Rationale

I chose this book because it is one that had inspired me in the past, and continues to inspire me every time I read it.  It is filled with grand imagery, amazing narrative, it addresses political issues that not too many people are aware of, and it is a powerful coming of age story.

I would teach this book to 12^th graders because it is fairly difficult.  However, I don’t think I would only teach it to honors students.  The book is challenging, but challenging students to learn gives them power.  Nobody ever learned anything by being underestimated.  I hope that this lesson plan will enable students to own this text, as well as provide methods so that they can own everything they read.