Reading Ladder

For the reading ladder below I am thinking of a 9th grade reluctant reader. They are at a high school reading level, but are not interested in a challenging themselves. With that in mind, this is also a student that loves books that are animal related, Where the Red Fern Grows is their favorite novel.

Step 1 – Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

This is the starting point, my student loves everything about this novel. They love the emotion it brings them to feel all along the way, especially the ending. It is a very easy read for this reader, which is why they list it as their favorite book, despite it being far below their reading abilities.

Step 2 – The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

This novels shares the characteristic of being an animal novel. It also brings out a great deal of emotion throughout the entire story, particularly the ending. It is a much longer read than the previous novel, but still not a challenging one. This will hopefully allow the reader to build up their reading stamina. It has a far more complex storyline going on than the previous novel, which brings the progression a bit further in their climb up the ladder.

Step 3 – Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

This novel continues with the animal related novels. While this one is far different from the previous two novels on the ladder, it is another emotional novel that I could see continuing the journey that has been setup with the previous novels. This is gradually increasing the reading level of the novels, but as far as complexity of the themes and symbols within the novel, it is quite a large step up the ladder. The issues being brought up in this novel are more mature, such as how someone with an intellectual disability is being experimented on in such a way. Which makes the reader ask the question what that says about the society. This is definitely a step up the ladder in complexity of novel.

Step 4 – Animal Farm by George Orwell

At this point the reading level is almost to where my student is in their grade level. The complexity of this novel is increasing from the previous choice. The way Orwell is using animals on a farm to describe tyranny and the battle for power that was seen in the Soviet Union, as Stalin came to power. This is a fable style novel that retells history, with animals.

Step 5 – Moby Dick by Herman Melville

This novel continues to challenge the reader as the reading level has increased. Add to that the fact that the time period and language used in the novel is quite different than the way we use language today. It challenges the reader even further when considering the somewhat ambiguous Moby Dick is. What does the whale represent? It challenges the reader to think critically about that question and come to a conclusion of their own based on their understanding of the novel and the intended meaning.

I feel this is a strong reading ladder for a reluctant reader in 9th grade. I would start them off with a couple of easy reads that pull at the heart strings and feature animals heavily. From there I move onto another novel that features an animal but deals with more mature issues. I then introduce my student to a fable of a novel that tells the history of a dictator’s rise to power. Finally, I give the student a classic novel that is a challenging read for all and more complex than any of the novels on the ladder. This is my first attempt at a reading ladder, but I LOVE the concept. I feel when I start seeing what my students enjoy and as I broaden my YA readings, I will be able to build better reading ladders for my students.