High School Book LIst - Federal Way Public Schools

Title Author
High School Supplementary Reading List
Content
Woman at Point Zero, A Saadawi, Nawal From her prison cell, Firdaus, sentenced to die for having killed a pimp in a Cairo street, tells
of her life from village childhood to city prostitute. Society's retribution for her act of defiance -
death - she welcomes as the only way she can finally be free. Strong sexual content.
Woman Warrior Kingston, Maxine
Hong
A Chinese American woman tells of the Chinese myths, family stories and events of her
California childhood that have shaped her identity. This book contains sexual references.
Working Terkel, Studs Pulitzer Prize-winning writer/journalist Studs Terkel is world famous for his oral histories,
considered an innovator in modern ethnographic research. Working, Terkel's most popular
book, provides a powerful and original perspective on one of the most basic components of
human experience: work. The farmer, receptionist, college professor, mail carrier, stockbroker,
athlete, and many others share their daily routines and dreams in their own words. Working
has long been recognized as an ideal teaching tool, presenting provocative material certain to
engage students, ignite classroom discussion, and inspire thoughtful writing.
Wuthering Heights Bronte, Emily Lockwood, the new tenant of Thrushcross Grange on the bleak Yorkshire Moors, is forced to
seek shelter one night at Wuthering Heights, the home of his landlord. There he discovers the
history of the tempestuous events that took place years before.
Year of Impossible
Goodbyes, The
Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella
Story from China
Choi, Sook Nyul It is 1945, and courageous ten-year-old Sookan and her family must endure the cruelties of
the Japanese military occupying Korea. Police captain Narita does his best to destroy
everything of value to the family, but he cannot break their spirit. Sookan's father is with the
resistance movement in Manchuria and her older brothers have been sent away to labor
camps. Her mother is forced to supervise a sock factory and Sookan herself must wear a
uniform and attend a Japanese school.
Louie, Ai-Ling Children‘s book. The story of a poor over-worked girl, a wicked stepmother and stepsister, a
magical helper, a king in search of a wife, and a lost shoe. Yeh-Shen earns her wishes
through kindness to a magic fish. This one change makes a big difference in the ethical tone
of the book. It also makes the reader feel much more sympathetic toward Yeh-Shen, who
seems to deserve every bit of good fortune she gets.
Yellow Raft in Blue Water Dorris, Michael At 15, Rayona is left by her Native-American mother shortly after her African-American father
walks out of their lives again, and this time probably forever. Rayona tries to tolerate life with
her grandmother, known by all as Aunt Ida, but when the mission priest sexually harasses this
tough but insightful young woman, she leaves the reservation and finds her way into a new life
in a Montana state park. After a few weeks' idyll as a maintenance worker sheltered by former
hippies, Rayona returns to her mother, Christine. The narrative switches to become an
account of how Christine came to be the person Rayona has known. Aunt Ida raised Christine
on the reservation, along with Christine's younger brother Lee. Lee's best friend, Dayton,
plays a significant role in Christine's life right through the time of Rayona's return years later,
but Lee dies as a youth in Vietnam. In the novel's final movement, Aunt Ida's brief but
substantial story unfolds.
Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster
Tale from West Africa
McDermott, Gerald Children‘s book. When Zomo ("He is not big. He is not strong. But he is very clever")
beseeches the Sky God for wisdom, he is set three impossible tasks: he must bring back "the
scales of Big Fish in the sea, the milk of Wild Cow, and the tooth of Leopard." The cunning
rabbit dupes the three creatures into giving up these prizes, but returns to discover that the
joke's on him. His newfound wisdom? To run like mad from the three very angry animals.
1984 Orwell, George This novel offered a vision of a totalitarian society where the government controls individual
thought and even reality. It presents a variety of issues regarding human nature. 1984 is a
great modern classic of ―Negative Utopia‖ – a startlingly original and haunting novel that
creates an imaginary work that is completely convincing, from the first sentence to the last four
words. Contains intimate scenes.
High School 2011-12