Each student is required to read three books over the summer -- two books directly related to the curriculum plus a book of his/her own choosing. The books directly related to the curriculum are listed below. While each student may read any book as a personal choice selection, attached is a Suggested Reading List for those who would like to consult it. Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses have additional readings.

Students' comprehension of the two required books will be assessed on one of the first days of class in September. For the personal choice selection, each student must submit to his/her English teacher a review of the book on the first day of class. Guidelines for this assignment are printed below. Again, Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses have additional written assignments.

Summer Reading Assignments for 2002-2003 Academic Year:

9th Grade: John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men; Alfred Lansing, Endurance - Shackleton's Incredible Voyage.

10th Grade: Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist; William Golding, Lord of the Flies.

11th Grade: Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises.

11th Grade Honors: Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises; Gore Vidal, Lincoln (plus an additional writing assignment to be explained in a separate mailing).

12th Grade: J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye; Kent Haruf, Plainsong.

12th Grade AP: J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye; Kent Haruf, Plainsong (plus additional texts and writing assignments to be explained in a separate mailing).

Personal Choice Book Review Assignment

In connection with the personal choice selection, students are to write a book review of approximately 500 words (2 TYPED, DOUBLE-SPACED PAGES). In addition to an introductory paragraph that includes the title (underlined) and author of the book, the review should contain the following elements: (a) a description of setting; (b) a description of major characters; (c) a summary or overview of the plot; (d) a discussion of the themes or ideas about life the author is trying to convey; (e) some comments about the author’s writing style; and (f) an opinion of the book as a whole. As always, students should support their assertions with reasons and/or illustrations from the text.

Good luck and happy reading!