Reading Update: Immigration Issues

Hola! I've been absent on the blog and you might think I've had a quiet couple months, but I have been caught up in a reading frenzy! This is somewhat like the Franzia Frenzies of yesteryear in the Greek system. You emerge with bleary eyes and a little confused about names.  Seriously. A book a day for a solid couple weeks. For the most part, it's been enjoyable. I might be the most frequent visitor to the public library's young adult literature section. I'm a little disappointed the librarian doesn't know me by name yet... but she definitely recognizes me, so that's got to count for something... and hopefully something good.

So what have I been reading, you ask. I'm adopting the Teachers College Units of Study created by Lucy Calkins and her team, and my reading workshop curriculum this year will focus on social issues, informational text, and realistic fiction. Realistic fiction is easy-peasy. I don't need to fret too much about compiling a list of recommended titles, but I got on it for the reading on social issues.

In the past, I've tended to be pretty loose about the titles on my classroom bookshelves. If the book was popular, I didn't get too picky about what was on the pages. I figured that head honcho librarians and educators who are much more in the know about YA titles than I am recommended the book, so I'll take the recommendation. I only got in a scrape once, and an irate mom wanted to know why a book on my classroom shelf (that her daughter opted to read) contained fellatio. I told her the honest truth, which is simply I didn't know I had that. I gladly removed the book, and life went on. I asked the girl if I had scarred her for life, and she looked at me and rolled her eyes, so I think we all survived the small fiasco.

However, I will say this scenario did make me pause and reflect. Not to sound stuffy, but there truly is an advantage to having some teaching experience. In my twenties, I didn't have a motherly stance toward my students. I was too young and self-centered. At times, I still feel too young and self-centered, but there have been a few times when I've asked myself, "Ok, if I had a middle school child, would I want him/her reading this?" This is maturity in the making.

That question paired with the fact that I'm teaching in a Catholic school next year has caused me to be more conservative in selecting which titles make it to my classroom bookshelves. Much more conservative. I'm slightly terrified by the wrath of parents paying to send their children to school where they are expected to learn strong values and morals. I think if the fellatio fiasco (alliteration at its finest and completely inappropriate for school) were to happen this year, things could get ugly. Really ugly. Therefore, I am reading everything that I put on my shelves and on my recommended reading list.

Thankfully, Teachers College provides a hefty list of recommended titles to use with each unit of study. As I said earlier, I've focused heavily on books that address immigration issues. If I can, I check out the book from the library, and if the book earns a passing grade, I buy it on Amazon. Greg will probably not read this blog, so I feel safe in confiding that I have spent more than $1,000 stocking my classroom library... and it's only June. 

For those of you considering the Teachers College Units of Study and the social issues reading unit, I'll share my take-aways. These will be most helpful if you are teaching in a conservative school like I am because there have been some powerful books that I've had to scratch off the list because of language, sex, and/or derogatory comments about faith.

1. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
2. Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez: My only word of caution would be that this book is better suited for girls. Although it is a thin thread in the book, there is semi-frequent discussion of a girl entering puberty.
3. Refugee by Alan Gratz
4. Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
5. Uprising by Margaret Peterson
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez: By page 8, I had flagged three places. The word motha***** appeared one too many times.

I have more reading to do, but I am grateful for any additional titles you might recommend that deal with immigration issues.