Andria]

Cam, I really want to help you find this book because I was the same way! And as you pointed out, as soon as you find out what the book is, you'll read it all at once ANYWAY.

So - this is a book that is going to be a class assignment at some point? What grade are you in?

One book that comes to mind, if I were to make a total stab in the dark based on what you've said so far, is Tales of the Madman Underground - it's funny, and has some adult language/content, and even though it kills me to admit that my early childhood is now HISTORICAL, the book is set in 1973 so that would make it Historical Fiction. It was published in 2009 and got very good reviews, but IMO it's really more for high school than middle school, at least as far as school assignments go. I would be kind of surprised to hear it was being assigned in middle school.

[ɯɐɔ]

Yeah--about a freshman-sophomore level for class. I'm a more advanced reader than that, but she wants us to read types of books in that...area. The book you picked sounds like something she would pick, thanks! I'm looking for ideas, not exact matches. :)

[Andria]

OK, cool. I can't think of anything else right now that hits all the marks of historical fiction, funny, and for older YA...but if something comes to mind I'll post again. :)

[Cait]

Sunrise Over Fallujah is a controversial historical book written in 2008 by Walter Dean Myers. It's similar in theme to another controversial book of his: Fallen Angels. They are both about war, and contain lots of very real war/soldier language.
Sunrise Over Fallujah

[Clackamas]

Sunrise Over Fallujah was also on the Battle of the Books list for high school age last year, so I can absolutely see a teacher making it assigned reading this year.

[Andria]

Sunrise Over Fallujah is an excellent book, but I don't think it has much in the way of humor in it.

Also, since it's set in the contemporary era, some teachers wouldn't consider it historical fiction.

[Cheryl]

Lee Anne, thank you for sharing. I will post your comment to my son. I totally respect that, even though I sympathize with Cam.

[Jayme]

If you're looking for suggestions and not an exact match, check out this list...

http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/h...

[ɯɐɔ]

Thanks, Jayme!

[Lee Anne]

Cheryl, thanks! I've been on both sides of this, so I can certainly empathize.

I've found that there are lots of questions my students have about why they are forced to do things a certain way, and they are often surprised when I give them an actual answer. (You mean teachers have reasons for what they tell you do? Shocking!)

And Cam--I don't think I'd count reading a little ahead in class (is it being read out loud?) as really reading ahead (compared to reading, like, 100 pages ahead). Anyway, sounds like you have a cool teacher. :)

[Kris]

Cam, your teacher is a grade A jerk.

And there is ALWAYS Amazon

[ɯɐɔ]

Lololololololol

[Dee]

Lee Anne wrote: "Cheryl, thanks! I've been on both sides of this, so I can certainly empathize.

I've found that there are lots of questions my students have about why they are forced to do things a certain way, ..."

if you are giving them an answer that is all good and well - but the feeling I got from the OP's post was that no answer was actually given - just a no, you can't read it...

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen]

I find this very strange. I mean couldnt the student go to the local library and read the book there?

Its not like the teachers can decide every aspect of your life outside the classroom.

[Andria]

Kagama - I agree, and this the biggest problem I see with the situation. Everyone experiences literature in different ways, and I think teachers should allow for those differences. Also, what the heck? Enthusiastic readers should be encouraged!!!

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen]

Andria wrote: "Kagama - I agree, and this the biggest problem I see with the situation. Everyone experiences literature in different ways, and I think teachers should allow for those differences. Also, what the ..."

Yes,its better to be an independent reader :)

[ɯɐɔ]

Yep. I mean, I always read ahead, regardless if it's what we're going to read or not! I read To Kill A Mockingbird when I was eight...try explaining the plot line of THAT to today's average third grader.

[Kris]

I always finished the books fast so I could go back to the more interesting ones I had on my shelves already.

[ɯɐɔ]

Exactly! Then the teacher's all like "Why aren't you reading your book?" and you're like, "Cause I already read it!"

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen]

Cam wrote: "Exactly! Then the teacher's all like "Why aren't you reading your book?" and you're like, "Cause I already read it!""

Reminds me of one time in school (11th grade) we were supposed to pick a book to read and I couldnt find anything new to read so I decided to re-read Jane Eyre.

She takes one look at the book and says "You picked this one? I think it might be a bit difficult to read for you"

Me: "Well I have already read it before so I guess it will be fine"

She looks at me a bit surprised "You mean you already read this?"

I dont know why she was so surprised...

[ɯɐɔ]

I feel like sometimes, teachers underestimate their students. Wait, no...that happens almost every day. It's like the teacher sees all of this crap, then suddenly sees a diamond in the rough: aka, reading classics for fun or at a young age.

[Kris]

Can't imagine WHY she thought Jane Eyre was too hard for a 17 year old... o.O

[ɯɐɔ]

Exactly my point. Not a hard book to read...Les Miserables is a different story (no pun intended.)

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

ɯɐɔ, are you still looking for this book?

[Cheryl]

Well, I assume that the class has read it by now... but it's too bad we don't know what it was that the teacher wanted Cam to wait for!