Grace Prep Summer Reading Assignment for 10th-12th Standard English Classes

Happy Summer! This summer the English Department invites all 10th through 12 graders to embrace the joy of reading. Your high school English teachers have given recommendations for some of their favorite books. Please be encouraged to choose one from the list for your summer reading selection. If you have another selection that is of equal literary merit, you may substitute a selection of your own.

The requirements for summer reading are simple:

1. Choose a book you have not previously read from the list provided. If you would like to choose another selection that is not listed, the only requirements are that is of equal literary value and it has your parent’s approval for Grace Prep work. 2. During the summer, read the novel. 3. During the first week of school, you will give a simple 2 to 3 minute presentation of why you would or would not recommend your literary choice. (See the attached handout for suggestions of information to include in your recommendation), 4. In the front cover of the book, write your first and last name. Underneath that, Write a 3 to 4 sentence recommendation in the front cover. Finally, contribute the book to the class library to be read and reviewed by other students during the following years. *Donating the book is optional, but would be greatly appreciated!

Guidelines for Presentation: Be Prepared to Present the First Day of School!

I. Include an introduction that includes the author, title, genre and topic of your book.

II. Include at least two of the following components:

a. Read a passage or passages that you especially liked or thought was important to the book. Give commentary over the passage read. b. Explain what was the writer’s purpose in writing the book. Explain how he or she achieves that purpose. c. Identify the key theme or themes of the novel. Explain how the author develops it. d. Identify a character in the literary work (whether fiction or non-fiction) who you would like to meet and explain why. e. If the setting is important, describe the setting and explain its impact.

III. Conclude by telling why or why not you would recommend this book to be read by a classmate.

IV. Your presentation should be anywhere from two to three minutes in length.

List of Book Choices for High School (10th– 12th grade) Summer Reading with Teachers’ Recommendations

Mr. Wetterling’s Recommendations: Animal Farm, by George Orwell This brutal satire is just as appropriate today as it was when it was written over a half a century ago. It teaches the impossibility of a perfect society as well as the danger of choosing leaders based on charisma over character. By telling the story as an allegory using animals rather than actual people, the story is softened, but the points still made very effectively. Wetterling words of wisdom: This gave me an appreciation for politics and the way they shape our world.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot This award winning book is the first one written by Skloot and has drawn praise for both its style and content. Through research and determination, Skloot learned the full story of how researchers in the 50s harvested the cancer cells of an unknowing African American women without her knowledge and then used them for research for decades after her death without crediting her contribution or compensating her family. The book deals with issues of racism, poverty, informed consent and medical ethics. How do the benefits of research for the many outweigh the rights of the few? Wetterling words of wisdom: I heard about this book in the news and had to read it myself to see if it was fact or hype. This is a fascinating story, all the more incredible because it is true. Another story of one life changing the world, but in this case without ever even knowing it. I would love to do a Socratic seminar with a whole class of students that have read this book.

Death of a President: November 20 - November 25, 1963, by William Manchester This book was written as a result of the Kennedy family seeking a definitive written history of the assassination of the president. However, when reading the first drafts the research was so well documented and the details so personal that they fought its publication. The author uses meticulous and fascinating research to tell the definitive story of the four days in November of 1963 that reshaped world history as a result of the Kennedy assassination. Wetterling words of wisdom: This is one of the books that made me fascinated with history at an early age. Putting the events of the Kennedy assignation in human context and explaining step-by-step how this event that would change the world unfolded in real time was amazing.

Rich Dad / Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Children That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!, by Robert T. Kiyosaki In what has become one of the best personal finance books ever written, Kiyosaki tells of growing up with two dads: his (who was poor) and that of his best friend (who was rich) and what each one taught him about money. Reading this book at a young age and following its advice can set a young person on a path to financial freedom and teach him how to make his money work for him rather than the other way around. Wetterling words of wisdom: If you want to have a much better understanding of money and how to make it work for you (instead of the other way around) read this book while you are still young enough to implement its lessons. Then some day you can quit a job that pays well but bores you in order to take one that doesn’t but enables you to make a difference.

Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Mary McDonagh Murphy By the time nearly every high school student has become a junior or senior they have probably read Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Certainly if a student has attended Grace Prep as a freshman he or she has. This book is a collection of essay written by a range of famous people describing the impact the book has had on their own lives. Tom Brokaw, Rosanne Cash, Oprah Winfrey, and Jon Meacham are but a few of the people that tell the story of being impacted by reading or re-reading this book and how it shaped their views on the human condition. Wetterling words of wisdom: To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite thing to teach. (Admit it, you enjoyed that experience as a freshman.) The reason? Because it impacts everyone one who read it differently and speaks to them in different ways. This book is full of people who explain all the different ways the book impacted them personally.

Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson Almost all of us walk around with or work on a device that had its roots in the fertile mind of this amazing individual. His visions helped propel the world into the twenty first century. And yet, like most genius figures, he was deeply flawed personally and fought his own demons as he changed the world around him. He never finished college, but had one of the largest impacts on the world based on his vision of technology. The business he started in his parents’ garage is now the largest in the world. This is the story of how it all happened. Wetterling words of wisdom: This is another case of one individual with a vision was able to change the world, despite all manner of setbacks and road blocks. Inspiring in some ways, tragic in others, there is something for everyone to relate to in this biography. This book helps explain how Apple became one of my Top 3 favorite brands (right up there with Volvo and Starbucks).

Mrs. Bullington’s Recommendations:

Love Does : discover a secretly incredible life in an ordinary world - by Bob Goff Amazon- In this book of compelling stories coupled with eye-openig truths, Goff shows a new way to live, a way that's drenched with the whimsy of God's love and the spontaneity of following where he leads. Mrs. B – this book dropped little nuggets of wisdom in my life that made me stop and think. It challenged my own walk with the Lord and helped me to remember His command to Love first. I reread it last summer – it was that good!!

Radical Integrity by Michael Van Dyke Amazon-You’ll be inspired by this story of a German pastor and theologian who gave his life to oppose Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime. Born into a prominent German family, Dietrich Bonhoeffer died in a Nazi prison camp, hanged for his plot against the man who’d plunged the world into war. Find out what made Dietrich Bonhoeffer the man he was—compassionate minister, brilliant thinker, opponent of the heresies of Nazism and Aryan superiority. This easy- to-read biography details both Bonhoeffer’s life and his powerful theology—of “cheap” versus “costly” grace. Mrs. B - I have not read this book but had several students read it a couple of years ago – including my daughter Maggie. It was enjoyed by many – especially the young men in my class.

A Separate Peace - by John Knowles Amazon-Set at a boys' boarding school in New England during the early years of World War II, A Separate Peace is a harrowing and luminous parable of the dark side of adolescence. Gene is a lonely, introverted intellectual. Phineas is a handsome, taunting, daredevil athlete. What happens between the two friends one summer, like the war itself, banishes the innocence of these boys and their world. Mrs. B – I read this book last summer and enjoyed the simple coming-of-age story. It’s easy to read, and the characters are relatable. Some of the issues are “adultish”, but I don’t remember anything too over the top.

Speak - by Laurie Halse Anderson Amazon From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party. Mrs. B – I just finished this book and chose it because I have enjoyed reading this author’s work before. It is about a difficult topic, but is handled well. The characters are easy to relate to.

Kisses From Katie - by Katie Davis Majors Amazon-What would cause an eighteen-year-old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, to disobey and disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother’s heart, lose all but a handful of her friends (because they think she has gone off the deep end), and break up with the love of her life, all so she could move to Uganda, where she knew only one person and didn’t even speak the language? Mrs. B – Maggie recommended this book. She loved the heart of the story – there was laughter and crying – and inspiration to follow God’s path for her life. I plan on reading it this summer.

Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely - by Lysa TerKeurst Amazon - The enemy wants us to feel rejected . . . left out, lonely, and less than. In Uninvited, Lysa shares her own deeply personal experiences of rejection--from the perceived judgment of the perfectly toned woman one elliptical over to the incredibly painful childhood abandonment by her father. She leans in to honestly examine the roots of rejection, as well as rejection's ability to poison relationships from the inside out, including our relationship with God. Mrs. B. – We used this book with some of the senior girls during a Bible study a couple years ago. It is a helpful tool to start processing some of the lies that Satan whispers to us about our identity.

Mrs. Hogan’s Recommendations:

Everybody, Always by Bob Goff Amazon Recommendation: What happens when we stop avoiding difficult people and simply love everyone? In his wildly entertaining and inspiring follow-up to the New York Times best-selling phenomenon Love Does, Bob Goff takes listeners on a life-altering journey into the secret of living without fear, care, constraint, or worry. The path toward the outsized, unfettered, liberated existence we all long for is found in a truth as simple to say as it is hard to do: love people, even the difficult ones, without distinction and without limits Mrs. Hogan’s Recommendation: Want to know what Grace Prep teachers and staff read last summer? This is the book. The book convicts and inspires the certainty that God’s love truly impels us to love boldly and courageously. I am excited to continue reading and look forward to having conversations about it with staff and students.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis Amazon Recommendation: In the classic Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, the most important apologetic writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of Christian faith stand together., Mere Christianity provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear this powerful apologetic for the Christian faith. Mrs. Hogan’s Recommendation: This has been the required reading for juniors for several years now at Grace Prep. Every summer I have the joy of re- reading this classic and every summer I anticipate the wonder of rediscovering the treasures found in C.S. Lewis’ words. Although it requires close reading, students genuinely enjoy reading this. This will always be one of the top ten books in my life.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan Amazon Recommendation: God is love. Crazy, relentless, all-powerful love. Have you ever wondered if we’re missing it? It’s crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe—the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self- sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. Whether you’ve verbalized it yet or not...we all know somethings wrong. Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts—it’s falling in love with God. Mrs. Hogan’s Recommendation: The first time I read this book, I went through two highlighters because every couple of phrases I wanted to go back and re – read or share with a friend. It is the kind of book that was meant to be shared, passed around, and re-read many times.

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell Amazon Review: In DAVID AND GOLIATH, Malcolm Gladwell examines and challenges our concepts of “advantage” and “disadvantage” in a way that may seem intuitive to some and surprising to others. Beginning with the classic tale of David and Goliath and moving through history with figures such as Lawrence of Arabia and Martin Luther King Jr., Gladwell shows how, time and again, players labeled “underdog” use that status to their advantage and prevail through the elements of cunning and surprise. As usual, Gladwell presents his research in a fresh and easy-to-understand context. Mrs. Hogan’s Recommendation: First of all Malcolm Gladwell is brilliant; his writing challenges his audience to quickly move beyond the obvious into the brilliant light of his wisdom and logic. Secondly, he initially was not a Christian, but in the writing of this he came to faith. It is a joy to see how his logic lands him into the realm of faith.

Black, Red, White, or Green by Ted Dekker Amazon Review: These four novels make ups the Circle series which is an epic story of evil and rescue, betrayal and love, and a terrorist threat unlike anything the human race has ever known. It's also the story of a man named Thomas Hunter - an unlikely hero who finds himself pulled between two worlds. In our reality, he works in a coffee house. In the other, he becomes a battle-scarred general leading a band of followers known as the Circle. Every time he falls asleep in one reality, he wakes in the other. The fates of both worlds now rest on his ability to shift realities through his dreams while trying to find a way to change history. Mrs. Hogan’s Recommendation: Although I would love for you to read all four of these, you only would need to choose one. These are the type novels that you stay up all night reading because they are that good. It is a story of redemption and love that will capture your heart and imagination. If you haven’t read Ted Dekker before, I highly encourage you to read one of these.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett Amazon Review: The #1 New York Times bestselling novel and basis for the Academy Award- winning film—a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t— nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read. Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who’s always taken orders quietly, but lately she’s unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She’s full of ambition, but without a husband, she’s considered a failure. Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town. Mrs. Hogan’s Recommendation: If Harper Lee had written a sequel (not a prequel) to the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, this is what I would imagine it should be. Skeeter has the same gumption and grit Scout has and encounters her Southern world with the same quest for justice. Sections of it require a mature reader, but overall, the beauty of her prose weaves a narrative full of humor, sorrow, strength, and triumph that will stay with you.

1984 by George Orwell Amazon Review: Written in 1948, 1984 was George Orwell’s chilling prophecy about the future. And while 1984 has come and gone, his dystopian vision of a government that will do anything to control the narrative is timelier than ever...Winston Smith toes the Party line, rewriting history to satisfy the demands of the Ministry of Truth. With each lie he writes, Winston grows to hate the Party that seeks power for its own sake and persecutes those who dare to commit thought crimes. But as he starts to think for himself, Winston can’t escape the fact that Big Brother is always watching. Mrs. Hogan’s Recommendation: I read this book as a ninth grader in 1984. I remember at that time thinking so much of this book was far-fetched or unrealistic. Now in 2018, so much of this book has already occurred. This novel challenges you to assess the role between government and the individual and conformity. If you enjoy dystopian literature such as Divergent, The Maze Runner, or The Hunger Games, this is the forerunner to that genre.

Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis Amazon Review: Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis-a classic masterpiece of religious satire that entertains readers with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life and foibles from the vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to "Our Father Below." At once wildly comic, deadly serious, and strikingly original, C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters is the most engaging account of temptation—and triumph over it—ever written. Mrs. Hogan’s Recommendation: This has been the required reading for senior year English for the past few years. The good news is now you get to choose to read it. It is fairly short in length, but so very powerful in its impact. I love reading this every summer.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin Amazon Review: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen-One of the most universally loved and admired English novels, Pride and Prejudice was penned as a popular entertainment. But the consummate artistry of Jane Austen (1775–1817) transformed this effervescent tale of rural romance into a witty, shrewdly observed satire of English country life that is now regarded as one of the principal treasures of English language. Mrs. Hogan’s Recommendation: This book has been part of the required books of senior English for years. However, last year we made it optional for summer reading. If you love strong characters, humor, and Regency England this is perfect for you. Exploring the follies of both pride and prejudice, this book reminds to never “judge a book by its cover.” It is one of my all time favorites.