I don’t think so. If she met Henry, that would be a different story. But even Sassy herself says they’re not in a relationship so he has no reason to tell Michelle.

In listening to interviews with him, it seems to be an exaggerated version of his own personal accent.

I taught high school English/Literature for over a decade. My students were always the most engaged when they got to choose(duh.) I’d give them a list of 4-6 books that were thematically linked, then they would choose and sit with those reading the same book. They controlled nearly everything: the pacing at which they read, what they talked about on discussion days, etc. it was GREAT. They got way more out of those units than when they were forced to read a book they didn’t choose. There are a couple of exceptions(Perks of Being a Wallflower and Hamlet were always hits), but giving them agency was crucial to their enjoyment.

There are some texts that it helps to be familiar with because they’re referenced so much, but honestly I think it’s stupid to force kids to read books just because they’re “classics,” and it’s especially hard for students who grew up in adverse conditions/without access to resources and don’t read very well. Forcing a kid in that situation to read Faulkner or some other dead white guy is cruel.