9th+Grade+Summer+Reading+List

June 2015 Dear Student:

Welcome to St. Jean’s. Reading will be a very important part of your high school career. To broaden your vocabulary, to sharpen your reading skills, and let’s not forget, to provide enjoyment, the enclosed list offers a wide variety of summer reading selections. Each incoming ninth grader must read at least three books this summer. **You are required to read //Orphan Train// by Christina Baker Kline. Choose the other two titles from the list below.** You must choose from two separate categories.

You are to take thorough notes on each selection. To guide you as you read, you will find an outline and a character chart accompanying the list of literary works. Complete this outline carefully for each literary work you read. You may use these notes during the first week of school when you will be required to write, in class, a textual analysis of your literary selections. Since this written response will provide your first grade of the quarter, it is essential that you take good notes and that you have these preparatory materials with you during the first week of school in September.

By the first week of class in September, you should be ready to discuss the literary works. Bring your notes in with you during that first week. There will also be a test on the required selection during the first week of school; however, you will not be allowed to use your notes for this test. In addition, during that first week, you will receive a nonfiction article to be read in conjunction with //Summer of My German Soldier// in alignment with the Common Core curriculum. Your teacher will guide you through this assignment.

Start enjoying these wonderful books now. Once you start, you might decide to read more than what is required. It is a great idea to read a little more in preparation for the eleventh grade Common Core Regents Examination and for college.

Have a wonderful summer! We look forward to seeing you in September. God bless you and all your loved ones.

Sincerely,

The English Department

**St. Jean Baptiste High School ** **Incoming Ninth Graders’ Book List **


 * Mystery/Novels **

Clark, Mary Higgins. __Two Little Girls in Blue__

Virginia Hamilton. __The House of Dies Drear__

Nixon, Joan Lowery. __Don’t Scream__


 * Science Fiction/ Fantasy **

Bradbury, Ray. __Fahrenheit 451__

Bray, Libba. __A Great and Terrible Beauty__

Card, Orson Scott. __Ender’s Game__

Cooper, Susan. __The Boggart__

Jacques, Brian. __Redwall__

Westerfeld, Scott. __The Uglies__

Zevin, Gabrielle. __Elsewhere__


 * Historical/ Realistic Fiction **

Anderson, Laurie Halse. __Fever, 1793__

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Cabot, Meg. __Pants on Fire__

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crutcher, Chris. __Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes__

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Green, John. __An Abundance of Katherines__

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Murphy, Jim. __Scopes Trial__

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sutcliff,Rosemary. __Warrior Scarlet__


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Biography/ Autobiography **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Anonymous. __Go Ask Alice__

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Filipovic, Zlata. __Zlata’s Diary__

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rawls, Wilson. __Where the Red Fern Grows__

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sparks, Beatrice. __Annie’s Baby__ **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">St. Jean Baptiste High School ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Summer Reading Selections **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Use the following outline to take notes on the books you have read.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;">I. General information. List the title, author, and genre of the work. Punctuate titles correctly.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> II. Introduction: Explain the setting (time and place) and the conflict the characters face. Identify the characters’ roles in the plot as briefly as possible to make the conflict clear. Note whether the setting has any impact on the plot.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">III. Plot/Theme: List the parts of plot, and identify that part in the literary work. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;">A. Initiating incident (plus any other background information necessary) <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> B. Developing action (identify important events that lead to the climax) <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> C. Climax (defend you answer) <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> D. Denouement <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> E. Conclusion

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> IV. Theme: State the theme of the literary work in a few sentences. Cite 1-2 pieces of evidence from each text that illustrate an effective portrayal of that theme. Include page numbers parenthetically.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> V. Style/Literary devices: In a paragraph for each literary element or stylistic device, do the following:

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> A. Identify any literary devices or stylistic elements used by the author. These should include, but not be limited to, <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> tone, mood, point of view, irony, foreshadowing, satire, <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> flashback, allusion, etc. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> any figures of speech or sound devices that impact <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> the reader

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> B. For each element, place it in the context of the story.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> C. Explain how the author relates the element to theme, why it is appropriate at that particular point of the work; and

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;"> D. Explain why that element is appropriate at that particular point in the work.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;">The Summer Reading Character Chart can be downloaded here. Please fill one out for each book read.