6/17/2007
Dear Student,
I hope that the end of this semester goes well for you and that your summer is relaxing and
rejuvenating. Your name has been suggested for the Eleventh grade honors U.S. History
class for next year. I am looking forward to starting next semester with all of you and have
begun to prepare my curriculum and course materials for you. There is a reading assignment
for you to complete this summer. Choose one of the books from the attached list and write
a book review. Follow the guidelines for writing a book review located on the attached
assignment.
It is vital that you check the book out of your local library or purchase the
book from a bookstore early in the summer. I will also post the assignment on my website.
You can access the site by visiting onteora.schoolwires.com, and navigating to my page.
The assignment is due on the first day of class (no exceptions).
I hope you enjoy your book, your summer and this class next year.
Sincerely,
S. Jason Calinda
Summer Reading List for U.S. History H
Below is a list of books covering different topics in U.S. History. Your task
is to choose one of the books and write a book review. I have attached the
book review assignment to your acceptance letter, and it is also located on
my website. The book review is one of two summer assignments for AP
U.S. History. Both assignments are due on the first day of class (No
Exceptions).
THE SCARLETT LETTER- Nathaniel Hawthorne
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN- Ben Franklin
BEN FRANKILN—WALTER ISAACSON
RABBLE IN ARMS- Kenneth Roberts
PATRIOTS: THE MEN WHO STARTED THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION—A.J.
LANGGUTH
1776—DAVID MCCULLOGH
ADAMS AND JEFFERSON—MERRILL PETERSON
MIRALCLE AT PHILADELPHIA –CATHERINE BOWEN
JOHN ADAMS—DAVID MCCULLOGH
THE AGE OF JACKSON—A.M. SCHLESINGER, JR.
TRAIL OF TEARS—JOHN EHLE
LEWIS AND CLARKE AND THE ROUTE TO THE PACIFIC- GARY MOULTON
AMERICAN REFORMERS 1815-1860- RONALD WALTERS
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF FREDRICK DOUGLASS- FREDRICK DOUGLASS
UNCLE TOM’S CABIN—HARRIET BEECHER STOWE
KILLER ANGELS-MICHAEL SHARRA
SOUJOURNER TRUTH: AIN’T I A WOMAN-MCKISSACK
THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION—KENNETH STAMPP
BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE- DEE BROWN
RECONSTRUCTING THE DREAMLAND (TULSA RACE RIOTS)—ALFRED
BROPHY
FIRE IN A CANEBRAKE—LAURA WEXLER
THE STRANGE CAREER OF JIM CROW—C. BANN WOODWARD
HERSTORY—JUNE SOCHEN
THE JUNGLE—UPTON SINCLAIR
THE OX BOW INCIDENT – WALTER VON TILBERG CLARK
MAGGIE: A GIRL OF THE STREETS—STEPHEN CRANE
THE GILDED AGE—MARK TWAIN
THE ROBBER BARONS—MATTHEW JOSEPHSON
TITAN—RON CHERNOW
LOOKING BACKWARD—EDWARD BELLAMY
THE RISE OF THEORDORE ROOSEVELT-THEORDORE REX—EDMUND
MORRIS
THE ALIENIST—CALEB CARR
HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES—JACOB RIIS
UP FROM SLAVERY—BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
SOULS OF BLACK FOLK—W.E.B. DUBOIS
BABBIT—SINCLAIR LEWIS
MAINSTREET—SINCLAIR LEWIS
GRAPES OF WRATH—JOHN STEINBECK
HARD TIMES—STUDS TERKEL
THE AGE OF ROOSEVELT—A.M. SCHLESINGER, JR.
GHOST SOLDIERS—HAMPTON SIDES
AT DAWN WE SLEPT—GORDON PRANGE
HIROSHIMA—JOHN HERSHEY
THE FIFTIES—DAVID HALBERSTAM
TRUMAN—DAVID MCCULLOUGH
POLITICS OF FEAR – ROBERT GRIFFITH
THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST –DAVID HALBERSTAM
CATCH 22—JOSEPH HELLER
THIRTEEN DAYS: THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS –ROBERT KENNEDY
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X—MALCOLM X (WITH ALEX HALEY)
FEMININE MYSTIQUE—BETTY FRIEDAN
THE QUIET AMERICAN – GRAHAM GREENE
RUMOR OF WAR—PHILIP CAPUTO
A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES—HOWARD ZINN
SILENT SPRING—RACHEL CARSON
THE IRAN-CONTRA CONNECTION—JANE HUNTER
GEORGE BUSH’S WAR—JEAN EDWARD SMITH
"Book Review"
500-700 Words
A book review is not the same thing as a book report, which simply summarizes the content of a
book. When writing a book review, you not only report on the content of the book but also assess its
strengths and weaknesses. Students sometimes feel unqualified to write a book review; after all, the
author of the book is a professional historian. However, even if you cannot write from the same level
of experience and knowledge as the author, you can write an effective review if you understand what
the assignment requires. In writing a review you do not just relate whether or not you liked the book;
you also tell your readers why you liked or disliked it. It is not enough to say, "This book is
interesting"; you need to explain why it is interesting. Similarly, it is not enough to report that you
disliked a book; you must explain your reaction. Did you find the book unconvincing because the
author did not supply enough evidence to support his or her assertions? Or did you disagree with the
book's underlying assumptions?
To understand your own reaction to the book, you need to read it carefully and critically.
As a critical reader, you are not passive; you should ask questions of the book and note reactions as
you read. Your book review then discusses those questions and reactions. Though there is no
"correct" way to structure a review, the following is the approach you will use to complete the
assignment.

Summarize the book and relate the author's main point, or thesis. (Somewhere early in the
paper identify the author briefly.) [One paragraph]

Describe the author's viewpoint and purpose for writing; note any aspects of the author's
background that are important for understanding the book. [One paragraph]

Note the most important evidence the author presents to support his or her thesis. [Two
paragraphs]

Evaluate the author's use of evidence, and describe how he or she deals with counter
evidence [Two paragraphs]

Is the book's argument convincing? If so why, if not, why not. Cite examples from the text.
[One to two paragraphs]

If possible, compare this book with other books or articles you have read on the same
subject. [One paragraph]

Conclude with a final evaluation of the book. You might discuss who would find this book
useful and why. [One paragraph]
NOTE: "Critical" does not mean negative; skeptical does not mean cynical. If a book is well written
and presents an original thesis supported by convincing evidence, say so. A good book review does
not have to be negative; it does have to be fair and analytical.