More than Wheat and Snow?

CURRENT CANADIAN REALISTIC FICTION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Dr. Leah C Fowler

Social realism fiction explores situations that affect young people in contemporary Canadian society.

“Problem Novel” These YA (young adult) novels may

depict:• the impact of poverty, homelessness, issues of social

justice

• changing gender roles, varied family structures, issues of sexual orientation

• multicultural and global contexts

• violence and bullying, whether between individuals or nations

• aboriginal and environmental issues

• illness, disability, and resilience

• technology and its impact on communication and social structures

X

Canadian Young Adult Realistic Novels

Characters like our own students are:- resilient

- complex, psychologically credible- capable of listening to the inner voice- changeable, grow, encounter the world- believable but unpredictable- able to evoke empathy from others- creative- supported by caring adult or loyal friend

Why Teach Canadian Contemporary Realism in High School?

• Integrates new Award winning Canadian literature for curriculum content, to meet Learning Outcomes (1/3)

• Relevant: high interest to engage students; real stories with difficult issues in the safe tememos of literature, to teach understanding, inclusion of difference, knowledge of the self, current similar lives of other students; to build tolerance, care, empathy, and insight.

• New innovative assignments using all the language arts• Opportunity for close reading strategies without being

overwhelmed by length or more archaic language• Personal and critical reader response opportunities• Increase Canadian readers and foster new young writers• Build Canadian cultural national identity to foster belonging

“ I have learned that there is no such thing as “other people’s children”. The world’s children are a blessing to all of us. They are also our responsibility.”

http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/authors/experts/dellis.asphttp://writerscafe.ca/book_blogs/writers/deborah-ellis_the-heaven-shop.phphttp://www.groundwoodbooks.com/gw_authors.cfm?author_id=193http://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/cm/vol11/no16/threewishespalestinian.htmlhttp://www.pencanada.ca/media/Media-ThreeWishes16Mar06.pdfhttp://www.quillandquire.com/books_young/review.cfm?review_id=4044http://unjobs.org/authors/deborah-ellishttp://www.collectionscanada.ca/read-up-on-it/015020-025000-e.htmlhttp://www.allen-unwin.com/shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?ISBN=978174114306https://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/cm/vol11/no1/theheavenshop.htmlhttp://www.fitzhenry.ca/detail.aspx?ID=9298http://www.fitzhenry.ca/guides.aspxhttp://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/profiles/ellis.html

Deborah Ellis

Deborah Ellis’ TrilogyRoyalties to Women

for Women in Afghanistan (dedicated to education of Afghan girls in Pakistani refugee camps.

- The Breadwinner (2001)

- Parvana’s Journey (2002)

- Mud City (2003)

Ellis says:

“They are not tragedies, they are crimes. I am not talking about a tsunami. All these crimes were preventable and what I feel is anger.”

First line:“My mom used tobe a stripper….”

Last line:And when I finally takemy place in Khyber PassI’ll have bits and pieces inside me from peopleall over the world, and

every-one who meets me will goaway thinking they’vemet someone veryinteresting indeed.”

http://www.groundwoodbooks.com/gw_authors.cfm

Glen HuserBorn in Ashmont, AB, on February 1, 1943, he was born in Elk Point, AB, as Ashmont did not have a hospital. A former teacher-librarian, he is the founder of Magpie, a quarterly magazine that showcases student writing and graphics. He has served on the board of directors of both the Young Alberta Book Society and the Edmonton chapter of the Children’s Literature Roundtable. He is the long-standing children’s book reviewer for the Edmonton Journal. Glen currently teaches library and information studies at the University of Alberta

http://www.groundwooodbooks.com/gw_authors.cfm

Poster Boy – Dede Crane

Meet Gray Fallon…

Quits his job at the fast food place that has carcinogens in the food and begins to research the environment that is killing his sister. Hazards ensue….

Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen by Glen Huser

Rebellious teen and cantankerous senior make a deal to escape on a road trip, with danger, lies, and luck to chase their dreams.

The Beckoners

by Carrie Mac

On Thin Ice

Jamie Bastedowww.onthinice.ca

The Maestr

o

Tim Wynne-Joneshttp://www.timwynne-jones.com

Fishtailing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3YDBlpTJug

Trailer for the book.

2010 Grades 11/12

Wendy Phillips

Gettingthe Girl:A Guide

to Private Investigation,

Surveillance, and Cookery

by Susan Jubyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvJO0KxcMo4 Movie Trailer

Arthur Slade

• Dust (2001)• Tribes (2002)• Northern Frights• Monsterology (2005)• Hunchback Assignments 2010

• Lives in Saskatoon• Began writing in HIGH SCHOOL

http://arthurslade.com/frontpage/

Only at the Movies

“You think she’ll love you out of gratitude? That only happens in the movies.”

“What choice do I have?”

“Listen Jake, Here’s a news bulletin for you: Love isn’t self-sacrificing. It’s the opposite. It’s blind and it’s selfish.”

By William Bell

The Nesting Dolls

Check out Mysteries by Gail Bowen

Technology Related Novels

• Sun Signs by Shelly Hhridlitchska

• Dear Jo: The story of losing Leah and finding hope by C. Kilbourne

• Life on the Refrigerator Door by A. Kulpers

• On Thin Ice by Jamie Bastedo

• Wake Watch Wonder WWW series Robert Sawyer

Wake Watch WonderWWW series by Robert Sawyer

http://www.sfwriter.com/index.htm

Yes, Canadian Graphic Novels are Literature

The best defense against censorship challenges of

excellent Canadian Fiction for Young Adults is your

own informed conviction that your chosen novel is

valid and valuable literature.• Are its THEMES compelling; do they evoke thought, feeling and reflection?

• Are the CHARACTERS engaging, convincing? Can we identify and empathize with them? Do they offer a mirror of self or society? What do they tell us of the human condition?

• is the LANGUAGE imaginative, expressive, and beautiful; does it engage both our intellect and our emotions?

• is the NARRATIVE compelling, suspenseful, believable but unpredictable? Does it offer surprises, insights, and a satisfactory closure?

Is it a page turner with meaning about real life?

Is it okay to teach this book?Yes, if you…

- know why you are teaching- know who your students are- want current engaging excellent literature to

teach better ways of being human- know how to connect the book to the language

arts outcomes (Novel studies can meet all)- let the students and parents know ahead by

setting the context of what you will teach and what you hope they learn. If they have a problem with it, offer an alternative.

How to teach Canadian Realistic Fiction?

Author studies: for student/group work on one novel, they benefit from many others, grow their literary knowledge.

How do authors make a living?

Why write? Who writes?

How to teach Canadian Realistic Fiction?

Inquiry units - Start with a real (research) question:

“Why are people mean to each other?” “How can people live well together?”

“Why does this scare me?”

“This is My Canada, What’s yours? (also a book by Noah Richler)

How to teach Canadian Realistic Fiction?

Current themes or issues connection with other subjects like social studies – lead to debate, social action, communication with students across the world…

How to teach Canadian Realistic Fiction?

Children’s literature unit – to study the elements of fiction in quick accessible ways which extend into more complex works later.

(Great for English Language Learners; Plot, character, themes…)

Use Thematic Units with Children’s Literature

- Dual text- Visual literacy- Fine Art- Creative writing- Representing- Narrative elements- Reluctant readers- ESL readers- Cultural informationE.g. First Nations

writers and artists:

“Images of Home”

Is Canadian literature more than wheat and snow?

YES !Please Teach New Canadian Contemporary Realistic Fiction and their Amazing Authors!

Novels Contemporary Realist Fiction

Graphic Novels Historical

Speculative Fiction

Dr. Leah C Fowler

Thank you! Best care in your teaching.