The coming year at Village Gate is going to be one of exploration and discovery. Widely considered the father of science fiction, Jules Verne, the great French writer, seems a natural jumping off point for this adventure. His novels and tales have entertained and sparked imaginations for centuries.
The collection of his 54 novels became known as the Extraordinary Voyages, and their goal was to: "outline all the geographical, geological, physical, and astronomical knowledge amassed by modern science and to recount, in an entertaining and picturesque format ... the history of the universe." We have selected 3 of his classic works (and a bonus text) for you to choose from in this collection. With reading levels in mind, we have made suggestions by grade level and with which translation and edition is most accesible. Many of these editions are free Kindle downloads on Amazon, and we have provided the links below. Despite the recommendations below, you are free to choose any of the 4 novels below. Challenge read : The Mysterious Island Many consider this to be Verne's greatest novel. It is a long and challenging read but well worth it. Recommended for: 6th Years : 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 5th Years : Journey to the Center of the Earth 4th Years : Around the World in 80 Days More Accessible Translations and Editions are: The Dover Thrift Editions Feel free to explore the translation or edition that is right for you. Many of Verne's original texts came with illustrations and engravings that can be found in some editions and are very fun. Enjoy the ride! |
Cultural Selections The cultural focus for next year is Europe, Australia, Oceania, and Antartica, so we have selected a few cultural novels that feature stories from these regions.
Once again, we have made some recommendations based on reading levels and the maturity levels of the content, but feel free to choose any of the texts. Recommended for: 6th Years : The Whale Rider This is a wonderful story, but there are a few mature scenes involving animal poaching. 5th Years : Nora Ryan's Song Another incredibly worthwhile read, but it definitely deals in tragedy at times. 4th Years : The Midwife's Apprentice |