The Good Earth

Title: The Good Earth

Author:  Pearl S. Buck

ISBN:  978-0-743-27293-3

Recommended Grade Level of Reader:  10th and Up (Adult Crossover)

Publisher:  Washington Square Press

Media Type: Book

Copyright:  1931

Genre: Fiction

Reader's Annotation:  Wang Lung, stripped of his belongings, must give up his home to take care of his family.  When good fortune finds him, he returns home with much more than he left with and more problems than he ever anticipated.     

Plot Summary:  Wang Lung and his wife O-lan live a productive life in China.  Caring for a farm and their children, the two are hard working and honest individuals.  When a drought forces them off of their land, they flee to the south to find work and food.  Although unhappy, the family survives and are able to return to their land after a riot and deal Wang Lung strikes with another man.  As a result of the deal, Wang Lung and O-lan return to their home more prosperous than before.  While enjoying their new found prosperity, the reader can see the money causing problems for Wang Lung and his family.     

Evaluation:  (A+)  Wang Lung's story will captivate readers.  The plot is rich and suspenseful.  Greed is an underlying theme and it is interesting to see how money changed honest, hard working Wang Lung.  This would be a good addition to a multicultural book list or a book list for adult crossovers.     

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To Kill A Mockingbird

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

ISBN: 978-0-445-08376-9

Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 9th and Up

Publisher: Popular Library

Media Type: Book

Copyright:  1960

Genre: Fiction

Reader's Annotation:  Through prejudice, cowardice, and bravery, a young girl is able to see that some things aren’t always what they seem. 

Plot Summary: Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winner has become a standard on school reading lists across the country. To Kill a Mockingbird is filled with powerful issues such as racism, rape, and injustice and equally powerful lessons and insights. This novel is from the perspective of Scout Finch, a young African American girl in Alabama. As a child, Scout is able to provide an innocent point-of-view on the activities of the town and its citizens. While simple and childlike, Scout is arguably wise for her age as she contends with prejudice and intolerance and is the daughter of a lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman. With her astute sense of awareness and understanding, Scout’s account makes for an interesting and inspiring read.

Evaluation:  (A+)  It is evident why To Kill a Mockingbird is a required read for high school students across the nation.  From the plot line and the characters to the lessons integrated into the novel, this book has appeal.  The storyline, set in a racially charged south in the 1930s, is believable.  The idea that Atticus Finch is defending a black man on trial and the notion that Scout is fascinated, yet frightened by Boo Radley is realistic.  Furthermore, Lee does an excellent job at intertwining the plot and the subplot in order to bring together a suspenseful climax and a realistic resolution.  Lastly, the author’s ability to subtly incorporate meaningful, timeless lessons such as, “you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them,” (p. 282) gives the novel depth that is critically important to many lesson plans and is thought provoking and relevant even in today’s society.      

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• To Kill a Mockingbird: A Historical Perspective
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