English 90 Approved Books List
Updated Draft: 5/4/2013
The following is the list of approved books for English 90. We have tried to provide notes to aid in your choice
of book as well as your teaching of it. We have included what we are calling a “Readability Scale” so that you
can know the reading level of the different novels. The following are descriptions of each level:
High: This would be also called “Instructional Level” readings. These readings are challenging for the students
and require significant scaffolding and activities to help the students understand the text.
Medium: These are texts that are by and large easily understood but which also have some passages or
concepts that are difficult for the students and require in-class attention by the instructor.
Low: Also called “independent Reading” level, this would be a book that an English 90-level student could pick
up on his or her own and understand the basics such as plot, characters, etc. While there may be more
complex concepts and connections that could be developed by the instructor, the text writing level is simple
for the students.
Non-Fiction
Black Boy, Richard Wright
Church and State, Kathlyn Gay
I am a Stranger Here Myself, Bill Bryson
I Will Teach You to be Rich, Ramit Sethi
Lakota Woman, Mary Bird Crow Dog
Letter to a Christian Nation, Sam Harris
Never in My Wildest Dreams, Belva Davis & Vicki Haddock
On Writing, Stephen King
This Boy’s Life, Tobias Wolff
Zeitoun, Dave Eggers
Novels
The Assistant, Bernand Malamud
Bless me Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya
Handmaid’s Tale, Margret Atwood
Kindred, Octavia Butler
Shoeless Joe, W.P Kinsella
Sula, Toni Morrison
Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
Textbooks
Between Worlds
Contemporary Reader
English 90 Sentence Skills Workbook
Fog City Fundamentals
The Thoughtful Reader
The Writer’s Response
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A Sequence for Academic Writing by Behrens and Rosen (Customized through Pearson by Karen Nakaji)
Handbooks
Brief Penguin Handbook
Rules for Writers
Exercises for Rules for Writers
Quick Access Compact
*****************************************************************************************
Non-Fiction
Black Boy, Richard Wright
Readability:
Medium, Paperback, 448 pages
Publisher:
Harper Perennial Modern Classics (September 1, 1998)
ISBN:
978-0061443084
Price:
Available used and new: $8.00 - $18.00
Summary and Teaching Note: This autobiographical novel chronicles the author’s Experiences growing up in the
“Jim Crow” south and explores his physical, intellectual and emotional journey as he travels north to Chicago.
This is an excellent tool for teaching historical analysis since it is necessary to provide historical context for the
students. It also can serve as a tool to engage students in some light or guided research on the history and
culture of the various regions Wright inhabits throughout his journey. This exposure to other non-narrative
readings through “light” or guided research is an asset to students who at the English 90 level are expected to
engage in interdisciplinary readings and independent research. The language Wright employs in his narrative is
concise, clear and helpful in terms of its illustrative organization. Close readings and passage analysis activities
fit well with his prose and he often provides sentences that synthesize 2 or more ideas/events that affect him
as he is growing up. Though some passages require scaffolding, they are good models for writing since they are
consistent with the level of analysis students at the English 90 level are meant to complete. Difficult topics to
discuss are found in the Chicago narrative where he explores Communism and is subsequently disappointed
with it. Students often require more external support for understanding the complexity of his thoughts during
the final section of the novel; however, this section also provides students with a good challenge in analysis
that will serve them well in the English 090. It is recommended that you end with this novel choice. -- Ana
Gutierrez.
Church and State, Kathlyn Gay
Readability:
Medium, 116 pages, Nonfiction/history/politics
Price:
FREE! This book (originally published by The Millbrook Press; Brookfield, CT.) is out-of-print, but
Jeff Mitchell has written permission from the author to distribute it to students as a .pdf file,
which they print out in order to annotate it as they read.
Summary & Teaching Note: This short nonfiction book, written for grades 8 -12, discusses the division between
government and religion in the United States and examines relevant contemporary issues such as prayer in
public schools, public displays of religious symbols, the Pledge of Allegiance, conscientious objectors, church
tax exemptions, faith-healing, euthanasia, and abortion. Gay emphasizes the fact that the fundamental
American doctrine of Church-State separation is continually evolving and that it is clarified, modified, or altered
by constitutional interpretation. Gay effectively uses historical as well as recent quotes, and cites frequent
illustrative cases to clarify further the pros and cons of past court decisions. The final chapter reviews the
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process for challenging laws or government actions and reminds readers why and how we respect religious
diversity in America. I usually spend about three weeks on this book. -- Jeff Mitchell
I Am a Stranger Here Myself, Bill Bryson
Readability:
Medium, Journalism, Paperback, 304 pages
Publisher:
Broadway; First Ed (June 6, 2000)
ISBN:
978-0767903820
Price:
Available used and new: $7.50 - $15.00
Summary and Teaching Note: Stranger follows Bill Bryson’s thoughts as he reacquaints himself with America
after having lived for 20 years in the UK. In short chapters originally written for a weekly magazine, he tackles
both trivial and important issues with humor and irony, and every one of my students has found something to
relate to in this book. Because it was originally written for a British audience and published in a weekly
magazine (an issue Bryson addresses in his introduction to the US publication), Stranger makes it easy to
discuss audience awareness, writer’s intent, and numerous other issues having to do with adapting work
intended to be marked in one place and then marketed in another (or, for our students, the difference
between writing for one discipline versus another). It also brings up important political issues and sparks
dialogue on immigration and cultural differences, something that nearly all of our students can relate to since
many of them are themselves immigrants or first or second generation. I usually teach this book in conjunction
with readings by other immigrants or first- and second-generation Americans, and my students respond very
favorably to the themes raised. -- Dabney Lyons
I Will Teach You to be Rich, Sethi, Ramit
Readability:
Medium, nonfiction/business, Paperback: 266 pages
Publisher:
Workman; (March 23, 2009)
ISBN:
978-0761147480
Price:
Available used and new: $10.00 - $14.00
Barbara Austin will submit teaching notes
Lakota Woman, Mary Bird Crow Dog
Readability:
Medium. Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher:
Harper Perennial (March 28, 1991)
ISBN:
978-0802145420
Price:
Available used and new: $9.00 - $12.00
Summary/Teaching Note: Lakota Woman is a nonfiction text narrated by Mary Crow Dog, a Native American
woman who recounts her fight against oppression from the American government and struggle to resist
assimilation in favor of embracing her ancestral traditions. The book is fairly easy to comprehend at an English
90 level, but can go off on tangents, which some of the students like and others find repetitive. The book
focuses on themes such as oppression, social justice, tradition, spirituality and family. I’ve used the book twice
and both times received favorable reviews from most of the students. -- Sara Toruno-Conley
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Letter to a Christian Nation, Sam Harris
Readability:
Medium. Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher:
Vintage (January 8, 2008)
ISBN:
0307278778
Price:
Available used and new: $4.00 - $11.00
Summary and Teaching Note: Three weeks is plenty of time to get through this little book. Its petite nature
makes it very non-threatening to students. This brief volume waste no time in getting to the point: Christianity
either is what it claims to be, or it isn't. There is no middle ground in this debate. (And by extension, Harris'
arguments are applicable to all religions.) While fundamentalist believers are convinced that their faith is true,
valid, and without error, Harris brings up many inconsistencies from both the Old and New Testaments that
point to a man-made origin for Christianity, rather than the divine beginning students have often been taught.
His arguments are pointed and, most importantly for our students who are just beginning to learn how to think
critically, impeccably logical. Students often have a healthy emotional response to Harris' ideas since he doesn't
present the conventional view of Christianity. Instead, Harris uses the Bible's own words in much of his
reasoning, while in other places, he uses simple logic that students easily “get”. Interestingly, I have never had a
student view this book as an as an assault on religion. I remind students that their religion (if they have one)
ought to be strong enough to stand up to a little criticism and scrutiny, and that if their faith is so fragile that it
crumbles under Harris' thrust, then it wasn't very robust to begin with. Ultimately, Harris provides an an
excellent context for believers to examine their beliefs and gain some perspective regarding their religion. --Jeff
Mitchell
Never in My Wildest Dreams, Belva Davis & Vicki Haddock
Readability:
High; Paperback: 272 pages. (Approximately 230 pages if the index is excluded)
Publisher:
Berrett-Koehler Publishers (February 6, 2012)
ISBN:
978-1609944667
Price:
Available used and new: $4.00 - $13.00
20 Chapters + a brief Foreword by Bill Cosby. One chapter at a time would be best in most cases, given the
distinctive themes found in each chapter. The nature of the material lends itself easily to supplementation.)
This memoir covers Belva Davis’s life from her poor black 1930’s Louisiana roots, to her trailblazing rise in the
1960’s as the first African American woman television anchor “west of the Mississippi,” and finally to her
current role as an elder stateswoman of Bay Area journalism and longtime host of “This Week in Northern
California” on KQED. Her story is very much the story of the Bay Area over the past 70 years. In particular, it’s
the story of Bay Area Civil Rights. This memoir covers meetings and interviews with such notables as
Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay), Lenny Bruce, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Robert Kennedy, Diane Feinstein,
Willie Brown, Alex Haley, The Jackson 5, Malcom X, Fidel Castro, etc. Important events/issues covered include
The Black Panthers, the Zebra Murders, AID’s, the assassinations of Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk,
Jonestown, Apartheid in South Africa, People’s Park, etc. Mostly though, this is a book about Davis’s lifelong
struggle to break down barriers for herself and for others. This book would be an excellent pairing for Warriors
Don’t Cry, and would be best as the 2nd book read for the course, as where Melba leaves off Belva picks up
with the career in journalism. It’s also a more complex read. NOTE: There’s a lot of local history in here, and
not all of it comes with sufficient background for students. Instructors should be prepared to supplement the
reading and provide context. The good news is there’s no shortage of applicable video on youtube. Works for
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themes involving racism, sexism, social justice, self-reliance, dreams, and loss of innocence. -- Richard
Cartwright.
On Writing, Stephen King
Readability:
???; Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher:
Scribner; (July 6, 2010)
ISBN:
978-14391-5681-0
Price:
Available used and new: $12.00 - $16.00
King starts off with a wide range of very unusual childhood experiences that taught him everything he needed
to know to be a successful writer. These include writing lessons that King intended for fiction writers but can
easily be applied to our nonfiction writing by asking students to use their critical thinking skills. However, the
most memorable lessons King's presents-and the ones with which students identify the most-are the life
lessons we all must learn. Even students who have never read King's books or seen his movies appreciate the
hard work and effort he put in and the obstacles he had to overcome-including substance abuse-to become
successful. Class discussions using this book are lively, and the resulting essays cover a variety of themes and
messages. -- Lisa Duran
This Boy’s Life, Wolff, Tobias
Readability:
???; Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher:
Grove Press; 1st (March 2000)
ISBN:
978-0802136688
Price:
Available used and new: $5.00 - $12.00
Summary & Teaching Note: In this installment of his series of memoirs covering the mid 1950’s to early 1960’s,
Tobias Wolff tells of his early childhood without a father-figure and his teenage years with one (his stepfather).
This is also about Wolff’s relationship with his mother (a single woman) throughout these years. The dynamic
of the absent father and brother, the present but abusive stepfather, and the present but not always involved
mother are themes that many college students can identify with. This Boy’s Life is readable, being rich in story
details. It’s also rich in emotion. The author’s introspection and honesty can be used as opportunities to draw
similar introspection from students when it comes to reading journals and the like. However, please note that
this memoir has been “paper-milled”, so you need be creative with essay prompts, possibly using it as part of
a synthesis assignment and otherwise working closely with students on all phases of the writing process in
order to minimize opportunities for plagiarism.– Richard Cartwright
Zeitoun, Eggers, Dave
Readability:
???; Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher:
Vintage; Reprint edition (June 15, 2010)
ISBN:
978-0307387943
Price:
Available used and new: $5.00 - $14.00
I haven’t yet taught this book, but for the last two semesters my English 90 students have managed 100-150
pages per week of What is the What (also by Dave Eggers; similar reading level). Therefore I would schedule 34 weeks for this. Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a Syrian American painting contractor decides to stay in New Orleans
during Hurricane Katrina. After the storm, he paddles the flooded streets in a canoe, rescuing stranded people
and feeding trapped dogs. However, he is then arrested and imprisoned, first on suspicion of looting, but then
held incommunicado as an Al-Quaeda terrorist. For more than three weeks his family has no idea what has
happened to him (and for a considerable space of the narrative neither does the reader). Zeitoun brings the
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themes of ethnic cleansing and social justice to the contemporary United States. This non-fiction narrative will
work well in the context of essays on immigration and racial profiling. -- Robert Pendleton
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Novels
The Assistant, Bernard Malamud
Readability:
High, Paperback, 264 pages
Publisher:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 10th edition (July 7, 2003)
ISBN:
978-0374504847
Price:
Available used and new: $5.00 - $14.00
Summary & Teaching Note: This book recounts the story of a poor Jewish immigrant and his family in the
1950's. They own a small grocery store, which in a sense becomes their prison. Their college-age daughter has
a dream: To attend college, to be the first in her family to do so. But she must work to help support her family.
The store is robbed by a couple of "thugs," one of whom becomes the grocer's assistant, who tries through the
rest of the story to repent for his crime against the kind grocer, who takes him in and teaches him. It is a Jewish
story, but it is Every Immigrant's story, as well. This book won the National Book Award. It is written in clear
and uncomplicated linear narrative. However, there are Jewish terms and practices, which are quite easy (for
me) to explain along the way. I have taught this book many times, and students have been very positive about
the story, as well as about the themes of forgiveness and repentance. I spend a good chunk of time on the
book -- at least two weeks to read it, with lots of in-class reading. Another week or so discussing issues that
arise from the book. I also refer back to it throughout the semester, as we study various elements of
paragraphing, sentences, and use of detail. -- Laura Bernell
Bless me Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya
Readability:
Medium, paperback, 262 pages, coming of age fiction
Publisher:
Grand Central Publishing (April 1, 1994)
ISBN:
978-0446675369
Price:
Available used and new: $8.00 - $14.00
Summary: This is a wonderful novel full of many themes. You could use it to teach the fundamentals of fiction,
or as a jumping off place for discussions regarding family, peer pressure, education and language, culture and
religion. There is also room for argument if you want to look for evidence in the text as to whether Ultima is a
bruja or not. Filled with mysticism, the novel is a rites of passage story that includes themes of life and death,
good and evil, survival, madness, and innocence. There are several sections in which Anaya uses Spanish, but
this is not a hindrance because he usually follows them with contextual clues as to their meaning. Since Tony is
a Spanish speaker in an English speaking school, these phrases offer an opportunity to discuss what Tony will
decide to be when he grows up, a good way to get students into the text.
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins
Readability:
Medium, Hardcover: 391 pages
Publisher:
Scholastic Press (2009)
ISBN;
978-0-439-12349-8
Price:
New: $9.98 Used: $8.22
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This is a good text to use at the beginning of English 90, since it is high interest and requires a moderate
reading level. The book length does require that students read almost 100 pages per week for a 4-week unit.
This novel fits thematically with the topic of rebellion. We have paired this novel with New York Times articles
about recent events in the world where people oppose oppressive governments such as the Arab spring
uprisings and the shooting of Malala Yousufzai a young Pakistani school girl who was recently shot by the
Taliban for advocating for girls' education. In addition to the themes in the book, Collins' style is great for
teaching imagery and sentence variety. JoAnn Hobbs and Karen Nakaji
Handmaid’s Tale, Margret Atwood
Readability:
High, Dystopian Fiction, Paperback, 311 pages
Publisher:
Anchor; 1st Anchor Books edition (March 16, 1998)
ISBN:
038549081X
Price:
Available used and new: $7.50 - $15.00
Teaching Note: The Handmaid’s Tale is challenging for students, but once they get past the idea that the story
isn’t told in chronological order and that the plot isn’t revealed to them all at once, they start looking at it as a
mystery to be solved. At this point, students really start to get invested and will even read ahead to find out
what happens next! This dystopian novel presents readers with a “new and improved” version of society that
has pulled many of its rules and structures from the past, but just as many of its issues are quite current
(though it was written more than a decade ago). Discussions and essay topics range from the historical to the
political, with something for everyone. -- Lisa Duran
Kindred, Octavia Butler
Readability:
Medium, paperback, 287 pages
Publisher:
Beacon Press; 25th Anniversary edition (February 1, 2004)
ISBN:
978-0807083697
Price:
Available used and new: $8.25 - $15.00
Summary/Teaching Note: Kindred is the tale of Dana, a black woman in 1976 who time travels back to
antebellum Maryland (a Northern slave state) in the early 19th century, where she meets two of her ancestors:
a slave and a white slave owner. The novel is about heavy issues, but it’s also suspenseful and fun to read, and
the prose is accessible for 90 students. I’ve found this to be an ideal novel for 90. -- Alex Sterling
Shoeless Joe, W.P. Kinsella
Readability:
Medium; Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher:
Mariner Books; 1st Mariner Books Ed edition (April 28, 1999)
ISBN:
978-0395957738
Price:
Available used and new: $4.00 - $9.00
It is the novel that the movie "Field of Dreams" was based on, but better. It includes themes of family,
economic hardship, dreams and letdowns, history, and the idea of taking a chance and trusting your instincts.
All good stuff. The sports theme is a little strong, but all of the people all of the time, yes? -- Yvonne Schwartz
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Sula, Toni Morrison
Readability:
???
Publisher:
Random House
ISBN:
978-1400033430
Price:
Available used and new: $4.00 - $13.00
Ana G. will submit Teaching Notes
Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien
Readability:
???; Paperback: 246 pages
Publisher:
Mariner Books (October 13, 2009)
ISBN:
0618706410
Price:
Available used and new: $4.00 - $9.00
This is a novel drawing heavily on Tim O'Brien's experience as a foot-soldier in the Vietnam War. The writing is
gripping, lyrical, gruesome and accessible. I find that 90 students are quickly drawn into O'Brien's psychological
and natural landscapes. Furthermore, the book opens the door to some meaty discussions such as the
morality of war, irony, subtext and paradox while always grounding the stories in direct, clean, accessible prose.
Many LMC students are enrolled in a branch of the military or have family members who are, and we are all
living in a nation at war, making the book instantly relevant. I find that this book is perfect for the 90 level: a
strong, engaging narrative that opens the door to some of the tricky and interesting social issues students will
be expected to write about at the college level (as well as opening the door to developing those analysis skills
in 90) though it does require significant scaffolding to achieve. -- Cora Styker
Water for Elephants, Gruen, Sara
Readability:
Low; Paperback: 350 pages
Publisher:
Algonquin Books (April 9, 2007)
ISBN:
978-1565125605
Price:
Available used and new: $4.00 - $15.00
This novel keeps the students’ attention. The movie version should be out on DVD by 2012 to use also. It is the
story of a young man who begins college to become a veterinarian in his dad’s veterinary business, but on the
day of his graduating exams, his parents are killed in an automobile accident. There is no money to be
inherited, so the young man has nothing. And this is during the Great Depression. He walks away from his
exams, does not graduate, instead hopping a train away from his previous life. The train turns out to be a circus
train, and adventures and romance ensue. An excellent novel for teaching the basics of fiction, but also a good
read with many possible themes such as love and kindness, animal rights, class and status systems, poverty,
history, courage, aging, treatment of women, discrimination, and justice. Gruen’s research in itself is a good
lesson builder, using the authentic photographs which she begins each chapter with. Also some editions have
group discussion questions at the end of the novel. -- Yvonne Schwartz
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Textbooks
Between Worlds, 7th; Bachmann and Barth
Publisher:
Longman; 7 ed (October 9, 2011)
ISBN:
978-0205251261
Price:
New: $90.00; Used: $67.50
This text contains numerous essays and articles that fall under several different themes: issues of gender, race,
class, culture, age, disability, technology, and so on. In addition to the essays, this book also contains a rhetoric
that helps explain the different modes of writing, as well as providing models and examples for students to
practice with. The readings are listed in the index by theme, author, and title, so it's easy for students and
instructors to find them. And the models and examples provided in the rhetoric are easy to use in the
classroom, either as-is or modified to fit in with your own lessons. I've been using this reader in English 90 for
several years now, and it's stood the test of time well.
A Sequence for Academic Writing by Behrens and Rosen
Publisher:
Pearson Customized Publishing
ISBN:
?
Price:
?
With regard to Eng 90 SLOs # 1 and #2, I need a cogent and clear text that provides a logical scaffolding of skills,
beginning with summarizing, quoting, and ending with synthesizing. I feel that I do a good job of teaching
critical reading: annotating, vocabulary development, main and minor ideas, chunking, talking to the text,
making inferences, finding thesis statements or ideas. To this end, most textbooks give students so many
directions about reading rather than showing them how to proceed. Thus, can cover these critical skills by
showing my students, guiding them with real readings. However, once I try to teach summarizing, quoting, and
synthesizing, I find that I need some more expert assistance with an authoritative text and models. Thus, I
would like to customize a Pearson's textbook, A Sequence for Academic Writing by Behrens and Rosen, only
Chapter One, "Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation" and Chapter Three, "Explanatory Synthesis." These two
chapters will cost $6.50 each to customize. Consequently, I will continue to order my own Supplemental
Handouts, printed from the college, and an inexpensive e-text from Cengage that includes tutoring, Turnitin,
and a terrific, online grading program. If anyone needs any more information, I will be happy to provide and
explain. (Karen Nakaji)
Contemporary Reader 9th; ed. by Goshgarian (Now in 11th Edition!)
Publisher:
Longman
ISBN:
978-0205568222
Price:
New: $90.00; Used: $67.50
With a wide-ranging collection of over 90 contemporary readings–50 of them new to this edition, and 90
percent of them written within the last five years–this best-selling anthology is an unbeatable resource for
learning how to understand today’s issues and arguments and how to write effectively in the college classroom
and beyond.
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English 90 Sentence Skills Workbook (Customized text from Cengage Publishing.)
Price:
New: $90.00; Used: $67.50
This book is a customized version from Cengage that combines some of Sentence Combing book from SF State
and the editing/proof reading exercises from Text and Context, also from SF State. This book has gone over
well in my English 90 classes, so I think it should go on the list. Unfortunately, this customized version is
expensive for students, a relatively small book with high cost (around $47.) -- Yvonne Schwartz, Karen Nakaji,
JoAnn Hobbs
Fog City Fundamentals; SF State University (Out of Print?)
Publisher:
Pearson Custom Publishing
ISBN:
978-0808799559
Price:
New: $90.00; Used: $67.50
The Thoughtful Reader; Fjeldstad
Publisher:
Wadsworth Publishing; 5 edition (May 20, 2008)
ISBN:
978-1413033472
Price:
New: $90.00; Used: $67.50
The Writer’s Response—A Reading –Based Approach to College Writing 5th edition; McDonald & Salomone
Publisher:
Wadsworth Publishing; 5 edition (January 13, 2011)
ISBN:
978-0495906261
Price:
New: $90.00; Used: $67.50
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Handbooks
Rules for Writers; Hacker
Publisher:
Bedford/St. Martin's; Seventh Edition (September 16, 2011)
ISBN:
978-0910305068
Price:
New: $90.00; Used: $67.50
Quick Access Compact; Troyka and Hesse
Publisher:
Prentice Hall; 2 edition (July 9, 2009)
ISBN:
978-0205687343
Price:
New: $90.00; Used: $67.50
QA Compact, provides both composition students and instructors with the support they need to be successful,
and is designed for easy, economical access to the most important concepts in writing. Troyka and Hesse give
practical advice to students about the writing they will do in composition courses, in other classes, and in the
world beyond.
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Developmental Exercises to Accompany Rules for Writers; Van Goor
Publisher:
Bedford/St. Martin's; Seventh Edition (September 15, 2011)
ISBN:
978-0312678074
Price:
New: $90.00; Used: $67.50
Brief Penguin Handbook, 4th Ed.; Lester Faigley
Publisher:
Longman; 4 ed (Jan 30, 2011)
ISBN:
978-0205028702
Price:
New: $90.00; Used: $67.50
You can use MyCompLab with a Pearson eText for The Brief Penguin Handbook. The whole package is available
to students for $37.00 . The $75 version is a spiral bound version! (It's also available as a stand-alone
CourseSmart eTextbook for $30.00.
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