TOTTENVILLE HIGH SCHOOL - Is34.org

TOTTENVILLE HIGH SCHOOLJohn P. Tuminaro, PrincipalDEPARTMENT OF ENGLISHGRADE 9SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT2013The teachers of the Department of English extend a warm welcome to the Tottenville HS class of 2017!You are required to read a minimum of two books this summer. The books will be discussed during the firstdays of the fall semester, and your knowledge of these works will be tested by the end of September. Thesebooks can be found in neighborhood public libraries, and in local bookstores.Keep a Reader’s Journal. As you read, record your reactions, observations, and questions about characters,conflicts, settings, major episodes, and main ideas. Your notes will help you recall important facts when thebooks are discussed in class. A journal is also a good place to list and define unfamiliar words you comeacross while reading.- See the reverse side of this list for directions.- Turn in your Journal per your teacher’s instructions.Students EnteringGrade 9Students enteringHonors & Institute ProgramsCHOOSE TWO:A Child Called It, David PelzerAn unforgettable account of one boy’s determination to surviveabuse.Hoops, Walter Dean MyersA realistic depiction of a young man’s challenges and dreams,coupled with fast basketball action and suspense.The Last Book in the Universe, Rodman PhilbrikThis action-packed sci-fi story is told by Spaz, an outsideramong outsiders.Stick Figure: A Diary of My Former Self, Lori GottliebGottlieb’s thoughts on our image-conscious society, and herstruggle with anorexia.Stranger with My Face, Lois DuncanSummer vacation evolves into one of suspense, horror, andunusual sightings.Honors / CHOOSE TWO:Institute Program / CHOOSE THREE:Crispin: The Cross of Lead, AviA 13-year-old peasant boy flees across 14 th -century England in anaction-packed tale set in medieval times.Stick Figure: A Diary of My Former Self, Lori GottliebGottlieb’s thoughts on our image-conscious society, and her strugglewith anorexia.Stranger with My Face, Lois DuncanSummer vacation evolves into one of suspense, horror, and unusualsightings.A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty SmithFrancie Nolan comes of age in early-20 th -century Brooklyn.Francie’s conflicts and victories are explored, as the strength of herfamily is challenged.A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’EngleAn unearthly visitor changes the lives of Meg, her brother Charles,and their scientist mother.

READER’S JOURNALDirections: a) In a notebook, keep track of your reading and your responses to each book read.b) Date each entry, keep track of how many pages you have read, and record your responses. Journal can be typed or hand-written. 25-word minimum per entry A minimum of one entry per chapter. There is no limit on how much you can write!!!c) The following sentence-openers will help you choose a focus for your entries.- I can’t really understand…- I was surprised…- I wonder why…- I’m confused by…- I began to think of…- I understand the feeling…- I can’t believe…- I love the way the author…- I noticed…- I’m not certain, but maybe…- I was motivated to read these pages because…- I found it difficult to focus on the reading because…- I figured out that…- Now I understand why…- I love the sound of…- _____ is a character who…- I hope…- I’m frustrated by the way…- This reminds me of another work of literature, _______…- I think I’m going to have to remember…d) This is a sample page from a Journal written in response to The Giver (NOT on your list).DATE and PAGES READJuly 5, 2013Ch. 1, pages 3 – 6July 6, 2013Ch. 1, pages 6 – 11July 7, 2013Ch. 2, pages 12 – 19BOOK: The Giver, Lois LowryMY RESPONSEI’m confused by Jonas’s feelings. What is he “apprehensive” about? Ican tell from the chapter that apprehensive means something more thanfearful or eager. What is about to occur in December? Jonas says thatall “the Elevens” are excited too. Who are the Elevens?I noticed that Jonas lives in an unusual place. There are many rules andrituals. There are rules at school. There are rules at home. There is thetime in the evening when parents and their children have to share theirfeelings. Jonas’s parents, his sister lily, and Jonas all share the feelingsthey experienced. There is also the December celebration that Jonas isworried about, the Ceremony of Twelve, with more rules.I can’t believe that Jonas’s life-long job will be decided on when he turnstwelve. Jonas’s Assignment will be chosen for him, and he will have toaccept that decision. He has no choice. He seems worried about whatthe Assignment will be. His parents are not worried. They believe theElders will make the right choice for Jonas.