Trumbull High School Summer Reading List Summer 2012 June 2012 Greetings students, parents and readers, Welcome to the Trumbull High School Summer Reading booklist. The English department and many other THS faculty members believe firmly in students, teachers, administrators, parents and all community members keeping their minds active and engaged during the summer months through reading. We also believe that the relaxed atmosphere of summer is a perfect time for stu- dents to be able to choose the reading material that they interact with. Students who are empowered to choose their own books are much more likely to enjoy their reading and to continue the act of reading as a life-long interest. To quote a former Trumbull High School English teacher: “We believe summer belongs in the hands of students and we want to put good books into those hands.” We also believe that life-long readers engage in the habitual shar- ing of their books with other readers. Most of us come upon many of the books we love through the recommendation of others. To these ends, we have made several changes to the Trumbull High School summer reading program to reflect these beliefs. Please read the rest of this letter carefully so you understand what is ex- pected of you this summer and early next school year. “WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?” First, spend some time exploring our extensive list of recom- mended summer reading books. This list has been compiled jointly by the THS faculty and student contributors. The titles have been researched to provide our students with valuable literary experienc- es and the widest choice possible. You are not required to choose books from the THS list—you may choose any books—but we hope you’ll begin by checking out the list. Next, choose a book to begin your summer with. Which title really interests or intrigues you? What seems like a good fit given your time, interests and level of commitment? Perhaps you and a friend or two would like to read the same book and be able to talk about it. THS expects that you will make time for at least two books in the summer but you can read as many books as you like. Be sure to read actively, making note of specific passages that intrigue you. Consider your reactions to characters and conflicts, ask yourself what you would do in similar situations or whether you agree with the actions of the characters, etc. You should note at least two sig- nificant passages in one book that you read. Record these passages somewhere (in a notebook, on an index card, in a googledoc) so that you can access them at the beginning of the school year. This is especially important if you are borrowing the book and won’t have access to it in September. Upon returning to school, you will be given the opportunity to share one of your books with your classmates in English class. You’ll be able to give them a brief overview, share your reactions, work with the significant passages and make a recommendation to your classmates. It is always a great day in English class and will be a fantastic chance to get some recommendations for further reading. So, have a great summer and read great books. Read for yourself. We look forward to hearing about your reading experiences in September! Best wishes for an enjoyable summer, Mrs. Spillane, THS English Dept Mr. Neenan, THS Media Center Note: Titles that are marked with an asterisk* contain content that requires maturity and may not be suitable for all readers. Parents, we encourage you to communicate with your students about their choices and to read the books along with them. Summer Reading Journal Prompts Characterization: 1. Write an advice letter that one of the characters might have written asking for help solving a conflict. 2. What character would you like to be in this book? Why? What personality traits does this character have that you admire? Explain. 3. Imagine that you are friends with the main character in high school. You see him / her 20 years after the novel ends. What questions would you ask him/ her? Why are you wondering these things? Explain. Setting / Plot: 1. What makes you wonder in this book? What confuses you? What came as a surprise? 2. Draw a map of the setting of this book, showing major areas, buildings, and other features. Label everything carefully. Explain the importance of these places. 3. What is the major conflict in the book? How do the characters solve the conflict? Theme: 1. What does the author want you to know about life from reading this book? Explain. 2. Choose a sentence, quote, or passage from the book that moved you in some way. Why do you think this is? What did it reveal about the book? What did it reveal about life in general? 3. How did the book’s message change your life? Explain. Connections: 1. What connections are there between the book and your own life? Explain. Be specific. 2. In what ways are you like any of the characters? Do any of the characters remind you of friends, family members or classmates? Explain. 3. Compare this book with another book with the same theme or message. How do these books deal differently with the same concept? Critique of Craft: 1. Do you think the title fits the book? Why or why not? 2. What do you admire most about this writer’s work? 3. What are the best parts of the book? Why? What are the worst parts of this book? Why? Fiction A Game of Thrones George R.R. Martins In a world where the approaching winter will last four decades, kings and queens, knights and renegades struggle for control of a throne. Some fight with sword and mace, others with magic and poison. Beyond the Wall to the north, meanwhile, the Others are preparing their army of the dead to march south as the warmth of summer drains from the land. Zero Day David Baldacci From the modern master of the thriller and #1 worldwide bestsell- ing novelist-comes a new hero: a lone Army Special Agent taking on the toughest crimes facing the nation. And Zero Day is where it all begins.... The Fault in Our Stars John Greene Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten. Matched Ally Condie For Cassia, nothing is left to chance--not what she will eat, the job she will have, or the man she will marry. In Matched, the Society Officials have determined optimal outcomes for all aspects of daily life, thereby removing the “burden” of choice. Outside the Box * Dan Allosso Teenager Reid Anderson knows there’s something wrong with society, otherwise he wouldn’t feel so alienated. He has a problem with authority but can’t decide: “am I antisocial or does society suck?” So he goes through life pretending he doesn’t care. A new Wii console and simulation game show up in his rec room, and Reid is just bored enough to try them out. When a demon from in- side the game threatens him in reality, Reid is plunged into a world of troubled teens he didn’t know existed. 11/22/63 Stephen King On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? Stephen King’s heart-stoppingly dramatic new novel is about a man who travels back in time to prevent the JFK assassina- tion—a thousand page tour de force. Anna and the French Kiss Stephanie Perkins Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of be- coming more. So she’s less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris-until she meets Etienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Etienne has it all . including a serious girl- friend. But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight Jennifer E. Smith Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver’s story will make you believe that true love finds you when you’re least expecting it. Black and White Paul Volponi Marcus and Eddie are best friends who found the strength to break through the racial barrier. Marcus is black; Ed- die is white. Stars of their school basketball team, they are true leaders who look past the stereotypes and come out on top. They are inseparable, watching each other’s backs, both on and off the basketball court. But one night—and one wrong decision—will change their lives forever. Will their mistake cost them their friend- ship . and their future? Peace, Love and Baby Ducks Lauren Myracle When Carly comes back from her wilderness camp she attended over the summer, she finds that her younger sister, Anna, has changed. Carly is overcome with jealousy by her sister’s new “look” and learns over the course of a year what it means to be a true and loyal sister.