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In Late Adolescence students... have a developing sense of themselves as active players who have some responsibility for the direction of community life, and are often concerned about major social and environmental issues and the ethical implications of human activity and knowledge.
Curriculum Framework - Scope of the Curriculum - Late Adolescence |
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 Now Read:
Context for Early Adolescence.
Even more than younger teenagers, students in this later phase of development will respond to books that extend the vision of readers by challenging current and past customs and beliefs, thus inviting reflection and debate.
Offer students, who are approaching adulthood, more sophisticated reads, including books targeted at adults. Provide opportunities for the sharing of responses through Book Clubs or Literature Circles, the school intranet, newsletters, BLOGS, talks and debates. |
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AUSTEN, Jane.
Pride and Prejudice
Classic. Age 16+ In a remote Hertfordshire village, a country squire of no great means must marry off his five vivacious daughters. At the heart of this all-consuming enterprise lies the erratic courtship of his second headstrong daughter, Elizabeth Bennett and her aristocratic suitor - Fitzwilliam Darcy. First published in 1813.
HARTNETT, Sonya. Of a Boy
Age 17+ This novel will provoke a variety of responses from readers: there will be those who see it as bleak and disturbing, while others may see within it the lyrical seeds of childhood. Hartnett deftly evokes for us that partly real, partly mystical world of childhood, where perceptions more often parallel, but seldom coincide with, those of the adult world. In terms of the finest of Australian contemporary writing, Of a Boy certainly deserves its place and will amply reward its readers.
LANAGAN, Margo. Black Juice
Short Stories. Age 16+ Black Juice is an original and thought-provoking collection of ten compelling short stories, which will stay with the reader for a long time. The stories challenge the reader to imagine time, place and circumstances and it is a measure of the power of Lanagan's language that readers will bring their own knowledge and understandings to the events that are both familiar and unfamiliar. The stories explore dark and light, human frailties, love and compassion, and many other themes. There are so many elements to the stories that it is difficult to pigeonhole them, as the whole continuum of emotions is explored.
LEE, Harper.
To Kill a Mockingbird
American Classic. Age 15+ 'Shoot all the Bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a Mockingbird.' A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel - a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with exuberant humour the irrationality of adult attitudes to race and class in the Deep South of the thirties.
Li, Cunxin. Mao's Last Dancer
Autobiography. Age 14+ Plucked from obscurity and unbelievable poverty in provincial China during the Cultural Revolution, Li tells the story of his rise to fame on the international ballet circuit. It is an amazing story of hope and tenacity, of identity and cultural dislocation. As well it provides personal insight into the effects of Mao's Cultural Revolution on Li and his family and would appeal to both Society and Environment and English teachers and students.The book's strength is in its simplicity and honesty. It is hard not to understand and to empathise with Li's fate and his personal conflicts.
McGAHAN, Andrew.
The White Earth
The White Earth is a haunting tale, rich in symbolism that evokes a powerful emotional response. Set in the black soil plains of the Darling Downs the plot revolves around a nine-year-old boy whose father is killed by a fire while harvesting. Unable to cope, the boy and his emotionally unstable mother are cast upon the charity of an embittered old man, Daniel McIvor. Inexorably, the boy is compelled to bear the burden of his mother’s inadequacies and McIvor’s obsession to possess the decaying Kuran Station. This is a powerful novel, which raises many issues, relevant to contemporary Australian life, with the question of land rights the central concern.
PULLMAN, Philip.
Northern Lights
[His Dark Materials Trilogy Book 1]
Age 12 - Adult. It is not surprising that this superb novel has won awards and extremely high praise from many sources. The characters and story-line are fascinating, original and intellectually gripping. Lyra's early childhood is spent within the confines of Oxford, her friend Roger being her only close playmate. When he disappears, along with many other children, Lyra and her daemon set off on a quest which takes them north to the land of armoured bears and witch-queens, to a place where scientists are conducting experiments too horrible to be spoken about.
Sequels: The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass. NOTE: The Amber Spyglass especially, provides challenging and thought-provoking reading.
PROVOOST, Anne.
In the Shadow of the Ark
Age 16+ Told in lyrical language this novel imaginatively retells the biblical story of Noah's Ark through the eyes of a young girl Re Jana. Provoost creates a very vivid picture of chaos, panic, turbulence and cruelty. Bitter rivalries and fierce jealousies amongst the people, particularly amongst Noah's family, reinforce the exploration of good and evil in human dealings. It is the intrigues between the characters which most fascinate and give insights into the good and bad aspects of human nature. This is a compelling read and one which gives much food for thought.
SHELLEY, Mary. edited by Hilary Jenkins.
Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus
Classic. Age 16+ This chilling blend of ghost story and Gothic novel, tells of a young student who takes it upon himself to re-create life in the hideous, but innocent, form of a man. What follows demonstrates the dangers that arise when humans play God and science is given power over nature.
See also this excellent recent adaptation: Frankenstein, from the original book by Mary Shelley. Adapted by Margrete Lamond; illustrations by Drahos Zak.
STRATTON, Allan.
Chanda's Secrets
Age 15+ Chanda’s Secrets is a powerful story about the effects of the AIDS pandemic in Africa, and the impact this has on ordinary people. The difficult and sometimes ambiguous role of women in African society is portrayed with unflinching clarity and readers cannot help but empathise with Chanda, an adolescent growing up in this world. In addition it is a story about family, love, friendship and hope, and as such proves to be uplifting despite the often harrowing, subject matter.
Zusak, Marcus. The Book Thief
Age 15+ The Book Thief is a beautifully crafted story of the life of ordinary German people during Hitler's reign. It is a story that hooks the reader from the opening chapters when Death reflects on events that are revealed in later chapters. The story begins in 1939 in Nazi Germany when nine-year-old Liesel Meminger is being taken by her mother to live with a foster family outside Munich. On the journey her brother dies and at his graveside she rescues from the snow her first book.
Zusak, Marcus. The Messenger
Age 16+ This very engaging, award-winning book is worth serious consideration for use in upper school English classes. The appeal lies in the sparseness of the writing and the near rawness of the plot. Ed is a no hoper, a bit of a loser, until he receives his first playing card, the ace of diamonds, with three addresses written on it. These present him with three human problems to solve and are followed by three other aces with increasingly cryptic messages, each being further problems to solve. This is not a smultchy, everything is all right, novel. The positive theme: ordinary people bothering to care can make a difference, gives the book some of its appeal. |
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