Good Hope Country Day Upper School Summer Reading 2014-15

The summer reading program is an important part of the academic curriculum at Good Hope Country Day School. We expect the students to read their assigned books carefully. Some of the books have been assigned to provide background material for subjects to be discussed during the school year. Other books will be studied in some depth during the first semester with the knowledge that the student has already read the book once, and knows something about it.

Books were chosen with one or more of several goals in mind: to encourage reading and sharpen reading skills, to stimulate interest in an upcoming subject, to illuminate ideas, and to broaden a student's perspective and allow the student to exercise his/her intellect. We also hope the students will enjoy most of the books that they are assigned each summer!

There will be a test on each assigned book early in the first quarter. The test is designed to determine: 1) Did the student read the whole book? 2) Can the student recall the main characters of the book? 3) What happened in the book? 4) Where did the incidents in the book take place? 5) What were the main issues covered in the book?

We understand that some students will get more out of these books than others, but we expect everyone to get something from this reading, and that is what will be looked for in the test. We do recommend that students avoid waiting until the last minute to do summer reading. The best approach is to read early to mid-vacation and make notes on key points. Then about a week before school begins, review your notes and skim through the books to refresh your memory.

Students should be prepared to do well on the summer reading tests which account for 10% of the 1st quarter grade in both English and History and start the year off with a good grade. GHCDS 2014-2014 Summer Reading

9th Grade English: All – John Steinbeck Of Mice and Men Choose one of the following: Ransom Riggs Hollow City E. Lockhart We Were Liars Stephen Chbosky The Perks Of Being a Wallflower Franscisco X. Stork Marcelo In The Real World

History: Edwidge Danticat Krik! Krak!

10th Grade English: All - Chinua Achabe Things Fall Apart Choose one of the following: Maya Angelou I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Richard Wright Native Son Alan Paton Cry, the Beloved Country Julia Alvarez In the Time of the Butterflies

History: Tom Standage A History of the World in Six Glasses

11th Grade English: Choose 2 Jack Kerouac On The Road Richard Russo Empire Falls Charles Frazier Cold Mountain John Irving Last Night in Twisted River Donna Tartt The Secret History

History: David McCullough 1776

12th Grade English: Barbara Kingsolver Poisonwood Bible Paula McLain The Paris Wife

Spanish 5: Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. Relato de un Naufrago

Seniors should also be reading the book(s) associated with their research paper.