Marty’s Comments (group member since Jun 24, 2019)

Marty’s comments from the Multicultural Library EDGTE 480 group.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

A Separate Peace takes place in the 1940s and is centered around two friends at a boarding school. The two boys are inseparable. Gene is the narrator and a shy character except when he is around is best friend, Finny. Finny gets Gene to come out of his shell and be more outgoing. The two friends are ready to take on the world together until an incident occurs and their friendship is drawn into question.

This novel is perfect for high school immigrants. It shows that friendship is a strong universal value. For ESLs it does not have tough English language. Any word that a student may have trouble with can be defined and given an explanation to the students. This book shows that friendship and help someone through a tough time. ESLs should make these connections with other students whether in school, in a club or anywhere. This way the students do not have to feel alone. They can have a friend to help them through learning English but also being a new student. The buildup takes some time to unfold, but it is worth it.

Rating: 4/5