BOOKS

"THE HATE U GIVE" BY ANGIE THOMAS

thug noun\ ˈthəgHow to pronounce thug (audio)Definition of thug: a brutal ruffian or assassin : GANGSTER, TOUGH

The Rose That Grew From Concrete

Did you hear about the rose that grew
from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature's law is wrong it
learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,
it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else ever cared.

CONTEXT 

Before we start reading the book, we need to walk the streets our characters walk. We must put ourselves in their shoes to understand their questions, their fears, the decisions they make. And most importantly, their motivation. 

Here is an article from The New York Times about the problems young African Americans face : 

https://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/police-brutality-misconduct-and-shootings

But the History of the USA is the background to understand these issues: 

HISTORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

For extra context, visit: https://blacklivesmatter.com/activist-shorts/

OUR WRITER

Now,  let's get to know our writer a bit better. Is she writing a fantasy story? Is she writing about her own experiences?  Why is she telling us this story? 

Read the newspaper article:  An Interview after the book was published. Young Angie Thomas was N1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER.

We know now where she found her inspiration: 

1.Tupac, American rapper and actor is one of the most important references in the story: listen to "Thug life"  by 2pac  : https://youtu.be/ub2gw0nIRTo

2. The story of  Emmet Till, is also mentioned in the book. Learn why he is relevant to the story. 

THE BOOK

Watch the Ted Talk Angie Thomas gave: https://youtu.be/NICtpcJsP-o

TRAILER FOR THE MOVIE

Just for the first chapter you need to familiarize with the language and tone of the book. Check the words in Quizlet:  https://quizlet.com/_808yca?x=1qqt&i=ebu30

1984  GEORGE ORWELL LIFE
interview
AN INTRODUCTION TOTHE BOOK https://youtu.be/LtmcyIP3GLE
LONDON 1984

THE MINISTRY OF TRUTH in the London of 1945 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/9810866/George-Orwell-uncovered-A-guided-tour-of-the-Ministry-of-Truth.html

1984 BY GEORGE ORWELL

A DYSTOPIA

GEORGE ORWELL, THE AUTHOR:

*  Read the article: THE MASTERPIECE THAT KILLED GEORGE ORWELL

*A Biography( BRITISH LIBRARY)

* Crash Course

CCTV cameras news:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/13/us/aclu-surveillance-artificial-intelligence.html

“She didn’t want to know how a thing was done, but why. That can be embarrassing. You ask Why to a lot of things and you wind up very unhappy indeed, if you keep at it. The poor girl’s better off dead.”   

Ray Bradbury Biography
https://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2012/jun/08/ray-bradbury-life-in-pictures https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ray-Bradbury

Media    "The television, that insidious beast, that Medusa which freezes a billion people to stone every night, staring fixedly, that Siren which called and sang and promised so much and gave, after all, so little.”

An article in the New York Times  

A TV interview with Ray Bradbury

OF MICE AND MEN

Listen to the podcast  about the American Dream and immigration in the USA and you will be given a set of questions about it.

 Let's watch the following documentary about the dust bowl. You will see original images of the farms in the days of George and Lenny.

   

THE Nº1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY

The story takes place in Botswana. Find out what the country looks like and relevant historical events or data.

The writer is called Alexander Mc.Call Smith. Find out about him here

A. FIND QUOTES THAT ILLUSTRATE  HOW THE FOLLOWING  THEMES  APPEAR IN THE BOOK:

MEN           WOMEN           CHILDREN          EDUCATION  

1.Do you think they are stereotyped?  Do you believe it is a description of real life in Botswana?
2.Why?
3.  Can you compare the assumptions about these themes in the book to the same in your culture or an english speaking country?

B. CHARACTERS AND IDENTITY

1- There’s a very strong sense of identity in the story. Could you answer why?

2. WHAT’S IT TO BE AFRICAN?
3. Which character do you sympathize most with? Why?

4. There’s a very delicate understanding of human relations at different levels. Can you explain how the following are described ? Quote from the book.

            FRIENDSHIP

            LOVE

            FAMILY

            COMMUNITY

            RACE


"A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE" BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS