20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Berls's Task: Back to High School

[Kristina Simon]

20.7 - Shorter is Sweeter - Berls's Task: Back to High School

When I think of Classical Mythology, I think of all the classics I was assigned to read in high school. Some of those books became my favorites and others deserve another chance. So for this challenge we're going back to high school.

Choose ONE option and read a book that fulfills the option.
Required: State which option you chose when you post.

Option 1 -Second Chances: There were some books I never gave a chance in High School - maybe I was too busy or the topic just didn't appeal to me at the time. Others I loved, but haven't read since and wonder how I'd feel about them now. For this option, pick a book that you read (or skimmed/cliff note "read") in high school and give it a second chance. As long as it was read while in high school, this could be a book that was assigned reading or it could one that you'd just like to reread with adult eyes. REQUIRED: State that you read the book in high school and what year you graduated (book must be published in or prior to graduation year).

Option 2 - Assigned Reading: A good portion of what kids read in high school is assigned. So for this option pick a book from the Required Reading in High School list. REQUIRED: Include the page and position where the book can be found on the list when you post.

Option 3 - The Best YA: I have a son in high school and I'm thrilled when he picks up a book. I try to steer him towards some of the Best liked YA (better chance he'll like it) and a great resource for that is the Goodreads Choice Awards. For this option, pick a book that's been nominated for Young Adult Fiction or Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction in the Goodreads Choice Awards. To find these lists go to The Best Books of 2014. To see what books were nominated that year, click on "View Results" and pick the list from the left. The other years are also listed on the left, repeat the same process for them. REQUIRED: State which year you used and whether the book was a Young Adult Fiction or Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction nominee.

Option 4 - Never Left: Some of us chose to teach and never fully leave high school. But it sure looks a lot different from an adult's vantage point! For this option, read a book with a teacher or other school administrator (e.g., principal, counselor) as one of the main characters. REQUIRED: Their role must be apparent from the Goodreads description. If not, provide a link verifying their role.

[Berls]

Approved:
Option 2:


Option 3:


Option 4:

[Berls]

Placeholder for Not Approved books

[Kristina Simon]

This thread is now open!

[SamZ]

for Option 3, I can read any past GR nominee or winner, correct? So I could read Fangirl as a previous YA Fiction nominee from 2013?

[♞ Pat]

Thanks for the opportunity to blast to the past. Most of the titles on the list I've read, and most IN high school, but this one got past me somehow…

A Separate Peace.

Page 1, #33.

[Berls]

Sam wrote: "for Option 3, I can read any past GR nominee or winner, correct? So I could read Fangirl as a previous YA Fiction nominee from 2013?"

Yes that works. Just be sure to list the year (2013) and category (YA Fiction) like you just did.

[Berls]

Pat wrote: "Thanks for the opportunity to blast to the past. Most of the titles on the list I've read, and most IN high school, but this one got past me somehow…

I'm going to grab [bookcover:A Separate Peac..."

Oh good, I'm glad you're able to find one that's new-to-you :) Noted as approved for option 2.

[Denise]

For Option 1, does the book have to be one that was read as an assignment for a high school class - which seems to be in keeping with the spirit of the task - or can it be one that we read independently while in high school?

[Berls]

D wrote: "For Option 1, does the book have to be one that was read as an assignment for a high school class - which seems to be in keeping with the spirit of the task - or can it be one that we read independ..."

Sorry I didn't see this earlier, D. I'm going to say as long as you read it in high school it counts, since the idea is to give it a second look with adult eyes. So if it wasn't assigned, it still counts.

[Denise]

Berls wrote: "Sorry I didn't see this earlier, D."

No problem.

Berls wrote: "I'm going to say as long as you read it in high school it counts, since the idea is to give it a second look with adult eyes. So if it wasn't assigned, it still counts"

Great, thanks for that ruling!

[Hina]

Would this work for Option 4: Nanny And The Professor by Donna Clayton.

[Berls]

Hina wrote: "Would this work for Option 4: Nanny And The Professor by Donna Clayton."

Yes, that works.

[Paul]

hi, can you please approve Pop Goes the Weasel by James Patterson.For option 4. One of the main characters is Christine Johnson - A primary school head teacher.

Wikipedia.. " In Pop Goes the Weasel, Alex proposes and Christine happily accepts. Christine is kidnapped by Alex's current nemesis, Geoffrey Shafer and is held hostage for over a year, during which she bears Ali. Alex finds her, meets his son for the first time and is reunited with her."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Cro...

Many thanks,
metshaft

[Berls]

Paul wrote: "hi, can you please approve Pop Goes the Weasel by James Patterson.For option 4. One of the main characters is Christine Johnson - A primary school head teacher.

Wikipedi..."

Hi Paul - yes, that one will work. You'll want to include that link just like you just did for verification of her role. I'm adding to approved books as well :)

[Chris]

Would this work for #4? According to the description, Maisie Dobbs, usually a private investigator, goes undercover as a junior lecturer at Cambridge University.

[Berls]

Chris wrote: "

Would this work for #4? According to the description, Maisie Dobbs, usually a private investigator, goes undercover as a junior lecturer at Cambridge Univer..."

It's on the edge, since she's not actually a lecturer, but a PI. I'll approve it though, since from reviews I get the impression that she's at the University as a lecturer for quite a bit of the book.

[Chris]

Berls wrote: "Chris wrote: "

Would this work for #4? According to the description, Maisie Dobbs, usually a private investigator, goes undercover as a junior lecturer at Ca..."

Thanks!

[Claire]

Option 2: Lord of the Flies by William Golding (Page 1, Number 4)

[Berls]

Claire wrote: "Option 2: Lord of the Flies by William Golding (Page 1, Number 4)"

Approved :)

[Hevabean]

Is Everything I Never Told You OK for option 4? It's about a family and the father is a history professor. Third paragraph here: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014...

Thanks

[Berls]

That works Hevabean. I'll add it to approved books.

[Paul]

Berls wrote: "Paul wrote: "hi, can you please approve Pop Goes the Weasel by James Patterson.For option 4. One of the main characters is Christine Johnson - A primary school head teach..."

Many thanks :)

[Kaity]

(for option 3) - In 2009 goodreads didn't have the YA Fantasy/Science Fiction category, they instead had YA Series (this category is individual YA books that are part of a series not whole series). Is a book from the YA Series category okay to use? I'd planned on reading Blood Promise by Richelle Mead for this task but just reread the task and thought I should ask.

Nevermind, I found a different book for this task that worked for sure :)

[Pat]

Peakles


For 20.7
Will Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber work for
(4.) Teacher or other school admin as main character.

A Guardian Angel comes to Earth as a teacher at a community college.

[Pat]

by Peakles

Please see message 25.

Thanks!

[Berls]

Pat wrote: "by Peakles

Please see message 25.

Thanks!"

Peakles - I'm so sorry I didn't get the notification that you'd posted!

Yes, Mr. Miracle will work for option 4. I'll add it :)

[Pat]

No worries! Thanks.