We will engage in a unit where we look at short texts by many different authors - here are some of them and their summaries!
Zitkala-Sa's American Indian Stories
American Indian Stories is a collection of childhood stories, allegorical fictions and essays written by Sioux writer and activist Zitkala-Ša. First published in 1921, American Indian Stories details the hardships encountered by Zitkala-Ša and other Native Americans in the missionary and manual labour schools.
Sandra Cisneros's "Eleven"
'Eleven' is a popular short story in which the narrator's eleventh birthday is ruined when her teacher forces her to take responsibility for an ugly sweater that isn't hers. Unable to cope with the injustice, she bursts into tears in front of her classmates, and wishes she were older.
Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I A Woman?"
On May 29, 1851, Sojourner Truth, an abolitionist and former slave, gave one of history’s most memorable speeches on the intersection between women’s suffrage and black rights. Speaking to the Ohio Women’s Convention, Truth used her identity to point out the ways in which both movements were failing black women. Over and over, according to historical transcripts, she demanded, “Ain’t I a woman?” It’s a question that continues to resonate with black women today—167 years later.
Ken Liu's "The Paper Menagerie"
"Paper Menagerie" is a short story about a bi-racial boy named Jack, who has a white dad and a Chinese mom, who immigrated to America. When he is a kid, Jack's mom creates an origami menagerie for him, and when Jack's mom breathes into the origami, the menagerie comes to life, jumping and playing with him.
David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy
Boy Meets Boy is a young adult novel by David Levithan. It was published in 2003. The book describes events in the lives of several high school students in an LGBT-friendly small town in New Jersey, with the central plot being a romance between sophomore named Paul and his love interest, Noah.
Randa Abdel-Fattah's Does My Head Looks Big in This?
Sixteen-year-old Amal makes the decision to start wearing the hijab full-time and everyone has a reaction. Her parents, her teachers, her friends, people on the street. But she stands by her decision to embrace her faith and all that it is, even if it does make her a little different from everyone else. Can she handle the taunts of "towel head," the prejudice of her classmates, and still attract the cutest boy in school?
Zitkala-Sa's American Indian Stories
American Indian Stories is a collection of childhood stories, allegorical fictions and essays written by Sioux writer and activist Zitkala-Ša. First published in 1921, American Indian Stories details the hardships encountered by Zitkala-Ša and other Native Americans in the missionary and manual labour schools.
Sandra Cisneros's "Eleven"
'Eleven' is a popular short story in which the narrator's eleventh birthday is ruined when her teacher forces her to take responsibility for an ugly sweater that isn't hers. Unable to cope with the injustice, she bursts into tears in front of her classmates, and wishes she were older.
Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I A Woman?"
On May 29, 1851, Sojourner Truth, an abolitionist and former slave, gave one of history’s most memorable speeches on the intersection between women’s suffrage and black rights. Speaking to the Ohio Women’s Convention, Truth used her identity to point out the ways in which both movements were failing black women. Over and over, according to historical transcripts, she demanded, “Ain’t I a woman?” It’s a question that continues to resonate with black women today—167 years later.
Ken Liu's "The Paper Menagerie"
"Paper Menagerie" is a short story about a bi-racial boy named Jack, who has a white dad and a Chinese mom, who immigrated to America. When he is a kid, Jack's mom creates an origami menagerie for him, and when Jack's mom breathes into the origami, the menagerie comes to life, jumping and playing with him.
David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy
Boy Meets Boy is a young adult novel by David Levithan. It was published in 2003. The book describes events in the lives of several high school students in an LGBT-friendly small town in New Jersey, with the central plot being a romance between sophomore named Paul and his love interest, Noah.
Randa Abdel-Fattah's Does My Head Looks Big in This?
Sixteen-year-old Amal makes the decision to start wearing the hijab full-time and everyone has a reaction. Her parents, her teachers, her friends, people on the street. But she stands by her decision to embrace her faith and all that it is, even if it does make her a little different from everyone else. Can she handle the taunts of "towel head," the prejudice of her classmates, and still attract the cutest boy in school?