Introduction
Both classic and newly released novels must be included to provide students with a range of perspectives on character, scene, and society. Three age-appropriate books will be analyzed: The Good Hawk by Joseph Elliott, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Simon Sanchez. This selection of novels, among the popular reading materials for students in grades nine to twelve, highlights that there is a degree of progress toward inclusivity and respect for others’ cultures in modern curricula. While archaic concepts have crept into these books’ content, they remain a vital resource for future writers.
Importance of the Chosen Novels to Writers’ Education
The mix of contemporary and past-century novels helps people comprehend both past and present social issues and essential topics. These books feature characters from a multitude of ethnic and cultural backgrounds and portray a variety of genders in non-traditional roles and situations. For example, Sanchez’s work depicts the journey of a young Mexican girl into adulthood, in which Julia’s parents’ expectations conflict with her personal goals (Sanchez, 2022). It also offers a perspective on American culture from someone raised in another nation’s traditions.
At the same time, The Great Gatsby offers a more traditional outlook on life in the twentieth century, allowing readers to understand the public’s expectations at the time. Aside from these aspects, The Good Hawk also depicts a differently-abled person as a main character in a setting that prompts them to utilize this factor to their advantage (Elliott, 2021). It also uses a fantasy setting as its foundation, which enables the author to avoid stereotypical thinking by placing Agatha, Jaime, and Lileas in a fictionalized Scotland. I believe that this mix of traditional, contemporary, and fantasy backgrounds gives people a way to create worlds where both positive and negative social views can be explored to the fullest.
However, several of the book’s authors exhibit stereotypical thinking about gender roles. For example, the impact of external influences on the Mexican-American community is poorly written, as it fails to reveal the link between the parents’ desires, Julia and Olga’s plans, and their social status (Sanchez, 2022). Instead, it is written based solely on expectations placed on Mexican women. Furthermore, Fitzgerald’s work features characters locked in their roles (Fitzgerald, 2003). I believe that including this work in the curriculum is vital to portray past writers’ viewpoints.
The socioeconomic status of the main characters in these books varies widely, offering students insight into the challenges people face. While The Great Gatsby reveals a more lavish lifestyle, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and The Good Hawk take a more down-to-earth approach to the main characters’ positions in their communities. Such a reflection allows young writers to recognize the importance and usefulness of including multiple perspectives, as they help one obtain new information and brainstorm ideas based on this data (Glass & Marzano, 2019). Therefore, it is paramount for educators who teach writing in grades nine to twelve to include this array, or a similar one, in their curriculum.
Conclusion
In summary, these books provide students with a significant body of knowledge regarding the complexity of the modern world. Their contents represent cultures and communities from around the globe, providing young writers with ideas for amplifying their stories through unique character perspectives. These books strive to challenge the common perceptions of the world expressed by individuals across the globe, enabling students to see others in a different light.
References
Elliott, J. (2021). The good hawk. National Geographic Books.
Fitzgerald, F. S. (2003). The great Gatsby. Simon & Schuster.
Glass, K. T., & Marzano, R. J. (2019). The new art and science of teaching writing. Solution Tree Press.
Sanchez, E. L. (2022). I am not your perfect Mexican daughter. Simon & Schuster.