Supplementary Film & Novels Information
Below you will find detailed information on the four novels and two films that may be used in American History class.
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 “the n-word” 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 “the n-word” 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/