WHAT TO READ THIS SUMMER!
9th , 10th, 11 th Grade Summer Required Reading Assignment:
The Soloist, by Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, is a novel with ties to our beliefs about the connection between art and society. Please read this book over the summer. Come to school ready to engage in exploratory and analytical conversations about the thematic topics of creativity, homelessness, musical power, race and class, exploitation and friendship as presented in Lopez’s book.
In addition, we would like you make meaningful contributions to an online discussion board we will be hosting over the summer.
We look forward to reading and hearing your reflections, questions, and evaluations of The Soloist on our NING discussion site.
INSTRUCTIONS:
–> Go to rusharts.ning.com and sign up.
–> Look for the discussion subjects posted, read, and respond!
Honors English 3
Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex is the story of a king who, because of fate or frailty, commits a grievous crime against his family. This Greek tragedy explores desire, morality, and pride. Juniors in Honors English should read this book over the summer. The entire play can be found by searching “Oedipus Rex full text” online or it can be purchased in any major bookstore. If you use an online version, be careful that it contains the whole play. After reading, see Ms. DeFurio’s wiki (rushhonorsenglish.wikispaces.com) for the summer writing assignment that is due by August 30th.
Recommended Titles
For English I, II, III
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
The Perks of Being a Wall Flower by Stephen Chbosky
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kid
Interpreter of Maladies – Jhumpa Lahiri
Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan
The Color of Water – James McBride
The Chosen – Chaim Potok
Twilight, New Moon, or Eclipse – Stephanie Meyers
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
Farewell to Manzanar – Jeanne Wakatsuki
Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe
The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway
Warriors Don’t Cry – Melba Patillo Beals
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes - Eleanor Coerr
For History
1776 – David McCullough
Colonial History-Monkey Wrench Gang – Edward Abbey
Dreams from my Father – Barack Obama
