The CBB
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/

DISCUSSION: Recommandations wanted Yr 9 history
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=4749
Author:  liberty [ Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:42 am ]
Post subject:  DISCUSSION: Recommandations wanted Yr 9 history
Hi

Not sure if this is really the right place for this so am happy to move it if not.

We are currently putting together a reading list to work alongside Yr 9 History and give the girls a flavour of the times. We cover both World Wars, Africa, the Middle East, Britain throughout the century and India. We're really struggling to find books suitable for 14 year olds for the latter two.

If anyone has any recommendations for any of the topics they would be gratefully received. We cover the twentieth century but it doesn't matter if they are set a bit before them.

Thanks
Author:  Lexi [ Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Michelle Magorian's books set around the war years are good and I remember at that age really enjoying the Flambards trilogy for descriptions of the WW1 era.

Not sure if that's any help at all, sorry!
Author:  Kate [ Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
The Secret Garden and A Little Princess have India bits (but not an awful lot...)
Author:  janem [ Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:27 am ]
Post subject: 
We used to do The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall and Empire of the Sun with year 9.
Author:  Rosie [ Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:30 am ]
Post subject: 
Is any Kipling useful for India?
Author:  liberty [ Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for all the help so far. It's been really useful
Author:  keren [ Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
One More River by Lynne Read Banks for the Middle east

I have no idea whether it is still in print.
Author:  Emma A [ Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Some suggestions:

The Peacock Spring by Rumer Godden is set in India and should be okay for 14-year olds, covers caste system and relations between an English girl and Indian boy. M M Kaye's autobiography, Share of Summer, particularly the first part, set in India prior to WW2, and her books Death in Kashmir and Death in the Andamans give a very good idea of the tensions of the time and the sense of place.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, set in pre- and post-Revolutionary Iran, autobiographical graphic novel.

Shadow of the Sun, by Ryczard Kapuczinski - reportage from 1950s to 1990s about Africa. Contains stories of coups, portraits of Idi Amin and others. Other books by Kapuczinski, The Emperor and Shah of Shahs cover the regimes of Haile Selassie and the last Shah of Iran respectively. Again, non-fiction, and the Shah book contains some graphic and unleasant descriptions of the behaviour of the Shah's secret police, so may not be suitable for children of that age.

Oleander Jacaranda, Penelope Lively's memoir about growing up in wartime Cairo (WWII). M M Kaye (again) - her Death in Kenya gives an interesting account of the white settlers' point of view of the Mau-Mau uprising.

With regards to Britain, perhaps Berlie Docherty's Granny was a Buffer Girl, Judith Kerr's When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit trilogy, Carrie's War by Nina Bawden, Eve Garnett's The Family From One End Street, and even Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce is good on the detail of the past.

Hope this helps!
Author:  Elle [ Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:18 am ]
Post subject: 
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas -can't remember who by.

Goodnight Mr Tom - can't remember who wrote this either.

Friedrich - Written by a German man, but can I remember his name???

Have you tried posting on:

www.schoolhistory.co.uk/forum

I remember there being a discussion about reading lists at some point. A mod on there should be able to point you to it.
Author:  liberty [ Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:17 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks again for the help. I hadn't thought of schoolhistory.co.uk but will try it.
Author:  Lolly [ Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:21 am ]
Post subject: 
Elle, Goodnight Mr Tom is by Michelle Magorian. She also wrote Back Home which also deals with the topic of evacuees, although in the aftermath of the war rather than during.

I remember 'doing' WW1 &WW2 literature around that age. We read All Quiet on the Western Front, A Farewell to Arms, Testament of Youth and Goodbye to All That among others. I also read Spike Milligan's autobiographies Rommel? Gunner Who? and Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall (there are others but those are the two I remember, and one of them is about his experiences in North Africa). I haven't read it, but he has also written a book called The Family Album which deals with his family history dating back to 1869 when his grandfather was a soldier in India and which contains a lot of photographs.

In terms of fiction, I definitely remember reading Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer, which is set in the First World War. You don't mention America, but The Unfortunates by Laurie Graham is excellent and covers both World Wars, both in Europe and America, from the point of view of an American woman. The Camomile Lawnby Mary Wesley is partly set in WW2 and again, looks at it from a more female perspective.

I see The Boy in Striped Pyjamas has been mentioned - I have to say I thought it was pretty poor - but what about The Book Thief?

Thinking of books about Britain throughout the century, I remember reading Queen Victoria is Very Ill by Katharine Moore, which is excellent - written by one of the first women to graduate, her earliest memory was of being told that Queen Victoria was very ill...it is well written and interesting.

Slightly OT but somebody has mentioned Persepolis - I saw the film last night and it is absolutely amazing.

*eta - sorry, I only just noticed you were posting about FICTION!!! I get a bit too excited about books sometimes :oops:
Author:  claire [ Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:43 am ]
Post subject: 
dh suggested the Young Indiana Jones Chronicle books

Roald Dahl's autobiographies (more so Flying Solo for the WW2 part)
Author:  Lolly [ Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
Carrie's War by Nina Bawden?

(I really haven't got much work to do today :lol: )
Author:  Lizzie [ Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:15 pm ]
Post subject: 
I read The Wall by Elizabeth Lutzeier when I was in about Year 9 and it is brilliant. It's about the fall of the Berlin Wall and although it has been a while since I read it, it blew me away when I was 14.
Author:  Dreaming Marianne [ Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
"Zed" by Rosemary Harris. Can't recommend this enough - set during the (Syrian?Lebanese?) embassy thingy in 1980.
Author:  jennifer [ Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:57 am ]
Post subject: 
For something a bit different on WWI, what about Rilla of Ingleside by Montgomery? It's set during WWI, but in Canada, and gives a very different view than books set in England.
Author:  Anjali [ Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:07 am ]
Post subject: 
Two Chalet Girls in India :lol:
Swami & Friends; Malgudi Days; or anything by R.K Narayan
Author:  kramerkaren [ Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:12 am ]
Post subject: 
Africa - anything by Dorris Lessing,
Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter by J. Nozipo Maraire
Peter Godwin - Mukiwa: A White Boy in Africa


Israel - Raquela: A Woman of Israel by Ruth Gruber - great story that covers a good deal of Israeli history
One More River by Lynne Reid Banks

if you think they can handle it - Leon Uris has written book about the history of lots of places - I remember exodus as "wow"ing me, the book on Hawaii, and wuite a few others.
Author:  JayB [ Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:48 am ]
Post subject: 
On WWII, Hester Burton's In Spite of All Terror is set in England and covers the period from September 1939 to the end of 1940 from the pov of Liz, a fifteen year old schoolgirl. My mother, who was a schoolgirl during the war, thought it was a very accurate recreation of the 'feel' of the period.

For WWII in Europe, Ian Seraillier's The Silver Sword is about a Polish family separated at the start of the war.

Miss Read's Miss Clare Remembers - Miss Clare, the elderly teacher, looks back over her Victorian childhood and life as a teacher in a village school in Oxfordshire. A fairly gentle read, but does cover the impact of WWI on the community.

Any of RF Delderfield's sagas give a good feel of the passage of time in England in the late 19th/20th century. To Serve Them All My Days, set in a boys' boarding school, is my favourite.

Not quite the 20th century, and autobiography rather than fiction, but MV (Molly) Hughes' books, A London Child of the Seventies/Girl of the Eighties/Home in the Nineties give a good flavour of middle class life in the period. Molly Hughes writes about her life as a schoolgirl and student, so good reading for fans of GO literature too.

Autobiography again, but Eugenie Fraser's The House on the Dvina is the story of comfortable middle class life in the Russian city of Archangel before and during WWI and how it all came crashing down in the Revolution, from the pov of a young girl.

I'm sure I should know more for Britain in the 20th century, will have a think.
Author:  Maeve [ Fri Aug 08, 2008 4:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
Fiction
Noel Streatfield, When the Sirens Wailed, about a family of London evacuees.

Jill Paton Walsh, The Dolphin Crossing, about two boys who take part in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Also covers the Blitz.

Elizabeth Jane Howard, TheCazalet Chronicles, a series of four books about the Cazalet family set just before, during, and after WWII. The individual books are The Light Years, Marking Time, Confusion, and Casting Off. These are a bit more adult, with mild sexual scenes, but are full of wonderful day-to-day info about daily life in Britain at that time - clothes, food, etc.

Non-fiction
Elspeth Huxley, The Flame Trees of Thika, about growing up in Africa at the beginning of the 1900's.

Charles Allen, ed., Plain tales from the Raj, a collection of oral memories of English people form during the last days of the Raj. Easy but interesting read.
______
Edited to add The Dolphin Crossing.
Author:  Jennie [ Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
Africa from an African POV - 'The River Between' N'gugi na Thiongo.
Author:  elanortook [ Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
I would second "When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit" and "the Silver Sword". We read the latter at secondary school and our entire English class loved it.

Michelle Magorian has lots, the obvious being "Goodnigh Mr Tom". There is also one called "A Little Love Song" which deals with slightly moer grown up issues of the war - unmarried mothers, sex etc... I think I was only 12-14 when I read it though.

There are Noel Stretfield's "..Shoe" books, the later of which deal with London in the War. I have "Curtain Up" in which reverse evacuation seems to occur and children are sent TO London.

Lewis' "Narnia" stories ofcouse. "Screwtape Letters" is also interesting if you have any particularly precocious 14 year olds.


I have no India or WW1 suggestions to offer, but am interested in those suggested.
Author:  Alex [ Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
I've just remembered Kiss the Dust by Elizabeth Laird. It's about (I think) Kurds in Iraq. Apparently she has written some set in Africa too but I don't know any of her other books.
Author:  Tara [ Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:12 am ]
Post subject: 
I haven't read Elizabeth Laird's books, but she spoke at a conference I was at recently and was brilliant. She has written about the Palestine/Israeli conflict from the Palestinian pov and her books are aimed at mid-teens.
Author:  abbeybufo [ Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:56 am ]
Post subject: 
Nancy Farmer's The Ear, the Eye and the Arm, and A Girl Named Disaster are set in East Africa, though the first is sort of futuristic rather than in the past IIRC
Author:  Mez [ Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:57 am ]
Post subject: 
I've just read Twenty Chickens For A Saddle by Robyn Scott, which is set in 1980s/1990s Botswana and a little in Zimbabwe.
Although it's a memoir of an unconventional childhood I thought it had some interesting thoughts on race woven in, and it does provide some insights into the AIDS epidemic and the success of Botswana as a democracy compared to its neighbours.
Not sure though if it's old enough or fits into your fiction requirement!! I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone, especially if you enjoyed Alexandra Fuller's memoirs.

Edit: Sorry-just realised the age of a Year 9 student so book probably not appropriate.
Author:  Cazo3788 [ Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
My setwork in Gr 9 (14-15 yrs) was Dance With A Poor Man's Daughter by Pamela Jooste. It's a child's POV of the destruction of District Six in Cape Town due to the Group Areas Act in the 1970s.
Author:  Grembles [ Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:29 am ]
Post subject: 
I've discovered this late but two books published in the last year about Israel/Palestine are by Valerie Zenatt. She is an Israeli who is very sympatheic to the Palestinian cause and her books are set since the year 2000 in Israel

For Africa there are two contemporary authors Linzi Glass and Gabrielle Halberstom. Their books are mostly set in the 1960s in segregated SA. Beverly Naidoo also does Apartheid SA well (her newest one is all about the Mau Mau in Kenya!)

For weaker readers I recommend Lauren St John for African Books .
Author:  Loryat [ Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
Alex wrote:
I've just remembered Kiss the Dust by Elizabeth Laird. It's about (I think) Kurds in Iraq. Apparently she has written some set in Africa too but I don't know any of her other books.

Yes Kiss the Dust is great, it's about a Kurdish family living in Iraq under Saddam, who flee o Iran and finally emigrate to Britain, so covers quite a lot and is a really good book as well.
Author:  Honor [ Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: DISCUSSION: Recommandations wanted Yr 9 history
Just discovered this and I might be 5 months too late :oops: but for very advanced 14 year olds, Ali and Nino by Kurban Said is great. Written in 1937, it covers the middle east and Caucasus around the time of WW1 and is a brilliant west meets east/Christian meets muslim story set against the political background of war, russian revolution etc.

Even if you don't use it for the kids, I would recommend it.

Honor x
Author:  sallygoroundthemoon [ Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: DISCUSSION: Recommandations wanted Yr 9 history
I'm sure you're probably after fiction but what about the diary of anne frank? she was only about 13/14 when she wrote it so maybe they'll relate?
Author:  sallygoroundthemoon [ Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: DISCUSSION: Recommandations wanted Yr 9 history
also, try the moon is down by john steinbeck
Author:  judithR [ Thu Jan 15, 2009 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: DISCUSSION: Recommandations wanted Yr 9 history
Jon & Rumer Godden Two Under the Indian Sun and Rumer Godden

The River about colonial India also Plain Tales from the Raj - first hand accounts of the British in India & the companion volume about Africa (mega senior monment, can't remember title of second or author of first) and perhaps Joanna Trollope's Britannia's Daughters.

John Steinbeck's Once There was a War - American war correspondent in WW2 is also worth reading as is Robert Graves on WW1.
Author:  judithR [ Thu Jan 15, 2009 12:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: DISCUSSION: Recommandations wanted Yr 9 history
Jon & Rumer Godden Two Under the Indian Sun and Rumer Godden

The River about colonial India also Plain Tales from the Raj - first hand accounts of the British in India & the companion volume about Africa (mega senior monment, can't remember title of second or author of first) and perhaps Joanna Trollope's Britannia's Daughters.

John Steinbeck's Once There was a War - American war correspondent in WW2 is also worth reading as is Robert Graves on WW1.
All times are UTC [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/