[CASL-L] International books for SLO

[Mary Lee]

 Hi Everyone,

I’m trying to help a colleague with her SLO. I’ve pasted what she is looking for below. If anyone has ideas of books or resources, I’d appreciate your feedback. Thanks! Mary Lee
 
I'm trying to develop a text set that would feature international books: with a focus on books from developing nations.  I need ones that will work for middle school--gritty without being too graphic. I want students to see how themes stretch across cultures and also how different cultures weigh qualities differently. (For example, how are girls' perspectives and expectations shaped by their culture?  How do issues like poverty/racism/war/religion play out in children's lives.)  These books could be written by American authors or authors from the region, but I'd like them to focus primarily on the perspective of kids from that culture.  (I've found a bunch from the perspective of an American or English teen who has to move to Africa, for example.  I'd like ones that told the story from the inside--rather than having a narrator from outside the culture.)
 
I'm also wondering what is appropriate for middle school readers as far as rape and violence is concerned. 
 
The Milk of Birds, for example has several rapes but I think is okay. 
Things Fall Down, a high school Nutmeg, has mass killings from the Khmer Rouge.  I don't know about that one.
 
I am also looking for short stories and poems from nations across the globe.  (For example, I found a short story called "A Handful of Dates" written by a Sudanese author.)  I'd like this material to be written by people from that nation. 
 
If you have any ideas about resources that would be great.
 
Mary Lee Quinn
Library Media Specialist
Torrington Middle School
200 Middle School Drive
Torrington, CT 06790
860-496-4050 x1149
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