Summer Reading List World Literature 2009 - 2010

Summer Reading List World Literature 2009 - 2010
Of the four listed novels, you must choose and read TWO over the course of the summer.
All titles are available in the school library, public library, and local bookstores. A limited
number of copies for some titles are available to be signed out for the summer.
Please choose two:
City of the Beasts – Isabella Allenda
The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
When I Was a Soldier – Valeria Zenatti
Zoya’s Story – Zoya with John Follain and Rita Cristofari
Teachers will not only test summer reading through an objective test the first week of school,
they will also incorporate the reading assignment into a first marking period writing prompt.
Students who wish to excel on both the objective test as well as the subsequent writing
assignment should employ some or all of the following reading activities:
To help with comprehension:
Look up words in the dictionary for added clarification on meaning or usage.
Re-read difficult passages and chapters before moving on with reading.
Note important events as you come across them in the reading.
To check for comprehension while reading:
• Compose a one-paragraph chapter summary incorporating the major details after
finishing each chapter.
o If you are unable to adequately and accurately summarize the chapter, this
indicates that you may need to re-read it.
o The summaries should be complete but short. Overly lengthy summaries often
include minor details instead of major events.
To review for the objective summer reading test:
• Create a character worksheet with names and important facts and character traits about
the characters in the story.
• Re-read the chapter summaries you wrote while reading.
This is an excellent way to review, as the most important information is now in your own words,
with only a paragraph per chapter.

City of the Beasts
Author: Allende, Isabel
When fifteen-year-old Alexander Cold accompanies his
individualistic grandmother on an expedition to find a
humanoid Beast in the Amazon, he experiences ancient
wonders and a supernatural world as he tries to avert
disaster for the Indians.
The Little Prince
Author: Saint Exupéry, Antoine de,
An aviator whose plane is forced down in the Sahara Desert
encounters a little prince from a small planet, who relates
his adventures in seeking the secret of what is important
in life.
When I Was a Soldier: A Memoir
Author: Zenatti, Valerie
The story of one girl's experience in the Israeli national
army where strict routines, grueling marches, poor food,
and lack of sleep are the norm, but service has its rewards
as well.
Zoya's Story: An Afghan Woman's Struggle for Freedom
Author: Zoya
Now 23, Zoya was a child during the Russian invasion and a
teen when the Taliban took power. The daughter of activists
in Kabul, Zoya was raised by her grandmother after her
parents disappeared.