Little Brother as a teaching tool?

[AlexReid]

Doctorow's novel provides instruction into the history of protest in America, the evolution of the internet, and the operation of encryption. However, perhaps it offers a radical and critical view of government and schooling.

How would you see this text functioning in a classroom? Would it?

You may want to check out this companion site while you are at it. As well as this page.

And here is William Gibson on Little Brother:

I've not previously expressed my admiration for Cory Doctorow's Little Brother. As Wm. Burroughs was fond of saying, "young boys need it special". In the case of Cory's book, though, young girls need it special too.

What do you think of that?

[Amanda McK]

I agree with my peers' comments about this book being a great potential addition to the ELA classroom. It could be used in a unit that explores a variety of themes, such as the future, authority, politics, rebellion, pop culture, war, the government-- truly any number of issues. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if teachers were hesitant to use this book, nor if this book were to come under the scrutiny of the school board or whoever. I sat in on a panel last year about censorship in ELA classrooms, and I think this book is a prime candidate...for it challenges authority and reveals how authority can be corrupt, which certainly doesn't sit well with some people....Yet, I think this is how you know something is valuable, and gives us--teachers and students--all the more reason to read on.

I have already passed this book along to my mom, who is a (traditional) high school English teacher and a very liberal minded individual...I know she is going to love reading it and I hope that she may feel compelled to use this book in her classroom. When I was summarizing it for her, she immediately made the connection to 1984, so perhaps she will find a place for Little Brother. As much as we English people love the classics and whatnot, books like Little Brother are necessary for today's students, for they interrogate issues that are relevant and important to kids, but also to society at large as well.

[Rebecca Burtram]

I did end up recommending this book to the English teachers I work with. I think they may end up having to leave out the sex scenes in order to keep parents from rioting. But that can be done fairly easily since the book can be downloaded, printed, and copied. (the students I am referring to are only in 7th and 8th grade)

[Judith Piccione]

Oh you're right! IDidn't it say on Doctorow's website that people were free to change things up a bit (delete and so on)?