Title: A Single Shard
Author: Linda Sue Park
Rating out of Peach Emojis: 🍑🍑🍑🍑.8
Summary: An orphan boy in 12th-century Korea, Tree-ear, apprentices himself to a master potter, Min, and embarks on a journey of artistry, perseverance, and self-discovery. He faces challenges and loss, ultimately striving to carry on a legacy of exquisite celadon pottery.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Number of pages: 152
Number of Chapters: 13
Average Length of Audio Book: 3 hours, 11 minutes
Lexile: 920L
Parent Advisory of Content: A character dies, but the scene is not graphic.
Number of Recommended Days to Teach: Approximately 13-26 days (based on 1 chapter/day reading + activity)
Recommended Grade Level for Teaching: 8th Honors, 9th or 10th On Level (due to text complexity for historical fiction)
Recommended Format for teaching: Read a chapter one day, activity the next day. One quiz every 3 chapters for comprehension, mid-point Socratic seminar, post Socratic seminar, essay writing for narrative or argument, mini-project design your own vase, mini-project one-pager, mini-project character body biographies in groups, during reading Class Timeline tracker of events.

Title: Treasure Island
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Rating out of Peach Emojis: 🍑🍑🍑🍑.5 Summary: A young boy, Jim Hawkins, discovers a treasure map and embarks on a perilous voyage to a remote island, encountering mutiny, betrayal, and swashbuckling adventure with the cunning pirate Long John Silver. It’s a classic tale of pirates, hidden riches, and moral dilemmas.
Genre: Adventure, Classic, Pirate Fiction
Number of pages: 208 (varies by edition, often around 200-300)
Number of Chapters: 34 (6 parts)
Average Length of Audio Book: Approximately 6-8 hours
Lexile: 1070L (Varies by source, generally considered advanced)
Parent Advisory of Content: Depicts violence, mutiny, main character does kill another character, pirates fight/kill each other, and peril common in pirate stories; themes of greed and betrayal.
Number of Recommended Days to Teach: Approximately 20-30 days (based on a 4-week pacing guide, allowing for activities)
Recommended Grade Level for Teaching: 10th Honors or 11th On Level (due to historical text complexity)
Recommended Format for teaching: Break class into literature circle groups, create reading pacing guide and deadline of 4 weeks to complete book, after each part have a Socratic seminar, final Socratic seminar, mock trial of Long John Silver, rewrite ending what happened to Long John for narrative, argumentative writing: was Jim’s actions justified?, debate the ethics of Long John vs. Jim’s, track the novel in parts on a class timeline of events, vocabulary word bank of “language of the pirate” and “language of the time period,” historical background mini-groups presentation (assign each group an aspect of the novel and have them present before you read), “present your part” where each literature group has a group presentation of one of the parts of the novel (where they have to present information about the events, what happened to Long John, what happened to Jim, themes, archetypes, major quotes, main historical vocabulary, main pirate vocabulary in their presentation).

Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Rating out of Peach Emojis: 🍑🍑🍑🍑.5
Summary: Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who loves his comfortable life, is swept away on an unexpected adventure by the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves to reclaim their treasure from the dragon Smaug. His journey through Middle-earth tests his courage and wit, leading to a climactic battle.
Genre: Fantasy, Children’s Literature
Number of pages: 310 (first edition) / 320 (common editions)
Number of Chapters: 19
Average Length of Audio Book: Approximately 10-11 hours
Lexile: 1000L
Parent Advisory of Content: None explicitly stated, but typical fantasy adventure with some peril and battle scenes.
Number of Recommended Days to Teach: Approximately 19-38 days (based on 1 chapter/day reading + activity)
Recommended Grade Level for Teaching: 8th Honors, 9th or 10th On Level
Recommended Format for teaching: Read a chapter one day, activity the next day. One quiz every 3 chapters for comprehension, mid-point socratic seminar, post socratic seminar, essay writing for rewrite a scene-narrative or argument, mini-project one-pager, mini-project character body biographies in groups, during reading Map of adventure and what happened at each location, track each character via a timeline of events, Mock Trial of Smaug the Dragon.

Title: The Outsiders
Author: S.E. Hinton
Rating out of Peach Emojis: 🍑🍑🍑🍑.7
Summary: A coming-of-age novel detailing the conflict between two rival gangs in 1960s Oklahoma: the working-class Greasers and the affluent Socs. Narrated by Ponyboy Curtis, it explores themes of class, loyalty, family, and the search for identity amidst social tension and violence.
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Coming-of-age, Social Realism
Number of pages: 192-224 (varies by edition)
Number of Chapters: 12
Average Length of Audio Book: Approximately 5 hours, 9 minutes
Lexile: 750L
Parent Advisory of Content: Contains violence, some substance use (smoking, underage drinking), mild profanity, and mature themes related to gang conflict and social class.
Number of Recommended Days to Teach: Approximately 12-24 days (one chapter per day reading, one chapter activity)
Recommended Grade Level for Teaching: 7th Honors, 8th On Level, 9th Remedial
Recommended Format for teaching: One chapter per day, one chapter activity. One quiz every two chapters.
Activities: Divide room into two groups (Socs and Greasers), each group tracks the timeline for their assigned group; group body biographies for each character; mini-project: write a documentary on the life of a Soc or the life of a Greaser; time period background history project; literature circles for reading discussion with assigned roles for each person (recommend using Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in Book Clubs & Reading Groups 2nd Edition by Harvey Daniels or A Teacher’s Guide to Mentor Texts, Grades 6-12 or Tackling Tough Texts: Research-Based Scaffolding).

Title: Night
Author: Elie Wiesel
Rating out of Peach Emojis: 🍑🍑🍑🍑.5
Summary: A harrowing autobiographical account of Elie Wiesel’s experiences as a Jewish teenager with his father in the Nazi German concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald during the Holocaust. It details the loss of faith, family, and humanity amidst unspeakable suffering.
Genre: Memoir, Holocaust Literature, Non-fiction
Number of pages: 115-120 (standard English translation)
Number of Chapters: 9
Average Length of Audio Book: Approximately 3-4 hours
Lexile: 1000L
Parent Advisory of Content: Deals with extremely graphic historical events including genocide, torture, starvation, and death. Emotionally intense and disturbing content. Parental guidance is strongly advised.
Number of Recommended Days to Teach: Approximately 9-18 days (one chapter per day reading, one chapter activity)
Recommended Grade Level for Teaching: 7th or 8th Honors, 9th On Level, or 10th Remedial
Recommended Format for teaching: One chapter per day reading, one chapter activity.
Activities: Class during reading tracker by the number of “nights” and the events that occur; historical background WebQuest; one-pager mini-project; whole class reading with audiobook; discussion groups of reading questions; scenario reading response journal or double reading journal entries after each “night.”

Title: Fahrenheit 451
Author: Ray Bradbury
Rating out of Peach Emojis: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑 Summary: In a dystopian future where firemen burn books to suppress knowledge and control society, Guy Montag, a fireman, begins to question his role after meeting a curious young woman. He embarks on a dangerous journey to preserve literature and thought in a world obsessed with mindless entertainment.
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction
Number of pages: 192-249 (varies by edition) Number of Chapters: 3 parts (The Hearth and the Salamander, The Sieve and the Sand, Burning Bright)
Average Length of Audio Book: Approximately 5-5.5 hours
Lexile: 890L
Parent Advisory of Content: Contains themes of censorship, rebellion, and violence (including burning people/books, and suicide). Deals with mature philosophical and societal concepts.
Number of Recommended Days to Teach: Approximately 9-18 days (one chapter per day reading, two chapter activity, as chapters are longer)
Recommended Grade Level for Teaching: 7th Honors, 8th Honors, 9th On Level, 10th Remedial
Recommended Format for teaching: One chapter per day reading, two chapter activity.
Activities: During reading events timeline whole class poster on wall; put the community on Mock Trial or Mock Trial of Guy Montag; build a “rules/laws of the community” master list; literature groups create a “chapter guide” and each small group presents their chapter guide; quiz every two chapters; post test multiple choice/true & false/quote identification.

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
Rating out of Peach Emojis: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑
Summary: Jonas lives in a seemingly utopian, highly controlled community where pain, choice, and emotion have been eliminated. As he approaches his twelfth birthday, he is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory, uncovering the dark truths and difficult burdens hidden beneath his society’s perfect facade.
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult, Science Fiction
Number of pages: 180 (standard paperback)
Number of Chapters: 23
Average Length of Audio Book: Approximately 4-5 hours
Lexile: 770L
Parent Advisory of Content: Explores mature themes such as euthanasia (referred to as “release”), emotional pain, and conformity. While not graphically violent, it deals with disturbing concepts.
Number of Recommended Days to Teach: Approximately 12-23 days (one chapter per day reading, two chapter activity)
Recommended Grade Level for Teaching: 7th Honors or 8th Honors
Recommended Format for teaching: One chapter per day reading, two chapter activity.
Activities: During reading events timeline whole class poster on wall; put the community on Mock Trial or Mock Trial of Jonas; build a “rules/laws of the community” master list; literature groups create a “chapter guide” and each small group presents their chapter guide; quiz every two chapters; post test multiple choice/true & false/quote identification.

Title: The Great Gatsby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Rating out of Peach Emojis: 🍑🍑🍑🍑.8 Summary: Set in the roaring 1920s, Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire, attempts to rekindle a past romance with the elusive Daisy Buchanan. Through the eyes of his neighbor Nick Carraway, the novel explores themes of the American Dream, illusion versus reality, wealth, class, and the destructive nature of obsession.
Genre: Classic, American Literature, Tragic Romance, Jazz Age Fiction
Number of pages: 180 (standard edition)
Number of Chapters: 9
Average Length of Audio Book: Approximately 4-6 hours Lexile: 1110L
Parent Advisory of Content: Contains themes of adultery, social climbing, class conflict, and a tragic death. Features some depictions of excessive drinking and reckless behavior characteristic of the Jazz Age.
Number of Recommended Days to Teach: Approximately 9-18 days (one chapter per day reading, one chapter activity, or adapted for in-depth discussion)
Recommended Grade Level for Teaching: 11th Grade, or American Literature classes Recommended Format for teaching: One chapter per day, one chapter activity. Teach major events and themes in depth. Consider breaking the novel into key sections for discussion.
Activities: Alternative choices “choose your own adventure” creation project based on a character’s pivotal decisions.
Recommended Teaching Resources: Historical context resources on the Roaring Twenties and the American Dream; literary criticism essays on Fitzgerald’s work.

• Response journal to each major event or chapter.
• Essay argument: Explore themes such as the corruption of the American Dream, or the justification of characters’ actions.
• Compare and contrast/DBQ with various essays and sources about the Jazz Age, wealth disparity, or the shifting American Dream.
• Socratic seminars after key sections (e.g., after Chapters 3, 6, and 9) focusing on themes, character motivations, and symbolism.
• Group body biographies for major characters (Gatsby, Daisy, Nick, Tom, Jordan, Myrtle).
• Whole class timeline tracker of events and character interactions.
• Literature circles for small group discussion with assigned roles.
• Archetypes project focusing on classic archetypes present in the novel (e.g., the tragic hero, the femme fatale).
• Mock Trial: Put Jay Gatsby on trial for his illegal activities or character portrayal; alternatively, try Daisy Buchanan for her actions.
• Quizzes on sections taught for comprehension.
• Post test on overall understanding, themes, and literary devices.

Title: Lord of the Flies
Author: William Golding
Rating out of Peach Emojis: 🍑🍑🍑🍑.5
Summary: A group of British schoolboys are stranded on an uninhabited island after a plane crash during a wartime evacuation. Without adult supervision, their attempts to form a civilized society quickly devolve into savagery, illustrating humanity’s innate capacity for cruelty and chaos.
Genre: Allegorical Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Dystopian
Number of pages: 208-224 (varies by edition)
Number of Chapters: 12
Average Length of Audio Book: Approximately 6 hours, 35 minutes
Lexile: 770L
Parent Advisory of Content: Contains intense themes of violence, bullying, and the breakdown of civilization. Depicts disturbing acts of cruelty and murder. Parental guidance is strongly recommended due to mature and graphic content.
Number of Recommended Days to Teach: Approximately 12-24 days (one chapter per day reading, two chapter activity, given the depth of themes)
Recommended Grade Level for Teaching: 8th Honors, 9th On Level, 10th On Level, 11th Remedial
Recommended Format for teaching: One chapter per day reading, two chapter activity.
Activities: During reading events timeline whole class poster on wall; put the community on Mock Trial or Mock Trial of a key character (e.g., Jack Merridew or Ralph); build a “rules/laws of the island” master list; literature groups create a “chapter guide” and each small group presents their chapter guide; quiz every two chapters; post test multiple choice/true & false/quote identification. Lord of the Flies: Survivor Theme Games and activities!

Title: The Westing Game
Author: Ellen Raskin
Rating out of Peach Emojis: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑
Summary: Sixteen eccentric and seemingly unconnected heirs are brought together by the will of the mysterious millionaire Samuel W. Westing. They must solve a complex puzzle to inherit his fortune, uncovering secrets, forming unexpected alliances, and learning about themselves in a thrilling and humorous mystery.
Genre: Mystery, Young Adult, Puzzle Fiction
Number of pages: 192-240 (varies by edition)
Number of Chapters: 30
Average Length of Audio Book: Approximately 6 hours, 59 minutes
Lexile: 750L
Parent Advisory of Content: Involves a mysterious death, staged explosions, and minor injuries. Themes include greed, deception, and identity. Some characters exhibit bigoted or stereotypical views, which are challenged within the narrative.
Number of Recommended Days to Teach: Approximately 15-30 days (one chapter per day reading, two chapter activity, given the puzzle-like nature)
Recommended Grade Level for Teaching: 7th Honors, 8th On Level, 9th Remedial
Recommended Format for teaching: One chapter per day reading, two chapter activity.
Activities: During reading events timeline whole class poster on wall; put the community on Mock Trial or Mock Trial of a key character (e.g., a specific heir or the entire group for their actions); build a “rules/laws of the Westing Game” master list; literature groups create a “chapter guide” and each small group presents their chapter guide; quiz every two chapters; post test multiple choice/true & false/quote identification; compare and contrast the novel’s mystery to the board game “Clue”; summative group project: build your own board game based on “Clue” inspired by the novel’s mystery; board game playing day..

Title: The Battle of Jericho
Author: Sharon M. Draper
Rating out of Peach Emojis: 🍑🍑🍑🍑.8
Summary: Jericho Prescott and his friends join the Warriors of Distinction, an exclusive high school club, hoping for popularity and privilege. However, the initiation week descends into humiliating and aggressive hazing, forcing Jericho to confront his morals and loyalty, culminating in a tragic accident that exposes the dark consequences of peer pressure.
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary
Number of pages: 352
Number of Chapters: 24
Average Length of Audio Book: Approximately 7 hours, 57 minutes
Lexile: 700L
Parent Advisory of Content: Deals with intense themes of hazing, peer pressure, bullying, underage drinking, and a tragic death due to hazing. Contains scenes of humiliation and physical abuse.
Number of Recommended Days to Teach: Approximately 24-48 days (one chapter per day reading, one chapter activity)
Recommended Grade Level for Teaching: 9th On Level, 10th On Level, or 10th Remedial
Recommended Format for teaching: One chapter per day, one chapter activity.
Activities: Response journal to each major event; essay argument: why or why not to join the group; compare and contrast/DBQ with various essays and sources about bullying; compare novel to the film The Bully Effect (2013) in a Socratic seminar; alternative choices “choose your own adventure” creation project based on Jericho’s choices; track the plot poster whole class events tracker; themes and archetypes one-pager project; literature circles for small group discussion and role-playing. Recommended Teaching Resources: Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in Book Clubs & Reading Groups by Harvey Daniels; The Bully Effect (2013 film)..

Title: The Odyssey
Author: Homer
Rating out of Peach Emojis: 🍑🍑🍑🍑.5
Summary: The epic poem follows the hero Odysseus on his long and arduous journey home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy. Beset by gods, monsters, and natural disasters, he endures countless trials, demonstrating cunning, resilience, and the enduring human desire for home and family.
Genre: Epic Poetry, Classical Literature, Adventure
Number of pages: Varies widely by translation and edition (e.g., 300-500 pages)
Number of Chapters: 24 (often referred to as “Books”)
Average Length of Audio Book: Approximately 12-15 hours (varies by translation)
Lexile: Varies significantly by translation; often ranges from 800L-1200L (e.g., Fitzgerald translation is around 1000L)
Parent Advisory of Content: Contains mythological violence, perilous encounters with monsters, some sensuality (e.g., Sirens, Calypso), and themes of revenge and divine intervention.
Number of Recommended Days to Teach: Approximately 24-72 days (based on one location in story = 3 teaching days, and focusing on major events)
Recommended Grade Level for Teaching: 9th Honors, 10th On Level, or 12th
Recommended Format for teaching: One location in story = 3 teaching days, one quiz per location visited. Only teach major events (Books 9-12 for engagement and key themes; Books 1, 5-8 for context; Books 21-22 for climax and resolution).
Activities: Small traveling groups, each group is his “ship” with “shipmates”; captains log journal responses for students; literature groups; Socratic seminars; body biographies; argumentative essay: should he have stayed with Calypso or gone back to his wife; Mock Trial: Odysseus for abandonment; track the allusions to Greek mythology; archetypes project of the text; quizzes on sections taught; post test on overall.
Recommended Teaching Resources: https://www2.classics.upenn.edu/myth/php/homer/index.php?page=timelines