This anthropomorphic novel full of rabbits tells the tale of social unrest, community and hope, all kick-started by man-made environmental destruction. Fiver, a young rabbit with a sixth sense, is part of the Sandleford warren. He starts having disturbing visions of his home’s destruction and, along with his older brother Hazel, tries, to no avail, […]
This long poem about the devastating nature of war and the hope for peace is one of the most significant works of modernist literature. Influenced by the breakdown of European civilisation during World War I and the increasing alienation in Western societies, this poem expresses psychological fragmentation and a quest for meaning. The poem might […]
This vivid picture book with heartwarming comics on the world of books, the passion for reading and creative explanations, illustrates the world of a book enthusiast. This literary comics can be used in class to motivate your pupils or to provide a visual access to the story structure, genre or style of writing.
A drama movie about family, love and staying true to oneself: Ben and his wife Leslie decided to raise their six children far away from the quite possibly corrupting influences of modern day society, so they moved to the Washington wilderness and built their own camp. There they spend their days training their bodies and […]
In this dystopian series of five novels on racism, oppression and the abuse of power, a black majority (the Crosses) rules over a white minority (the Noughts) after African people colonized Europe. Set in Britain in an alternate reality, this paves the way for a love story a la Romeo and Juliet. The story invites […]
Combining humour, loss and grit, this teenage novel tells a travel adventure from the perspective of a strong and colourful female narrator. 10-year-old ‘Rat’ is a real character, tough, outgoing, soccer-loving and adventurous. When her father dies suddenly, she’s determined to go to New York with her brother ‘Bob’ in search of their long-lost uncle […]
This collection of 10 short stories is full of suspense and may not be for the faint of heart – featuring a little bit of everything of the horror genre – from mystery and ghost fiction to aliens and witchcraft. The stories are easy to read, illustrated (each one by a different artist) and are […]
This verse novel explores the author’s childhood in South Carolina and New York in the 1960s and 1970s: Growing up as an African American woman both with the aftermath of Jim Crow laws and the beginning Civil Rights movement. Her poems feature topics of racism, religion, spiritualism, family, history and the power of memory, storytelling, […]
Coach Ken Carter returns to his former high school as basketball coach in this biographical drama movie about loyalty, unity and achievement. His methods seem drastic: Each player has to sign a contract, promising high educational achievment so that they are allowed to train and play. So when his players fail to deliver in school, […]
In this semi-autobiographic film about life, loss and dedication, Hunter ‘Patch’ Adams is the odd one when he eventually picks up studying medicine. His joy for life seems boundless and his methods strange but slowly he manages to win over not only his co-students but also his teachers with his dedication to healing through laughter. […]
This novel opens new perspectives on religious fundamentalism, mental health and drug abuse. When Dawn was 13, her father abandoned his family to join a Christian sect. Since then, her mother has suffered from alcoholism and depression. For Dawn, it’s her father’s religious extremism that started all her problems, so she sets out to kill […]
A young adult novel about the difficult topic of school shootings, their victims and longlasting consequences. Valerie’s boyfriend Nick opens fire in their school’s cafeteria. A list the two composed, their so-called hate list, served to choose his targets. Although Valerie is wounded in her attempt to stop Nick, her guilt will follow her for […]
A movie drama about health, sports and honesty. Dr. Omalu came to the USA from Nigeria in order to work as a forensic pathologist. When several former NFL-players commit suicide, Dr. Omalu suspects that repeated concussions suffered during football games are to blame. As was to be expected, the NFL will do everything in its […]
Based on the actual events of a fatal police shooting, this movie drama tells the story of Oscar Grant’s last 24 hours – a young African American who was shot by the police during New Year’s Eve 2008/09. This movie might serve as a starting point for an interdisciplinary teaching project on #BlackLivesMatter.
Based on the musical of the same name, this tragicomedy movie on education, history, gender and hidden sexuality follows a group of British boys during their last year in school: Against all odds, they all have the potential to receive a place at a prestigious college, so their headmaster provides them with a very special […]
A drama movie about sports, stereotypes, belonging and loyalty: When two US-American high schools are forced to merge, their two football coaches – one black and one white – now need to work together. Because if these two cannot overcome their mutual prejudice, how are their players supposed to develop some team spirit of their […]
Throughout this sociocritical movie drama, Ricky, his wife and his children are struggeling with the financial crisis of 2008: With the promise of a safe income, Ricky is lured into buying a van. His plan is to deliver mail as a contractor. Soon, both his boss and this exploitative system is revealed for what they […]