Cooper 7th Grade Book List

[Anonymous]

My kid has read Shakespeare, Lord of the Flies, Gatsby…. There’s plenty of each.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no issue with any of these books.

Last year’s 7th grade book lists at our school were almost totally books written in the last 20yrs. As much as I think the issues being addressed in current novels are important, at that age I had my first introduction to Shakespeare in class, we read Beowulf in 8th.

There is value in classics as well, and it does disappoint me that our schools no longer find ways to help kids find the value in classic works as well. We do them a disservice by presuming they won’t like something that isn’t modern fiction.

+1 they won’t be prepared for AP lit at all.

[Anonymous]

Dude, at least your school has books assigned. We didn't have any last year, in an honors class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The list includes books your child will get to choose from. Instead of being assigned one book (classic or modern), MS students in FCPS are now given a short list of books to choose from for units that involve novel study. The hope is that all students find something they are interested in and can enjoy or get something out of. The lists are shared with parents so that you can tell your child if you don't want them to pick certain titles, or steer them toward others.

This is the key point. OP, your kid doesn't have to real all of them. If you are so afraid of the books, you can help them choose one you are not afraid of them reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just started 7th grade at Cooper and he's not in AAP. The book list from his English class contains about 40 books. I looked at the books and was shocked to see that none of the books are classics. There's no Tom Sawyer, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Great Expectation or Oliver Twist, which in my mind, are great books for this age, even though the language might be different. (I'm a 50-yr old immigrant who speaks English as a second language, for background)

The first 5 books are:
1. A good kind of trouble, by Lisa Moor Ramee, keyword when I searched county library catalog suggests BLM;
2. All American Boys by Brenan Kiely and Jason Reynolds, library catalog keyword racism;
3. Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, keyword Pakistan/family
4. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, keyword homosexuality
5. Blended by Sharon M. Draper, keyword black father white mother

While I personally hold nothing against the topics above, when did English class become a brain washing course with hidden agenda? Why can't the kids simply learn the beauty of the English language, and be inspired by the great minds, even from a complete different time? Or am I living in such a sheltered life that the topics are prevailing way of life now? Shouldn't all the current events be part of civics class?

I don't know if the list is specific to his class or to Cooper, but my question to the wise readers here--what should I do? Tell my kids not to read these books which means going against the school? Or ask for an alternate list?

DC's teacher told the students not to read the books on this list by their own, because she might pick the books from the list for class use. In that case, you won't be able to make your kids avoid exposure to the stuff you feel inappropriate.

If that happens, if the teacher selects one you don't like for the whole class, raise the issue then. I'm guessing it won't happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid just started 7th grade at Cooper and he's not in AAP. The book list from his English class contains about 40 books. I looked at the books and was shocked to see that none of the books are classics. There's no Tom Sawyer, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Great Expectation or Oliver Twist, which in my mind, are great books for this age, even though the language might be different. (I'm a 50-yr old immigrant who speaks English as a second language, for background)

The first 5 books are:
1. A good kind of trouble, by Lisa Moor Ramee, keyword when I searched county library catalog suggests BLM;
2. All American Boys by Brenan Kiely and Jason Reynolds, library catalog keyword racism;
3. Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, keyword Pakistan/family
4. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, keyword homosexuality
5. Blended by Sharon M. Draper, keyword black father white mother

While I personally hold nothing against the topics above, when did English class become a brain washing course with hidden agenda? Why can't the kids simply learn the beauty of the English language, and be inspired by the great minds, even from a complete different time? Or am I living in such a sheltered life that the topics are prevailing way of life now? Shouldn't all the current events be part of civics class?

I don't know if the list is specific to his class or to Cooper, but my question to the wise readers here--what should I do? Tell my kids not to read these books which means going against the school? Or ask for an alternate list?

Maybe they'll read classics in school and this list is just for suggestions outside of school.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand your point, OP. Why are you assuming these 5 books represent all of the 40? Why are you assuming these books will brainwash/push hidden agenda but the other books you mention written by dead white people (Mostly men) do not?

Why are you assuming these books that you have not read are incapable of teaching the beauty of the English language? I think that you have been brainwashed into believing a book written by a dead white person about white people’s experiences is automatically better than a book written by or about people of color. You should read these books yourself to open your mind to new ideas and experiences, which is exactly the point of education. What you have received to date is sorely lacking.

[Anonymous]

Many of the classics you listed are used in HS English classes. The 5 you shared are at a variety of reading levels and represent a variety of cultures and situations. All are professionally reviewed for middle school and were approved by a committee at Cooper that included parents.

[Anonymous]

“Brain washing” how? What’s the “hidden agenda”?

[Anonymous]

Welcome to FCPS, OP. I will say, it gets better in HS. My kids read a ton of classics in AP English classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is 5 books out of 40. What were the other books?

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Ibram X.Kendi & Jason Reynolds is in the list.

A good books for teaching English for sure.

[Anonymous]

FCPS just keeps circling the drain. Privates are looking better and better.

[Anonymous]

I think my 7th grader only read two books last year. I’m told this year in 8th they are reading four and some of them are classics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is 5 books out of 40. What were the other books?

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Ibram X.Kendi & Jason Reynolds is in the list.

A good books for teaching English for sure.

OP, post the full list. If 40 out of 40 books are modern and focused on issues that are at the forefront of societal discourse then maybe just maybe you have a point. If the list has a range of books and topics, then I wouldn't be stressed. Reminder that books like Oliver Twist or David Copperfield were vanguard and addressing societal issues in Dickens' time. Shakespeare touched on some heavy stuff. Orwell's books are classics and certainly weren't simply about "inspiring and teaching a love of the English language" to use your words.

I'm the PP who has no issues with these books themselves, but I am bothered that it often feels that they have completely surplanted older books of value. Lord of the Flies is a brilliant book to read at that age, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well at least your 8th grader hasn’t been assigned a book with a rape scene.

What is wrong with that? Rape is unfortunately a human experience and something that far too many women (and men) have had to deal with. At 13/14, a teen should be able to handle the description of what happens.

Not appropriate for an 8th grader at all.