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:

Christine


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




Cathy Andronik
Retired--Brien Mcahon HS

On Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 09:29:04 AM EDT, Jessica Karjanis <jkarjanis@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@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@rsd13.org

Visit us at: http://strong.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@rsd13.org

Visit us at: http://crhs.rsd13ct.org

"Books may well be the only true magic." --Alice Hoffman


On Wed, Apr 1, 2026 at 9:09 AM Cheryl Robertson <robertsonc@guilfordschools.org> wrote:
If a graphic novel would work, I'd strongly recommend Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez.  

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@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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