Supplementary Film & Novels Information
Below you will find detailed information on the four novels and four films that may be used in American History class. If either of the films are used this year, a permission slip will be sent home for your approval.
Novels
Carlota, by Scott O'Dell
• publication date: 2006
• literary classification: Young Adult
• profanity: none
• violence: mild - some description of combat during the Mexican-American War
• summary: Carlota thinks her role in life is to take the place of her dead brother to please her father. At 16 she races her stallion, dives for gold in shark-infested waters and fights in the Mexican-American War. But her most difficult feat is to defy her father and become her own person.
• publication date: 2006
• literary classification: Young Adult
• profanity: none
• violence: mild - some description of combat during the Mexican-American War
• summary: Carlota thinks her role in life is to take the place of her dead brother to please her father. At 16 she races her stallion, dives for gold in shark-infested waters and fights in the Mexican-American War. But her most difficult feat is to defy her father and become her own person.
Rifles for Watie, by Harold Keith
• publication date: 1987
• literary classification: Young Adult (Newbery Award winner)
• profanity: none
• violence: moderate - several battle scenes are portrayed, but without gratuitous bloodshed; main character visits a field hospital and witnesses amputations and surgery
• summary: 14-year old Jefferson Davis Busey is caught up in the war between the states after his Kansas family is harrassed by pro-slavery ruffians from neighboring Missouri.
• publication date: 1987
• literary classification: Young Adult (Newbery Award winner)
• profanity: none
• violence: moderate - several battle scenes are portrayed, but without gratuitous bloodshed; main character visits a field hospital and witnesses amputations and surgery
• summary: 14-year old Jefferson Davis Busey is caught up in the war between the states after his Kansas family is harrassed by pro-slavery ruffians from neighboring Missouri.
Runs with Horses, by Brian Burks
• publication date: 1996
• literary classification: Young Adult
• profanity: none
• violence: mild - a raid on a Mexican ranch is refered to, but not described; the main character suffers a variety of injuries during his trials
• summary: Runs With Horses dreams of becoming an Apache warrior, but he must pass numerous trials before he can become a warrior, and fight the Mexicans and White Eyes alongside his father, and his tribal leader, Geronimo.
• publication date: 1996
• literary classification: Young Adult
• profanity: none
• violence: mild - a raid on a Mexican ranch is refered to, but not described; the main character suffers a variety of injuries during his trials
• summary: Runs With Horses dreams of becoming an Apache warrior, but he must pass numerous trials before he can become a warrior, and fight the Mexicans and White Eyes alongside his father, and his tribal leader, Geronimo.
Land of Hope, by Joan Lowry Nixon
• publication date: 1993
• literary classification: Young Adult
• profanity: none
• violence: mild - one of the main character’s brothers is beaten by a street gang
• summary: Rebekah Levinsky and her Jewish family flee religious persecution in Russia and find their way across the Atlantic Ocean to a new life in turn-of-the-century New York.
• publication date: 1993
• literary classification: Young Adult
• profanity: none
• violence: mild - one of the main character’s brothers is beaten by a street gang
• summary: Rebekah Levinsky and her Jewish family flee religious persecution in Russia and find their way across the Atlantic Ocean to a new life in turn-of-the-century New York.
Films
Glory, starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman
• release date: 1989
• MPAA rating: originally rated R; professionally edited for classroom use
• profanity: moderate - several uses of “nigger” and one or two uses of “damn” and “son-of-a-bitch”
• violence: intermediate - realistic portrayal of 19th century warfare, hand-to-hand combat; many deaths... most caused by firearms; severed limbs; realistic use of blood; one scene of punitive flogging
• further information: http://imdb.com/title/tt0097441/
• release date: 1989
• MPAA rating: originally rated R; professionally edited for classroom use
• profanity: moderate - several uses of “nigger” and one or two uses of “damn” and “son-of-a-bitch”
• violence: intermediate - realistic portrayal of 19th century warfare, hand-to-hand combat; many deaths... most caused by firearms; severed limbs; realistic use of blood; one scene of punitive flogging
• further information: http://imdb.com/title/tt0097441/
Dances with Wolves, Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, and Graham Green
• release date: 1990
• MPAA rating: PG-13 for profanity and moderate violence
• profanity: frequent - six uses of “son of a bitch” • several uses each of “Jesus Christ” and “god dammit” • one or two uses each of “pissed,” “bastard,” “hell,” “butt,” “ass” and “shit”
• violence: moderate - realistic portrayal of Indian warfare, hand-to-hand combat, several deaths ... most caused by firearms or bow-and-arrow, two scalpings, realistic use of blood, one scene in Civil War army hospital
• further information: http://imdb.com/title/tt0099348/
• release date: 1990
• MPAA rating: PG-13 for profanity and moderate violence
• profanity: frequent - six uses of “son of a bitch” • several uses each of “Jesus Christ” and “god dammit” • one or two uses each of “pissed,” “bastard,” “hell,” “butt,” “ass” and “shit”
• violence: moderate - realistic portrayal of Indian warfare, hand-to-hand combat, several deaths ... most caused by firearms or bow-and-arrow, two scalpings, realistic use of blood, one scene in Civil War army hospital
• further information: http://imdb.com/title/tt0099348/