Summer Reading You know it, you love it, you look forward to it every year.

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1 Summer Reading 2017 You know it, you love it, you look forward to it every year. Well, here it is. Sure, catch some rays and zzz s; see the world and take selfies, but then, get the books, and do the work or else your brain might dissolve and trickle out of your ears, and we can t have that, can we.

2 Rising Sophomores: 10A1-A5: Little Bee, by Chris Cleave When you begin to read Chris Cleave s Little Bee: The novel, Little Bee, has alternating narrators, Little Bee and Sara, who tell the story. With each new chapter, the narrator switches. Little Bee begins the story and Sarah starts to tell us her story in chapter 2. These alternating voices continue throughout the book. While reading this novel, we would like you to practice close reading skills. Close readers read a text carefully and thoughtfully, thinking about how the details in the text contribute to the meaning of the entire work. For this assignment, find three themes of the novel and supporting evidence from the text. The term theme is usually defined as an underlying message or understanding of a text. An author can present theme through a character s actions or reactions, dialogue between characters, or even setting. Step 1 Identify three (3) prominent themes that you have found in the book. Step 2 Find textual evidence (3 quotes for each theme) from throughout the entire novel. Step 3 Write a few sentences analyzing, not summarizing, the quotation. Here is an example from a text you might be familiar with (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone). Theme #1 - Bravery - a willingness to make self-sacrifices Quote Analysis Harry knew, somehow, what to do. He leaned forward and grasped the broom tightly in both hands, and it shot toward Malfoy like a javelin. p. 118 In chapter nine, Harry risks his own safety and deliberately breaks the school's rules to protect a vulnerable student, Neville. Neville is not a close friend of Harry s, and Neville is often the target of teasing and bullying. Harry, to save Neville s Remembrall, flies on his broomstick, a task he has never done. Harry was breaking school rules by flying before having been formally trained, and he put his life in grave danger. For his acts of bravery, Harry is not only able to return Neville s Remembrall, but he is also given a spot on the quidditch team for natural flying abilities.

3 I ve got to be taken. You ve got to make some sacrifices! Ron, Harry s best friend, volunteers to play the life size game of chess, recognizing that his chess skills could help save the Sorcerer's Stone. To win and get Hermione and Harry through, Ron must sacrifice himself. Ron realizes that his own safety is not as important as the greater good: saving the Sorcerer's Stone. For this act of bravery, Gryffindor is awarded fifty points at the end of the novel. p.227 It takes a great deal of brave to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom. p.247 At the end of the novel, Neville Longbottom is the reason Gryffindor wins the house cup. Neville is perhaps the least likely character at the beginning of the novel to be considered brave. Neville is often anxious, forgetful, and one step behind the rest. Unlike Harry, Hermoine, and Ron, Neville does not face a beast or monster; instead, Neville shows his bravery by standing up to his friends, who are breaking the rules. Standing up to your own friends is a difficult task for a young man. Throughout the novel, Neville desperately wants to be accepted by his peers, but he does not let this stop him from doing the right thing.

4 10H The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson While reading these novels, we would like you to practice close reading skills. Close readers read a text carefully and thoughtfully, thinking about how the details in the text contribute to the meaning of the entire work. In these novels, you will be exploring setting, narrative voice, and character change or development. For each novel, you will identify two examples of: moments when the setting affects the events in the text or exerts an influence on the character situations in which the narrative voice intrudes upon or affects the progression of the plot or the reader s understanding. a character change and supporting textual evidence of the change. For each example, please write a short paragraph (5-6 sentences) about each one of these instances. Please include the page numbers. You may use a similar format to the A level summer reading assignment.

5 10A6 For your summer assignment, you will be reading Bread Givers, by Anzia Yezierska. This novel tells the story of a Jewish immigrant family living on the Lower East Side of New York City. Sara Smolinsky, the young protagonist (main character) narrates the novel. Sara struggles in many ways. One of the main challenges that Sara faces is her feelings of being an outsider, and her desire to become an insider. Part One: As you are reading, make note of points in the novel that connect to Sara s struggle to fit in. Using the graphic organizer, record at least 10 quotes from the novel (your textual evidence) that connect to Sara s struggle as an immigrant who is trying to fit in. Record the entire quote in the chart. Then, explain in your own words how the quote describes Sara s struggle to fit in. You may need to provide a little background for your quote. Create a chart like the one below, although you may need more space. Page # Quote Explanation of Quote Part Two: As you are reading Bread Givers, make note of at least 20 vocabulary words. Choose words that you do not recognize or know immediately. Try to figure out what the word means based on the context in the book (the way it is used). Write the words and the page numbers below. You do not need to look up the definition of the words. Create a chart like the one below, although you may need more space. Page # Word Page # Word