ONE MARYLAND ONE BOOK 2016 TEACHER's GUIDE Fiction © 2015 Atheneum
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ONE MARYLAND ONE BOOK 2016 TEACHER'S GUIDE Fiction © 2015 Atheneum BY JASON REYNOLDS & BRENDAN KIELY WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT IF EVERYONE READ THE SAME BOOK AND CAME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT IT? LETTER FROM BOARD CHAIR When we read a great book, we can’t wait to far it travels (instructions are included inside AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR share the experience and talk about it with the book), read it, review it, and then leave others. That’s one of the joys of reading. it behind for someone else to find and enjoy. In this spirit, Maryland Humanities created JOIN IN One Maryland One Book to bring together diverse people in communities across the Each year, more than 10,000 Marylanders state through the shared experience of read the One Maryland One Book selection. reading the same book. In its ninth year, One How many of those people are your friends Maryland One Book remains Maryland’s only or family? How many are perfect strangers statewide community reading program. Each you sit next to on the train or stand in line year, the selection process is guided by a with at the grocery store? Use the book to common theme. The theme for 2016 is “the jump-start a meaningful conversation with Thank you for joining Maryland Humanities as we embark on the ninth year of One Maryland 21st Century Great American Novel.” an old friend or to make a new one. One Book, our state’s largest reading and discussion program. Marylanders have embraced the concept of bringing people together from around the state through the reading of one book, The Maryland Center for the Book at PULL UP A CHAIR selected by a devoted group of literary enthusiasts, since the program’s launch in 2008. Each year Maryland Humanities partners with we find joy in the power of literature as we explore a new book with other readers—from book public libraries, high schools, colleges We invite you to join Maryland Humanities clubs at workplaces and libraries to students in high school and college. This shared experience and universities, museums, bookstores, and thousands of Marylanders at one of lies at the heart of One Maryland One Book. Whether you’ve read with us every year or are new correctional facilities, and other organizations the many book discussions and related to the program, welcome! to bring book-centered discussions and events happening around the state in other related events to communities across September and October. This year’s book, All American Boys, gives Marylanders the opportunity to discuss longstanding, Maryland. But One Maryland One Book systemic issues that affect all of us. When our One Maryland One Book committee convened to is not just about reading or literature; it choose the 2016 book, they had their work cut out for them. The 2016 theme, “The 21st Century is also about bringing people together for To find One Maryland One Book programs in Great American Novel,” inspired a remarkable shortlist, complied from titles nominated by meaningful dialogue. your area, go to www.onemarylandonebook.org residents across our state. The list was chock full of Pulitzer Prize winners, National Book Award and click on Events. winners, and bestsellers. But one book stood out. All American Boys is the story of two young One Maryland One Book programs, including men—one black, one white—who are more alike than they are different. Though they do not an author tour, take place each year in the For all the latest information, “like” or follow us: know each other, Rashad and Quinn live parallel lives. Suddenly, a shocking event not only brings fall. A calendar of free public events is them together but forces them to confront deep-seated issues of racism and prejudice in their available on our website. community. Inspired by an eye-opening conversation they shared about current events, award- facebook.com/MDCenterfortheBook winning authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely joined forces to write a story that enables its The book selected for 2016 is All American @MDHumanities readers to hear a variety of perspectives relating to a single event. All American Boys is genuine, Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. powerful, and something to which all Marylanders—from teens to seniors—can relate. Look for Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely GRAB YOUR COPY All American Boys at venues across the state in late September, We encourage you to pick up a copy of and join the conversation at one of including the Baltimore Book Festival on Sunday, our many public discussion programs across the state. A program of the Maryland Center for the Find a copy of All American Boys at your local September 25. Book at Maryland Humanities, One Maryland One Book is made possible each year through the library or bookstore and get reading! generosity of our sponsors and community partners. We greatly thank them for their support. Find out how to get involved at www.onemarylandonebook.org. What if a copy of All American Boys finds you? If you’re out and about, you might find copies of the book in unexpected places. Our Wandering Books can be found in a myriad of Sincerely, public spaces from bus stops to county fairs. If you find a copy, it’s yours for a short time. Stephen Sfekas and Phoebe Stein Register the book online so we can see how Scan this code on your smartphone to listen to the first Maryland Humanities Board Chair and Executive Director chapter of All American Boys. 1 ABOUT THE AUTHORS MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION COMMON CORE STANDARDS Jason Reynolds RH.11-12.1 Cite specific textual evidence to SL.11-12.1 Initiate and participate effectively in a Jason Reynolds earned a BA in English from The University of Maryland, College Park, before support analysis of primary and secondary range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in moving to Brooklyn, New York to pursue a career in writing. He is the author of the critically sources, connecting insights gained from specific groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on acclaimed When I Was the Greatest, for which he was the recipient of the Coretta Scott King/ details to an understanding of the text as a whole. grades 11-12 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and Boy in the John Steptoe Award for New Talent, the Coretta Scott King Honor Author Books RH.11-12.2 Determine the central ideas or persuasively. Black Suit and All American Boys (co-written with Brendan Kiely), and As Brave as You, his information of a primary or secondary source; middle grade debut. You can find his ramblings at JasonWritesBooks.com. provide an accurate summary that makes clear SL.11-12.1C Propel conversations by posing and the relationships among the key details and ideas. responding to questions that probe reasoning Brendan Kiely and evidence; ensure a hearing for a full range Brendan Kiely received his MFA from the City College of New York. He is the author, with Jason RH.11-12.3 Analyze a complex set of ideas or of positions on a topic or issue; clarify, verify, or sequence of events and explain how specific challenge ideas and conclusions; and promote All American Boys The Reynolds, of the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book . His debut novel, individuals, ideas, or events interact and develop divergent and creative perspectives. Gospel of Winter, has been published in ten languages, was selected as one of the American over the course of the text. Library Association’s Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults 2015, and was a Kirkus Reviews SL.11-12.3 Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, selection for the Best of 2014. He is also the author of The Last True Love Story. Originally RH.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of words and reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, from the Boston area, he now lives with his wife in Greenwich Village. Find out more phrases as they are used in the text, including assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, at BrendanKiely.com. figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used. analyze how an author uses and refines the meaning of a key term or terms over the course SL.11-12.4 Present information, findings, and of a text. supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such that listeners can follow RH.11-12.7 Integrate and evaluate multiple the line of reasoning, alternative or opposing sources of information presented in diverse perspectives are addressed, and the organization, formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as development, substance, and style are appropriate well as in words) in order to address a question or to purpose, audience, and a range of formal and solve a problem. informal tasks. RL.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to W.11-12.1 Write arguments to support claims in an support analysis of what the text says explicitly as analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid well as inferences drawn from the text. reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence. ABOUT THE BOOK RL.2 Determine two or more central ideas of a text W.11-12.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to and analyze their development over the course of examine and convey complex ideas, concepts and What would you do if you witnessed something the text, including how they interact and build information clearly and accurately through the you never would have believed? And how do you on one another to produce a complex analysis; effective selection, organization, and analysis of know you’re doing the right thing? provide an objective summary of the text.