CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck
Selected (7) reading passages (grades 9-11) to pair with the novel "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. George and Lennie are two migrant workers trying to stay employed and out of trouble. Their dream of having their own farm may be...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Odyssey" by Homer
Selected (6) reading passages (grades 8-11) to pair with the epic poem "The Odyssey" by Homer. Odysseus, an ancient Greek war hero and leader of Ithaca, embarks on a twenty-year long return to his homeland after the fall of Troy. It is...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry
Selected (9) reading passages (grades 5-11) to pair with "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry. Number the Stars is historical fiction set during WWII in Nazi occupied Denmark. 10-year-old Annemarie Johansen risks her life to help the Rosens,...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte
This Gothic-Romantic novel, set in Victorian England, chronicles the life of Jane Eyre: a plain governess who falls in love with her employer and discovers a terrible secret within Thornfield. Selected (11) reading passages (grades 8-12)...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros
Told through a series of vignettes, Esperanza Cordero narrates her life growing up as a Latina girl in a Chicago neighborhood, and her desire to grow up and leave. Selected (8) reading passages (grades 5-8) to pair with "The House on...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Holes" by Louis Sacher
Stanley Yelnats is sent to a juvenile correctional camp for boys where each day he is forced to dig holes into a dry lake bed. Selected (8) reading passages (grades 5-8) to pair with the novel "Holes" by Louis Sacher. [Free account...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Hobbit" by j.r.r. Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit homebody, joins a party of dwarves and their wizard companion in a series of adventures to reclaim the dwarves' homeland from the great dragon Smaug. Selected (8) reading passages (grades 5-9) to pair with the...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad
In the novel "Heart of Darkness," Marlow travels up the Congo River on behalf of a Belgian trading company. Once he is far upriver he encounters the mysterious Kurtz, a man who has set himself up as a god amongst the natives. Selected...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson
In this novel, Louise dreams of leaving her tiny island home in Chesapeake Bay, but first she must escape the shadow of her twin sister who seems to rob her of everything. Selected (11) reading passages (grades 6-10) to pair with "Jacob...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Inside Out & Back Again" by Thanhha Lai
In this novel based on her life, Ha and her family are living in Saigon when the Vietnam war forces her family to flee to Alabama. Selected (6) reading passages (grades 5-8) to pair with "Inside Out & Back Again" by Thanhha Lai....
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Incantation" by Alice Hoffman
Estrella is a girl living in Spain during the Spanish inquisition and dealing with the secret of her Jewish heritage, an unacceptable crush, and her best friend's betrayal. Selected (6) reading passages (grades 5-9) to pair with the...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
"In the Time of the Butterflies" is the story of the four Mirabal sisters, who lived through the despotic regime of General Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. Throughout the novel that spans more than 50 years, Julia Alvarez masterfully weaves...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Grendel" by John Gardner
Selected (6) reading passages (grades 9-11) to pair with "Grendel" by John Gardner. [Free account registration required for specific tools.]
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Nick Carraway observes the wasteful lives of four wealthy acquaintances in the nouveau riche society of West Egg, Long Island. During his time there, Carraway befriends his affluent and enigmatic neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Selected (10)...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck
The Joad family leaves Oklahoma in search of work after their farm is destroyed by the Dust Bowl. They arrive in California only to find that fair jobs, food, and sympathy are scarce. Selected (9) reading passages (grades 8-11) to pair...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Giver" by Lois Lowry
In the dystopian novel "The Giver," Jonas is chosen to be the new Receiver of Memories; he meets his incumbent -- The Giver, a man who is tasked with holding onto the community's collective experiences and memories. Selected (11) reading...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
In the novel "Frightful," a peregrine falcon, has spent most of her life depending on a human and must now learn how to survive in the wild on her own. Selected (8) reading passages (grades 4-9) to pair with "Frightful's Mountain" by...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelly
The scientist Victor Frankenstein recounts his story of bringing a creature to life and the tragedies that followed. Selected (8) reading passages (grades 8-12) to pair with the horror novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelly. [Free account...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen
After Noah's dad is arrested for sinking a casino boat he believed was dumping sewage into the ocean, Noah must prove that his suspicions are right and stop the boat from further polluting the ocean. Selected (8) reading passages (grades...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Fault of Our Stars" by John Green
Hazel has been diagnosed with cancer and has a sullen outlook on life. She meets Augustus, whose love and friendship brings her across the world and around again -- in more than one way. Selected (6) reading passages (grades 8-12) to...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
This book tells the story of Bryan Stevenson, a young lawyer who establishes a legal practice, and takes on the case of Walter McMillian who was wrongly convicted for murder. Selected (8) reading passages (grades 8-12) to pair with "Just...
CommonLit
Common Lit: The Watson's Go to Birmingham 1963" by Christopher Paul Curtis
Selected (7)reading passages (grades 7-11) to pair with "The Watson's Go to Birmingham -- 1963" by Christopher Paul Curtis. At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Kenny Watson and his family embark on a road trip from Michigan to...
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Welcome to College
[Free Registration/Login Required] When you think of going to college, where do you see yourself? Welcome to College is a great tool to help you plan just that. Follow the steps on the site to start a free account where you can choose...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Abuelito Who" by Sandra Cisneros
In this poem by Sandra Cisneros, the speaker describes their aging grandfather. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary notes are provided. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary notes are provided. This site offers links to...