Quick Read by Etgar Keret. A bus driver who cares more about social justice than kindness experiences an epiphany witnessing the misery of Eddie, the world’s nicest loser, who is running late for a date with “Happiness”, the world’s sweetest girl. Unfortunately, Happiness proves to be a little too sweet.
Grade 5-6 Story by W. D. Howells. A demanding daughter insists that her busy father tell her a Christmas story. Perhaps with his daughter in mind, he makes up a tale about a little girl who makes a selfish Christmas wish that causes problems for almost everyone in the world.
Short Story by Carlos Bulosan. Like his two brothers before him, a young, illiterate Filipino man flees the harshness and unpredictability of life in his own country to seek a better life in America. Instead of the equality and opportunity he expected, he faces language barriers, racism, exploitation and mistreatment
French & German Folktales. Two versions of the well-known children’s story: the Charles Perrault “Mother Goose” version, and the Brother’s Grimm’s “Little Red Cap”. In both stories, Red is punished for talking to strangers (the wolf) by being “eaten”. The Brothers let her survive to soften the ending for children.
Grade 7-8 Story by Susan Cooper. Set during the Blitz of World War Two, a bullied schoolgirl tries striking back. This only makes things worse. A kindly old lady witnesses an assault and offers to help. When the woman dies in the bombing, an unlikely friend becomes the girl’s protector.