Last year's edition of Enl*ght recommended literary texts that carry important global themes for study in the classroom. Here are a few of them.
CONFLICT
•Shadow by Michael Morpurgo: Aman, 14, and his mother struggle to survive in Afghanistan and try to escape to England. At the checkpoint, their dog, Shadow, runs away and although Aman and his mother make it to England, they continue to hope for Shadow's return.
•A Bottle In The Gaza Sea by Valerie Zenatti: An Israeli teenager throws a bottle with a letter in it into the Gaza Sea. It is picked up by a Palestinian boy who responds to her via e-mail. They begin a conversation as they try to understand the turmoil affecting their communities.
CULTURAL OUTSIDERS
•Malay Sketches by Alfian Sa'at: Offers a glimpse into the experiences of the Malay community and the realities of life as an ethnic minority in Singapore.
•The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini: Tells the story of an unlikely friendship between Amir, the son of a wealthy Afghan businessman, and Hassan, the son of his father's servant and a Hazara, a despised and impoverished caste.
HUMAN RIGHTS
•A Hand Full Of Stars by Rafik Schami: A teenage boy records his adventures of living in modern Damascus, Syria, amid a coup and the toppling of the government. His friends begin a subversive underground newspaper and face various risks and dangers as a result.
•Sold by Patricia McCormick: A 13-year-old girl is sold by her uncle to a trafficker, who takes her across the border from Nepal to India.
CHANGE AND PROGRESS
•I'm With The Bears: Short Stories From A Damaged Planet by Martin Bill: This book features 10 short stories on the global climate crisis and deterioration of the planet.
•Here And Beyond: 12 Stories by Ethos Books: An anthology of 12 stories from Singaporean voices featuring protagonists trying to find meaning amid changes between the local and global, past and present.
For the full list of young adult titles on global themes recommended by Dr Suzanne Choo, refer to http://thirdspaces.wix.com/literature
Amelia Teng
