Plant High School English Department 2015
SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENTS
ALL Plant High School students are required to read over the summer. Students should be prepared
for an assessment, project, and/ or discussion of the assigned literature during the first week of
school.
9th GRADE English I Honors/English I Honors Gifted Read one of the following:
 Lord of the Flies by William Golding
“Before The Hunger Games there was Lord of the Flies.” (Barnesandnoble.com)
This 1954 classic coming-of-age story by British author Golding follows a group of
ordinary young boys whose escapades of fun and adventure while marooned on a coral
island turn into panic and death. Themes of civilization vs. savagery and the loss of
innocence provide a backdrop for similar discussions that will occur in the 9th grade
curriculum.
 Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
One of the American Library Association’s 100 Best Books for Teens, Crutcher’s novel
deals with concepts related to teens’ experiences with coming of age, outsiders, and
monster-ism. The novel’s characters compare to several protagonists that Plant 9th
graders will encounter in their novel and film studies, and the philosophical debates in
the novel spark discussion that will segue to students’ argumentative writing tasks early
in the year.
10th GRADE English 2 Honors/English 2 Honors Gifted Read one of the following:
 I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
This memoir by the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize tells the story of a fearless
young Pakistani who refused to be silenced as she fought for the right to be educated.
Shot at point blank range by a member of the Taliban, Malala’s inspiring story speaks to
the issues of intolerance and hate; its themes resonate with sophomores’ exploration of
culture.
 The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven* by Sherman Alexie
This celebrated collection of short stories showcases Alexie’s captivating storytelling as
he reveals life in and around the Spokane Indian reservation. His depiction of Indians
asks readers to consider the complexities of culture and its clashes--between men and
women, Indians and whites, reservations and urban Indians, past and present.
*Some mature language and references appear in the text.
11th GRADE English 3 Honors Read three or more short stories from the following:
 Great American Short Stories* (Barnes and Noble Signature Edition)
The classic collection of stories by some of America’s greatest authors will further
students’ understanding of various time periods and literary trends they encounter
during the year. The stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Jack London are especially
applicable to various units, but students are welcome to choose based on their own
reading level and interests.
*This book must be purchased at a Barnes and Noble store or from barnesandnoble.com
AP Language & Composition Read eight selections from the anthology and complete the
assignment that follows
 Best American Essays of the Century, edited by Joyce Carol Oates
FOUR required selections
 “Of the Coming of John” by W.E.B. Du Bois
 “Stickeen” by John Muir
 “Bop” by Langston Hughes
 “The Search for Marvin Gardens” by John McPhee
FOUR additional selections of your choice
 Complete the analysis assignment for each of the eight literary selections (link available on Plant
website)
 Complete the Literary Terms assignment (link available on Plant website)
12th GRADE English 4/English 4 Honors Read one of the following:
 1984 by George Orwell
Orwell’s chilling prophetic work brings to light issues related to control and manipulation
related to language, information and personal history, and technology. These themes tie
in to seniors’ exploration of the many theories that forge deeper and richer ways to think
about, interpret, and critique literature and life.
 The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Similar to Orwell’s dramatization, Atwood’s story of repression and social control asks
readers to ponder issues at the forefront of 21st century life, including oppression versus
freedom and the dangers of totalitarianism.
AP Literature & Composition Read both of the following:
 A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Set in the backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan, Hosseini’s novel is a riveting and haunting
tale of oppression and redemption worthy of in-depth analysis in any literature course.
 How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster
In this practical and amusing non-fiction work, Foster sheds light on the tools that good
readers can use to become astute analysts of fiction. Students will be expected to
demonstrate knowledge of Foster’s principles and apply his insight into their reading
throughout the year.