An antiwar novel set during World War I, it was written after the war and reflects the disillusionment of the period. The book is an account of a young man's experiences in battle and of his short career as a soldier in the German Army. It details the daily routine of soldiers who seem to have no past or future apart from their life in the trenches.

To learn more about the book:

"Most loved and Hated Book About WWI" - Smithsonian article -  

All Quiet on the Western Front - Book Trailer

What happens when a person doesn't accept and doesn't play by the rules of the dominant culture? Holden, the teenage protagonist, is expelled from school and is desperate to find a place to fit it somewhere. Highly controversial since its release in the 1950s, Salinger gives a raw account of a classic coming of age tale in trying to stay true to yourself in the mists of a bunch of "phonies."

To learn more about the book:

New York Times - 1951 Book Review

Things to know BEFORE reading

PBS discussion of author and the book

A story of classic simplicity, based on a Mexican folk tale, The Pearl explores the secrets of man's nature, greed, the darkest depths of evil and luminous possibilities of love. 

To learn more about the book:

Background information link

Digital copy of Chapter 1

Essential questions and short background of book