PENN-DELCO SCHOOL DISTRICT SUN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER READING GRADE 9

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1 PENN-DELCO SCHOOL DISTRICT SUN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER READING GRADE

2 Spring 2013 Dear Students and Parents: All of us who are involved in teaching reading and English acknowledge the value of reading all year long not just throughout the school year. For that reason, we have developed a required summer reading assignment because we believe it will help students meet academic challenges in the coming year and encourage them to develop independent reading habits. Students entering ninth grade are required to read two books of their choice from the list provided. These books are available in community libraries, as well as local bookstores, that have been given our summer reading lists. Directions for students entering Grade 9: Select and read TWO books from the list of choices provided. Divide both books into thirds. While reading, complete Summer Reading Logs for each of the three sections. You must complete a total of SIX Reading Logs, three per book. Your packet contains SIX copies of the Summer Reading Log. Students must complete all logs and turn them in to their English teacher on the first day of school. The reading logs must be ON TIME to receive full credit. In addition to completing the Summer Reading Logs, students will be assessed on their knowledge of both books during the first week of school. These assessments will be the students initial test grades for the new school year. PLEASE NOTE: Summer Reading Logs should be thorough and specific. Students should reflect on the main events, themes, and ideas while reading and provide detailed, thoughtprovoking responses with adequate explanations. Additionally, students should strive to make personal connections to the text and include these in their responses. PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Plagiarized assignments will receive zero credit, for all guilty parties. Plagiarism includes copying and pasting from the Internet, copying another student s work or permitting someone to copy your work, copying from a publication, etc. Please do not steal another person s work and pass it off as your own; if you plagiarize, you will be caught. The above information, along with a list of book descriptions, will be reviewed and discussed in English classes before the end of the school year. For the book of choice, we recommend that parent and student discuss the selection for its appropriateness for the individual student. While books are selected carefully, some students/families may be more sensitive to certain topics than others.

3 CHOICE BOOK SELECTION CHOICE BOOKS: Select and read TWO books from the following list; then, complete THREE Summer Reading Logs for each book (SIX total). For the books of choice, we recommend that parent and student discuss the selection for its appropriateness for the individual student. While books are selected carefully, some students/families may be more sensitive to certain topics than others. THE HUNGER GAMES (Suzanne Collins) In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. CATCHING FIRE (Suzanne Collins), 2 nd book in The Hunger Games Trilogy Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. MOCKINGJAY (Suzanne Collins), 3 rd book in The Hunger Games Trilogy Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 1 Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. THE PACT (Jodi Picoult) For eighteen years the Hartes and the Golds have lived next door to each other as the closest of friends. It s no surprise that in high school, Chris Harte and Em Gold s friendship blossoms into something more. So when midnight calls from the hospital come in, no one is ready for the appalling truth: Emily is dead at seventeen from a gunshot wound to the head. There s a single unspent bullet in the gun that Chris took from his father s cabinet a bullet that Chris tells police he intended for himself. But a local detective has doubts about the suicide pact that Chris has described. The book culminates in an astonishingly suspenseful courtroom drama as Chris finds himself on trial for murder. NIGHT STALKS THE MANSION: A TRUE STORY OF ONE FAMILY S GHOSTLY ADVENTURE (Constance Westbie and Harold Cameron) A Philadelphia family encounters a supernatural presence in their eighteenth-century mansion. After experiencing footsteps at night, opening doors, strange sounds, and activity centered around the library, they investigate, unearthing the mansion s tragic pasty and changing their beliefs about the supernatural world. AFTER THE FIRST DEATH (Robert Cormier) A gang of terrorists kidnaps a school bus full of children, including the son of a general.

4 PROM (Laurie Haise Anderson) High school senior Ashley Hannigan seems to be the only one in her urban Philadelphia high school who doesn t care about the prom. But when the faculty advisor gets into serious trouble for taking the prom money, Ashley suddenly finds herself with the huge responsibility of putting together a gala dance out of absolutely nothing. Her family, friends and classmates lend a helping hand and Ashley learns that she has choices about her life after high school. LAST SHOT: A FINAL FOUR MYSTERY (John Feinstein) Stevie Thomas and Susan Carl Anderson are two lucky winners of the United States Basketball Writers Association s contest for aspiring journalists. Their reward is a trip to New Orleans and presses pass for the Final Four. They overhear what sounds like a threat to throw the championship game. AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (Agatha Christie) Ten strangers are gathered on an isolated island by a mysterious host. They share the secrets of their past, and then, one by one, they die. AT RISK (Alice Hoffman) Amanda Farrell is eleven years old, and she has AIDS from a blood transfusion that she received five years before. Friends and neighbors shun the family. Throughout it all, the Farrells cope, endure and prevail. THE CALL OF THE WILD (Jack London) Rugged outdoor story of the sled dog Buck, who was mistreated by his master and broke free to roam the Alaskan wilderness. THE CHOCOLATE WAR (Robert Cormier) A young high school student refuses to join in the school s annual fund raising drive and learns about intimidation and peer pressure first hand. CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR (Jane Auel) This is the saga of people who call themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear; but mainly it is the story of Ayla, the girl unlike them that they found and raised. THE CRAZY HORSE ELECTRIC GAME (Chris Crutcher) A star pitcher whose life is shattered in a water-skiing accident must learn to accept and live with his disability. THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME (Mark Haddon) Christopher, an autistic and mathematically gifted teen-ager, investigates the murder of a dog and learns something surprising about his mother. THE DOOMSDAY BOOK (Connie Willis) A winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards for outstanding science fiction, this well-researched time-travel novel is about Kivrin, a 21 st Century Oxford woman who is transported back to England at the time of the Black Plague. ELLEN FOSTER (Kaye Gibbons) After her mother s untimely death, Ellen struggles to survive. Ellen tells her life story with courage and humor. Against all odds, she never gives up her belief that there is a place for her in the world, a home that will satisfy all her longing for love, acceptance and order.

5 ENDER S GAME (Orson Scott Card) After Earth is twice attacked by aliens, the world government beings breeding military geniuses, one of whom is Ender Wiggen. FRIEDRICH (Hans Peter Richter) The story of a Jewish boy in Germany during the Nazi regime as seen through the eyes of a friend. GEEKS: HOW TWO BOYS RODE THE INTERNET OUT OF IDAHO (Jon Katz) Jessie and Eric use technology to try and change their lives and alter their destiny. Described is their brave and difficult journey from Idaho to Chicago. THE GIRL WHO LOVED TOM GORDON (Stephen King) Gripping tale of 9-year old Trisha, who wanders off the beaten path of the Appalachian Trail to escape the bickering of her family. THE GREAT SANTINI (Pat Conroy) The story of a powerful marine and his family, of whom he expects only the best. INTO THIN AIR: A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF THE MT. EVEREST DISASTER (Jon Krakauer) Heroism, cowardice, foolishness and adventure marked the 1996 rival commercial expeditions to reach Everest s summit when everything went terribly wrong. SLAM (Walter Dean Myers) Seventeen-year-old Slam Harris is counting on his noteworthy basketball talents to get him out of the inner city and give him a chance to succeed in life, but his coach sees it differently. MONKEY BRIDGE (Lan Cao) Hailed by critics as powerful fiction, this novel charts the unmapped territory of the Vietnamese American experience in the aftermath of war. MONSTER (Walter Dean Myers) While on trial as an accomplice to murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in Prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken. MY SISTER S KEEPER (Jodi Picoult) Thirteen-year-old Anna has undergone surgeries, transfusions and shots all of her life in order to help her sister battle leukemia, but not she has decided not to give up her kidney, causing a court battle with her mother. PARROT IN THE VEN: MI VIDA: A NOVEL (Victor Martinez) Winner of the 1996 National Book Award for Young people s literature, Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida is a fresh, original and powerfully written account of one boy s coming-of-age in a difficult time. A SEPARATE PEACE (John Knowles) The story of two young men and what happens to them during their school years at the beginning of World War II. THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES (Sue Monk Kidd) When Lily runs away with her nanny, they are both taken in by three bee-keeping sisters. Lily s abusive father sets out to find her.

6 WHIRLIGIG (Paul Fleischman) While traveling to each corner of the country to build a whirligig in memory of the girl whose death he caused, sixteen- year-old Brent finds forgiveness and atonement. THEY BROKE THE LAW YOU BE THE JUDGE (Thomas Jacobs) Written by a juvenile court judge, this book details 21 cases ranging from truancy to auto theft. Following a description of events leading up to and including the crime itself, readers are given background about the individual, sentencing options, and questions to consider before sentencing, and then asked to make a decision about the case. Jacobs then explains his decision, asks for responses to it, and tells what later happened to the individual. Each case also includes a letter written by the teenager to Judge Jacobs. With the proliferation of courtroom shows on television, this book gives young people a more realistic look at the legal system designed for them. The author's compassion for those who appeared before him will also be eye-opening for many young people. "There may be an occasional detour, but more often than not, they get back on track. It's inspiring to see-." That, above all, will teach young people an important lesson. An unusual and thought-provoking treatment. -School Library Journal PENN-DELCO SCHOOL DISTRICT SUMMER REQUIRED READING THE FOLLOWING LIBRARY AND BOOKSTORES HAVE BEEN GIVEN COPIES OF THE REQUIRED SUMMER READING LISTS FOR NORTHLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SUN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL: Aston Public Library 257 Concord Road Aston, PA (610) Barnes and Noble Concord Mall 4801 Concord Pike Wilmington, DE (302)

7 Student Name: Period: Book Title: Section (circle): Pages: - Summer Reading Log Directions: Three Reading Logs must be completed for each Summer Reading novel. Please divide each book into thirds, and complete the following chart for ALL reading sections. Five EVENTS that happen: (Detailed summary of the main action in the section) Five WONDERINGS: (Big questions or ideas to clarify; reflect on the main points & main ideas) Two IMPORTANT PASSAGES and a thorough EXPLANATION for each (consider interesting, funny, puzzling, or important passages that stood out while reading & make personal connections): Page: Page:

8 Student Name: Period: Book Title: Section (circle): Pages: - Summer Reading Log Directions: Three Reading Logs must be completed for each Summer Reading novel. Please divide each book into thirds, and complete the following chart for ALL reading sections. Five EVENTS that happen: (Detailed summary of the main action in the section) Five WONDERINGS: (Big questions or ideas to clarify; reflect on the main points & main ideas) Two IMPORTANT PASSAGES and a thorough EXPLANATION for each (consider interesting, funny, puzzling, or important passages that stood out while reading & make personal connections): Page: Page:

9 Student Name: Period: Book Title: Section (circle): Pages: - Summer Reading Log Directions: Three Reading Logs must be completed for each Summer Reading novel. Please divide each book into thirds, and complete the following chart for ALL reading sections. Five EVENTS that happen: (Detailed summary of the main action in the section) Five WONDERINGS: (Big questions or ideas to clarify; reflect on the main points & main ideas) Two IMPORTANT PASSAGES and a thorough EXPLANATION for each (consider interesting, funny, puzzling, or important passages that stood out while reading & make personal connections): Page: Page:

10 Student Name: Period: Book Title: Section (circle): Pages: - Summer Reading Log Directions: Three Reading Logs must be completed for each Summer Reading novel. Please divide each book into thirds, and complete the following chart for ALL reading sections. Five EVENTS that happen: (Detailed summary of the main action in the section) Five WONDERINGS: (Big questions or ideas to clarify; reflect on the main points & main ideas) Two IMPORTANT PASSAGES and a thorough EXPLANATION for each (consider interesting, funny, puzzling, or important passages that stood out while reading & make personal connections): Page: Page:

11 Student Name: Period: Book Title: Section (circle): Pages: - Summer Reading Log Directions: Three Reading Logs must be completed for each Summer Reading novel. Please divide each book into thirds, and complete the following chart for ALL reading sections. Five EVENTS that happen: (Detailed summary of the main action in the section) Five WONDERINGS: (Big questions or ideas to clarify; reflect on the main points & main ideas) Two IMPORTANT PASSAGES and a thorough EXPLANATION for each (consider interesting, funny, puzzling, or important passages that stood out while reading & make personal connections): Page: Page:

12 Student Name: Period: Book Title: Section (circle): Pages: - Summer Reading Log Directions: Three Reading Logs must be completed for each Summer Reading novel. Please divide each book into thirds, and complete the following chart for ALL reading sections. Five EVENTS that happen: (Detailed summary of the main action in the section) Five WONDERINGS: (Big questions or ideas to clarify; reflect on the main points & main ideas) Two IMPORTANT PASSAGES and a thorough EXPLANATION for each (consider interesting, funny, puzzling, or important passages that stood out while reading & make personal connections): Page: Page: