Literary texts

  • Chicago
  • Nightshade
  • The Crucible
  • Ambush
  • Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Literature is an important resource for understanding social studies. Though social and historical articles can provide context and analysis, it is stories – both real and fictional – that can best convey personal insight and experience. We have provided several such stories as well as a number of poems throughout the book. They act as windows into the worlds we are describing.

Carl Sandburg's poem Carl Sandburg's poem "Chicago" gives an impression of the city in the early 20th century. This is a picture of the city's modern day skyline.