Next Year??

         Well, in my opinion, the 9th graders next year should read Nervous Conditions, because although some of the book was really boring and seemingly pointless, the projects really helped out with understanding the book at the end, even though they took a bit of time.  They were really fun and the book really got better after the first, say, 100 pages or so so it wasn't too bad.
        They should read it because you learn a lot about post colonial life in Africa, which isn't too good for those who don't have much money, and you get let into the life of someone who lived it, that someone being the character Tambu and you can see how British society differs from it from clothes to general cultural rules and education.  You get to read about how society affects different people, upper or lower class and how they feel "trapped" or completely amazed by the new lifestyle or just disgusted by the whole idea of it.
         This book doesn't just show problems that are only prevalent in Africa or Europe at that time, but problems that were happening in America then and now.  You get to see how those problems play into the feelings of the people living in the different society and, in the end, not only how the society affects the person, but how the person acts as a result of these affects, whether it be by leaving, completely losing it, or severely beating someone you supposedly love.
        All in all this book turned out to be pretty good and it lets you see how nice we have it compared to places like that.  Sure we hear that a lot but seeing it on TV, hearing about it in lectures, and reading about it all give you different perspectives on the matter, and quite frankly I believe that next years 9th graders might enjoy the book... after they finish it... but that's not the point.  Its not so bad once you really get into it but you can only do that if you really want to... if you are willing to jump off that high dive and get into the book so that you can actually benefit from it and not just read it for the sake of doing some projects for a grade.
I think it depends on the student.

--