The Morgan School Summer Reading Table of Contents Summer Reading Program: “I Love This Book” 2 ​ Grades 9-12 Required Reading Lists ​ ​ Honor Students th 9 ​ Grade 3 ​ th 10 ​ Grade 3 t​ h 11 ​ Grade 3 t​ h 12 ​ Grade 3 ​ College Prep Students th 9 ​ Grade 4 ​ th 10 ​ Grade 4 t​ h 11 ​ Grade 4 t​ h 12 ​ Grade 4 ​ Grades 9-12 Suggested Reading List (for Free-Choice Selections) ​ ​ ​ Adventure 5 Fiction 5-10 Historical Fiction 10-12 Multicultural 12-13 Mystery/Thriller/Horror 13-14 Nonfiction/Biography 14-15 Personal Issues/Health/Science/Math 15-16 Science Fiction/Fantasy 16-17 Sports 17-19 Forms College Prep Summer Reading Analysis 20 Clinton Public Schools Clinton, CT 1 Summer Reading Program The Morgan School Summer Reading Program is designed to serve several purposes. We want to promote the development of strong reading skills and to enrich students’ vocabulary; but even more, we want students to appreciate the pleasures of a good read. Furthermore, the written prompts we ask students to complete afford them the opportunity to practice both standardized testing and SAT writing skills while the reading itself gives them another book with which to “make connections” on these standardized tests. I Love This Book! This year, incoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors will be given the opportunity to take part in the “I Love ​ ​ This Book!” program. Instead of reading one of the required books, students may sign up to read a book being ​ offered for discussion by a member of the Morgan faculty or staff. In September, students will discuss this book in a book chat with a faculty member. We are hoping that discussing the book with other readers will stimulate students’ enthusiasm and heighten their appreciation of the text. A very limited number of copies of these books will be on loan at the Henry Carter Hull library. Students should read actively and be prepared to demonstrate their knowledge of the book at the chat; thus, it might be a good idea to take notes. Required Reading Students not participating in the “I Love This Book!” Program must read from the book(s) on the attached ​ ​ ​ ​ required reading lists. College Prep students who opt to do the required reading must complete two of the accompanying writing prompts prior to their return to school in September. These prompts will be collected and graded. The prompts give teachers the opportunity to assess students’ skills at interpretation and to evaluate the extent to which they engaged with the literature. Students are strongly encouraged to keep a reading journal as they read, as these journals could be very helpful in future discussions of the text; the journals, however, will not be collected or graded. Students are encouraged to read often, choosing books that interest them. You will find attached an extensive list of award-winning books chosen for their readability and for their relevance to teens and teen issues. Please be advised that the free choice books are just that, choices. Be aware that some may confront controversial issues, explore adult situations and contain strong language. Summer reading requirements are spelled out on the pages which follow, by student level. College Prep students who have signed up in advance, may substitute an “I Love This Book!” choice for the required book. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Honors students, however, must read an “I Love This Book!”choice and the required texts. ​ Clinton Public Schools Clinton, CT 2 REQUIRED READING LISTS Honors Students Honors Students: Keep a reader response journal. You may refer to these notes as you respond to the ​ ​ ​ essays/tests/discussions in class. Please keep a list of the books you read. Honors students are required to read the following books prior to the start of school. Sophomore, junior, and senior Honors students must also read an “I Love This Book” and participate in one of the book chats in September. Students should have signed up in the spring. 9th G​ rade – Honors (2 selections) 11th Grade – Honors/ AP (2 selections) ​ Anonymous Westover, Tara The Epic of Gilgamesh AND Educated: A Memoir AND ​ ​ Tolkien, J.R.R. Francisco Cantu The Hobbit The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border 10th Grade – Honors (2 selections) 12th Grade - Honors/ ECE (2 selections) Wilson, G. Willow Angelou, Maya The Butterfly Mosque AND I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings AND ​ ​ Thomas C. Foster one of the following: ​ How to Read Literature Like a Professor Siddhartha​ by Hermann Hesse The Kite Runner​ by Khaled Hosseini ​The White Tiger​ by Aravind Adiga Grendel ​by John Gardner (recommended prior reading: ​Beowulf​) The Joy Luck Club ​by Amy Tan Fugitive Pieces​ by Anne Michaels ​AND Poetry selections assigned at the mandatory end-of-year meeting for incoming seniors. Link to UConn ECE summer reading assignment Honors Students Keep a reader response journal as you read each book. ​ Clinton Public Schools Clinton, CT 3 REQUIRED READING LISTS College Prep Students College Prep Students: It is advisable to keep a reader response journal as you read, however these notes will not be ​ ​ graded. When finished with the required book, respond to any two of the questions on the “College Prep Summer Reading ​ ​ Analysis” sheet on page 21. Submit these to your English teacher as directed by your teacher when you return to school in September. The following books are required reading for College Prep students who did not sign up for and read an “I Love This Book” chat selection. 9th G​ rade – College Prep (choose one) 11th Grade – College Prep (choose one) ​ Gaines, Ernest J. Rubio, Gwyn H. A Lesson Before Dying Icy Sparks Set in a Cajun community in the late-1940s. Jefferson, a young Story of an orphan girl who lives with her grandparents in black man, is an unwitting party to a liquor store shootout in 1950s Kentucky and struggles to cope with Tourette’s which three men are killed; the only survivor, he is convicted syndrome. of murder and sentenced to death. Hamil, Pete Kidd, Sue Monk Snow in August Secret Life of Bees In New York, a young irish boy forges a bond with a rabbi to In order to escape her abusive father, fourteen-year-old Lily fight a common enemy by summoning an ancient source of joins Rosaleen, a black fugitive, following a trail left by Lily’s magical power. dead mother – a journey which leads them to a sanctuary among three beekeeping sisters and to a dramatic, life-changing discovery. 10th Grade – College Prep (choose one) 12th Grade – College Prep (choose one) Gibbons, Kaye Conroy, Pat Ellen Foster Lords of Discipline The story of a spunky young girl who overcomes loneliness and Four cadets struggle against prejudice and a sinister secret adversity as she searched for a family to call her own. society to prove themselves to one another at the Carolina Military Institute. Bradford, Richard Red Sky at Morning Vreeland, Susan Coming-of-age story set during WWII about a teen who must Girl in Hyacinth Blue adjust to life in a new town and in a changing world. Story follows the trail of an unknown painting from the time of its creation in 17th Century Holland to present day. College Prep Students Respond to questions on the assigned Reading Analysis forms ​ ​ after reading a book. Clinton Public Schools Clinton, CT 4 The Morgan School Suggested Reading List (alphabetical by title) ​ The following titles have been selected due to their high interest and readability. They often have a teenaged protagonist and/or confront issues relevant to the lives of high school students. Please be aware that some of these books my contain strong language, confront controversial issues and/or explore adult situations. You may wish to access Amazon.com and click on “Back Cover” to obtain a more detailed description of the contents of each book. ADVENTURE Shadow Divers Read Rival divers search wreck of German U-boat. Alive FICTION A rugby teams’ plane crashes in the Andes Mountains in LaRochelle winter and survival becomes all. Absolutely, Positively Not A touching, sometimes hilarious coming-out story McCarthy All the Pretty Horses Young Texas rancher finds adventure near border. Miller Maas Aimee China White Guilt of girl coming to terms with a friend’s suicide A don of the Asian Mafia hires a Manhattan lawyer to protect his interests—heroin. Frank America MacLean A lost boy without hope meets doctor; gains an identity and Fire on the Mountain hope. A narrative of the South Canyon fire of 1994 that burned for 10 days, and of the smokejumpers. Levithan Are We There Yet? Greenlaw Brothers find themselves on a trip to Italy. The Hungry Ocean The story of a grueling 30-day sword-fishing voyage Ferris encountering savage weather, equipment failure and Bad sharks. Girl faces consequences of teenage delinquency in a rehab center. Krakauer Into Thin Air Conroy A college grad walks away from his life and is found dead in Beach Music the Alaskan wilderness. An American expatriate in Rome displays desperate desire to find peace after his wife’s suicide. Bangs The Lost River: A Memoir of Life, Death, and Patchett Transformation on Wild Water Bel Canto In the early 1970’s, a quest to run the last unexplored rivers Terrorists in South America take party hostage. of Africa; two men drown Levenkron Hobbs The Best Little Girl in the World River Thunder Young girl battles with anorexia. Teens test their mettle against Grand Canyon rapids. Oates Kurson Clinton Public Schools Clinton, CT 5 Big Mouth and Ugly Girl Koontz Alliance of two teen misfits accused of bomb threat Cold Fire Reporter investigates what a local hero means when he whispers in his sleep that an enemy will kill everyone.