Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy

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1 2020 by Johns Hopkins University Summer Reading: The Struggles of Coming of Age In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools and recreational activities for young people have been closed and cancelled.  As the crisis continues into summer, camps, indoor sports facilities, gyms, and swimming pools may remain closed indefinitely in various parts of the country. Without these opportunities, and with social distancing still in place, children, adolescents, and teenagers are missing not only their friends and social activities, but also the rites of passage afforded to them by society. However, coming of age in a chaotic world is nothing new, and The Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy has compiled a suggested reading list (and resources to support the literature) that encapsulate what this struggle can be like under trying circumstances. The Institute selected materials on coming of age with the goal of advancing content knowledge for children. Research shows that students’ reading levels – especially from fifth grade onwards – are linked to their background knowledge about specific subjects. Students who succeed on skills-based English language arts assessments do so not because they are better at “finding the main idea,” but because they are far more likely to know about the subject matter described. We also selected materials designed to bring families together and to help encourage and facilitate conversations during these challenging times. We hope the selected books inspire young readers and serve as a helpful resource for parents, that helps motivate their children to read continuously throughout the summer.  2 2020 by Johns Hopkins University Finally, we compiled a list of  coming- of- age films to watch with children and adolescents of varying ages.  • For all ages: Moana (PG): In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurredby the Demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seekthe Demigod to set things right. (Where to watch this film)• For most ages: Akeelah and the Bee (PG): Every kid knows what it's like tostrive for something. In Akeelah's case, it's the National Spelling Bee, making thismovie a perfect combination of coming-of-age tale and underdog-competitionstory (Where to watch this film)• For most ages: My Girl (PG): Tomboy Vada Sultenfuss has good reason to bemorbid: her mother died giving birth to her, and her father operates funeralservices out of their home. The other kids think she's a freak, and it certainlydoesn't help that her best friend, Thomas J. Sennett, is a boy. To make mattersworse, Vada has a crush on her  English teacher, Mr. Bixler. What's an 11-year-oldgirl to do? (Where to watch this film)• For adolescents and older: Crooklyn (PG-13): As her teacher mother,Carolyn (Alfre Woodard), and her jazz musician father, Woody (Delroy Lindo),worry over monthly bills, grade-schooler student Troy Carmichael (Zelda Harris)banters and bonds with her four brothers. Against her will, Troy is sent to heraunt's southern home for a summer visit, but when she returns to her bustlingBrooklyn neighborhood, she learns that a family member is gravely ill. Alreadymature, Troy is forced to face to some very grown-up facts about life and loss.(Where to watch this film) (List of suggestive moments parents should be awareof)• For teens to watch at the discretion of their parent: TheBreakfast Club (R): Beyond being in the same class at Shermer High School, ClaireStandish, Andrew Clark, John Bender, Brian Johnson and Allison Reynolds havelittle in common; with the exception of Claire and Andrew, they don’t evenassociate with each other in school. In their own terms, Claire is a princess, Andrewan athlete, John a criminal, Brian a brain, and Allison a basket case. One thing theydo have in common, however, is a nine-hour detention in the school librarytogether. In this John Hughes classic film, they may come to a different opinion ofthemselves and the other four. (Where to watch this film) (List of suggestivemoments parents should be aware of)3 2020 by Johns Hopkins University Our reading resources are organized in two “tracks”: coming of age before the year 1900, and coming of age post-1900. We hope your family will enjoy these books and activities throughout the summer.   Narratives Depicting Life Before our Contemporary Reality (novels that take place pre-1900) Kindergarten through Second GradeLittle House in the Big Woods Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters Mystic Horse     Third through Fifth GradeThe Secret GardenAnne of Green GablesThe Book of ThreeSixth through Eighth GradeKnight CrusaderLittle WomenUp From SlaveryHigh SchoolAcross Five AprilsGreat ExpectationsThe Bondwoman’s Narrative4 2020 by Johns Hopkins University Narratives Depicting Realities Closer to our Own (novels that take place post-1900) Birth to Five Bippity Bop Barbershop Alma and How She Got her Name Kindergarten through Second Grade Henry Huggins + Beezus and Ramona Abuelo The Name Jar Third through Fifth Grade Al Capone Does My Shirts Matilda The First Rule of Punk Sixth through Eighth Grade Something Wicked This Way Comes The Skin I’m In Esperanza Rising High School Lord of the Flies + Damselfly The Body The Color Purple 

Summer Reading: The Struggles of Coming of Age

https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/bitstream/1774.2/62947/1/ELA-Summer-ResourceV2.pdf

Summer Reading: The Struggles of Coming of Age

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