Through Lines: Exploring Past/Present Connections in Middle Grade Novels. (29th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kuehl, Rachelle
• Is Part Of: Reading teacher. Volume 75:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 441
• Page End: 451
• Publication Date: 2021-07-29
• Subjects: Adolescent/young adult literature -- Awards -- Children's literature -- Critical literacy -- Discussion strategies -- Fiction -- Genre studies -- Instructional strategies -- teaching strategies -- Literature‐based instruction -- Multicultural literature -- Selection criteria -- Sociocultural -- Supplementary resources -- Thematic units -- 2‐Childhood -- 3‐Early adolescence; Reading (Elementary) -- Periodicals; Reading -- Periodicals; Reading -- Remedial teaching -- Periodicals; 372.405
• DOI: 10.1002/trtr.2041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-0561

Abstract

Abstract: Recently, the public outcry after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police revealed a disconnect among some Americans between historical events (slavery, the Civil Rights movement) and the present day. That is, many Americans—particularly White Americans—had believed racism to be a mostly historical construct and failed to understand the ways in which past societal structures continue to influence racial inequities today. This article explores the use of historical and modern novel pairs to bridge gaps in understanding for middle grade readers. Reading high‐quality, culturally authentic books such as Esperanza Rising (Ryan, 2000) and Return to Sender (Alvarez, 2009) can help students recognize the systemic nature of racism and critically consider ways in which they can use their own voices to disrupt it. Included in this piece are instructional ideas and multiple novel pair suggestions.