[CASL-L] [EXT MAIL] Re: book recommendation

[Haddad, Christine]

Maybe *Flowers for Algernon*? One of my favorites!
Full disclosure:
*Gemini Prompt: A colleague is looking for a whole class read based on
this:  a unit entitled Not That Different with the essential question - How
does “othering” affect individuals and humanity in general? What does the
way a person treats others reveal about them?  In this unit, students
explore the phenomenon of othering, or treating someone as if they don’t
fit into the norm.  I suggested Flowers for Algernon. Justify how this
might work, along with a book summary that correlates with the description
I provided.*

*"Flowers for Algernon* by Daniel Keyes is a poignant choice for a unit on
"othering." It doesn’t just show a character being excluded; it forces the
reader to experience the shifting boundaries of "normalcy" through the eyes
of someone moving across those boundaries in both directions. "

*The Norm*

Othering relies on a baseline of what is considered "standard." In this
novel, Charlie Gordon is othered twice for opposite reasons:

   -

   *Initially:* He is marginalized for his intellectual disability, treated
   as a sub-human "experiment" or a punchline by his coworkers.
   -

   *Later:* As his IQ soars to genius levels, he is othered again. His
   intelligence makes people uncomfortable, leading to resentment and further
   isolation.
   -

   *The Lesson:* This reveals that othering isn't about a person's specific
   traits, but about the *fear and insecurity* of the collective group when
   faced with someone who doesn't fit their mold.

Christine


On Wed, Apr 1, 2026 at 11:03 AM Cathy Andronik via CASL-L <casl-l at mylist.net>
wrote:

> Great unit!
>
> Take a look through the winners of the Schneider Family Book Award, which
> focuses on themes of disabilities.
>
> A couple of these  might be a bit young, but I highly recommend:
>
> Show Me a Sign  (historical fiction, deaf girl on 1800s Martha's Vineyard
> is kidnapped by a scientist so he can "study" her and the island's
> congenitally deaf population in Boston; she must find a way home though she
> does not speak and no one in Boston understands her dialect of sign
> language)
>
> Wildoak  (historical fiction; British girl who stutters is sent by her
> family to live in isolation with a relative in a manor house--whose grounds
> are home to a snow leopard purchased as a cub and abandoned)
>
> The War that Saved My Life (historical fiction; girl born with a club foot
> is abandoned by her mother to a relocation program in WWII Great Britain
> and proves her strength, intelligence, and resilience)
>
> The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle (contemporary; neurodiverse boy is a
> suspect in his best friend's death; author Leslie Connor  lives in CT!!)
>
> Things Not Seen (contemporary; 15-year-old boy becomes invisible)
>
> Here is a link to the entire Schneider list.  Schneider Family Book Award
> <https://www.ala.org/awards/books-media/schneider-family-book-award>.   I
> served on the award committee for two years ("Show Me a Sign" was one we
> chose!!!!) and highly recommend its titles for authenticity and quality.
> Coincidentally, I'm currently teaching the "books about disability" part of
> a K-12 Collection Development course I teach.
>
> Schneider Family Book Award
>
> <https://www.ala.org/awards/books-media/schneider-family-book-award>
>
>
>
> Cathy Andronik
> Retired--Brien Mcahon HS
>
> On Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 09:29:04 AM EDT, Jessica Karjanis <
> jkarjanis at milforded.org> wrote:
>
>
> I think *Starfish* is a great choice. I also like the book *Wink* by Rob
> Harrell.
>
> On Wed, Apr 1, 2026 at 9:25 AM Tracy Earnshaw via CASL-L <
> casl-l at mylist.net> wrote:
>
> I second *Starfish*, but there is also *Wonder* if they haven't read it
> yet.
>
>
> *Tracy Earnshaw*
>
> Teacher Librarian
>
> Frank Ward Strong Middle School
>
> Regional School District 13
>
> 191 Main Street | Durham, CT 06422
>
> O: 860.349.7222 | tearnshaw at rsd13.org
>
> Visit us at: http://strong.rsd13ct.org <http://lyman.rsd13ct.org/>
> "Books may well be the only true magic." --Alice Hoffman
>
> Coginchaug Regional High School
>
> 135 Pickett Lane | P. O. Box 280 | Durham, CT 06422
>
> O: 860.349.7215 | tearnshaw at rsd13.org
>
> Visit us at: http://crhs.rsd13ct.org <http://lyman.rsd13ct.org/>
> "Books may well be the only true magic." --Alice Hoffman
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 1, 2026 at 9:09 AM Cheryl Robertson <
> robertsonc at guilfordschools.org> wrote:
>
> If a graphic novel would work, I'd strongly recommend *Invisible *by
> Christina Diaz Gonzalez
> <https://www.christinagonzalez.com/books/invisible>.
>
> Cheryl A. Robertson
>
> Library Media Specialist
>
> E.C. Adams Middle School
>
> CURRENTLY READING
>
> *Collective Illusions* by Todd Rose
>
> *The Irish Goodbye *by Heather Aimee O'Neill
>
> *Fortune Falls* by Jenny Goebel
>
> CURRENTLY LISTENING
>
> *The Secret Garden *by Frances Hodgson Burnett
>
> RECENTLY FINISHED
>
> *Dragonborn *by Struan Murray
>
> *The Storm *by Rachel Hawkins
>
> *The Briar Club *by Kate Quinn
>
> *The Road to Tender Hearts* by Annie Hartnett
>
> *The Last Time I Saw Him* by Laura Dave
>
> *The Frozen River* by Ariel Lawhorn
>
> *The River Is Waiting *by Wally Lamb
>
> *Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear* by Elizabeth Gilbert
>
> *The Time Machine* by H.G. Wells
>
> *On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous* by Ocean Vuong
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 1, 2026 at 8:54 AM Musket, Kimberly via CASL-L <
> casl-l at mylist.net> wrote:
>
> Good morning,
>
> We are looking for suggestions for a whole class read for eighth grade.
>
> It's in a unit entitled Not That Different with the essential question -
> How does “othering” affect individuals and humanity in general? What does
> the way a person treats others reveal about them?  In this unit, students
> explore the phenomenon of othering, or treating someone as if they don’t
> fit into the norm.
>
> Ideally, we would like a book on the shorter side. It should also be a
> fiction book.
>
> We are considering *Starfish *by Lisa Fipps.
>
> Any other suggestions?
>
> Thank you
> Kim
>
>
> Kim Musket
> School Librarian
> James H. Moran, Sr. Middle School
>
> Currently Reading:
> *They Called Us Enemy *by George Takei
>
> Listening to:
> *The Sun Does Shine: An Innocent Man, A Wrongful Conviction, and the Long
> Path to Justice *by Anthony Ray Hinton, Lara Love Hardin, Olugbemisola
> Rhuday-Perkovich
>
> Recently finished:
> *Just Mercy: A True Story of the Fight for Justice* by Bryan Stevenson
> *When I Was the Greatest *by Jason Reynolds
> *Lockdown *by Walter Dean Myers
> *Candle Island *by Lauren Wolk
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