***Required Summer Reading
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway - An old Cuban fisherman triumphs over a giant marlin--only to have his prized catch literally eaten away by circling sharks.
One Writer’s Beginnings by Eudora Welty (summer/all year) - Eudora Welty was born in 1909 in Jackson, Mississippi. In a "continuous thread of revelation" she sketches her autobiography and tells us how her family and her surroundings contributed to the shaping not only of her personality but of her writing.
***Choices for Summer Reading: Choose One
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns - A timeless, funny, resplendent novel about romance and adolescence, and how people lived and died in a small Southern town at the turn of the century.
Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder – Set in colonial Peru in the early 18th century, The Bridge of San Luis Rey interweaves the stories of five people who die when an ancient rope bridge breaks and sends them plunging into a gulf.
Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam - Rocket Boys is a uniquely American memoir -- a powerful, luminous story of coming of age at the dawn of the 1960s, of a mother's love and a father's fears, of a group of young men who dreamed of launching rockets into outer space ... and who made those dreams come true.
Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane - In the spring of 1863, as he faces battle for the first time at Chancellorsville, Virginia, a young Union soldier matures to manhood and finds peace of mind as he comes to grips with his conflicting emotions about war.
When I was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago - From a rippled zinc shack in rural Puerto Rico to "the better life" in a decaying Brooklyn tenement, Esmerelda Santiago's Puerto Rican childhood is one of sorcery, smoldering war between the sexes, and high comedy. Hers is a portrait of a harsh but enchanted world that can never be reclaimed.
In These Girls, Hope is a Muscle by Madeline Blais - A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist tells the story of a high school girls' basketball team's championship season and their fierce, funny, sisterhood-is-powerful quest for excellence.
The Pigman by Paul Zindel - Meet Mr. Pignati, a lonely old man with a beer belly and an awful secret. He's the Pigman, and he's got a great big twinkling smile. When John and Lorraine, two high school sophomores, meet Mr. Pignati, they learn his whole sad, zany story. They tell it right here in this book — the truth, and nothing but the truth — no matter how many people it shocks or hurts.
Anne Frank and Me by Cherie Bennett - After suffering a concussion while on a class trip to a Holocaust exhibit, Nicole finds herself living the life of a Jewish teenager in Paris during the Nazi occupation.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie - Agatha Christie's most famous and acclaimed novel! Ten strangers are gathered together on an isolated island by a mysterious host. They share the darkest secrets of their pasts, and then, one by one, they die.
*** Summer reading assignment(s) will be sent out before the end of the 2007-2008 school year.
Required Reading for the Course
1st quarter
House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros - Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous, The House on Mango Street tells the story of Esperanza Cordero, whose neighborhood is one of harsh realities and harsh beauty. Esperanza doesn't want to belong - not to her run-down neighborhood, and not to the low expectations the world has for her. Esperanza's story is that of a young girl coming into her power, and inventing for herself what she will become.
2nd quarter
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - Young Phillip Pirrip's life is shaped by an act of kindness which raises him from poverty to wealth. One of the greatest works of classic literature, this novel is a timeless tale of love, hope and humanity.
3rd quarter
The Crucible by Arthur Miller - Based on historical people and real events, Miller's drama is a searing portrait of a community engulfed by hysteria. In the rigid theocracy of Salem, rumors that women are practicing witchcraft galvanize the town's most basic fears and suspicions; and when a young girl accuses Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch, self-righteous church leaders and townspeople insist that Elizabeth be brought to trial.
Romeo and Juliet (in class) by William Shakespeare - Romeo who is a member of the house of Montague falls in love with Juliet who is a member of the house of Capulet. The Montagues and the Capulets have been engaged in a feud for many years and as such the love between Romeo and Juliet is forbidden.
4th quarter
Night by Elie Weisel - Night is Elie Wiesel’s masterpiece, a candid, horrific, and deeply poignant autobiographical account of his survival as a teenager in the Nazi death camps.
The Odyssey (in class) by Homer - The Trojan War is over, and the battle-weary soldier Odysseus sets out for home. On his way Odysseus faces many dangers sent by the gods to test him.
Summer Reading Assignments…
Old Man and the Sea
During or after reading Old Man and the Sea, complete the following…
--Create 5 discussion questions for the book. Remember that discussion questions do not have “yes” or “no” answers. These questions must be interpretive and open ended. You do not need to answer the questions. We will discuss them in class.
--Find 10 vocabulary words. These can be words for which you do not know the definition, or they can just be words you found interesting or important. Write the word, the definition, and the page number where you found the word.
--Create an illustration that represents the book. The illustration may represent anything in the book. It must be drawn and colored on a sheet of white typing paper. Behind that sheet of paper, type a paragraph explaining your illustration, such as what it represents and why you chose that particular part to illustrate.
--Type a one page summary of the book. The summary must be in 12 point, times new roman font and must also be double spaced. The summary must not be more than one page.
****ALL WORK MUST BE TYPED!!! When you are finished, put all work in a folder. Any kind of folder is acceptable.
One Writer’s Beginnings
Because this novel is in a somewhat different format, your assignment will be to keep a journal as you go. The novel is divided into three sections. For each section, choose three passages (can be one sentence, one paragraph, etc.) that really stand out to you, get your attention, make you think, etc. Type the passage and page number, and then underneath the passage, type why you chose that passage. Your explanation should be at least one good paragraph (at least 5 sentences). Since you need three for each section, when you finish, you will have nine passages with page numbers and nine explanations. Remember that all of this work should be typed. Please put all work in a folder separate from your other assignment.
Book of Choice…
For your choice book, you will write a response on Tuesday, August 12th after you return to school. I will give you a prompt and you will write during the class period. Be sure to bring the book with you.