Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World -- One Child at a Time by Greg Mortenson, with coauthor David Oliver Relin, was the whole campus read at WSU this year. It is an important book that can be read by middle and high school students. It has been adapted for grades 3-6 (reading level 5.6) and also for K-3 in a picture book titled Listen to the Wind.
Mortenson first came to Pakistan to climb K2, the world's second-tallest peak. The attempt failed, and Mortenson's life was saved by villagers who found him and nursed him back to health. He vowed to return and build them a school - and thus begins the inspiring story how Mortenson managed to build 50 schools in rural Pakistan and Afganistan.The portraits of con artists, philanthropists, mujahideen, Taliban officials, village elders and ambitious school girls are compelling. There is plenty of suspense, at one point Mortenson is kidnapped. As the book moves into the post-9/11 world, Mortenson and his coauthor Relin argue that the United States must fight Islamic extremism through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls.
These books can help young people understand the culture of this part of the world and help them think critically about what is the best way to improve our relations with other countries. The books inspire too - showing that one very determined person can make a real difference. The book adapted for upper elementary focuses more on young people including the perspective of Mortenson's 12 year-old daughter who accompanied her father one of his trips. The picture book is close in content to the longer books but is written in the voice of the children in the first village where Mortenson was rescued and built his first school.
I don't know of many nonfiction adult titles that have been adapted for young readers like this one. Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth is the only one I can think of. I would introduce the book by talking about Korphe the small village in Pakistan where Mortenson was rescued and his work to provide a school for its children. I would start by asking students if they believed that one person could make a real difference in the world.
9 comments:
I read the original "Three Cups of Tea" and really enjoyed it, though it gets quite tedious in the end. I'd love to see the adaptions, which I think would do well gleaning the meat of the story without getting bogged down in tedium of the original.
That being said, it's a powerful message for young people, showing how much Greg was able to accomplish through patience, flexibility, respect of other cultures, and sheer force of will. I was especially touched by the story of when Greg saved the life of the woman in childbirth with the septic placenta. That story told me more about how much the people of Pakistan trust "Dr. Greg" more than any other part of the story. I also thought the part about Greg going into the Mosque and praying with the driver was touching as well. There is much to learn and I think in a simpler format, "Three Cups of Tea" can be powerful for students.
What an inspiring story. I'm especially compelled to read it after knowing it's been adapted for various ages. Sounds like a good book for faculty to read, too. Reminding them how one person can make a huge difference.
Our libraries received copies of the middle school and picture book versions as donations. The picture book went down to the elementary library and I kept the middle school version. I've had teachers and students across the grades check out the book. The feedback is very positive. I think what surprises the readers the most is that Greg was able to accomplish so much. This book proves that one person can make a difference.
I have read the middle level version. One of our sixth grade teachers ordered enough of these for a class set and they read it together. I agree that it is a good title to help students understand other cultures. It also proves how much we can do for others when we put our minds to it.
Wow, this does sound extremely inspiring! It seems like this book would tie in well to current events discussions and would give students a whole new perspective on things like the war and the economy. I would love to see the child's adaption especially, and how it compares to the original.
This is in my queue of books on CD for my drive to school. I was drawn to the story because I was very interested in Charlie Wilson's story and that we "messed" up the end game by leaving the Afghanis with no access to education and doomed them to the condition they are in now because of our lack of vision. I can't wait to read it!
"Three Cups of Tea" was also a required read at Ohio State last summer. My daughter enjoyed it and I intend to read it. It seems to send a powerful message. The fact that it has been adapted to all age levels must mean something. The pictures in the children's book are beautiful. They look like torn paper.
Van Buren just got all three of these books. I think I would probably just read the version for younger readers. It was fairly popular at Parkwood elementary. I don't see students being too interested in the adult version, though it would be good to have for teachers. The picture book's visuals are amazing as well.
I have not read any versions of this book, but they all "lie in wait" for me with my sister-in-law, who gave them all great reviews. Every time I read "Four Feet, Two Sandals" by Karen Williams the children are amazed that the young girls practiced their writing in the dirt with sticks while the boys were inside in a classroom. This inequality is shocking to them. It is even harder for them to imagine the plight of children in the midst of a war and the poverty that accompanies it.
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