Top Ten Tuesday #8: Books That You Wish Were Taught In Schools



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly Top Ten list hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Today we'll count down books we should have been forced to read in school. I say forced because I know that for as long as i went to school I never enjoyed a single book I had to read. Could be because my Swedish/English teacher adored historical books and we never read anything written after 1910. They're way to deep and complex for me and I haven't read nearly enough psychology to get that kind of books, which is why I have a hard time appreciating classics.

So, out of the very many books I have read, I'll try to list ten that should be added to the schools reading lists. (I made it to four, yay me!)

In no particular order:

1. Split by Swati Avasthi  - My brother called me during the week and said he needed a book to be review for his high school English class and asked if I had any suggestions. I put split in an envelop and sent it to him the very same day! Because: 1. I know how amazingly lazy my brother is and it's short. 2. It touches some very sensitive subjects of modern day society. 3. It's not one of my usual chick lit books, which I thought he'd appreciate.

Konstgjort Break



2. Rani & Sukh by Bali Rai - This is a modern day Romeo and Juliet. I read this is in... somewhere between 6th and 8th grade, I think, and I cried buckets and I was so angry at the world! A conflict between families, spanning decades, keeps two sweet and happy teenagers apart. It highlights a lot of cultural differences between Sweden and India (I really don't know that much about Indian culture) and has a whole lot of damaging pride. It's one of the seven deadly sins for a reason. This reason.

3. Bully by Penelope Douglas - I haven't actually read this one but have had it recommended  by friends. If it's as good as it sounds and people say it is, it should most definitely be on this list. Bullying completely unacceptable but is a huge issue. Today, a humiliating video can go viral with in hours and no longer be contained to a single school or community but instead go global. Cyber-bullying is also hard to prove and gives little or no repercussions, at least here in Sweden.
Konstgjort Break

4. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan - Sorry, I haven't read this one either but heard nothing but amazing things about it. I am pro-gay marriage and gender equality and the fact that Two Boys Kissing has been published and gotten space in the YA society is a reminder of how far we've come.

 

Have you read any of them? Do you agree/disagree? Are Bully and Two Boys Kissing books that should be read right this instant? What books would you add to your list? Let me know!

Comments

  1. Great list Deb, I want to read nearly all of these books! I'm intrigued by Split, I hadn't heard of it before.

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  2. Isn't it crazy that we assign such awful books to students? And it ends up pushing students farther and farther away from books.

    Here are my thoughts on the Best Required Reading!

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  3. I haven't read any of these, but I've seen excellent reviews for Two Boys Kissing, and that's on my reading list.

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  4. I know and I really liked you idea with a list of books to choose from! My teacher gave us a choice between reading two romantic books or two dystopian. Since I've always favored romance I chose that one, and oh boy did I choose wrong. One of the dystopians was 1984 while I was stuck with very little romance and a whole lot of murder and cover ups. Isn't a lit teachers job to encourage reading and not deter her students?

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  5. Thanks! Split is like nothing I've ever read. I rarely adventure outside my chick lit box but I'm so thankful I gave Split a chance. It touched me like very few books have done before.

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  6. Split is a great idea. I read that last summer I think and it was so good.

    My TTT List

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  7. I loved Bully and am anxious to begin Two Boys Kissing. I'm glad to see it making some lists this week. :)

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  8. Haven't read any of these yet, but am dying to read the Levithan book! Absolutely love his other books. This is a great list! :)

    My TTT:

    http://diamondinroughcoal.blogspot.com/2013/09/top-ten-tuesday-7.html

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