CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
Richard Wright, a black boy living in the Jim Crow South, travels north in hopes of escaping the violence and prejudice that rules his childhood. Selected (8) reading passages (grades7-12) to pair with "Black Boy" by Richard Wright....
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Beowulf"
The life of the mighty hero Beowulf is recounted, as he wins honor and fame by protecting his people and the neighboring nation from terrible monsters. Selected (6) reading passages (grades 9-12) to pair with the Epic poem "Beowulf"....
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Path
Partially inspired by Plath's experiences with depression, The Bell Jar follows the emotional breakdown of Esther Greenwood, a promising college student who cannot reconcile her desires with American conventions during the 1950s-1960s....
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coekho
Following omens and the pursuit of his dream, Santiago goes on a journey to find his treasure. Along the way he encounters characters and circumstances that both support or challenge his quest. Selected (5) reading passages (grades 6-11)...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "1984" by George Orwell
In this dystopian novel, the protagonist of the story, Winston Smith, attempts to rebel against a totalitarian government that exercises complete control over all aspects of its citizens' lives. It includes selected (8) reading passages...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou recounts her coming of age story as a mature but apprehensive girl in the American South and California during the Jim Crow era. Selected (8) reading passages (grades 7-10) to pair with "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
A coup by religious extremists helps to establish the sexually-oppressive, dystopian Republic of Gilead. Offred, a Handmaid, struggles with her role as a reproductive servant to the elite. Selected (8) reading passages (grades 9-11) to...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare
Prince Hamlet attempts to avenge his father's death by deciphering the devious plot of the new king, his Uncle Claudius - only to be tragically killed. Selected (8) reading passages (grades 9-12) to pair with the drama "Hamlet" by...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'dell
Karana's tribe has lived on the Island of the Blue Dolphins for centuries, but a tragedy forces them to leave. When Karana gets left behind, she must learn to live alone. Selected (10) reading passages (grades 5-9) to pair with the novel...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep
Moon Shadow is eight years old when he sails from the Middle Kingdom (China) to the land of the Golden Mountain (America) where he meets his father, Windrider, for the first time. In San Francisco, Moon Shadow and his father endure...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
Anne Frank's diary provides a first-person account of the struggles an adolescent girl faces as her family hides from the Nazis within the terrifying setting of an overcrowded annex. Selected (7) reading passages (grades 6-8) to pair...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller
In this play, Willy Loman, an aging traveling salesman, struggles to come to terms with his "failures," reconnect with his sons, and let go of the ideal of the American Dream. Selected (9) reading passages (grades 8-12) to pair with...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller
In +J1105:J1113this allegorical drama, inspired by the witch hunt trials of 1692-93 and the 1950s Red Scare, the town of Salem is plagued by hysteria and accusations of witchcraft. Selected (9) reading passages (grades 8-12) to pair with...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Crossover" by Kwanme Alexander
Inseparable twin brothers Josh and JB love basketball, but changes in their lives begin to pull them apart. Selected (6) reading passages (grades 5-8) to pair with "The Crossover" by Kwanme Alexander. [Free account registration required...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Fences" by August Wilson
The play "Fences" explores the complex relationships of a 1950s middle-class, African American family and how they deal with issues of financial hardship, infidelity, and insecurities. Selected (7) reading passages (grades 7-11) to pair...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
Selected (7) reading passages (grades 8-11) to pair with the memoir "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Wakatsuki. [Free account registration required for specific tools.]
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury
Set in a future where books are outlawed and firemen burn any they find, fireman Guy Montag questions his role in society and joins an organization committed to starting a revolution. Selected (7) reading passages (grades 8-11) to pair...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Esperanza Rising" by Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza is a young girl forced to leave behind a life of luxury in Mexico for a farm workers camp in California. The new experience brings Esperanza timeless lessons on life and love. Selected (7) reading passages (grades 5-8) to pair...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere" by Zz Packer
In this collection of short stories ZZ Packer introduces us to a range of different perspectives, from Brownie Troops out to seek retribution, to a father and son who bicker on their way to the Million Man March. Selected (8) reading...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare
Spurred by ambition and spiritual prophecy, Macbeth, and his wife Lady Macbeth, come up with a scheme to murder King Duncan and take his throne. Their actions force them to commit more murders and eventually leads to their downfall....
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson
Lyddie is a young girl who is separated from her family and made to work in order for them to keep their farm. Selected (6) reading passages (grades 8-9) to pair with the novel "Laddie" by Katherine Paterson. [Free account registration...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
In this novel, a group of boys are stranded on a deserted island and attempt to govern themselves. Selected (7) reading passages (grades 5-8) to pair with the novel "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding. [Free account registration...
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park
Based on a true account, this book tells the story of Salva Dut, an 11-year-old boy separated from his family by the civil war in Sudan, and Nya, a girl from a small village who walks miles each day to fetch water for her family....
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Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan
On the first day of summer, 12-year-old Percy Jackson learns that he is a demigod. He joins Camp Half-Blood, where he learns the skills required to travel on a dangerous quest to retrieve Zeus' stolen lightning bolt. Selected (7) reading...