1. “Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto
Characters
Victor Rodriguez
Teresa
Michael Torres
Mr. Bueller, French teacher
Setting
A middle school in Fresno, CA on the 1st day of 7th grade
Theme
Be yourself.
Don’t try to be someone that you’re not.
Conflict
Victor wants to impress Teresa. She doesn’t notice Victor.
Man v. self
Climax
In French, Victor tries to pretend to speak French to impress Teresa. Teresa is impressed. Teacher keeps his secret.
Resolution
Teresa asks Victor to tutor her in French. Victor must teach himself French.

2. “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury
Characters
Margot
William & class
teacher
Setting
The future
Venus
schoolroom
Rains for 7 years, sun for 1-2 hours
Theme
Tolerance and sensitivity is needed.
A group can become a mob and not act according to beliefs.
Conflict
Man v. society
Man v. nature
Margot is bullied and teased for being different. She remembers the sun and they hate her for it.
Climax
The class locks Margot in a closet and play in the sunshine for an hour before realizing what they have done.
Resolution
The children let Margot out and feel guilty for what they have done.

3. “Zoo” by Edward D. Hoch Characters Setting Theme Conflict
Professor Hugo
Humans
Horse-spider creatures from Kaan
Setting
Future
Chicago
August
Interplanetary Zoo
Kaan
Theme
Things are not always as they seem.
There are two sides to every story.
Conflict
Professor Hugo is deceiving his customers.
Man v. society
Climax
Point-of-view shift when readers learn that the Kaanians think the humans were the zoo.
Resolution
Readers realize that characters are happy, but misinformed.

4. “Cat on the Go” by James Herriot (narrative nonfiction)
Characters
James (Jim)Herriot
Tristan
Helen
Oscar (Tiger), the cat
The Gibbons
Setting
Herriot’s home/vet offices
U.K.
Theme
Some characters never change.
Always try to do the right thing.
Conflict
Man v. self
An injured cat is brought to the vet. Should they help it?
Old owners claim the cat. Should they return it?
Climax
After becoming attached to the cat, Herriot’s must give it back.
Resolution
Herriots are allowed to visit Oscar, only to find that he hasn’t changed at all.

5. “The Cat Who Thought She Was a Dog and the Dog Who Thought He Was a Cat” by Isaac Bashevis Singer
Characters
Jan Skiba
Marianna Skiba
3 daughters
Kot, the cat
Burek, the dog
peddler
Setting
Rural (farming) area
Small, remote, one-room hut far from town
Theme
Your true self is shown in your action, not in your appearance.
Conflict
The Skibas buy a mirror that disrupts the family’s simple life.
Man v. self
Man v. man
Climax
The family are disgusted by their own looks. They feel their poverty b/c they need money to fix their appearances. The cat and dog now fight viciously.
Resolution
Jan gets rid of the mirror. Burek, Kot, and the family return to normal. Daughters marry and life is fine again in the Skiba household.

6. “Justin Lebo” by Phillip Hoose nonfiction article
Characters
Justin Lebo
Various charities
Setting
1989
Suburban neighborhood
Paterson, NJ
Theme
Sharing your gifts and doing what you enjoy can often make both you and others happy.
Conflict
Justin promises to make bikes for all boys at Kilbarchan by Christmas. He worries he does not have the money, time, and resources to reach his goal.
Man v. self
Climax
After an article is written about Justin and his charitable works, money, and parts start to pour in.
Resolution
Justin reaches his goal and continues his charitable work, all the while maintaining his social life and other interests.

7. “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” by Rod Serling
Characters
Steve Brand
Charlie
Les Goodman
Pete Van Horn
Tommy
Don Martin
Alien figures
Setting
Maple Street
USA
Theme
Jumping to conclusions or making false accusations can lead to disaster.
There is nothing to fear but fear itself.
Conflict
Man v. self
Man v. man
Electricity and all motors/machine stop working. Residents can’t explain it and get scared.
Climax
Scapegoating and tension escalates to the point where Charley mistakenly shoots Pete Van Horn out of fear that he might be an alien.
Resolution
The residents destroy each other due to their own fears.

8. “Cremation of Sam McGee” by Robert Service
Characters
Sam McGee
“Cap” (captain of expedition)
Setting
Northern Canada
Yukon Territory
Gold rush
Theme
True friends keep their promises no matter what the circumstances.
Conflict
Man v. self
Man v. nature
Sam dies from cold and Cap must uphold his promise to cremate him.
Climax
Cap finally finds an abandoned ship to serve as a crematorium. He burns the body.
Resolution
Cap checks to see that his friend has burned and sees Sam smiling, finally content.

9. “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out” by Shel Silverstein
Characters
Sarah
Her father
The garbage, which takes on a life of its own
Setting
The Stout household
Theme
Always do what you are told, or face the consequences.
Conflict
Sarah refuses to take the garbage out.
Man v. garbage (“man”)
Climax
The garbage reaches maximum capacity, neighbors move, the whole US is affected.
Resolution
Sarah “meets an awful fate.”

10. “The Third Level” by Jack Finney
Characters
Charley
Louisa
Sam, psychiatrist
Setting
NYC, Grand Central Station, 1940’s
Galesburg, Illinois, 1890’s
Theme
People often yearn for a simpler, less stressful time (an escape to the past).
Conflict
Man v. self
Charley is looking to escape his reality.
Climax
Charley discovers a way to travel back in time – the third level of GCS.
Resolution
Charley can’t find the third level, but he knows it exists, because Sam writes him a letter that it does.

11. “Oranges” by Gary Soto Characters Setting Theme Conflict Man v. self
The speaker, 12 year-old boy
A girl he likes
saleslady
Setting
December
Cold, wet, foggy
Neighborhood
drugstore
Theme
Try to put yourself in another’s shoes.
Be compassionate.
Conflict
Man v. self
The boy wants to impress the girl, but realizes he can’t afford what she wants.
Climax
The boy uses his only nickel and an orange to pay for chocolate.
Resolution
The saleslady doesn’t say anything and he feels so happy and confident (symbolized by the orange).

12. “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes
Characters
The Highwayman
Bess, landlord’s daughter
Tim, the ostler
Redcoats
Setting
England, 1700’s
The inn
Windy night
Theme
Love can be so strong that people are willing to sacrifice their lives for each other.
Conflict
Man v. self
Bess must decide how to save the Highwayman from danger.
Climax
Bess hears the Highwayman coming and warns him of danger by shooting herself.
Resolution
The Highwayman is gunned down as he races back to avenge Bess’s death.

13. “The Third Wish” by Joan Aiken
Characters
Mr. Peters
King of the Forest
Leita
Rhea
Setting
Forest of Savernake
Spring evening
Theme
Good deeds are often rewarded.
Be thankful for what you have.
Conflict
Man v. self
Mr. Peters must decide how to use his wishes to everyone’s benefit.
Climax
Mr. Peters uses his 2nd wish to turn his wife back into a swan.
Resolution
Mr. Peters stays close to the swan sisters and dies happily and contently, with the last wish unused.

14. “After Twenty Years” by O. Henry
Characters
Officer Jimmy Wells
“Silky” Bob
Plainclothes officer
Setting
New York City
Late night
Dark, cold, rainy
Theme
Time often changes people, and not always for the better.
Conflict
Man v. self
Jimmy and Bob don’t know if the other will show for the 20 yr. appointment.
When Jimmy recognizes Bob, he faces a tough choice.
Climax
Bob lights a match, illuminates his face, & Jimmy realizes he is a wanted criminal.
Resolution
Jimmy has a plainclothes officer arrest Bob, with a note of explanation.

15. “A Boy and a Man” by James Ramsey Ullman
Characters
Rudi Matt
Captain John Winter
Setting
An icy mountain in a crevasse in the Alps
Theme
People often rise to a challenge.
Risking one’s life to save another’s demonstrates maturity.
Conflict
Man v. nature
Man v. self
Rudi discovers and must rescue a man from a crevasse.
Climax
Rudi pulls the man out of the crevasse, saving his life.
Resolution
The man Rudi saved turned out to be a famous mountain climber.

16. “Amigo Brothers” by Piri Thomas
Characters
Antonio Cruz
Felix Vargas
Setting
Manhattan
Alphabet City
tenements
Theme
Friendship is more important than winning.
Problem
Man v. self
Man v. man
Antonio & Felix, best friends, must fight each other in an important boxing match.
Climax
Antonio and Felix fight with all their might and pull no punches.
Resolution
The boys leave the ring together before a winner is announced, arms around each other in friendship.

17. “Papa’s Parrot” by Cynthia Rylant
Characters
Harry Tillian
Mr. Tillian
Rocky, parrot
Setting
Mr. Tillian’s candy & nut shop in town
Theme
Family always comes first.
Take care of the most important things in your life.
Conflict
Man v. self
Harry and his dad are drifting apart as Harry grows older. Harry’s dad is lonely and sad.
Climax
Harry’s dad has a heart attack. Harry takes care of shop, and Rocky tells Harry how much his papa misses him.
Resolution
Harry resolves to be more involved in his dad’s life.

18. “The Chase” from An American Childhood by Annie Dillard
Characters
Annie Dillard
Mikey Fahey
The man in black Buick
Setting
Day after Christmas
Winter, snowy
Reynolds Street
Neighborhood
Theme
Never give up.
When you do something, do it with all your might.
Conflict
Man v. man
After throwing a snowball at a car, the driver chases the kids all over the neighborhood.
Climax
The man finally catches the kids
Resolution
Even though the “lecture” is not appreciated, the man is a worthy opponent in the author’s eyes.

19. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Characters
Billy Colman
Little Ann
Old Dan
Grandpa
Mama & Papa
Little sisters
Setting
Ozark Mountains in Oklahoma
Family farm
Theme
Determination and hard work pays off.
Love comes with pain.
Always keep your promises.
Conflict
Man v. self
Man v. nature
Billy wants two red-bone coon hounds, but can’t afford them.
Climax
Billy saves up enough money, walks to Tahlequah and gets his dogs.
Resolution
After many wonderful and trying times with his dogs, both of them pass away. Billy has fond memories of his childhood and the love of his dogs.

20. 7E

21. “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan Characters Jing-Mei (Ni Kan) Mother Setting
America
Theme
Stay true to yourself.
Be your own person.
Problem
Man v. man
Mom wants Jing-Mei to be famous, but she shows little talent or interest.
Climax
Jing-Mei plays poorly in the talent show. Her mother is humiliated. Pressure to do better continues.
Resolution
Jing-Mei realizes she is both kinds of daughter – one who obeys for approval and one who is happy to be herself.

22. “No Gumption” by Russell Baker
Characters
Russell Baker
Doris Baker
Mrs. Baker (mom)
Rep. for Curtis Publishing
Setting
1932
During Great Depression
Belleville, NJ
Theme
Gumption is needed to be successful, but success means different things to different people.
Conflict
Man v. self
Man v. society
Climax
Resolution

23. “Burning Out at Nine?” by Nadya Labi
Characters
Steven Guzman, 12
Kids, ages 3-12
Setting
1997
America
Main Idea
If kids continue working so hard, they may become obsessive-compulsive adults.
Conflict
Man v. society
Why
All work and no play can burn kids out too early in life

24. “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allen Poe
Characters
Speaker, a young man
Annabel Lee, a maiden
Setting
“Many & many a year ago in a kingdom by the sea”
Theme
Love is a strong bond.
Love can hurt and be painful.
Problem
Man v self
The two characters are so in love, everyone is envious of them.
Climax
Annabel Lee catches cold and dies. She is taken away to be buried.
Resolution
The speaker spends the rest of his days mourning her death by the side of her grave.

25. from Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer nonfiction excerpt
Characters
Jon Krakauer
Setting
April 1996
The Khumbu Icefall on the way to the summit of Mt. Everest
Theme
Even though something is “strenuous and terrifying,” it can also be “beautiful and alluring.”
Conflict
Man v. nature

26. “Ribbons” by Laurence Yep
Characters
Stacy
Stacy’s grandmother
Ian, brother
Setting
Family’s home in San Francisco, CA
Theme
Love and understanding can help bring family members together.
Conflict
Man v. man
Stacy’s grandmother comes from HK to live with the family. She takes Stacy’s room & seems to favor Ian .
Climax
Grandmother gets angry when she sees Stacy’s ribboned ballet slippers and orders them destroyed.
Resolution
Stacy learns that her grandmother was forced to bind her feet with ribbons. Stacy explains and dances for her grandmother. The two finally bond.

27. “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” by Walter Dean Myers
Characters
Greg Ridley
Father
Lemon Brown
Setting
Empty old apartment building.
Dark, cloudy, rainy evening.
Theme
Our past achievements are important.
The worth of something is not determined by money value alone.
Conflict
Man v. man
Man v. self
Climax
Resolution
Greg is happy to go home, even if only to his father’s lecture. He sees his father’s hopes for him as a kind of treasure.

28. “Miracles” by Walt Whitman
Characters
The speaker
Setting
Everyday life on Earth
Theme
Everything is miraculous. Life is a miracle, even the simplest detail.
Type of poetry
Free verse
Sensory

29. “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes
Characters
Speaker, an African-American mother
Her son
Setting
A mother giving advice to her son
Theme
Don’t give up when you find life hard.
Keep trying despite obstacles.
Type of Poetry
Free-verse

30. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Characters
Setting
Theme
Problem
Climax
Resolution