Help With Dd English Reading Assignment:

[Katie]

I have an 14 year old freshman. A/B student, but not a reader!
She(WE) just finished to KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, now we have to choose our next book:

The Prime of MIss Jean Brodie
Rebecca
A Day no Pigs would Die
Lord of the Flies
Jacob Have I loved.

I am leaning towards Jacob Have I loved, or A day no Pigs would Die.

any suggestions???

 

[mermaidlady]

Both of my HS kids liked A Day No Pigs would Die and did not like Lord of the Flies As for as I know They haven't read the others

 

[Breezy_Carol]

The only one I can comment on is Lord of the Flies. I read it when DD had to in high school. It was terrible. I would place it at the bottom of your list.

 

[java]

Rebecca!!!
I had to read that one the same summer as Tess(the dreaded unending story.....so many many pages... but a good story),Old Man and the Sea, The Great Gatsby, Of Mice and Men.
But Rebecca by far was my favorite that summer.

 

[Karibeth19]

Rebecca is fabulous! It's a romantic mystery with a lot of suspense and a shocking ending. It's very similar to Jane Eyre and I think a 14 year old girl would really enjoy it.

 

[Alyssa88]

I read "Lord of The Flies" in high school. I didn't think it was bad at all.

I haven't read any of the otehrs os I can't comment on those.

 

[luvmydogs]

Rebecca is my favorite novel of all time--after reading it, I ended up reading most of Daphne du Maurier's other works, because I loved her style so much. The book is intelligent and dark, with well-developed, unique characters and great plot twists! Hitchcock made an awesome movie version of Rebecca (not suggesting she watch it as a replacement for reading! ), and it's an excellent accompaniement to the novel--I think it won an Oscar or two.

I guess you can see which book gets my vote.

P.S. Did your daughter like To Kill A Mockingbird? It's one of my top three books of all time!

 

[mickeyboat]

I was horrified by Lord of the Flies, but I think it teaches a very important lesson that will stick with her for life. In the end it was a great literary experience.

Denae

 

[Hedy]

Shouldn't she be picking her own book? If she's a good student, Jacob Have I loved would be below her level-it's more of a middle school book.

 

[eeyore74]

My vote is for Jacob Have I Loved. I thought it was a good book.

I might need to read Rebecca again - couldn't stand it when I read it in high school.

 

[meeskamouska]

Love, love, love REBECCA!!! Read it often and never tire of it. As for Jacob Have I Loved...I honestly read that in elemetary school and don't think it is at all challenging enough for a HS student. But, I was a bit of a nerd and read alot....maybe it would work, she might get more out of with an tad bit older perspective....I guess I should even read it again.

 

[rcraw45425]

Rebecca!

 

[Crankyshank]

If she's not a reader, she might be better off with "Jacob" because it's an easier read and easier to get into. I don't think she'd like Lord of the Flies. I don't know very many non readers that enjoyed it. Rebecca is a very good book, but is a bit difficult to get into and if she's not a reader she might be frustrated in the beginning with it.

 

[zagafi]

Lord of the Flies is one of my favorite books ever. I loved teaching it when I was still in the classroom because there is SO much there!

 

[shelly3girls]

Rebecca! I loved this book so much that my HS English teacher found an old hard back edition in a used book store and bought it for me as a gift. It was an all time favorite for me.

 

[thewishfire]

I read To Kill A Mockingbird Freshman or Sophomore year as well. On that list the only one I've read is Lord of the Flies and I absolutely LOVED it. Still do.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I haven't read any but A Day No Pigs Would Die. It was a pretty good book.

I was a non-reader in school as well.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

i LOVED Rebecca!! It is like Jane Eyre which is one of my favorite books. Rebecca is the classic romance novel.

 

[Beca]

Lord of the Flies pretty much made me want to throw up several times in the book...I HATED that (although, it does speak pretty well about women, though ).

Jacob Have I Loved is a really good story, but as many others have said....it is a really easy read (as well as kind of a "juvenile" perspective on the world). It is very good, though.

Of your list, I would have to say Rebecca.

However, if you are taking suggestions....is "The Giver" available for her to read? I know it is written at a much younger level, but the themes are SOO advanced (typical Lois Lowry) that it is now being studied in many college courses (I read it while studying for my teaching certification). It is an amazing book....she could write some really good papers from that book.

 

[shirleyb]

Rebecca is wonderful, you can't go wrong with that.

What concerned me though is the WE. At 14, she should be choosing and reading her own books. My 14 and 17 yo choose and read their own books for English class. In a few years, she'll be going to college. You can't help her out then, she needs to learn to do it now.