(Week 7, Young Adult Fantasy) The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien

    In this classic high-fantasy novel, countless children and adults have been transported to Middle Earth. We see Bilbo Baggins, a gentlemanly hobbit, who is roped into becoming a "burglar" for a troop of Dwarves on a mission to reclaim their kingdom from Smaug the dragon. Along the way Bilbo finds out just how much of an adventurer he really is as he overcomes challenge after challenge, or at least he does until he find a magical gold ring with the power to turn him invisible whenever he wears it. This novel has far too much to wrap up in a short summary, so do yourself the favor and read it for yourself. Through this beautifully written epic tale, we are introduced to the world that will eventually lead to Tolkien's series Lord of the Rings.  

Discussion and Classroom Applications

    This book has been a classic for decades and has various classroom applications. It would be interesting to see how the characters in this story could be used as representations of other cultures or how the themes of this book could reflect cultural aspects that apply to more than one culture.