[dented]

When last I posted I was finishing up a paper examining the threads that exists from norse mythology through the middle ages, and into current works.

I will be teaching a 6th grade language arts class in an inner city school this fall, and I am in the process of selecting reading materials. The Hobbit has found its way onto the reading list, but I am also considering using Harry Potter or Eragon instead. I am not sure if there are any teachers around on the board, but I thought I would start a discussion on fantasy literature and the middle / high school classroom.

[Brys]

Perhaps also take a look at Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy? It starts with Northern Lights (UK) or The Golden Compass (US). They are children's/YA books but with a lot of depth too them and and they should be ok with it. The Hobbit's another good choice.

[Rob B]

Glad to see you back dented.

There are a few threads you might want to check out, specifically addressing your post (and you may have on your last visit). Nonetheless, the links to some of the topics follow the end of my post.

One author who really seems to be at the top of the YA Fantasy/Science Fiction market right now is Scott Westerfeld. The guy churns out well-recieved books rather quickly and he moves between fantasy and science fiction rather easily. His novel Peeps and the forthcoming The Last Days are both really neat treatments on the vampire mythos. I'll soon be posting my review of Peeps, but the quick is, as you can probably tell, I enjoyed it quite a bit and it worked for me as a 30-year old and would work just as well for a teen.

There is an explosion going on right now in the YA market (obviously) and two other books I recently reviewed for SFFWorld might work for your needs:
Monster Blood Tatoo: Foundling (http://www.sffworld.com/brevoff/278.html) was interesting.
I also enjoyed Wayne Batson's The Door Within (http://www.sffworld.com/brevoff/255.html)

That said, here are those topicks I mentioned above:
My sister (15 years old) wants to start a fantasy book... (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11020)
YA Fantasy-Not just for Kids (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5410)
Authors beginners should read/new to fantasy reading (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5410)
A Short List of Accessible Fantasy (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6339)


Also, check out these topics dedicated to authors of YA Fantasy
Garth Nix's Abhorsen trilogy (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9121&highlight=Garth)
Jonathan Stroud vs Harry Potter (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10907&highlight=Garth)
Teaching Fantasy - Help! (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9855)
Philip Pullman (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8906&highlight=Garth)
Pullman - His Dark Materials....Question (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8296&highlight=Garth)
Redwall (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33&highlight=Garth)

[dented]

Thanks again Rob

[Yobmod]

I preffered His dark Materials to HP as being better written and having more depth; its a bit older in tone, but i'm not sure what 6th grade means, here it means 10-11 yrs old. I've only read the first 3 HP, but i wouldn't bother teaching them to kids younger than 10.

But I think both, and most other speciically YA books, pale in comparison with some semi-classic of fantasy:

The Earthsea Quartet by LeGuin
Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Mckillip

and maybe:

Watership Down by Adams
Neverending Story by Ende.



Black Juice by Margo Lanagan is getting rave reviews and loads of awards, and I've heard its already taught in Australia. Has anyone read it yet?

[JBI]

I sugest looking at modern works, since the language in books in the fifties, and the writing style has gone a bit of a transition (in terms of fantasy, and all litrature also.) For fantasy I don't know what kind of scope you should get, but I had fun reading Monica Hughes works when I was a kid, and also Madeline L'Engle's work. I also recomend getting some advanced books on the shelf, to 1, scare the kids, 2, encourage reading above your level, and 3 to get the children into a transition from child books with silly happy endings, to mature books, with sexual activity and other things in them.

Eddings work is quiet childish, and would go well on the shelf aswell (though it is quiet garbage, and I wouldn't recomend reading that trash. But everyone else seems to have no problem with it so whatever)

Louis Sachar will work probably, since he is quiet funny (for a young audiance) and I would recomend having a few of his books on the shelf.

For the girls in the class I can't really help you. Just get all those stupid girl books like gosip girl and junk like that. pre-teen and teenage girls love that kind of stuff.

Thats all I can think of, hope I am of some help
~JBI

[Yobmod]

I sugest looking at modern works, since the language in books in the fifties, and the writing style has gone a bit of a transition (in terms of fantasy, and all litrature also.)

I would agree with this for such a young group, but of those mentioned, so far only the Hobbit is anywhere near this old.

Forgotten Beasts of Eld would be great for young girls i think (assuming they need something different from the boys, which is debatable) - it has a female protagonist that is not dependant on men (but is in no way a man-hater), who has to decide for herself her the place she will take in the world. And as its Mckillip, the prose is predictably great.

[Randy M.]

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. It's very much a boy's book, but it is exceptional fantasy. If you're willing to go with short stories, though, consider selections from RB's The October Country, in particular "Homecoming," which is one of the most affecting, achingly perfect fantasy short stories I've ever read. *

Coraline by Neil Gaiman. A nifty, scary short fantasy with a female protagonist. Not as stylish as the Bradbury novel, but cleanly written and maybe in some ways better thought out.

Red Moon, Black Mountain by Joy Chant. Too many years since I read it to recall details, but I do remember enjoying it greatly when I read it.

There's also the option of going with anthologies. I'd suggest trying to find one that includes work by Tolkein (though short work by him can be a bit hard to track down), Lord Dunsany, Bradbury, Lovecraft and Le Guin. I believe there are some, but whether they are still in print is the question.


Randy M.

*Yeah. A message with a footnote.

Anyway, thought I should explain my suggestion. SWTWC is a wonderful novel, but there are times where Bradbury is so word-drunk that it feels like the novel is rolling too fast down hill and there are no brakes. In the short stories, he's holding the reins. "The Fog-Horn" has some of the same emotional tug, but it does not careen out of his control. "The Small Assassin" is as scary as any story written in its time period (with the possible exception of Anthony Boucher's "The Bite"). "Homecoming" ... I can't describe how this story affects me. It pulls together all the dark hues and tints of loss and regret that an outsider can feel and brushes them onto the page in such a way that any kid with any sensitivity will probably develop the sniffles on reading.

[Wayne Batson]

I will be teaching a 6th grade language arts class in an inner city school this fall, and I am in the process of selecting reading materials. The Hobbit has found its way onto the reading list, but I am also considering using Harry Potter or Eragon instead. I am not sure if there are any teachers around on the board, but I thought I would start a discussion on fantasy literature and the middle / high school classroom.

Hey, Dented. Well met, I say. I'm actually a 6th grade Language Arts teacher myself. I've taught Reading and English to 6th graders for going on 16 years now. I think it's righteous that you will get some fantasy into the classroom. There's some great stuff out there, and I have lots of suggestions.

Not sure of the demographics of your kids--inner city could mean different things. The Hobbit (and LOTR) are two of my favorite books, but Tolkien's rich language and vocab, the dense patches of description, and the linguistic hurdles can make the meat of the story go over the heads of the weaker readers, so tread carefully. At least with LOTR you can supplement with the movies--that ought to get their attention, eh?

Of course, I'd love for you to use my Door Within books. (And thanks, Rob for the plug!) I wrote the Door Within Trilogy with the inspiration and advice of about 13 years of 6th graders. I'd like to think it's reading level is right there. I've also included cues through the story for students to use cognitive reading strategies (inferring, visualizing, predicting, connecting, questioning, synthesizing, and monitoring comprehension). Can you tell I'm a teacher?

But aside from shamelessly promoting my own books, here are some others I loved reading. Again, check out reading levels first.

1. Jenny Nimmo's Charlie Bone Series--Harry Potter, lite! The language is easy, the plot fun and suspenseful.
2. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. Sort of fantasy. Immortals trying to keep their secret.
3. Inkheart and Inkspell by Cornelia Funke--OH MY GOSH, what creativity! WOW
4. Patrick Carman's Land of Elyon Series--short episodic chapters--awesome artwork. Cool tale.
5. Bartimaeus Trilogy by Stroud, I think. Haven't read, but I heard it's killer.

That's all off the top of my head.

Hey, if you want, PM me. I have some great 6th grade materials for teaching literature in general. I could probably send you some. Also, I had an idea to bounce off of you, but it's not appropriate to mention on the post.

--Wayne Thomas Batson

[Ebenstone]

When last I posted I was finishing up a paper examining the threads that exists from norse mythology through the middle ages, and into current works.

I will be teaching a 6th grade language arts class in an inner city school this fall, and I am in the process of selecting reading materials. The Hobbit has found its way onto the reading list, but I am also considering using Harry Potter or Eragon instead. I am not sure if there are any teachers around on the board, but I thought I would start a discussion on fantasy literature and the middle / high school classroom.

Quick question: Who is paying for the books? I work at an inner city HS and we have trouble paying for books.

I found that fantasy is a tough sell in the city. I used GRRM's The Hedge Knight novella in my class and lots of the kids didn't enjoy it. The Hobbit might be the way to go. The important thing, pedgogically is: What purpose does the fantasy novel serve? What are you trying to teach? I did The Hedge Knight as part of a unit on knights with the Soc, Studies teacher. But if you are just doing it because you are a fan of fantasy and want to make them a fan, it really isn't very sound.

Once you determine what you are trying to do with it, you have to determine the level of your student's ability. You may find that alot of the recommendations are TOO high level. I know it's terrible to say that about students, but it is also true.

Another thing is, how "liberal" is you adminstration? At my school, we can teach pretty much what ever we want. No one monitors what we do that closely. That isn't true everywhere. So, you may want to look into that as well.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just trying to help.