VER EN SC D H T O N O E L K Summer Reading Guide 2016 Upper School S i 2 n c e 1 9 2 Where will books take you this summer? Kent Denver School | 4000 E. Quincy Ave., Englewood, CO 80113 1 Table of Contents Summer Reading at Kent Denver 3 Upper School Reading Program Statement 4 Upper School Recommendations 5 The Reader’s Bill of Rights 64 2 Summer Reading at Kent Denver School “It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.” Oscar Wilde School-Wide Approach During the school year, students and adults report that they are so busy with school and work that they have very little time to read for pleasure. Sure, students read, but often only what they are assigned, what has been chosen for them. An assigned reading system inadvertently implies that students should only read when it is required. In various discussions the Kent Denver faculty has confirmed—virtually in one voice—that summer should be a time for all of us to recharge without the pressures of homework and school, and to rediscover reading for pleasure. Choice of texts forms the foundation of the summer shift away from “what do I have to read?” to “what do I want to read?” The research on the efficacy of summer read- ing overwhelmingly supports that students get more from summer reading when they choose their own texts. Choice allows students to pick books at reading levels appropriate to their own levels and to choose topics and genres about which they truly care. The summer reading program at Kent Denver, in varying degrees from Middle School to Upper School, embraces this fundamental idea of discovering the joy of reading through choice. The summer reading program also embraces our core values. The obvious core value is that of personal growth. With each book read, our lives are enriched, and if the book so moves us, we live in the company of those characters. But there is also the acknowledgement that we are our own community of readers who enjoy sharing our ideas and interests with each other. Reading as a community makes us all better as individuals. This booklet is a wonderful compilation of recommendations from Kent Denver students, faculty and staff. We invite all members of our community to read for pleasure this summer, and we hope that these reviews will assist you as you select your readings. Thank you students, faculty and staff who took time to submit recommenda- tions—this publication would not be possible without your contributions. Have a wonderful summer filled with great reads, hammocks and warm breezes. Neil Batt, English Faculty 3 The Upper School Program: The Freedom and Pleasure of Choice Everyone is encouraged to read at least THREE texts of his or her choice, and the faculty acknowledges an expansive view of what constitutes a text. Books, of course, are texts but consider also newspapers, magazines and blogs. Read anything, as long as you care about it, you enjoy it and it makes you think. Guidance is readily available by reviewing this booklet. When you come back from the summer, the faculty hope you will be rested and recharged. Be prepared to share in advisory and in your classes, your own reading experiences and recommendations. Also, we hope as you share your reading in advisory in the fall that you will consider contributing to next year’s Kent Denver 2017 Recommendations. A note to students and parents... Students and faculty have submitted the following Kent Denver recommendations; these titles are suggested as a way of offering choice for students. The titles offer a wide variety of reading interests, levels and content. Some inclusions have been edited for the purpose of clarity and space; however, we have tried to honor the student’s writing 4 Recommedations from our Upper School Abrams, Jonathan Boys Among Men: How the Prep to Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution As a basketball junkie, I found this book to be a great read on the decision-making and challenges that incredibly talented teenagers faced in joining and adjusting to the NBA. The book itself is easy to read, flowing from anecdote to anecdote while adeptly balancing light topics (how to order room service) and serious ones (high school coaches wanting a cut of a player’s first professional contract). Lee Barrow, Faculty Adams, Richard Watership Down Enjoyed by adults and kids alike since 1972, this classic epic follows a band of loveable heroes on their quest to find a safe new home in a world full of lethal dangers. Don’t get turned off by the fact that all the main characters happen to be rabbits. This Odyssey-like adventure is full of compelling characters and challenges. Jon Fortmiller, Faculty Ahdieh, Renée The Wrath and the Dawn Author Renée Ahdieh writes a fabulous story about a young girl named Sharzad (or Shazi) who is the wife of the Caliph of Khorasan, Khalid. Every morning at sunrise, Khalid kills his wives. Determined to seek vengeance for her best friend who was an unlucky victim of the sunrise murder, Sharzad is determined to live to see another dawn and devises an expert plan to do so. This book cleverly depicts the tale of the Arabian Nights in the form of an unexpected love story. Also, the second book just came out which is also a very good read! This is a very fun and interesting read, and I definitely recommend it for this summer. Anna Cummings, class of 2017 Albertalli, Becky Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda High school is hard; Simon makes that abundantly clear. Now, the majority of the time books about persons in high school discovering or even uncovering who their identities are riddled with clichés. There is normally the angst, the depression, the societal and self-hatred, but Albertalli leaves that all behind. Now make no mistake: there are plenty of points in the novel where teens are overly dramatic about something, but not because they were being “teenagers” but because they were being human. I could not put this book down! It was addicting. The characters were relatable, the story fun, and the situations somehow magical in capturing reality. In Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda we meet Simon who is struggling to keep his sexuality a secret while trying to keep a secret online relationship going, a relationship that he would like to move from the internet to real life. He juggles being blackmailed about his online relationship, tension between his friends, and high school itself. I found myself laughing, gasping, and 5 even crying; you won’t for a second regret picking up this book. Kara D’Alessandro, class of 2017 Albom, Mitch The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom illustrates the amazing life of young musician Frankie Presto through the eyes of the omniscient narrator, Music. As a young child, Frankie receives a set of magical guitar strings, which he soon finds out allow him to control life and death. Music guides the reader through the highs and lows of Frankie’s wonderful life with his magical strings. The personification of Music allows for Mitch Albom’s beautiful writing to weave intricate patterns that truly bring Frankie Presto to life. I became attached to Frankie’s life story right from the start and found that I could not put down this book. Full of romance, action, drama, and plot twists, this book truly has it all. I would definitely recommend the latest installment by Mitch Album to all readers, especially music aficionados. Camryn Slosky, class of 2018 Albom, Mitch The Time Keepers The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom is an incredibly intriguing book told from the perspective of three different characters across time, characters that come together to create one beautiful and touching story. This novel connects subjects such as life and death and causes the reader to look at time in a completely different way. The writing style is simply amazing; I could not put it down! Camryn Slosky, class of 2018 Alexie, Sherman Blasphemy The book Blasphemy is a series of short stories by one of my favorite authors, Sherman Alexie. These stories are about American Indians and the struggles they face in their lives. This book is intriguing and is written very well. I really enjoy the stories and the plots, and the attractiveness of the characters and their lives. This book embodies creativity and truly captivates the reader. The stories are often indicative, leaving them open for interpretation. The stories are educational in a cultural way because they open a door to a world that comes often unexplored and unwritten about. This is one of my favorite collections of short stories. Sam Tracey, class of 2018 Alexie, Sherman The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven This collection of short stories is perhaps Sherman Alexie’s most recognized work, and for good reason. Though he strictly defines every story as fictional, there is an autobiographical nature to each one as he explores the hardships and hopelessness of modern life on Native American reservations. Beneath the obvious study of race relations is an exploration of the hardships of poverty, and included within it, the nigh inescapable cycle of alcoholism in native life. Filled with passionate anger and nostalgia for times long past, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven is both an excellent introduction to Alexie’s works and an eye-opening read for 6 anyone born into affluence or privilege.