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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 12:14pm | IP Logged
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I have begun giving my ds (12) one or two short stories per week to read and discuss with me. We are looking at plot, story structure, literary elements, etc. and just generally talking about the story. So far this is going extremely well, he is really enjoying this format and has even started writing a short story of his own.
Anyway, I need some suggestions for short stories to give him.
So far I have:
To Build a Fire (London)
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (Bierce)
Ransom of Red Chief (O Henry)
Gift of the Magi(O Henry)
The Monkey's Paw (Jacobs)
The Notorious Jumping frog of Calaveras County (Twain)
The Open Boat (Crane)
He has already read the first two and loved, loved, loved them, and is begging for more.
So now I see my short list isn't going to cut it and I need some suggestions for more good classic short stories that will be engaging and thought-provoking to a 12yo boy. They don't have to be American, but should be something I can easily find at the library or online.
Any ideas, ladies? Lay them on me!
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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marihalojen Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 12 2006 Location: Florida
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 1:45pm | IP Logged
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Man! I just lost a lengthy post I hate that!
To be more succinct -
Hated the Pearl by Steinbeck
Maybe Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway
Definitely A Gift of Wings by Richard Bach - superb flying short stories
Beware of the Dog by Roald Dahl, only Dahl story I like. Wartime story of a wounded pilot of a Spitfire.
I'll keep thinking...
__________________ ~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
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marihalojen Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 1:48pm | IP Logged
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Oh - I just remembered another suggestion from the lost post. Does he like SciFi? Analog has years of short stories available.
__________________ ~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
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chicken lady Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 2:54pm | IP Logged
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Is Flannery O'Connor to dark for him?
GK Chesterton has many as well.
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 2:58pm | IP Logged
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marihalojen wrote:
Man! I just lost a lengthy post I hate that!
To be more succinct -
Hated the Pearl by Steinbeck
Maybe Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway
Definitely A Gift of Wings by Richard Bach - superb flying short stories
Beware of the Dog by Roald Dahl, only Dahl story I like. Wartime story of a wounded pilot of a Spitfire.
I'll keep thinking...
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I also loved Beware of the Dog and hated The Pearl.I'll look into the flying stories.They might be something he'd be into.
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 3:02pm | IP Logged
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chicken lady wrote:
Is Flannery O'Connor to dark for him?
GK Chesterton has many as well. |
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Not sure he is quite ready for Flannery O'Connor. What Chesterton would you suggest for him? I am clueless there.
Oh, I just thought of another one:The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Anyone remember that one from middle/high school? I sure do!
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Rachel May Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 3:33pm | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
Oh, I just thought of another one:The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Anyone remember that one from middle/high school? I sure do! |
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Oh, yeah, I remember!
How about Poe? I love him, and remember laughing my butt off at one on premature burial. Was it called that?
__________________ Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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MaryM Board Moderator
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 3:38pm | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
[Oh, I just thought of another one:The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Anyone remember that one from middle/high school? I sure do! |
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Yes, I do. It was one I was going to suggest - not that he would neccessarily like it - I didn't - but it is a "classic" and almost always covered in schools.
I'll bet he would like "To Build A Fire" that you already listed - I would add to that other Jack London ones.Considering you are moving to Alaska and all. My sons seemed to like those in general.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Irving)
Rip Van Winkle (Irving)
Of course there are many from Poe - many weird and creepy but classics.
And he likes sailing and sea stories, right? The Extraordinary Adventure of a First Mate by W. Clark Russell
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Rachel May Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 3:52pm | IP Logged
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The Most Dangerous Game
The Premature Burial Although Poe's language is a bit tough.
This is fun to think about....
__________________ Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 7:04pm | IP Logged
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How about "The Necklace" by Guy DuMaupassant?
The kicker at the end really got me in Jr high- I never forgot that story. It's a good lesson.
And "The Bear" by William Faulkner (I think). Another great story.
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 8:22pm | IP Logged
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Fantastic suggestions, ladies! Just reading the titles brings back such memories!
I can't believe I forgot about The Most Dangerous Game! He is going to LOVE that one!And I will definitely add the Necklace, Rip Van Winkle,Sleepy Hollow and some Poe (Premature burial is GREAT!). All favorites of mine.
I have never heard of the Extraordinary Adventure of a First Mate, but it sounds right up his alley. He does love the sea!
Thanks so much for your help. I knew there was some great stuff out there, but I was totally drawing a blank. Glad I have you ladies to fill in the holes!
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Willa Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 8:26pm | IP Logged
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About Chesterton: --
Father Brown stories are very good -- The Blue Cross or The Flying Stars.
Would he like Sherlock Holmes?
The Red Headed League is a good one.... not as creepy as some of them.
__________________ AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 8:39pm | IP Logged
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He tried Sherlock Holmes and thought it was ok, but couldn't really get into them. I think I may try them as a read aloud and that will likely set the hook.
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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missionfamily Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 11 2008 at 7:04pm | IP Logged
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the secret life of walter mittyby james thurber...sorry, i'm holding a toddler. i have more, will try to come back.
__________________ Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
Footprints on the Fridge
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Cay Gibson Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 11 2008 at 11:46pm | IP Logged
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Willa wrote:
About Chesterton: --
Father Brown stories are very good -- The Blue Cross or The Flying Stars
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Try starting these with Nancy Brown's books:
http://mrsnancybrown.blogspot.com/
I always enjoyed the poem-story The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
__________________ Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
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Posted: Feb 12 2008 at 8:03am | IP Logged
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These are not quite classic like all the other wonderful suggestions above, but these are two delightful collections of Howard Pyle short stories:
Pepper and Salt AND The Wonder Clock
And here are two collections that include short stories from the likes of Jack London and Louisa May Alcott:
National Review Treasury of Classic Children's Literature
Volume Two
As a disclaimer, I used to and my husband still does work for ISI which is why I have these books. I can't wait until my boys are old enough to enjoy them, though, perhaps they aren't quite as heavy as you wanted.
What about Rudyard Kipling? I know my 3 year old loves Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, but it seems like some of the other stories are a bit more meaty. I enjoy them, and they do seem like they are pretty appealing to boys.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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chicken lady Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 12 2008 at 9:14am | IP Logged
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Sorry Theresa I did not get back to you. Willa had written my suggestion (Fr Brown). You might enjoy them yourself if you are not familiar with GK.
And the Nancy Brown suggestion from Cay, is great!
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mandmsmom2001 Forum Newbie
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Posted: Feb 13 2008 at 8:44am | IP Logged
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Bibliomania has a HUGE list of short stories!
I loved Shirley Jackson's The Lottery and just shared it with our library's book club - they were reading one of her novels and none of them had read The Lottery.
Anyone read A Field of Blue Children or Flowers for Algernon? I remeber both from high school.
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Maryan Forum All-Star
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Posted: Feb 13 2008 at 10:12am | IP Logged
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One of my favorite short stories is "First Confession" by FRANK O'Connor. It's here in its entirety: First Confession
I have to admit that FRANK O'Connor has written a lot more short stories... but I haven't read them to recommend them. But First Confession is hysterical.. it's also good read aloud in an Irish accent.
__________________ Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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Macmom Forum Pro
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Posted: Feb 16 2008 at 4:45pm | IP Logged
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"Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut. It was my favorite in junior high!
"THE YEAR WAS 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General....."
Read the whole short story here:
http://centre.telemanage.ca/links.nsf/articles/481D5B5D81956 7AC85256A38000A150F
__________________ Catholic family life works on the same principle as a washing machine- clothes get clean by agitation.
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