English lV students are being put in groups to read and analyze nine different works of literature during this nine week grading period. 

“The English 4 team decided that for the third quarter we would do literature circles of high interest books,” English teacher Katherine Allen said. “We thought that it would be best for us to figure out which books you guys would actually like to read, which would keep you engaged for the entire quarter. “

As the students are reading their novels, they have to examine them for societal issues for their PBA, which is going to be a speech on a specific issue they research.

“The goal of us doing it that way was that for the PBA, the students  are supposed to do a speech on a specific topic that impacts our community or society,” Allen said. “We give the students a high interest literature book as a catalyst to see what kind of issues were prevalent in those books, so they can use those topics to do research for their presentations.”

For students who may not be that into books, the literature circles still had their interest.

“The book I’m reading is A Long Way Gone. It’s about a young boy and his family that once lived in a village together with peace and joy. One day rebels attacked and in all the chaos everybody ran and split up. Now the young boy joined with some people he meets along the way are in search of their families, ” senior Xavier Carney said. “I do not like reading, however some books do catch my attention and I enjoy the literature circles. It helps with meeting people and connecting with my peers. “

For students that like reading, being able to talk in these groups can be appreciated, especially with understanding not only the novels themselves but also the issues within them.

“I’m reading Brave New World. It’s set in a dystopian future where people are genetically made to be the best they can, there are several problems like brainwashing and social inequality,”  senior Dylan Humphrey said. “I do like reading and I think  the purpose of the literature circles is to get other people’s view on the topics in the book and help everyone get a better understanding of the book”

With understanding and researching these topics, the students can realize how these issues actually are.