Ethan Penland
LART3106
Dr. Brown
READING LIST

Ella Enchanted- Gail Carson.
Reading Level- 3rd-4th.
Levine, G. C. (1997). Ella enchanted. New York: Harper Trophy.
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Summary:
At birth, Ella of Frell was given the gift of obedience by a fairy. Ella soon realizes that this gift is little
better than a curse, for how can she truly be herself if at any time anyone can order her to do anything
they want. Spunky Ella does not tamely accept her fate and embarks on a quest to break this curse once
and for all.
Content Connection:
This would be used to introduce the idea of creativity within my students’ writing. On top of that, the
students will be able to develop an understand of character analysis and their roles within a story.

Henry V- William Shakespeare
Reading Level- 9th-10th.
Shakespeare, W. (1993). King Henry V. (p. 240). Cambridge, England: Cambridge
University Press.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary:
This is the story of the King Henry V’s rise to expectations as king. As he takes on the French, he endures
a battle within himself whether he is truly meant to be king. All in all, he rises up to serve his people,
country, and his family’s legacy.
Content Connection :
This is a classic piece of Renaissance literature/play. This story embodies the growth of a character. We
are able to see inner-character struggles as well. Beyond that, this story falls under the genre of history. I
would be able to teach this play when teaching about the multiple genres of literature.

Midsummer Night’s Dream- William Shakespeare
Shakespeare, W., & Clemen, W. (1998). A midsummer night's dream. Signet Classics.
Reading Level- 9th-10th.
Summary:
The play revolves around the adventures of four young lovers, a group of amateur actors and their
interactions with the fairies who inhabit a moonlit forest. The story takes place in Midsummer and is a
complex farce featuring Hermia & Lysander and Helena & Demetrius. Their romantic intrigues are
confused and complicated still further by entering the forest where Oberon, the King of the Fairies and his
Queen, Titania, preside. Puck (or Robin Goodfellow) is a major character who is full of mischief and
tricks. Other visitors to the enchanted forest include Bottom the weaver and his friends Snug, Snout,
Quince and Flute the amateur dramatists who want to rehearse their terrible but hilarious version of the
play Pyramus and Thisbe.
Content Connection:
What applies to the classroom is the exploration of theme within a play or novel. The theme of the play is
love and the multiple types of love. Furthermore, this can be used to study the genre of comedy.

Moby Dick- Charles Dickens
Reading Level- 4th-5th. Melville, H. (2002).
Moby-dick. (2nd ed.). New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
This classic story by Herman Melville revolves around Captain Ahab and his obsession with a huge
whale, Moby Dick. The whale caused the loss of Ahab's leg years before, leaving Ahab to stomp the
boards of his ship on a peg leg. Ahab is so crazed by his desire to kill the whale, that he is prepared to
sacrifice everything, including his life, the lives of his crew members, and even his ship to find and
destroy his nemesis, Moby Dick.
Content Connection:
Much can be taken from this story to be taught to students. Character analysis, plot analysis, theme and
symbolism are just a few to name. Also, this can be used to explore the period of Romanticism.

A Christmas Carol- Charles Dickens.
Reading Level- 4th-6th.
Dickens, H. (1991). A christmas carol. New York: Dover Pubns.
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
This story is about a character named Ebenezer Scrooge. It is through his encounter of three ghosts that he
learns about the meaning of life.
Content Connection:
The biggest thing to take away from this story is character development. Also, theme can be taught
alongside of this story.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone- J.K. Rowling.
Rowling, J. K. (1998). Harry potter and the sorcerer's stone. London, England:
Scholastic Press.
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Reading Level- 5th
Summary:
This is a story about a young wizard, Harry Potter. His novice skills will be tested along with his maturity
at the wizard school, Hogwarts. While doing so, he discovers his destiny, which is to defeat an evil
nemesis, Voldemort.
Content Connection:
The student learns about plot events, symbolism, imagery and character analysis from this science fiction
story.

Charles Dickens- Catherine Peters
Reading Level- 10th. Peters, C. (1998).
Charles dickens. (p. 126). Sutton Publishing.
Genre: Biographical Nonfiction
Summary:
This is a biography that covers the events that occurred throughout Charles Dickens’ life, and it shows his
progression into the writer that we came to know and love.
Content Connection:
Students will be able to understand the importance of a biography and appreciate the events in an author’s
life that affect their way of writing.

Death of a Salesman- Arthur Miller.
Miller, A. (1977). Death of a salesman. New York: Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Reading level- 8th-9th.
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
An old man is going senile. When the present disappoints him, he hallucinates and goes back into the
past, until he runs out of past to go back to, and then he kills himself.
Content Connection:
This can be used to teach style for writing. Also, it can be used to teach point of view.

The Scarlet Letter- Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Hawthorne, N. (1986). The Scarlet Letter. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, inc.
Reading Level- 9th.
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
A young woman moves to Boston, Massachusetts and has an affair with the reverend Dimmesdale. When
she becomes pregnant and gives birth to her daughter, Pearl. The town punishes her for committing
adultery. She is then sentences to wear the letter “A” on her for the rest of her life.
Content Connection:
Students will interpret point of view and theme within the story. Also, this can reflect plot development
and character development.

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water- Michael Dorris.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading level- 9th.
Dorris, M. (2004). Yellow raft in blue water. Picador USA.
Summary:
This is a novel that tells the stories of three Native American women. These three women, the daughter,
mother and grandmother have their own unique perspectives of each other, and by hearing all three
stories, the reader gets a unique perspective on the family.
Content Connection:
This is perfect to teach point of view from multiple characters. Also, this helps the student understand
historical background within a story.
10. Tears of a Tiger- Sharon Draper
Draper, S. M. (1996). Tears of a tiger. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Genre: Fiction
Reading level- 6th- 7th.
Summary:
Draper writes about the effects that a friend’s death on a boy named Andy. Although he is surrounded by
motivation to overcome the tragic event, Andy still cannot forget and let go of the guilt he carries.
Content Connection:
This story can help with character progression and character analysis. Also, students can come away with
the understanding of theme.

The Fall of the House of Usher- Edgar Allan Poe.
Poe, E. (2006). The fall of the house of usher and other tales. New York: Signet classics.
Genre: Fiction
Reading level- 8th-9th.
Summary:
This short story is about the a peculiar family and a narrator who comes to a boyhood friend’s side who is
dealing with an unique illness.
Content Connection:
Students will learn about point of view from the main character. Also, the students will learn about theme.
Also, the idea of figurative language, particularly personification.

The Purloined Letter- Edgar Allan PoePoe, A. (2007). The purloined letter. (p. 48). PERFECTION LEARNING CORP.
Genre: Mystery Fiction
Reading level- 8th-9th.
Summary:
This mystery story is about Dupin and the culprit’s wits battling back and forth to resolve the location of
the blackmailed letter.
Content Connection:
Students will learn about plot development, tone, them, and character analysis. The details within the
short story deserve close attention to understand the previously stated objectives. Good for upper-level
grades.

The Hound of Baskervilles- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Doyle, S. A. C. (1995). The hound of the baskervilles. Dover Pubns.
Genre: Mystery Fiction
Reading level-7th-8th.
Summary:
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate the legend of a supernatural hound, a beast that may be
stalking a young heir on the fog-shrouded moorland that makes up his estate.
Content Connection:
This story can be used to help discover unfamiliar diction, plot development, and character analysis.

Bull Catcher- Alden R. Carter.
Genre: Sports Fiction
Reading level- 6th-7th.
Carter, A. (2000). Bull catcher. (p. 289). Rebound by Sagerbrush.
Summary:
In his diary, high-school baseball player Neil ""Bull"" Larsen re-evaluates his friendships, takes a close
look at his family and girlfriend, and considers if there is anything more to life than baseball."
Content Connection:
Students will look at character development. Also, students will use this story to build a life comparison
to that of the main character.

The Grapes of Wrath- John Steinbeck.
Steinbeck, J. (1939). The grapes of wrath. (p. 464). New York: Penguin Books.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading level- 4th- 5th.
Summary:
A poor Midwest family is forced off of their land. They travel to California, suffering the misfortunes of
the homeless in the Great Depression.
Content Connection:
This can be taught to understand the effects of historical context. In this case , it is about the Dust Bowl
during the Great Depression.

The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgeralk.
Genre: Fiction
Reading level-8th.
Fitzgerald, F. S. (1925). The great gatsby. (p. 180). New York: Scribner.
Summary:
Nick Carraway, a young Midwesterner now living on Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the
mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, the nouveau riche Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into
Gatsby's circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy.
Content Connection:
Students will learn about the multiple symbols within the story. Also, character analysis and development
can be taught and learned.

Easy A (Movie)
Genre: Fiction
Rating: PG-13
Summary:
A clean-cut high school student relies on the school's rumor mill to advance her social and financial
standing. She acts like she sleeps with her friend to raise his social status as well. Things get out of
control, and she is then labeled as an outcast. Pseudo-embracing it, she wears around the letter “A.”
Content Connection:
Students will create a comparison between this movie and “A Scarlet Letter.”

Into the Wild- John KrakauerKrakauer, J. (1996). Into the wild. (p. 207). New York, NY: Anchor Books.
Genre: Biographical Nonfiction
Reading level- 8th
Summary:
In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the
wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given
$25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and
invented a new life for himself.
Content Connection:
This nonfiction reflects actual character development. Also, it explores many different themes such as
relationship and self-realization.

Between a Rock and a Hard PlaceAron Ralston. Ralston, A. (2004). Between a rock and a hard place. (p. 354). Atria
Books.
Genre: Biographical Nonfiction
Reading level- 6th
Summary:
One of the most extraordinary survival stories ever told -- Aron Ralston's searing account of his six days
trapped in one of the most remote spots in America, and how one inspired act of bravery brought him
home.
Content Connection:
Very similar to that of Into the Wild, this explores character development and the same themes—Selfrealization and relationship. Also, it introduces the theme of courage, bravery, and determination. These
two stories are perfect for a nonfiction unit.

Into the Wild (movie)
Rating: R
Genre: Nonfiction
Summary:
After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his
possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the
wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.
Content Connection:
Students will compare and contrast the movie with the actual book and point out similar imagery and
characteristics of the characters.

127 Hours (movie)
Rating: R
Genre: Nonfiction
Summary:
A mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and
resorts to desperate measures in order to survive.
Content Connection:
Students will compare and contrast the movie with the actual book and point out similar imagery and
characteristics of the characters.

Anonymous (Movie)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
The movie covers the theory that it was in fact Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford, who penned
Shakespeare's plays. It is set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I and the Essex
rebellion against her.
Content Connection:
When reading Shakespeare’s works, the students can see a viewpoint against Shakespeare. It helps
broaden the students’ knowledge of different points-of-views.

A Beautiful Blue Death- Charles Finch.
Finch, C. (2007). A beautiful blue death. (p. 320). St. Martin's Minotaur.
Genre: Mystery Fiction
Reading level- 8th
Summary:
Charles Lenox, Victorian gentleman and armchair explorer, helps his lifelong friend Lady Jane unravel a
suicide mystery, or at least seems to be one. Lenox suspects otherwise—a murder.
Content Connection:
This murder mystery is perfect to help teach a plot development. Also, symbolism is apparent within the
story.

“Believeland” – Wright Thompson
Thompson, W. (2010). “Believeland.” ESPN.
Reading Level: 7th
Genre: Nonfiction
Summary:
This article pertains to the city of Cleveland, and it covers the aftermath of the heartbreak of losing
Lebron James. Thompson covers the different areas of Cleveland and writes on the events going on
without having Lebron to look forward to in the 2010-2011 season.
Content Connection:
This article makes the connection with current events that take place in America. Although sports related,
it covers a historical event in sports history. Students can relate to it because of it being a part of their
generation.