Help me find a book? (teaching question)

[Chantelle]

I teach 6th grade honors. I've been given the task of trying to find a challenging fact-based or even nonfiction piece of text to read with my kids that dovetails with our social studies curriculum - Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, India, and spreading into the middle ages.

Here are the requirements:
At least two grade levels above the students' current grade level
Has a multicultural focus / author / point of view
Connects thematically to at least two core subjects

So with my sixth graders, we're looking at high school or at the very least 8th grade leveled text, but I have to be careful with language/sexual content as well.

Anyone have a book that jumps out to them?

Thanks!

Chantelle

[Samantha]

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
I can't come up with the name of the one of Ancient Egypt but if I somehow remember I will respond again.

[Dree]

I would go for one of the versions of The 1001 Tales form the Arabian Nights. I read a one-volume edition from Penguin many years ago.

There are so many versions (I just spent 5 minutes looking for the one I read, haha!) I am sure you could find something.

Also, The Travels of Marco Polo might be interesting. Again, it's been a long time since I read it.

Maybe some ancient Chinese poetry in translation? You might need to watch the subject matter though.

[Kelly]

I used to teach gifted 6,7 and 8th graders. I do think it is silly to make sure the book is written 2 grade levels above where they are. Most of mine read at 12th grade +. Was I supposed to have them reading a College Marketing text? Most books are written around a 6th grade level.
I would focus on content. Just
because they're gifted doesn't mean they can 't enjoy the story too. Approach the activities at a higher level. I recommend Bound for ancient Chinese culture. It contrasts life of a girl and her step sister who has to/gets to get her feet bound. Amazing discussions with this one. The newest Riordan book focuses on ancient Egypt. Lighning Thief for Greek Myths or the Odyssey. I'll think about some others.

[Chantelle]

Would Nefertiti be appropriate? I mean, it's marketed to adults, but hell, if The Canterbury Tales, Mythology, and Beowulf: A New Verse Translation are on the honors reading list, couldn't Nefertiti be too?

Oh, they also read The Epic of Gilgamesh

[Chantelle]

Yes, I love Homeless Bird and am reading it right now with one of my non-honors classes. Unfortunately, most of the books I love (that along with Chu Ju's House - another good one) are right at the sixth grade reading level and they're demanding higher. :(

[Julia]

I agree with Kelly about Napoli's Bound. Also look at this by Napoli Sirena.Just because your students have the reading level, doesn't mean they have the knowledge base or maturity for tougher things. So fairy tale/ classic retellings may be kinda perfect. I loved Adele Geras' Troy and there's also a sequel, I think. Esther Friesner has written two books about Helen of Troy Nobody's Princessthat I haven't gotten around to yet, but might fit your needs. Look at Lavinia by Ursula LeGuin, I think they need more background for it, but maybe not.

[Alan]

The Odyssey as a suggestion. Nothing like getting things straight from the horse's mouth so to speak ; ) I read it in high school I believe, but I remember it being very interesting to tie in with more modern stories and how that mythology from so long ago still permeates our society today.

[Angela Sunshine]

I haven't read any of these, but...

Anna of Byzantium
Girl in a Cage
Sword
Outlaws of Moonshadow Marsh, The: The Sign of Qin - Book #1
Pharaoh's Daughter: A Novel of Ancient Egypt
Dove and Sword: A Novel of Joan of Arc

[Julia]

Of Angela's, Girl in Cage and Dove and Sword are both good, IMO. Another good historical fiction set in Europe: Crispin: The Cross of Lead.

[Chantelle]

Oh, yes, I've done Crispin as a read-aloud for years. Unfortunately, the powers that be don't think it's challenging enough. Sigh.

I'm adding several of your books to my list, so thank you so much!

I also added Nefertiti

[Elizabeth]

I have no idea if this is something you might be interested in, but have you thought about doing the Series of Unfortunate Events and then breaking down the symbolism in the book? Why the author used the names, terms, ect? My son was in a gifted program (although this was for fifth grade), and they took a little time every day and read through the series, digging deeper instead of moving faster. Taking a look at the story from the writer's perspective opened up a whole new world for him.

[AH]

As mentionned by Kelly above, the Percy Jackson series has the Greek mythology. If you look on Rick Riordan's web site, he also has materials geared to teachers for this series.

I also think that if a child is reading at a higher level, they can still enjoy children's/young adult books. You can spend more time on the details and symbolism.

[Kellee]

AH wrote: "As mentionned by Kelly above, the Percy Jackson series has the Greek mythology. If you look on Rick Riordan's web site, he also has materials geared to teachers for this series.

I also think that..."

Rick Riordan has an entire teaching guide that goes along with The Lightning Thief. I teach it and the kids love it and can find a connection to the Greek mythology I am teaching as well.

[[deleted user]]

I agree with Bound by Napoli and/or the Percy Jackson series. Bound is higher level thinking/reading skills whereas Percy Jackson would be just great-fast reading. And don't forget about The Red Pyramid by Riordan which is actually a higher-level reading than the Percy Jackson series and focuses on Egyptian mythology.

And idea that I would do for Ancient Rome is to have the class read portions of Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and juxtapose them with sections from the Odyssey or the Illiad. For example, how does Riordan portray Medusa versus Homer? Which is more vivid in the description? And then this could be followed with students studying how the legend and/or story of Medusa originate.

[Chris]

The problem with the Rick Riordan series is that so many schools won't touch them because these mythologies involve "gods," and they just don't want to go there. (Sigh)
What about Roland Smith's Elephant Run, set in WWII India. Very good and enjoyable by both girls and boys.
There's Snowflower and the Secret Fan. The only sex in the book is referred to as doing "bed business." But pretty sure it wouldn't engage the boys.
Wilbur Smith and Christian Jacq both have ancient Egypt series, but I've never read them.
Add me to the list of those who think needing to find 8th grade material is a waste of time. As someone who has dealt with GT teachers and students, it's no important to be able to read two grade levels above that's important, it's being able to get more out of what you read at your own level.
Good luck!

[Kelly]

Snowflower also has kind of a lesbian scene that I wouldn't let sixth graders read. Especially if you're in an area where Greek gods are a problem. Although it is a fact that ancient peoples worshiped those gods. The books are great for integration of social studies while still keeping things interesting.

[Chantelle]

Thank you all so much for this thoughtful dialogue and great suggestions!

I'm frustrated and elated all at the same time. The email requesting book suggestions was sent out to over 20 teachers - and I'm the only one who responded, with a list of about 8 books. Frustrated because I'd love to have this kind of dialogue with colleagues and of course, learn about new books, but elated because it looks like we're definitely going to end up with one of the books I (we) recommended!

[Kelly]

I think you are among a group of educators. I too wish I could have this type of dialogue with people whom I actually work, but that is one of the things that brought me to this group in the first place. I love having intelligent, book-centered conversations. Score another one for the Internet!

[Susan]

How about G.A. Henty's books. Cat of Bubastes? He has others as well, but I liked "Cat".

[Julia]

I have another suggestion, after you tell us you've had your discussion...

The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley . It's about Cassandra and the Fall of Troy through the eyes of women.