Literature
What is Literature?
One of the best things about literature is that it can take you on a journey without ever leaving your seat. You can explore different cultures, worlds, and time periods, all through the power of storytelling. When you read literature, you get to step into someone else's shoes and see the world through their eyes. It's a way to learn about different perspectives and empathize with others.
There are all kinds of literature out there, from fiction to non-fiction, and each type has its own benefits. Fiction can transport you to different worlds, while non-fiction can teach you about the world we live in. No matter what you're interested in, there's a book out there for you.
Literature can also help improve your writing skills. As you read, you'll start to notice different author's styles and how they use language to paint a picture. You can then take what you've learned and apply it to your own writing.
Literature Resources
Amos Fortune, Free Man
Newbery Medal biography of an African-born man enslaved in colonial New England who bought his freedom and that of others.
Across Five Aprils
Newbery Honor novel following an southern Illinois farm family through the five Aprils of the American Civil War.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Newbery Medal novel about a Black family holding onto their Mississippi land during the Depression and Jim Crow.
Bud, Not Buddy
Newbery Medal novel following a ten-year-old orphan across Depression-era Michigan in search of the father he thinks he has found.
Johnny Tremain
Newbery Medal historical novel following a Boston silversmith's apprentice into the events of the American Revolution.
The Sign of the Beaver
Newbery Honor survival story set in 1768 Maine, in which a settler boy and a Penobscot boy teach each other to live in the wilderness.
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
Newbery Medal biography-novel of Nathaniel Bowditch, the self-taught sailor-mathematician who rewrote the book on navigation.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Newbery Medal novel about a Barbados-raised girl adjusting to Puritan Connecticut in 1687 and the witchcraft accusation that follows.
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
The classic illustrated introduction to the Greek gods, goddesses and heroes — a staple read-aloud in classical homeschool programs.
The Golden Goblet
A Newbery Honor novel set in ancient Egypt, commonly paired with ancient-history studies for grades 5-8.
The Bronze Bow
Elizabeth George Speare's Newbery Medal novel set in Roman-occupied Galilee, a mainstay of ancient-history literature lists.
The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of the Odyssey
Sutcliff's companion volume to Black Ships Before Troy, retelling Homer's Odyssey for middle-grade and early high school readers.