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2009 Summer Reading List Radnor High School English Department
Click to jump to summer assignments for departments other than English: Radnor High School's English department assigns summer reading for all of its English courses. For your reference, we have made this webpage, complete with the list of titles for all classes, to help you complete the summer reading requirements. Students are expected to return in September having read the book(s) and prepared to work with it (them). Teachers will teach the book(s) as part of an opening unit and/or ask students to write a paper on one of the first days of school. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Carl Rosin at carl.rosin@rtsd.org, or call the Radnor English Department at 610-293-0855, ext. 3519. Thank you in advance for your interest in and support of our program. (Note on the course numbering scheme: the first two digits are “01” for English or “00” for Interdisciplinary, the third digit represents the year in high school – e.g., “3” for 11th grade, the third year of high school – and the fourth digit represents the level: “0” for honors, “2” or “3” for college prep, “4” or “5” for academic. 11th grade college prep, for example, is course number 0132. Electives are numbered somewhat differently: the third digit in these multi-grade courses' numbers does not represent the year.) class of 2013: 9th Grade ... Integrated Western Civilization ... Focused Reading/Writing We notify local bookstores and libraries of our summer reading list (click here to open a new browser window to read the website for the Radnor Memorial Public Library). We hope you have an easy time finding and buying/borrowing these books. Enjoy your reading this summer! Ninth GradePurpose: Pleasure reading Note: Although the English Department strongly feels that interest and maturity are the most important criteria you should use in choosing books, we also plan to provide a metric as a guideline in case you are looking for help in making appropriate selections. Most of the ninth grade book notes, below, are supplemented by information about the reading level (based on book’s Approximate Reading Level): easy, medium, or challenging. Grade 3-6 level reading skills would be sufficient for an easy book, grade 6-8 for a medium book, and 8-12 for a challenging book.
We also approximate a content level (as projected by the English Department and Literacy Coach), which refers to complexity or the required maturity level: young adult or adult.
You may read any book – these ratings are merely guidelines to help you make selections. It is very important that you note that some books – The Bell Jar, to name one – have content that requires more maturity than the instructional reading level suggests. Please read thoughtfully; if a book troubles you, talk about it with someone, and feel free to contact Mr. Rosin. Read any ONE of the following:
In fifteen short tales, we get to know a Dominican family who have come to settle in the Bronx, New York, after having been exiled from their homeland. This book focuses on the four Garcia daughters' rebellion against their immigrant elders, what they put up with as immigrants themselves, and what it's like to come of age in America.
Jane is a young woman whose pride and willfulness seems very modern, but it was controversial for a young woman to be so tough when this classic novel was first published in 19th century England. Will Jane find happiness despite her rough beginnings? Will she fall for the jerk? Will he remain a jerk?
John Boyd became known as “a crackerjack jet fighter pilot, a visionary scholar and an innovative military strategist” who changed military technology and culture as well as strategy (Publisher’s Weekly). In a career that ranged from World War II to the Persian Gulf War, this abrasive, eccentric pilot blazed paths within America’s military woods.
The football term “crackback” describes a dangerous block from behind – the player never sees it coming, and can be badly hurt. The high school football player around whom this novel is centered has to deal with lots of things for which he may or may not be prepared: conflict with coach, dad, girl, team, friend, steroids, and more. Reviewers praise this novel for the football action as well as the human drama.
A collection of stories covering a variety of viewpoints from the college basketball world -- players, coaches, refs, media people, and others -- this book brings NCAA basketball’s 2005 "March Madness" to life.
You may have heard of the epic Beowulf, about a heroic fight from the mythic past (recently made into an animated movie in which the monster’s monstrous mother is played by Angelina Jolie). This is a story of good and evil, of heroism and danger, but seen through the eyes of the monster, Grendel. Funny, brutal, sometimes profane, sometimes sad – this will make you think…and maybe make you want to read the original Beowulf.
You can tell right away that the narrator of this novel is a girl who notices things – and doesn’t always get noticed herself. But she is part of some interesting romantic conspiracies in this new novel by an award-winning Radnor HS graduate.
On one level this is a story about baseball, but it really digs deeply into myth and the American dream. The baseball is good, and the story goes beyond it.
There are novels out there that deal with race and justice, novels that deal with teenagers, and novels that deal with all of these factors…but not many that also deal with bees. This innovative historical novel about a girl trying to remember her murdered mother has a lot to say about the American South – and about bees – but it’s mostly about human nature.
Plath, known for her soul-revealing poetry and prose, left behind this sad and forceful novel about a woman whose growing insanity devours her. Amazon.com says, "this largely autobiographical novel...tells the story of a gifted young woman's mental breakdown beginning during a summer internship as a junior editor at a New York magazine in the early 1950s."
A horror story in which the monster is something we can’t see -- and it’s all true. This combination of science and suspense leaves doctors and researchers trying to stop a deadly and incurable Ebola virus.
This crime thriller begins with the line, “Jack Newlin had no choice but to frame himself for murder.” What? Read on to uncover the truth in this 2000 novel from Scottoline, the best-selling writer who based this – like her other books – in Philadelphia.
Bone tells an epic tale of odd little creatures, talking animals, and humans, in which friendship and family are put to the test by powerful forces of evil. The story follows three cousins who have been thrown out of their hometown thanks to the bad behavior of one of them, and soon find themselves -- separated from each other -- in a mysterious valley full of thoroughly bizarre creatures and events. These graphic novels don’t have pages full of words like text novels do, but the story, as creative and dramatic as anything you can read, is full of ideas to challenge your imagination. There are eight more books in the Bone series -- read on, if you are so inspired!
Follow the brown rat through a maze-like, amazing history of New York City. Sullivan's idea is to teach us about the rat, and in so doing, teach us about the city that is renowned as its most popular home. His plan works beautifully...if you are willing to accept that anything about this often disgusting, sometimes dangerous, extremely flexible, and highly resilient creature is beautiful. The subject matter may make you squirm a bit, but you'll be happy that you squirmed through this fascinating history.
Ninth Grade Interdisciplinary (“Integrated Western Civilization”)Purpose: Introduction to some of the content and themes of the year You will read two books, and should be prepared to work with both books in class when you return to school. Both should be completed BEFORE you arrive to class in September. (Note: Although one or more of these may have been made into films, you are reminded that all evaluation of your understanding will be based on the written works.)
All students will read the following work of historical fiction:
ALSO, select ONE of the books listed on the Ninth Grade Reading List (above). Focused Reading/Writing 9/10Purpose: Focus on reading and writing skills. All students will read any one book from any of the 9th grade English department lists. Tenth Grade HonorsPurpose: Background for study of multi-cultural literature Important Note: Some of these books are full of mature themes, including injustice and violence and sex and cruelty – and heroism. Of course, these mature themes are often what make a book effective and important. If you find a story to be too disturbing, respect yourself and take a break from it. All incoming English 0120 students must read TWO novels:
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The class will discuss the novels during the first weeks of the new school year. Students should be prepared to write an essay or take a quiz or complete a short assignment on each novel. Also required: You must prepare yourself for these readings, each of which is about a culture quite different from modern America's. Come to school in September able to demonstrate (suggestion: some notes, some research) that you have activated some background knowledge about Afghanistan in the late 20th century (Kite Runner) and Nigeria in the late 20th century. Be creative: how can you find out about these topics to give you a jumpstart on understanding the stories built around them? Note: Kite Runner has been made into a movie. If you want to watch the movie, read the book first; in-class assessment and discussion will be based on the book, not the movie. Tenth Grade College PrepPurpose: Introduction to some of the themes of the year – study of multi-cultural literature Important Note: Some of these books are full of mature themes, including injustice and violence and sex and cruelty – and heroism. Of course, these mature themes are often what makes a book effective and important. If you find a story to be too disturbing, respect yourself and take a break from it. All students will read ONE of the following novels: · Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See, OR The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay, OR The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini Students must have read the novel by the first day of school. Because the class will be working with the novel for some time, students must come to school with their own copy or a library copy that they can use in class. Note: Power of One and Kite Runner have been made into movies. If you want to watch the movie, read the book first; in-class assessment and discussion will be based on the book, not the movie. Tenth Grade Academic (“Writing”)Purpose: Introduction to some of the themes of the year – study of multi-cultural literature Representing a diverse range of settings, from Baltimore to Las Vegas to Los Angeles, the short stories in the collection Big City Cool (edited by M. Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss) feature young individuals forced to make life-changing decisions and face life-defining challenges. Read THESE FOUR short stories from this collection: · "Dead Man Running" by Eugenia Collier · "American History" by Judith Ortiz Cofer · "Blue Diamond" by Neal Shusterman · "Alone and All Together" by Joseph Geha Tenth Grade Interdisciplinary (“Global Issues”)Purpose: Background for interdisciplinary study of global issues Sections: Global Issues (Interdisciplinary 0020). Important Note: These books are full of mature themes, including injustice and violence and sex and cruelty – and heroism. Of course, these mature themes are often what make a book effective and important. If you find a story to be too disturbing, respect yourself and take a break from it. Read carefully, because you will be discussing, writing about, and perhaps even presenting them during the first month of school. All Global Issues students must read the following two novels:
AND
This class also requires the student to read up on international current events over the summer. That assignment is given out on a paper handout before the end of school; a version of this assignment will be posted on the Social Studies Summer Assignments page.
There is a website for this course -- click this link to go see it! Focused Reading/Writing 9/10Purpose: Focus on reading and writing skills. All students will read any one book from any of the 10th grade English department lists. Eleventh Grade College Prep OR Eleventh Grade AcademicPurpose: Background for study of American literature. Sections: English 0132 (college prep), English 0134 (academic) Students taking English 0132 or 0134 in the fall must read the following novel over the summer. This story about justice in the American South reflects a unique perspective on a number of issues that concern all Americans.
As you read consider what you find uniquely “American” about the novel. Be aware of the world the author creates – that is, the time, the place, the traditions, the speech, and the manners presented. How does this book reflect the time period in which the story occurs? How does it deal with the issues facing the country then and now? Be prepared to discuss and write about the novel when you return to school. While it is not required for 0132 or 0134, you may want to pick up one of the memoirs (one of which IS required for students taking Honors or Viewpoints). Eleventh Grade HonorsPurpose: Background for study of American literature. As you read these books, consider the lives of the main characters in the context of the setting (time and place). We will use the books to introduce some of the year's themes. In particular, think about what these books suggest about America, and what "The American Dream" means. These authors -- and that includes Gaines along with the memoirists -- have a lot to say about this nation, although they may not say it explicitly; your task is to think carefully about the stories they tell and how those stories make us look at the land, its people, and what those people stand for. Section: English 0130 (honors). If you are also taking AP US History, click here to jump to the page for the APUSH Summer Assignment. Students taking eleventh grade honors English will be required to read TWO books:
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Take a few minutes to look at Amazon’s or BN.com’s descriptions of these memoirs before you make your choice. We think you might enjoy any of them, but you should consider making yourself aware of a general topic and context (1950s? 1960s? the Midwest? baseball? college admissions? the Ivy League? social class? poverty?). Some disturbing stuff happens in some of these stories (mostly in Kirn and Walls), so you should be prepared to put it down and step away if it gets too intense for you. The Kirn, especially, is a very cynical view on the current system of education in America, especially for top students, and it contains some troubling scenes. |
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