The Jungle

The Jungle is by Upton Sinclair. The classic tale of the horrific side of the immigrant experience told from the point of view of a Lithuanian family who comes to work in the stockyards of Chicago at the turn of the century. It movingly portrays the experiences of this family: their struggles, failures, and successes. It also paints the meat packing industry in a less than flattering light - you will never look at a hamburger the same way again. Sinclair was a proponent of Socialism and that comes through loud and clear in this book. It is an American classic and a recommended read.

Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).