Collier Book-Talk

Sam Romano

IST 571

Book-talk

Rationale:

For my book-talk, I decided to focus in on one author’s work and recurring motifs rather than a theme across several different texts. Christopher Collier (oftentimes the co-author of his works alongside his brother, James L. Collier) wrote some of my favorite books to analyze and teach, and his focus on the gritty accuracy of American history justifies selecting his books for your class.  His stories are often coming-of-age tales set in historically accurate times, like during the Revolutionary War. Students relate to his characters, and his stories help readers to visualize how their role as adolescents during a different era. The books I’ve chosen have Lexile level ranges between 770L and 925L, indicating that they are great choices for students from 5-7 grade looking for a challenging read that portrays a vividly accurate picture of life during American conflict.

Intended audience:

Students between 5th-8th grade, middle-school aged students

Approach: author-focused, common themes

Selections:

Jump Ship to Freedom

850L

I selected this book for the book-talk because it deals with the complex and nuanced issues of slavery, specifically for Daniel Arabus, a 14 year old slave who was supposed to be given freedom for his father’s efforts during the American Revolution. Daniel is a relatable character, and this is a great selection for students around 6th grade as it allows them to scaffold their social studies knowledge to a first-person, fictional account of a boy during this time.

Collier, James Lincoln. Jump Ship To Freedom. Dell, 1981. Kindle ed.

 

My Brother Sam is Dead

770L

I selected this text for my book-talk because of the way it handles not only Revolutionary War conflicts and trials, but for how it depicts a family that is torn apart by opposing sides. It’s a great selection for middle-school students, and Tim Meeker is a wonderful, complex character that students can easily relate to.

Collier, Christopher Collier, and James L Collier. My Brother Sam is Dead. Four Winds Press Text, 1974.

The Bloody Country

925L

This last choice also centers on a young protagonist grappling with the realities of war. The Bloody Country takes place in Colonial Pennsylvania and focuses on 15 year old Ben Buck, who has just lost his mother in a massacre. The book deals with waring factions trying to gain control of the land, and also follows Ben’s evolving attitude towards half-black Joe Mountain, the family slave.

Collier, James. The Bloody Country. Econo-Clad Books, 1999.  Kindle ed.