Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy

Disposable People is a powerful awakening on the reality of slavery's existence in our modern world. His investigation of conditions in Mauritania, Brazil, Thailand, Pakistan, and India reveals the tragic emergence of a "new slavery," one that is intricately linked to a global economy. Bales explains the difference between this "new slavery" and Trans-Atlantic slavery. I would suggest using excerpts from this book. It is a good book to offer students at the high school level insight into a world that many thought had ended more than a hundred years ago.

To find out more or what you can do, go to the following website,

http://www.freetheslaves.net/

A Rumor of War

A Rumor of War by Phillip Caputo is a a personal memoir about the Veitnam War. This is a heartwarming and educational novel about the horrors of what men experienced. Phil starts out by saying in the prologue “This book does not pretend to be history. …. In a general sense, it is simply a story about war, about the things men do in war and the things war does to them.” And so he goes on for 346 pages to talk about his personal struggles, losses, and experiences during our nation’s longest conflict. Caputo was one of the first men to enter the war, and he was also one of the last men to leave. His novel captures so many images and events from the war that it simply blows your mind. When he left school he entered the Marine Corps and was sent directly to Vietnam to fight in the rice paddies. Some of the men he went to training with and got sent over with were among the first to die and that really rattled him. By the end of the novel you can feel the desperation and humiliation radiating out of him which is a very powerful thing.

I would use this novel to teach about the devastation that was faced by many US soldiers at home and over seas. I would use it as a read aloud.

The Kommandant's Girl

The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff is one of my favorite books. It is a great piece of historical fiction.

Emma, the main character in the book is a young Jewish woman, who has only been married to her husband, Jacob, for three weeks when Nazi’s begin to occupy Poland. Jacob is forced to go into hiding leaving Emma in a Jewish ghetto. The resistance movement in Poland is strong and they help Emma sneak out of Poland to live with Jacob’s Catholic cousin, Kyrisa. Emma takes with her a young Jewish boy, whose looks are not those typical of a Jewish person. As part of the plan to get Emma out she takes on a new identity, Anna Lipowski. Kyrisa is part of the resistance movement but has to keep up appearances and therefore holds dinner parties for many who are Nazi’s or support them. Emma (now Anna) is introduced at a party to Nazi Kommadant Richwalder. The Kommadant really likes Emma and asks her to come work for him in his office as his personal assistant. Emma agrees only to help gather information that will further help the resistance movement. Throughout the book Emma becomes more involved with the Kommadant in the hopes of gathering information.

While I'm not sure if I would teach it, it is a book I would definitely recommend to any student in 11th or 12th grade.

Princess Sultana's Daughters

Jean Sasson's sequel in the Princess triology, Princess Sultana's Daughters is an exhilerating sequel. Sasson takes the reader through a journey of fundamentalism, mental illness as well as the gender inferiority Sultana and her daughters face as a female. The detail of the Muslim Hajj is eye opening, as well as an increased same sex relationships as a result of the restrictions placed on mix gender relationships.
There are many opportunities for learning in this book just as Sasson's first book in the Princess triology. Please check it out!!! SOOOOOOO GOOOD!!!!

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner is the first book written by Khaled Hosseini. It explores the story of two young boys at the invasion of the communist Soviet Union. The reader takes an emotional ride with these two boys who experience a cultural/ societal change in Afghanistan.

This book is great for the boys in your classroom through an easily relatable male point of view novel. There are so many options for English/ Social collaborative projects!

We are All Born Free

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assemble on December 10, 1948. It was developed as a result of the horrors of World War II. Its purpose was to state and protect the rights of all people around the world.

We are all Born Free: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures celebrates each declaration with amazing illustrations by a number of artists. This book has many educational opportunities for a variety of levels. Just some topic ideas include, World War II, Holocaust, human rights violations, Cold War, etc. The possibilities are truly endless.

A Diary of an Iraqi Girl

Diary of an Iraqi Girl offers great insight into the personal life of a young girl during the invasion of the United States. It provides a personal account of life in Iraq and how the US's invasion affected daily life for those living in Iraq during the time.
Perfect for many different interdisciplinary activities. Because her blog is public, students have the opportunity to interact with Hadia, providing an authentic audience for writing assignments! English dream right?? Social Studies could use bits and pieces of her diary in a unit on terrorism to provide insight to how life was affected by the US in Iraq.

Princess: A True Story of life behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia

Jean P. Sasson's interview with a Saudi princess brings readers into the life of a woman in a society that views the female gender as a second class citizen. Sultana, a granddaughter of the Saudi king, is a caged woman held captive in luxurious mansions, controlled by her father, then their husbands and in some instances, sons.
As a result of this novel's vocabulary, it would be suggested to use it at AP levels or higher grade levels. Again it screams interdisciplinary!!

First They Killed My Father

Written by Loung Ung, First They Killed My Father takes a reader into Cambodia during the time of Pol Pot. At the age of 5 her family if forced out of their home, and forced to work on collective farms with little food and the fear of found out. Loung Ung's book is a powerful inside look at genocide and it horrific effects.
A great book for 10/ 11 grade, both social studies and english teachers could use this for content in both areas.

The Postcard

The novel, The Postcard, is a great novel written by a woman in Pennsylvania, Beverly Lewis, about an Amish community. The community has been through so much, but they have to struggle through so much more when disaster strikes.

Rachel, a beautiful Amish woman has everything she could want in life, a loving husband with 2 kids and one on the way. Life is perfect. One day on the way to market a bad accident happens killing everyone but Annie, her daughter. Two years later a workaholic NY reporter comes to stay at Rachel's parents Bed N Breakfast. For the few days he's there he seems drawn to Rachel with her kind spirit, blind eyes and fun loving daughter. Something happens that brings the two closer, but both adults know their lives are too different to be more than acquaintances.

My neighbors are Amish, so when I was student teaching some of my students picked up me talking about it. I brought in pictures of them building a barn and their houses. When I assigned a book project for my 10th and 11th graders to complete, I suggested this author to my students and several of the girls loved her books.