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Penfield teachers recommend 'Summer of the Mariposas' as new 8th-grade novel
Summary
An 8th-grade ELA teacher recommended adopting Guadalupe Garcia McCall's Summer of the Mariposas to replace John Steinbeck's The Pearl, citing cultural relevancy, alignment with New York State standards, and plans to use it in next year's novel study; the board asked for student response data and timeline for implementation.
Phoebe Kaine, an eighth-grade ELA teacher at Bay Trail, presented to the Penfield Central School District board on June 9 a recommendation to adopt Guadalupe Garcia McCall's novel Summer of the Mariposas for the Grade 8 novel-study unit.
Kaine told the board the novel offers figurative language, complex themes and an accessible cultural lens: the story, she said, is told by Odilia Garza, a Mexican-American girl, and draws on Latin American folklore while aligning with New York State reading and writing standards. Kaine said the department intends the new book to replace John Steinbeck's The Pearl while preserving the unit's learning objectives, including analysis of author's craft and theme development.
Board members asked whether students had already read the book and whether it would be used next year. Kaine said no students had yet read it in the district and that the team hopes to implement it next year. "We really feel like the book is culturally responsive," the presenter said, arguing it provides both "windows and mirrors" for students.
The transcript records enthusiastic reactions from some board members and several comments that the book drew them in on a first read. The session was recorded as a textbook recommendation and presentation; the transcript does not show a formal board vote to adopt the book at this meeting.
If the board advances the recommendation, teachers said the novel will be used to teach figurative language, symbolism and characterization and will anchor assessments including essays analyzing author's craft.
The board did not provide a formal adoption vote on the transcript. The presenter indicated the department expects to pilot or implement the novel as the anchor text in the coming school year, pending the board's curricular approvals and timeline.
